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diff --git a/26543-h/26543-h.htm b/26543-h/26543-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..62fff3d --- /dev/null +++ b/26543-h/26543-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5835 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Clematis, by Bertha B. and Ernest Cobb. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.2em;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + .blockquot {margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + div.ra p {text-align: right; margin: auto 0;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.4em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Clematis, by Bertha B. Cobb and Ernest Cobb + +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: Clematis + +Author: Bertha B. Cobb + Ernest Cobb + +Illustrator: A. G. Cram + Willis Levis + +Release Date: September 6, 2008 [EBook #26543] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLEMATIS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>OTHER BOOKS</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BY BERTHA B. AND ERNEST COBB</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>ARLO</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>CLEMATIS</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>ANITA</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>PATHWAYS</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>ALLSPICE</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>DAN’S BOY</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>PENNIE</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>ANDRÉ</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>ROBIN</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i01.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 299px; height: 458px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 299px;'> +“Are you going to sit here all day, little girl?”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:2.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:2em;'>CLEMATIS</p> +<p style=' font-size:; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>BY</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>BERTHA B. AND ERNEST COBB</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:4em; margin-left:20%; margin-right:20%;'>Authors of Arlo, Busy Builder’s Book, Hand in Hand With Father Time, etc.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>With illustrations by</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>A. G. CRAM</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>AND</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:2em;'>WILLIS LEVIS</p> +<p style=' font-size:1em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:; margin-bottom:;'>NEW YORK AND LONDON</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-size:0.8em;'> +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright, 1917</span></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>By BERTHA B. and ERNEST COBB</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London</p> +<p>for Foreign Countries</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>Twenty-second Impression</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, must</p> +<p>not be reproduced in any form without permission.</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>Made in the United States of America</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>Somerset, Mass.</p> +</div> + +<p>Dear Priscilla:</p> +<p>You have taken such a fancy to little +Clematis that we hope other children may +like her, too. We may not be able to buy +you all the ponies, and goats, and dogs, +and cats that you would like, but we will +dedicate the book to you, and then you +can play with all the animals Clematis +has, any time you wish.</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style=' margin-right:3em;'>With much love, from</p> +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Bertha B. and Ernest Cobb.</span></p> +</div> + +<p>To Miss Priscilla Cobb.</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>Chapter</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>Page</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>1.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Lost in a Big City</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#LOST_IN_A_BIG_CITY'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>2.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Children’s Home</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#THE_CHILDREN_S_HOME'>16</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>3.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The First Night</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#THE_FIRST_NIGHT'>28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>4.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Who is Clematis?</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#WHO_IS_CLEMATIS'>41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>5.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Clematis Begins to Learn</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CLEMATIS_BEGINS_TO_LEARN'>52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>6.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Clematis Has a Hard Row to Hoe</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CLEMATIS_HAS_A_HARD_ROW_TO_HOE'>61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>7.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>What Clematis Found</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#WHAT_CLEMATIS_FOUND'>72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>8.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Visitor</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#A_VISITOR'>86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>9.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Secret</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#THE_SECRET'>97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>10.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Two Doctors</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#TWO_DOCTORS'>109</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>11.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Long, Anxious Night</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#A_LONG_ANXIOUS_NIGHT'>121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>12.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Getting Well</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#GETTING_WELL'>134</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>13.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Off for Tilton</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#OFF_FOR_TILTON'>145</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>14.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Country</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#THE_COUNTRY'>160</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>15.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Clematis Tries to Help</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CLEMATIS_TRIES_TO_HELP'>172</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>16.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Only a Few Days More</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#ONLY_A_FEW_DAYS_MORE'>186</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>17.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Where is Clematis?</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#WHERE_IS_CLEMATIS'>200</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>18.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Hunting for Clematis</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#HUNTING_FOR_CLEMATIS'>215</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>19.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>New Plans</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#NEW_PLANS'>230</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>20.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The True Fairy Story</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#THE_TRUE_FAIRY_STORY'>237</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>ILLUSTRATIONS</p> +</div> + +<table summary=''> +<tr><td>1.</td><td>“Are you going to sit here all day, little girl?”</td></tr> +<tr><td>2.</td><td>“I don't want to stay here if you're going to throw my cat away.”</td></tr> +<tr><td>3.</td><td>With Katie in the kitchen.</td></tr> +<tr><td>4.</td><td>Thinking of the land of flowers.</td></tr> +<tr><td>5.</td><td>Clematis held out her hand.</td></tr> +<tr><td>6.</td><td>Clematis is better.</td></tr> +<tr><td>7.</td><td>Off for Tilton.</td></tr> +<tr><td>8.</td><td>In the country at last.</td></tr> +<tr><td>9.</td><td>The little red hen.</td></tr> +<tr><td>10.</td><td>Clematis watched the little fishes by the shore.</td></tr> +<tr><td>11.</td><td>“I shan't be afraid.”</td></tr> +<tr><td>12.</td><td>A little girl was coming up the path.</td></tr> +<tr><td>13.</td><td>Deborah was very hungry.</td></tr> +<tr><td>14.</td><td>“Didn't you ever peel potatoes?”</td></tr> +<tr><td>15.</td><td>“What are you sewing?”</td></tr> +<tr><td>16.</td><td>Clematis stuck one hand out.</td></tr> +<tr><td>17.</td><td>She could see the little fish.</td></tr> +<tr><td>18.</td><td>In Grandfather's house.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:2em;'>CLEMATIS</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='LOST_IN_A_BIG_CITY' id='LOST_IN_A_BIG_CITY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>LOST IN THE BIG CITY</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was early Spring. A warm +sun shone down upon the city +street. On the edge of the +narrow brick sidewalk a little girl +was sitting.</p> +<p>Her gingham dress was old and +shabby. The short, brown coat +had lost all its buttons, and a rusty +pin held it together.</p> +<p>A faded blue cap partly covered +her brown hair, which hung in +short, loose curls around her face. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span></p> +<p>She had been sitting there almost +an hour when a policeman +came along.</p> +<p>“I wonder where that girl +belongs,” he said, as he looked +down at her. “She is a new one +on Chambers Street.”</p> +<p>He walked on, but he looked +back as he walked, to see if she +went away.</p> +<p>The child slowly raised her big, +brown eyes to look after him. She +watched him till he reached the +corner by the meat shop; then she +looked down and began to kick at +the stones with her thin boots.</p> +<p>At this moment a bell rang. A +door opened in a building across the +street, and many children came out.</p> +<p>As they passed the little girl, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +some of them looked at her. One +little boy bent down to see her +face, but she hid it under her arm.</p> +<p>“What are you afraid of?” he +asked. “Who’s going to hurt +you?”</p> +<p>She did not answer.</p> +<p>Another boy opened his lunch +box as he passed, and shook out +the pieces of bread, left from his +lunch.</p> +<p>Soon the children were gone, +and the street was quiet again.</p> +<p>The little girl kicked at the +stones a few minutes; then she +looked up. No one was looking +at her, so she reached out one little +hand and picked up a crust of bread.</p> +<p>In a wink the bread was in her +mouth. She reached out for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +another, brushed off a little dirt, +and ate that also.</p> +<p>Just then the policeman came +down the street from the other +corner. The child quickly bent +her head and looked down.</p> +<p>This time he came to where +she sat, and stopped.</p> +<p>“Are you going to sit here all +day, little girl?” he asked.</p> +<p>She did not answer.</p> +<p>“Your mother will be looking +for you. You’d better run home +now, like a good girl. Where do +you live, anyway?”</p> +<p>He bent down and lifted her +chin, so she had to look up at +him.</p> +<p>“Where do you live, miss? Tell +us now, that’s a good girl.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></p> +<p>“I don’t know.” The child +spoke slowly, half afraid.</p> +<p>“O come now, of course you +know, a big girl like you ought to +know. What’s the name of the +street?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> +<p>“Ah, you’re only afraid of me. +Don’t be afraid of Jim Cunneen +now. I’ve a little girl at home +just about your age.”</p> +<p>He waited for her to answer, +but she said nothing.</p> +<p>“Come miss, you must think. +How can I take you home if you +don’t tell me where you live?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear me! That is all I +get for an answer. Well then, +I’ll have to take you down to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +station. May be you will find a +tongue down there.”</p> +<p>As he spoke, he took hold of +her arm to help her up. Then +he tried one more question.</p> +<p>“What is your name?”</p> +<p>“My name is Clematis.”</p> +<p>As she spoke she moved her +arm, and out from the coat peeped +a kitten. It was white, with a +black spot over one eye.</p> +<p>“There, that is better,” answered +the policeman. “Now +tell me your last name.”</p> +<p>“That is all the name I have, +just Clematis.”</p> +<p>“Well then, what is your +father’s name?”</p> +<p>“I haven’t any father.”</p> +<p>“Ah, that is too bad, dear. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +Then tell me your mother’s +name.” He bent down lower to +hear her reply.</p> +<p>“I haven’t any mother, either.”</p> +<p>“No father? No mother?” +The policeman lifted her gently to +her feet. “Well miss, we won’t +stay here any longer. It is getting +late.”</p> +<p>Just then the kitten stuck its +head out from her coat and said, +“Miew.”</p> +<p>It seemed very glad to move on.</p> +<p>“What’s that now, a cat? +Where did you get that?”</p> +<p>“It is my kitty, my very own, +so I kept it. I didn’t steal it. +Its name is Deborah, and it is my +very own.”</p> +<p>“Ah, now she is finding her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +tongue,” said the policeman, +smiling; while Clematis hugged +the kitten.</p> +<p>But the little girl could tell him +no more, so he led her along the +street toward the police station.</p> +<p>Before they had gone very far, +they passed a baker’s shop.</p> +<p>In the window were rolls, +and cookies, and buns, and little +cakes with jam and frosting on +them.</p> +<p>The smell of fresh bread came +through the door.</p> +<p>“What is the matter, miss?” +The man looked down, as Clematis +stood still before the window.</p> +<p>She was looking through the +glass, at the rolls, and cakes, and +cookies.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i02.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 303px; height: 458px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 303px;'> +“I don’t want to stay here if you are going to throw my cat away”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<p>The policeman smelled the +fresh bread, and it made him +hungry.</p> +<p>“Are you hungry, little girl?” +he asked, looking down with a +smile.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t you be hungry if +you hadn’t had anything to eat +all day long?” Clematis looked +up at him with tears in her big +brown eyes.</p> +<p>“Nothing to eat all day? Why, +you must be nearly starved!” As +he spoke, the policeman started +into the store, pulling Clematis +after him.</p> +<p>She was so surprised that she +almost dropped her kitten.</p> +<p>“Miew,” said poor Deborah, as +if she knew they were going to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +starve no longer. But it was +really because she was squeezed so +tight she couldn’t help it.</p> +<p>“Now, Miss Clematis, do you +see anything there you like?”</p> +<p>Jim Cunneen smiled down at +Clematis, as she peeped through +the glass case at the things inside.</p> +<p>She stood silent, with her nose +right against the glass.</p> +<p>There were so many things to +eat it almost took her breath +away.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you say, little +girl? Don’t you see anything you +like?”</p> +<p>“May I choose anything I +want?”</p> +<p>“Yes, miss. Just pick out what +you like best.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></p> +<p>The lady behind the counter +smiled, as the policeman lifted +Clematis a little, so she could see +better. There were cakes, and +cookies, and buns, and doughnuts.</p> +<p>“May I have a cream cake?” +asked Clematis.</p> +<p>“Of course you may. What +else?” He lifted her a bit higher.</p> +<p>“Miew!” said Deborah, from +under her coat.</p> +<p>“Oh, excuse me, cat,” he said, +as he set Clematis down. “I forgot +you were there too.”</p> +<p>The woman laughed, as she +took out a cream cake, a cookie +with nuts on it, and a doughnut.</p> +<p>“May I eat them now?” asked +Clematis, as she took the bag. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></p> +<p>“You start right in, and if +that’s not enough, you can have +more. But don’t forget the +cat.”</p> +<p>Jim Cunneen laughed with the +baker woman, while Clematis +began to eat the doughnut, as +they started out.</p> +<p>Before long they came to a +brick building that had big +doors.</p> +<p>“Here we are,” said the policeman. +They turned, and went +inside.</p> +<p>There another policeman was +sitting at a desk behind a railing.</p> +<p>“Well, who comes here?” asked +the policeman at the desk.</p> +<p>“That is more than I know,” +replied Jim Cunneen. “I guess +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +she’s lost out of the flower show. +She says her name is Clematis.”</p> +<p>Clematis said nothing. Her +mouth was full of cream cake now, +and a little cream was running +over her fingers.</p> +<p>Deborah was silent also. She +was eating the last crumbs of the +doughnut.</p> +<p>“Is that all you could find out?” +The other man looked at Clematis.</p> +<p>“She says she has no father +and no mother. Her cat is named +Deborah. That is all she told +me.”</p> +<p>“Oh, well, I guess you scared +her, Jim. Let me ask her. I’ll +find out.”</p> +<p>The new policeman smiled at +Clematis. “Come on now, sister,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +he said. “Tell us where you live. +That’s a good girl.”</p> +<p>Clematis reached up one hand +and took hold of her friend’s big +finger. She looked at the new +policeman a moment.</p> +<p>“If you didn’t know where you +lived, how could you tell anyone?” +she said.</p> +<p>Jim Cunneen laughed. He liked +to feel her little hand.</p> +<p>“See how scared she is of me,” +he said. “We are old friends +now.”</p> +<p>Again they asked the little girl +all the questions they could think +of. But it was of no use. She +could not tell them where she +lived. She would not tell them +very much about herself. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p> +<p>At last the Captain came in. +They told him about this queer +little girl.</p> +<p>He asked her questions also. +Then he said:</p> +<p>“We shall have to send her to +the Home. If anyone claims +her he can find her there.”</p> +<p>So Clematis and Deborah were +tucked into the big station wagon, +and Jim Cunneen took her to the +Home, where lost children are +sheltered and fed.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_CHILDREN_S_HOME' id='THE_CHILDREN_S_HOME'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE CHILDREN’S HOME</h3> +</div> + +<p>As they climbed the steps +leading to the Home, Clematis +looked up at the policeman.</p> +<p>“What is this place?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“This is the Children’s Home, +miss. You will have a fine time +here.”</p> +<p>A young woman with a kind +face opened the door.</p> +<p>The policeman did not go in. +“Here is a child I found on +Chambers Street,” he said. “We +can’t find out where she lives.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I see,” said the woman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></p> +<p>“Could you take her in for +a while, till we can find her +parents?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I guess we have room +for her. Come in, little girl.”</p> +<p>At that moment there was a +scratching sound, and Deborah +stuck her head out.</p> +<p>“Miew,” said Deborah, who +was still hungry. Perhaps she +thought it was another bakery.</p> +<p>“Dear me!” cried the young +woman, “we can’t have that cat +in here.”</p> +<p>Clematis drew back, and reached +for Jim Cunneen’s hand.</p> +<p>“It’s a very nice cat, I’m sure,” +said the policeman.</p> +<p>He felt sorry for Clematis. He +knew how she loved her kitten. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p> +<p>“But it’s against the rules. +The children can never have cats +or dogs in here.”</p> +<p>Clematis, with tears in her +eyes, turned away.</p> +<p>“Come on,” she said to her +big friend. “Let us go.”</p> +<p>But Jim Cunneen drew her +back. He loved little girls, and +was also fond of cats.</p> +<p>“Don’t you think the cook +might need it for a day or two, to +catch the rats?” he asked, with his +best smile.</p> +<p>“Oh dear me, I don’t know. I +don’t think so. It’s against the +rules for children to bring in pets.”</p> +<p>“Ah then, just wait a minute. +I’ll be right back.”</p> +<p>The policeman ran down the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +steps and around the corner of the +house, while the young woman +asked Clematis questions.</p> +<p>“It’s all right then, I’m sure,” +he called as he came back. “Katie +says she would be very glad to +have that cat to help her catch +the rats.”</p> +<p>The young woman laughed; +Clematis dried her tears, and Jim +Cunneen waved his hand and said +goodby.</p> +<p>In another moment the door +opened, and Clematis, with Deborah +still in her arms, was in her +new home.</p> +<p>It was supper hour at the +Children’s Home. In the big +dining room three long tables were +set. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>At each place on the clean, +bare table was a plate, a small +yellow bowl, and a spoon.</p> +<p>Beside each plate was a blue +gingham bib.</p> +<p>Jane, one of the girls in the +Home, was filling the bowls on +her table with milk from a big +brown pitcher.</p> +<p>Two little girls worked at each +of the tables. While one filled +the bowls, the other brought the +bread.</p> +<p>She put two thick slices of bread +and a big cookie on each plate.</p> +<p>The young woman who had +let Clematis in, came to the table +near the door.</p> +<p>“There is a new girl at your +table tonight, Jane,” she said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +“She will sit next to me.”</p> +<p>“All right, Miss Rose,” answered +Jane, carefully filling the +last yellow bowl.</p> +<p>“Please may I ring the bell +tonight, Miss Rose?” asked Sally, +who had been helping Jane.</p> +<p>Miss Rose looked at the table. +Every slice of bread and every +cookie was in place.</p> +<p>“Yes, dear; your work is well +done. You may ring.”</p> +<p>At the sound of the supper +bell, a tramping of many feet +sounded in the long hall.</p> +<p>The doors of the dining room +were opened, and Mrs. Snow came +in, followed by a double line of +little girls.</p> +<p>Each girl knew just where to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +find her place, and stood waiting +for the signal to sit.</p> +<p>A teacher stood at the head of +each table, and beside Miss Rose +was the little stranger.</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow was the housemother. +She asked the blessing, +while every little girl bowed her +head.</p> +<p>Clematis stared about at the +other children all this time, and +wondered what they were doing.</p> +<p>Now they were seated, and +each girl buttoned her bib in +place before she tasted her supper.</p> +<p>Sally sat next to Clematis.</p> +<p>“They gave you a bath, didn’t +they?” she said, as she put her +bread into her bowl. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span></p> +<p>Clematis nodded.</p> +<p>“And you got a nice clean +apron like ours, didn’t you?”</p> +<p>Clematis nodded again.</p> +<p>“Oh, see her hair, it’s lovely!” +sighed a little girl across the table, +who had short, straight hair.</p> +<p>Clematis’ soft brown curls were +neatly brushed, and tied with a +dark red ribbon.</p> +<p>She did not look much like the +child who came in an hour before.</p> +<p>“What’s her name?” asked +Jane, looking at Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“We’ll ask her tomorrow. +Now stop talking please, so she +can eat her supper.”</p> +<p>At that, the little girl looked +up at Miss Rose and said: “My +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +name is Clematis, and my kitty’s +name is Deborah.”</p> +<p>Just as she said this, a very +strange noise was heard. Every +child stopped eating. Miss Rose +turned red, and Mrs. Snow looked +up in surprise.</p> +<p>“Miew, miew, miew,” came +from under the table. In another +minute a little head peeped over +the edge of the table where +Clematis sat. It was a kitten, +with a black spot over one eye.</p> +<p>“Miew, miew,” Deborah continued, +and stuck her little red +tongue right into the yellow bowl. +She was very hungry, and could +wait no longer.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i13.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 301px; height: 460px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 301px;'> +Deborah was very hungry<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></div> +<p>Mrs. Snow rapped on the table, +for every child laughed right out. +What fun it was! No one had +ever seen a cat in there before.</p> +<p>“Miss Rose, will you kindly +put that cat out. Put her out +the front door.” Mrs. Snow was +very stern. She didn’t wish any +cats in the Home.</p> +<p>Clematis looked at Mrs. Snow. +Her eyes filled with tears, and she +began to sob.</p> +<p>Miss Rose turned as red as +Deborah’s tongue. She had not +asked Mrs. Snow if she might +let the cat in. She thought it +would stay in the kitchen with +Katie.</p> +<p>“Did you hear me, Miss Rose? +I wish you would please put the +cat out the door. We can’t have +it here.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span></p> +<p>Miss Rose started to get up, +when Clematis slipped out of her +chair, hugging Deborah tightly to +her breast.</p> +<p>The tears were running down +her cheeks, as she started for the +door.</p> +<p>“Where are you going, little +girl?” said Mrs. Snow.</p> +<p>Clematis did not answer, but +kept right on.</p> +<p>“Stop her, Miss Rose. What +is the matter, anyway? Dear me, +what a fuss!”</p> +<p>Miss Rose caught Clematis by +the arm.</p> +<p>“Wait, dear,” she said. “Don’t +act like that. Answer Mrs. Snow.”</p> +<p>“I don’t care,” sobbed Clematis, +looking back. “I don’t want +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +to stay here if you are going to +throw my cat away.”</p> +<p>“I should have asked you, Mrs. +Snow,” said Miss Rose. “She +had the kitten with her. She +cried to bring it in, and Katie +said she would care for it in the +kitchen.”</p> +<p>“Oh, so that is it. Well, don’t +cry, child. Take it back to Katie, +and tell her to keep the door shut.”</p> +<p>“She’s hungry,” said Clematis, +drying her eyes on her sleeve.</p> +<p>“Well, ask Katie to feed her +then, and come right back to the +table.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_FIRST_NIGHT' id='THE_FIRST_NIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>THE FIRST NIGHT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Supper was soon finished, with +many giggles from the little girls, +who hoped that Deborah would +get in again.</p> +<p>Clematis ate every crumb of +her bread and cookie. Her yellow +bowl looked as if Deborah had +lapped it dry.</p> +<p>“After supper, we play games. +It’s great fun,” said Sally, as they +were folding their bibs.</p> +<p>The bell rang, and the long +line of children formed once +more.</p> +<p>They marched out through the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +long hall, up the broad stairs to +the play room.</p> +<p>There were little tables, with +low chairs to match. Some of the +tables held games.</p> +<p>In one corner of the room was +a great doll house, that a rich lady +had given to the Home.</p> +<p>In another corner was a small +wooden swing with two seats.</p> +<p>A rocking horse stood near the +window, and a box of bean bags +lay on a low shelf near by.</p> +<p>Soon all were playing happily, +except Clematis, who stood near +the window.</p> +<p>She was looking at the trees, +which were sending out red buds. +The sun had set, and the sky was +rosy with the last light of day. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“Don’t you want to play?” +asked Miss Rose, coming across +the room.</p> +<p>Clematis shook her head.</p> +<p>“What would you like to do, +dear?”</p> +<p>Clematis thought a moment.</p> +<p>“I should like to help Katie in +the kitchen. She must need some +little girl.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose smiled. “If Clematis +can get down into the kitchen, +she can see her kitten,” she +thought. “She is a sly little puss +herself.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think you could go +down tonight, but if you are a +good girl I am sure Katie will +want you to help her before +long.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></p> +<p>Clematis smiled.</p> +<p>“Come now, and I will ask +Jane to show you the doll house.”</p> +<p>So the little girls took Clematis +over to the doll house that stood +in the corner.</p> +<p>Jane opened the front door, so +they could look in and see four +pretty rooms.</p> +<p>Lace curtains hung at the tiny +windows. New rugs were on the +floors.</p> +<p>There was a tiny kitchen, with +a tiny stove and tiny kettles, +all just like your own house. It +was enough to make any girl +happy.</p> +<p>It was so much fun that Clematis +forgot to be sad, and was +not ready to leave the doll house +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +when the bell rang once more. +It was bedtime.</p> +<p>“That is the sleepy bell,” said +Jane, closing the door to the doll +house, and running toward the +stairs.</p> +<p>Clematis was at the end of +the row, as the girls went out of +the playroom, and Miss Rose spoke +as she passed through the door.</p> +<p>“I will show you where you +are to sleep, my dear. You go +with the other children, and I’ll +come in a few minutes.”</p> +<p>Clematis followed the other +children up the stairs to the sleeping +rooms.</p> +<p>Miss Rose soon came, and together +they went to the room at +the end of the hall. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p> +<p>How sweet that room looked +to the tired little stranger!</p> +<p>A white iron bed stood against +the wall, near the window. A +small table held a wash basin and +pitcher. There was a cup and +soap dish, too.</p> +<p>Two clean towels hung near by.</p> +<p>Best of all was the little white +bureau, with a mirror. The mirror +had a white frame.</p> +<p>There was a pink rug before +the bureau, and beside the bureau +was a white chair.</p> +<p>“Oh, my!” cried Clematis, “see +the flowers on the wall!” The +pink wall paper was covered with +white roses and their green +leaves.</p> +<p>Miss Rose took a white nightdress +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +from the bureau, and laid it +on the bed.</p> +<p>“Now, Clematis, I shall give +you just ten minutes to undress. +When I come back I want you to +be all ready for me.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose went out, and Clematis +started on her shoes.</p> +<p>“I guess she don’t know how fast +I can undress,” she said to herself.</p> +<p>When Miss Rose came back, +in ten minutes, she found Clematis +already in bed, and half asleep.</p> +<p>“Why Clematis, this will never +do!” Miss Rose pulled back the +sheet and made Clematis sit up.</p> +<p>There, beside the bed, was a +pile of clothes. There were the +stockings, just as she had pulled +them off. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>The boots were thrown down +on the clean gingham dress, and +the fresh apron was sadly crushed.</p> +<p>“I am sorry, little girl,” said +Miss Rose, “but you will have to +get right up.”</p> +<p>“Why?” asked Clematis.</p> +<p>“No little girl can go to bed +without washing her face and +hands. No little girl can leave +her clothes like this.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t this my room?” said +Clematis, slowly getting out of bed.</p> +<p>“It is for tonight. We always +let a new child sleep alone the +first night.”</p> +<p>“Wasn’t I quick in getting into +bed? Why must I get up?”</p> +<p>“Look, dear. Look at that +pile of clothes.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I always leave them +there,” replied Clematis. “Then +I know just where to find them +in the morning.”</p> +<p>“We don’t do so here, Clematis. +Now please pick up the clothes, fold +them, and put them on the chair.</p> +<p>“Then put your boots under +the chair, and take off your pretty +hair ribbon.”</p> +<p>Clematis gathered the clothes +together, but she was not happy.</p> +<p>“I know you are tired, dear, +but I am tired too, and we must +do things right, even if we are +tired.</p> +<p>“Now I must show you how to +wash, and brush your teeth, and +then have you say your prayers, +before I can leave you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></p> +<p>“Oh bother!” sighed Clematis.</p> +<p>“No, we mustn’t say words like +that. Come now, we will get +washed.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose poured some water +from the pitcher, and made Clematis +wash her hands, and arms, and +face, carefully. Then she took a +toothbrush from a box and gave +it to her.</p> +<p>“What is this for?” asked +Clematis.</p> +<p>“Why dear,” answered Miss +Rose in surprise, “that is a tooth +brush.”</p> +<p>“A tooth brush! Why, there +is no hair on my teeth.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose laughed. “No dear, +perhaps not, but we must brush +them carefully each night with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +water, or they will soon be +aching.”</p> +<p>“Will that stop teeth from +aching?”</p> +<p>“Yes indeed, it will help very +much to keep them from aching.”</p> +<p>“All right, then.” Clematis +began to brush her teeth. “My +teeth ached last week. I nearly +died,” she answered.</p> +<p>The teeth were cleaned, and +Clematis was ready for bed.</p> +<p>“Now dear, let us say our +prayers.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know any prayers.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose looked at Clematis +in pity. “Don’t you really know +any prayers at all?”</p> +<p>“Would you know any prayers +if you had never learned any?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></p> +<p>Miss Rose smiled sadly.</p> +<p>“Well, then,” she said, “we +will learn the Lord’s Prayer, and +then you will know the most +beautiful prayer of all.”</p> +<p>They knelt down together, and +Clematis said over the words after +Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“Now good night, dear, and +pleasant dreams,” said Miss Rose, +as she tucked her in.</p> +<p>“Good night,” said Clematis.</p> +<p>The door closed, and all was +dark.</p> +<p>The maple trees swayed gently +outside the window.</p> +<p>They nodded to Clematis, as +she watched them with sleepy eyes.</p> +<p>One little star peeped in at her +through the maple tree.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='WHO_IS_CLEMATIS' id='WHO_IS_CLEMATIS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>WHO IS CLEMATIS?</h3> +</div> + +<p>The bright sun was shining on +the red buds of the maple tree +when Clematis woke the next +morning.</p> +<p>It was early. The rising bell had +not rung. Clematis got up and +looked out of the open window.</p> +<p>She could see nothing but +houses across the street, but the +buds of the maple were beautiful +in the sun.</p> +<p>“I wish I had some of those +buds to put in my room,” said +Clematis to herself.</p> +<p>She took her clothes, and began +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +to dress. While she was dressing, +she looked again at the maple buds, +and wanted them more than ever.</p> +<p>“If I reached out a little way, +I could get some of those, I just +know I could,” she thought.</p> +<p>As soon as she got her shoes on +she pushed the window wide open.</p> +<p>She leaned out. Some beautiful +buds were very near, but she +could not quite reach them.</p> +<p>She leaned out a little farther. +Then she climbed upon the window +sill.</p> +<p>They were still out of her reach.</p> +<p>For a minute she stopped. Then +she put one foot out in the +gutter. With one hand she held +the blind, and reached out to the +nearest branch. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span></p> +<p>At last she had it. She drew +it nearer, and broke off a piece +with many buds.</p> +<p>As the piece broke off, the +branch flew back again to its place, +and Clematis almost fell back +through the window to the floor.</p> +<p>She patted the red buds and +made a little bunch of them. She +filled her cup with water and put +the buds in it; then she put it on +the bureau.</p> +<p>Clematis was looking proudly +at them, when the door opened, +and Miss Rose came in.</p> +<p>She looked at Clematis, and +then at the buds.</p> +<p>“Why, Clematis!” she said.</p> +<p>Then she looked out the window. +There, several feet beyond +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +the window, was the broken end. +Drops of sap were running from +the white wood.</p> +<p>“How did you get those buds?” +asked Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“I reached out of the window,” +said Clematis, “why, was that +stealing?”</p> +<p>Miss Rose gasped.</p> +<p>“Clematis, do you mean to tell +me that you climbed out of the window +and reached for that branch?”</p> +<p>Clematis nodded. Tears came +into her eyes. She must have +done something very wrong, but +she did not know just what was +so wicked about taking a small +branch from a maple tree.</p> +<p>“I didn’t know it was stealing,” +she sobbed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></p> +<p>“It isn’t that, Clematis. It is +not wrong to take a twig, but +think of the danger. Don’t you +know you might have fallen and +killed yourself?”</p> +<p>Clematis wiped her eyes on her +sleeve.</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s nothing,” she said, +“I had hold of the blind all the +time. I couldn’t fall.”</p> +<p>“Now, Clematis, no child ever +did such a thing before, and you +must never, never, do it again. +Do you understand?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m.”</p> +<p>“Do you promise?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m.”</p> +<p>“Well then, let’s get ready for +breakfast.”</p> +<p>Clematis washed her face and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +hands, brushed her hair, and +cleaned her teeth carefully.</p> +<p>Soon she was ready to go down +stairs, and took one of the maple +buds to put in her dress.</p> +<p>As they went out, Miss Rose +saw that she wanted to say something.</p> +<p>“Do you want something?” +she said.</p> +<p>“Can I help Katie this morning?”</p> +<p>“After breakfast I will ask +Mrs. Snow, but breakfast is +almost ready now.”</p> +<p>Just then the breakfast bell +rang, and Clematis marched in +with the other children. She was +thinking about Deborah, and wondering +if she had caught any rats. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span></p> +<p>For breakfast they had baked +apples, oatmeal with milk, and +rye gems.</p> +<p>It did not take them long +to eat this. Soon they were +through, and ready for the morning +work.</p> +<p>As they were getting up, Mrs. +Snow came to speak to Miss Rose.</p> +<p>Clematis held her breath when +she heard what was said.</p> +<p>“Perhaps this little girl would +like to go down and play with +her kitten a while. We can find +some work for her by and by.”</p> +<p>“Oh yes,” said Clematis, “I +would.”</p> +<p>“Well, you can tell Katie I +said you might. Be sure not to +get in her way.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>Off ran Clematis to the kitchen, +to find her dear Deborah.</p> +<p>There she was, curled up like a +little ball under the stove.</p> +<p>She looked with sleepy eyes at +Clematis, and crawled down into +her lap.</p> +<p>Then Clematis smoothed her +and patted her, till she purred her +very sweetest purr.</p> +<p>“Ah,” said Katie. “It’s a fine +cat. It caught a big rat in the +night, and brought it in, as proud +as pie.”</p> +<p>“Do you think they will let me +keep her?” asked Clematis.</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess so. If she catches +the rats, she will be welcome here. +You can be sure of that. I hate +rats.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></p> +<p>While Clematis and Deborah +were having such a good time in +the kitchen, Mrs. Snow took Miss +Rose to her room.</p> +<p>“Well, Miss Rose, have you +found out anything about that +strange little child?”</p> +<p>“Not very much yet. She +talks very little, and has had very +little care.”</p> +<p>“What makes you think so?”</p> +<p>“Why, the poor child didn’t +know what a tooth brush was for. +She said she always left her clothes +in a pile by the bed, because she +could find them all in the morning.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow sighed.</p> +<p>“Dear me, she will need much +care, to teach her how to do things +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +well. But I guess her folks will +come for her before long.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know who her folks +can be. She has never learned +any prayers.”</p> +<p>“Poor child, she must be a sad +case.” Mrs. Snow sighed again.</p> +<p>“But she is very fearless. This +morning, before I went to her +room, she had climbed out of the +window and broken off a piece +of the maple tree with buds on +it.”</p> +<p>“What, way up there at the +roof?”</p> +<p>“Yes, she said that was nothing, +for she had hold of the blind.”</p> +<p>“What did she want the branch +for?”</p> +<p>“She wanted it for the red +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +buds. She broke them off and +put them in her cup, like flowers.”</p> +<p>“Well, Miss Rose, take her +out to walk this afternoon, and +ask her some questions. Perhaps +you can find out where she lives.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CLEMATIS_BEGINS_TO_LEARN' id='CLEMATIS_BEGINS_TO_LEARN'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>CLEMATIS BEGINS TO LEARN</h3> +</div> + +<p>Clematis played with Deborah +all the morning. She forgot +about helping Katie, and when +Katie asked her if she wanted +to help her peel some potatoes, +she said:</p> +<p>“I don’t know how.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i14.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 292px; height: 460px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 292px;'> +“Didn’t you ever peel potatoes?”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>“Didn’t you ever peel potatoes?” +asked Katie.</p> +<p>“No, I never had to do any +work.”</p> +<p>“Well, you will have to be +doing some work round here. It’s +lucky for you that Mrs. Snow is +good to little girls. You would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +have a hard row to hoe in some +homes, believe me.”</p> +<p>Clematis was busy tying her +hair ribbon round Deborah’s neck, +and did not answer.</p> +<p>The morning went fast, and +the dinner was ready before Clematis +was ready to leave her kitten.</p> +<p>For dinner they had soup, in +the little yellow bowls, with a big +piece of Johnny cake, and some +ginger bread.</p> +<p>As soon as dinner was over, +Miss Rose brought Clematis a +brown coat.</p> +<p>It was not new, but it was +neat and warm, much better than +the one she had worn the day +before.</p> +<p>“Come, Clematis,” she said, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +“I am going out to walk. Don’t +you want to go with me?”</p> +<p>“Where are you going?” asked +Clematis, shrinking back.</p> +<p>“Oh, out in the park, and +down by the river. I think you +will like it.”</p> +<p>Clematis put on the coat as +quickly as she could. Then she +took Miss Rose by the hand.</p> +<p>“Come on, let’s go,” she said.</p> +<p>“You might wait till I get my +coat and hat on.” Miss Rose was +laughing at her.</p> +<p>Soon they were down by the +river. Miss Rose sat on the +gravel, while Clematis ran along +the edge of the water.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></div> +<p>She sailed bits of wood for +boats, and threw little stones in, +to see the rings they made. She +was very, very happy.</p> +<p>“Clematis,” said Miss Rose, +“don’t you remember the street +you lived on?”</p> +<p>Clematis thought a minute.</p> +<p>“How would you know the +street you lived on if nobody ever +told you?”</p> +<p>Miss Rose thought a moment.</p> +<p>“Don’t you remember your +mother’s name?”</p> +<p>Clematis shook her head.</p> +<p>“I don’t remember. It was a +long time ago.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean she died a long +time ago?”</p> +<p>Miss Rose asked her some +other questions. At last she +said: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>“Well, tell me the name of the +man you lived with.”</p> +<p>“His name was Smith.”</p> +<p>“Oh dear, there are so many +Smiths, we shall never guess the +right one. Dear me, Clematis. +I don’t know how we shall ever +find your home.”</p> +<p>Clematis threw a big stone into +the water, which made a big +splash.</p> +<p>“I hope you never will,” she +said.</p> +<p>“Why, Clematis! Do you mean +that you wish never to go back +where you came from?”</p> +<p>“Well, how would you like to +live in a place where you had to +stay in an old brick yard all day, +and never saw even grass?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i04.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 304px; height: 461px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 304px;'> +Thinking of the land of flowers<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></div> +<p>Miss Rose thought a while. +Then she got up and started back +to the Home.</p> +<p>Clematis followed her slowly. +She was sorry to go.</p> +<p>That night Mrs. Snow talked +with Miss Rose again.</p> +<p>“She must have lived in the +city,” said Miss Rose. “She had +to stay in a yard paved with +bricks all day. She doesn’t remember +her parents at all. She ran +away, that is sure.”</p> +<p>“I hardly know what to do,” +said Mrs. Snow, at last. “She +can stay here for a while, and +perhaps the people she lived with +will find her here.”</p> +<p>So Mrs. Snow told the policeman +what they had found out, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +and he said they would do the +best they could to find her people.</p> +<p>That night Clematis did not go +to the little room near the maple +tree to sleep. She went into the +big room.</p> +<p>Jane slept in the bed next to +hers. Miss Rose told her to see +that Clematis had what help she +needed in going to bed.</p> +<p>The day had been a busy one +for Clematis. She was very +sleepy.</p> +<p>“I guess I won’t bother with +teeth and things tonight,” she +said to herself.</p> +<p>So she pulled off her clothes, +and got into bed.</p> +<p>“Oh Clematis, you can’t do +that. You’ve got to pick up your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +clothes, and clean your teeth, and +do lots of things.”</p> +<p>Jane came and shook her, as +she snuggled under the clothes.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m too tired tonight. +I’ll do it tomorrow night.”</p> +<p>Clematis did not stir.</p> +<p>Just then Miss Rose came into +the sleeping room.</p> +<p>She saw Jane trying to get +Clematis out of bed. She also +saw the pile of clothes.</p> +<p>“Clematis, I can’t have this. +Get right out of bed, and do as I +told you last night.”</p> +<p>She wanted children to obey +her, and she had tried to be very +kind to Clematis.</p> +<p>The other children giggled, as +Clematis got slowly out of bed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></p> +<p>But Miss Rose frowned at them.</p> +<p>“You see that she does every +single thing she ought,” said Miss +Rose to Jane, “and if she doesn’t, +you tell me.”</p> +<p>Then Miss Rose went away, +and left the girls to get ready for +bed.</p> +<p>Poor Clematis had a hard time +of it. The other girls made fun +of her, because she was so clumsy +and slow. At last she got her +clothes folded up, and went to +wash.</p> +<p>“She isn’t washing her neck +and ears,” said Jane to herself, +“but I guess I won’t tell.”</p> +<p>So at last Clematis got into bed +again, and went to sleep.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CLEMATIS_HAS_A_HARD_ROW_TO_HOE' id='CLEMATIS_HAS_A_HARD_ROW_TO_HOE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>CLEMATIS HAS A HARD ROW TO HOE</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was all Jane could do the +next morning to make Clematis +get up when the rising bell rang.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to get up yet,” +grumbled Clematis. “I will get +up pretty soon.”</p> +<p>“No you won’t either. You’ll +get up right off now. We have +to be ready for breakfast in fifteen +minutes.”</p> +<p>Jane pulled down the clothes, +while the other girls laughed. +Poor Clematis had to get up.</p> +<p>At first she was cross, but when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +she looked out of the window, she +smiled.</p> +<p>From this window she could see +way off to a beautiful hill, golden +brown in the morning sun.</p> +<p>Part way to the hill was a +river. Its little waves shimmered +and danced. Its shores were quite +green already.</p> +<p>Now Clematis was wide awake +and happy. She started to dress.</p> +<p>“Wash first,” said Jane.</p> +<p>Clematis started to grumble +again, but when she looked into +the mirror above the wash stand, +there was the river, smiling at her +in the mirror.</p> +<p>She knew this river. She had +been there. Perhaps she would +go again some day. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>For breakfast they had a bowl +of oatmeal and milk, with two +slices of bread.</p> +<p>Clematis looked around while +they were eating.</p> +<p>“Don’t you ever get a cup of +coffee for breakfast?” she asked +of Sally, who sat next to her.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, never, but sometimes +we have cocoa, on real cold mornings.”</p> +<p>Clematis turned up her nose a +little. She did not care much for +oatmeal.</p> +<p>“I like doughnuts and coffee a +great deal better,” she said.</p> +<p>“Huh, you won’t have any +doughnuts and coffee round here,” +said Jane. “You’d better eat +what you have.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span></p> +<p>Clematis took her advice, and +had just finished her bread, when +the bell sounded.</p> +<p>“Now, Clematis,” said Miss +Rose, “you are going to stay +here for a while anyway, so you +must take your part in the daily +work.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m.”</p> +<p>“I think you said yesterday you +would like to help Katie in the +kitchen.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes’m,” said Clematis. +She had been thinking of Deborah +and longing to see her.</p> +<p>“Well, let’s go down and see +what Katie can find for you to +do.”</p> +<p>There was Deborah, sleeping +under the edge of the stove. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +Clematis took her while Miss Rose +was asking Katie.</p> +<p>“This little girl thinks she +would like to have some work +down here in the kitchen, Katie. +Is there anything you would like +her to do?”</p> +<p>“Ah, no thank you, Miss +Rose, she wouldn’t be any use at +all.”</p> +<p>Clematis looked up. She did +not feel very happy.</p> +<p>“Why, don’t you think she +could help you?” Miss Rose +looked surprised.</p> +<p>“No miss, she is no use at all. +Yesterday I asked her to peel +some potatoes, but she never +lifted a finger. She said she +didn’t know how.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>“Why, Clematis, I am surprised.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Clematis, “if you +never learned to peel potatoes, +would you know how to do it?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I think I should. Katie +would have shown you, if you +had been willing to try.”</p> +<p>Clematis hung her head, and +buried her face in Deborah’s soft +fur.</p> +<p>“You see, miss, she’s of no use +to me. She don’t want to work +at all. Her cat, now, is a worker. +She caught a big rat in the +night.”</p> +<p>“Well then, Clematis, we shall +have to ask Mrs. Snow to find +you something else to do.”</p> +<p>Clematis dropped her kitten, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +and the tears ran down her +cheeks, as she followed Miss Rose +upstairs.</p> +<p>Katie looked after her with a +sad smile.</p> +<p>“She’ll have a hard row to hoe +round here, believe me,” she said +to herself.</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow frowned when Miss +Rose told her.</p> +<p>“I am very sorry,” she said. +“She may work with Jane, then, +in the dormitory. Jane is a good +worker and can teach her.”</p> +<p>Poor Clematis was rather +frightened when she heard that +she was to work in the dormitory. +She was afraid a dormitory was +some dark place like a prison. +She did not know that the dormitory +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +was the big room where +she had slept.</p> +<p>Soon Clematis was back in the +big room again. There she took the +place of another little girl, who +was making up the beds with Jane.</p> +<p>“Hurry up now,” said Jane. +“We have got to get these beds +all made up before nine o’clock. +School begins then.”</p> +<p>She showed Clematis how to +tuck the sheet in, down at the +foot, and pull it up smooth at +the head of the bed.</p> +<p>Clematis was looking out of +the window, way over the river, +to the sunny brown hill.</p> +<p>“There now. Why don’t you +look out?” said Jane. For Clematis +had given such a pull that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +she pulled all the clothes out at +the foot of the bed.</p> +<p>“I was looking out, so there,” +said Clematis.</p> +<p>“Yes, looking out of the window, +that’s all.” Jane was vexed.</p> +<p>“Now hurry up and get them +tucked in again.”</p> +<p>But Clematis was very clumsy, +and not very willing. She had +never had to make beds before. +She didn’t see any need of it.</p> +<p>“Why can’t you leave the +blankets till you go to bed, and +then just pull them up?” she said, +pouting.</p> +<p>“Because you can’t, that’s why. +And you’d better try, or you’ll +never get a chance to go to the +country.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p> +<p>“What do you mean? Who +goes to the country?”</p> +<p>Clematis came round the bed +and took Jane by the arm.</p> +<p>“Why, most of the children +who do well, or try hard to do +well, go to the country for two +weeks in the summer.”</p> +<p>“To the country where the +flowers grow, and where there is +grass all around?”</p> +<p>“Sure, and where they give you +milk and apple pie. Oh, apple +pie even for breakfast, and doughnuts +between meals. I had doughnuts +every day.”</p> +<p>“Crickety!” said Clematis.</p> +<p>“You’d better not let Miss Rose +hear you say that, and you needn’t +worry. You won’t go to any +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +country, when you can’t even +make beds.”</p> +<p>Clematis gave Jane a frightened +look, and started to work the best +she knew how.</p> +<p>But the best Clematis knew +how was very poor work, and by +the time the bell rang for school, +one bed still had to be done.</p> +<p>“Let it alone,” said Jane. “I +can make it up faster myself.”</p> +<p>Her hands and feet moved fast +enough to surprise little Clematis, +who followed her friend down to +the school room, wondering how +long it would take her to learn to +make beds.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='WHAT_CLEMATIS_FOUND' id='WHAT_CLEMATIS_FOUND'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>WHAT CLEMATIS FOUND</h3> +</div> + +<p>School began with music, and +Miss Rose went to the piano. +The minute she began to play, +Clematis stood up, and stared at +her.</p> +<p>“Sit down. Don’t stand up +now.” Jane pulled her sleeve.</p> +<p>But Clematis paid no attention. +She kept her eyes on the piano, +and seemed to hear nothing else.</p> +<p>The song was of Spring; of +birds, and brooks, and flowers. +Clematis listened to every word, +and when it was finished she sat +down with a sigh. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span></p> +<p>After the singing, they had a +class in reading.</p> +<p>Clematis stared at the words +on the blackboard, but could not +tell any of them.</p> +<p>“Have you learned any of your +letters?” asked Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“No’m,” said Clematis.</p> +<p>The other children giggled, for +Clematis was as large as Jane. +Jane was eight, and could read +very well.</p> +<p>“Tomorrow you must go into +the special class, and you must +work hard, and catch up as fast +as you can.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m.”</p> +<p>Clematis was angry. She didn’t +like to be laughed at.</p> +<p>At recess, all the children ran +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +out into the yard to play. It was +a large yard, with a high wooden +fence around it.</p> +<p>Glad to be free, Jane ran off to +find some chums, and left Clematis +to play by herself.</p> +<p>So Clematis wandered round by +the fence till she came to a sunny +spot, near the big maple tree with +the red buds.</p> +<p>Here she picked up a dead twig +and sat down, turning over the +dried leaves with the twig, and +throwing them in the air.</p> +<p>As she picked up the leaves, +she saw some blades of grass +beneath them.</p> +<p>Then she picked up more leaves, +and found many blades of grass +growing beneath their warm shelter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></p> +<p>Clematis got up and walked +near the fence, where the leaves +were thicker. There she poked +them away, and found longer +blades of grass, and new leaves, +green and shiny.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she said to herself, “I +hope I can come out here every +day.”</p> +<p>Then she stopped. She pushed +away some more leaves. She +looked around at the other children.</p> +<p>None of them were looking at +her.</p> +<p>She stooped, and took something +from under the pile of leaves.</p> +<p>Again she looked about, but +nobody was paying attention to +her. All the children were playing +games. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>Then a sound made her look +up. It was the bell. Recess was +over, and all the children were +going in.</p> +<p>Clematis put her hand into her +apron pocket quickly, and followed +the other children back to +school.</p> +<p>“How has the new girl done +today?” asked Mrs. Snow, just +before they sat down to dinner.</p> +<p>“She seems to feel more at +home,” replied Miss Rose. “She +doesn’t know her letters yet. I +guess she has grown up all by +herself.”</p> +<p>“That is too bad. I will give her +a test this afternoon, about three. +If she would like to play with +her kitten in the playroom for an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +hour, after dinner, she may do +so.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I am sure she would be +glad to see her kitten. She is a +queer child. At recess she stole +away all by herself, to play by +the fence.”</p> +<p>The children were coming in +now, and Mrs. Snow nodded to +Miss Rose, as she went to her +chair.</p> +<p>Little Sally had been just behind +Miss Rose as she said the +last words to Mrs. Snow. She +heard part of the words she said, +and began to whisper to her +neighbor.</p> +<p>“She said somebody stole something. +It must be that new girl. +See how queer she looks.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span></p> +<p>Then of course the neighbor had +to whisper to the girl next to her.</p> +<p>“Do you know what it was the +new girl stole? See how funny +she looks. She’d better not steal +anything of mine.”</p> +<p>In a minute Clematis knew +they were talking about her. She +didn’t know what it was, but she +knew it was unkind.</p> +<p>They were looking at her, and +talking to each other. Her face +turned red. She could not eat. +One hand went deep into her apron +pocket.</p> +<p>Miss Rose quickly saw that +something was wrong. She knew +that little girls often made fun of +the strangers, and it vexed her.</p> +<p>“Any little girl who is not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +polite,” she said, “may leave the +table at once.”</p> +<p>The girls stopped talking, but +they poked each other with their +feet under the table. They were +sure Clematis had stolen something, +for she looked just as if +she had.</p> +<p>“Come, Clematis, eat your +dinner now.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” said Clematis. But +it was hard to swallow the bread.</p> +<p>She drank the soup, and left +most of the bread by her bowl.</p> +<p>As soon as the bell rang, Miss +Rose beckoned to her.</p> +<p>“Would you like to take Deborah +to the playroom for a while, +and play with her there?”</p> +<p>Clematis looked very much surprised. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +She had expected some +new trouble.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes’m,” she gasped, and +started down to the kitchen, glad +to get away from the other girls, +who had been watching.</p> +<p>Then Miss Rose beckoned to +Jane.</p> +<p>“Jane, what were the girls +saying about Clematis at the +table?”</p> +<p>Jane hung her head. She did +not like to repeat such awful +things about Clematis, for she +really liked her, though it was +hard to teach her to work.</p> +<p>“Tell me, Jane. Miss Rose +wants to know.”</p> +<p>“The girls were saying she +stole something.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></p> +<p>“Stole something? Why, what +did she steal, Jane?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I just heard +them saying she had stolen something. +She looked just as if she +had.”</p> +<p>“Very well. Thank you, Jane.”</p> +<p>Jane went down to the school +room, where all the girls were +eager to know what Clematis had +stolen. But Jane could tell them +nothing.</p> +<p>“She just asked me what you +said,” Jane declared.</p> +<p>“That’s just like Jane,” cried +Sally. “She knows all the time, +only she won’t tell.”</p> +<p>While they were talking, Clematis +was finding a cosy corner in +the playroom, and smoothing out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +every hair on Deborah’s smooth +back.</p> +<p>Deborah seemed very happy, +and purred all the time.</p> +<p>“I don’t care if they do say +mean things, and make noses at +me. You won’t ever, will you, +Debby?”</p> +<p>“Purr, purr, purr,” said Deborah. +No indeed, she never would.</p> +<p>Time went fast, and it was +three o’clock before Clematis had +got Deborah settled down for +sleep in a little bed she made for +her beneath the window.</p> +<p>“Take her downstairs now, +Clematis,” said Miss Rose, coming +in. “Then come up to Mrs. +Snow’s room. We want to ask +you some questions.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></p> +<p>Again Clematis turned red. +She went slowly downstairs, with +Deborah under one arm. The +other hand deep in her apron +pocket.</p> +<p>“She surely looks as if something +were wrong,” thought Miss +Rose, as Clematis disappeared.</p> +<p>Clematis looked very unhappy +when she went to Mrs. Snow’s +room.</p> +<p>“Come in, little girl,” said +Mrs. Snow, kindly. “There are +some things I want to ask you +about.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” replied Clematis, her +lips quivering.</p> +<p>“First, I want to know what +all this talk is about. Some of +the girls were saying that you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +took something which did not +belong to you. Can that be +true?”</p> +<p>Clematis hung her head. The +tears came into her eyes.</p> +<p>“Don’t cry, Clematis,” said +Miss Rose. “Just tell Mrs. Snow +what it is, and perhaps we can +make it all right again.”</p> +<p>“What was it, little girl?” +asked Mrs. Snow, as she drew +her nearer.</p> +<p>“It was mine, I found it first,” +sobbed Clematis.</p> +<p>“Yes, but you must remember +that if we find a thing, that does +not make it ours. We must find +the true owner, and give it back. +That is the only honest thing to +do.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>“What was it you found?” +asked Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“I don’t kn-ow.”</p> +<p>“Where did you find it?”</p> +<p>“Do-wn by the fe-ence.”</p> +<p>“Where is it now, Clematis?” +Mrs. Snow spoke kindly, as she +wiped the child’s face with her +handkerchief.</p> +<p>“It’s in my pocket,” answered +Clematis.</p> +<p>She drew out her closed hand, +held it before the two ladies, and +slowly opened it.</p> +<p>Within lay a limp, withered +dandelion blossom.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='A_VISITOR' id='A_VISITOR'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>A VISITOR</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. Snow still tells the story +of how Clematis stole the first +dandelion of the springtime, out +under the leaves.</p> +<p>People laugh when they hear +the story. You see, it all came +about because the children told +tales on each other, and it was +a good joke on them.</p> +<p>But as Clematis stood there, before +Mrs. Snow and Miss Rose, she +didn’t see the joke at all. She cried, +and hid her face in her arms.</p> +<p>“Come here, dear,” said Mrs. +Snow. “It is all right, and you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +shall have every dandelion you +find in the yard.”</p> +<p>“Wasn’t it stealing?” sobbed +Clematis.</p> +<p>“No, it was all right, if you +found it first.”</p> +<p>“And can I have all I find +first?”</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed you can.”</p> +<p>Clematis lifted her head, and +wiped the tears from her eyes.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she said, and seemed +happy once more. She smoothed +the limp little flower in her hot +hand.</p> +<p>“And now,” said Mrs. Snow, +“I wonder if you can tell us some +more about yourself.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m, I’ll tell you all you +ask, and I won’t tell any lies.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span></p> +<p>“I’m sure you won’t. Perhaps +you can remember, now, where +you lived before you came here.”</p> +<p>Clematis shook her head. “I told +Miss Rose every single thing,” she +said, “except—”</p> +<p>“Except what?”</p> +<p>“Except that I ran away.”</p> +<p>Clematis hung her head again.</p> +<p>“Why did you run away?”</p> +<p>“Well, wouldn’t you run away, +if you had to stay in a yard all +day that was nothing but bricks?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow smiled. “Perhaps +I would,” she replied.</p> +<p>“Didn’t you ever go out at +all?” asked Miss Rose, who had +been listening.</p> +<p>“Just sometimes, to go over to +the store. Just across the street +and back, and that was all bricks, +too.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i05.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 305px; height: 459px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 305px;'> +Clematis held out her hand<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></div> +<p>“Do you think you could find +your way home again, if Miss +Rose went with you?”</p> +<p>Clematis shook her head. “Oh, +no. It was a long, long way. I +was most dead from walking.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow thought a moment. +Then she said, “Miss Rose tells +me that you have not learned to +read. Is that true?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m, I never learned to do +anything except count the change +I got. But I can learn to read, +and do numbers, too.”</p> +<p>Clematis spoke without sobbing +now. She was thinking of the +country, where girls went who +did well. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p> +<p>“Do you think you could take +her in a class by herself for a +short time?” Mrs. Snow asked, +turning to Miss Rose.</p> +<p>Miss Rose was about to answer, +when one of the older girls came +to the door.</p> +<p>“What is it, Ruth?”</p> +<p>“Please, Mrs. Snow, a man +wants to see you.”</p> +<p>“What is his name?”</p> +<p>“His name is Smith. He +wants to see you about a little +girl.”</p> +<p>As she said this, Miss Rose +looked up quickly.</p> +<p>Clematis also looked up. Her +face turned red, and she put a +finger in her mouth.</p> +<p>“Tell him to come in here.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span></p> +<p>In another minute a small, +thin man walked in.</p> +<p>He was poorly dressed, and +looked as if he had been ill.</p> +<p>“Did you wish to see me about +one of the children?” asked Mrs. +Snow.</p> +<p>“Yes, marm, about this little +girl right here.”</p> +<p>The man turned and smiled at +Clematis, who was standing close +by Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“Hello, Clematis, I thought I +should find you somewhere.”</p> +<p>Clematis smiled too, but she +did not speak.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Mrs. Snow, “are +you the one who took care of this +little girl?”</p> +<p>“Yes, marm. I’ve had her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +ever since she was a little +baby.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow thought a minute.</p> +<p>“I suppose you want to take +her home with you.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that. I +have no home to keep a child in, +and do right by her. You see, my +wife is sick most of the time.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you know any of her +folks who could care for her?”</p> +<p>“No, marm. Her mother came +to our house when Clematis was +a tiny baby. She said the father +was dead. Then she died too, +and we could never find out who +she was.”</p> +<p>“Do you know her last name?” +asked Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“No, miss. We never knew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +her last name. She said it was +Jones, but we never believed that +was the truth. This little girl we +just called Clematis.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t she have anything to +help you find out who she was?” +asked Mrs. Snow in surprise.</p> +<p>“Not a single thing, except this +picture.”</p> +<p>The man took out a small +photograph.</p> +<p>It showed three girls standing +together in front of a brick building.</p> +<p>“That is her mother on the +left, marm, but I don’t see how +the picture helps very much.”</p> +<p>“That is true. Still, the picture +is better than nothing.”</p> +<p>“That is just what we thought, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +marm,” Mr. Smith replied. “We +kept her along, hoping we should +find some one to claim her, but no +one came. She is too big for us +to care for now.”</p> +<p>“Then you are ready to give +her up?”</p> +<p>“Yes, marm, if you will care +for her. She is very restless, and +always wanting to run off.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow turned to Clematis.</p> +<p>“Do you think you would +rather stay here, than go back with +Mr. Smith?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” said Clematis, +quickly. She had been thinking +of the visits to the country. If +she went back to the yard, all +made of bricks, how would she +ever see the grass and flowers? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>“Very well, Mr. Smith. I +think you have done a good deal +to keep her as long as you have. +She was well fed, even if she +didn’t learn much.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, marm.”</p> +<p>Then Miss Rose took Clematis +out of the office, while Mrs. Snow +talked with Mr. Smith.</p> +<p>All the afternoon Clematis +wondered what they were going +to do with her.</p> +<p>After supper Miss Rose called +to her, as the children were going +to the playroom.</p> +<p>“Clematis,” she said, “do you +think that if you stayed here you +could work real hard, and learn to +do as the other children do?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></p> +<p>“Very well. Mrs. Snow finds +that we can keep you here. I will +try to teach you myself, so you +can catch up with the other children.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” said Clematis.</p> +<p>That is all she said, but she +was so glad, that she could not +sleep for a long time after she +went to bed.</p> +<p>She lay awake thinking, and +thinking, of the things she would +learn to do, so she might go at +last to the country, the land of +flowers, and grass, and birds; the +land where white clouds floated +always in a blue, blue sky.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_SECRET' id='THE_SECRET'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE SECRET</h3> +</div> + +<p>The next morning Clematis did +better in helping Jane with the +beds, and before many mornings +had passed she learned so well +that Miss Rose praised her for her +work.</p> +<p>When she wanted to stop trying, +and wanted to get up without +washing her face and hands, and +cleaning her teeth, she would look +out the window at the hill beyond +the river.</p> +<p>It seemed to smile at her and +say:</p> +<p>“Don’t forget the beautiful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +country, little girl. Remember +the birds and the flowers. Do +the best you can.”</p> +<p>But there were so many things +to do that it seemed to poor +Clematis as if she would never +learn half of them.</p> +<p>When she tried to help in setting +the table, she dropped some +plates.</p> +<p>She said things that made the +other girls cross, for she had +never learned to play with other +girls, and she forgot that she +could no longer do just as she +pleased.</p> +<p>Worst of all, she did not always +pay attention to study, and when +Miss Rose left her to do some +numbers, would be looking out of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +the window, instead of working +on her paper.</p> +<p>So the days went on, and spring +was almost over.</p> +<p>The dandelions had all blossomed +and grown up tall, with +white caps on their heads, and +there were no other flowers in +the yard.</p> +<p>One day Clematis found something +which made her almost as +happy as if she had found some +flowers.</p> +<p>At first she thought she would +keep it a secret, and tell no one +about it. Then she thought how +good Jane had been to her, so +she went up to her when she was +standing alone.</p> +<p>“Say, Jane, if I tell you a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +secret will you promise not to tell +anybody else?”</p> +<p>“Sure, I’ll promise,” said Jane. +“What is it?”</p> +<p>Clematis looked around. The +other children were playing games.</p> +<p>“Come over here,” she said.</p> +<p>She led Jane to the big board +fence which stood at the back of +the yard.</p> +<p>Then she got down on her +knees and took hold of one of +the boards. It was loose, and she +could pull it out.</p> +<p>“See, look through there,” said +Clematis, in a low voice.</p> +<p>Her face shone with pleasure +as she peeped through.</p> +<p>Jane knelt down, and peeped +through too. Beyond the fence +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +she could see into another +yard.</p> +<p>In this yard there was grass +growing, and flower-beds, where +the flowers were beginning to +grow up in green shoots.</p> +<p>But this was not all. Not far +from the fence, by a corner of +the garden, stood a low bush. +She could smell its sweet fragrance +from where she knelt.</p> +<p>“Do you see it?” whispered +Clematis.</p> +<p>“Of course I see it. I can +smell it too. It’s great.”</p> +<p>Jane took in a long breath of +the fragrance, and smiled at +Clematis.</p> +<p>“Oh, I wish I had some of +those blossoms.” Clematis looked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +eagerly at the blossoms. “Do +you know what they are, Jane?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes; those are lilacs.”</p> +<p>The two girls had just time to +take one more deep breath, full +of the fragrance from the lilac +blossoms, before the bell rang.</p> +<p>Jane kept her promise, and +while the lilacs lasted, they used +to go often to their secret place +and smell the fragrance of the +blossoms.</p> +<p>The first of July, some of the +girls began to start for their vacations +in the country.</p> +<p>Now it was harder than ever +for Clematis to stick to her work. +She kept thinking of the beautiful +fields, when she should have +been thinking of numbers. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span></p> +<p>“I don’t know what we are +going to do with you, Clematis,” +said Miss Rose one day.</p> +<p>“You do try hard sometimes. +You have learned to make beds +well. You are a good girl about +your clothes, morning and night. +But you are dreaming of other +things, I fear. What is it you +dream about so much?”</p> +<p>Clematis thought a moment.</p> +<p>“Do you think I will have a +chance to go to the country?”</p> +<p>She looked up at Miss Rose. +Her face was white and anxious.</p> +<p>“Why Clematis. I don’t +know. You wouldn’t be very +much help I am afraid. You +quarrel with the other children, +and you are very slow to learn.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p> +<p>“Yes’m,” said Clematis, and +hung her head.</p> +<p>“Still,” said Miss Rose, “you +might have a chance later. If +you try hard I will not forget +you.”</p> +<p>Clematis tried to feel happier +then, but there were so many +things to learn, and so few days +to learn them in, that she hardly +dared to hope very much.</p> +<p>She found it very hard to learn +to play happily with the other +children, and liked it much better +just to get Deborah all by herself +and play with her.</p> +<p>July went by, and the children +began to come back again. They +told stories of the wonderful +things they had seen, and now +Clematis was only too glad to sit +near them and listen.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i06.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 303px; height: 464px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 303px;'> +Clematis is better<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></div> +<p>“Oh,” said Sally, who had been +to Maine, “Mr. Lane had a field +almost as big as a whole city, full +of long grass and daisies.”</p> +<p>“Would he let you pick the +daisies?” asked Clematis.</p> +<p>“Of course he would; all you +wanted.”</p> +<p>“Where is Maine?” asked +Clematis, eagerly.</p> +<p>“Hear her talk,” said another +girl, named Betty, with a sniff. +“She needn’t worry, she’ll never +get a chance to pick any.”</p> +<p>Betty was not very kind, and +did not like Clematis. She often +made fun of the younger children.</p> +<p>Clematis turned red. Her eyes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +flashed, and she was about to +answer, when the supper bell +rang.</p> +<p>They had just sat down at the +table, when Betty said to a girl +near by:</p> +<p>“You ought to hear Clematis. +She thinks she is going to the +country. Just as if anybody would +have her around.”</p> +<p>Betty sat next to Clematis, who +heard every word.</p> +<p>She had tried to be a good girl +and learn, just as Miss Rose asked +her to.</p> +<p>Her face burned, and her eyes +flashed more than ever.</p> +<p>Before she stopped to think, +she turned and waved her spoon +before Betty’s face, saying: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span></p> +<p>“You can’t stop me. You’d +better keep quiet, you old pig!”</p> +<p>Betty was so startled that she +moved back. Her arm struck +her bowl of milk, and the milk +spilled out, all over the table.</p> +<p>Part of it spilled down into +her lap.</p> +<p>Then Clematis began to cry. +When Miss Rose sent her away +from the table, and up to her +bed, she went willingly.</p> +<p>She was glad to get away from +the other children.</p> +<p>Miss Rose saw how sad she +was, and knew how naughty +Betty had been, so she did not +punish her.</p> +<p>“I am very sorry you have +not learned to behave more +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +politely, Clematis. Perhaps this +will be a lesson to you.”</p> +<p>That was all she said before +Clematis went to bed, but +Clematis cried quietly a long, long +time.</p> +<p>She felt that she had made +every one look at her, right in +front of Mrs. Snow. What +would Mrs. Snow think of her +now?</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='TWO_DOCTORS' id='TWO_DOCTORS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>TWO DOCTORS</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was very late before +Clematis fell asleep that night, +and in the morning she had a +headache.</p> +<p>When she got up she had to +sit on the bed, she felt so dizzy.</p> +<p>Miss Rose found her sitting +there.</p> +<p>“Why, Clematis,” she said. +“Are you sick?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m, I guess so,” whispered +the poor little girl.</p> +<p>“Lie right down again, dear, +and perhaps you will feel better.”</p> +<p>They brought her a cup of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +cocoa, and some toast, for +breakfast, but she could not eat.</p> +<p>All day she lay there, pale +and sick.</p> +<p>In the afternoon old Doctor +Field came in to see her. He +sat down by the bed and asked +her some questions.</p> +<p>He looked at her tongue, and +felt her pulse. Then he took out +some little pills and gave them to +Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“I guess you had better put +her in a single room,” he said. +“Give her some of these in water, +every two hours during the day.”</p> +<p>He smiled at Clematis before +he went out. “I guess she will +feel better in the morning, when +I come again.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>But in the morning Clematis +was not better. She was worse.</p> +<p>“How did she pass the night?” +asked Doctor Field, as he felt +her pulse.</p> +<p>“Not very well,” said Miss +Rose. “She did not sleep much, +and had a good deal of pain.”</p> +<p>Doctor Field looked at her +chest and arms.</p> +<p>“It might be chicken pox, or +measles,” he said, “but I don’t +see any of the usual signs.”</p> +<p>Little Clematis lay and looked +at him steadily.</p> +<p>“Did you want something, +dear?” he asked.</p> +<p>“I want a drink,” she said. +“I want a drink of cold, cold +water.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></p> +<p>“Yes, dear, you shall have a +drink, of course you shall.”</p> +<p>The old doctor went into the +hall with Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“She may have a drink, but +only a little at a time. And I +wouldn’t let it be too cold. She +really gets enough water with her +medicine.”</p> +<p>Soon they brought Clematis a +little water in a cup. She raised +her head and drank it, but then +made a face and turned her head +away.</p> +<p>“It isn’t any good,” she said.</p> +<p>That evening old Doctor Field +came again. He looked carefully +at Clematis, and shook his head.</p> +<p>“I guess it’s only a slow +fever. It’s nothing catching,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +said. “She’ll be better in a few +days.”</p> +<p>The few days passed, but +Clematis was not better.</p> +<p>At night she was restless, and +slept little. Even when she did +sleep, her slumber was disturbed +by bad dreams.</p> +<p>She talked to herself during +these dreams, though people +couldn’t understand what she said.</p> +<p>Doctor Field came to see her +every day or two, but he could +not tell what her sickness was. +He always said:</p> +<p>“Just give her the medicine as +directed, and she will be better +soon.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose had asked Mrs. Snow +if she might take care of her, for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +she had come to love little +Clematis, and Clematis loved her +in return.</p> +<p>The school work did not take +her time very much now, so +Mrs. Snow was glad to let +Miss Rose care for Clematis.</p> +<p>If she stayed away very long, +Clematis would call for her. She +wanted her in the room.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Snow,” said Miss Rose, +one day, after Clematis had been +ill more than two weeks, “I am +very anxious about Clematis.”</p> +<p>“Is she no better?”</p> +<p>“No, I feel she is worse. She +keeps asking for a cold drink of +water, and says she is burning up. +I wish I dared give her some, and +keep her cooler.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p> +<p>“Well, I think I should follow +the doctor’s directions. It wouldn’t +be wise to do anything that is +not directed by him.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you suppose we could +have another doctor to look at +her, Mrs. Snow?”</p> +<p>“No, I fear not; not just now, +anyway.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose went back to the +little room upstairs with a sad +heart. She knew Clematis was +very ill.</p> +<p>That night she prayed that +something might be done for the +little sick girl, and the next +morning she felt as if her prayers +had been answered, when Doctor +Field came.</p> +<p>“I shall have to be away for a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +short time, Miss Rose,” he said, +after he looked at Clematis, and +felt her pulse.</p> +<p>“A young man, Doctor Wyatt, +will take my place, and I am sure +he will do all that can be done.”</p> +<p>“Can he come today?” asked +Miss Rose. “I wish he could see +her soon.”</p> +<p>“I will ask him. I think he +will be much interested in Clematis. +I should like to see her +well again myself, but I must be +out of town a few weeks.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I hope he will come +today, and I hope he will take an +interest in my little girl,” said +Miss Rose to herself.</p> +<p>“I know she can be cured, if we +only know what is the matter.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span></p> +<p>That afternoon Doctor Wyatt +came. Miss Rose was glad +when she saw him, for he was +so kind, and so wise, that she +knew he would do the best he +could.</p> +<p>The afternoon was hot, and +Clematis was covered with hot +blankets, as directed by Doctor +Field.</p> +<p>Dr. Wyatt took the blankets, +and threw them off.</p> +<p>“The poor child will roast under +those,” he said.</p> +<p>Then he sat beside her, and +watched her.</p> +<p>“Is there anything you would +like?” he said at last, in a pleasant +voice.</p> +<p>“Yes, I want a cold drink of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +water.” Her voice sounded faint +and feeble now.</p> +<p>“What does she have to +drink?” asked Doctor Wyatt.</p> +<p>“We give her water now and +then, as directed by Dr. Field. +But we do not give her very much, +and not very cold.”</p> +<p>“Have you any oranges in the +house?”</p> +<p>“I could get some.”</p> +<p>“Then take the white of an +egg, and put with it the juice of a +whole orange. Add half a glass +of water, with pieces of ice.</p> +<p>“Have good big pieces of ice,” +Doctor Wyatt called after her, as +he saw that Clematis had fixed her +eye on him.</p> +<p>Clematis smiled when he said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +that, and turned toward him with +a sigh.</p> +<p>Soon Miss Rose came back with +the glass. Dr. Wyatt held it to +the lips of the little sick girl. She +drank slowly.</p> +<p>“Oh thanks,” she whispered, +when he took the glass away.</p> +<p>“Give her some of that +whenever she asks for it,” he +said.</p> +<p>“Now tell me about the +nights,” the doctor went on.</p> +<p>“She is restless, and sleeps +very little. She has bad dreams +when she does sleep, and talks to +herself.”</p> +<p>“What does she talk about?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. We can’t +make out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>“Do you keep the room lighted +at night?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, it is kept dark.”</p> +<p>“Well, tonight keep it lighted. +People who have bad dreams are +often frightened by the dark.”</p> +<p>“Shall I give her the medicine +as directed?”</p> +<p>“No, don’t give her any more +medicine at present. Give her all +she wants of the orange and egg. +I’ll be back in the morning.”</p> +<p>And Dr. Wyatt was gone.</p> +<p>“He’s a good doctor,” said +Clematis, licking her dry lips. “I +want a drink.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose smiled, and put the +glass to her lips.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i07.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 303px; height: 463px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 303px;'> +Off for Tilton<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='A_LONG_ANXIOUS_NIGHT' id='A_LONG_ANXIOUS_NIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>A LONG, ANXIOUS NIGHT</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Well,” said Doctor Wyatt, +the next morning, “how is Clematis +today?”</p> +<p>“She seems a little more comfortable,” +said Miss Rose.</p> +<p>The doctor sat by her for half +an hour. He felt her pulse, and +looked her all over. Then he +shook his head.</p> +<p>That day he spent a long time +studying his books.</p> +<p>In the evening he came again, +and sat by Clematis. He shook +his head, sadly.</p> +<p>“I must tell you, Miss Rose, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +that Clematis is a very sick little +girl,” he said, as they stood in +the hall.</p> +<p>“Can’t you do anything for +her?” The tears sprang to her +eyes.</p> +<p>“Perhaps I can. If she is no +better tomorrow, I shall feel very +anxious.”</p> +<p>Again that night the doctor +spent a long time over his big +books. Then he went and talked +with doctors in the hospital.</p> +<p>“I shall be here most of the +time tonight,” he said the next +morning. “Keep her cool, and as +comfortable as you can.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose went back to the +bed with aching heart.</p> +<p>“Oh, if we only knew what +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +was the matter with you, Clematis,” +she thought, as she looked +at the little white face.</p> +<p>In the evening Doctor Wyatt +came back once more.</p> +<p>“Now, Miss Rose,” he said, +“you are very tired. You must +go away for a walk, or a visit, or +a rest. I will take care of her +tonight.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think I had better +stay, too?”</p> +<p>“No, you must rest. Please +have a cup of coffee sent to me +about ten. I shall stay right +here. You will be needed tomorrow.”</p> +<p>Doctor Wyatt sat down to +watch by Clematis.</p> +<p>It was a warm evening, so he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +gave her a drink, and fanned her, +to cool her hot face.</p> +<p>As it grew late, she fell into a +light sleep. As she slept, she +began to talk in low tones.</p> +<p>The doctor bent his head down +very near her lips, and listened +carefully to everything she said.</p> +<p>Hour after hour he watched +and listened, until he, too, fell +asleep, just as the sun was coming +up.</p> +<p>Miss Rose found him there in +the morning, sleeping in his chair, +close by the bed.</p> +<p>“Miss Rose,” he asked, as he +started up, “did this little girl want +anything very much indeed?”</p> +<p>“Yes, she did. She wanted to +go to the country, as the other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +children did, but it did not seem +quite possible.”</p> +<p>“That’s it! That’s just it!” +exclaimed Doctor Wyatt. “She +spoke of flowers, of lilacs and +daisies. I couldn’t tell much +what she said, but I could hear +those words.”</p> +<p>At that moment, Clematis +opened her eyes and stared about +her.</p> +<p>Doctor Wyatt took one thin, +frail hand in his big brown ones.</p> +<p>“Clematis,” he said in a loud, +firm tone, “I know a lovely place +in the country. If you will get +well, you can go there for two +whole weeks.”</p> +<p>Clematis stared at him, but did +not seem to hear him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span></p> +<p>“I want a drink,” she said +feebly.</p> +<p>He put the glass to her lips.</p> +<p>“You can pick daisies, and +goldenrod, and all sorts of flowers +in the country, if you’ll just get +well, can’t she, Miss Rose?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Clematis, you can.” +Miss Rose tried to speak cheerfully, +but it was hard. She +wanted to cry.</p> +<p>Clematis stared at her also +for a minute, and then turned +away.</p> +<p>“I’ll go get some sleep now. +Keep her cool and comfortable, +till I come back again this evening.”</p> +<p>The day passed slowly. Mrs. +Snow came in two or three times +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +to look at Clematis, and feel her +pulse.</p> +<p>Some of the other teachers +came to peep in also. They +went away softly, wiping their +eyes.</p> +<p>“She is a queer little girl,” +said one, “but I do love her.”</p> +<p>That is what they all felt.</p> +<p>At evening Doctor Wyatt returned. +He looked anxious, as +he took his seat beside the bed.</p> +<p>“I shall stay till about ten, +Miss Rose, so you must rest now.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to go,” said +Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“You must, you will be needed +later. She will need great care +tonight, I think.”</p> +<p>At ten, Miss Rose returned. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +She had not rested much, and was +glad to get back to the bedside.</p> +<p>“Here is my telephone number, +Miss Rose. You can get me very +soon by calling me up. Watch +her carefully, and if you see any +change at all, send for me at +once.”</p> +<p>“Do you think there may be +a change tonight?” Miss Rose +looked straight into his face to +see just what he meant.</p> +<p>“Yes, Miss Rose, there may +be, and I hope it will be for the +better.”</p> +<p>“You hope?” Miss Rose held +her breath a minute.</p> +<p>“Yes, let us hope. Hope does +more than all the medicine in the +world.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>The minutes crept along into +hours, and midnight passed, while +Miss Rose watched.</p> +<p>Clematis seemed restless, but +she did not talk to herself any +more.</p> +<p>Miss Rose held the glass to +her lips now and then, but she +did not drink.</p> +<p>When Miss Rose wiped her +face with a cold, wet cloth, she +smiled a faint little smile, as if +she liked it. Then the look of +pain would come again, as she +turned restlessly.</p> +<p>The clock outside struck one. +How slowly the minutes went.</p> +<p>At last it struck two, and a +breeze stirred the leaves outside.</p> +<p>They were the leaves of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +maple Clematis had broken in the +early Spring. Now they seemed +to whisper softly to each other.</p> +<p>All else was silent.</p> +<p>Miss Rose had watched a long +time. Many days she had been +by the bed. Her eyes began to +droop.</p> +<p>“I’ll rest my head just a +minute,” she thought, and leaned +back upon the chair.</p> +<p>Slowly the clock struck three. +As the last stroke came, Miss Rose +stirred, and opened her eyes.</p> +<p>Then she started up.</p> +<p>“I must have been asleep,” she +said aloud. “Oh, shame on me +for sleeping, when I promised to +watch.”</p> +<p>She looked down at the bed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></p> +<p>Clematis lay there, peaceful +and quiet. Her little hand was +white and still as marble. Her +face seemed very happy. All pain +was gone, and a smile lay upon +the pale lips.</p> +<p>“Oh, little Clematis. To think +I should have been asleep!”</p> +<p>Miss Rose took out her handkerchief, +and bent her head down +on the bed, weeping.</p> +<p>A slight sound seemed to come +from the pillow. Miss Rose looked +up.</p> +<p>The child’s eyes were open +wide. She was looking at her in +wonder.</p> +<p>“He said I could go, didn’t +he?” said Clematis in a faint +voice. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></p> +<p>Miss Rose choked down her +sobs.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes, Clematis, he did, he +did.”</p> +<p>“Well, then, what are you +crying about?”</p> +<p>Clematis closed her eyes again +and lay, still as before, with a +little smile on her lips.</p> +<p>Miss Rose was so astonished +that she sat staring at her for +some minutes, until she heard a +step in the hall.</p> +<p>It was Doctor Wyatt.</p> +<p>He came in softly and looked +at the little figure on the bed.</p> +<p>He felt her pulse, and listened +to her heart. Then he smiled, +and led Miss Rose from the +room. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span></p> +<p>“She is all right now,” he +whispered. “Let her sleep as long +as she can.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='GETTING_WELL' id='GETTING_WELL'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>GETTING WELL</h3> +</div> + +<p>Clematis slept all night, and +all the next day. It was evening +when she woke.</p> +<p>Miss Rose was beside the bed, +and heard her as she moved.</p> +<p>“Do you feel better now, dear +little girl?” asked Miss Rose.</p> +<p>Clematis looked at her a +moment with eyes wide open.</p> +<p>“He said I could go, didn’t +he?” she asked.</p> +<p>“Yes, surely he did, and you +can go; you shall go just as soon +as you are well.”</p> +<p>Clematis smiled a happy smile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span></p> +<p>“I want a drink of that orange +juice.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose brought a glass with +ice in it, and held it, while +Clematis sipped it slowly. Then +she washed her face and hands in +cold water.</p> +<p>“Thanks,” the little girl whispered, +as she turned on the pillow, +and went off to sleep again.</p> +<p>There was great joy all through +the Home, for every one knew that +Clematis was getting well.</p> +<p>Doctor Wyatt came every day +to look at his little sick girl, and +laugh, and pat her cheeks.</p> +<p>“You just wait till you see the +apple pies my aunt can make,” +he would say.</p> +<p>Then Clematis would smile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span></p> +<p>“Tell me about the garden. +Are there any lilacs?”</p> +<p>“No lilac blossoms now, little +sister, but asters, and hollyhocks, +and goldenrod. You just wait +till you see them.”</p> +<p>Then the doctor would go out, +with another laugh.</p> +<p>Soon Clematis got so well that +she could sit up in bed.</p> +<p>Miss Rose would sit by the +window, sewing, and sometimes +she would read a story.</p> +<p>One afternoon she saw that +Clematis was anxious about something. +She had a little wrinkle +in her forehead.</p> +<p>“What is it you are thinking +about? Is there something you +want?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i08.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 299px; height: 465px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 299px;'> +In the country at last<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span></div> +<p>Miss Rose went and stood by +the bed, smoothing her forehead +with her soft hand.</p> +<p>“I was thinking,” said Clematis. +“I was thinking that—that +perhaps I could have Deborah +come to see me, just for a minute.”</p> +<p>“Well, you wait a minute, and +I’ll see.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose went out, and Clematis +waited to hear her steps +again. She had not seen Deborah +for a long time.</p> +<p>Soon she heard Miss Rose coming +back. She shut her eyes till +the footsteps came up to the bed, +and before she opened them, there +was a little pounce beside her.</p> +<p>Her dear Deborah was rubbing +a cold nose against her cheek, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +purring how glad she was to see +her.</p> +<p>Clematis smoothed and patted +her a long time, as she lay purring +close by her side.</p> +<p>After that, Deborah came up +often, and lay there on the bed, +while Miss Rose sewed by the +window.</p> +<p>“What are you sewing?” asked +Clematis one day, when she was +well enough to sit up.</p> +<p>“What do you suppose?”</p> +<p>“It looks like a dress.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what it is. It’s +a new dress for a little girl to +wear to the country.”</p> +<p>“Oh, who is going to have +it? Let me see it. Please hold +it up.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span></p> +<p>Miss Rose held the dress before +her. It was nearly done.</p> +<p>The skirt was of serge, navy +blue, with two pockets. With it +went a middy blouse, with white +lacings at the neck, and white stars +on the sleeves.</p> +<p>“Oh, please tell me. Who is +going to have it?” The child’s +eyes danced as she saw the pretty +dress.</p> +<p>“I’ll give you just one guess,” +said Miss Rose, smiling.</p> +<p>Clematis gasped. Could it be +for her? She had never dreamed +of owning a dress like that.</p> +<p>The little girl sat there a +moment, without speaking. Then +she pointed one finger at herself.</p> +<p>“Right, the very first time,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +said Miss Rose. “This blouse is +to travel in. There is another.”</p> +<p>She reached down and lifted +another blouse. This was white, +with blue collar and cuffs, and a +blue star on the sleeve.</p> +<p>All this was too much for +Clematis. The tears stood in +her eyes, and she breathed fast. +But she did not say very much to +speak her gratitude.</p> +<p>“Oh, thanks,” was all she said. +Miss Rose saw in her face how +much it all meant to her.</p> +<p>“I am proud of this little patient,” +said Doctor Wyatt, the +next day. “If she keeps on at +this rate, we can send her up to +Tilton next week.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i15.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 295px; height: 458px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 295px;'> +“What are you sewing?”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span></div> +<p>How her eyes shone! How her +heart jumped! The very next +week she would be starting for +the land of her dreams.</p> +<p>She could see great fields of +grass, with daisies and clover. +Already she could see them +stretching out before her.</p> +<p>How she got through the days +before she was to start, she never +knew. She was well enough now +to sleep in the dormitory once +more; to eat with the other children, +and do some of the work.</p> +<p>“Now dear,” said Miss Rose, +the day before she was to start, +“I must leave you. I am going +away, too, for a vacation, so I +must say goodby today.”</p> +<p>Clematis looked up in surprise. +She never thought that grown +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +people wanted to go away. She +did not notice how pale and tired +Miss Rose was. It had been hard +work for her.</p> +<p>“You will try to help all you +can, won’t you, dear? Think +every minute of what you can do +to help. Then people will love +you, even if you make mistakes.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m, I will promise.”</p> +<p>“You can wear the blue blouse, +and you can put the white one in +the box I gave you, if you are +afraid of crushing it in the little +bag.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes’m, I don’t want to +put it in the bag.”</p> +<p>“Well, then, goodby, and have +a good time. Jerry will see that +you get on the right train.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p> +<p>Jerry was the old cab man, who +had a stand near the school, and +carried people to the station.</p> +<p>This was a new delight for +Clematis. What fun to ride to +the station with Jerry, in a cab!</p> +<p>All day the joyful thoughts of +her trip filled her mind. She +could think of nothing else. The +other children laughed at her, but +she never minded them at all.</p> +<p>She was going to the country, +to the birds, and flowers, and +fields, and that was all she +cared.</p> +<p>But as she was going to bed, +one thought seemed to disturb her. +She lay there thinking, with the +little anxious line across her forehead. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span></p> +<p>A long time she thought. Then +she spoke half aloud.</p> +<p>“That’s just what I’ll do,” +she said. “I’ve got to, anyway. +I don’t care if the blouse is crushed +a little.”</p> +<p>Then she went to sleep.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='OFF_FOR_TILTON' id='OFF_FOR_TILTON'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>OFF FOR TILTON</h3> +</div> + +<p>The day that she had longed +for came at last. The sun was +bright, the breeze was cool, and +Clematis was as happy as the +sparrows that hopped about in +the maple tree.</p> +<p>All the morning she ran here and +there, getting her things ready.</p> +<p>She had a small, black bag, +and the box Miss Rose left for +her extra blouse. Her things were +put into these.</p> +<p>Mrs. Snow had an early lunch +for Clematis, because she was +going on the one o’clock train. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></p> +<p>“I would rather eat it down in +the kitchen with Katie,” she said, +when they started to put a bowl +on the big table.</p> +<p>Katie was willing, so Clematis +had some bread and soup on the +corner of the kitchen table.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i03.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 300px; height: 463px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 300px;'> +With Katie in the kitchen<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>“It will be nearer the street, +so I will bring my things down +here,” she said.</p> +<p>She seemed very nervous, but +Katie thought it was because of +her trip.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, Miss Clematis,” +she said. “Jerry will soon be +here.”</p> +<p>“I know it.” Clematis looked +around. Then she slipped out +of her chair and went up to +Katie. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></p> +<p>She whispered a minute in her +friendly ear.</p> +<p>“Oh, now dearie, I wouldn’t +be doing that.”</p> +<p>Katie put her hand on the +little girl’s cheek, and shook her +head. “I don’t think they would +like it.”</p> +<p>But Clematis was very serious. +The tears came into her eyes as +she whispered again.</p> +<p>“Oh, please, please! I don’t +know what might happen.”</p> +<p>“Well, then,” answered Katie, +“what I don’t see, I don’t know +about. I’m going upstairs a +minute. Be quick now.”</p> +<p>She went upstairs, and Clematis +hurried into the small room +near the kitchen, with her box. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>In a minute she came out again, +looking all about.</p> +<p>When Katie came down, she +was drinking her soup. She could +not swallow the bread.</p> +<p>“Dear child,” said Katie, as +the bell rang. “I hope the worry +doesn’t make her sick again.”</p> +<p>Jerry was ready with the cab.</p> +<p>“All aboard, mum, I’ll take +your things.”</p> +<p>He started to take the box, +which she hugged up under one +arm.</p> +<p>“Oh, no thank you,” she cried, +and held on to it tighter than +ever.</p> +<p>Katie gave him the black bag +she had in her hand, and the next +minute Clematis was safe inside, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +and throwing a kiss to the friendly +cook.</p> +<p>Before he got to the station, +old Jerry stopped, and went into +a store. He came out with a big +paper bag.</p> +<p>“Katie told me to get this for +you, miss,” he said, as he passed +the bag to her through the open +window.</p> +<p>She peeped inside. There was +a smaller bag, and several big +peaches.</p> +<p>In the smaller bag were sandwiches, +and cream cakes.</p> +<p>What a treat! Clematis often +longed for peaches, but had not +tasted them very often.</p> +<p>In the station Jerry got down, +and led her to the train. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></p> +<p>“Here is a passenger for Tilton, +New Hampshire,” he said to +the conductor.</p> +<p>“All right, Jerry, I’ll look +after her.”</p> +<p>The big conductor smiled at +the little passenger.</p> +<p>“Come on, sister,” he said, as +he stooped to take her box.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, thank you,” said +Clematis, hugging it closer than +ever.</p> +<p>“She must have her money in +that,” laughed Jerry.</p> +<p>So the conductor took the two +bags, while Clematis carried the +box. He found her a seat +where she could be right by the +window.</p> +<p>Soon the train started. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +went across bridges, and through +the yards, till at last they came +to the open country.</p> +<p>There Clematis could see the +fields, and the flowers, which +grew close by the tracks.</p> +<p>As the train flew on, they +came to quiet woods, with little +brooks, and cows resting comfortably +in the shade.</p> +<p>There was so much to see, that +Clematis could not take her face +from the window a minute.</p> +<p>Farmers were at work in the +fields of wheat, and corn, and +oats. They were mowing and +raking. Some were throwing hay +into the big carts.</p> +<p>At last they came to a big +river that ran along by the track. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +Clematis could see people fishing +along the banks, and rowing on +the smooth water.</p> +<p>“I hope there is a river in +Tilton,” she thought.</p> +<p>It was a long time before she +thought of the peaches, and sandwiches. +When she did, she knew +she was very hungry, so she +opened the bag, and ate, while +she watched the river, and fields, +and forests.</p> +<p>One sandwich she broke in +halves. She raised the cover of +the box a little, and put one half +inside. Then she shut the cover +and tied the string.</p> +<p>“Tilton is the next station,” +said the conductor, at last.</p> +<p>They went along beside a small +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +river, across a bridge, and the +train stopped at Tilton.</p> +<p>“I guess that little girl is for +me,” said a tall man with a +pleasant face, as Clematis came +down the steps.</p> +<p>“Her tag says Mrs. Alder on +it, is that the one?” asked the +conductor.</p> +<p>“That’s right. I told Mrs. +Alder I would bring her along +when I came from the train.”</p> +<p>“Well, here’s her bag. She +won’t let any one touch her box. +She keeps her money in it. Goodby, +little girl.”</p> +<p>“Too—too—too-too.”</p> +<p>The whistle blew, the wheels +began to turn, and the long train +drew slowly away. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>“Right over here, little girl. +Climb right up on the seat. I’ll +hold your box.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no thank you,” said +Clematis. “I’ll keep it.”</p> +<p>Then she looked up at the +seat. How was she to climb up +there and hold her box?</p> +<p>Suddenly she was lifted off the +ground, and found herself safe on +the high seat.</p> +<p>“That’s the way we’ll fix it,” +said the man, with a smile. “Up +you go, money, box, and all.”</p> +<p>“Now I want to go up the +street about a mile or so, before +I take you to Mrs. Alder. I +don’t suppose you mind, do +you?”</p> +<p>Clematis shook her head. She +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +was happy at the thought of +another ride.</p> +<p>So they drove up a long hill. +As they reached the top, the man +stopped his horse, and looked +about.</p> +<p>“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” he said.</p> +<p>Clematis nodded, and looked all +about her.</p> +<p>The hill sloped down again into +a little valley, where the brook +ran between green meadows.</p> +<p>Beyond that, the pastures ran +up to meet the forest on another +hill.</p> +<p>Looking past this hill, she +could see the blue waters of a lake, +sparkling in the evening sun.</p> +<p>From the lake the ground rose +once more. Up and up it went, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +with pastures and forests, until it +came to the rocky crowns of three +mountains.</p> +<p>The mountains were a deep, +misty blue. Above them rose the +white August clouds, rolling on +and on, into the highest heaven.</p> +<p>Clematis drew a long breath.</p> +<p>“It is lovely,” she whispered.</p> +<p>Not far from where they +stopped was a white house, with +the blinds closed. Vines ran +about the front, and all seemed +lonely.</p> +<p>“Who lives there?” she asked, +finding her tongue at last.</p> +<p>“No one lives there now. A +nice old man used to live there, +but he had a good deal of sadness. +He shut up the house, and went +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +to live in a little place over near +Bean Hill.”</p> +<p>He pointed over to another hill +which rose in the east.</p> +<p>Clematis would have liked +to know more about the man +who could leave such a lovely +place, but the horse started on +again.</p> +<p>Soon they turned into another +road, and before long were turning +back toward the village.</p> +<p>All the way along, Clematis +could see the blue mountains in +the distance. She could not take +her eyes from them.</p> +<p>“Well, there is your house,” +said the man, at last, pointing to +a neat, white house.</p> +<p>Clematis looked all about. Yes, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +there were gardens, and flowers, +and fields, and trees.</p> +<p>There was a cow down by a +little brook.</p> +<p>Everything she had hoped to +find was there. There was a tall +maple beside the house.</p> +<p>“Well, this is Clematis, I +guess,” said a lady, coming down +the path.</p> +<p>“Thank you very much, Mr. +Ladd. I see she came right side +up.”</p> +<p>She took the bag Mr. Ladd +handed down, and reached for the +box that Clematis still hugged in +her lap.</p> +<p>Clematis started to explain, but +Mrs. Alder did not wait. She +was nervous and quick. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p> +<p>She pulled the box out of her +hands.</p> +<p>“Why Clematis, what is in +this box?” Mrs. Alder looked at +it in surprise.</p> +<p>Clematis did not answer. She +gasped, and turned red as a +rooster’s comb.</p> +<p>“It’s her money, Mrs. Alder,” +said Mr. Ladd, laughing. “She +has it tied up for safe keeping. +The conductor told me so.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder lifted one corner of +the box to peep in.</p> +<p>There was a scratching sound, +and then out popped a little white, +furry head, with sharp ears, and +one black eye.</p> +<p>It was Deborah.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_COUNTRY' id='THE_COUNTRY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE COUNTRY</h3> +</div> + +<p>When Mr. Ladd saw the little +white head peep out, he put his +head back and laughed.</p> +<p>“I pity the rats in your barn +now, Mrs. Alder,” he shouted.</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder frowned at first, but +when she looked at Clematis, and +saw her anxious face, she smiled.</p> +<p>“What on earth made you +bring that cat way up here?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“She’s my own cat. I was +afraid to leave her at the Home +all alone. Would you like to +leave your cat alone, where people +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +might throw it away while you +were gone?”</p> +<p>Just then a tall man with a +gray beard walked up.</p> +<p>“Never mind, Mary,” he said. +“We have plenty of milk in the +dairy, and plenty of rats in the +barn.”</p> +<p>By this time Clematis had +Deborah safe in her arms, and +Mr. Alder led the way to the +house, while Mr. Ladd drove off, +laughing as he went.</p> +<p>“Well, you can take the cat +down to the barn. I won’t have +it in the house,” said Mrs. Alder.</p> +<p>“All right, we’ll find a place +for her,” said Mr. Alder. He +took Clematis by the hand, and +they went down to the barn. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p> +<p>A gray horse poked his head +from a box stall to look at the +little visitor, and a little red hen +called her chickens, and hastened +away, clucking, as if she were +very angry.</p> +<p>Clematis turned to look at her.</p> +<p>“Did you ever have any chickens?” +asked Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, I never saw any.” +Clematis could not take her eyes +from the little chicks, as they ran +after their anxious mother.</p> +<p>“We have lots of things to +show you here. Let’s put your +cat up in the loft now.”</p> +<p>They went up a set of stairs, +and there was a loft, full of sweet +hay.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i16.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 302px; height: 468px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 302px;'> +Clematis stuck one hand out<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></div> +<p>“There now, Mrs. Tabby, you +will find a good bed, and good +hunting here.”</p> +<p>“Her name isn’t Tabby, it’s +Deborah,” said Clematis, as she +put her down.</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s quite a name. It +suits her very well.” Mr. Alder +led the way down again.</p> +<p>At the other end of the barn, +a red and white calf came up to +meet them.</p> +<p>It put out its wet nose to smell +the little visitor, and made her +start back.</p> +<p>“He wants to say ‘how do’. He +loves little girls,” said Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>Clematis stuck one hand out +timidly, and pulled it back again, +when the calf tried to lick it with +his rough tongue. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p> +<p>“He wants just a little taste,” +laughed Mr. Alder. “Come on +now. Here is something else.”</p> +<p>At the end of the barn, Clematis +could hear strange noises. +There, in the yard, were some +smooth, white animals running +about.</p> +<p>When Clematis came near the +fence, they ran and put their fore +feet up, and stuck their noses out.</p> +<p>“Uff, uff,” they said. Then +they squealed.</p> +<p>“Oh, I know! Those are pigs!” +cried Clematis, clapping her +hands.</p> +<p>Eight clean, white pigs were +grunting and squealing for their +supper.</p> +<p>“Squeal away, piggies,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +Mr. Alder. “Supper will be along +soon.”</p> +<p>In a moment, he brought from +the dairy a bright milk pail. +Then they went down to the gate, +and he called:</p> +<p>“Come boss, come boss. Come +Betty.”</p> +<p>A sleek, plump cow came over +the hill, and hurried down to the +gate. It was just the color of a +mouse.</p> +<p>“Dear old Betty. Steady now.” +Betty pushed through, and walked +fast to the barn, where she began +to whisper to her calf, and lap it +with her great rough tongue.</p> +<p>As Clematis came up, Betty +put her head down, and shook +her horns. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“Behave, Betty. You ought +to be ashamed,” said Mr. Alder. +“You see, she won’t let any +strangers near her calf.”</p> +<p>Then he took some grain and +put it in Betty’s box, while he tied +her head, and sat down on the +stool beside her.</p> +<p>Clematis had never seen a cow +milked before, and stood watching +the white streams which filled +the foaming pail, as if Mr. Alder +were a fairy. It seemed like +magic.</p> +<p>When the pail was full, Mr. +Alder poured some into a shiny +can, and took the rest to the +dairy.</p> +<p>There he poured it into a red +machine, with a big bowl. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +turned the handle, and soon two +streams came out.</p> +<p>“What is that for?” Clematis +thought this might be some new +magic. Indeed it was magic, +almost.</p> +<p>“This is the separator,” answered +Mr. Alder. “I pour the +milk in at the top, and turn the +handle. Then the cream comes +out of one spout, and the skimmed +milk from the other.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I see,” said Clematis, +though it really was all like magic +to her.</p> +<p>“Now I guess we are through. +Let’s go up and see what they +have for supper.”</p> +<p>Mr. Alder took the empty pail, +and led her back to the house, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +where supper was ready and +waiting.</p> +<p>The smell of hot biscuit made +Clematis feel very hungry, and she +was glad that supper was all ready.</p> +<p>With the biscuit, was golden +butter, and apple sauce.</p> +<p>“Do you like warm milk right +from the cow?” asked Mrs. Alder.</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” replied Clematis, +with a nod.</p> +<p>So Mrs. Alder put a little +pitcher, with a glass, not much +bigger than a thimble, beside her +plate.</p> +<p>She could pour it out herself, +as often as she emptied her glass.</p> +<p>“Better leave room for some +fresh blueberry pie, and a piece of +cheese,” said Mr. Alder.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i09.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 305px; height: 463px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 305px;'> +The little red hen<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></div> +<p>Blueberry pie and cheese, hot +biscuit and fresh milk, and golden +butter, all she wanted; surely, +Sally never had any supper better +than this.</p> +<p>The shadows were falling, and +the August crickets were beginning +their evening concert, when +Clematis had eaten the last bit of +pie on her plate.</p> +<p>“The Sand Man is coming, I +do believe,” said Mr. Alder, as he +reached over to pinch her cheek.</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t wonder, the +trip was a long one for a little +girl. You shall go right to bed, +Clematis.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder took a lamp as she +spoke, and led the little visitor to +the stairs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>“Good night, sleep tight, don’t +let the skeeters bite.”</p> +<p>Mr. Alder called after her as +she went up.</p> +<p>Clematis laughed. Her eyes +were drooping, and her feet were +heavy, as she climbed the stairs.</p> +<p>“There now, we’ll have you +tucked in before a cat can say +Jack Sprat,” said Mrs. Alder, as +she unbuttoned her boots.</p> +<p>“Haven’t I got to fold my +clothes?” asked Clematis, as Mrs. +Alder began picking them up.</p> +<p>“Never mind about them tonight. +Here’s a wet cloth. We’ll +just have a quick wash, and into +bed you go.”</p> +<p>The bed was soft; the pillows +were softer; and the song of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +evening breeze in the maple, without +her open window, was softer +still.</p> +<p>“I am in the country,” sighed +Clematis. “I can hear the trees, +and I can smell the flowers now. +Tomorrow I will—”</p> +<p>I wish I could tell you what +she was going to do. I can’t, +for just then, she fell fast asleep.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CLEMATIS_TRIES_TO_HELP' id='CLEMATIS_TRIES_TO_HELP'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>CLEMATIS TRIES TO HELP</h3> +</div> + +<p>The birds in the maple tree +woke Clematis early the next +morning.</p> +<p>For a minute she did not +know where she was. Then she +hopped out of bed and ran to the +window.</p> +<p>The sun was up. The birds +were singing all about. The smell +of clover and sweet grass came to +her open window.</p> +<p>There, across the valley, lay +the mountains she saw in the +evening.</p> +<p>Now they were not blue. She +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +could see the rocks and the bushes, +in the morning light. But they +were just as lovely as before.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she thought, “some day +I’ll go and climb up those mountains.”</p> +<p>Then she washed carefully at +the stand by the window, for she +remembered what Miss Rose had +said.</p> +<p>When she was dressed, she +started down stairs. Then she +thought again.</p> +<p>“I must help all I can. I guess +I’ll make the bed.”</p> +<p>So she drew the clothes neatly +over the bed, and smoothed the +pillow. Then she went down.</p> +<p>“Good morning, Clematis,” +said Mrs. Alder. “I see you get +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +up before breakfast. Did you +have a good sleep?”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” replied Clematis. +“Would you like me to help +you?”</p> +<p>“No, you had better run out +and see what Mr. Alder is doing. +You can help me after breakfast.”</p> +<p>So Clematis ran out.</p> +<p>How loud the birds sounded in +the clear air. How they chirped +and twittered. How sweet the +smell of the flowers, and how +bright the sun.</p> +<p>“Oh, there’s the little red +hen!” she cried. “But she has +lost her chickens. Every one is +gone.”</p> +<p>There was the little hen, sitting +on the ground, near the barn door. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span></p> +<p>Just then Mr. Alder came out +with a pail of milk.</p> +<p>“Oh, Mr. Alder, where have +all the chickens gone?” cried +Clematis.</p> +<p>He laughed. “Dear me,” he +said. “I don’t see them anywhere, +do you?”</p> +<p>“No, but they were all here +last night.”</p> +<p>“I wonder if the rats caught +them.” Mr. Alder looked very +sad.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, if they did, I’ll tell +Deborah.”</p> +<p>Clematis looked as if she were +ready to cry.</p> +<p>“Don’t cry. I’ll get a fairy +to bring them back. You turn +around and shut your eyes.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p> +<p>He turned her around. “Now, +are your eyes shut?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Now you must say, ‘Fairy, +Fairy, bring back my chicks.’”</p> +<p>“Fairy, Fairy, bring back my +chicks,” said Clematis, laughing.</p> +<p>She heard the little red hen +clucking behind her. Then she +heard the chickens peeping.</p> +<p>“Turn round,” said Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>She opened her eyes; she turned +around; and there were the chicks, +running about their mother.</p> +<p>She was just going to cry out +in surprise, when the hen lifted +her wings, and two more ran out +from beneath them.</p> +<p>“Oh, I know. She had them +under her feathers all the time.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span></p> +<p>Clematis laughed and danced +about, while the red hen clucked +to her chicks and walked off very +angry indeed.</p> +<p>Mr. Alder laughed also, and +picked up the pail.</p> +<p>“Do you see that patch of +raspberries down there, just beyond +the hen house?” he asked.</p> +<p>Clematis nodded.</p> +<p>“I think there are some big, +late raspberries down there. +Would you like to pick a few? +You’ll find them good.”</p> +<p>“For me to eat?”</p> +<p>“Yes, eat all you can find. +They are good for little city girls.”</p> +<p>“Oh, thank you.” Clematis +started toward the patch of raspberries. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span></p> +<p>Then she stopped.</p> +<p>“I must see Deborah first,” +she said. “I wonder if she caught +any rats.”</p> +<p>“To be sure, I forgot Deborah. +Give her my love.”</p> +<p>Mr. Alder went to separate +his milk, while Clematis found +Deborah sound asleep on the hay, +and ready to visit the raspberry +patch.</p> +<p>Soon the bell for breakfast +rang, and Clematis ran to the +house. Her lips and fingers were +red with raspberries, for she had +found big ones.</p> +<p>By her plate was her tiny glass, +and a pitcher of rich milk. There +were corn flakes, and shredded +wheat first, and then toast, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +bacon, and big baked apples with +cream.</p> +<p>Clematis had never really expected +to have such things to eat. +The stories other little girls had +told her, all had seemed like fairy +tales.</p> +<p>“Now you can help me a while, +if you wish,” said Mrs. Alder, +after breakfast. “Can you wash +dishes?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes’m, I can do that all +right.”</p> +<p>Clematis looked after Mr. +Alder with longing eyes. He +was going to feed the pigs. She +longed to go too, but she knew +she must help all she could.</p> +<p>So she started in on the plates +and cups. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>The water was hot, and she +found it hard work to hold the +china. Just as she was lifting +a cup, it slipped from her +hand.</p> +<p>“Snick.”</p> +<p>“Gracious, what was that?” +asked Mrs. Alder. She thought +a good deal of her china.</p> +<p>The cup was taken out. A +piece was broken from the edge.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear me. I have had +those cups for twenty years. I +guess I’ll finish the dishes.”</p> +<p>Clematis said nothing, but +turned very red. She almost +cried, she was so ashamed.</p> +<p>“Well, don’t worry too much +about it,” said Mrs. Alder. “You +can help me with the beds. I’m +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +sure you can make your bed without +doing any harm.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes’m, I’ve made it +already.”</p> +<p>“Made it already? When?”</p> +<p>“Why, when I got up, before +breakfast.”</p> +<p>“Mercy! Go right up and pull +the clothes back. It must always +air for an hour.”</p> +<p>Poor Clematis went up and +pulled the clothes back to air.</p> +<p>“How can I help, if every +single thing I do is wrong?” +Clematis spoke crossly out the +window at the robin on the edge +of the roof.</p> +<p>Then she felt a crumb in her +pocket, and pushed up the screen +to throw it out. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span></p> +<p>Mr. Robin flew away, and Mrs. +Alder came in at that moment.</p> +<p>“Dear child, what on earth +have you put up that screen for? +Do you want to fill the house +with flies?”</p> +<p>“No’m, I didn’t know—”</p> +<p>“Oh, well, never mind. You +don’t know much, I guess. I +promised to take you, and I’ll +keep my word, but it’s no use +trying to fit city children into +real homes.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder shut the screen with +a bang.</p> +<p>“There now, you run along +out doors. I guess you and Mr. +Alder will get along all right, but +don’t touch anything.”</p> +<p>“Hello, it looks like rain. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +What’s the trouble, sister?”</p> +<p>Mr. Alder smiled and pinched +her cheek, as he met Clematis at +the back door.</p> +<p>“I tried to help,” said Clematis, +drying her eyes.</p> +<p>“Oh, I see. You didn’t do +things quite right, did you? Well, +I wouldn’t fret about that. I +don’t do things quite right, myself.”</p> +<p>Clematis smiled through her +tears.</p> +<p>“Come on now, and help me +pick some late peas for dinner. +You will like that, I am sure.”</p> +<p>He took her hand, and soon +she was happy again.</p> +<p>“There, you picked two quarts, +and did it well, too. Now take +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +these up to Mrs. Alder, and +tell her you can shell them out, +every one, without hurting a +thing.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Mrs. Alder, in the +kitchen. “You think you can +shell peas, do you? Well, take +them out under the maple tree. +Then I won’t have the pods all +around the kitchen.”</p> +<p>And Clematis proved that she +could shell peas, after all.</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder gave her a cookie +for her pay, and said she had +done very well.</p> +<p>“I guess you’ll get along all +right, if you stay out doors,” +she said.</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Clematis, eating +the cookie as she went out. +She was glad enough to stay out +doors.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i10.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 304px; height: 462px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 304px;'> +Clematis watched the little fishes by the shore<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span></div> +<p>“I’ll help Mr. Alder all the +time,” she said to herself. “I’ll +feed the pigs, and the hens, and +I guess he’ll be glad I’m here.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='ONLY_A_FEW_DAYS_MORE' id='ONLY_A_FEW_DAYS_MORE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>ONLY A FEW DAYS MORE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Clematis did help Mr. Alder, +and tried hard, in her way, to +make herself useful.</p> +<p>She helped Mrs. Alder too, for +she went on errands to the village +every time she was asked.</p> +<p>Every day she went to the +Post Office. She took home the +letters and carried home bundles +from the stores.</p> +<p>Clematis loved this walk, because +the road ran down by +Knapp’s saw mill, and by the +river.</p> +<p>Near the stocking mill, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +river came right up to the road, +and she could even see the little +fish, in the clear water.</p> +<p>Sometimes she stopped longer +than she thought, and was late +getting back, but Mrs. Alder did +not scold her.</p> +<p>“The less we expect of her, +the less we shall be disappointed,” +she would say.</p> +<p>On Sunday, they all went +down to church to hear Mr. Sampson +preach.</p> +<p>He smiled at her in his kindly +way, when she went out.</p> +<p>“Let me see, I don’t know +your name, do I?” he asked, +taking her hand.</p> +<p>“It’s Clematis.”</p> +<p>“Well, Clematis, I’m glad to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +see you. I hope you will come +again.”</p> +<p>“That little girl looks just like +another little girl I used to know,” +he said to Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>“She is here for a week or two. +Doctor Wyatt sent her up.” Mr. +Alder whispered to him a minute, +before they went away.</p> +<p>“How would you like to +take a long walk this afternoon, +Clematis?” said Mr. Alder, while +she was eating her ice cream and +cake.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, let’s.” Clematis +was glad enough. She never +liked Sundays very well.</p> +<p>“Good, we can walk up Bean +Hill, if you think you can go that +far.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i17.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 298px; height: 464px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 298px;'> +She could see the little fish<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></div> +<p>“Oh, I can walk farther than +that.”</p> +<p>So they started out, while Mrs. +Alder lay down for a nap.</p> +<p>They didn’t go by the road, but +crossed the river in a boat that +Mr. Alder kept tied to the bank.</p> +<p>Then they walked through the +trees and meadows by the path.</p> +<p>Clematis was full of joy. New +birds sang here. New trees, and +new flowers met her at each turn.</p> +<p>After they had walked about a +mile, they came to a little cabin, +set among maple trees.</p> +<p>“Who lives here?” asked Clematis. +It looked like the cabins +she had seen in her picture books.</p> +<p>“No one lives here now. This +is where they boil down their sap +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +in the spring. They make maple +syrup, and maple sugar.”</p> +<p>There were the big pans, turned +upside down, and the pails that +caught the sap.</p> +<p>Her mouth watered as she +thought of all the maple sugar +they had made in that little cabin. +She wanted to stay longer, but +Mr. Alder started on.</p> +<p>“We must get along, I want +to see Mr. Brooks before we go +home.”</p> +<p>“Who is Mr. Brooks?”</p> +<p>“Mr. Brooks is a good man +who lives over here on the side of +Bean Hill. He lives all alone by +himself.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” replied Clematis, “is he +the man who owns the white +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +house with the vines, and has had +so much sadness?”</p> +<p>“Yes. How did you know +about him?”</p> +<p>“Mr. Ladd stopped near his +house. He told me.”</p> +<p>The walk was a long one, and +Clematis was glad when she saw +the little cottage on the hillside.</p> +<p>“Here we are. There is Mr. +Brooks now, working over his +flowers.” Mr. Alder went over to +the little garden, where a man with +white hair was pulling out weeds.</p> +<p>“Good day, Mr. Alder. Glad +enough to see you. Come up +and sit on the piazza.”</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks smiled, as he wiped +his hands.</p> +<p>“And here is a lady, too,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +added. “I believe I have never +met her.”</p> +<p>He held out his hand to +Clematis with a kindly smile, and +led them to the piazza.</p> +<p>Mr. Alder told him who she +was, while Clematis was looking +at the neat little cottage.</p> +<p>A vine was growing about the +door, with little white flowers, +peeping out from its green leaves.</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks saw her looking at it.</p> +<p>“Do you like the flowers?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,—it is just the same.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean? What +is just the same?”</p> +<p>“Why, just the same vine as +the one on the white house.”</p> +<p>“She saw the old home place +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +when she drove over with Mr. +Ladd,” said Mr. Alder. “She +remembered the vine.”</p> +<p>“I am glad you like it. You +ought to like it, Clematis, because +it has your own name,” added +Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>“Well, well, is her name Clematis?” +Mr. Brooks took her on +his knee and looked into her face.</p> +<p>“I wish I had a little girl like +you,” he said.</p> +<p>She sat there on his knee, while +he talked with Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>“I hope you will come again, +Clematis. You will, if you get a +chance, won’t you?” Mr. Brooks +said, as they started to go.</p> +<p>He brought out a big, sweet +pear, and put it into her hand. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p> +<p>“You can eat that on the way +home,” he said.</p> +<p>All the way home Clematis +kept thinking of Mr. Brooks, and +the vine, and how he had looked +into her face while she sat on his +knee.</p> +<p>She had never known any +father or mother, and people +didn’t have time to hold her that +way at the Home.</p> +<p>“Could we go again?” she +asked, as they crossed the river.</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps. We’ll see.”</p> +<p>When they got home, Mrs. +Alder was sitting on the back +steps.</p> +<p>Beside her, in the grass, lay +three dead chickens.</p> +<p>“How on earth did those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +chickens get killed?” asked Mr. +Alder, as he took one in his +hand.</p> +<p>“Why on earth did that child +ever bring her old cat up here? +That’s what I’d like to know.” +Mrs. Alder was cross.</p> +<p>“Did Deborah do that? Dear +me! We’ll have to shut her up +in the loft.”</p> +<p>“That’s where she is, and +that’s where she’ll stay,” said +Mrs. Alder. “Remember now, +Clematis. Don’t you let her +get out again.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” said Clematis.</p> +<p>She didn’t know what else to +say, so she went sadly to the loft. +There she found Deborah, sleeping +sweetly, as if she had never +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +done a thing wrong in the +world.</p> +<p>She sat down by the open window, +and looked across the river +valley, and across the lake, to the +mountains.</p> +<p>“Oh dear!” she sighed.</p> +<p>She heard Mrs. Alder speaking.</p> +<p>“I don’t care, I think the Doctor +was asking a good deal of us, +to keep a strange child like that.”</p> +<p>“Well, Mary, never mind. It +is only for a few days longer. I +guess we can stand it. Think of +the pleasure it gives Clematis.”</p> +<p>Mr. Alder spoke kindly, but as +Clematis heard the words, she +turned pale.</p> +<p>“Only a few days more. Only +a few days more.” The words +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +went through her mind again and +again.</p> +<p>She had never thought about +going back. Two weeks seems a +long, long time to little girls. +Only a few days more before she +must leave Tilton.</p> +<p>Clematis put her elbows on the +window sill, and rested her chin +in her hands.</p> +<p>The sun was setting behind +the maple tree. The golden rays +gleamed in the white mist that +had risen from the river, for it +was a cold evening.</p> +<p>In the distance the Belmont +mountains were a deep, misty +blue, and the clouds above them +all white and gold.</p> +<p>Now all the valley was filling +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +with a golden mist. The birds +were singing in the trees along +the banks of the river. They +filled the evening air with joyous +songs.</p> +<p>“Only a few days more. Only +a few days more.”</p> +<p>Soon she must go back to the +brick walls, and the yard with the +high fence around it.</p> +<p>When Mr. Alder came to call +Clematis for supper, her eyes were +red, and her cheeks pale.</p> +<p>“Never mind, dear little girl,” +he said. “We’ll keep Deborah +shut up. I guess we can spare +the chickens. We have plenty +more.”</p> +<p>She said nothing, but went +silently in for the evening meal. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +She had forgotten all about the +chickens. All through supper +the words ran in her head, and +the last thing in her mind as she +fell asleep was this thought:</p> +<p>“Only a few days more.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='WHERE_IS_CLEMATIS' id='WHERE_IS_CLEMATIS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>WHERE IS CLEMATIS?</h3> +</div> + +<p>On Monday Clematis found a +big, blue envelope, with the other +mail.</p> +<p>“I guess you have a letter for +your own self this time,” said +Mr. Morse, as he handed her the +mail.</p> +<p>Clematis did not stop to look +at the little fishes by the shore. +She hurried straight home.</p> +<p>It was a letter for her own self. +Miss Rose sent it to her.</p> +<p>“Oh, I wish I had learned to +read. Please read mine first, Mrs. +Alder?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p> +<p>“Do you think that is polite?” +asked Mrs. Alder.</p> +<p>“No’m, but you get lots of +letters.”</p> +<p>“That is true. Well, let us +see.”</p> +<p>She opened the envelope, while +Clematis got close to her side.</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Dear little Clematis:</p> +<p>I hope you are well, and having +a good time. I am sure you must +be having a splendid time, for +Tilton is a lovely place. I wish +I were with you.</p> +<p>What a naughty girl you were +to take Deborah, when she was +not invited. I hope Mrs. Alder +has forgiven you.</p> +<p>I am going to ask Mrs. Alder +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +to send you home on the afternoon +train Saturday, so you +will be all ready when school +begins.</p> +<p>I shall be at the train to meet +you. Don’t forget Deborah.</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style=' margin-right:3em;'>Your true friend,</p> +<p>Rose Thornton.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>“That is a good letter for a +little girl to get, I am sure. Now +run out and play, while I read +my letters.”</p> +<p>Clematis went out, rather slowly. +The letter made her think +again of the end of her stay, and +she was sad.</p> +<p>But the sun was bright, the +breeze was cool, and the birds sang +merrily. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span></p> +<p>She saw Mr. Alder down in the +garden, and ran to him.</p> +<p>“Can I help you, Mr. Alder?”</p> +<p>“I think not. I am weeding +late carrots, and I think you would +not know them from weeds.”</p> +<p>“I should know them, honestly. +Just let me try a little bit.”</p> +<p>“Well, then, take this little +trowel. Make the earth loose +around them, and then pull the +weeds out with your fingers.”</p> +<p>Clematis kneeled in the soft +earth, and began to work with the +trowel.</p> +<p>She weeded the row across from +Mr. Alder, where he could see +what she was doing.</p> +<p>“Well, I declare! You are a +real gardener.” Mr. Alder patted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +her shoulder, and praised her well +when she had done several feet of +her row.</p> +<p>The little green tops of the +carrots all stood straight and clean. +Every weed was gone, but no carrots +were hurt.</p> +<p>“I told you I could do it. +You did not believe me, did you?”</p> +<p>Clematis smiled happily.</p> +<p>“Well, I do now. I never +saw any one do better.”</p> +<p>So the man and the little girl +worked side by side beneath the +August sun.</p> +<p>The smell of the warm earth, +and the fresh growing things all +around her, made Clematis breathe +deeply.</p> +<p>She could hear the birds singing, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +and see the mountains, across +the lakes.</p> +<p>While she was hard at work, +she almost forgot to be sad because +she was going back on the +Saturday train.</p> +<p>“Just look at that child,” said +Mrs. Alder, when they went in to +wash for dinner. “Has she been +weeding in her good clothes?”</p> +<p>“She has weeded two whole +rows of carrots, I know that much. +I’ll get her some new clothes when +those wear out. She is as much +help at weeding as a man.”</p> +<p>Clematis was as proud of that, +as Deborah was with her first rat. +In the afternoon Mrs. Alder found +her a pair of small overalls. These +covered her dress and kept her clean. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>It was a happy child that came +in at evening. She had worked +steadily, in the hot sun and the +breeze, and had finished all the +carrots.</p> +<p>“You don’t know how much +help that has been, Clematis,” +said Mr. Alder. “It tires my +back to weed carrots, and now +they are all done.”</p> +<p>“I will weed tomorrow, too,” +she said, happy with her praise.</p> +<p>There was plenty to do, as +there always is on a farm, and +Clematis was busy all day.</p> +<p>“I don’t see how she learns so +quickly,” exclaimed Mr. Alder, +when he was telling Mr. Ladd +about her.</p> +<p>“I suppose it is because she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +naturally loves it,” he answered. +“It seems too bad that she couldn’t +live here in the country, she seems +to love it so.”</p> +<p>“Yes. I wish Mrs. Alder was +better, and took to children more. +Clematis is clumsy in the house, +but out in the garden she is right +at home.”</p> +<p>So the days went on, with sunshine +and clouds, and Saturday +came nearer and nearer.</p> +<p>“Clematis, what have you been +doing to the calendar in your +room?” asked Mrs. Alder, at dinner +on Friday.</p> +<p>“I was just looking to see how +many days till Saturday.”</p> +<p>“Well, you needn’t muss it up +that way.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p> +<p>Every morning Clematis had +taken it down and counted the +days with her fingers.</p> +<p>Friday evening she did not eat +much supper, and was very silent.</p> +<p>“Longing to get back home, I +guess,” said Mrs. Alder. “Well, +dear, you will be back with the +other children tomorrow. I +know what it is. I was homesick +myself when I was a child.”</p> +<p>Clematis did not answer. She +didn’t know how to tell what it +was that troubled her, so she +said nothing.</p> +<p>The stars were bright, and the +tiny moon was low in the sky, +before the weary eyes closed in +sleep.</p> +<p>Clematis had been thinking, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +and thinking. Tomorrow was +Saturday.</p> +<p>Early in the morning she was +awake again, by the window.</p> +<p>She leaned her head on her +hands, and began to think again.</p> +<p>“That is what he said,” she +repeated, half aloud.</p> +<p>“That is just what he said. +If he didn’t mean it, why did he +say it?”</p> +<p>At the breakfast table, Mrs. +Alder noticed how pale her cheeks +were.</p> +<p>“Try to eat some toast, dear,” +said Mrs. Alder. “You will soon +be home again. Only a few +hours more now.”</p> +<p>Clematis raised her eyes, and +gave Mrs. Alder a strange look. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span></p> +<p>“That child does beat all,” +said Mrs. Alder, after breakfast. +“She seems to be thinking a lot, but +she keeps as quiet as a stone jug.”</p> +<p>“She is thinking; you may be +sure of that,” Mr. Alder replied.</p> +<p>All the morning Clematis went +about silently, except when she +was in the loft with Deborah. +Then she talked.</p> +<p>“I shan’t be afraid. I am a +big girl, Debby, and I shan’t be +a mite afraid.”</p> +<p>Deborah could not speak, but +she snuggled up close, and purred, +so Clematis knew just what she +meant.</p> +<p>“Be sure to have all your +things ready, Clematis,” called +Mrs. Alder. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span></p> +<p>“We shall have an early dinner, +for Mr. Ladd will be here +about one o’clock to take you to +the station.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” said Clematis, and +she went slowly to her room.</p> +<p>Before long, all was ready, and +dinner was on the table.</p> +<p>“Now, let’s eat a big dinner. +I roasted a chicken especially for +you.”</p> +<p>How good the roast chicken +smelled! There were baked potatoes, +and peas, and beans, too.</p> +<p>Clematis was hungry now. +She ate, and ate, and ate.</p> +<p>“Good girl.” Mr. Alder patted +her on the head. “Travelers must +be well fed.”</p> +<p>“Be sure to wash all the blueberry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +off your mouth,” added +Mrs. Alder, as Clematis got down.</p> +<p>Clematis went to the sink and +washed her face and hands. +Then she went to the back door.</p> +<p>“Don’t forget Deborah’s satin +dress, and velvet hat?” called Mr. +Alder.</p> +<p>She turned and smiled back at +him, as she went out.</p> +<p>Soon Mr. Ladd drove up.</p> +<p>“I came a bit early,” he said. +“I’ve got some milk for the +Seminary. Is Clematis ready?”</p> +<p>“Yes, all ready, I guess. She +just went out to get her cat.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder went to the back +door and called.</p> +<p>She waited a minute, but +Clematis did not come. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span></p> +<p>She called again. No Clematis. +“Please go and get her, +Henry,” she said to Mr. Alder. +“Tell her to come right in.”</p> +<p>After a few minutes Mr. +Alder came back. He looked +puzzled.</p> +<p>“Well, where is Clematis?” +asked Mrs. Alder.</p> +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> +<p>“Don’t know? Isn’t she in +the loft?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps she went to +say goodby to the pigs.”</p> +<p>“She isn’t there.”</p> +<p>“She must be around here +somewhere. She has no wings; +she can’t fly.”</p> +<p>“I’m not so sure of that.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +Mr. Alder smiled in a puzzled +way at Mr. Ladd.</p> +<p>“That’s just like you men.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder went to the door +and called as loudly as she could. +Then she went to the barn and +called again.</p> +<p>She looked all about. Mr. +Alder looked all about. Mr. +Ladd looked all about.</p> +<p>They all called once more.</p> +<p>It was of no use. Clematis +was gone.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='HUNTING_FOR_CLEMATIS' id='HUNTING_FOR_CLEMATIS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>HUNTING FOR CLEMATIS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Alder looked at Mr. Ladd. +Mr. Ladd looked at Mrs. Alder. +They all looked at each other.</p> +<p>What should they do?</p> +<p>“Well,” said Mrs. Alder at +last, “you drive down street with +Mr. Ladd and find out if any one +has seen her. I will look all +about the farm.”</p> +<p>The men had not gone far down +the street when they met a boy.</p> +<p>“Hi, Ned! have you seen our +little girl?” called Mr. Alder.</p> +<p>“Who, Clematis? Have you +lost her?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span></p> +<p>“No, she has lost herself. Have +you seen her?”</p> +<p>“My gracious, no.” His blue +eyes opened almost as wide as +butter plates.</p> +<p>“Well, tell any one you see that +she’s lost; that’s a good boy.”</p> +<p>“My gracious, I guess I will.”</p> +<p>Off ran little Ned Atkinson, as +fast as his legs would carry him.</p> +<p>He told every one he met, but +no one had seen Clematis.</p> +<p>Not far down the street Mr. +Knapp came rolling out of his yard.</p> +<p>“Have you seen that little girl +of ours, Mr. Knapp?”</p> +<p>“Yes, yes. I saw her. She’s +a likely gal. Quite spry.”</p> +<p>“Where was she?” Both men +spoke at once.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i11.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 300px; height: 462px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 300px;'> +“I sha’n’t be afraid”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></div> +<p>“Oh, right along here, yesterday +morning.”</p> +<p>“I mean today. Have you +seen her today?”</p> +<p>“No, no, I haven’t set eyes on +her today. What’s the matter? +Is she lost?”</p> +<p>“It looks as if she were lost. +We can’t find her.”</p> +<p>“Well, she’ll be back.</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>‘Let ’em alone,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And they’ll come home,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Wagging their tails behind them.’”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>They heard his great voice echo +down the river, as they drove on.</p> +<p>Nobody had seen Clematis. +Nobody knew anything about her.</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder looked everywhere +at home. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span></p> +<p>Her bag and box were neatly +packed and ready, but there was +no sign of the little girl who +owned them.</p> +<p>Many people were looking for +Clematis that afternoon.</p> +<p>Ned Atkinson ran everywhere, +telling people about the lost girl.</p> +<p>They looked in the woods and +in the fields. They looked all +along the river banks.</p> +<p>When night came, they were +still hunting, but had found no +trace of Clematis.</p> +<p>“I can’t sleep a wink tonight,” +said Mrs. Alder. “I think the +child must be crazy, to run off +like that.”</p> +<p>“I don’t feel much like sleep +myself,” Mr. Alder replied. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></p> +<p>“I wonder where she can be +hiding.”</p> +<p>The next morning many people +came to ask if Clematis had been +found.</p> +<p>“No, no, no. There isn’t a +sign of her anywhere. I don’t +know what we shall do.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Alder made the same +answer to every one.</p> +<p>During the day people still +looked about in new places.</p> +<p>Afternoon came again, but no +Clematis came with it.</p> +<p>Towards evening, Mr. Brooks +was sitting in his chair by his +little cottage, reading a book.</p> +<p>The sun was sinking behind +the mountains in the west.</p> +<p>The birds were singing their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +evening songs, in the trees by the +brook.</p> +<p>All was quiet and peaceful.</p> +<p>As he sat there, Mr. Brooks +heard steps on the path.</p> +<p>He looked down and saw a +little girl. In her arms was a cat, +with a black spot over one eye.</p> +<p>The child stumbled as she +walked. She seemed ready to +drop, she was so tired.</p> +<p>“Why, little girl, where did you +come from?” cried Mr. Brooks.</p> +<p>He got up and went down to +meet her.</p> +<p>Then she raised her pale face, +and he saw that it was Clematis. +Her face and hands were soiled; +her hair was tangled; her dress +was dusty and torn. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span></p> +<p>“Oh, little maid,” he said. +“Did you walk way over here to +see me?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Clematis, faintly. +“I said I would, and I did.”</p> +<p>“Dear child, you are worn out. +Come in and rest.”</p> +<p>He took her into the little +house, and got a basin and +water.</p> +<p>“There, dear, wash your face +and hands. You will feel better.</p> +<p>“Now sit down, Clematis,” +said Mr. Brooks, when she had +finished washing her face and +hands, “and we will have a bite +to eat.”</p> +<p>He cut a slice of bread. On +this he spread some butter, and +sprinkled a little sugar. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span></p> +<p>Clematis watched him with +hungry eyes.</p> +<p>“Dear child, you must be +starved,” he said, as she took a +great bite.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t you be hungry if +you hadn’t had any breakfast or +dinner?”</p> +<p>Clematis took another big bite.</p> +<p>“No breakfast? No dinner? +Where have you been all day?”</p> +<p>“I stayed in the little house +where they boil the sap.”</p> +<p>The bread was nearly gone +now.</p> +<p>“Did you run away this morning?”</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks was cutting another +slice.</p> +<p>“No, I stayed there last night.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span></p> +<p>“You stayed there all last +night? Child! I should think +you would have frozen. There +was frost last night.”</p> +<p>“I did freeze,” said Clematis, +beginning on the second slice.</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks looked at her a +moment in silence, while she ate.</p> +<p>“I never heard anything to +beat that,” he said at last, as he +reached once more for the bread.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Alder will be very +anxious.”</p> +<p>Clematis shook her head.</p> +<p>“No she won’t. She’ll be glad +I’m gone.”</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks smiled.</p> +<p>“Well, Mr. Alder will, anyway. +As soon as you have eaten a few +loaves of bread, I’ll get Mr. Giles’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +horse. They will be glad enough +to see you again.”</p> +<p>Clematis put down her bread. +Her lips quivered, and her eyes +filled with tears.</p> +<p>“Don’t you want me?” she +said.</p> +<p>“My dear child, what do you +mean?”</p> +<p>“You said you wished you had +a little girl.”</p> +<p>“Did I say that?”</p> +<p>“Yes, you said you wished you +had a little girl, and you can have +me. Nobody wants me, except +you.</p> +<p>“I can make my bed, and wash +dishes, and I don’t say slang words +any more, and I can weed everything +in your garden.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i18.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 303px; height: 464px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 303px;'> +In Grandfather’s house<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span></div> +<p>Poor Clematis, she had never +said so much at one time in her +life.</p> +<p>Then she burst into tears. She +was tired, and worn, and faint.</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks took her into his +lap. He hardly knew what to +say to comfort her.</p> +<p>“Have you no father or +mother?” he asked.</p> +<p>“No,” she sobbed, “I haven’t +anybody at all.”</p> +<p>“You see I am all alone here. +I haven’t any good place to keep +a little girl.”</p> +<p>“I don’t care, I can sleep on +the floor.”</p> +<p>Her eyes were drooping, and +she was growing quiet. Her head +rested on his shoulder. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p> +<p>Mr. Brooks was thinking what +to say, when he looked down at +her face.</p> +<p>Her brown eyes were closed, +and she was fast asleep.</p> +<p>He held her there a while. +Then he took her into the next +room, and laid her on the bed.</p> +<p>Covered with a warm blanket, +she sighed softly, and sank into a +deep slumber.</p> +<p>“I can’t take her home tonight. +She ought to have a long, quiet +sleep,” said Mr. Brooks to himself.</p> +<p>He watched her a while. Then +he went out, up the mountain to +Mr. Giles’s house.</p> +<p>There he telephoned to Atkinson’s +store.</p> +<p>In another minute a little boy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +was racing up the street. He +called to every one on his way:</p> +<p>“Clematis is found! Clematis +is found! She’s up on Bean +Hill.”</p> +<p>Ned shouted at the top of his +voice.</p> +<p>Clematis would have been surprised, +if she had seen how glad +Mrs. Alder was to know that she +was safe.</p> +<p>They sent a message to Miss +Rose, and told her that Clematis +was found.</p> +<p>Every one was glad. Every +one asked how she ever got way +up there on Bean Hill, but no +one knew.</p> +<p>All this time Clematis was +sleeping quietly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span></p> +<p>When Mr. Brooks returned, +she had not stirred.</p> +<p>He stood and looked at her a +long, long time.</p> +<p>When he turned away there +were tears in his eyes.</p> +<p>“Poor little elf,” he whispered. +“She thought I meant just what +I said.”</p> +<p>He spread some blankets on +the floor, and lay down, but he +did not go to sleep.</p> +<p>His thoughts went back to a +book he had been reading.</p> +<p>It was about Silas Marner, a +man who was sad and lonely.</p> +<p>Silas Marner took a little girl +into his tiny house to care for, +and she made his life happy +again. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></p> +<p>“Silas Marner did not have so +large a home as this,” he thought. +“But he took good care of the +little girl. How happy they were +together.”</p> +<p>The little face, all wet with +tears, came before him again and +again.</p> +<p>“I might keep her for a little +while, at least,” he said to himself. +“I will see what Mr. Alder +thinks in the morning.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='NEW_PLANS' id='NEW_PLANS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>NEW PLANS</h3> +</div> + +<p>When Mr. Brooks woke in the +morning, Clematis was already +up. She had washed her face +and hands at the spring, near the +door, and was sitting on the step.</p> +<p>“Oho, so the little bird woke +first, did she?” said Mr. Brooks.</p> +<p>Clematis nodded, and looked +up shyly.</p> +<p>“I was thinking about you last +night before I went to sleep. Suppose +I should keep you with me +for a little while. Do you think +you would like that?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I would help like anything,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +she cried. “You just try +me, and see.”</p> +<p>“Well, I will talk to Mr. +Alder, and perhaps you can stay +for a while, at least.”</p> +<p>So Mr. Brooks talked with Mr. +Alder. Then he wrote to Mrs. +Snow.</p> +<p>Yes, Clematis might stay a +week.</p> +<p>How hard she tried!</p> +<p>“I’ll wash and wipe all the +dishes,” she said.</p> +<p>The very first day she broke a +cup. Then she cried.</p> +<p>“Dear me, don’t feel bad +about that. You are doing the +best you can, I know.”</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks laughed, and Clematis +smiled again. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span></p> +<p>“Men don’t care so much +about dishes,” she said to herself.</p> +<p>To be sure, Clematis had not +learned to do much, but she had +learned to do her best.</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks found that she +could help in many ways, and she +was so anxious to do her best, +that he gladly forgave her mistakes.</p> +<p>He made her a little bed in +the room upstairs.</p> +<p>At evening, she could hear the +wind whispering in the trees, and +the little brook that ran down +from the spring.</p> +<p>In the morning, she could see +the lakes and mountains across +the valley, as she sat by her open +window, while the birds hopped +about on the twigs, and sang +their sweetest songs.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/i12.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 305px; height: 463px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 305px;'> +A little girl was coming up the path<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span></div> +<p>Deborah slept each night in +a little box close by her bed, +and followed her about all day +long.</p> +<p>The week passed very quickly. +On Friday, Mr. Brooks saw that +she was silent and thoughtful.</p> +<p>“I don’t think I can spare you +yet,” he said at breakfast. “I +must ask Mrs. Snow to let you +stay another week, at least.”</p> +<p>Clematis was never so happy. +She smiled and hummed a little +song all the morning. Now and +then she would stop to pat +Deborah, who slept by the stove.</p> +<p>“He is going to let me stay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +another week, Debby!” she would +whisper. “Another week, another +whole week.”</p> +<p>This week was passing also, +when Clematis had a great surprise.</p> +<p>It was a letter from Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“Oh, read it to me, read it to +me!” she exclaimed, as she climbed +up into Mr. Brooks’s lap.</p> +<p>So he opened the envelope and +read:</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Dear Clematis:</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks has asked us if he +might keep you for a year. Do +you think you would like to +stay?</p> +<p>I shall go to see you in Tilton +next week, so you must be thinking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +it over, and decide if you +really want to stay?</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style=' margin-right:3em;'>Your true friend,</p> +<p>Rose Thornton.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>After he had finished, Clematis +was silent for a moment. Then +she looked up at him with a happy +smile.</p> +<p>“Please read it again,” she said.</p> +<p>So he read it again, while she +sat still in his lap.</p> +<p>“Do you think you would really +like to stay?” he asked, when he +had finished.</p> +<p>Clematis patted his hand, and +snuggled her face against his +shoulder.</p> +<p>“Can Debby stay, too?” she +asked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span></p> +<p>“Of course she can. We +couldn’t get along without +Debby.”</p> +<p>That night Clematis looked +out at the golden light, just fading +from the mountains.</p> +<p>A star was twinkling in the +sky. The brook was bubbling +down among the trees, and the +wind hummed a little tune in +their soft branches.</p> +<p>She was very happy.</p> +<p>“I am going to be happy +always now,” she said.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='THE_TRUE_FAIRY_STORY' id='THE_TRUE_FAIRY_STORY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>THE TRUE FAIRY STORY</h3> +</div> + +<p>The next week they got Mr. +Giles’s horse, and drove down to +meet Miss Rose at the station.</p> +<p>How glad Clematis was to see +her!</p> +<p>She sat in her lap all the way +back to Bean Hill, and told her +about the mountains, the lakes, +the trees, and the birds.</p> +<p>“So you think you would like +to stay a whole year, do you?” +asked Miss Rose.</p> +<p>Clematis smiled and nodded.</p> +<p>“Deborah can stay too,” she +said. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></p> +<p>When they got to the little +cottage, Miss Rose went in with +Mr. Brooks, and had a long +talk.</p> +<p>She told him all she knew about +Clematis.</p> +<p>He listened while she told him +how Clematis ran away, how the +policeman found her, and how she +came to the Home.</p> +<p>“Have you any trace of her +father and mother?”</p> +<p>“No, they said the father’s +name was Jones, but I am not +sure that was her father’s true +name. Both her father and +mother died when she was a baby, +they say.”</p> +<p>Mr. Brooks looked puzzled.</p> +<p>“Did the mother leave nothing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +when she died, that people might +know her by?”</p> +<p>Miss Rose reached into her +little black bag and brought out +the picture. Mr. Brooks did not +take it at first.</p> +<p>“They said the father’s name +was Jones; did they tell you his +first name?” he asked.</p> +<p>“No, just Jones. I could learn +no other name.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose held out the picture, +and Mr. Brooks’s hand trembled +as he took it.</p> +<p>After one look, he carried it to +the window.</p> +<p>There he held it to the light, +and gazed at it a long time.</p> +<p>“Do you see some one there +you know?” asked Miss Rose. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span></p> +<p>“Wouldn’t you know your +own daughter, if you saw her?”</p> +<p>Miss Rose smiled. Then she +saw tears in his eyes.</p> +<p>“Please forgive me for smiling,” +she said. “You reminded +me so much of Clematis. She +asks questions just like that.”</p> +<p>“Well, wouldn’t you expect her +to be like her own grandfather?”</p> +<p>Then Mr. Brooks smiled too.</p> +<p>“Is she really your grandchild?” +exclaimed Miss Rose.</p> +<p>“Yes, she is, she must be. +This is her mother here.”</p> +<p>He pointed to one of the girls +in the picture.</p> +<p>“This was taken in front of +the Seminary, a year before she +ran away to be married.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></p> +<p>“Oh, it seems just like a fairy +story. I can hardly believe it.”</p> +<p>Miss Rose looked again at the +picture.</p> +<p>“Yes, it is like a fairy story,” +Mr. Brooks replied. “Dear, wayward +girl. She needn’t have run +away. I would have gladly forgiven +her.”</p> +<p>“Then you will take Clematis +to live with you, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“Yes indeed. I have wondered +about that name, Clematis. +Her mother loved flowers. She +loved the clematis vine about the +door most of all.”</p> +<p>“I suppose she named Clematis +in memory of her dear old +home,” said Miss Rose.</p> +<p>Then Mr. Brooks told Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +Rose about the white house on +the hill.</p> +<p>“I suppose we ought to move +back there, now,” he said. “Then +Clematis can go to the Union +School, and grow up like other +children.”</p> +<p>“It is wonderful. It is a fairy +story, I am sure,” she replied, +“for the fairies must have led +Clematis to your door. She will +be the happiest child alive, when +we tell her.”</p> +<p>And Clematis was the happiest +girl alive, when they called her in +and told her the whole story.</p> +<p>She climbed into her grandfather’s +lap, and held his hand, +while Miss Rose told it just like a +fairy tale. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span></p> +<p>“Are we going to live in the +house where all the vines are?” +she asked, when Miss Rose was +done.</p> +<p>“Yes, dear, you are.”</p> +<p>“And I can stay there always?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Clematis.”</p> +<p>“And will you be my grandpa +always?”</p> +<p>She looked up at Mr. Brooks. +He smiled and kissed her hot +cheek.</p> +<p>“Yes, little maiden. You shall +be my housekeeper, and we shall +be as happy as robins in an apple +tree.”</p> +<p>So Miss Rose went back to +Boston, and told them all the +story. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span></p> +<p>The children made her tell it +over and over again. They said +it was better than any fairy tale +they had ever read.</p> +<p>“And did she really sleep out +in the woods alone?” asked Sally.</p> +<p>“And does her grandfather +really and truly have a big white +house on a hill?” asked Jane.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes, yes. It is all true, +every word of it,” answered Miss +Rose.</p> +<p>Even Clematis could hardly +believe it all, at first.</p> +<p>She followed her grandfather +all about, wherever he went, for +fear he might fly away, and never +come back.</p> +<p>In the golden October, they +moved up to the white house on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +the hill, grandfather, Clematis, +and Deborah.</p> +<p>There Clematis had the room +over the porch, where the vines +climbed around her window. She +could look out each morning, and +see the river, and the lakes, with +the mountains beyond.</p> +<p>She felt a little strange among +all the new people she saw each +day, and she had very much to +learn. But Clematis learned the +best thing of all, to do the best +she could, and she soon grew into +a sweet, useful girl.</p> +<p>Her little friends loved her, +and her teachers helped her, for +she tried to please them, and +never complained because things +were not easy to do. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span></p> +<p>When she heard that Sally +and the other girls could hardly +believe her story, she went and +whispered to her grandfather.</p> +<p>“May I?” she asked.</p> +<p>“Of course you may,” he +said, “as many as you want.”</p> +<p>Then she wrote a letter all her +own self. She invited all the +girls her own age, at the Home, +to visit her the next summer, +and see for themselves.</p> +<p>So if you ever go to Tilton, +you must look about for a strong, +happy girl, with big brown eyes, +who studies her lessons, and +works in the garden, and has the +happiest time any girl ever had, +with her grandfather, in the big +white house on the hill.</p> +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.25 --> +<!-- timestamp: Fri Sep 05 19:25:59 -0400 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Clematis, by Bertha B. 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