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When Sally Married Peter +VIII. The Shropshire and the Crusader +IX. "Even So" +X. Laddie Takes the Plunge +XI. Keeping Christmas Our Way +XII. The Horn of the Hunter +XIII. The Garden of the Lord +XIV. The Crest of Eastbrooke +XV. Laddie, the Princess, and the Pie +XVI. The Homing Pigeon +XVII. In Faith Believing +XVIII. The Pryor Mystery + + +LADDIE + +CHARACTERS + +LADDIE, Who Loved and Asked No Questions. +THE PRINCESS, From the House of Mystery. +LEON, Our Angel Child. +LITTLE SISTER, Who Tells What Happened. +MR. and MRS. STANTON, Who Faced Life Shoulder to Shoulder. +SALLY and PETER, Who Married Each Other. +ELIZABETH, SHELLEY, MAY and Other Stanton Children. +MR. and MRS. PRYOR, Father and Mother of the Princess. +ROBERT PAGET, a Chicago Lawyer. +MRS. FRESHETT, Who Offered Her Life for Her Friend. +CANDACE, the Cook. +MISS AMELIA, the School Mistress. +Interested Relatives, Friends, and Neighbours. + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Little Sister + + + "And could another child-world be my share, + I'd be a Little Sister there." + + +Have I got a Little Sister anywhere in this house?" inquired +Laddie at the door, in his most coaxing voice. + +"Yes sir," I answered, dropping the trousers I was making for +Hezekiah, my pet bluejay, and running as fast as I could. There +was no telling what minute May might take it into her head that +she was a little sister and reach him first. Maybe he wanted me +to do something for him, and I loved to wait on Laddie. + +"Ask mother if you may go with me a while." + +"Mother doesn't care where I am, if I come when the supper bell +rings." + +"All right!" said Laddie. + +He led the way around the house, sat on the front step and took +me between his knees. + +"Oh, is it going to be a secret?" I cried. + +Secrets with Laddie were the greatest joy in life. He was so big +and so handsome. He was so much nicer than any one else in our +family, or among our friends, that to share his secrets, run his +errands, and love him blindly was the greatest happiness. +Sometimes I disobeyed father and mother; I minded Laddie like his +right hand. + +"The biggest secret yet," he said gravely. + +"Tell quick!" I begged, holding my ear to his lips. + +"Not so fast!" said Laddie. "Not so fast! I have doubts about +this. I don't know that I should send you. Possibly you can't +find the way. You may be afraid. Above all, there is never to +be a whisper. Not to any one! Do you understand?" + +"What's the matter?" I asked. + +"Something serious," said Laddie. "You see, I expected to have +an hour or two for myself this afternoon, so I made an engagement +to spend the time with a Fairy Princess in our Big Woods. Father +and I broke the reaper taking it from the shed just now and you +know how he is about Fairies." + +I did know how he was about Fairies. He hadn't a particle of +patience with them. A Princess would be the Queen's daughter. +My father's people were English, and I had heard enough talk to +understand that. I was almost wild with excitement. + +"Tell me the secret, hurry!" I cried. + +"It's just this," he said. "It took me a long time to coax the +Princess into our Big Woods. I had to fix a throne for her to +sit on; spread a Magic Carpet for her feet, and build a wall to +screen her. Now, what is she going to think if I'm not there to +welcome her when she comes? She promised to show me how to make +sunshine on dark days." + +"Tell father and he can have Leon help him." + +"But it is a secret with the Princess, and it's HERS as much as +mine. If I tell, she may not like it, and then she won't make me +her Prince and send me on her errands." + +"Then you don't dare tell a breath," I said. + +"Will you go in my place, and carry her a letter to explain why +I'm not coming, Little Sister?" + +"Of course!" I said stoutly, and then my heart turned right over; +for I never had been in our Big Woods alone, and neither mother +nor father wanted me to go. Passing Gypsies sometimes laid down +the fence and went there to camp. Father thought all the wolves +and wildcats were gone, he hadn't seen any in years, but every +once in a while some one said they had, and he was not quite sure +yet. And that wasn't the beginning of it. Paddy Ryan had come +back from the war wrong in his head. He wore his old army +overcoat summer and winter, slept on the ground, and ate whatever +he could find. Once Laddie and Leon, hunting squirrels to make +broth for mother on one of her bad days, saw him in our Big Woods +and he was eating SNAKES. If I found Pat Ryan eating a snake, it + +would frighten me so I would stand still and let him eat me, if +he wanted to, and perhaps he wasn't too crazy to see how plump I +was. I seemed to see swarthy, dark faces, big, sleek cats +dropping from limbs, and Paddy Ryan's matted gray hair, the +flying rags of the old blue coat, and a snake in his hands. +Laddie was slipping the letter into my apron pocket. My knees +threatened to let me down. + +"Must I lift the leaves and hunt for her, or will she come to +me?" I wavered. + +"That's the biggest secret of all," said Laddie. "Since the +Princess entered them, our woods are Enchanted, and there is no +telling what wonderful things may happen any minute. One of them +is this: whenever the Princess comes there, she grows in size +until she is as big as, say our Sally, and she fills all the +place with glory, until you are so blinded you scarcely can see +her face." + +"What is she like, Laddie?" I questioned, so filled with awe and +interest, that fear was forgotten. + +"She is taller than Sally," said Laddie. "Her face is oval, and +her cheeks are bright. Her eyes are big moonlit pools of +darkness, and silken curls fall over her shoulders. One hair is +strong enough for a lifeline that will draw a drowning man +ashore, or strangle an unhappy one. But you will not see her. +I'm purposely sending you early, so you can do what you are told +and come back to me before she even reaches the woods." + +"What am I to do, Laddie?" + +"You must put one hand in your apron pocket and take the letter +in it, and as long as you hold it tight, nothing in the world can +hurt you. Go out our lane to the Big Woods, climb the gate and +walk straight back the wagon road to the water. When you reach +that, you must turn to your right and go toward Hoods' until you +come to the pawpaw thicket. Go around that, look ahead, and +you'll see the biggest beech tree you ever saw. You know a +beech, don't you?" + +"Of course I do," I said indignantly. "Father taught me beech +with the other trees." + +"Well then," said Laddie, "straight before you will be a purple +beech, and under it is the throne of the Princess, the Magic +Carpet, and the walls I made. Among the beech roots there is a +stone hidden with moss. Roll the stone back and there will be a +piece of bark. Lift that, lay the letter in the box you'll find, +and scamper to me like flying. I'll be at the barn with father." + +"Is that all?" + +"Not quite," said Laddie. "It's possible that the Fairy Queen +may have set the Princess spinning silk for the caterpillars to +weave their little houses with this winter; and if she has, she +may have left a letter there to tell me. If there is one, put it +in your pocket, hold it close every step of the way, and you'll +be safe coming home as you were going. But you mustn't let a +soul see it; you must slip it into my pocket when I'm not +looking. If you let any one see, then the Magic will be spoiled, +and the Fairy won't come again." + +"No one shall see," I promised. + +"I knew you could be trusted," said Laddie, kissing and hugging +me hard. "Now go! If anything gets after you that such a big +girl as you really wouldn't be ashamed to be afraid of, climb on +a fence and call. I'll be listening, and I'll come flying. Now +I must hurry. Father will think it's going to take me the +remainder of the day to find the bolts he wants." + +We went down the front walk between the rows of hollyhocks and +tasselled lady-slippers, out the gate, and followed the road. +Laddie held one of my hands tight, and in the other I gripped the +letter in my pocket. So long as Laddie could see me, and the +lane lay between open fields, I wasn't afraid. I was thinking so +deeply about our woods being Enchanted, and a tiny Fairy growing +big as our Sally, because she was in them, that I stepped out +bravely. + +Every few days I followed the lane as far back as the Big Gate. +This stood where four fields cornered, and opened into the road +leading to the woods. Beyond it, I had walked on Sunday +afternoons with father while he taught me all the flowers, vines, +and bushes he knew, only he didn't know some of the prettiest +ones; I had to have books for them, and I was studying to learn +enough that I could find out. Or I had ridden on the wagon with +Laddie and Leon when they went to bring wood for the cookstove, +outoven, and big fireplace. But to walk! To go all alone! Not +that I didn't walk by myself over every other foot of the acres +and acres of beautiful land my father owned; but plowed fields, +grassy meadows, wood pasture, and the orchard were different. I +played in them without a thought of fear. + +The only things to be careful about were a little, shiny, slender +snake, with a head as bright as mother's copper kettle, and a big +thick one with patterns on its back like those in Laddie's +geometry books, and a whole rattlebox on its tail; not to eat any +berry or fruit I didn't know without first asking father; and +always to be sure to measure how deep the water was before I +waded in alone. + +But our Big Woods! Leon said the wildcats would get me there. I +sat in our catalpa and watched the Gypsies drive past every +summer. Mother hated them as hard as ever she could hate any +one, because once they had stolen some fine shirts, with linen +bosoms, that she had made by hand for father, and was bleaching +on the grass. If Gypsies should be in our west woods to-day and +steal me, she would hate them worse than ever; because my mother +loved me now, even if she didn't want me when I was born. + +But you could excuse her for that. She had already bathed, +spanked, sewed for, and reared eleven babies so big and strong +not one of them ever even threatened to die. When you thought of +that, you could see she wouldn't be likely to implore the +Almighty to send her another, just to make her family even +numbers. I never felt much hurt at her, but some of the others I +never have forgiven and maybe I never will. As long as there had +been eleven babies, they should have been so accustomed to +children that they needn't all of them have objected to me, all +except Laddie, of course. That was the reason I loved him so and +tried to do every single thing he wanted me to, just the way he +liked it done. That was why I was facing the only spot on our +land where I was in the slightest afraid; because he asked me to. + +If he had told me to dance a jig on the ridgepole of our barn, I +would have tried it. + +So I clasped the note, set my teeth, and climbed over the gate. +I walked fast and kept my eyes straight before me. If I looked +on either side, sure as life I would see something I never had +before, and be down digging up a strange flower, chasing a +butterfly, or watching a bird. Besides, if I didn't look in the +fence corners that I passed, maybe I wouldn't see anything to +scare me. I was going along finely, and feeling better every +minute as I went down the bank of an old creek that had gone dry, +and started up the other side toward the sugar camp not far from +the Big Woods. The bed was full of weeds and as I passed +through, away! went Something among them. + +Beside the camp shed there was corded wood, and the first thing I +knew, I was on top of it. The next, my hand was on the note in +my pocket. My heart jumped until I could see my apron move, and +my throat went all stiff and dry. I gripped the note and waited. + +Father believed God would take care of him. I was only a little +girl and needed help much more than a man; maybe God would take +care of me. There was nothing wrong in carrying a letter to the +Fairy Princess. I thought perhaps it would help if I should +kneel on the top of the woodpile and ask God to not let anything +get me. + +The more I thought about it, the less I felt like doing it, +though, because really you have no business to ask God to take +care of you, unless you KNOW you are doing right. This was +right, but in my heart I also knew that if Laddie had asked me, I +would be shivering on top of that cordwood on a hot August day, +when it was wrong. On the whole, I thought it would be more +honest to leave God out of it, and take the risk myself. That +made me think of the Crusaders, and the little gold trinket in +father's chest till. There were four shells on it and each one +stood for a trip on foot or horseback to the Holy City when you +had to fight almost every step of the way. Those shells meant +that my father's people had gone four times, so he said; that, +although it was away far back, still each of us had a tiny share +of the blood of the Crusaders in our veins, and that it would +make us brave and strong, and whenever we were afraid, if we +would think of them, we never could do a cowardly thing or let +any one else do one before us. He said any one with Crusader +blood had to be brave as Richard the Lion-hearted. Thinking +about that helped ever so much, so I gripped the note and turned +to take one last look at the house before I made a dash for the +gate that led into the Big Woods. + +Beyond our land lay the farm of Jacob Hood, and Mrs. Hood always +teased me because Laddie had gone racing after her when I was +born. She was in the middle of Monday's washing, and the bluing +settled in the rinse water and stained her white clothes in +streaks it took months to bleach out. I always liked Sarah Hood +for coming and dressing me, though, because our Sally, who was +big enough to have done it, was upstairs crying and wouldn't come +down. I liked Laddie too, because he was the only one of our +family who went to my mother and kissed her, said he was glad, +and offered to help her. Maybe the reason he went was because he +had an awful scare, but anyway he WENT, and that was enough for +me. + +You see it was this way: no one wanted me; as there had been +eleven of us, every one felt that was enough. May was six years +old and in school, and my mother thought there never would be any +more babies. She had given away the cradle and divided the baby +clothes among my big married sisters and brothers, and was having +a fine time and enjoying herself the most she ever had in her +life. The land was paid for long ago; the house she had planned, +builded as she wanted it; she had a big team of matched grays and +a carriage with side lamps and patent leather trimmings; and +sometimes there was money in the bank. I do not know that there +was very much, but any at all was a marvel, considering how many +of us there were to feed, clothe, and send to college. Mother +was forty-six and father was fifty; so they felt young enough yet +to have a fine time and enjoy life, and just when things were +going best, I announced that I was halfway over my journey to +earth. + +You can't blame my mother so much. She must have been tired of +babies and disliked to go back and begin all over after resting +six years. And you mustn't be too hard on my father if he was +not just overjoyed. He felt sure the cook would leave, and she +did. He knew Sally would object to a baby, when she wanted to +begin having beaus, so he and mother talked it over and sent her +away for a long visit to Ohio with father's people, and never +told her. They intended to leave her there until I was over the +colic, at least. They knew the big married brothers and sisters +would object, and they did. They said it would be embarrassing +for their children to be the nieces and nephews of an aunt or +uncle younger than themselves. They said it so often and so +emphatically that father was provoked and mother cried. Shelley +didn't like it because she was going to school in Groveville, +where Lucy, one of our married sisters, lived, and she was afraid +I would make so much work she would have to give up her books and +friends and remain at home. There never was a baby born who was +any less wanted than I was. I knew as much about it as any one +else, because from the day I could understand, all of them, +father, mother, Shelley, Sarah Hood, every one who knew, took +turns telling me how badly I was not wanted, how much trouble I +made, and how Laddie was the only one who loved me at first. +Because of that I was on the cordwood trying to find courage to +go farther. Over and over Laddie had told me himself. He had +been to visit our big sister Elizabeth over Sunday and about +eight o'clock Monday morning he came riding down the road, and +saw the most dreadful thing. There was not a curl of smoke from +the chimneys, not a tablecloth or pillowslip on the line, not a +blind raised. Laddie said his heart went--just like mine did +when the Something jumped in the creek bed, no doubt. Then he +laid on the whip and rode. + +He flung the rein over the hitching post, leaped the fence and +reached the back door. The young green girl, who was all father +could get when the cook left, was crying. So were Shelley and +little May, although she said afterward she had a boil on her +heel and there was no one to poultice it. Laddie leaned against +the door casing, and it is easy enough to understand what he +thought. He told me he had to try twice before he could speak, +and then he could only ask: "What's the matter?" + +Probably May never thought she would have the chance, but the +others were so busy crying harder, now that they had an audience, +that she was first to tell him: "We have got a little sister." + +"Great Day!" cried Laddie. "You made me think we had a funeral! +Where is mother, and where is my Little Sister?" + +He went bolting right into mother's room and kissed her like the +gladdest boy alive; because he was only a boy then, and he told +her how happy he was that she was safe, and then he ASKED for me. + +He said I was the only living creature in that house who was not +shedding tears, and I didn't begin for about six months +afterward. In fact, not until Shelley taught me by pinching me +if she had to rock the cradle; then I would cry so hard mother +would have to take me. He said he didn't believe I'd ever have +learned by myself. + +He took a pillow from the bed, fixed it in the rocking chair and +laid me on it. When he found that father was hitching the horses +to send Leon for Doctor Fenner, Laddie rode back after Sarah Hood +and spoiled her washing. It may be that the interest he always +took in me had its beginning in all of them scaring him with +their weeping; even Sally, whom father had to telegraph to come +home, was upstairs crying, and she was almost a woman. It may be +that all the tears they shed over not wanting me so scared Laddie +that he went farther in his welcome than he ever would have +thought of going if he hadn't done it for joy when he learned his +mother was safe. I don't care about the reason. It is enough +for me that from the hour of my birth Laddie named me Little +Sister, seldom called me anything else, and cared for me all he +possibly could to rest mother. He took me to the fields with him +in the morning and brought me back on the horse before him at +noon. He could plow with me riding the horse, drive a reaper +with me on his knees, and hoe corn while I slept on his coat in a +fence corner. The winters he was away at college left me lonely, +and when he came back for a vacation I was too happy for words. +Maybe it was wrong to love him most. I knew my mother cared for +and wanted me now. And all my secrets were not with Laddie. I +had one with father that I was never to tell so long as he lived, +but it was about the one he loved best, next after mother. +Perhaps I should never tell it, but I wouldn't be surprised if +the family knew. I followed Laddie like a faithful dog, when I +was not gripping his waving hair and riding in triumph on his +shoulders. He never had to go so fast he couldn't take me on his +back. He never was in too big a hurry to be kind. He always had +patience to explain every shell, leaf, bird, and flower I asked +about. I was just as much his when pretty young girls were +around, and the house full of company, as when we were alone. +That was the reason I was shivering on the cordwood, gripping his +letter and thinking of all these things in order to force myself +to go farther. + +I was excited about the Fairies too. I often had close chances +of seeing them, but I always just missed. Now here was Laddie +writing letters and expecting answers; our Big Woods Enchanted, a +Magic Carpet and the Queen's daughter becoming our size so she +could speak with him. No doubt the Queen had her grow big as +Shelley, when she sent her on an errand to tell Laddie about how +to make sunshine; because she was afraid if she went her real +size he would accidentally step on her, he was so dreadfully big. + +Or maybe her voice was so fine he could not hear what she said. +He had told me I was to hurry, and I had gone as fast as I could +until Something jumped; since, I had been settled on that +cordwood like Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. I had to get +down some time; I might as well start. + +I gripped the letter, slid to the ground, and ran toward the big +gate straight before me. I climbed it, clutched the note again, +and ran blindly down the road through the forest toward the +creek. I could hurry there. On either side of it I could not +have run ten steps at a time. The big trees reached so high +above me it seemed as if they would push through the floor of +Heaven. I tried to shut my ears and run so fast I couldn't hear +a sound, and so going, I soon came to the creek bank. There I +turned to my right and went slower, watching for the pawpaw +thicket. On leaving the road I thought I would have to crawl +over logs and make my way; but there seemed to be kind of a path +not very plain, but travelled enough to follow. It led straight +to the thicket. At the edge I stopped to look for the beech. It +could be reached in one breathless dash, but there seemed to be a +green enclosure, so I walked around until I found an entrance. +Once there I was so amazed I stood and stared. I was half +indignant too. + +Laddie hadn't done a thing but make an exact copy of my playhouse +under the biggest maiden's-blush in our orchard. He used the +immense beech for one corner, where I had the apple tree. His +Magic Carpet was woolly-dog moss, and all the magic about it, was +that on the damp woods floor, in the deep shade, the moss had +taken root and was growing as if it always had been there. He +had been able to cut and stick much larger willow sprouts for his +walls than I could, and in the wet black mould they didn't look +as if they ever had wilted. They were so fresh and green, no +doubt they had taken root and were growing. Where I had a low +bench under my tree, he had used a log; but he had hewed the top +flat, and made a moss cover. In each corner he had set a fern as +high as my head. On either side of the entrance he had planted a +cluster of cardinal flower that was in full bloom, and around the +walls in a few places thrifty bunches of Oswego tea and foxfire, +that I would have walked miles to secure for my wild garden under +the Bartlett pear tree. It was so beautiful it took my breath +away. + +"If the Queen's daughter doesn't like this," I said softly, +"she'll have to go to Heaven before she finds anything better, +for there can't be another place on earth so pretty." + +It was wonderful how the sound of my own voice gave me courage, +even if it did seem a little strange. So I hurried to the beech, +knelt and slipped the letter in the box, and put back the bark +and stone. Laddie had said that nothing could hurt me while I +had the letter, so my protection was gone as soon as it left my +hands. + +There was nothing but my feet to save me now. I thanked goodness +I was a fine runner, and started for the pawpaw thicket. Once +there, I paused only one minute to see whether the way to the +stream was clear, and while standing tense and gazing, I heard +something. For an instant it was every bit as bad as at the dry +creek. Then I realized that this was a soft voice singing, and I +forgot everything else in a glow of delight. The Princess was +coming! + +Never in all my life was I so surprised, and astonished, and +bewildered. She was even larger than our Sally; her dress was +pale green, like I thought a Fairy's should be; her eyes were +deep and dark as Laddie had said, her hair hung from a part in +the middle of her forehead over her shoulders, and if she had +been in the sun, it would have gleamed like a blackbird's wing. +She was just as Laddie said she would be; she was so much more +beautiful than you would suppose any woman could be, I stood +there dumbly staring. I wouldn't have asked for any one more +perfectly beautiful or more like Laddie had said the Princess +would be; but she was no more the daughter of the Fairy Queen +than I was. She was not any more of a Princess. If father ever +would tell all about the little bauble he kept in the till of his +big chest, maybe she was not as near! She was no one on earth +but one of those new English people who had moved on the land +that cornered with ours on the northwest. She had ridden over +the roads, and been at our meeting house. There could be no +mistake. + +And neither father nor mother would want her on our place. They +didn't like her family at all. Mother called them the +neighbourhood mystery, and father spoke of them as the Infidels. +They had dropped from nowhere, mother said, bought that splendid +big farm, moved on and shut out every one. Before any one knew +people were shut out, mother, dressed in her finest, with Laddie +driving, went in the carriage, all shining, to make friends with +them. This very girl opened the door and said that her mother +was "indisposed," and could not see callers. "In-dis-posed!" +That's a good word that fills your mouth, but our mother didn't +like having it used to her. She said the "saucy chit" was +insulting. Then the man came, and he said he was very sorry, but +his wife would see no one. He did invite mother in, but she +wouldn't go. She told us she could see past him into the house +and there was such finery as never in all her days had she laid +eyes on. She said he was mannerly as could be, but he had the +coldest, severest face she ever saw. + +They had two men and a woman servant, and no one could coax a +word from them, about why those people acted as they did. They +said 'orse, and 'ouse, and Hengland. They talked so funny you +couldn't have understood them anyway. They never plowed or put +in a crop. They made everything into a meadow and had more +horses, cattle, and sheep than a county fair, and everything you +ever knew with feathers, even peacocks. We could hear them +scream whenever it was going to rain. Father said they sounded +heathenish. I rather liked them. The man had stacks of money or +they couldn't have lived the way they did. He came to our house +twice on business: once to see about road laws, and again about +tax rates. Father was mightily pleased at first, because Mr. +Pryor seemed to have books, and to know everything, and father +thought it would be fine to be neighbours. But the minute Mr. +Pryor finished business he began to argue that every single thing +father and mother believed was wrong. He said right out in plain +English that God was a myth. Father told him pretty quickly that +no man could say that in his house; so he left suddenly and had +not been back since, and father didn't want him ever to come +again. + +Then their neighbours often saw the woman around the house and +garden. She looked and acted quite as well as any one, so +probably she was not half so sick as my mother, who had nursed +three of us through typhoid fever, and then had it herself when +she was all tired out. She wouldn't let a soul know she had a +pain until she dropped over and couldn't take another step, and +father or Laddie carried her to bed. But she went everywhere, +saw all her friends, and did more good from her bed than any +other woman in our neighbourhood could on her feet. So we +thought mighty little of those Pryor people. + +Every one said the girl was pretty. Then her clothes drove the +other women crazy. Some of our neighbourhood came from far down +east, like my mother. Our people back a little were from over +the sea, and they knew how things should be, to be right. Many +of the others were from Kentucky and Virginia, and they were well +dressed, proud, handsome women; none better looking anywhere. +They followed the fashions and spent much time and money on their +clothes. When it was Quarterly Meeting or the Bishop dedicated +the church or they went to town on court days, you should have +seen them--until Pryors came. Then something new happened, and +not a woman in our neighbourhood liked it. Pamela Pryor didn't +follow the fashions. She set them. If every other woman made +long tight sleeves to their wrists, she let hers flow to the +elbow and filled them with silk lining, ruffled with lace. If +they wore high neckbands, she had none, and used a flat lace +collar. If they cut their waists straight around and gathered +their skirts on six yards full, she ran hers down to a little +point front and back, that made her look slenderer, and put only +half as much goods in her skirt. Maybe Laddie rode as well as +she could; he couldn't manage a horse any better, and aside from +him there wasn't a man we knew who would have tried to ride some +of the animals she did. + +If she ever worked a stroke, no one knew it. All day long she +sat in the parlour, the very best one, every day; or on benches +under the trees with embroidery frames or books, some of them +fearful, big, difficult looking ones, or rode over the country. +She rode in sunshine and she rode in storm, until you would think +she couldn't see her way through her tangled black hair. She +rode through snow and in pouring rain, when she could have stayed +out of it, if she had wanted to. She didn't seem to be afraid of +anything on earth or in Heaven. Every one thought she was like +her father and didn't believe there was any God; so when she came +among us at church or any public gathering, as she sometimes did, +people were in no hurry to be friendly, while she looked straight +ahead and never spoke until she was spoken to, and then she was +precise and cold, I tell you. + +Men took off their hats, got out of the road when she came +pounding along, and stared after her like "be-addled mummies," my +mother said. But that was all she, or any one else, could say. +The young fellows were wild about her, and if they tried to sidle +up to her in the hope that they might lead her horse or get to +hold her foot when she mounted, they always saw when they reached +her, that she wasn't there. + +But she was here! I had seen her only a few times, but this was +the Pryor girl, just as sure as I would have known if it had been +Sally. What dazed me was that she answered in every particular +the description Laddie had given me of the Queen's daughter. And +worst of all, from the day she first came among us, moving so +proud and cold, blabbing old Hannah Dover said she carried +herself like a Princess--as if Hannah Dover knew HOW a Princess +carried herself!--every living soul, my father even, had called +her the Princess. At first it was because she was like they +thought a Princess would be, but later they did it in meanness, +to make fun. After they knew her name, they were used to calling +her the Princess, so they kept it up, but some of them were +secretly proud of her; because she could look, and do, and be +what they would have given anything to, and knew they couldn't to +save them. + +I was never in such a fix in all my life. She looked more as +Laddie had said the Princess would than you would have thought +any woman could, but she was Pamela Pryor, nevertheless. Every +one called her the Princess, but she couldn't make reality out of +that. She just couldn't be the Fairy Queen's daughter; so the +letter couldn't possibly be for her. + +She had no business in our woods; you could see that they had +plenty of their own. She went straight to the door of the willow +room and walked in as if she belonged there. What if she found +the hollow and took Laddie's letter! Fast as I could slip over +the leaves, I went back. She was on the moss carpet, on her +knees, and the letter was in her fingers. It's a good thing to +have your manners soundly thrashed into you. You've got to be +scared stiff before you forget them. I wasn't so afraid of her +as I would have been if I had known she WAS the princess, and +have Laddies letter, she should not. What had the kind of girl +she was, from a home like hers, to teach any one from our house +about making sunshine? I was at the willow wall by that time +peering through, so I just parted it a little and said: "Please +put back that letter where you got it. It isn't for you." + +She knelt on the mosses, the letter in her hand, and her face, as +she turned to me, was rather startled; but when she saw me she +laughed, and said in the sweetest voice I ever heard: "Are you +so very sure of that?" + +"Well I ought to be," I said. "I put it there." + +"Might I inquire for whom you put it there?" + +"No ma'am! That's a secret." + +You should have seen the light flame in her eyes, the red deepen +on her cheeks, and the little curl of laughter that curved her +lips. + +"How interesting!" she cried. "I wonder now if you are not +Little Sister." + +"I am to Laddie and our folks," I said. "You are a stranger." + +All the dancing lights went from her face. She looked as if she +were going to cry unless she hurried up and swallowed it down +hard and fast. + +"That is quite true," she said. "I am a stranger. Do you know +that being a stranger is the hardest thing that can happen to any +one in all this world?" + +"Then why don't you open your doors, invite your neighbours in, +go to see them, and stop your father from saying such dreadful +things?" + +"They are not my doors," she said, "and could you keep your +father from saying anything he chooses?" + +I stood and blinked at her. Of course I wouldn't even dare try +that. + +"I'm so sorry," was all I could think to say. + +I couldn't ask her to come to our house. I knew no one wanted +her. But if I couldn't speak for the others, surely I might for +myself. I let go the willows and went to the door. The Princess +arose and sat on the seat Laddie had made for the Queen's +daughter. It was an awful pity to tell her she shouldn't sit +there, for I had my doubts if the real, true Princess would be +half as lovely when she came--if she ever did. Some way the +Princess, who was not a Princess, appeared so real, I couldn't +keep from becoming confused and forgetting that she was only just +Pamela Pryor. Already the lovely lights had gone from her face +until it made me so sad I wanted to cry, and I was no easy cry- +baby either. If I couldn't offer friendship for my family I +would for myself. + +"You may call me Little Sister, if you like," I said. "I won't +be a stranger." + +"Why how lovely!" cried the Princess. + +You should have seen the dancing lights fly back to her eyes. +Probably you won't believe this, but the first thing I knew I was +beside her on the throne, her arm was around me, and it's the +gospel truth that she hugged me tight. I just had sense enough +to reach over and pick Laddie's letter from her fingers, and then +I was on her side. I don't know what she did to me, but all at +once I knew that she was dreadfully lonely; that she hated being +a stranger; that she was sorry enough to cry because their house +was one of mystery, and that she would open the door if she +could. + +"I like you," I said, reaching up to touch her curls. + +I never had seen her that I did not want to. They were like I +thought they would be. Father and Laddie and some of us had wavy +hair, but hers was crisp--and it clung to your fingers, and +wrapped around them and seemed to tug at your heart like it does +when a baby grips you. I drew away my hand, and the hair +stretched out until it was long as any of ours, and then curled +up again, and you could see that no tins had stabbed into her +head to make those curls. I began trying to single out one hair. + +"What are you doing?" she asked. + +"I want to know if only one hair is strong enough to draw a +drowning man from the water or strangle an unhappy one," I said. + +"Believe me, no!" cried the Princess. "It would take all I have, +woven into a rope, to do that." + +"Laddie knows curls that just one hair of them is strong enough," +I boasted. + +"I wonder now!" said the Princess. "I think he must have been +making poetry or telling Fairy tales." + +"He was telling the truth," I assured her. "Father doesn't +believe in Fairies, and mother laughs, but Laddie and I know. Do +you believe in Fairies?" + +"Of course I do!" she said. + +"Then you know that this COULD be an Enchanted Wood?" + +"I have found it so," said the Princess. + +"And MAYBE this is a Magic Carpet?" + +"It surely is a Magic Carpet." + +"And you might be the daughter of the Queen? Your eyes are +`moonlit pools of darkness.' If only your hair were stronger, +and you knew about making sunshine!" + +"Maybe it is stronger than I think. It never has been tested. +Perhaps I do know about making sunshine. Possibly I am as true +as the wood and the carpet." + +I drew away and stared at her. The longer I looked the more +uncertain I became. Maybe her mother was the Queen. Perhaps +that was the mystery. It might be the reason she didn't want the +people to see her. Maybe she was so busy making sunshine for the +Princess to bring to Laddie that she had no time to sew carpet +rags, and to go to quiltings, and funerals, and make visits. It +was hard to know what to think. + +"I wish you'd tell me plain out if you are the Queen's daughter," +I said. "It's most important. You can't have this letter unless +I KNOW. It's the very first time Laddie ever trusted me with a +letter, and I just can't give it to the wrong person." + +"Then why don't you leave it where he told you?" + +"But you have gone and found the place. You started to take it +once; you would again, soon as I left." + +"Look me straight in the eyes, Little Sister," said the Princess +softly. "Am I like a person who would take anything that didn't +belong to her?" + +"No!" I said instantly. + +"How do you think I happened to come to this place?" + +"Maybe our woods are prettier than yours." + +"How do you think I knew where the letter was?" + +I shook my head. + +"If I show you some others exactly like the one you have there, +then will you believe that is for me?" + +"Yes," I answered. + +I believed it anyway. It just SEEMED so, the better you knew +her. The Princess slipped her hand among the folds of the +trailing pale green skirt, and from a hidden pocket drew other +letters exactly like the one I held. She opened one and ran her +finger along the top line and I read, "To the Princess," and then +she pointed to the ending and it was merely signed, "Laddie," but +all the words written between were his writing. Slowly I handed +her the letter. + +"You don't want me to have it?" she asked. + +"Yes," I said. "I want you to have it if Laddie wrote it for +you--but mother and father won't, not at all." + +"What makes you think so?" she asked gently. + +"Don't you know what people say about you?" + +"Some of it, perhaps." + +"Well?" + +"Do you think it is true?" + +"Not that you're stuck up, and hateful and proud, not that you +don't want to be neighbourly with other people, no, I don't think +that. But your father said in our home that there was no God, +and you wouldn't let my mother in when she put on her best dress +and went in the carriage, and wanted to be friends. I have to +believe that." + +"Yes, you can't help believing that," said the Princess. + +"Then can't you see why you'll be likely to show Laddie the way +to find trouble, instead of sunshine?" + +"I can see," said the Princess. + +"Oh Princess, you won't do it, will you?" I cried. + +"Don't you think such a big man as Laddie can take care of +himself?" she asked, and the dancing lights that had begun to +fade came back. "Over there," she pointed through our woods +toward the southwest, "lives a man you know. What do his +neighbours call him?" + +"Stiff-necked Johnny," I answered promptly. + +"And the man who lives next him?" + +"Pinch-fist Williams." + +Her finger veered to another neighbour's. + +"The girls of that house?" + +"Giggle-head Smithsons." + +"What about the man who lives over there?" + +"He beats his wife." + +"And the house beyond?" + +"Mother whispers about them. I don't know." + +"And the woman on the hill?" + +"She doesn't do anything but gussip and make every one trouble." + +"Exactly!" said the Princess. "Yet most of these people come to +your house, and your family goes to theirs. Do you suppose +people they know nothing about are so much worse than these +others?" + +"If your father will take it back about God, and your mother will +let people in--my mother and father both wanted to be friends, +you know." + +"That I can't possibly do," she said, "but maybe I could change +their feelings toward me." + +"Do it!" I cried. "Oh, I'd just love you to do it! I wish you +would come to our house and be friends. Sally is pretty as you +are, only a different way, and I know she'd like you, and so +would Shelley. If Laddie writes you letters and comes here about +sunshine, of course he'd be delighted if mother knew you; because +she loves him best of any of us. She depends on him most as much +as father." + +"Then will you keep the secret until I have time to try--say +until this time next year?" + +"I'll keep it just as long as Laddie wants me to." + +"Good!" said the Princess. "No wonder Laddie thinks you the +finest Little Sister any one ever had." + +"Does Laddie think that?" I asked + +"He does indeed!" said the Princess. + +"Then I'm not afraid to go home," I said. "And I'll bring his +letter the next time he can't come." + +"Were you scared this time?" + +I told her about that Something in the dry bed, the wolves, +wildcats, Paddy Ryan, and the Gypsies. + +"You little goosie," said the Princess. "I am afraid that +brother Leon of yours is the biggest rogue loose in this part of +the country. Didn't it ever occur to you that people named Wolfe +live over there, and they call that crowd next us `wildcats,' +because they just went on some land and took it, and began living +there without any more permission than real wildcats ask to enter +the woods? Do you suppose I would be here, and everywhere else I +want to go, if there were any danger? Did anything really harm +you coming?" + +"You're harmed when you're scared until you can't breathe," I +said. "Anyway, nothing could get me coming, because I held the +letter tight in my hand, like Laddie said. If you'd write me one +to take back, I'd be safe going home." + +"I see," said the Princess. "But I've no pencil, and no paper, +unless I use the back of one of Laddie's letters, and that +wouldn't be polite." + +"You can make new fashions," I said, "but you don't know much +about the woods, do you? I could fix fifty ways to send a +message to Laddie." + +"How would you?" asked the Princess. + +Running to the pawpaw bushes I pulled some big tender leaves. +Then I took the bark from the box and laid a leaf on it. + +"Press with one of your rings," I said, "and print what you want +to say. I write to the Fairies every day that way, only I use an +old knife handle." + +She tried. She spoiled two or three by bearing down so hard she +cut the leaves. She didn't even know enough to write on the +frosty side, until she was told. But pretty soon she got along +so well she printed all over two big ones. Then I took a stick +and punched little holes and stuck a piece of foxfire bloom +through. + +"What makes you do that?" she asked. + +"That's the stamp," I explained. + +"But it's my letter, and I didn't put it there." + +"Has to be there or the Fairies won't like it," I said. + +"Well then, let it go," said the Princess. + +I put back the bark and replaced the stone, gathered up the +scattered leaves, and put the two with writing on between fresh +ones. + +"Now I must run," I said, "or Laddie will think the Gypsies have +got me sure." + +"I'll go with you past the dry creek," she offered. + +"You better not," I said. "I'd love to have you, but it would be +best for you to change their opinion, before father or mother +sees you on their land." + +"Perhaps it would," said the Princess. "I'll wait here until you +reach the fence and then you call and I'll know you are in the +open and feel comfortable." + +"I am most all over being afraid now," I told her. + +Just to show her, I walked to the creek, climbed the gate and +went down the lane. Almost to the road I began wondering what I +could do with the letter, when looking ahead I saw Laddie coming. + +"I was just starting to find you. You've been an age, child," he +said. + +I held up the letter. + +"No one is looking," I said, "and this won't go in your pocket." + +You should have seen his face. + +"Where did you get it?" he asked. + +I told him all about it. I told him everything--about the hair +that maybe was stronger than she thought, and that she was going +to change father's and mother's opinions, and that I put the red +flower on, but she left it; and when I was done Laddie almost +hugged the life out of me. I never did see him so happy. + +"If you be very, very careful never to breathe a whisper, I'll +take you with me some day," he promised. + + + +CHAPTER II + +Our Angel Boy + + "I had a brother once--a gracious boy, + Full of all gentleness, of calmest hope, + Of sweet and quiet joy,--there was the look + Of heaven upon his face." + +It was supper time when we reached home, and Bobby was at the +front gate to meet me. He always hunted me all over the place +when the big bell in the yard rang at meal time, because if he +crowed nicely when he was told, he was allowed to stand on the +back of my chair and every little while I held up my plate and +shared bites with him. I have seen many white bantams, but never +another like Bobby. My big brothers bought him for me in Fort +Wayne, and sent him in a box, alone on the cars. Father and I +drove to Groveville to meet him. The minute father pried off the +lid, Bobby hopped on the edge of the box and crowed--the biggest +crow you ever heard from such a mite of a body; he wasn't in the +least afraid of us and we were pleased about it. You scarcely +could see his beady black eyes for his bushy topknot, his wing +tips touched the ground, his tail had two beautiful plumy +feathers much longer than the others, his feet were covered with +feathers, and his knee tufts dragged. He was the sauciest, +spunkiest little fellow, and white as muslin. We went to supper +together, but no one asked where I had been, and because I was so +bursting full of importance, I talked only to Bobby, in order to +be safe. + +After supper I finished Hezekiah's trousers, and May cut his coat +for me. School would begin in September and our clothes were +being made, so I used the scraps to dress him. His suit was done +by the next forenoon, and father never laughed harder than when +Hezekiah hopped down the walk to meet him dressed in pink +trousers and coat. The coat had flowing sleeves like the +Princess wore, so Hezekiah could fly, and he seemed to like them. + +His suit was such a success I began a sunbonnet, and when that +was tied on him, the folks almost had spasms. They said he +wouldn't like being dressed; that he would fly away to punish me, +but he did no such thing. He stayed around the house and was +tame as ever. + +When I became tired sewing that afternoon, I went down the lane +leading to our meadow, where Leon was killing thistles with a +grubbing hoe. I thought he would be glad to see me, and he was. +Every one had been busy in the house, so I went to the cellar the +outside way and ate all I wanted from the cupboard. Then I +spread two big slices of bread the best I could with my fingers, +putting apple butter on one, and mashed potatoes on the other. +Leon leaned on the hoe and watched me coming. He was a hungry +boy, and lonesome too, but he couldn't be forced to say so. + +"Laddie is at work in the barn," he said. + +"I'm going to play in the creek," I answered. + +Crossing our meadow there was a stream that had grassy banks, big +trees, willows, bushes and vines for shade, a solid pebbly bed; +it was all turns and bends so that the water hurried until it +bubbled and sang as it went; in it lived tiny fish coloured +brightly as flowers, beside it ran killdeer, plover and solemn +blue herons almost as tall as I was came from the river to fish; +for a place to play on an August afternoon, it couldn't be +beaten. The sheep had been put in the lower pasture; so the +cross old Shropshire ram was not there to bother us. + +"Come to the shade," I said to Leon, and when we were comfortably +seated under a big maple weighted down with trailing grapevines, +I offered the bread. Leon took a piece in each hand and began to +eat as if he were starving. Laddie would have kissed me and +said: "What a fine treat! Thank you, Little Sister." + +Leon was different. He ate so greedily you had to know he was +glad to get it, but he wouldn't say so, not if he never got any +more. When you knew him, you understood he wouldn't forget it, +and he'd be certain to do something nice for you before the day +was over to pay back. We sat there talking about everything we +saw, and at last Leon said with a grin: "Shelley isn't getting +much grape sap is she?" + +"I didn't know she wanted grape sap." + +"She read about it in a paper. It said to cut the vine of a wild +grape, catch the drippings and moisten your hair. This would +make it glossy and grow faster." + +"What on earth does Shelley want with more hair than she has?" + +"Oh, she has heard it bragged on so much she thinks people would +say more if she could improve it." + +I looked and there was the vine, dry as could be, and a milk +crock beneath it. + +"Didn't the silly know she had to cut the vine in the spring when +the sap was running?" + +"Bear witness, O vine! that she did not," said Leon, "and speak, +ye voiceless pottery, and testify that she expected to find you +overflowing." + +"Too bad that she's going to be disappointed." + +"She isn't! She's going to find ample liquid to bathe her +streaming tresses. Keep quiet and watch me." + +He picked up the crock, carried it to the creek and dipped it +full of water. + +"That's too much," I objected. "She'll know she never got a +crock full from a dry vine." + +"She'll think the vine bled itself dry for her sake." + +"She isn't that silly." + +"Well then, how silly is she?" asked Leon, spilling out half. +"About so?" + +"Not so bad as that. Less yet!" + +"Anything to please the ladies," said Leon, pouring out more. +Then we sat and giggled a while. + +"What are you going to do now?" asked Leon. + +"Play in the creek," I answered. + +"All right! I'll work near you." + +He rolled his trousers above his knees and took the hoe, but he +was in the water most of the time. We had to climb on the bank +when we came to the deep curve, under the stump of the old oak +that father cut because Pete Billings would climb it and yowl +like a wildcat on cold winter nights. Pete was wrong in his head +like Paddy Ryan, only worse. As we passed we heard the faintest +sounds, so we lay and looked, and there in the dark place under +the roots, where the water was deepest, huddled some of the +cunningest little downy wild ducks you ever saw. We looked at +each other and never said a word. Leon chased them out with the +hoe and they swam down stream faster than old ones. I stood in +the shallow water behind them and kept them from going back to +the deep place, while Leon worked to catch them. Every time he +got one he brought it to me, and I made a bag of my apron front +to put them in. The supper bell rang before we caught all of +them. We were dripping wet with creek water and perspiration, +but we had the ducks, every one of them, and proudly started +home. I'll wager Leon was sorry he didn't wear aprons so he +could carry them. He did keep the last one in his hands, and +held its little fluffy body against his cheeks every few minutes. + +"Couldn't anything be prettier than a young duck." + +"Except a little guinea," I said. + +"That's so!" said Leon. "They are most as pretty as quail. I +guess all young things that have down are about as cunning as +they can be. I don't believe I know which I like best, myself." + +"Baby killdeers." + +"I mean tame. Things we raise." + +"I'll take guineas." + +"I'll say white turkeys. They seem so innocent. Nothing of ours +is pretty as these." + +"But these are wild." + +"So they are," said Leon. "Twelve of them. Won't mother be +pleased?" + +She was not in the least. She said we were a sight to behold; +that she was ashamed to be the mother of two children who didn't +know tame ducks from wild ones. She remembered instantly that +Amanda Deam had set a speckled Dorking hen on Mallard duck +eggs, where she got the eggs, and what she paid for them. She +said the ducks had found the creek that flowed beside Deams' +barnyard before it entered our land, and they had swum away from +the hen, and both the hen and Amanda would be frantic. She put +the ducks into a basket and said to take them back soon as ever +we got our suppers, and we must hurry because we had to bathe and +learn our texts for Sunday-school in the morning. + +We went through the orchard, down the hill and across the meadow +until we came to the creek. By that time we were tired of the +basket. It was one father had woven himself of shaved and soaked +hickory strips, and it was heavy. The sight of water suggested +the proper place for ducks, anyway. We talked it over and +decided that they would be much more comfortable swimming than in +the basket, and it was more fun to wade than to walk, so we went +above the deep place, I stood in the creek to keep them from +going down, and Leon poured them on the water. Pigs couldn't +have acted more contrary. Those ducks LIKED us. They wouldn't +go to Deams'. They just fought to swim back to us. Anyway, we +had the worst time you ever saw. Leon cut long switches to herd +them with, and both of us waded and tried to drive them, but they +would dart under embankments and roots, and dive and hide. + +Before we reached the Deams' I wished that we had carried them as +mother told us, for we had lost three, and if we stopped to hunt +them, more would hide. By the time we drove them under the +floodgate crossing the creek between our land and the Deams' four +were gone. Leon left me on the gate with both switches to keep +them from going back and he ran to call Mrs. Deam. She had red +hair and a hot temper, and we were not very anxious to see her, +but we had to do it. While Leon was gone I was thinking pretty +fast and I knew exactly how things would happen. First time +mother saw Mrs. Deam she would ask her if the ducks were all +right, and she would tell that four were gone. Mother would ask +how many she had, and she would say twelve, then mother would +remember that she started us with twelve in the basket--Oh what's +the use! Something had to be done. It had to be done quickly +too, for I could hear Amanda Deam, her boy Sammy and Leon coming +across the barnyard. I looked around in despair, but when things +are the very worst, there is almost always some way out. + +On the dry straw worked between and pushing against the panels of +the floodgate, not far from me, I saw a big black water snake. I +took one good look at it: no coppery head, no geometry patterns, +no rattlebox, so I knew it wasn't poisonous and wouldn't bite +until it was hurt, and if it did, all you had to do was to suck +the place, and it wouldn't amount to more than two little pricks +as if pins had stuck you; but a big snake was a good excuse. I +rolled from the floodgate among the ducks, and cried, "Snake!" +They scattered everywhere. The snake lazily uncoiled and slid +across the straw so slowly that--thank goodness! Amanda Deam got +a fair look at it. She immediately began to jump up and down and +scream. Leon grabbed a stick and came running to the water. I +cried so he had to help me out first. + +"Don't let her count them!" I whispered. + +Leon gave me one swift look and all the mischief in his blue eyes +peeped out. He was the funniest boy you ever knew, anyway. +Mostly he looked scowly and abused. He had a grievance against +everybody and everything. He said none of us liked him, and we +imposed on him. Father said that if he tanned Leon's jacket for +anything, and set him down to think it over, he would pout a +while, then he would look thoughtful, suddenly his face would +light up and he would go away sparkling; and you could depend +upon it he would do the same thing over, or something worse, +inside an hour. When he wanted to, he could smile the most +winning smile, and he could coax you into anything. Mother said +she dreaded to have to borrow a dime from him, if a peddler +caught her without change, because she knew she'd be kept paying +it back for the next six months. Right now he was the busiest +kind of a boy. + +"Where is it? Let me get a good lick at it! Don't scare the +ducks!" he would cry, and chase them from one bank to the other, +while Amanda danced and fought imaginary snakes. For a woman who +had seen as many as she must have in her life, it was too funny. +I don't think I could laugh harder, or Leon and Sammy. We +enjoyed ourselves so much that at last she began to be angry. +She quit dancing, and commenced hunting ducks, for sure. She +held her skirts high, poked along the banks, jumped the creek and +didn't always get clear across. Her hair shook down, she lost a +sidecomb, and she couldn't find half the ducks. + +"You younguns pack right out of here," she said. "Me and Sammy +can get them better ourselves, and if we don't find all of them, +we'll know where they are." + +"We haven't got any of your ducks," I said angrily, but Leon +smiled his most angelic smile, and it seemed as if he were going +to cry. + +"Of course, if you want to accuse mother of stealing your ducks, +you can," he said plaintively, "but I should think you'd be +ashamed to do it, after all the trouble we took to catch them +before they swam to the river, where you never would have found +one of them. Come on, Little Sister, let's go home." + +He started and I followed. As soon as we got around the bend we +sat on the bank, hung our feet in the water, leaned against each +other and laughed. We just laughed ourselves almost sick. When +Amanda's face got fire red, and her hair came down, and she +jumped and didn't go quite over, she looked a perfect fright. + +"Will she ever find all of them?" I asked at last. + +"Of course," said Leon. "She will comb the grass and strain the +water until she gets every one." + +"Hoo-hoo!" + +I looked at Leon. He was so intently watching an old turkey +buzzard hanging in the air, he never heard the call that meant it +was time for us to be home and cleaning up for Sunday. It was +difficult to hurry, for after we had been soaped and scoured, we +had to sit on the back steps and commit to memory verses from the +Bible. At last we waded toward home. Two of the ducks we had +lost swam before us all the way, so we knew they were alive, and +all they needed was finding. + +"If she hadn't accused mother of stealing her old ducks, I'd +catch those and carry them back to her," said Leon. "But since +she thinks we are so mean, I'll just let her and little Sammy +find them." + +Then we heard their voices as they came down the creek, so Leon +reached me his hand and we scampered across the water and meadow, +never stopping until we sat on the top rail of our back orchard +fence. There we heard another call, but that was only two. We +sat there, rested and looked at the green apples above our heads, +wishing they were ripe, and talking about the ducks. We could +see Mrs. Deam and Sammy coming down the creek, one on each side. +We slid from the fence and ran into a queer hollow that was cut +into the hill between the never-fail and the Baldwin apple trees. + +That hollow was overgrown with weeds, and full of trimmings from +trees, stumps, everything that no one wanted any place else in +the orchard. It was the only unkept spot on our land, and I +always wondered why father didn't clean it out and make it look +respectable. I said so to Leon as we crouched there watching +down the hill where Mrs. Deam and Sammy hunted ducks with not +such very grand success. They seemed to have so many they +couldn't decide whether to go back or go on, so they must have +found most of them. + +"You know I've always had my suspicions about this place," said +Leon. "There is somewhere on our land that people can be hidden +for a long time. I can remember well enough before the war ever +so long, and while it was going worst, we would find the wagon +covered with more mud in the morning than had been on it at +night; and the horses would be splashed and tired. Once I was +awake in the night and heard voices. It made me want a drink, so +I went downstairs for it, and ran right into the biggest, +blackest man who ever grew. If father and mother hadn't been +there I'd have been scared into fits. Next morning he was gone +and there wasn't a whisper. Father said I'd had bad dreams. +That night the horses made another mysterious trip. Now where +did they keep the black man all that day?" + +"What did they have a black man for?" + +"They were helping him run away from slavery to be free in +Canada. It was all right. I'd have done the same thing. They +helped a lot. Father was a friend of the Governor. There were +letters from him, and there was some good reason why father +stayed at home, when he was crazy about the war. I think this +farm was what they called an Underground Station. What I want to +know is where the station was." + +"Maybe it's here. Let's hunt," I said. "If the black men were +here some time, they would have to be fed, and this is not far +from the house." + +So we took long sticks and began poking into the weeds. Then we +moved the brush, and sure as you live, we found an old door with +a big stone against it. I looked at Leon and he looked at me. + +"Hoo-hoo!" came mother's voice, and that was the third call. + +"Hum! Must be for us," said Leon. "We better go as soon as we +get a little dryer." + +He slid down the bank on one side, and I on the other, and we +pushed at the stone. I thought we never would get it rolled away +so we could open the door a crack, but when we did what we saw +was most surprising. There was a little room, dreadfully small. +but a room. There was straw scattered over the floor, very deep +on one side, where an old blanket showed that it had been a bed. +Across the end there was a shelf. On it was a candlestick, with +a half-burned candle in it, a pie pan with some mouldy crumbs, +crusts, bones in it, and a tin can. Leon picked up the can and +looked in. I could see too. + +It had been used for water or coffee, as the plate had for food, +once, but now it was stuffed full of money. I saw Leon pull some +out and then shove it back, and he came to the door white as +could be, shut it behind him and began to push at the stone. +When we got it in place we put the brush over it, and fixed +everything like it had been. + +At last Leon said: "That's the time we got into something not +intended for us, and if father finds it out, we are in for a good +thrashing. Are you just a blubbering baby, or are you big enough +to keep still?" + +"I am old enough that I could have gone to school two years ago, +and I won't tell!" I said stoutly. + +"All right! Come on then," said Leon. "I don't know but mother +has been calling us." + +We started up the orchard path at the fourth call. + +"Hoo-hoo!" answered Leon in a sick little voice to make it sound +far away. Must have made mother think we were on Deams' hill. +Then we went on side by side. + +"Say Leon, you found the Station, didn't you?" + +"Don't talk about it!" snapped Leon. + +I changed the subject + +"Whose money do you suppose that is?" + +"Oh crackey! You can depend on a girl to see everything," +groaned Leon. "Do you think you'll be able to stand the +switching that job will bring you, without getting sick in bed?" + +Now I never had been sick in bed, and from what I had seen of +other people who were, I never wanted to be. The idea of being +switched until it made me sick was too much for me. I shut my +mouth tight and I never opened it about the Station place. As we +reached the maiden's-blush apple tree came another call, and it +sounded pretty cross, I can tell you. Leon reached his hand. + +"Now, it's time to run. Let me do the talking." + +We were out of breath when we reached the back door. There stood +the tub on the kitchen floor, the boiler on the stove, soap, +towels, and clean clothing on chairs. Leon had his turn at +having his ears washed first, because he could bathe himself +while mother did my hair. + +"Was Mrs. Deam glad to get her ducks back?" she asked as she +fine-combed Leon. + +"Aw, you never can tell whether she's glad about anything or +not," growled Leon. "You'd have thought from the way she acted, +that we'd been trying to steal her ducks. She said if she missed +any she'd know where to find them." + +"Well as I live!" cried mother. "Why I wouldn't have believed +that of Amanda Deam. You told her you thought they were wild, of +course." + +"I didn't have a chance to tell her anything. The minute the +ducks struck the water they started right back down stream, and +there was a big snake, and we had an awful time. We got wet +trying to head them back, and then we didn't find all of them." + +"They are like little eels. You should have helped Amanda." + +"Well, you called so cross we thought you would come after us, so +we had to run." + +"One never knows," sighed mother. "I thought you were loitering. + +Of course if I had known you were having trouble with the ducks! +I think you had better go back and help them." + +"Didn't I do enough to take them home? Can't Sammy Deam catch +ducks as fast as I can?" + +"I suppose so," said mother. "And I must get your bathing out of +the way of supper. You use the tub while I do Little Sister's +hair." + +I almost hated Sunday, because of what had to be done to my hair +on Saturday, to get ready for it. All week it hung in two long +braids that were brushed and arranged each morning. But on +Saturday it had to be combed with a fine comb, oiled and rolled +around strips of tin until Sunday morning. Mother did everything +thoroughly. She raked that fine comb over our scalps until she +almost raised the blood. She hadn't time to fool with tangles, +and we had so much hair she didn't know what to do with all of +it, anyway. When she was busy talking she reached around too far +and combed across our foreheads or raked the tip of an ear. + +But on Sunday morning we forgot all that, when we walked down the +aisle with shining curls hanging below our waists. Mother was +using the fine comb, when she looked up, and there stood Mrs. +Freshett. We could see at a glance that she was out of breath. + +"Have I beat them?" she cried. + +"Whom are you trying to beat?" asked mother as she told May to +set a chair for Mrs. Freshett and bring her a drink. + +"The grave-kiver men," she said. "I wanted to get to you first." + +"Well, you have," said mother. "Rest a while and then tell me." + +But Mrs. Freshett was so excited she couldn't rest. + +"I thought they were coming straight on down," she said, "but +they must have turned off at the cross roads. I want to do +what's right by my children here or there," panted Mrs. Freshett, +"and these men seemed to think the contrivance they was sellin' +perfectly grand, an' like to be an aid to the soul's salvation. +Nice as it seemed, an' convincin' as they talked, I couldn't get +the consent of my mind to order, until I knowed if you was goin' +to kiver your dead with the contraption. None of the rest of the +neighbours seem over friendly to me, an' I've told Josiah many's +the time, that I didn't care a rap if they wa'n't, so long as I +had you. Says I, `Josiah, to my way of thinkin', she is top +crust in this neighbourhood, and I'm on the safe side apin' her +ways clost as possible.'" + +"I'll gladly help you all I can," said my mother. + +"Thanky!" said Mrs. Freshett. "I knowed you would. Josiah he +says to me, `Don't you be apin' nobody.' `Josiah,' says I, `it +takes a pretty smart woman in this world to realize what she +doesn't know. Now I know what I know, well enough, but all I +know is like to keep me an' my children in a log cabin an' on log +cabin ways to the end of our time. You ain't even got the +remains of the cabin you started in for a cow shed.' Says I, +`Josiah, Miss Stanton knows how to get out of a cabin an' into a +grand big palace, fit fur a queen woman. She's a ridin' in a +shinin' kerridge, 'stid of a spring wagon. She goes abroad +dressed so's you men all stand starin' like cabbage heads. All +hern go to church, an' Sunday-school, an' college, an' come out +on the top of the heap. She does jest what I'd like to if I +knowed how. An' she ain't come-uppety one morsel.' If I was to +strike acrost fields to them stuck-up Pryors, I'd get the door +slammed in my face if 'twas the missus, a sneer if 'twas the man, +an' at best a nod cold as an iceberg if 'twas the girl. Them as +want to call her kind `Princess,' and encourage her in being more +stuck up 'an she was born to be, can, but to my mind a Princess +is a person who thinks of some one besides herself once in a +while." + +"I don't find the Pryors easy to become acquainted with," said +mother. "I have never met the woman; I know the man very +slightly; he has been here on business once or twice, but the +girl seems as if she would be nice, if one knew her." + +"Well, I wouldn't have s'posed she was your kind," said Mrs. +Freshett. "If she is, I won't open my head against her any more. + +Anyway, it was the grave-kivers I come about." + +"Just what is it, Mrs. Freshett?" asked mother. + +"It's two men sellin' a patent iron kiver for to protect the +graves of your dead from the sun an' the rain." + +"Who wants the graves of their dead protected from the sun and +the rain?" demanded my mother sharply. + +"I said to Josiah, `I don't know how she'll feel about it, but I +can't do more than ask.'" + +"Do they carry a sample? What is it like?" + +"Jest the len'th an' width of a grave. They got from baby to +six-footer sizes. They are cast iron like the bottom of a cook +stove on the under side, but atop they are polished so they shine +somethin' beautiful. You can get them in a solid piece, or with +a hole in the centre about the size of a milk crock to set +flowers through. They come ten to the grave, an' they are mighty +stylish lookin' things. I have been savin' all I could skimp +from butter, an' eggs, to get Samantha a organ; but says I to +her: `You are gettin' all I can do for you every day; there lays +your poor brother 'at ain't had a finger lifted for him since he +was took so sudden he was gone before I knowed he was goin'.' I +never can get over Henry bein' took the way he was, so I says: +`If this would be a nice thing to have for Henry's grave, and the +neighbours are goin' to have them for theirn, looks to me like +some of the organ money will have to go, an' we'll make it up +later.' I don't 'low for Henry to be slighted bekase he rid +himself to death trying to make a president out of his pa's +gin'ral." + +"You never told me how you lost your son," said mother, feeling +so badly she wiped one of my eyes full of oil. + +"Law now, didn't I?" inquired Mrs. Freshett. "Well mebby that is +bekase I ain't had a chance to tell you much of anythin', your +bein' always so busy like, an' me not wantin' to wear out my +welcome. It was like this: All endurin' the war Henry an' me +did the best we could without pa at home, but by the time it was +over, Henry was most a man. Seemed as if when he got home, his +pa was all tired out and glad to set down an' rest, but Henry was +afire to be up an' goin'. His pa filled him so full o' Grant, it +was runnin' out of his ears. Come the second run the Gin'ral +made, peered like Henry set out to 'lect him all by hisself. He +wore every horse on the place out, ridin' to rallies. Sometimes +he was gone three days at a stretch. He'd git one place an' hear +of a rally on ten miles or so furder, an' blest if he didn't ride +plum acrost the state 'fore he got through with one trip. He set +out in July, and he rid right straight through to November, nigh +onto every day of his life. He got white, an' thin, an' narvous, +from loss of sleep an' lack of food, an' his pa got restless, +said Henry was takin' the 'lection more serious 'an he ever took +the war. Last few days before votin' was cold an' raw an' Henry +rid constant. 'Lection day he couldn't vote, for he lacked a +year of bein' o' age, an' he rid in with a hard chill, an' white +as a ghost, an' he says: `Ma,' says he, `I've 'lected Grant, but +I'm all tuckered out. Put me to bed an' kiver me warm.'" + +I forgot the sting in my eyes watching Mrs. Freshett. She was +the largest woman I knew, and strong as most men. Her hair was +black and glisteny, her eyes black, her cheeks red, her skin a +clear, even dark tint. She was handsome, she was honest, and she +was in earnest over everything. There was something about her, +or her family, that had to be told in whispers, and some of the +neighbours would have nothing to do with her. But mother said +Mrs. Freshett was doing the very best she knew, and for the sake +of that, and of her children, anyone who wouldn't help her was +not a Christian, and not to be a Christian was the very worst +thing that could happen to you. I stared at her steadily. She +talked straight along, so rapidly you scarcely could keep up with +the words; you couldn't if you wanted to think about them any +between. There was not a quiver in her voice, but from her eyes +there rolled, steadily, the biggest, roundest tears I ever saw. +They ran down her cheeks, formed a stream in the first groove of +her double chin, overflowed it, and dripped drop, drop, a drop at +a time, on the breast of her stiffly starched calico dress, and +from there shot to her knees. + +"'Twa'n't no time at all 'til he was chokin' an' burnin' red with +fever, an' his pa and me, stout as we be, couldn't hold him down +nor keep him kivered. He was speechifyin' to beat anythin' you +ever heard. His pa said he was repeatin' what he'd heard said by +every big stump speaker from Greeley to Logan. When he got so +hoarse we couldn't tell what he said any more, he jest mouthed +it, an' at last he dropped back and laid like he was pinned to +the sheets, an' I thought he was restin', but 'twa'n't an hour +'til he was gone." + +Suddenly Mrs. Freshett lifted her apron, covered her face and +sobbed until her broad shoulders shook. + +"Oh you poor soul!" said my mother. "I'm so sorry for you!" + +"I never knowed he was a-goin' until he was gone," she said. "He +was the only one of mine I ever lost, an' I thought it would jest +lay me out. I couldn't 'a' stood it at all if I hadn't 'a' +knowed he was saved. I well know my Henry went straight to +Heaven. Why Miss Stanton, he riz right up in bed at the last, +and clear and strong he jest yelled it: `Hurrah fur Grant!'" + +My mother's fingers tightened in my hair until I thought she +would pull out a lot, and I could feel her knees stiffen. Leon +just whooped. Mother sprang up and ran to the door. + +"Leon!" she cried. Then there was a slam. "What in the world is +the matter?" she asked. + +"Stepped out of the tub right on the soap, and it threw me down," +explained Leon. + +"For mercy sake, be careful!" said my mother, and shut the door. + +It wasn't a minute before the knob turned and it opened again a +little. + +I never saw mother's face look so queer, but at last she said +softly: "You were thinking of the grave cover for him?" + +"Yes, but I wanted to ask you before I bound myself. I heard you +lost two when the scarlet fever was ragin' an' I'm goin' to do +jest what you do. If you have kivers, I will. If you don't like +them when you see how bright and shiny they are, I won't get any +either." + +"I can tell you without seeing them, Mrs. Freshett," said my +mother, wrapping a strand of hair around the tin so tight I +slipped up my fingers to feel whether my neck wasn't like a buck- +eye hull looks, and it was. "I don't want any cover for the +graves of my dead but grass and flowers, and sky and clouds. I +like the rain to fall on them, and the sun to shine, so that the +grass and flowers will grow. If you are satisfied that the soul +of Henry is safe in Heaven, that is all that is necessary. +Laying a slab of iron on top of earth six feet above his body +will make no difference to him. If he is singing with the +angels, by all means save your money for the organ." + +"I don't know about the singin', but I'd stake my last red cent +he's still hollerin' fur Grant. I was kind o' took with the +idea; the things was so shiny and scilloped at the edges, peered +like it was payin' considerable respect to the dead to kiver them +that-a-way." + +"What good would it do?" asked mother. "The sun shining on the +iron would make it so hot it would burn any flower you tried to +plant in the opening; the water couldn't reach the roots, and all +that fell on the slab would run off and make it that much wetter +at the edges. The iron would soon rust and grow dreadfully ugly +lying under winter snow. There is nothing at all in it, save a +method to work on the feelings of the living, and get them to pay +their money for something that wouldn't affect their dead a +particle." + +"'Twould be a poor idea for me," said Mrs. Freshett. "I said to +the men that I wanted to honour Henry all I could, but with my +bulk, I'd hev all I could do, come Jedgment Day, to bust my box, +an' heave up the clods, without havin' to hist up a piece of iron +an' klim from under it." + +Mother stiffened and Leon slipped again. He could have more +accidents than any boy I ever knew. But it was only a few +minutes until he came to mother and gave her a Bible to mark the +verses he had to learn to recite at Sunday-school next day. +Mother couldn't take the time when she had company, so she asked +if he weren't big enough to pick out ten proper verses and learn +them by himself, and he said of course he was. He took his Bible +and he and May and I sat on the back steps and studied our +verses. He and May were so big they had ten; but I had only two, +and mine were not very long. Leon giggled half the time he was +studying. I haven't found anything so very funny in the Bible. +Every few minutes he would whisper to himself: "THAT'S A GOOD +ONE!" + +He took the book and heard May do hers until she had them +perfectly, then he went and sat on the back fence with his book +and studied as I never before had seen him. Mrs. Freshett stayed +so long mother had no time to hear him, but he told her he had +them all learned so he could repeat them without a mistake. + +Next morning mother was busy, so she had no time then. Father, +Shelley, and I rode on the front seat, mother, May, and Sally on +the back, while the boys started early and walked. + +When we reached the top of the hill, the road was lined with +carriages, wagons, spring wagons, and saddle horses. Father +found a place for our team and we went down the walk between the +hitching rack and the cemetery fence. Mother opened the gate and +knelt beside two small graves covered with grass, shaded by +yellow rose bushes, and marked with little white stones. She +laid some flowers on each and wiped the dust from the carved +letters with her handkerchief. The little sisters who had +scarlet fever and whooping cough lay there. Mother was still a +minute and then she said softly: "`The Lord has given and the +Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.'" + +She was very pale when she came to us, but her eyes were bright +and she smiled as she put her arms around as many of us as she +could reach. + +"What a beautiful horse!" said Sally. "Look at that saddle and +bridle! The Pryor girl is here." + +"Why should she come?" asked Shelley. + +"To show her fine clothes and queen it over us!" + +"Children, children!" said mother. "`Judge not!' This is a +house of worship. The Lord may be drawing her in His own way. +It is for us to help Him by being kind and making her welcome." + +At the church door we parted and sat with our teachers, but for +the first time as I went down the aisle I was not thinking of my +linen dress, my patent leather slippers, and my pretty curls. It +suddenly seemed cheap to me to twist my hair when it was straight +as a shingle, and cut my head on tin. If the Lord had wanted me +to have curls, my hair would have been like Sally's. Seemed to +me hers tried to see into what big soft curls it could roll. May +said ours was so straight it bent back the other way. Anyway, I +made up my mind to talk it over with father and always wear +braids after that, if I could get him to coax mother to let me. + +Our church was quite new and it was beautiful. All the casings +were oiled wood, and the walls had just a little yellow in the +last skin coating used to make them smooth, so they were a creamy +colour, and the blinds were yellow. The windows were wide open +and the wind drifted through, while the birds sang as much as +they ever do in August, among the trees and bushes of the +cemetery. Every one had planted so many flowers of all kinds on +the graves you could scent sweet odours. Often a big, black- +striped, brown butterfly came sailing in through one of the +windows, followed the draft across the room, and out of another. +I was thinking something funny: it was about what the Princess +had said of other people, and whether hers were worse. I looked +at my father sitting in calm dignity in his Sunday suit and +thought him quite as fine and handsome as mother did. Every +Sabbath he wore the same suit, he sat in the same spot, he +worshipped the Lord in his calm, earnest way. The ministers +changed, but father was as much a part of the service as the +Bible on the desk or the communion table. I wondered if people +said things about him, and if they did, what they were. I never +had heard. Twisting in my seat, one by one I studied the faces +on the men's side, and then the women. It was a mighty good- +looking crowd. Some had finer clothes than others--that is +always the way--but as a rule every one was clean, neat, and good +to see. From some you scarcely could turn away. There was Widow +Fall. She was French, from Virginia, and she talked like little +tinkly notes of music. I just loved to hear her, and she walked +like high-up royalty. Her dress was always black, with white +bands at the neck and sleeves, black rustly silk, and her eyes +and hair were like the dress. There was a little red on her +cheeks and lips, and her face was always grave until she saw you +directly before her, and then she smiled the sweetest smile. + +Maybe Sarah Hood was not pretty, but there was something about +her lean face and shining eyes that made you look twice before +you were sure of it, and by that time you had got so used to her, +you liked her better as she was, and wouldn't have changed her +for anything. Mrs. Fritz had a pretty face and dresses and +manners, and so did Hannah Dover, only she talked too much. So I +studied them and remembered what the Princess had said, and I +wondered if she heard some one say that Peter Justice beat his +wife, or if she showed it in her face and manner. She reminded +me of a scared cowslip that had been cut and laid in the sun an +hour. I don't know as that expresses it. Perhaps a flower +couldn't look scared, but it could be wilted and faded. I +wondered if she ever had bright hair, laughing eyes, and red in +her lips and cheeks. She must have been pretty if she had. + +At last I reached my mother. There was nothing scared or faded +about her, and she was dreadfully sick too, once in a while since +she had the fever. She was a little bit of a woman, coloured +like a wild rose petal, face and body--a piece of pink porcelain +Dutch, father said. She had brown eyes, hair like silk, and she +always had three best dresses. There was one of alpaca or +woollen, of black, gray or brown, and two silks. Always there +was a fine rustly black one with a bonnet and mantle to match, +and then a softer, finer one of either gold brown, like her hair, +or dainty gray, like a dove's wing. When these grew too old for +fine use, she wore them to Sunday-school and had a fresh one for +best. There was a new gray in her closet at home, so she put on +the old brown to-day, and she was lovely in it. + +Usually the minister didn't come for church services until +Sunday-school was half over, so the superintendent read a +chapter, Daddy Debs prayed, and all of us stood up and sang: +"Ring Out the Joy Bells." Then the superintendent read the +lesson over as impressively as he could. The secretary made his +report, we sang another song, gathered the pennies, and each +teacher took a class and talked over the lesson a few minutes. +Then we repeated the verses we had committed to memory to our +teachers; the member of each class who had learned the nicest +texts, and knew them best, was selected to recite before the +school. Beginning with the littlest people, we came to the big +folks. Each one recited two texts until they reached the class +above mine. We walked to the front, stood inside the altar, made +a little bow, and the superintendent kept score. I could see +that mother appeared worried when Leon's name was called for his +class, for she hadn't heard him, and she was afraid he would +forget. + +Among the funny things about Leon was this: while you had to +drive other boys of his age to recite, you almost had to hold him +to keep him from it. Father said he was born for a politician or +a preacher, if he would be good, and grow into the right kind of +a man to do such responsible work. + +"I forgot several last Sabbath, so I have thirteen to-day," he +said politely. + +Of course no one expected anything like that. You never knew +what might happen when Leon did anything. He must have been +about sixteen. He was a slender lad, having almost sandy hair, +like his English grandfather. He wore a white ruffled shirt with +a broad collar, and cuffs turning back over his black jacket, and +his trousers fitted his slight legs closely. The wind whipped +his soft black tie a little and ruffled the light hair where it +was longest and wavy above his forehead. Such a perfect picture +of innocence you never saw. There was one part of him that +couldn't be described any better than the way Mr. Rienzi told +about his brother in his "Address to the Romans," in McGuffey's +Sixth. "The look of heaven on his face" stayed most of the time; +again, there was a dealish twinkle that sparkled and flashed +while he was thinking up something mischievous to do. When he +was fighting angry, and going to thrash Absalom Saunders or die +trying, he was plain white and his eyes were like steel. Mother +called him "Weiscope," half the time. I can only spell the way +that sounds, but it means "white-head," and she always used that +name when she loved him most. "The look of heaven" was strong on +his face now. + +"One," said the recording secretary. + +"Jesus wept," answered Leon promptly. + +There was not a sound in the church. You could almost hear the +butterflies pass. Father looked down and laid his lower lip in +folds with his fingers, like he did sometimes when it wouldn't +behave to suit him. + +"Two," said the secretary after just a breath of pause. + +Leon looked over the congregation easily and then fastened his +eyes on Abram Saunders, the father of Absalom, and said +reprovingly: "Give not sleep to thine eyes nor slumber to thine +eyelids." + +Abram straightened up suddenly and blinked in astonishment, while +father held fast to his lip. + +"Three," called the secretary hurriedly. + +Leon shifted his gaze to Betsy Alton, who hadn't spoken to her +next door neighbour in five years. + +"Hatred stirreth up strife," he told her softly, "but love +covereth all sins." + +Things were so quiet it seemed as if the air would snap. + +"Four." + +The mild blue eyes travelled back to the men's side and settled +on Isaac Thomas, a man too lazy to plow and sow land his father +had left him. They were not so mild, and the voice was touched +with command: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways +and be wise." + +Still that silence. + +"Five," said the secretary hurriedly, as if he wished it were +over. Back came the eyes to the women's side and past all +question looked straight at Hannah Dover. + +"As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman +without discretion." + +"Six," said the secretary and looked appealingly at father, whose +face was filled with dismay. + +Again Leon's eyes crossed the aisle and he looked directly at the +man whom everybody in the community called "Stiff-necked Johnny." + +I think he was rather proud of it, he worked so hard to keep them +doing it. + +"Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck," +Leon commanded him. + +Toward the door some one tittered. + +"Seven," called the secretary hastily. + +Leon glanced around the room. + +"But how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell +together in unity," he announced in delighted tones as if he had +found it out by himself. + +"Eight," called the secretary with something like a breath of +relief. + +Our angel boy never had looked so angelic, and he was beaming on +the Princess. + +"Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee," he told +her. + +Laddie would thrash him for that. + +Instantly after, "Nine," he recited straight at Laddie: "I made +a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" + +More than one giggled that time. + +"Ten!" came almost sharply. + +Leon looked scared for the first time. He actually seemed to +shiver. Maybe he realized at last that it was a pretty serious +thing he was doing. When he spoke he said these words in the +most surprised voice you ever heard: "I was almost in all evil +in the midst of the congregation and assembly." + +"Eleven." + +Perhaps these words are in the Bible. They are not there to read +the way Leon repeated them, for he put a short pause after the +first name, and he glanced toward our father: "Jesus Christ, the +SAME, yesterday, and to-day, and forever!" + +Sure as you live my mother's shoulders shook. + +"Twelve." + +Suddenly Leon seemed to be forsaken. He surely shrank in size +and appeared abused. + +"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take +me up," he announced, and looked as happy over the ending as he +had seemed forlorn at the beginning. + +"Thirteen." + +"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto +me?" inquired Leon of every one in the church. Then he soberly +made a bow and walked to his seat. + +Father's voice broke that silence. "Let us kneel in prayer," he +said. + +He took a step forward, knelt, laid his hands on the altar, +closed his eyes and turned his face upward. + +"Our Heavenly Father, we come before Thee in a trying situation," +he said. "Thy word of truth has been spoken to us by a +thoughtless boy, whether in a spirit of helpfulness or of jest, +Thou knowest. Since we are reasoning creatures, it little +matters in what form Thy truth comes to us; the essential thing +is that we soften our hearts for its entrance, and grow in grace +by its application. Tears of compassion such as our dear Saviour +wept are in our eyes this morning as we plead with Thee to help +us to apply these words to the betterment of this community." + +Then father began to pray. If the Lord had been standing six +feet in front of him, and his life had depended on what he said, +he could have prayed no harder. Goodness knows how fathers +remember. He began at "Jesus wept" and told about this sinful +world and why He wept over it; then one at a time he took those +other twelve verses and hammered them down where they belonged +much harder than Leon ever could by merely looking at people. +After that he prayed all around each one so fervently that those +who had been hit the very worst cried aloud and said: "Amen!" +You wouldn't think any one could do a thing like that; but I +heard and saw my father do it. + +When he arose the tears were running down his cheeks, and before +him stood Leon. He was white as could be, but he spoke out +loudly and clearly. + +"Please forgive me, sir; I didn't intend to hurt your feelings. +Please every one forgive me. I didn't mean to offend any one. +It happened through hunting short verses. All the short ones +seemed to be like that, and they made me think----" + +He got no farther. Father must have been afraid of what he might +say next. He threw his arms around Leon's shoulders, drew him to +the seat, and with the tears still rolling, he laughed as happily +as you ever heard, and he cried: "`Sweeping through the Gates!' +All join in!" + +You never heard such singing in your life. That was another +wonderful thing. My father didn't know the notes. He couldn't +sing; he said so himself. Neither could half the people there, +yet all of them were singing at the tops of their voices, and I +don't believe the angels in Heaven could make grander music. My +father was leading: + +"These, these are they, who in the conflict dire----" + + +You could tell Emanuel Ripley had been in the war from the way he +roared: + + +"Boldly have stood amidst the hottest fire----" + + +The Widow Fall soared above all of them on the next line; her man +was there, and maybe she was lonely and would have been glad to +go to him: + + +"Jesus now says, `Come up higher----'" + + +Then my little mother: + + +"Washed in the blood of the Lamb----" + + +Like thunder all of them rolled into the chorus: + + +"Sweepin, through the gates to the New Jerusalem----" + + +You wouldn't have been left out of that company for anything in +all this world, and nothing else ever could make you want to go +so badly as to hear every one sing, straight from the heart, a +grand old song like that. It is no right way to have to sit and +keep still, and pay other people money to sing about Heaven to +you. No matter if you can't sing by note, if your heart and soul +are full, until they are running over, so that you are forced to +sing as those people did, whether you can or not, you are sure to +be straight on the way to the Gates. + +Before three lines were finished my father was keeping time like +a choirmaster, his face all beaming with shining light; mother +was rocking on her toes like a wood robin on a twig at twilight, +and at the end of the chorus she cried "Glory!" right out loud, +and turned and started down the aisle, shaking hands with every +one, singing as she went. When she reached Betsy Alton she held +her hand and led her down the aisle straight toward Rachel Brown. + +When Rachel saw them coming she hurried to meet them, and they +shook hands and were glad to make up as any two people you ever +saw. It must have been perfectly dreadful to see a woman every +day for five years, and not to give her a pie, when you felt sure +yours were better than she could make, or loan her a new pattern, +or tell her first who had a baby, or was married, or dead, or +anything like that. It was no wonder they felt glad. Mother +came on, and as she passed me the verses were all finished and +every one began talking and moving. Johnny Dover forgot his neck +and shook hands too, and father pronounced the benediction. He +always had to when the minister wasn't there, because he was +ordained himself, and you didn't dare pronounce the benediction +unless you were. + +Every one began talking again, and wondering if the minister +wouldn't come soon, and some one went out to see. There was +mother standing only a few feet from the Princess, and I thought +of something. I had seen it done often enough, but I never had +tried it myself, yet I wanted to so badly, there was no time to +think how scared I would be. I took mother's hand and led her a +few steps farther and said: "Mother, this is my friend, Pamela +Pryor." + +I believe I did it fairly well. Mother must have been surprised, +but she put out her hand. + +"I didn't know Miss Pryor and you were acquainted." + +"It's only been a little while," I told her. "I met her when I +was on some business with the Fairies. They know everything and +they told me her father was busy"--I thought she wouldn't want me +to tell that he was plain CROSS, where every one could hear, so I +said "busy" for politeness--"and her mother not very strong, and +that she was a good girl, and dreadfully lonesome. Can't you do +something, mother?" + +"Well, I should think so!" said mother, for her heart was soft as +rose leaves. Maybe you won't believe this, but it's quite true. +My mother took the Princess' arm and led her to Sally and +Shelley, and introduced her to all the girls. By the time the +minister came and mother went back to her seat, she had forgotten +all about the "indisposed" word she disliked, and as you live! +she invited the Princess to go home with us to dinner. She stood +tall and straight, her eyes very bright, and her cheeks a little +redder than usual, as she shook hands and said a few pleasant +words that were like from a book, they fitted and were so right. +When mother asked her to dinner she said: "Thank you kindly. I +should be glad to go, but my people expect me at home and they +would be uneasy. Perhaps you would allow me to ride over some +week day and become acquainted?" + +Mother said she would be happy to have her, and Shelley said so +too, but Sally was none too cordial. She had dark curls and pink +cheeks herself, and every one had said she was the prettiest girl +in the county before Shelley began to blossom out and show what +she was going to be. Sally never minded that, but when the +Princess came she was a little taller, and her hair was a trifle +longer, and heavier, and blacker, and her eyes were a little +larger and darker, and where Sally had pink skin and red lips, +the Princess was dark as olive, and her lips and cheeks were like +red velvet. Anyway, the Princess had said she would come over; +mother and Shelley had been decent to her, and Sally hadn't been +exactly insulting. It would be a little more than you could +expect for her to be wild about the Princess. I believe she was +pleased over having been invited to dinner, and as she was a +stranger she couldn't know that mother had what we called the +"invitation habit." + +I have seen her ask from fifteen to twenty in one trip down the +aisle on Sunday morning. She wanted them to come too; the more +who came, the better she liked it. If the hitching rack and +barnyard were full on Sunday she just beamed. If the sermon +pleased her, she invited more. That morning she was feeling so +good she asked seventeen; and as she only had dressed six +chickens--third table, backs and ham, for me as usual; but when +the prospects were as now, I always managed to coax a few +gizzards from Candace; she didn't dare give me livers--they were +counted. Almost everyone in the church was the happiest that +morning they had been in years. When the preacher came, he +breathed it from the air, and it worked on him so he preached the +best sermon he ever had, and never knew that Leon made him do it. + +Maybe after all it's a good thing to tell people about their +meanness and give them a stirring up once in a while. + + + +CHAPTER III + +Mr. Pryor's Door + + "Grief will be joy if on its edge + Fall soft that holiest ray, + Joy will be grief if no faint pledge + Be there of heavenly day." + +Have Sally and Peter said anything about getting married yet?" +asked my big sister Lucy of mother. Lucy was home on a visit. +She was bathing her baby and mother was sewing. + +"Not a word!" + +"Are they engaged?" + +"Sally hasn't mentioned it." + +"Well, can't you find out?" + +"How could I?" asked mother. + +"Why, watch them a little and see how they act when they are +together. If he kisses her when he leaves, of course they are +engaged." + +"It would be best to wait until Sally tells me," laughed mother. + +I heard this from the back steps. Neither mother nor Lucy knew I +was there. I went in to see if they would let me take the baby. +Of course they wouldn't! Mother took it herself. She was +rocking, and softly singing my Dutch song that I loved best; I +can't spell it, but it sounds like this: + + "Trus, trus, trill; + Der power rid der fill, + Fill sphring aveck, + Plodschlicter power in der dreck." + + +Once I asked mother to sing it in English, and she couldn't +because it didn't rhyme that way and the words wouldn't fit the +notes; it was just, "Trot, trot, trot, a boy rode a colt. The +colt sprang aside; down went the boy in the dirt." + +"Aw, don't sing my song to that little red, pug-nosed bald-head!" +I said. + +Really, it was a very nice baby; I only said that because I +wanted to hold it, and mother wouldn't give it up. I tried to +coax May to the dam snake hunting, but she couldn't go, so I had +to amuse myself. I had a doll, but I never played with it except +when I was dressed up on Sunday. Anyway, what's the use of a +doll when there's a live baby in the house? I didn't care much +for my playhouse since I had seen one so much finer that Laddie +had made for the Princess. Of course I knew moss wouldn't take +root in our orchard as it did in the woods, neither would willow +cuttings or the red flowers. Finally, I decided to go hunting. +I went into the garden and gathered every ripe touch-me-not pod I +could find, and all the portulaca. Then I stripped the tiger +lilies of each little black ball at the bases of the leaves, and +took all the four o'clock seed there was. Then I got my biggest +alder popgun and started up the road toward Sarah Hood's. + +I was going along singing a little verse; it wasn't Dutch either; +the old baby could have that if it wanted it. Soon as I got from +sight of the house I made a powderhorn of a curled leaf, loaded +my gun with portulaca powder, rammed in a tiger lily bullet, laid +the weapon across my shoulder, and stepped high and lightly as +Laddie does when he's in the Big Woods hunting for squirrel. It +must have been my own singing--I am rather good at hearing +things, but I never noticed a sound that time, until a voice like +a rusty saw said: "Good morning, Nimrod!" + +I sprang from the soft dust and landed among the dog fennel of a +fence corner, in a flying leap. Then I looked. It was the +Princess' father, tall, and gray, and grim, riding a big black +horse that seemed as if it had been curried with the fine comb +and brushed with the grease rag. + +"Good morning!" I said when I could speak. + +"Am I correct in the surmise that you are on the chase with a +popgun?" he asked politely. + +"Yes sir," I answered, getting my breath the best I could. + +It came easier after I noticed he didn't seem to be angry about +anything. + +"Where is your hunting ground, and what game are you after?" he +asked gravely. + +"You can see the great African jungle over there. I am going to +hunt for lions and tigers." + +You always must answer politely any one who speaks to you; and +you get soundly thrashed, at least at our house, if you don't be +politest of all to an older person especially with white hair. +Father is extremely particular about white hair. It is a "crown +of glory," when it is found in the way of the Lord. Mahlon Pryor +had enough crown of glory for three men, but maybe his wasn't +exactly glory, because he wasn't in the way of the Lord. He was +in a way of his own. He must have had much confidence in +himself. At our house we would rather trust in the Lord. I only +told him about the lions and tigers because he asked me, and that +was the way I played. But you should have heard him laugh. You +wouldn't have supposed to see him that he could. + +"Umph!" he said at last. "I am a little curious about your +ammunition. Just how to you bring down your prey?" + +"I use portulaca powder and tiger lily bullets on the tigers, and +four o'clocks on the lions," I said. + +You could have heard him a mile, dried up as he was. + +"I used to wear a red coat and ride to the hounds fox hunting," +he said. "It's great sport. Won't you take me with you to the +jungle?" + +I didn't want him in the least, but if any one older asks right +out to go with you, what can you do? I am going to tell several +things you won't believe, and this is one of them: He got off +his horse, tied it to the fence, and climbed over after me. He +went on asking questions and of course I had to tell him. Most +of what he wanted to know, his people should have taught him +before he was ten years old, but father says they do things +differently in England. + +"There doesn't seem to be many trees in the jungle." + +"Well, there's one, and it's about the most important on our +land," I told him. "Father wouldn't cut it down for a farm. You +see that little dark bag nearly as big as your fist, swinging out +there on that limb? Well, every spring one of these birds, +yellow as orange peel, with velvet black wings, weaves a nest +like that, and over on that big branch, high up, one just as +bright red as the other is yellow, and the same black wings, +builds a cradle for his babies. Father says a red bird and a +yellow one keeping house in the same tree is the biggest thing +that ever happened in our family. They come every year and that +is their tree. I believe father would shoot any one who drove +them away." + +"Your father is a gunner also?" he asked, and I thought he was +laughing to himself. + +"He's enough of a gunner to bring mother in a wagon from +Pennsylvania all the way here, and he kept wolves, bears, +Indians, and Gypsies from her, and shot things for food. Yes +sir, my father can shoot if he wants to, better than any of our +family except Laddie." + +"And does Laddie shoot well?" + +"Laddie does everything well," I answered proudly. "He won't try +to do anything at all, until he practises so he can do it well." + +"Score one for Laddie," he said in a queer voice. + +"Are you in a hurry about the lions and tigers?" + +"Not at all," he answered. + +"Well, here I always stop and let Governor Oglesby go swimming," +I said. + +Mr. Mahlon Pryor sat on the bank of our Little Creek, took off +his hat and shook back his hair as if the wind felt good on his +forehead. I fished Dick Oglesby from the ammunition in my apron +pocket, and held him toward the cross old man, and he wasn't +cross at all. It's funny how you come to get such wrong ideas +about people. + +"My big married sister who lives in Westchester sent him to me +last Christmas," I explained. "I have another doll, great big, +with a Scotch plaid dress made from pieces of mine, but I only +play with her on Sunday when I dare not do much else. I like +Dick the best because he fits my apron pocket. Father wanted me +to change his name and call him Oliver P. Morton, after a friend +of his, but I told him this doll had to be called by the name he +came with, and if he wanted me to have one named for his friend, +to get it, and I'd play with it." + +"What did he do?" + +"He didn't want one named Morton that much." + +Mr. Pryor took Dick Oglesby in his fingers and looked at his +curly black hair and blue eyes, his chubby outstretched arms, +like a baby when it wants you to take it, and his plump little +feet and the white shirt with red stripes all a piece of him as +he was made, and said: "The honourable governor of our sister +state seems a little weighty; I am at a loss to understand how he +swims." + +"It's a new way," I said. "He just stands still and the water +swims around him. It's very easy for him." + +Then I carried Dick to the water, waded in and stood him against +a stone. Something funny happened instantly. It always did. I +found it out one day when I got some apple butter on the governor +giving him a bite of my bread, and put him in the wash bowl to +soak. He was two and a half inches tall; but the minute you +stood him in water he went down to about half that height and +spread out to twice his size around. You should have heard Mr. +Pryor. + +"If you will lie on the bank and watch you'll have more to laugh +at than that," I promised. + +He lay down and never paid the least attention to his clothes. +Pretty soon a little chub fish came swimming around to make +friends with Governor Oglesby, and then a shiner and some more +chub. They nibbled at his hands and toes, and then went flashing +away, and from under the stone came backing a big crayfish and +seized the governor by the leg and started dragging him, so I had +to jump in and stop it. I took a shot at the crayfish with the +tiger ammunition and then loaded for lions. + +We went on until the marsh became a thicket of cattails, +bulrushes, willow bushes, and blue flags; then I found a path +where the lions left the jungle, hid Mr. Pryor and told him he +must be very still or they wouldn't come. At last I heard one. +I touched Mr. Pryor's sleeve to warn him to keep his eyes on the +trail. Pretty soon the lion came in sight. Really it was only a +little gray rabbit hopping along, but when it was opposite us, I +pinged it in the side, it jumped up and turned a somersault with +surprise, and squealed a funny little squeal,--well, I wondered +if Mr. Pryor's people didn't hear him, and think he had gone +crazy as Paddy Ryan. I never did hear any one laugh so. I +thought if he enjoyed it like that, I'd let him shoot one. I do +May sometimes; so we went to another place I knew where there was +a tiger's den, and I loaded with tiger lily bullets, gave him the +gun and showed him where to aim. After we had waited a long time +out came a muskrat, and started for the river. I looked to see +why Mr. Pryor didn't shoot, and there he was gazing at it as if a +snake had charmed him; his hands shaking a little, his cheeks +almost red, his eyes very bright. + +"Shoot!" I whispered. "It won't stay all day!" + +He forgot how to push the ramrod like I showed him, so he reached +out and tried to hit it with the gun. + +"Don't do that!" I said. + +"But it's getting away! It's getting away!" he cried. + +"Well, what if it is?" I asked, half provoked. "Do you suppose I +really would hurt a poor little muskrat? Maybe it has six hungry +babies in its home." + +"Oh THAT way," he said, but he kept looking at it, so he made me +think if I hadn't been there, he would have thrown a stone or hit +it with a stick. It is perfectly wonderful about how some men +can't get along without killing things, such little bits of +helpless creatures too. I thought he'd better be got from the +jungle, so I invited him to see the place at the foot of the hill +below our orchard where some men thought they had discovered gold +before the war. They had been to California in '49, and although +they didn't come home with millions, or anything else except sick +and tired, they thought they had learned enough about gold to +know it when they saw it. + +I told him about it and he was interested and anxious to see the +place. If there had been a shovel, I am quite sure he would have +gone to digging. He kept poking around with his boot toe, and he +said maybe the yokels didn't look good. + +He said our meadow was a beautiful place, and when he praised the +creek I told him about the wild ducks, and he laughed again. He +didn't seem to be the same man when we went back to the road. I +pulled some sweet marsh grass and gave his horse bites, so Mr. +Pryor asked if I liked animals. I said I loved horses, Laddie's +best of all. He asked about it and I told him. + +"Hasn't your father but one thoroughbred?" + +"Father hasn't any," I said. "Flos really belongs to Laddie, and +we are mighty glad he has her." + +"You should have one soon, yourself," he said. + +"Well, if the rest of them will hurry up and marry off, so the +expenses won't be so heavy, maybe I can." + +"How many of you are there?" he asked. + +"Only twelve," I said. + +He looked down the road at our house. + +"Do you mean to tell me you have twelve children there?" he +inquired. + +"Oh no!" I answered. "Some of the big boys have gone into +business in the cities around, and some of the girls are married. + +Mother says she has only to show her girls in the cities to have +them snapped up like hot cakes." + +"I fancy that is the truth," he said. "I've passed the one who +rides the little black pony and she is a picture. A fine, +healthy, sensible-appearing young woman!" + +"I don't think she's as pretty as your girl," I said. + +"Perhaps I don't either," he replied, smiling at me. + +Then he mounted his horse. + +"I don't remember that I ever have passed that house," he said, +"without hearing some one singing. Does it go on all the time?" + +"Yes, unless mother is sick." + +"And what is it all about?" + +"Oh just joy! Gladness that we are alive, that we have things to +do that we like, and praising the Lord." + +"Umph!" said Mr. Pryor. + +"It's just letting out what our hearts are full of," I told him. +"Don't you know that song: + + "`Tis the old time religion + And you cannot keep it still?'" + + +He shook his head. + +"It's an awful nice song," I explained. "After it sings about +all the other things religion is good for, there is one line that +says: `IT'S GOOD FOR THOSE IN TROUBLE.'" + +I looked at him straight and hard, but he only turned white and +seemed sick. + +"So?" said Mr. Pryor. "Well, thank you for the most interesting +morning I've had this side England. I should be delighted if you +would come and hunt lions in my woods with me some time." + +"Oh, do you open the door to children?" + +"Certainly we open the door to children," he said, and as I live, +he looked so sad I couldn't help thinking he was sorry to close +it against any one. A mystery is the dreadfulest thing. + +"Then if children don't matter, maybe I can come lion-hunting +some time with the Princess, after she has made the visit at our +house she said she would." + +"Indeed! I hadn't been informed that my daughter contemplated +visiting your house," he said. "When was it arranged?" + +"My mother invited her last Sunday." + +I didn't like the way he said: "O-o-o-h!" Some way it seemed +insulting to my mother. + +"She did it to please me," I said. "There was a Fairy Princess +told me the other day that your girl felt like a stranger, and +that to be a stranger was the hardest thing in all the world. +She sat a little way from the others, and she looked so lonely. +I pulled my mother's sleeve and led her to your girl and made +them shake hands, and then mother HAD to ask her to come to +dinner with us. She always invites every one she meets coming +down the aisle; she couldn't help asking your girl, too. She +said she was expected at home, but she'd come some day and get +acquainted. She needn't if you object. My mother only asked her +because she thought she was lonely, and maybe she wanted to +come." + +He sat there staring straight ahead and he seemed to grow whiter, +and older, and colder every minute. + +"Possibly she is lonely," he said at last. "This isn't much like +the life she left. Perhaps she does feel herself a stranger. It +was very kind of your mother to invite her. If she wants to +come, I shall make no objections." + +"No, but my father will," I said. + +He straightened up as if something had hit him. +"Why will he object?" + +"On account of what you said about God at our house," I told him. +"And then, too, father's people were from England, and he says +real Englishmen have their doors wide open, and welcome people +who offer friendliness." + +Mr. Pryor hit his horse an awful blow. It reared and went racing +up the road until I thought it was running away. I could see I +had made him angry enough to burst. Mother always tells me not +to repeat things; but I'm not smart enough to know what to say, +so I don't see what is left but to tell what mother, or father, +or Laddie says when grown people ask me questions. + +I went home, but every one was too busy even to look at me, so I +took Bobby under my arm, hunted father, and told him all about +the morning. I wondered what he would think. I never found out. + +He wouldn't say anything, so Bobby and I went across the lane, +and climbed the gate into the orchard to see if Hezekiah were +there and wanted to fight. He hadn't time to fight Bobby because +he was busy chasing every wild jay from our orchard. By the time +he got that done, he was tired, so he came hopping along on +branches above us as Bobby and I went down the west fence beside +the lane. + +If I had been compelled to choose the side of our orchard I liked +best, I don't know which I would have selected. The west side-- +that is, the one behind the dooryard--was running over with +interesting things. Two gates opened into it, one from near each +corner of the yard. Between these there was quite a wide level +space, where mother fed the big chickens and kept the hens in +coops with little ones. She had to have them close enough that +the big hawks were afraid to come to earth, or they would take +more chickens than they could pay for, by cleaning rabbits, +snakes, and mice from the fields. Then came a double row of +prize peach trees; rare fruit that mother canned to take to +county fairs. One bore big, white freestones, and around the +seed they were pink as a rose. One was a white cling, and one +was yellow. There was a yellow freestone as big as a young sun, +and as golden, and the queerest of all was a cling purple as a +beet. + +Sometimes father read about the hairs of the head being numbered, +because we were so precious in the sight of the Almighty. Mother +was just as particular with her purple tree; every peach on it +was counted, and if we found one on the ground, we had to carry +it to her, because it MIGHT be sound enough to can or spice for a +fair, or she had promised the seed to some one halfway across the +state. At each end of the peach row was an enormous big pear +tree; not far from one the chicken house stood on the path to the +barn, and beside the other the smoke house with the dog kennel a +yard away. Father said there was a distinct relationship between +a smoke house and a dog kennel, and bulldogs were best. Just at +present we were out of bulldogs, but Jones, Jenkins and Co. could +make as much noise as any dog you ever heard. On the left grew +the plum trees all the way to the south fence, and I think there +was one of every kind in the fruit catalogues. Father spent +hours pruning, grafting, and fertilizing them. He said they +required twice as much work as peaches. + +Around the other sides of the orchard were two rows of peach +trees of every variety; but one cling on the north was just a +little the best of any, and we might eat all we wanted from any +tree we liked, after father tested them and said: "Peaches are +ripe!" In the middle were the apple; selected trees, planted, +trimmed, and cultivated like human beings. The apples were so +big and fine they were picked by hand, wrapped in paper, packed +in barrels, and all we could not use at home went to J. B. White +in Fort Wayne for the biggest fruit house in the state. My! but +father was proud! He always packed especially fine ones for Mr. +White's family. He said he liked him, because he was a real +sandy Scotchman, who knew when an apple was right, and wasn't +afraid to say so. + +On the south side of the orchard there was the earliest June +apple tree. The apples were small, bright red with yellow +stripes, crisp, juicy and sweet enough to be just right. The +tree was very large, and so heavy it leaned far to the northeast. + +This sounds like make-believe, but it's gospel truth. Almost two +feet from the ground there was a big round growth, the size of a +hash bowl. The tree must have been hurt when very small and the +place enlarged with the trunk. Now it made a grand step. If you +understood that no one could keep from running the last few rods +from the tree, then figured on the help to be had from this step, +you could see how we went up it like squirrels. All the bark on +the south side was worn away and the trunk was smooth and shiny. +The birds loved to nest among the branches, and under the peach +tree in the fence corner opposite was a big bed of my mother's +favourite wild flowers, blue-eyed Marys. They had dainty stems +from six to eight inches high and delicate heads of bloom made up +of little flowers, two petals up, blue, two turning down, white. +Perhaps you don't know about anything prettier than that. There +were maiden-hair ferns among them too! and the biggest lichens +you ever saw on the fence, while in the hollow of a rotten rail a +little chippy bird always built a hair nest. She got the hairs +at our barn, for most of them were gray from our carriage horses, +Ned and Jo. All down that side of the orchard the fence corners +were filled with long grass and wild flowers, a few alder bushes +left to furnish berries for the birds, and wild roses for us, to +keep their beauty impressed on us, father said. + +The east end ran along the brow of a hill so steep we coasted +down it on the big meat board all winter. The board was six +inches thick, two and a half feet wide, and six long. Father +said slipping over ice and snow gave it the good scouring it +needed, and it was thick enough to last all our lives, so we +might play with it as we pleased. At least seven of us could go +skimming down that hill and halfway across the meadow on it. In +the very place we slid across, in summer lay the cowslip bed. +The world is full of beautiful spots, but I doubt if any of them +ever were prettier than that. Father called it swale. We didn't +sink deep, but all summer there was water standing there. The +grass was long and very sweet, there were ferns and a few calamus +flowers, and there must have been an acre of cowslips--cowslips +with big-veined, heartshaped, green leaves, and large pale gold +flowers. I used to sit on the top rail of that orchard fence and +look down at them, and try to figure out what God was thinking +when He created them, and I wished that I might have been where I +could watch His face as He worked. + +Halfway across the east side was a gully where Leon and I found +the Underground Station, and from any place along the north you +looked, you saw the Little Creek and the marsh. At the same time +the cowslips were most golden, the marsh was blue with flags, +pink with smart weed, white and yellow with dodder, yellow with +marsh buttercups having ragged frosty leaves, while the yellow +and the red birds flashed above it, the red crying, "Chip," +"Chip," in short, sharp notes, the yellow spilling music all over +the marsh while on wing. + +It would take a whole book to describe the butterflies; once in a +while you scared up a big, wonderful moth, large as a sparrow; +and the orchard was alive with doves, thrushes, catbirds, +bluebirds, vireos, and orioles. When you climbed the fence, or a +tree, and kept quiet, and heard the music and studied the +pictures, it made you feel as if you had to put it into words. I +often had meeting all by myself, unless Bobby and Hezekiah were +along, and I tried to tell God what I thought about things. +Probably He was so busy making more birds and flowers for other +worlds, He never heard me; but I didn't say anything +disrespectful at all, so it made no difference if He did listen. +It just seemed as if I must tell what I thought, and I felt +better, not so full and restless after I had finished. + +All of us were alike about that. At that minute I knew mother +was humming, as she did a dozen times a day: + + "I think when I read that sweet story of old, + When Jesus was here among men + How He called little children as lambs to His fold, + I should like to have been with Him then." + + +Lucy would be rocking her baby and singing, "Hush, my dear, lie +still and slumber." Candace's favourite she made up about her +man who had been killed in the war, when they had been married +only six weeks, which hadn't given her time to grow tired of him +if he hadn't been "all her fancy painted." She arranged the +words like "Ben Battle was a soldier bold," and she sang them to +suit herself, and cried every single minute: + + "They wrapped him in his uniform, + They laid him in the tomb, + My aching heart I thought 'twould break, + But such was my sad doom." + + +Candace just loved that song. She sang it all the time. Leon +said our pie always tasted salty from her tears, and he'd take a +bite and smile at her sweetly and say: "How UNIFORM you get your +pie, Candace!" + +May's favourite was "Joy Bells." Father would be whispering over +to himself the speech he was preparing to make at the next +prayer-meeting. We never could learn his speeches, because he +read and studied so much it kept his head so full, he made a new +one every time. You could hear Laddie's deep bass booming the +"Bedouin Love Song" for a mile; this minute it came rolling +across the corn: + + "Open the door of thy heart, + And open thy chamber door, + And my kisses shall teach thy lips + The love that shall fade no more + Till the sun grows cold, + And the Stars are old, + And the leaves of the Judgment + Book unfold!" + + +I don't know how the Princess stood it. If he had been singing +that song where I could hear it and I had known it was about me, +as she must have known he meant her, I couldn't have kept my arms +from around his neck. Over in the barn Leon was singing: + + "A life on the ocean wave, + A home on the rolling deep, + Where codfish waggle their tails + 'Mid tadpoles two feet deep." + + +The minute he finished, he would begin reciting "Marco Bozzaris," +and you could be sure that he would reach the last line only to +commence on the speech of "Logan, Chief of the Mingoes," or any +one of the fifty others. He could make your hair stand a little +straighter than any one else; the best teachers we ever had, or +even Laddie, couldn't make you shivery and creepy as he could. +Because all of us kept going like that every day, people couldn't +pass without hearing, so THAT was what Mr. Pryor meant. + +I had a pulpit in the southeast corner of the orchard. I liked +that place best of all because from it you could see two sides at +once. The very first little, old log cabin that had been on our +land, the one my father and mother moved into, had stood in that +corner. It was all gone now; but a flowerbed of tiny, purple +iris, not so tall as the grass, spread there, and some striped +grass in the shadiest places, and among the flowers a lark +brooded every spring. In the fence corner mother's big white +turkey hen always nested. To protect her from rain and too hot +sun, father had slipped some boards between the rails about three +feet from the ground. After the turkey left, that was my pulpit. + +I stood there and used the top of the fence for my railing. + +The little flags and all the orchard and birds were behind me; on +one hand was the broad, grassy meadow with the creek running so +swiftly, I could hear it, and the breath of the cowslips came up +the hill. Straight in front was the lane running down from the +barn, crossing the creek and spreading into the woods pasture, +where the water ran wider and yet swifter, big forest trees grew, +and bushes of berries, pawpaws, willow, everything ever found in +an Indiana thicket; grass under foot, and many wild flowers and +ferns wherever the cattle and horses didn't trample them, and +bigger, wilder birds, many having names I didn't know. On the +left, across the lane, was a large cornfield, with trees here and +there, and down the valley I could see the Big Creek coming from +the west, the Big Hill with the church on top, and always the +white gravestones around it. Always too there was the sky +overhead, often with clouds banked until you felt if you only +could reach them, you could climb straight to the gates that +father was so fond of singing about sweeping through. Mostly +there was a big hawk or a turkey buzzard hanging among them, just +to show us that we were not so much, and that we couldn't shoot +them, unless they chose to come down and give us a chance. + +I set Bobby and Hezekiah on the fence and stood between them. +"We will open service this morning by singing the thirty-fifth +hymn," I said. "Sister Dover, will you pitch the tune?" + +Then I made my voice high and squeally like hers and sang: + + "Come ye that love the Lord, + And let your joys be known, + Join in a song of sweet accord, + And thus surround the throne." + + +I sang all of it and then said: "Brother Hastings, will you lead +us in prayer?" + +Then I knelt down, and prayed Brother Hastings' prayer. I could +have repeated any one of a dozen of the prayers the men of our +church prayed, but I liked Brother Hastings' best, because it had +the biggest words in it. I loved words that filled your mouth, +and sounded as if you were used to books. It began sort of sing- +songy and measured in stops, like a poetry piece: + + "Our Heavenly Father: We come before Thee this morning, + Humble worms of the dust, imploring thy blessing. + We beseech Thee to forgive our transgressions, + Heal our backsliding, and love us freely." + + +Sometimes from there on it changed a little, but it always began +and ended exactly the same way. Father said Brother Hastings was +powerful in prayer, but he did wish he'd leave out the "worms of +the dust." He said we were not "worms of the dust"; we were +reasoning, progressive, inventive men and women. He said a worm +would never be anything except a worm, but we could study and +improve ourselves, help others, make great machines, paint +pictures, write books, and go to an extent that must almost amaze +the Almighty Himself. He said that if Brother Hastings had done +more plowing in his time, and had a little closer acquaintance +with worms, he wouldn't be so ready to call himself and every one +else a worm. Now if you are talking about cutworms or fishworms, +father is right. But there is that place where--"Charles his +heel had raised, upon the humble worm to tread," and the worm +lifted up its voice and spake thus to Charles: + + "I know I'm now among the things + Uncomely to your sight, + But, by and by, on splendid wings, + You'll see me high and bright." + + +Now I'll bet a cent THAT is the kind of worm Brother Hastings +said we were. I must speak to father about it. I don't want him +to be mistaken; and I really think he is about worms. Of course +he knows the kind that have wings and fly. Brother Hastings +mixed him up by saying "worms of the dust" when he should have +said worms of the leaves. Those that go into little round cases +in earth or spin cocoons on trees always live on leaves, and many +of them rear the head, having large horns, and wave it in a +manner far from humble. So father and Brother Hastings were both +partly right, and partly wrong. + +When the prayer came to a close, where every one always said +"Amen," I punched Bobby and whispered, "Crow, Bobby, crow!" and +he stood up and brought it out strong, like he always did when I +told him. I had to stop the service to feed him a little wheat, +to pay him for crowing; but as no one was there except us, that +didn't matter. Then Hezekiah crowded over for some, so I had to +pretend I was Mrs. Daniels feeding her children caraway cake, +like she always did in meeting. If I had been the mother of +children who couldn't have gone without things to eat in church +I'd have kept them at home. Mrs. Daniels always had the carpet +greasy with cake crumbs wherever she sat, and mother didn't think +the Lord liked a dirty church any more than we would have wanted +a mussy house. When I had Bobby and Hezekiah settled I took my +text from my head, because I didn't know the meeting feeling was +coming on me when I started, and I had brought no Bible along. + +"Blessed are all men, but most blessed are they who hold their +tempers." I had to stroke Bobby a little and pat Hezekiah once +in a while, to keep them from flying down and fighting, but +mostly I could give my attention to my sermon. + +"We have only to look around us this morning to see that all men +are blessed," I said. "The sky is big enough to cover every one. + +If the sun gets too hot, there are trees for shade or the clouds +come up for a while. If the earth becomes too dry, it always +rains before it is everlastingly too late. There are birds +enough to sing for every one, butterflies enough to go around, +and so many flowers we can't always keep the cattle and horses +from tramping down and even devouring beautiful ones, like Daniel +thought the lions would devour him--but they didn't. Wouldn't it +be a good idea, O Lord, for You to shut the cows' mouths and save +the cowslips also; they may not be worth as much as a man, but +they are lots better looking, and they make fine greens. It +doesn't seem right for cows to eat flowers; but maybe it is as +right for them as it is for us. The best way would be for our +cattle to do like that piece about the cow in the meadow exactly +the same as ours: + + "`And through it ran a little brook, + Where oft the cows would drink, + And then lie down among the flowers, + That grew upon the brink.' + + +"You notice, O Lord, the cows did not eat the flowers in this +instance; they merely rested among them, and goodness knows, +that's enough for any cow. They had better done like the next +verse, where it says: + "`They like to lie beneath the trees, + All shaded by the boughs, + Whene'er the noontide heat came on: + Sure, they were happy cows!' + + +"Now, O Lord, this plainly teaches that if cows are happy, men +should be much more so, for like the cows, they have all Thou +canst do for them, and all they can do for themselves, besides. +So every man is blessed, because Thy bounty has provided all +these things for him, without money and without price. If some +men are not so blessed as others, it is their own fault, and not +Yours. You made the earth, and all that is therein, and You made +the men. Of course You had to make men different, so each woman +can tell which one belongs to her; but I believe it would have +been a good idea while You were at it, if You would have made all +of them enough alike that they would all work. Perhaps it isn't +polite of me to ask more of You than You saw fit to do; and then, +again, it may be that there are some things impossible, even to +You. If there is anything at all, seems as if making Isaac +Thomas work would be it. Father says that man would rather +starve and see his wife and children hungry than to take off his +coat, roll up his sleeves, and plow corn; so it was good enough +for him when Leon said, `Go to the ant, thou sluggard,' right at +him. So, of course, Isaac is not so blessed as some men, because +he won't work, and thus he never knows whether he's going to have +a big dinner on Sunday, until after some one asks him, because he +looks so empty. Mother thinks it isn't fair to feed Isaac and +send him home with his stomach full, while Mandy and the babies +are sick and hungry. But Isaac is some blessed, because he has +religion and gets real happy, and sings, and shouts, and he's +going to Heaven when he dies. He must wish he'd go soon, +especially in winter. + +"There are men who do not have even this blessing, and to make +things worse, O Lord, they get mad as fire and hit their +horses, and look like all possessed. The words of my text this +morning apply especially to a man who has all the blessings Thou +hast showered and flowered upon men who work, or whose people +worked and left them so much money they don't need to, and yet a +sadder face I never saw, or a crosser one. He looks like he was +going to hit people, and he does hit his horse an awful crack. +It's no way to hit a horse, not even if it balks, because it +can't hit back, and it's a cowardly thing to do. If you rub +their ears and talk to them, they come quicker, O our Heavenly +Father, and if you hit them just because you are mad, it's a +bigger sin yet. + +"No man is nearly so blessed as he might be who goes around +looking killed with grief when he should cheer up, no matter what +ails him; and who shuts up his door and says his wife is sick +when she isn't, and who scowls at every one, when he can be real +pleasant if he likes, as some in Divine Presence can testify. So +we are going to beseech Thee, O Lord, to lay Thy mighty hand upon +the man who got mad this beautiful morning and make him feel Thy +might, until he will know for himself and not another, that You +are not a myth. Teach him to have a pleasant countenance, an +open door, and to hold his temper. Help him to come over to our +house and be friendly with all his neighbours, and get all the +blessings You have provided for every one; but please don't make +him have any more trouble than he has now, for if You do, You'll +surely kill him. Have patience with him, and have mercy on him, +O Lord! Let us pray." + +That time I prayed myself. I looked into the sky just as +straight and as far as I could see, and if I had any influence at +all, I used it then. Right out loud, I just begged the Lord to +get after Mr. Pryor and make him behave like other people, and +let the Princess come to our house, and for him to come too; +because I liked him heaps when he was lion hunting, and I wanted +to go with him again the worst way. I had seen him sail right +over the fences on his big black horse, and when he did it in +England, wearing a red coat, and the dogs flew over thick around +him, it must have looked grand, but it was mighty hard on the +fox. I do hope it got away. Anyway, I prayed as hard as I +could, and every time I said the strongest thing I knew, I +punched Bobby to crow, and he never came out stronger. Then I +was Sister Dover and started: "Oh come let us gather at the +fountain, the fountain that never goes dry." + +Just as I was going to pronounce the benediction like father, I +heard something, so I looked around, and there went he and Dr. +Fenner. They were going toward the house, and yet, they hadn't +passed me. I was not scared, because I knew no one was sick. +Dr. Fenner always stopped when he passed, if he had a minute, and +if he hadn't, mother sent some one to the gate with buttermilk +and slices of bread and butter, and jelly an inch thick. When a +meal was almost cooked she heaped some on a plate and he ate as +he drove and left the plate next time he passed. Often he was so +dead tired, he was asleep in his buggy, and his old gray horse +always stopped at our gate. + +I ended with "Amen," because I wanted to know if they had been +listening; so I climbed the fence, ran down the lane behind the +bushes, and hid a minute. Sure enough they had! I suppose I had +been so in earnest I hadn't heard a sound, but it's a wonder +Hezekiah hadn't told me. He was always seeing something to make +danger signals about. He never let me run on a snake, or a hawk +get one of the chickens, or Paddy Ryan come too close. I only +wanted to know if they had gone and listened, and then I intended +to run straight back to Bobby and Hezekiah; but they stopped +under the greening apple tree, and what they said was so +interesting I waited longer than I should, because it's about the +worst thing you can do to listen when older people don't know. +They were talking about me. + +"I can't account for her," said father. + +"I can!" said Dr. Fenner. "She is the only child I ever have had +in my practice who managed to reach earth as all children should. +During the impressionable stage, no one expected her, so there +was no time spent in worrying, fretting, and discontent. I don't +mean that these things were customary with Ruth. No woman ever +accepted motherhood in a more beautiful spirit; but if she would +have protested at any time, it would have been then. Instead, +she lived happily, naturally, and enjoyed herself as she never +had before. She was in the fields, the woods, and the garden +constantly, which accounts for this child's outdoor tendencies. +Then you must remember that both of you were at top notch +intellectually, and physically, fully matured. She had the +benefit of ripened minds, and at a time when every faculty +recently had been stirred by the excitement and suffering of the +war. Oh, you can account for her easily enough, but I don't know +what on earth you are going to do with her. You'll have to go +careful, Paul. I warn you she will not be like the others." + +"We realize that. Mother says she doubts if she can ever teach +her to sew and become a housewife." + +"She isn't cut out for a seamstress or a housewife, Paul. Tell +Ruth not to try to force those things on her. Turn her loose out +of doors; give her good books, and leave her alone. You won't be +disappointed in the woman who evolves." + +Right there I realized what I was doing, and I turned and ran for +the pulpit with all my might. I could always repeat things, but +I couldn't see much sense to the first part of that; the last was +as plain as the nose on your face. Dr. Fenner said they mustn't +force me to sew, and do housework; and mother didn't mind the +Almighty any better than she did the doctor. There was nothing +in this world I disliked so much as being kept indoors, and made +to hem cap and apron strings so particularly that I had to count +the number of threads between every stitch, and in each stitch, +so that I got all of them just exactly even. I liked carpet rags +a little better, because I didn't have to be so particular about +stitches, and I always picked out all the bright, pretty colours. + +Mother said she could follow my work all over the floor by the +bright spots. Perhaps if I were not to be kept in the house I +wouldn't have to sew any more. That made me so happy I wondered +if I couldn't stretch out my arms and wave them and fly. I sat +on the pulpit wishing I had feathers. It made me pretty blue to +have to stay on the ground all the time, when I wanted to be +sailing up among the clouds with the turkey buzzards. It called +to my mind that place in McGuffey's Fifth where it says: + + "Sweet bird, thy bower is ever green, + Thy sky is ever clear; + Thou hast no sorrow in thy song, + No winter in thy year." + + +Of course, I never heard a turkey buzzard sing. Laddie said they +couldn't; but that didn't prove it. He said half the members of +our church couldn't sing, but they DID; and when all of them were +going at the tops of their voices, it was just grand. So maybe +the turkey buzzard could sing if it wanted to; seemed as if it +should, if Isaac Thomas could; and anyway, it was the next verse +I was thinking most about: + + "Oh, could I fly, I'd fly with thee! + We'd make with joyful wing, + Our annual visit o'er the globe, + Companions of the spring." + + +That was so exciting I thought I'd just try it, so I stood on the +top rail, spread my arms, waved them, and started. I was bumped +in fifty places when I rolled into the cowslip bed at the foot of +the steep hill, for stones stuck out all over the side of it, and +I felt pretty mean as I climbed back to the pulpit. + +The only consolation I had was what Dr. Fenner had said. That +would be the greatest possible help in managing father or mother. + +I was undecided about whether I would go to school, or not. Must +be perfectly dreadful to dress like for church, and sit still in +a stuffy little room, and do your "abs," and "bes," and "bis," +and "bos," all day long. I could spell quite well without +looking at a schoolhouse, and read too. I was wondering if I +ever would go at all, when I thought of something else. Dr. +Fenner had said to give me plenty of good books. I was wild for +some that were already promised me. Well, what would they amount +to if I couldn't understand them when I got them? THAT seemed to +make it sure I would be compelled to go to school until I learned +enough to understand what the books contained about birds, +flowers, and moths, anyway; and perhaps there would be some +having Fairies in them. Of course those would be interesting. + +I never hated doing anything so badly, in all my life, but I +could see, with no one to tell me, that I had put it off as long +as I dared. I would just have to start school when Leon and May +went in September. Tilly Baher, who lived across the swamp near +Sarah Hood, had gone two winters already, and she was only a year +older, and not half my size. I stood on the pulpit and looked a +long time in every direction, into the sky the longest of all. +It was settled. I must go; I might as well start and have it +over. I couldn't look anywhere, right there at home, and not see +more things I didn't know about than I did. When mother showed +me in the city, I wouldn't be snapped up like hot cakes; I'd be a +blockhead no one would have. It made me so vexed to think I had +to go, I set Hezekiah on my shoulder, took Bobby under my arm, +and went to the house. On the way, I made up my mind that I +would ask again, very politely, to hold the little baby, and if +the rest of them went and pigged it up straight along, I'd pinch +it, if I got a chance. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Last Day in Eden + + "'Tis the sunset of life gives me mystical lore, + And coming events cast their shadows before." + +Of course the baby was asleep and couldn't be touched; but there +was some excitement, anyway. Father had come from town with a +letter from the new school teacher, that said she would expect +him to meet her at the station next Saturday. Mother thought she +might as well get the room ready and let her stay at our house, +because we were most convenient, and it would be the best place +for her. She said that every time, and the teacher always stayed +with us. Really it was because father and mother wanted the +teacher where they could know as much as possible about what was +going on. Sally didn't like having her at all; she said with the +wedding coming, the teacher would be a nuisance. Shelley had +finished our school, and the Groveville high school, and instead +of attending college she was going to Chicago to study music. +She was so anxious over her dresses and getting started, she +didn't seem to think much about what was going to happen to us at +home; so she didn't care if Miss Amelia stayed at our house. May +said it would be best to have the teacher with us, because she +could help us with our lessons at home, and we could get ahead of +the others. May already had decided that she would be at the +head of her class when she finished school, and every time you +wanted her and couldn't find her, if you would look across the +foot of mother's bed, May would be there with a spelling book. +Once she had spelled down our school, when Laddie was not there. + + +Father had met Peter Dover in town, and he had said that he was +coming to see Sally, because he had something of especial +importance to tell her. + +"Did he say what it was?" asked Sally. + +"Only what I have told you," replied father. + +Sally wanted to take the broom and sweep the parlour. + +"It's clean as a ribbon," said mother. + +"If you go in there, you'll wake the baby," said Lucy. + +"Will it kill it if I do?" asked Sally. + +"No, but it will make it cross as fire, so it will cry all the +time Peter is here," said Lucy. + +"I'll be surprised if it doesn't scream every minute anyway," +said Sally. + +"I hope it will," said Lucy. "That will make Peter think a while +before he comes so often." + +That made Sally so angry she couldn't speak, so she went out and +began killing chickens. I helped her catch them. They were so +used to me they would come right to my feet when I shelled corn. + +"I'm going to kill three," said Sally. "I'm going to be sure we +have enough, but don't you tell until their heads are off." + +While she was working on them mother came out and asked how many +she had, so Sally said three. Mother counted us and said that +wasn't enough; there would have to be four at least. + +After she was gone Sally looked at me and said: "Well, for +land's sake!" + +It was so funny she had to laugh, and by the time I caught the +fourth one, and began helping pick them, she was over being +provoked and we had lots of fun. + +The minute I saw Peter Dover he made me think of something. I +rode his horse to the barn with Leon leading it. There we saw +Laddie. + +"Guess what!" I cried. + +"Never could!" laughed Laddie, giving Peter Dover's horse a slap +as it passed him on the way to a stall. + +"Four chickens, ham, biscuit, and cake!" I announced. + +"Is it a barbecue?" asked Laddie. + +"No, the extra one is for the baby," said Leon. "Squally little +runt, I call it." + +"It's a nice baby!" said Laddie. + +"What do you know about it?" demanded Leon. + +"Well, considering that I started with you, and have brought up +two others since, I am schooled in all there is to know," said +Laddie. + +"Guess what else!" I cried. + +"More?" said Laddie. "Out with it! Don't kill me with +suspense." + +"Father is going to town Saturday to meet the new teacher and she +will stay at our house as usual." + +Leon yelled and fell back in a manger, while Laddie held harness +oil to his nose. + +"More!" cried Leon, grabbing the bottle. + +"Are you sure?" asked Laddie of me earnestly. + +"It's decided. Mother said so," I told him. + +"Name of a black cat, why?" demanded Laddie. + +"Mother said we were most convenient for the teacher." + +"Aren't there enough of us?" asked Leon, straightening up +sniffing harness oil as if his life depended on it. + +"Any unprejudiced person would probably say so to look in," said +Laddie. + +"I'll bet she'll be sixty and a cat," said Leon. "Won't I have +fun with her?" + +"Maybe so, maybe not!" said Laddie. "You can't always tell, for +sure. Remember your Alamo! You were going to have fun with the +teacher last year, but she had it with you." + +Leon threw the oil bottle at him. Laddie caught it and set it on +the shelf. + +"I don't understand," said Leon. + +"I do," said Laddie dryly. "THIS is one reason." He hit Peter +Dover's horse another slap. + +"Maybe yes," said Leon. + +"Shelley to music school, two." + +"Yes," said Leon. "Peter Dovers are the greatest expense, and +Peter won't happen but once. Shelley will have at least two +years in school before it is her turn, and you come next, +anyway." + +"Shut up!" cried Laddie. + +"Thanky! Your orders shall be obeyed gladly." + +He laid down the pitchfork, went outside, closed the door, and +latched it. Laddie called to him, but he ran to the house. When +Laddie and I finished our work, and his, and wanted to go, we had +to climb the stairs and leave through the front door on the +embankment. + +"The monkey!" said Laddie, but he didn't get mad; he just +laughed. + +The minute I stepped into the house and saw the parlour door +closed, I thought of that "something" again. I walked past it, +but couldn't hear anything. Of course mother wanted to know; and +she would be very thankful to me if I could tell her. I went out +the front door, and thought deeply on the situation. The windows +were wide open, but I was far below them and I could only hear a +sort of murmur. Why can't people speak up loud and plain, +anyway? Of course they would sit on the big haircloth sofa. +Didn't Leon call it the "sparking bench"? The hemlock tree would +be best. I climbed quieter than a cat, for they break bark and +make an awful scratching with their claws sometimes; my bare feet +were soundless. Up and up I went, slowly, for it was dreadfully +rough. They were not on the sofa. I could see plainly through +the needles. Then I saw the spruce would have been better, for +they were standing in front of the parlour door and Peter had one +hand on the knob. His other arm was around my sister Sally. +Breathlessly I leaned as far as I could, and watched. + +"Father said he'd give me the money to buy a half interest, and +furnish a house nicely, if you said `yes,' Sally," said Peter. + +Sally leaned back all pinksome and blushful, and while she +laughed at him she + + "Carelessly tossed off a curl + That played on her delicate brow." + +exactly like Mary Dow in McGuffey's Third. + +"Well, what did I SAY?" she asked. + +"Come to think of it, you didn't say anything." + +Sally's face was all afire with dancing lights, and she laughed +the gayest little laugh. + +"Are you so very sure of that, Peter?" she said. + +"I'm not sure of anything," said Peter, "except that I am so +happy I could fly." + +"Try it, fool!" I said to myself, deep in my throat. + +Sally laughed again, and Peter took his other hand from the door +and put that arm around Sally too, and he drew her to him and +kissed her, the longest, hardest kiss I ever saw. I let go and +rolled, tumbled, slid, and scratched down the hemlock tree, +dropped from the last branch to the ground, and scampered around +the house. I reached the dining-room door when every one was +gathering for supper. + +"Mother!" I cried. "Mother! Yes! They're engaged! He's +kissing her, mother! Yes, Lucy, they're engaged!" + +I rushed in to tell all of them what they would be glad to know, +and if there didn't stand Peter and Sally! How they ever got +through that door, and across the sitting-room before me, I don't +understand. Sally made a dive at me, and I was so astonished I +forgot to run, so she caught me. She started for the wood house +with me, and mother followed. Sally turned at the door and she +was the whitest of anything you ever saw. + +"This is my affair," she said. "I'll attend to this young lady." + +"Very well," said mother, and as I live she turned and left me to +my sad fate, as it says in a story book we have. I wish when +people are going to punish me, they'd take a switch and strike +respectably, like mother does. This thing of having some one get +all over me, and not having an idea where I'm going to be hit, is +the worst punishment that I ever had. I'd been down the hill and +up the hemlock that day, anyway. I'd always been told Sally +didn't want me. She PROVED it right then. Finally she quit, +because she was too tired to strike again, so I crept among the +shavings on the work bench and went to sleep. I THOUGHT they +would like to know, and that I was going to please them. + +Anyway, they found out, for by the time Sally got back Peter had +told them about the store, and the furnished house, and asked +father for Sally right before all of them, which father said was +pretty brave; but Peter knew it was all right or he couldn't have +come like he'd been doing. + +After that, you couldn't hear anything at our house but wedding. +Sally's share of linen and bedding was all finished long ago. +Father took her to Fort Wayne on the cars to buy her wedding, +travelling, and working dresses, and her hat, cloak, and linen, +like you have when you marry. + +It was strange that Sally didn't want mother to go, but she said +the trip would tire her too much. Mother said it was because +Sally could coax more dresses from father. Anyway, mother told +him to set a limit and stick to it. She said she knew he hadn't +done it as she got the first glimpse of Sally's face when they +came back, but the child looked so beautiful and happy she hadn't +the heart to spoil her pleasure. + +The next day a sewing woman came; and all of them were shut up in +the sitting-room, while the sewing machine just whizzed on the +working dresses. Sally said the wedding dress had to be made by +hand. She kept the room locked, and every new thing that they +made was laid away on the bed in the parlour bedroom, and none of +us had a peep until everything was finished. It was awfully +exciting, but I wouldn't pretend I cared, because I was huffy at +her. I told her I wouldn't kiss her goodbye, and I'd be GLAD +when she was gone. + +Sally said the school-ma'am simply had to go to Winters', or some +place else, but mother said possibly a stranger would have some +ideas, and know some new styles, so Sally then thought maybe they +had better try it a few days, and she could have her place and be +company when she and Shelley left. Shelley was rather silent and +blue, and before long I found her crying, because mother had told +her she couldn't start for Chicago until after the wedding, and +that would make her miss six weeks at the start. + +Next day word was sent around that school was to begin the coming +Monday; so Saturday afternoon the people who had children large +enough to go sent the biggest of them to clean the schoolhouse. +May, Leon, and I went to do our share. Just when there were +about a bushel of nut shells, and withered apple cores, and inky +paper on the floor, the blackboard half cleaned, and ashes +trailed deep between the stove and the window Billy Wilson was +throwing them from, some one shouted: "There comes Mr. Stanton +with Her." + +All of us dropped everything and ran to the south windows. I +tell you I was proud of our big white team as it came prancing +down the hill, and the gleaming patent leather trimmings, and the +brass side lamps shining in the sun. Father sat very straight, +driving rather fast, as if he would as lief get it over with, and +instead of riding on the back seat, where mother always sat, the +teacher was in front beside him, and she seemed to be talking +constantly. We looked at each other and groaned when father +stopped at the hitching post and got out. If we had tried to see +what a dreadful muss we could make, things could have looked no +worse. I think father told her to wait in the carriage, but we +heard her cry: "Oh Mr. Stanton, let me see the dear children I'm +to teach, and where I'm to work." + +Hopped is the word. She hopped from the carriage and came +hopping after father. She was as tall as a clothes prop and +scarcely as fat. There were gray hairs coming on her temples. +Her face was sallow and wrinkled, and she had faded, pale-blue +eyes. Her dress was like my mother had worn several years +before, in style, and of stiff gray stuff. She made me feel that +no one wanted her at home, and probably that was the reason she +had come so far away. + +Every one stood dumb. Mother always went to meet people and May +was old enough to know it. She went, but she looked exactly as +she does when the wafer bursts and the quinine gets in her mouth, +and she doesn't dare spit it out, because it costs five dollars a +bottle, and it's going to do her good. Father introduced May and +some of the older children, and May helped him with the others, +and then he told us to "dig in and work like troopers," and he +would take Miss Pollard on home. + +"Oh do let me remain and help the dear children!" she cried. + +"We can finish!" we answered in full chorus. + +"How lovely of you!" she chirped. + +Chirp makes you think of a bird; and in speech and manner Miss +Amelia Pollard was the most birdlike of any human being I ever +have seen. She hopped from the step to the walk, turned to us, +her head on one side, playfulness in the air around her, and +shook her finger at us. + +"Be extremely particular that you leave things immaculate at the +consummation of your labour," she said. "`Remember that +cleanliness is next to Godliness!'" + +"Two terms of that!" gasped Leon, sinking on the stove hearth. +"Behold Job mourning as close the ashes as he can." + +Billy Wilson had the top lid off, so he reached down and got a +big handful of ashes and sifted them over Leon. But it's no fun +to do anything like that to him; he only sank in a more dejected +heap, and moaned: "Send for Bildad and Zophar to comfort me, and +more ashes, please." + +"Why does the little feathered dear touch earth at all? Why +doesn't she fly?" demanded Silas Shaw. + +"I'm going to get a hundred wads ready for Monday," said Jimmy +Hood. "We can shoot them when we please." + +"Bet ten cents you can't hit her," said Billy Wilson. "There +ain't enough of her for a decent mark." + +"Let's quit and go home," proposed Leon. "This will look worse +than it does now by Monday night." + +Then every one began talking at once. Suddenly May seized the +poker and began pounding on the top of the stove for order. + +"We must clean this up," she said. "We might as well finish. +Maybe you'll shoot wads and do what you please, and maybe you +won't. Her eyes went around like a cat that smells mice. If she +can spell the language she uses, she is the best we've ever had." + +That made us blink, and I never forgot it. Many times afterward +while listening to people talk, I wondered if they could spell +the words they used. + +"Well, come on, then!" said Leon. He seized the broom and handed +it to Billy Wilson, quoting as he did so, "Work, work, my boy, be +not afraid"; and he told Silas Shaw as he gave him the mop, to +"Look labour boldly in the face!" but he never did a thing +himself, except to keep every one laughing. + +So we cleaned up as well as we could, and Leon strutted like +Bobby, because he locked the door and carried the key. When we +reached home I was sorry I hadn't gone with father, so I could +have seen mother, Sally, Candace, and Laddie when first they met +the new teacher. The shock showed yet! Miss Amelia had taken +off her smothery woollen dress and put on a black calico, but it +wasn't any more cheerful. She didn't know what to do, and you +could see plainly that no one knew what to do with her, so they +united in sending me to show her the place. I asked her what she +would like most to see, and she said everything was so charming +she couldn't decide. I thought if she had no more choice than +that, one place would do as well as another, so I started for the +orchard. Quick as we got there, I knew what to do. I led her +straight to our best cling peach tree, told her to climb on the +fence so she could reach easily, and eat all she chose. We +didn't dare shake the tree, because the pigs ran on the other +side of the fence, and they chanked up every peach that fell +there. Those peaches were too good to feed even father's finest +Berkshires. + +By the time Miss Amelia had eaten nine or ten, she was so happy +to think she was there, she quit tilting her head and using big +words. Of course she couldn't know how I loved to hear them, and +maybe she thought I wouldn't know what they meant, and that they +would be wasted on me. If she had understood how much spelling +and defining I'd heard in my life, I guess she might have talked +up as big as she could, and still I'd have got most of it. When +she reached the place where she ate more slowly, she began to +talk. She must have asked me most a hundred questions. What all +our names were, how old we were, if our girls had lots of beaus, +and if there were many men in the neighbourhood, and dozens of +things my mother never asked any one. She always inquired if +people were well, if their crops were growing, how much fruit +they had, and how near their quilts were finished. + +I told her all about Sally and the wedding, because no one cared +who knew it, after I had been pounded to mince-meat for telling. +She asked if Shelley had any beaus, and I said there wasn't any +one who came like Peter, but every man in the neighbourhood +wanted to be her beau. Then she asked about Laddie, and I was +taking no risks, so I said: "I only see him at home. I don't +know where he goes when he's away. You'll have to ask him." + +"Oh, I never would dare," she said. "But he must. He is so +handsome! The girls would just compel him to go to see them." + +"Not if he didn't want to go," I said. + +"You must never, never tell him I said so, but I do think he is +the handsomest man I ever saw." + +"So do I," I said, "and it wouldn't make any difference if I told +him." + +"Then do you mean you're going to tell him my foolish remark?" +she giggled. + +"No use," I said. "He knows it now. Every time he parts his +hair he sees how good looking he is. He doesn't care. He says +the only thing that counts with a man is to be big, strong, +manly, and well educated." + +"Is he well educated?" + +"Yes, I think so, as far as he's gone," I answered. "Of course +he will go on being educated every day of his life, same as +father. He says it is all rot about `finishing' your education. +You never do. You learn more important things each day, and by +the time you are old enough to die, you have almost enough sense +to know how to live comfortably. Pity, isn't it?" + +"Yes," said Miss Amelia, "it's an awful pity, but it's the truth. + +Is your mother being educated too?" + +"Whole family," I said. "We learn all the time, mother most of +any, because father always looks out for her. You see, it takes +so much of her time to manage the house, and sew, and knit, and +darn, that she can't study so much as the others; so father reads +all the books to her, and tells her about everything he finds +out, and so do all of us. Just ask her if you think she doesn't +know things." + +"I wouldn't know what to ask," said Miss Amelia. + +"Ask how long it took to make this world, who invented printing, +where English was first spoken, why Greeley changed his politics, +how to make bluebell perfumery, cut out a dress, or cure a baby +of worms. Just ask her!" + +Miss Amelia threw a peach stone through a fence crack and hit a +pig. It was a pretty neat shot. + +"I don't need ask any of that," she said scornfully. "I know all +of it now." + +"All right! What is best for worms?" I asked. + +"Jayne's vermifuge," said Miss Amelia. + +"Wrong!" I cried. "That's a patent medicine. Tea made from male +fern root is best, because there's no morphine in it!" + +The supper bell rang and I was glad of it. Peaches are not very +filling after all, for I couldn't see but that Miss Amelia ate as +much as any of us. For a few minutes every one was slow in +speaking, then mother asked about cleaning the schoolhouse, +Laddie had something to explain to father about corn mould, Sally +and the dressmaker talked about pipings--not a bird--a new way to +fold goods to make trimmings, and soon everything was going on +the same as if the new teacher were not there. I noticed that +she kept her head straight, and was not nearly so glib-tongued +and birdlike before mother and Sally as she had been at the +schoolhouse. Maybe that was why father told mother that night +that the new teacher would bear acquaintance. + +Sunday was like every other Sabbath, except that I felt so sad +all day I could have cried, but I was not going to do it. Seemed +as if I never could put on shoes, and so many clothes Monday +morning, quite like church, and be shut in a room for hours, to +try to learn what was in books, when the world was running over +with things to find out where you could have your feet in water, +leaves in your hair, and little living creatures in your hands. +In the afternoon Miss Amelia asked Laddie to take her for a walk +to see the creek, and the barn, and he couldn't escape. + +I suppose our barn was exactly like hundreds of others. It was +built against an embankment so that on one side you could drive +right on the threshing floor with big loads of grain. On the +sunny side in the lower part were the sheep pens, cattle stalls, +and horse mangers. It was always half bursting with overflowing +grain bins and haylofts in the fall; the swallows twittered under +the roof until time to go south for winter, as they sailed from +the ventilators to their nests plastered against the rafters or +eaves. The big swinging doors front and back could be opened to +let the wind blow through in a strong draft. From the east doors +you could see for miles across the country. + +I said our barn was like others, but it was not. There was not +another like it in the whole world. Father, the boys, and the +hired men always kept it cleaned and in proper shape every day. +The upper floor was as neat as some women's houses. It was +swept, the sun shone in, the winds drifted through, the odours of +drying hay and grain were heavy, and from the top of the natural +little hill against which it stood you could see for miles in all +directions. + +The barn was our great playhouse on Sundays. It was clean there, +we were where we could be called when wanted, and we liked to +climb the ladders to the top of the haymows, walk the beams to +the granaries, and jump to the hay. One day May came down on a +snake that had been brought in with a load. I can hear her yell +now, and it made her so frantic she's been killing them ever +since. It was only a harmless little garter snake, but she was +so surprised. + +Miss Amelia held her head very much on one side all the time she +walked with Laddie, and she was so birdlike Leon slipped him a +brick and told him to have her hold it to keep her down. Seemed +as if she might fly any minute. She thought our barn was the +nicest she ever had seen and the cleanest. When Laddie opened +the doors on the east side, and she could see the big, red, +yellow, and green apples thick as leaves on the trees in the +orchard, the lane, the woods pasture, and the meadow with +scattering trees, two running springs, and the meeting of the +creeks, she said it was the loveliest sight she ever saw--I mean +beheld. Laddie liked that, so he told her about the beautiful +town, and the lake, and the Wabash River, that our creek emptied +into, and how people came from other states and big cities and +stayed all summer to fish, row, swim, and have good times. + +She asked him to take her to the meadow, but he excused himself, +because he had an engagement. So she stood in the door, and +watched him saddle Flos and start to the house to dress in his +riding clothes. After that she didn't care a thing about the +meadow, so we went back. + +Our house looked as if we had a party. We were all dressed in our +best, and every one was out in the yard, garden, or orchard. +Peter and Sally were under the big pearmain apple tree at the +foot of the orchard, Shelley and a half dozen beaus were +everywhere. May had her spelling book in one hand and was in my +big catalpa talking to Billy Stevens, who was going to be her +beau as soon as mother said she was old enough. Father was +reading a wonderful new book to mother and some of the +neighbours. Leon was perfectly happy because no one wanted him, +so he could tease all of them by saying things they didn't like +to hear. When Laddie came out and mounted, Leon asked him where +he was going, and Laddie said he hadn't fully decided: he might +ride to Elizabeth's, and not come back until Monday morning. + +"You think you're pretty slick," said Leon. "But if we could see +north to the cross road we could watch you turn west, and go past +Pryors to show yourself off, or try to find the Princess on the +road walking or riding. I know something I'm saving to tell next +time you get smart, Mr. Laddie." + +Laddie seemed annoyed and no one was quicker to see it than Leon. + +Instantly he jumped on the horse block, pulled down his face long +as he could, stretched his hands toward Laddie, and making his +voice all wavery and tremulous, he began reciting from "Lochiel's +Warning," in tones of agonizing pleading: + + "Laddie, Laddie, beware of the day! + For, dark and despairing, my sight, I may seal, + But man cannot cover what God would reveal; + 'Tis the sunset of life gives me mystical lore, + And coming events cast their shadows before." + + +That scared me. I begged Leon to tell, but he wouldn't say a +word more. He went and talked to Miss Amelia as friendly as you +please, and asked her to take a walk in the orchard and get some +peaches, and she went flying. He got her all she could carry and +guided her to Peter and Sally, introduced her to Peter, and then +slipped away and left her. Then he and Sally couldn't talk about +their wedding, and Peter couldn't squeeze her hand, and she +couldn't fix his tie, and it was awful. Shelley and her boys +almost laughed themselves sick over it, and then she cried, "To +the rescue!" and started, so they followed. They captured Miss +Amelia and brought her back, and left her with father and the +wonderful book, but I'm sure she liked the orchard better. + +I took Grace Greenwood under my arm, Hezekiah on my shoulder, and +with Bobby at my heels went away. I didn't want my hair pulled, +or to be teased that day. There was such a hardness around my +heart, and such a lump in my throat, that I didn't care what +happened to me one minute, and the next I knew I'd slap any one +who teased me, if I were sent to bed for it. As I went down the +lane Peter called to me to come and see him, but I knew exactly +how he looked, and didn't propose to make up. There was not any +sense in Sally clawing me all over, when I only tried to help +mother and Lucy find out what they wanted to know so badly. I +went down the hill, crossed the creek on the stepping-stones, and +followed the cowpath into the woods pasture. It ran beside the +creek bank through the spice thicket and blackberry patches, +under pawpaw groves, and beneath giant oaks and elms. Just where +the creek turned at the open pasture, below the church and +cemetery, right at the deep bend, stood the biggest white oak +father owned. It was about a tree exactly like this that an +Englishman wrote a beautiful poem in McGuffey's Sixth, that +begins: + + "A song to the oak, the brave old oak, + Who hath ruled in the greenwood long; + Here's health and renown to his broad green crown, + And his fifty arms so strong." + + +I knew it was the same, because I counted the arms time and +again, and there were exactly fifty. There was a pawpaw and +spice hedge around three sides of this one, and water on the +other. Wild grapes climbed from the bushes to the lower branches +and trailed back to earth again. Here, I had two secrets I +didn't propose to tell. One was that in the crotch of some +tiptop branches the biggest chicken hawks you ever saw had their +nest, and if they took too many chickens father said they'd have +to be frightened a little with a gun. I can't begin to tell how +I loved those hawks. They did the one thing I wanted to most, +and never could. When I saw them serenely soar above the lowest +of the soft fleecy September clouds, I was wild with envy. I +would have gone without chicken myself rather than have seen one +of those splendid big brown birds dropped from the skies. I was +so careful to shield them, that I selected this for my especial +retreat when I wanted most to be alone, and I carefully gathered +up any offal from the nest that might point out their location, +and threw it into the water where it ran the swiftest. + +I parted the vines and crept where the roots of the big oak +stretched like bony fingers over the water, that was slowly +eating under it and baring its roots. I sat on them above the +water and thought. I had decided the day before about my going +to school, and the day before that, and many, many times before +that, and here I was having to settle it all over again. Doubled +on the sak roots, a troubled little soul, I settled it once more. + +No books or teachers were needed to tell me about flowing water +and fish, how hawks raised their broods and kept house, about the +softly cooing doves of the spice thickets, the cuckoos slipping +snakelike in and out of the wild crab-apple bushes, or the brown +thrush's weird call from the thorn bush. I knew what they said +and did, but their names, where they came from, where they went +when the wind blew and the snow fell--how was I going to find out +that? Worse yet were the flowers, butterflies, and moths; they +were mysteries past learning alone, and while the names I made up +for them were pretty and suitable, I knew in all reason they +wouldn't be the same in the books. I had to go, but no one will +ever know what it cost. When the supper bell rang, I sat still. +I'd have to wait until at least two tables had been served, +anyway, so I sat there and nursed my misery, looked and listened, +and by and by I felt better. I couldn't see or hear a thing that +was standing still. Father said even the rocks grew larger year +by year. The trees were getting bigger, the birds were busy, and +the creek was in a dreadful hurry to reach the river. It was +like that poetry piece that says: + + "When a playful brook, you gambolled," + +(Mostly that gambolled word is said about lambs) + + "And the sunshine o'er you smiled, + On your banks did children loiter, + Looking for the spring flowers wild?" + + +The creek was more in earnest and working harder at pushing +steadily ahead without ever stopping than anything else; and like +the poetry piece again, it really did "seem to smile upon us as +it quickly passed us by." I had to quit playing, and go to work +some time; it made me sorry to think how behind I was, because I +had not started two years before, when I should. But that +couldn't be helped now. All there was left was to go this time, +for sure. I got up heavily and slowly as an old person, and then +slipped out and ran down the path to the meadow, because I could +hear Leon whistle as he came to bring the cows. + +By fast running I could start them home for him: Rose, Brindle, +Bess, and Pidy, Sukey and Muley; they had eaten all day, but they +still snatched bites as they went toward the gate. I wanted to +surprise Leon and I did. + +"Getting good, ain't you?" he asked. "What do you want?" + +"Nothing!" I said. "I just heard you coming and I thought I'd +help you." + +"Where were you?" + +"Playing." + +"You don't look as if you'd been having much fun." + +"I don't expect ever to have any, after I begin school." + +"Oh!" said Leon. "It is kind of tough the first day or two, but +you'll soon get over it. You should have behaved yourself, and +gone when they started you two years ago." + +"Think I don't know it?" + +Leon stopped and looked at me sharply. + +"I'll help you nights, if you want me to," he offered. + +"Can I ever learn?" I asked, almost ready to cry. + +"Of course you can," said Leon. "You're smart as the others, I +suppose. The sevens and nines of the multiplication table are +the stickers, but you ought to do them if other girls can. You +needn't feel bad because you are behind a little to start on; you +are just that much better prepared to work, and you can soon +overtake them. You know a lot none of the rest of us do, and +some day it will come your turn to show off. Cheer up, you'll be +all right." + +Men are such a comfort. I pressed closer for more. + +"Do you suppose I will?" I asked. + +"Of course," said Leon. "Any minute the woods, or birds, or +flowers are mentioned your time will come; and all of us will +hear you read and help nights. I'd just as soon as not." + +That was the most surprising thing. He never offered to help me +before. He never acted as if he cared what became of me. Maybe +it was because Laddie always had taken such good care of me, Leon +had no chance. He seemed willing enough now. I looked at him +closely. + +"You'll find out I'll learn things if I try," I boasted. "And +you will find out I don't tell secrets either." + +"I've been waiting for you to pipe up about----" + +"Well, I haven't piped, have I?" + +"Not yet." + +"I am not going to either." + +"I almost believe you. A girl you could trust would be a funny +thing to see." + +"Tell me what you know about Laddie, and see if I'm funny." + +"You'd telltale sure as life!" + +"Well, if you know it, he knows it anyway." + +"He doesn't know WHAT I know." + +"Well, be careful and don't worry mother. You know how she is +since the fever, and father says all of us must think of her. If +it's anything that would bother her, don't tell before her." + +"Say, looky here," said Leon, turning on me sharply, "is all this +sudden consideration for mother or are you legging for Laddie?" + +"For both," I answered stoutly. + +"Mostly for Laddie, just the same. You can't fool me, missy. I +won't tell you one word." + +"You needn't!" I answered, "I don't care!" + +"Yes you do," he said. "You'd give anything to find out what I +know, and then run to Laddie with it, but you can't fool me. I'm +too smart for you." + +"All right," I said. "You go and tell anything on Laddie, and +I'll watch you, and first trick I catch you at, I'll do some +telling myself, Smarty." + +"That's a game more than one can play at," said Leon. "Go +ahead!" + + + +CHAPTER V + +The First Day of School + + "Birds in their little nests agree. + And why can't we?" + +B-i-r-d-s, birds, i-n, in, t-h-e-i-r, their, l-i-t-t-l-e, little, +n-e-s-t-s, nests, a-g-r-e-e, agree." + +My feet burned in my new shoes, but most of my body was chilling +as I stood beside Miss Amelia on the platform, before the whole +school, and followed the point of her pencil, while, a letter at +a time, I spelled aloud my first sentence. Nothing ever had +happened to me as bad as that. I was not used to so much +clothing. It was like taking a colt from the woods pasture and +putting it into harness for the first time. That lovely +September morning I followed Leon and May down the dusty road, my +heart sick with dread. + +May was so much smaller that I could have picked her up and +carried her. She was a gentle, loving little thing, until some +one went too far, and then they got what they deserved, all at +once and right away. + +Many of the pupils were waiting before the church. Leon climbed +the steps, made a deep bow, waved toward the school building +across the way, and what he intended to say was, "Still sits the +schoolhouse by the road," but he was a little excited and the s's +doubled his tongue, so that we heard: "Shill stits the +schoolhouse by the road." We just yelled and I forgot a little +about myself. + +When Miss Amelia came to the door and rang the bell, May must +have remembered something of how her first day felt, for as we +reached the steps she waited for me, took me in with her, and +found me a seat. If she had not, I'm quite sure I'd have run +away and fought until they left me in freedom, as I had two years +before. All forenoon I had shivered in my seat, while classes +were arranged, and the elder pupils were started on their work; +then Miss Amelia called me to her on the platform and tried to +find out how much schooling I had. I was ashamed that I knew so +little, but there was no sense in her making me spell after a +pencil, like a baby. I'd never seen the book she picked up. I +could read the line she pointed to, and I told her so, but she +said to spell the words; so I thought she had to be obeyed, for +one poetry piece I know says: + + "Quickly speed your steps to school + And there mind your teacher's rule." + + +I can see Miss Amelia to-day. Her pale face was lined deeper +than ever, her drab hair was dragged back tighter. She wore a +black calico dress with white huckleberries, and a white calico +apron figured in large black apples, each having a stem and two +leaves. In dress she was a fruitful person. She had been a +surprise to all of us. Chipper as a sparrow, she had hopped, and +chattered, and darted here and there, until the hour of opening. +Then in the stress of arranging classes and getting started, all +her birdlike ways slipped from her. Stern and bony she stood +before us, and with a cold light in her pale eyes, she began +business in a manner that made Johnny Hood forget all about his +paper wads, and Leon commenced studying like a good boy, and +never even tried to have fun with her. Every one was so +surprised you could notice it, except May, and she looked, "I +told you so!" even in the back. She had a way of doing that very +thing as I never saw any one else. From the set of her head, how +she carried her shoulders, the stiffness of her spine, and her +manner of walking, if you knew her well, you could tell what she +thought, the same as if you saw her face. + +I followed that pencil point and in a husky voice repeated the +letters. I could see Tillie Baher laughing at me from behind her +geography, and every one else had stopped what they were doing to +watch and listen, so I forgot to be thankful that I even knew my +a b c's. I spelled through the sentence, pronounced the words +and repeated them without much thought as to the meaning; at that +moment it didn't occur to me that she had chosen the lesson +because father had told her how I made friends with the birds. +The night before he had been putting me through memory tests, and +I had recited poem after poem, even long ones in the Sixth +Reader, and never made one mistake when the piece was about +birds. At our house, we heard next day's lessons for all ages +gone over every night so often, that we couldn't help knowing +them by heart, if we had any brains at all, and I just loved to +get the big folk's readers and learn the bird pieces. Father had +been telling her about it, so for that reason she thought she +would start me on the birds, but I'm sure she made me spell after +a pencil point, like a baby, on purpose to shame me, because I +was two years behind the others who were near my age. As I +repeated the line Miss Amelia thought she saw her chance. She +sprang to her feet, tripped a few steps toward the centre of the +platform, and cried: "Classes, attention! Our Youngest Pupil +has just completed her first sentence. This sentence contains a +Thought. It is a wonderfully beautiful Thought. A Thought that +suggests a great moral lesson for each of us. `Birrrds--in their +little nests--agreeee.'" + +Never have I heard cooing sweetness to equal the melting tones in +which Miss Amelia drawled those words. Then she continued, after +a good long pause in order to give us time to allow the "Thought" +to sink in: "There is a lesson in this for all of us. We are +here in our schoolroom, like little birds in their nest. Now how +charming it would be if all of us would follow the example of the +birds, and at our work, and in our play, agreeee--be kind, +loving, and considerate of each other. Let us all remember +always this wonderful truth: `Birrrrds--in their little nests-- +agreeeee!'" + +In three steps I laid hold of her apron. Only last night Leon +had said it would come, yet whoever would have thought that I'd +get a chance like this, so soon. + +"Ho but they don't!" I cried. "They fight like anything! Every +day they make the feathers fly!" + +In a backward stroke Miss Amelia's fingers, big and bony, struck +my cheek a blow that nearly upset me. A red wave crossed her +face, and her eyes snapped. I never had been so surprised in all +my life. I was only going to tell her the truth. What she had +said was altogether false. Ever since I could remember I had +watched courting male birds fight all over the farm. After a +couple had paired, and were nest building, the father always +drove every other bird from his location. In building I had seen +him pecked for trying to place a twig. I had seen that happen +again for merely offering food to the mother, if she didn't +happen to be hungry, or for trying to make love to her when she +was brooding. If a young bird failed to get the bite it wanted, +it sometimes grabbed one of its nestmates by the bill, or the eye +even, and tried to swallow it whole. Always the oldest and +strongest climbed on top of the youngest and fooled his mammy +into feeding him most by having his head highest, his mouth +widest, and begging loudest. There could be no mistake. I was +so amazed I forgot the blow, as I stared at the fool woman. + +"I don't see why you slap me!" I cried. "It's the truth! Lots +of times old birds pull out bunches of feathers fighting, and +young ones in the nests bite each other until they squeal." + +Miss Amelia caught my shoulders and shook me as hard as she +could; and she proved to be stronger than you ever would have +thought to look at her. + +"Take your seat!" she cried. "You are a rude, untrained child!" + +"They do fight!" I insisted, as I held my head high and walked to +my desk. + +Leon laughed out loud, and that made everyone else. Miss Amelia +had so much to do for a few minutes that she forgot me, and I +know now why Leon started it, at least partly. He said afterward +it was the funniest sight he ever saw. My cheek smarted and +burned. I could scarcely keep from feeling to learn whether it +were swelling, but I wouldn't have shed a tear or raised my hand +for anything you could offer. + +Recess was coming and I didn't know what to do. If I went to the +playground, all of them would tease me; and if I sat at my desk +Miss Amelia would have another chance at me. That was too much +to risk, so I followed the others outdoors, and oh joy! there +came Laddie down the road. He set me on one of the posts of the +hitching rack before the church, and with my arms around his +neck, I sobbed out the whole story. + +"She didn't understand," said Laddie quietly. "You stay here +until I come back. I'll go explain to her about the birds. +Perhaps she hasn't watched them as closely as you have." + +Recess was over before he returned. He had wet his handkerchief +at the water bucket, and now he bathed my face and eyes, +straightened my hair with his pocket comb, and began unlacing my +shoes. + +"What are you going to do?" I asked. "I must wear them. All the +girls do. Only the boys are barefoot." + +"You are excused," answered Laddie. "Three-fourths of the day is +enough to begin on. Miss Amelia says you may come with me." + +"Where are you going?" + +Laddie was stripping off my stockings as he looked into my eyes, +and smiled a peculiar little smile. + +"Oh Laddie!" I cried. "Will you take me? Honest!" + +He laughed again and then he rubbed my feet. + +"Poor abused feet," he said. "Sometimes I wish shoes had never +been invented." + +"They feel pretty good when there's ice." + +"So they do!" said Laddie. + +He swung me to the ground, and we crossed the road, climbed the +fence, and in a minute our redbird swamp shut the schoolhouse and +cross old Miss Amelia from sight. Then we turned and started +straight toward our Big Woods. I could scarcely keep on the +ground. + +"How are the others getting along?" asked Laddie. + +"She's cross as two sticks," I told him. "Johnny Hood hasn't +shot one paper wad, and Leon hadn't done a thing until he laughed +about the birds, and I guess he did that to make her forget me." + +"Good!" cried Laddie. "I didn't suppose the boy thought that +far." + +"Oh, you never can tell by looking at him, how far Leon is +thinking," I said. + +"That's so, too," said Laddie. "Are your feet comfortable now?" + +"Yes, but Laddie, isn't my face marked?" + +"I'm afraid it is a little," said Laddie. "We'll bathe it again +at the creek. We must get it fixed so mother won't notice." + +"What will the Princess think?" + +"That you fell, perhaps," said Laddie. + +"Do the tears show?" + +"Not at all. We washed them all away." + +"Did I do wrong, Laddie?" + +"Yes, I think you did." + +"But it wasn't true, what she said." + +"That's not the point." + +We had reached the fence of the Big Woods. He lifted me to the +top rail and explained, while I combed his waving hair with my +fingers. + +"She didn't strike you because what you said was not so, for it +was. She knew instantly you were right, if she knows anything at +all about outdoors. This is what made her angry: it is her first +day. She wanted to make a good impression on her pupils, to +arouse their interest, and awaken their respect. When you spoke, +all of them knew you were right, and she was wrong; that made her +ridiculous. Can't you see how it made her look and feel?" + +"I didn't notice how she looked, but from the way she hit me, you +could tell she felt bad enough." + +"She surely did," said Laddie, kissing my cheek softly. "Poor +little woman! What a world of things you have to learn!" + +"Shouldn't I have told her how mistaken she was?" + +"If you had gone to her alone, at recess or noon, or to-night, +probably she would have thanked you. Then she could have +corrected herself at some convenient time and kept her dignity." + +"Must I ask her pardon?" + +"What you should do, is to put yourself in Miss Amelia's place +and try to understand how she felt. Then if you think you +wouldn't have liked any one to do to you what you did to her, +you'll know." + +I hugged Laddie tight and thought fast--there was no need to +think long to see how it was. + +"I got to tell her I was wrong," I said. "Now let's go to the +Enchanted Wood and see if we can find the Queen's daughter." + +"All right!" said Laddie. + +He leaped the fence, swung me over, and started toward the pawpaw +thicket. He didn't do much going around. He crashed through and +over; and soon he began whistling the loveliest little dancy +tune. It made your head whirl, and your toes tingle, and you +knew it was singing that way in his heart, and he was just +letting out the music. That was why it made you want to dance +and whirl; it was so alive. But that wasn't the way in an +Enchanted Wood. I pulled his hand. + +"Laddie!" I cautioned, "keep in the path! You'll step on the +Fairies and crush a whole band with one foot. No wonder the +Queen makes her daughter grow big when she sends her to you. If +you make so much noise, some one will hear you, then this won't +be a secret any more." + +Laddie laughed, but he stepped carefully in the path after that, +and he said: "There are times, Little Sister, when I don't care +whether this secret is secret another minute or not. Secrets +don't agree with me. I'm too big, and broad, and too much of a +man, to go creeping through the woods with a secret. I prefer to +print it on a banner and ride up the road waving it." + +"Like,--`A youth who bore mid snow and ice, A banner with a +strange device,'" I said. + +"That would be `a banner with a strange device,'" laughest +Laddie. "But, yes--something like!" + +"Have you told the Princess?" + +"I have!" Laddie fairly shouted it. + +"Docs SHE like secrets?" + +"No more than I do!" + +"Then why----?" + +"There you go!" said Laddie. "Zeus, but the woman is beginning +to measle out all over you! You know as well as any one that +there's something wrong at her house. I don't know what it is; I +can't even make a sensible guess as yet, but it's worse than the +neighbours think. It's a thing that has driven a family from +their home country, under a name that I have doubts about being +theirs, and sent them across an ocean, `strangers in a strange +land,' as it says in the Bible. It's something that keeps a +cultured gentleman and scholar raging up and down the roads and +over the country like a madman. It shuts a white-faced, lovely, +little woman from her neighbours, but I have passed her walking +the road at night with both hands pressed against her heart. +Sometimes it tries the Princess past endurance and control; and +it has her so worn and tired struggling with it that she is +willing to carry another secret, rather than try to find strength +to do anything that would make more trouble for her father and +mother." + +"Would it trouble them for her to know you, Laddie?" + +"So long as they don't and won't become acquainted with me, or +any one, of course it would." + +"Can't you force them to know you?" + +"That I can!" said Laddie. "But you see, I only met the Princess +a short time ago, and there would be no use in raising trouble, +unless she will make me her Knight!" + +"But hasn't she, Laddie?" + +"Not in the very littlest least," said Laddie. "For all I know, +she is merely using me to help pass a lonely hour. You see, +people reared in England have ideas of class, that two or three +generations spent here wash out. The Princess and her family are +of the unwashed British. Father's people have been here long +enough to judge a man on his own merits." + +"You mean the Princess' family would think you're not good enough +to be her Knight?" + +"Exactly!" + +"And we know that our family thinks they are infidels, and wicked +people; and that if she would have you, mother would be sick in +bed over it. Oh Laddie!" + +"Precisely!" + +"What are you going to do?" + +"That I must find out." + +"When it will make so much trouble, why not forget her, and go on +like you did before she came? Then, all of us were happy. Now, +it makes me shiver to think what will happen." + +"Me too," said Laddie. "But look here, Little Sister, right in +my face. Will you ever forget the Princess?" + +"Never!" + +"Then how can you ask me to?" + +"I didn't mean forget her, exactly. I meant not come here and do +things that will make every one unhappy." + +"One minute, Chick-a-Biddy," said Laddie. Sometimes he called me +that, when he loved me the very most of all. I don't believe any +one except me ever heard him do it. "Let me ask you this: does +our father love our mother?" + +"Love her?" I cried. "Why he just loves her to death! He turns +so white, and he suffers so, when her pain is the worst. Love +her? And she him? Why, don't you remember the other day when he +tipped her head against him and kissed her throat as he left the +table; that he asked her if she `loved him yet,' and she said +right before all of us, `Why Paul, I love you, until I scarcely +can keep my fingers off you!' Laddie, is it like that with you +and the Princess?" + +"It is with me," said Laddie. "Not with the Princess! Now, can +I forget her? Can I keep away from even the chance to pass her +on the road?" + +"No," I said. "No, you can't, Laddie. But can you ever make her +love you?" + +"It takes time to find that out," said Laddie. "I have got to +try; so you be a woman and keep my secret a little while longer, +until I find a way out, but don't bother your head about it!" + +"I can't help bothering my head, Laddie. Can't you make her +understand that God is not a myth?" + +"I'm none too sure what I believe myself," said Laddie. "Not +that there is no God--I don't mean that--but I surely don't +believe all father's teachings." + +"If you believe God, do other little things matter, Laddie?" + +"I think not," said Laddie, "else Heaven would be all Methodists. + +As for the Princess, all she has heard in her life has been +against there being a God. Now, she is learning something on the +other side. After a while she can judge for herself. It is for +us, who profess to be a Christian family, to prove to her why we +believe in God, and what He does for us." + +"Well, she would think He could do a good deal, if she knew how +mother hated asking her to come to our house; and yet she did it, +beautifully too, just to give her a chance to see that very +thing. But I almost made her do it. I don't believe she ever +would alone, Laddie, or at least not for a long time yet." + +"I saw that, and understood it perfectly," said Laddie. "Thank +you, Little Sister." He picked me up and hugged me tight. "If I +could only make you see!" + +"But Laddie, I do! I'm not a baby! I know how people love and +make homes for themselves, like Sally and Peter are going to. If +it is with you about the Princess as it is with father and +mother, why I do know." + +"All right! Here we are!" said Laddie. + +He parted the willows and we stepped on the Magic Carpet, and +that minute the Magic worked. I forgot every awful, solemn, +troublous thing we had been talking about, and looked around +while Laddie knelt and hunted for a letter, and there was none. +That meant the Princess was coming, so we sat on the throne to +wait. We hadn't remembered to bathe my cheek, we had been so +busy when we passed the water, and I doubt if we were thinking +much then. We just waited. The willow walls waved gently, the +moss carpet was spotted with little gold patches of sunlight, in +the shade a few of the red flowers still bloomed, and big, lazy +bumblebees hummed around them, or a hummingbird stood on air +before them. A sort of golden throbbing filled the woods, and my +heart began to leap, why, I don't know; but I'm sure Laddie's did +too, for I looked at him and his eyes were shining as I never had +seen them before, while his cheeks were a little red, and he was +breathing like when you've been running; then suddenly his body +grew tense against mine, and that meant she was coming. + +Like that first day, she came slowly through the woods, stopping +here and there to touch the trunk of a tree, put back a branch, +or bend over a flower face. Brown as the wood floor was her +dress, and cardinal flowers blazed on her breast, and the same +colour showed on her cheeks and lips. Her eyes were like +Laddie's for brightness, and she was breathing the same way. I +thought sure there was going to be something to remember a +lifetime--I was so excited I couldn't stand still. Before it +could happen Laddie went and said it was a "beautiful day," and +she said "it didn't show in the woods, but the pastures needed +rain." Then she kissed me. Well if I ever! I sank on the +throne and sat there. They went on talking like that, until it +was too dull to bear, so I slipped out and wandered away to see +what I could find. When I grew tired and went back, Laddie was +sitting on the Magic Carpet with his back against the beech, and +the Princess was on the throne reading from a little book, +reading such interesting things that I decided to listen. After +a while she came to this: + + "Thou are mated with a clown, +And the grossness of his nature, will have weight to bear thee +down." + +Laddie threw back his head, and how he laughed! The Princess put +down the book and looked at him so surprised. + +"Are you reading that to me because you think it appropriate?" +asked Laddie. + +"I am reading it because it is conceded to be one of the most +beautiful poems ever written," said the Princess. + +"You knew when you began that you would come to those lines." + +"I never even thought of such a thing." + +"But you knew that is how your father would regard any +relationship, friendly or deeper, with me!" + +"I cannot possibly be held responsible for what my father +thinks." + +"It is natural that you should think alike." + +"Not necessarily! You told me recently that you didn't agree +with your father on many subjects." + +"Kindly answer me this," said Laddie: "Do you feel that I'm a +`clown' because I'm not schooled to the point on all questions of +good manners? Do you find me gross because I plow and sow?" + +"You surprise me," said the Princess. "My consenting to know and +to spend a friendly hour with you here is sufficient answer. I +have not found the slightest fault with your manners. I have +seen no suspicion of `grossness' about you." + +"Will you tell me, frankly, exactly what you do think of me?" + +"Surely! I think you are a clean, decent man, who occasionally +kindly consents to put a touch of human interest into an hour, +for a very lonely girl. What has happened, Laddie? This is not +like you." + +Laddie sat straight and studied the beech branches. Father said +beech trees didn't amount to much; but I first learned all about +them from that one, and what it taught me made me almost worship +them always. There were the big trunk with great rough spreading +roots, the bark in little ridges in places, smooth purple gray +between, big lichens for ornament, the low flat branches, the +waxy, wavy-edged leaves, with clear veins, and the delicious nuts +in their little brown burrs. The Princess and I both stared at +the branches and waited while a little breath of air stirred the +leaves, the sunshine flickered, and a cricket sang a sort of +lonesome song. Laddie leaned against the tree again, and he was +thinking so hard, to look at him made me begin to repeat to +myself the beech part of that beautiful churchyard poem our big +folks recite: + + + "There, at the foot of yonder nodding beech, + That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, + His listless length at noontide he would stretch, + And pore upon the brook that babbles by." + + +Only he was studying so deeply you could almost feel what was in +his mind, and it was not about the brook at all, even if one ran +close. Soon he began talking. + +"Not so bad!" he said. "You might think worse. I admit the +cleanliness, I strive for decency, I delight in being humanely +interesting, even for an hour; you might think worse, much worse! + +You might consider me a `clown.' `A country clod.' Rather a +lowdown, common thing, a `clod,' don't you think? And a `clown'! + +And `gross' on top of that!" + +"What can you mean?" asked the Princess. + +"Since you don't seem to share the estimate of me, I believe I'll +tell you," said Laddie. "The other day I was driving from the +gravel pit with a very heavy load. The road was wide and level +on either side. A man came toward me on horseback. Now the law +of the road is to give half to a vehicle similar to the one you +are driving, but to keep all of it when you are heavily loaded, +if you are passing people afoot or horseback. The man took half +the road, and kept it until the nose of his horse touched one of +the team I was driving. I stopped and said: `Good morning, sir! + +Do you wish to speak with me?' He called angrily: `Get out of +my way, you clod!' `Sorry sir, but I can't,' I said. `The law +gives me this road when I am heavily loaded, and you are on foot +or horseback.'" + +"What did he do?" asked the Princess. + +And from the way she looked I just knew she guessed the man was +the same one I thought of. + +"He raised his whip to strike my horse," said Laddie. + +"Ah, surely!" said the Princess. "Always an arm raised to +strike. And you, Man? What did you do?" she cried eagerly. + +"I stood on my load, suddenly," said Laddie, "and I called: +`Hold one minute!'" + +"And he?" breathed the Princess. + +"Something made him pause with his arm still raised. I said to +him: `You must not strike my horse. It never has been struck, +and it can't defend itself. If you want to come a few steps +farther and tackle me, come ahead! I can take it or return it, +as I choose.'" + +"Go on!" said the Princess. + +"That's all," said Laddie, "or at least almost all." + +"Did he strike?" + +"He did not. He stared at me a second, and then he rode around +me; but he was making forceful remarks as he passed about +`country clods,' and there was an interesting one about a `gross +clown.' What you read made me think of it, that is all." + +The Princess stared into the beech branches for a time and then +she said: "I will ask your pardon for him. He always had a +domineering temper, and trouble he had lately has almost driven +him mad; he is scarcely responsible at times. I hesitate about +making him angry." + +"I think perhaps," said Laddie, "I would have done myself credit +if I had recognized that, and given him the road, when he made a +point of claiming it." + +"Indeed no!" cried the Princess. "To be beaten at the game he +started was exactly what he needed. If you had turned from his +way, he would have considered you a clod all his life. Since you +made him go around, it may possibly dawn on him that you are a +man. You did the very best thing." + +Then she began to laugh, and how she did laugh. + +"I would give my allowance for a quarter to have seen it," she +cried. "I must hurry home and tell mother." + +"Does your mother know about me?" he demanded. "Does she know +that you come here?" + +The Princess arose and stood very tall and straight. + +"You may beg my pardon or cease to know me," she said. "Whatever +led you to suppose that I would know or meet you without my +mother's knowledge?" + +Then she started toward the entrance. + +"One minute!" cried Laddie. + +A leap carried him to her side. He caught her hands and held +them tight, and looked straight into her eyes. Then he kissed +her hands over and over. I thought from the look on her face he +might have kissed her cheek if he had dared risk it; but he +didn't seem to notice. Then she stooped and kissed me, and +turned toward home, while Laddie and I crossed the woods to the +west road, and went back past the schoolhouse. I was so tired +Laddie tied the strings together and hung my shoes across his +shoulders and took me by the arm the last mile. + +All of them were at home when we got there, and Miss Amelia came +to the gate to meet us. She was mealy-mouthed and good as pie, +not at all as I had supposed she would be. I wonder what Laddie +said to her. But then he always could manage things for every +one. That set me to wondering if by any possible means he could +fix them for himself. I climbed to the catalpa to think, and the +more I thought, the more I feared he couldn't; but still mother +always says one never can tell until they try, and I knew he +would try with every ounce of brain and muscle in him. I sat +there until the supper bell rang, and then I washed and reached +the table last. The very first thing, mother asked how I bruised +my face, and before I could think what to tell her, Leon said +just as careless like: "Oh she must have run against something +hard, playing tag at recess." Laddie began talking about Peter +coming that night, and every one forgot me, but pretty soon I +slipped a glance at Miss Amelia, and saw that her face was redder +than mine. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Wedding Gown + + "The gay belles of fashion may boast of excelling + In waltz or cotillon, at whist or quadrille; + And seek admiration by vauntingly telling + Of drawing and painting, and musical skill; + But give me the fair one, in country or city, + Whose home and its duties are dear to her heart, + Who cheerfully warbles some rustical ditty, + While plying the needle with exquisite art: + The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle, + The needle directed by beauty and art." + + +The next morning Miss Amelia finished the chapter--that made two +for our family. Father always read one before breakfast--no +wonder I knew the Bible quite well--then we sang a song, and she +made a stiff, little prayer. I had my doubts about her prayers; +she was on no such terms with the Lord as my father. He got +right at Him and talked like a doctor, and you felt he had some +influence, and there was at least a possibility that he might get +what he asked for; but Miss Amelia prayed as if the Lord were ten +million miles away, and she would be surprised to pieces if she +got anything she wanted. When she asked the Almighty to make us +good, obedient children, there was not a word she said that +showed she trusted either the Lord or us, or thought there was +anything between us and heaven that might make us good because we +wanted to be. You couldn't keep your eyes from the big gad and +ruler on her desk; she often fingered them as she prayed, and you +knew from her stiff, little, sawed-out petition that her faith +was in implements, and she'd hit you a crack the minute she was +the least angry, same as she had me the day before. I didn't +feel any too good toward her, but when the blood of the Crusaders +was in the veins, right must be done even if it took a struggle. +I had to live up to those little gold shells on the trinket. +Father said they knew I was coming down the line, so they put on +a bird for me; but I told him I would be worthy of the shells +too. This took about as hard a fight for me as any Crusade would +for a big, trained soldier. I had been wrong, Laddie had made me +see that. So I held up my hand, and Miss Amelia saw me as she +picked up Ray's arithmetic. + +"What is it?" + +I held to the desk to brace myself, and tried twice before I +could raise my voice so that she heard. + +"Please, Miss Amelia," I said, "I was wrong about the birds +yesterday. Not that they don't fight--they do! But I was wrong +to contradict you before every one, and on your first day, and if +you'll only excuse me, the next time you make a mistake, I'll +tell you after school or at recess." + +The room was so still you could hear the others breathing. Miss +Amelia picked up the ruler and started toward me. Possibly I +raised my hands. That would be no Crusader way, but you might do +it before you had time to think, when the ruler was big and your +head was the only place that would be hit. The last glimpse I +had of her in the midst of all my trouble made me think of +Sabethany Perkins. + +Sabethany died, and they buried her at the foot of the hill in +our graveyard before I could remember. But her people thought +heaps of her, and spent much money on the biggest tombstone in +the cemetery, and planted pinies and purple phlox on her, and +went every Sunday to visit her. When they moved away, they +missed her so, they decided to come back and take her along. The +men were at work, and Leon and I went to see what was going on. +They told us, and said we had better go away, because possibly +things might happen that children would sleep better not to see. +Strange how a thing like that makes you bound you will see. We +went and sat on the fence and waited. Soon they reached +Sabethany, but they could not seem to get her out. They tried, +and tried, and at last they sent for more men. It took nine of +them to bring her to the surface. What little wood was left, +they laid back to see what made her so fearfully heavy, and there +she was turned to solid stone. They couldn't chip a piece off +her with the shovel. Mother always said, "For goodness sake, +don't let your mouth hang open," and as a rule we kept ours shut; +but you should have seen Leon's when he saw Sabethany wouldn't +chip off, and no doubt mine was as bad. + +"When Gabriel blows his trumpet, and the dead arise and come +forth, what on earth will they do with Sabethany?" I gasped. +"Why, she couldn't fly to Heaven with wings a mile wide, and what +use could they make of her if she got there?" + +"I can't see a thing she'd be good for except a hitching post," +said Leon, "and I guess they don't let horses in. Let's go +home." + +He acted sick and I felt that way; so we went, but the last +glimpse of Sabethany remained with me. + +As my head went down that day, I saw that Miss Amelia looked +exactly like her. You would have needed a pick-ax or a crowbar +to flake off even a tiny speck of her. When I had waited for my +head to be cracked, until I had time to remember that a Crusader +didn't dodge and hide, I looked up, and there she stood with the +ruler lifted; but now she had turned just the shade of the +wattles on our fightingest turkey gobbler. + +"Won't you please forgive me?" + +I never knew I had said it until I heard it, and then the only +way to be sure was because no one else would have been likely to +speak at that time. + +Miss Amelia's arm dropped and she glared at me. I wondered +whether I ever would understand grown people; I doubted if they +understood themselves, for after turning to stone in a second-- +father said it had taken Sabethany seven years--and changing to +gobbler red, Miss Amelia suddenly began to laugh. To laugh, of +all things! And then, of course, every one else just yelled. I +was so mortified I dropped my head again and began to cry as I +never would if she'd hit me. + +"Don't feel badly!" said Miss Amelia. "Certainly, I'll forgive +you. I see you had no intention of giving offense, so none is +taken. Get out your book and study hard on another lesson." + +That was surprising. I supposed I'd have to do the same one +over, but I might take a new one. I was either getting along +fast, or Miss Amelia had her fill of birds. I wiped my eyes as +straight in front of me as I could slip up my handkerchief, and +began studying the first lesson in my reader: "Pretty bee, pray +tell me why, thus from flower to flower you fly, culling sweets +the livelong day, never leaving off to play?" That was a poetry +piece, and it was quite cheery, although it was all strung +together like prose, but you couldn't fool me on poetry; I knew +it every time. As I studied I felt better, and when Miss Amelia +came to hear me she was good as gold. She asked if I liked +honey, and I started to tell her about the queen bee, but she had +no time to listen, so she said I should wait until after school. +Then we both forgot it, for when we reached home, the Princess' +horse was hitched to our rack, and I fairly ran in, I was so +anxious to know what was happening. + +I was just perfectly amazed at grown people! After all the +things our folks had said! You'd have supposed that Laddie would +have been locked in the barn; father reading the thirty second +Psalm to the Princess, and mother on her knees asking God to open +her eyes like Saul's when he tried to kick against the pricks, +and make her to see, as he did, that God was not a myth, Well, +there was no one in the sitting-room or the parlour, but there +were voices farther on; so I slipped in. I really had to slip, +for there was no other place they could be except the parlour +bedroom, and Sally's wedding things were locked up there, and we +were not to see until everything was finished, like I told you. + +Well, this was what I saw: our bedroom had been a porch once, and +when we had been crowded on account of all of us coming, father +enclosed it and made a room. But he never had taken out the +window in the wall. So all I had to do when I wanted to know how +fast the dresses were being made, was to shove up the window +above my bed, push back the blind, and look in. I didn't care +what she had. I just wanted to get ahead of her and see before +she was ready, to pay her for beating me. I knew what she had, +and I meant to tell her, and walk away with my nose in the air +when she offered to show me; but this was different. I was wild +to see what was going on because the Princess was there. The +room was small, and the big cherry four-poster was very large, +and all of them were talking, so no one paid the slightest +attention to me. + +Mother sat in the big rocking chair, with Sally on one of its +arms, leaning against her shoulder. Shelley and May and the +sewing woman were crowded between the wall and the footboard, and +the others lined against the wall. The bed was heaped in a +tumble of everything a woman ever wore. Seemed to me there was +more stuff there than all the rest of us had, put together. The +working dresses and aprons had been made on the machine, but +there were heaps and stacks of hand-made underclothes. I could +see the lovely chemise mother embroidered lying on top of a pile +of bedding, and over and over Sally had said that every stitch in +the wedding gown must be taken by hand. The Princess stood +beside the bed. A funny little tight hat like a man's and a +riding whip lay on a chair close by. I couldn't see what she +wore--her usual riding clothes probably--for she had a nip in +each shoulder of a dress she was holding to her chin and looking +down at. After all, I hadn't seen everything! Never before or +since have I seen a lovelier dress than that. It was what always +had been wrapped in the sheet on the foot of the bed and I hadn't +got a peep at it. The pale green silk with tiny pink moss roses +in it, that I had been thinking was the wedding dress, looked +about right to wash the dishes in, compared with this. + +This was a wedding dress. You didn't need any one to tell you. +The Princess had as much red as I ever had seen in her cheeks, +her eyes were bright, and she was half-laughing and half-crying. + +"Oh you lucky, lucky girl!" she was saying. "What a perfectly +beautiful bride you will be! Never have I seen a more wonderful +dress! Where did you get the material?" + +Now we had been trained always to wait for mother to answer a +visitor as she thought suitable, or at least to speak one at a +time and not interrupt; but about six of those grown people told +the Princess all at the same time how our oldest sister Elizabeth +was married to a merchant who had a store at Westchester and how +he got the dress in New York, and gave it to Sally for her +wedding present, or she never could have had it. + +The Princess lifted it and set it down softly. "Oh look!" she +cried. "Look! It will stand alone!" + +There it stood! Silk stiff enough to stand by itself, made into +a little round waist, cut with a round neck and sleeves elbow +length and flowing almost to where Sally's knees would come. It +was a pale pearl-gray silk crossed in bars four inches square, +made up of a dim yellow line almost as wide as a wheat straw, +with a thread of black on each side of it, and all over, very +wide apart, were little faint splashes of black as if they had +been lightly painted on. The skirt was so wide it almost filled +the room. Every inch of that dress was lined with soft, white +silk. There was exquisite lace made into a flat collar around +the neck, and ruffled from sight up the inside of the wide +sleeves. That was the beginning. The finish was something you +never saw anything like before. It was a trimming made of white +and yellow beads. There was a little heading of white beads +sewed into a pattern, then a lacy fringe that was pale yellow +beads, white inside, each an inch long, that dangled, and every +bead ended with three tiny white ones. That went around the +neck, the outside of the sleeves, and in a pattern like a big +letter V all the way around the skirt. And there it stood-- +alone! + +The Princess, graceful as a bird and glowing like fire, danced +around it, and touched it, and lifted the sleeves, and made the +bead fringe swing, and laughed, and talked every second. Sally, +and mother, and all of them had smiled such wide smiles for so +long, their faces looked almost as set as Sabethany's, but of +course far different. Being dead was one thing, getting ready +for a wedding another. + +And it looked too as if God might be a myth, for all they cared, +so long as the Princess could make the wedding dress stand alone, +and talk a blue streak of things that pleased them. It was not +put on either, for there stood the dress, shimmering like the +inside of a pearl-lined shell, white as a lily, and the tinkly +gold fringe. No one COULD have said enough about it, so no +matter what the Princess said, it had to be all right. She kept +straight on showing all of them how lovely it was, exactly as if +they hadn't seen it before, and she had to make them understand +about it, as if she felt afraid they might have missed some +elegant touch she had seen. + +"Do look how the lace falls when I raise this sleeve! Oh how +will you wear this and think of a man enough to say the right +words in the right place?" + +Mother laughed, and so did all of them. + +"Do please show me the rest," begged the Princess. "I know there +are slippers and a bonnet!" + +Sally just oozed pride. She untied the strings and pushed the +prettiest striped bag from a lovely pink bandbox and took out a +dear little gray bonnet with white ribbons, and the yellow bead +fringe, and a bunch of white roses with a few green leaves. +These she touched softly, "I'm not quite sure about the leaves," +she said. + +The Princess had the bonnet, turning and tilting it. + +"Perfect!" she cried. "Quite perfect! You need that touch of +colour, and it blends with everything. How I envy you! Oh why +doesn't some one ask me, so I can have things like these? I +think your brother is a genius. I'm going to ride to Westchester +tomorrow and give him an order to fill for me the next time he +goes to the city. No one shows me such fabrics when I go, and +Aunt Beatrice sends nothing from London I like nearly so well. +Oh! Oh!" + +She was on her knees now, lifting the skirt to set under little +white satin slippers with gold buckles, and white bead buttons. +When she had them arranged to suit her, she sat on the floor and +kept straight on saying the things my mother and sisters seemed +crazy to hear. When Sally showed her the long white silk mitts +that went with the bonnet, the Princess cried: "Oh do ride home +with me and let me give you a handkerchief Aunt Beatrice sent me, +to carry in your hand!" + +Then her face flushed and she added without giving Sally time to +say what she would do: "Or I can bring it the next time I come +past. It belongs with these things and I have no use for it. +May I?" + +"Please do! I'll use it for the thing I borrow." + +"But I mean it to be a gift," said the Princess. "It was made to +go with these lace mitts and satin slippers. You must take it!" + +"Thank you very much," said Sally. "If you really want me to +have it, of course I'd love to." + +"I'll bring it to-morrow," promised the Princess. "And I wish +you'd let me try a way I know to dress hair for a wedding. Yours +is so beautiful." + +"You're kind, I'm sure," said Sally. "I had intended to wear it +as I always do, so I would appear perfectly natural to the folks; +but if you know a more becoming way, I could begin it now, and +they would be familiar with it by that time." + +"I shan't touch it," said the Princess, studying Sally's face. +"Your idea is right. You don't want to commence any new, +unfamiliar style that would make you seem different, just at a +time when every one should see how lovely you are, as you always +have been. But don't forget to wear something blue, and +something borrowed for luck, and oh do please put on one of my +garters!" + +"Well for mercy sake!" cried my mother. "Why?" + +"So some one will propose to me before the year is out," laughed +the Princess. "I think it must be the most fun of all, to make +beautiful things for your very own home, and lovely dresses, and +be surrounded by friends all eager to help you, and to arrange a +house and live with a man you love well enough to marry, and fix +for little people who might come----" + +"You know perfectly there isn't a single man in the county who +wouldn't propose to you, if you'd let him come within a mile of +you," said Shelley. + +"When the right man comes I'll go half the mile to meet him? you +may be sure of that; won't I, Mrs. Stanton?" the Princess turned +to mother. + +"I have known girls who went even farther," said my mother rather +dryly. + +"I draw the line at half," laughed the Princess. "Now I must go; +I have been so long my people will be wondering what I'm doing." + +Standing in the middle of the room she put on her hat, picked up +her whip and gloves, and led the way to the hitching rack, while +all of us followed. At the gate stood Laddie as he had come from +the field. His old hat was on the back of his head, his face +flushed, his collar loosened so that his strong white neck +showed, and his sleeves were rolled to the elbow, as they had +been all summer, and his arms were burned almost to blisters. +When he heard us coming he opened the gate, went to the rack, +untied the Princess' horse and led it beside the mounting block. +As she came toward him, he took off his hat and pitched it over +the fence on the grass. + +"Miss Pryor, allow me to make you acquainted with my son," said +mother. + +I felt as if I would blow up. I couldn't keep my eyes from +turning toward the Princess. Gee! I could have saved my +feelings. She made mother the prettiest little courtsey I ever +set eyes on, and then turned and made a deeper one to Laddie. + +"I met your son in one of the village stores some time ago," she +said. "Back her one step farther, please!" + +Laddie backed the horse, and quicker than you could see how it +was done, she flashed up the steps and sat the saddle; but as she +leaned over the horse's neck to take the rein from Laddie, he got +one level look straight in the eyes that I was sure none of the +others saw, because they were not watching for it, and I was. +Laddie bowed from the waist, and put the reins in her fingers all +in one movement. He caught the glance she gave him too; I could +almost feel it like a band passing between them. Then she called +a laughing good-bye to all of us at once, and showed us how to +ride right, as she flashed toward the Little Hill. That was +riding, you may believe, and mother sighed as she watched her. + +"If I were a girl again," she said, "I would ride as well as +that, or I'd never mount a horse." + +"She's been trained from her cradle, and her father deals in +horses. Half the battle in riding is a thoroughbred," said +Laddie. "No such horse as that ever stepped these roads before." + +"And no such girl ever travelled them," said my mother, folding +her hands one over the other on top of a post of the hitching +rack. "I must say I don't know how this is coming out, and it +troubles me." + +"Why, what's up?" asked Laddie, covering her hands with his and +looking her in the eyes. + +"Just this," said my mother. "She's more beautiful of face and +form than God ought to allow any woman to be, in mercy to the men +who will be forced to meet her. Her speech is highly cultured. +Her manners are perfect, and that is a big and unusual thing in a +girl of her age. Every word she said, every move she made to- +day, was exactly as I would have been proud to hear, and to see a +daughter of mine speak and move. If I had only myself to +consider, I would make her my friend, because I'm seasoned in the +ways of the world, and she could influence me only as I chose to +allow her. With you youngsters it is different. You'll find her +captivating, and you may let her ways sway you without even +knowing it. All these outward things are not essential; they are +pleasing, I grant, but they have nothing to do with the one big, +elemental fact that a Godless life is not even half a life. I +never yet have known any man or woman who attempted it who did +not waste life's grandest opportunities, and then come crawling +and defeated to the foot of the cross in the end, asking God's +mercy where none was deserved or earned. It seems to me a craven +way. I know all about the forgiveness on the cross! I know God +is big enough and merciful enough to accept even death-bed +repentance, but what is that to compare with laying out your +course and running it a lifetime without swerving? I detest and +distrust this infidel business. I want no child of mine under +its influence, or in contact with it." + +"But when your time comes, if you said just those things to hers +and won her, what a triumph, little mother!" + +"`If!'" answered mother. "That's always the trouble! One can't +be sure! `If' I knew I could accomplish that, I would get on my +knees and wrestle with the Lord for the salvation of the soul of +a girl like that, not to mention her poor, housebound mother, and +that man with the unhappiest face I ever have seen, her father. +It's worth trying, but suppose I try and fail, and at the same +time find that in bringing her among us she has influenced some +of mine to the loss of their immortal souls then, what will I +have done?" + +"Mother," said Laddie; "mother, have you such a poor opinion of +the things you and father have taught us, and the lives you've +lived before us, that you're really afraid of a slip of a girl, +almost a stranger?" + +"The most attractive girl I ever have seen, and mighty willing to +be no longer a stranger, Lad." + +"Well, I can't promise for the others," said Laddie, "but for +myself I will give you my word of honour that I won't be +influenced the breadth of one hair by her, in a doctrinal way." + +"Humph!" said my mother. "And it is for you I fear. If a young +man is given the slightest encouragement by a girl like that, +even his God can't always hold him; and you never have made a +confession of faith, Laddie. It is you she will be most likely +to captivate." + +"If you think I have any chance, I'll go straight over and ask +her father for her this very evening," said Laddie, and even +mother laughed; then all of us started to the house, for it was +almost supper time. I got ready and thought I'd take one more +peep at the dress before Sally pinned it in the sheet again, and +when I went back, there all huddled in a bunch before it stood +Miss Amelia, the tears running down her cheeks. + +"Did Sally say you might come here?" I asked. + +"No," said Miss Amelia, "but I've been so crazy to see I just +slipped in to take a peep when I noticed the open door. I'll go +this minute. Please don't tell her." + +I didn't say what I would do, but I didn't intend to. + +"What are you crying about?" I inquired. + +"Ah, I too have known love," sobbed Miss Amelia. "Once I made a +wedding dress, and expected to be a happy bride." + +"Well, wasn't you?" I asked, and knew at once it was a silly +question, for of course she would not be a miss, if she had not +missed marrying. + +"He died!" sobbed Miss Amelia. + +If he could have seen her then, I believe he'd have been glad of +it; but maybe he looked as bony and dejected as she did before he +went; and he may have turned to stone afterward, as sometimes +happens. Right then I heard Sally coming, so I grabbed Miss +Amelia and dragged her under the fourposter, where I always hid +when caught doing something I shouldn't. But Sally had so much +stuff she couldn't keep all of it on the bed, and when she +stooped and lifted the ruffle to shove a box under, she pushed it +right against us, and knelt to look, and there we were. + +"Well upon my soul!" she cried, and sat flat on the floor, +holding the ruffle, peering in. "Miss Amelia! And in tears! +Whatever is the trouble?" + +Miss Amelia's face was redder than any crying ever made it, and I +saw she wanted to kill me for getting her into such a fix, and if +she became too angry probably she'd take it out on me in school +the next day, so I thought I'd better keep her at work shedding +tears. + +"`HE DIED!'" I told Sally as pathetically as ever I could. + +Sally dropped the ruffle instantly, but I saw her knees shake +against the floor. After a while she lifted the curtain and +offered Miss Amelia her hand. + +"I was leaving my dress to show you before putting it away," she +said. + +I didn't believe it; but that was what she said. Maybe it was an +impulse. Mother always said Sally was a creature of impulse. +When she took off her flannel petticoat and gave it to poor +little half-frozen Annie Hasty, that was a good impulse, but it +sent Sally to bed for a week. And when she threw a shovel of +coals on Bill Ramsdell's dog, because Bill was a shiftless lout, +and the dog was so starved it all the time came over and sucked +our eggs, that was a bad impulse, because it didn't do Bill a +particle of good, and it hurt the dog, which would have been glad +to suck eggs at home, no doubt, if Bill hadn't been too worthless +to keep hens. + +That was a good impulse she had then, for she asked Miss Amelia +to help her straighten the room, and of course that meant to fold +and put away wedding things. Any woman would have been wild to +do that. Then she told Miss Amelia that she was going to ask +father to dismiss school for half a day, and allow her to see the +wedding, and she asked her if she would help serve the breakfast. + +Miss Amelia wiped her eyes, and soon laughed and was just +beaming. I would have been willing to bet my three cents for +lead pencils the next time the huckster came, that Sally never +thought of wanting her until that minute; and then she arranged +for her to wait on table to keep her from trying to eat with the +wedding party, because Miss Amelia had no pretty clothes for one +thing, and for another, you shouldn't act as if you were hungry +out in company, and she ate every meal as if she were breaking a +forty days' fast. I wondered what her folks cooked at home. + +After supper Peter came, and the instant I saw him I thought of +something, and it was such a teasing thought I followed around +and watched him harder every minute . At last he noticed me, and +put his arms around me. + +"Well, what is it, Little Sister?" he asked. + +I did wish he would quit that. No one really had a right to call +me that, except Laddie. Maybe I had to put up with Peter doing +it when I was his sister by law, but before, the old name the +preacher baptized on me was good enough for Peter. I was +thinking about that so hard, I didn't answer, and he asked again. + +"I have seen Sally's wedding dress," I told him. + +"But that's no reason why you should stare at me." + +"That's just exactly the reason," I answered. "I was trying to +see what in the world there is about you to be worth a dress like +that." + +Peter laughed and laughed. At last he said that he was not +really worth even a calico dress; and he was so little worthy of +Sally that he would button her shoes, if she would let him. He +got that mixed. The buttons were on her slippers: her shoes +laced. But it showed a humble spirit in Peter. Not that I care +for humble spirits. I am sure the Crusaders didn't have them. I +don't believe Laddie would lace even the Princess' shoes, at +least not to make a steady business of it. But maybe Peter and +Sally had an agreement to help each other. She was always fixing +his tie, and straightening his hair. Maybe that was an impulse, +though, and mother said Sally would get over being so impulsive +when she cut her eye teeth. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +When Sally Married Peter + + +"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, + Be it ever so humble there's no place like home! + A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, + Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere." + +When they began arranging the house for the wedding, it could be +seen that they had been expecting it, and getting ready for a +long time. From all the closets, shelves and chests poured heaps +of new things. First, the walls were cleaned and some of them +freshly papered, then the windows were all washed long before +regular housecleaning time, the floors were scrubbed and new +carpet put down. Mother had some window blinds that Winfield had +brought her from New York in the spring, and she had laid them +away; no one knew why, then. We all knew now. When mother was +ready to put them up, father had a busy day and couldn't help +her, and she was really provoked. She almost cried about it, +when Leon rode in bringing the mail, and said Hannah Dover had +some exactly like ours at her windows, that her son had sent from +Illinois. Father felt badly enough then, for he always did +everything he could to help mother to be first with everything; +but so she wouldn't blame him, he said crosslike that if she had +let him put them up when they came, as he wanted to, she'd have +been six months ahead. + +When they finally got ready to hang the blinds no one knew how +they went. They were a beautiful shiny green, plain on one side, +and on the other there was a silver border across the bottom and +one pink rose as big as a pie plate. Mother had neglected to ask +Winfield on which side the rose belonged. Father said from the +way the roll ran, it went inside. Mother said they were rolled +that way to protect the roses, and that didn't prove anything. +Laddie said he would jump on a horse and ride round the section, +and see how Hannah Dover had hers, and exactly opposite would be +right. Everyone laughed, but no one thought he meant it. Mother +had father hold one against the window, and she stepped outside +to see if she could tell from there. When she came in she said +the flower looked mighty pretty, and she guessed that was the +way, so father started hanging them. He had only two up when +Laddie came racing down the Big Hill bareback, calling for him to +stop. + +"I tell you that's not right, mother!" he said as he hurried in. + +"But I went outside and father held one, and it looked real +pretty," said mother. + +"One! Yes!" said Laddie. "But have you stopped to consider how +two rows across the house are going to look? Nine big pink +roses, with the sun shining on them! Anything funnier than +Dovers' front I never saw. And look here!" + +Laddie picked up a blind. "See this plain back? It's double +coated like a glaze. That is so the sun shining through glass +won't fade it. The flowers would be gone in a week. They belong +inside, mother, sure as you live." + +"Then when the blinds are rolled to the middle sash in the +daytime no one can see them," wailed mother, who was wild about +pink roses. + +"But at night, when they are down, you can put the curtains back +enough to let the roses show, and think how pretty they will look +then." + +"Laddie is right!" said father, climbing on the barrel to take +down the ones he had fixed. + +"What do you think, girls?" asked mother. + +"I think the Princess is coming down the Little Hill," said +Shelley. "Hurry, father! Take them down before she sees! I'm +sure they're wrong." + +Father got one all right, but tore the corner of the other. +Mother scolded him dreadfully cross, and he was so flustered he +forgot about being on the barrel, so he stepped back the same as +on the floor, and fell crashing. He might have broken some of +his bones, if Laddie hadn't seen and caught him. + +"If you are SURE the flowers go inside, fix one before she +comes!" cried mother. + +Father stepped too close the edge of the chair, and by that time +he didn't know how to hang anything, so Laddie climbed up and had +one nailed before the Princess stopped. She came to bring Sally +the handkerchief, and it was the loveliest one any of us ever had +seen. There was a little patch in the middle about four inches +square, and around it a wide ruffle of dainty lace. It was made +to carry in a hand covered with white lace mitts, when you were +wearing a wedding gown of silver silk, lined with white. Of +course it wouldn't have been the slightest use for a funeral or +with a cold in your head. And it had come from across the sea! +From the minute she took it by a pinch in the middle, Sally +carried her head so much higher than she ever had before, that +you could notice the difference. + +Laddie went straight on nailing up the blinds, and every one he +fixed he let down full length so the Princess could see the roses +were inside; he was so sure he was right. After she had talked a +few minutes she noticed the blinds going up. Laddie, in a front +window, waved to her from the barrel. She laughed and answered +with her whip, and then she laughed again. + +"Do you know," she said, "there is the funniest thing at Dovers'. +I rode past on the way to Groveville this morning and they have +some blinds like those you are putting up." + +"Indeed?" inquired my mother. "Winfield sent us these from New +York in the spring, but I thought the hot summer sun would fade +them, so I saved them until the fall cleaning. The wedding +coming on makes us a little early but----" + +"Well, they may not be exactly the same," said the Princess. "I +only saw from the highway." She meant road; there were many +things she said differently. "Have yours big pink roses and +silver scrolls inside?" + +"Yes," said mother. + +The Princess bubbled until it made you think one of those yellow +oriole birds had perched on her saddle. "That poor woman has +gone and put hers up wrong side out. The effect of all those big +pink roses on her white house front is most amusing. It looks as +if the house were covered with a particularly gaudy piece of +comfort calico. Only fancy!" + +She laughed again and rode away. Mother came in just gasping. + +"Well, for all His mercies, large and small, the Lord be +praised!" she cried piously, as she dropped into the big rocking +chair. "THAT is what I consider escaping by the skin of your +teeth!" + +Then father and Laddie laughed, and said they thought so too. +When the blinds were up, the outside looked well, and you should +have seen the inside! The woodwork was enamelled white, and the +wall paper was striped in white and silver. Every so far on the +silver there was a little pink moss rose having green leaves. +The carpet was plum red and green in wide stripes, and the lace +curtains were freshly washed, snowy, and touched the floor. The +big rocker, the straight-backed chairs, and the sofa were +beautiful red mahogany wood, and the seats shining haircloth. If +no one happened to be looking, you could sit on a sofa arm, stick +your feet out and shoot off like riding down a haystack; the +landing was much better. On the sofa you bounced two feet high +the first time; one, the second; and a little way the third. On +the haystack, maybe you hit a soft spot, and maybe you struck a +rock. Sometimes if you got smart, and tried a new place, and +your feet caught in a tangle of weeds and stuck, you came up +straight, pitched over, and landed on your head. THEN if you +struck a rock, you were still, quite a while. I was once. But +you never dared let mother see you--on the sofa, I mean; she +didn't care about the haystack. + +There were pictures in oval black frames having fancy edges, and +a whatnot where all our Christmas and birthday gifts, almost too +dainty to handle, were kept. You fairly held your breath when +you looked at the nest of spun green glass, with the white dove +in it, that George Washington Mitchell gave to Shelley. Of +course a dove's nest was never deep, and round, and green, and +the bird didn't have red eyes and a black bill. I thought +whoever could blow glass as beautifully as that, might just as +easy have made it right while he was at it; but anyway, it was +pretty. There were pitchers, mugs, and vases, almost too +delicate to touch, and the cloth-covered box with braids of hair +coiled in wreaths from the heads of the little fever and whooping +cough sisters. + +Laddie asked Sally if she and Peter were going to have the +ceremony performed while they sat on the sofa. Seemed the right +place. They had done all their courting there, even on hot +summer days; but I supposed that was because Sally didn't want to +be seen fixing Peter's tie until she was ready. She made no +bones about it then. She fixed it whenever she pleased; likewise +he held her hand. Shelley said that was disgusting, and you +wouldn't catch her. Leon said he bet a dollar he would; and I +said if he knew he'd get beaten as I did, I bet two dollars he +wouldn't tell what he saw. The mantel was white, with vases of +the lovely grasses that grew beside the stream at the foot of the +Big Hill. Mother gathered the fanciest every fall, dried them, +and dipped them in melted alum coloured with copperas, aniline, +and indigo. Then she took bunches of the colours that went +together best and made bouquets for the big vases. They were +pretty in the daytime, but at night you could watch them sparkle +and shimmer forever. + +I always thought the sitting-room was nicer than the parlour. +The woodwork was white enamel there too, but the bureau and +chairs were just cherry and not too precious to use. They were +every bit as pretty. The mantel was much larger. I could stand +up in the fireplace, and it took two men to put on an everyday +log, four the Christmas one. On each side were the book shelves +above, and the linen closets below. The mantel set between +these, and mother always used the biggest, most gorgeous bouquets +there, because she had so much room. The hearth was a slab of +stone that came far into the room. We could sit on it and crack +nuts, roast apples, chestnuts, and warm our cider, then sweep all +the muss we made into the fire. The wall paper was white and +pale pink in stripes, and on the pink were little handled baskets +filled with tiny flowers of different colours. We sewed the rags +for the carpet ourselves, and it was the prettiest thing. One +stripe was wide, all gray, brown, and dull colours, and the other +was pink. There were green blinds and lace curtains here also, +and nice braided rugs that all of us worked on of winter +evenings. Everything got spicker and spanner each day. + +Mother said there was no use in putting down a carpet in a +dining-room where you constantly fed a host, and the boys didn't +clean their feet as carefully as they should in winter; but there +were useful rags where they belonged, and in our bedroom opening +from it also. The dining-room wall paper had a broad stripe of +rich cream with pink cabbage roses scattered over it and a narrow +pink stripe, while the woodwork was something perfectly +marvellous. I didn't know what kind of wood it was, but a man +who could turn his hand to anything, painted it. First, he put +on a pale yellow coat and let it dry. Then he added wood brown, +and while it was wet, with a coarse toothed comb, a rag, and his +fingers, he imitated the grain, the even wood, and knotholes of +dressed lumber, until many a time I found myself staring steadily +at a knot to see if a worm wouldn't really come working out. You +have to see a thing like that to understand how wonderful it is. +You couldn't see why they washed the bedding, and took the +feathers from the pillows and steamed them in mosquito netting +bags and dried them in the shade, when Sally's was to be a +morning wedding, but they did. I even had to take a bucket and +gather from around the walls all the little heaps of rocks and +shells that Uncle Abraham had sent mother from California, take +them out and wash and wipe them, and stack them back, with the +fanciest ones on top. He sent her a ring made of gold he dug +himself. She always kept the ring in a bottle in her bureau, and +she meant to wear it at the wedding, with her new silk dress. I +had a new dress too. I don't know how they got everything done. +All of them worked, until the last few days they were perfect +cross patches. + +When they couldn't find another thing indoors to scour, they +began on the yard, orchard, barn and road. Mother even had Leon +stack the wood pile straighter. She said when corded wood leaned +at an angle, it made people seem shiftless; and she never passed +a place where it looked that way that her fingers didn't just +itch to get at it. He had to pull every ragweed on each side of +the road as far as our land reached, and lay every rail straight +in the fences. Father had to take spikes and our biggest maul +and go to the bridges at the foot of the Big and the Little Hill, +and see that every plank was fast, so none of them would rattle +when important guests drove across. She said she just simply +wouldn't have them in such a condition that Judge Pettis couldn't +hear himself think when he crossed; for you could tell from his +looks that it was very important that none of the things he +thought should be lost. There wasn't a single spot about the +place inside or out that wasn't gone over; and to lots of it you +never would have known anything had been done if you hadn't seen, +because the place was always in proper shape anyway; but father +said mother acted just like that, even when her sons were married +at other people's houses; and if she kept on getting worse, every +girl she married off, by the time she reached me, we'd all be +scoured threadbare and she'd be on the verge of the grave. May +and I weeded the flowerbeds, picked all the ripe seed, and pulled +up and burned all the stalks that were done blooming. Father and +Laddie went over the garden carefully; they scraped the walks and +even shook the palings to see if one were going to come loose +right at the last minute, when every one would be so flustrated +there would be no time to fix it. + +Then they began to talk about arrangements for the ceremony, +whether we should have our regular minister, or Presiding Elder +Lemon, and what people they were going to invite. Just when we +had planned to ask every one, have the wedding in the church, and +the breakfast at the house, and all drive in a joyous procession +to Groveville to give them a good send-off in walked Sally. She +had been visiting Peter's people, and we planned a lot while she +was away. + +"What's going on here?" she asked, standing in the doorway, +dangling her bonnet by the ties. + +She never looked prettier. Her hair had blown out in little +curls around her face from riding, her cheeks were so pink, and +her eyes so bright. + +"We were talking about having the ceremony in the church, so +every one can be comfortably seated, and see and hear well," +answered mother. + +Sally straightened up and began jerking the roses on her bonnet +far too roughly for artificial flowers. Perhaps I surprised you +with that artificial word, but I can spell and define it; it's +easy divided into syllables. Goodness knows, I have seen enough +flowers made from the hair of the dead, wax, and paper, where you +get the shape, but the colour never is right. These of Sally's +were much too bright, but they were better than the ones made at +our house. Hers were of cloth and bought at a store. You +couldn't tell why, but Sally jerked her roses; I wished she +wouldn't, because I very well knew they would be used to trim my +hat the next summer, and she said: "Well, people don't have to +be comfortable during a wedding ceremony; they can stand up if I +can, and as for seeing and hearing, I'm asking a good many that I +don't intend to have see or hear either one!" + +"My soul!" cried mother, and she dropped her hands and her mouth +fell open, like she always told us we never should let ours, +while she stared at Sally. + +"I don't care!" said Sally, straightening taller yet; her eyes +began to shine and her lips to quiver, as if she would cry in a +minute; "I don't care----!" + +"Which means, my child, that you DO care, very much," said +father. "Suppose you cease such reckless talk, and explain to us +exactly what it is that you do want." + +Sally gave her bonnet an awful jerk. Those roses would look like +sin before my turn to wear them came, and she said: "Well then, +I do care! I care with all my might! The church is all right, +of course; but I want to be married in my very own home! Every +one can think whatever they please about their home, and so can +I, and what I think is, that this is the nicest and the prettiest +place in all the world, and I belong here----" + + +Father lifted his head, his face began to shine, and his eyes to +grow teary; while mother started toward Sally. She put out her +hand and held mother from her at arm's length, and she turned and +looked behind her through the sitting-room and parlour, and then +at us, and she talked so fast you never could have understood +what she said if you hadn't known all of it anyway, and thought +exactly the same thing yourself. + +"I have just loved this house ever since it was built," she said, +"and I've had as good times here as any girl ever had. If any +one thinks I'm so very anxious to leave it, and you, and mother, +and all the others, why it's a big mistake. Seems as if a girl +is expected to marry and go to a home of her own; it's drummed +into her and things fixed for her from the day of her birth; and +of course I do like Peter, but no home in the world, not even the +one he provides for me, will ever be any dearer to me than my own +home; and as I've always lived in it, I want to be married in it, +and I want to stay here until the very last second----" + +"You shall, my child, you shall!" sobbed mother. + +"And as for having a crowd of men that father is planning to ask, +staring at me, because he changes harvest help and wood chopping +with them, or being criticised and clawed over by some women +simply because they'll be angry if they don't get the chance, I +just won't--so there! Not if I have to stand the minister +against the wall, and turn our backs to every one. I think----" + +"That will do!" said father, wiping his eyes. "That will do, +Sally! Your mother and I have got a pretty clear understanding +of how you feel, now. Don't excite yourself! Your wedding +shan't be used to pay off our scores. You may ask exactly whom +you please, want, and feel quite comfortable to have around +you----" + +Then Sally fell on mother's neck and every one cried a while; +then we wiped up, Leon gave Sally his slate, and she came and sat +beside the table and began to make out a list of those she really +wanted to invite. First she put down all of our family, even +many away in Ohio, and all of Peter's, and then his friends, and +hers. Once in the list of girls she stopped and said: "If I +take that beautiful imported handkerchief from Pamela Pryor, I +have just got to invite her " + +"And she will outdress and outshine you at your own wedding," put +in Shelley. + +"Let her, if she can!" said Sally calmly. "She'll have to hump +herself if she beats that dress of mine; and as for looks, I know +lots of people who think gray eyes, pink cheeks, and brown curls +far daintier and prettier than red cheeks and black eyes and +curls. If she really is better looking than I am, it isn't her +fault; God made her that way, and He wouldn't like us to punish +her for it; and it would, because any one can see she wants to be +friends; don't you think, mother?"--mother nodded--"and besides, +I think she's better looking than I am, myself!" + +Sally said that, and wrote down the Princess' name in big +letters, and no one cheeped. + +Then she began on our neighbourhood, thinking out loud and +writing what she thought. So all of us were as still, and held +our breath in softly and waited, and Sally said slow and musing +like, "Of course we couldn't have anything at THIS house without +Sarah Hood. She dressed most of us when we were born, nursed us +when we were sick, helped with threshing, company, and parties, +and she's just splendid anyway; we better ask all the Hoods"; so +she wrote them down. "And it will be lonely for Widow Willis and +the girls to see every one else here--we must have them; and of +course Deams--Amanda is always such splendid help; and the Widow +Fall is so perfectly lovely, we want her for decorative purposes; +and we could scarcely leave out Shaws; they always have all of us +everything they do; and Dr. Fenner of course; and we'll want Flo +and Agnes Kuntz to wait on table, so their folks might as well +come too----" + +So she went on taking up each family we knew, and telling what +they had done for us, or what we had done for them; and she found +some good reason for inviting them, and pretty soon father +settled back in his chair and never took his eyes from Sally's +shining head as she bent over the slate, and then he began +pulling his lower lip, like when it won't behave, and his eyes +danced exactly as I've seen Leon's. I never had noticed that +before. + +Sally went straight on and at last she came to Freshetts. "I am +going to have all of them, too," she said. "The children are +good children, and it will help them along to see how things are +done when they are right; and I don't care what any one says, I +LIKE Mrs. Freshett. I'll ask her to help work, and that will +keep her from talking, and give the other women a chance to see +that she's clean, and human, and would be a good neighbour if +they'd be friendly. If we ask her, then the others will." + +When she finished--as you live--there wasn't a soul she had left +out except Bill Ramsdell, who starved his dog until it sucked our +eggs, and Isaac Thomas, who was so lazy he wouldn't work enough +to keep his wife and children dressed so they ever could go +anywhere, but he always went, even with rags flying, and got his +stomach full just by talking about how he loved the Lord. To +save me I couldn't see Isaac Thomas without beginning to myself: + + "'Tis the voice of the sluggard; I hear him complain, + You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again. + I passed by his garden, I saw the wild brier, + The thorn, and the thistle, grow broader and higher; + The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags; + And his money he wastes, till he starves or he begs." + + +That described Isaac to the last tatter, only he couldn't waste +money; he never had any. Once I asked father what he thought +Isaac would do with it, if by some unforeseen working of Divine +Providence, he got ten dollars. Father said he could tell me +exactly, because Isaac once sold some timber and had a hundred +all at once. He went straight to town and bought Mandy a red +silk dress and a brass breastpin, when she had no shoes. He got +the children an organ, when they were hungry; and himself a plug +hat. Mandy and the children cried because he forgot candy and +oranges until the last cent was gone. Father said the only time +Isaac ever worked since he knew him was when he saw how the hat +looked with his rags. He actually helped the men fell the trees +until he got enough to buy a suit, the remains of which he still +wore on Sunday. I asked father why he didn't wear the hat too, +and father said the loss of that hat was a blow, from which Isaac +never had recovered. Once at camp-meeting he laid it aside to +pray his longest, most impressive prayer, and an affectionate cow +strayed up and licked the nap all off before Isaac finished, so +he never could wear it again. + +Sally said: "I'll be switched if I'll have that disgusting +creature around stuffing himself on my wedding day; but if you're +not in bed, when it's all over, mother, I do wish you'd send +Mandy and the children a basket." + +Mother promised, and father sat and looked on and pulled his +lower lip until his ears almost wiggled. Then Sally said she +wanted Laddie and Shelley to stand at the parlour door and keep +it tight shut, and seat every one in the sitting-room except a +special list she had made out to send in there. She wanted all +our family and Peter's, and only a few very close friends, but it +was enough to fill the room. She said when she and Peter came +downstairs every one could see how they looked when they crossed +the sitting-room, and for all the difference the door would make, +it could be left open then; she would be walled in by people she +wanted around her, and the others could have the fun of being +there, seeing what they could, and getting all they wanted to +eat. Father and mother said that was all right, only to say +nothing about the plan to shut the door; but when the time came +just to close it and everything would be satisfactory. + +Then Sally took the slate upstairs to copy the list with ink, so +every one went about something, while mother crossed to father +and he took her on his lap, and they looked at each other the +longest and the hardest, and neither of them said a word. After +a while they cried and laughed, and cried some more, and it was +about as sensible as what a flock of geese say when they are let +out of the barn and start for the meadow in the morning. Then +father, all laughy and criey, said: "Thank God! Oh, thank God, +the girl loves the home we have made for her!" + +Just said it over and over, and mother kept putting in: "It +pays, Paul! It pays!" + +Next day Sally put on her riding habit and fixed herself as +pretty as ever she could, and went around to have a last little +visit with every one, and invited them herself, and then she +wrote letters to people away. Elizabeth and Lucy came home, and +every one began to work. Father and mother went to the village +in the carriage and brought home the bed full of things to eat, +and all we had was added, and mother began to pack butter, and +save eggs for cakes, and the day before, I thought there wouldn't +be a chicken left on the place. They killed and killed, and +Sarah Hood, Amanda Deam, and Mrs. Freshett picked and picked. + +"I'll bet a dollar we get something this time besides ribs and +neck," said Leon. "How do you suppose thigh and breast would +taste?" + +"I was always crazy to try the tail," I said. + +"Much chance you got," sniggered Leon. "'Member the time that +father asked the Presiding Elder, `Brother Lemon, what piece of +the fowl do you prefer?' and he up and said: `I'm partial to the +rump, Brother Stanton.' There sat father bound he wouldn't give +him mother's piece, so he pretended he couldn't find it, and +forked all over the platter and then gave him the ribs and the +thigh. Gee, how mother scolded him after the preacher had gone! +You notice father hasn't asked that since. Now, he always says: +`Do you prefer light or dark meat?' Much chance you have of ever +tasting a tail, if father won't even give one to the Presiding +Elder!" + +"But as many as they are killing----" + +"Oh THIS time," said Leon with a flourish, "this time we are +going to have livers, and breast, and thighs, AND tails, if you +are beholden to tail." + +"I'd like to know how we are?" + +"Well, since you have proved that you can keep your mouth shut, +for a little while, anyway, I'm going to take you in on this," +said Leon. "You keep your eyes on me. When the wedding gets +going good, you watch me, and slip out. That's all! I'll be +fixed to do the rest. But mind this, get out when I do." + +"All right," I promised. + +They must have wakened about four o'clock on the wedding day; it +wasn't really light when I got up. I had some breakfast in my +night dress, and then I was all fixed up in my new clothes, and +made to sit on a chair, and never move for fear I would soil my +dress, for no one had time to do me over, and there was only one +dress anyway. There was so much to see you could keep interested +just watching, and I was as anxious to look nice before the boys +and girls, and the big people, as any one. + +Every mantel and table and bureau was covered with flowers, and +you could have smelled the kitchen a mile away, I know. The +dining table was set for the wedding party, our father and +mother, and Peter's, and the others had to wait. You couldn't +have laid the flat of your hand on that table anywhere, it was so +covered with things to eat. Miss Amelia, in a dress none of us +ever had seen before, a real nice white dress, pranced around it +and smirked at every one, and waved the peacock feather brush to +keep the flies from the jelly, preserves, jam, butter, and things +that were not cooked. + +For hours Mrs. Freshett had stood in the kitchen on one side of +the stove frying chicken and heaping it in baking pans in the +oven, and Amanda Deam on the other, frying ham, while Sarah Hood +cooked other things, and made a wash boiler of coffee. +Everything was ready by the time it should have been. I had +watched them until I was tired, when Sally came through the room +where I was, and she said I might come along upstairs and see her +dressed. When we reached the door I wondered where she would put +me, but she pushed clothing together on a bed, and helped me up, +and that was great fun. + +She had been bathed and had on her beautiful new linen +underclothing that mother punched full of holes and embroidered +in flowers and vines, and Shelley was brushing her hair when some +one called out: "The Princess is coming!" + +I jumped for the window, and all of them, even Sally, crowded +behind. Well, talk about carriages! No one ever had seen THAT +one before. It WAS a carriage. And such horses! The funny +"'orse, 'ouse" man who made the Pryor garden was driving. He +stopped at the gate, got out and opened a door, and the Princess' +father stepped down, tall and straight, all in shiny black. He +turned around and held out his hand, bowing double, and the +Princess laid her hand in his and stepped out too. He walked +with her to the gate, made another bow, kissed her hand, and +stepped back, and she came down the walk alone. He got in the +carriage, the man closed the door, and they drove away. + +Sally must have arranged before that the Princess was to come +early, for she came straight upstairs. She wore a soft white +silk dress with big faded pink roses in it, and her hair was +fastened at each ear with a bunch of little pink roses. She was +lovely, but she didn't "outdress or outshine" Sally one bit, and +she never even glanced at the mirror to see how she looked; she +began helping with Sally's hair, and to dress her. When Bess +Kuntz prinked so long she made every one disgusted, the Princess +said: "Oh save your trouble. No one will look at you when +there's a bride in the house." + +There was a roll almost as thick as your arm of garters that all +the other girls wanted Sally to wear for them so they would get a +chance to marry that year, and Agnes Kuntz's was so large it went +twice around, and they just laughed about it. They put a blue +ribbon on Sally's stays for luck, and she borrowed Peter's sister +Mary's comb to hold her back hair. They had the most fun, and +when she was all ready except her dress they went away, and Sally +stood in the middle of the room trembling a little. Outside you +could hear carriage wheels rolling, the beat of horses' hoofs, +and voices crying greetings. "There was a sound of revelry," by +day. Mother came in hurriedly. She wore her new brown silk, +with a lace collar pinned at the throat with the pin that had a +brown goldstone setting in it, and her precious ring was on her +finger. She was dainty and pretty enough to have been a bride +herself. She turned Sally around slowly, touching her hair a +little and her skirts; then she went to the closet, took out the +wedding dress, put the skirt over Sally's head, and she came up +through the whiteness, pink and glowing. She slipped her arms +into the sleeves, and mother fastened it, shook out the skirt, +saw that the bead fringe hung right, and the lace collar lay +flat, then she took Sally in her arms, held her tight and said: +"God bless you, dear, and keep you always. Amen." + +Then she stepped to the door, and Peter, all shining and new, +came in. He hugged Sally and kissed her like it didn't make the +least difference whether she had on calico or a wedding dress, +and he just stared, and stared at her, and never said a word, so +at last she asked: "Well Peter, do you like my dress?" + +And the idiot said: "Why Sally, I hadn't even seen it!" + +Then both of them laughed, and the Presiding Elder came. + +I never liked to look at him very well because something had +happened, and he had only one eye. I always wondered if he had +"plucked it out" because it had "offended" him; but if you could +forget his eye, and just listen to his voice, it was like the +sweetest music. He married those two people right there in the +bedroom, all but about three words at the end. I heard and saw +every bit of it. Then Sally said it was time for me to go to +mother, but she followed me into the boys' room and shut the +door. Then she knelt in her beautiful silver dress, and put her +arms around me and said: "Honest, Little Sister, aren't you +going to kiss me goodbye?" + +"Oh I can if you want me to," I said, but I didn't look at her; I +looked out of the window. + +She laughed a breathless little catchy sort of laugh and said: +"That's exactly what I do want." + +"You didn't even want me, to begin with," I reminded her. + +"There isn't a doubt but whoever told you that, could have been +in better business," said Sally, angry-like. "I was much younger +then, and there were many things I didn't understand, and it +wasn't you I didn't want; it was just no baby at all. I wouldn't +have wanted a boy, or any other girl a bit more. I foolishly +thought we had children enough in this house. I see now very +plainly that we didn't, for this family never could get along +without you, and I'm sorry I ever thought so, and I'd give +anything if I hadn't struck you and----" + +"Oh be still, and go on and get married!" I said. I could just +feel a regular beller coming in my throat. "I was only fooling +to pay you up. I meant all the time to kiss you good-bye when +the others did. I'll nearly die being lonesome when you're +gone----" + +Then I ran for downstairs, and when I reached the door, where the +steps went into the sitting-room, I stopped, scared at all the +people. It was like camp-meeting. You could see the yard full +through the windows. Just as I was thinking I'd go back to the +boys' room, and from there into the garret, and down the back +stairway, Laddie went and saw me. He came over, led me to the +parlour door, put me inside, and there mother took my hand and +held me tight, and I couldn't see Leon anywhere. + +I was caught, but they didn't have him. Mother never hung on as +she did that day. I tried and tried to pull away, and she held +tight. It was only a minute until the door opened, people +crowded back, and the Presiding Elder, followed by Sally and +Peter, came into the room, and they began being married all over +again. + +If it hadn't grown so solemn my mother sprung a tear, I never +would have made it. She just had to let me go to sop her face, +because tears are salty, and they would turn her new brown silk +front yellow. The minute my hand was free, I slipped between the +people and looked at the parlour door. It was wedged full and +more standing on chairs behind them. No one could get out there. + +I thought I would fail Leon sure, and then I remembered the +parlour bedroom. I got through that door easy as anything, and +it was no trick at all to slip behind the blind, raise the +window, and drop into mother's room from the sill. From there I +reached the back dining-room door easy enough, went around to the +kitchen, and called Leon softly. He opened the door at once and +I slipped in. He had just got there. We looked all around and +couldn't see where to begin at first. There was enough cooked +food there to load two wagons. + +An old pillow-case that had dried sage in it was lying across a +chair and Leon picked it up and poured the sage into the wood- +box, and handed the case to me. He went over and knelt before +the oven, while I followed and held open the case. Leon rolled +his eyes to the ceiling and said so exactly like father when he +is serving company that not one of us could have told the +difference: "Which part of the fowl do you prefer, Brother +Lemon?" + +It was so funny it made me snigger, but I straightened up and +answered as well as I could: "I'm especially fond of the rump, +Brother Stanton." + +Leon stirred the heap and piled four or five tails in the case. +I thought that was all I could manage before they would spoil, so +I said: "Do you prefer light or dark meat, Sister Abigail?" + +"I wish to choose breast," said Leon, simpering just like that +silly Abigail Webster. He put in six breasts. Then we found +them hidden away back in the oven in a pie pan, for the bride's +table, I bet, and we took two livers apiece; we didn't dare take +more for fear they had been counted. Then he threw in whatever +he came to that was a first choice big piece, until I was really +scared, and begged him to stop; but he repeated what the fox said +in the story of the "Quarrelsome Cocks"--"Poco was very good, but +I have not had enough yet," so he piled in pieces until I ran +away with the pillow-case; then he slid in a whole plateful of +bread, another of cake, and put the plates in a tub of dishes +under the table. Then we took some of everything that wasn't too +runny. Just then the silence broke in the front part of the +house, and we scooted from the back door, closing it behind us, +ran to the wood house and climbed the ladder to the loft over the +front part. There we were safe as could be, we could see to the +road, hear almost everything said in the kitchen, and "eat our +bites in peace," like Peter Justice told the Presiding Elder at +the church trial that he wanted his wife to, the time he slapped +her. Before very long, they began calling us, and called, and +called. We hadn't an idea what they wanted, so we ate away. We +heard them first while I was holding over a back to let Leon +taste kidney, and it made him blink when he got it good. + +"Well my soul!" he said. "No wonder father didn't want to feed +that to another man when mother isn't very well, and likes it! +No wonder!" + +Then he gave me a big bite of breast. It was sort of dry and +tasteless; I didn't like it. + +"Why, I think neck or back beats that all to pieces!" I said in +surprise. + +"Fact is, they do!" said Leon. "I guess the people who `wish to +choose breast,' do it to get the biggest piece." + +I never had thought of it before, but of course that would be the +reason. + +"Allow me, Sister Stanton," said Leon, holding out a piece of +thigh. + +That was really chicken! Then we went over the backs and picked +out all the kidneys, and ate the little crusty places, and all +the cake we could swallow; then Leon fixed up the bag the best he +could, and set it inside an old cracked churn and put on the lid. + +He said that would do almost as well as the cellar, and the food +would keep until to-morrow. I wanted to slip down and put it in +the Underground Station; but Leon said father must be spending a +lot of money right now, and he might go there to get some, so +that wouldn't be safe. Then he cleaned my face, and I told him +when he got his right, and we slipped from the back door, crossed +the Lawton blackberry patch, and went to the house from the +orchard. Leon took an apple and broke it in two, and we went in +eating as if we were starving. When father asked us where in +this world we had been, Leon told him we thought it would be so +awful long before the fourth or fifth table, and we hadn't had +much breakfast, and we were so hungry we went and hunted +something to eat. + +"If you'd only held your horses a minute," said father; "they +were calling you to take places at the bride's table." + +Well for land's sake! Our mouths dropped open until it's a +wonder the cake and chicken didn't show, and we never said a +word. There didn't seem to be anything to say, for Leon loved to +be with grown folks, and to have eaten at the bride's table would +have been the biggest thing that ever happened to me. At last, +when I could speak, I asked who had taken our places, and bless +your heart if it wasn't that mealy-faced little sister of +Peter's, and one of the aunts from Ohio. They had finished, and +Sally was upstairs putting on her travelling dress, while the +guests were eating, when I heard Laddie ask the Princess to ride +with him and Sally's other friends, who were going to escort her +to the depot. + +"You'll want all your horses. What could I ride?" + +"If I find you a good horse and saddle will you go?" + +"I will. I think it would be fine sport." + +Laddie turned and went from sight that minute. The Princess +laughed and kept on making friends with every one, helping wait +on people, thinking of nice things to do, and just as the +carriage was at the gate for father and mother, and Sally and +Peter, and every one else was untying their horses to ride in the +procession to the village, from where I was standing on the +mounting block I saw something coming down the Little Hill. I +took one look, ran to the Princess, and almost dragged her. + +Up raced Laddie, his face bright, his eyes snapping with fun. He +rode Flos, was leading the Princess' horse Maud, and carrying a +big bundle under his arm. He leaped from the saddle and fastened +both horses. + +"Gracious Heaven! What have you done?" gasped the Princess. + +"Brought your mount," said Laddie, quite as if he were used to +going to Pryors' after the sausage grinder or the grain sacks. +But the Princess was pale and trembling. She stepped so close +she touched him, and he immediately got a little closer. You +couldn't get ahead of Laddie, and he didn't seem to care who saw, +and neither did she. + +"Tell me exactly what occurred," she said, just as father does +when he means to whale us completely. + +"I rapped at the front door," said Laddie. + +"And who opened it?" cried the Princess. + +"Your father!" + +"My father?" + +"Yes, your father!" said Laddie. "And because I was in such a +hurry, I didn't wait for him to speak. I said: `Good morning, +Mr. Pryor. I'm one of the Stanton boys, and I came for Miss +Pryor's mount and habit. All the young people who are on +horseback are going to ride an escort to the village, around my +sister's bridal carriage, and Miss Pryor thinks she would enjoy +going. Please excuse such haste, but we only this minute made +the plan, and the train won't wait.'" + +"And he?" + +"He said: `Surely! Hold one minute.' I stood on the step and +waited, and I could hear him give the order to some one to get +your riding habit quickly, and then he blew a shrill whistle, and +your horse was at the gate the fastest of anything I ever saw." + +"Did he do or say----" + +"Nothing about `clods, and clowns, and grossness!' Every other +word he spoke was when I said, `Thank you, and good morning,' and +was turning away. He asked: `Did Miss Pryor say whether she +preferred to ride home, or shall I escort her in the carriage?'" + +"`She did not,' I answered. `The plan was so sudden she had no +time to think that far. But since she will have her horse and +habit, why not allow my father to escort her?' So you see, I'm +going to take you home," exulted Laddie. + +"But you told him your FATHER," said the Princess. + +"And thereby created the urgent necessity," said Laddie with a +flourish, "for speaking to him again, and telling him that my +father had visitors from Ohio, and couldn't leave them. We will +get all the fun from the day that we can; but before dusk, too +early for them to have any cause for cavil, `the gross country +clod' is going to take you home!" + +One at a time, Laddie pounded those last words into the hitching +post, with his doubled fist. + +"Suppose he sets the dogs on you! You know he keeps two dreadful +ones." + +Laddie just roared. He leaned closer. + +"Beaucheous Lady," he said, "I have fed those same dogs and +rubbed their ears so many nights lately, he'll get the surprise +of his life if he tries that." + +The Princess drew away and stared at Laddie the funniest. + +"On my life!" she said at last. "Well for a country clod----!" + +Then she turned with the habit bundle, and ran into the house. +Father and mother came from the front door arm in arm and walked +to the carriage, and Sally and Peter followed. My, but they +looked fine! The Princess had gone to the garden and gathered +flowers and lined all the children in rows down each side of the +walk. They were loaded with blooms to throw at Sally; but when +she came out, in her beautiful gray poplin travelling dress, +trimmed in brown ribbon, the same shade as her curls, her face +all pink, her eyes shining, and the ties of her little brown +bonnet waving to her waist, she was so perfectly beautiful, every +single child watched her open mouthed, gripped its flowers, and +forgot to throw them at all. + +And this you scarcely will believe after what she had said the +day she made her list, and when all of us knew her heart was all +torn up, Sally just swept along smiling at every one and calling +"good-bye" to those who had no way to ride to the village, as if +leaving didn't amount to much. At the carriage, a little white, +but still smiling, she turned and took one long look at +everything, and then she got in and called for me, right out loud +before every one, so I got to hold up my head as high as it would +go, and step in too, and ride all the way to Groveville between +her and Peter, and instead of holding his hand, she held mine, +just gripped it tight. She gripped so hard she squeezed all the +soreness at her from my heart, and when she kissed me good-bye +the very last of all, I whispered in her ear that I wouldn't ever +be angry any more, and I wasn't, because after she had explained +I saw how it had been. It wasn't ME she didn't want; it was just +no baby. + +After our carriage came Peter's people, then one father borrowed +for the Ohio relatives, then the other children, and all the +neighbours followed, and when we reached the high hill where you +turn beside the woods, I saw father gather up the lines and brace +himself, for Ned and Jo were what he called "mettlesome." "Then +came a burst of thunder sound," as it says in "Casablanca," and +the horseback riders came sweeping around us, Laddie and the +Princess leading. These two rode ahead of us, and the others +lined three deep on either side, and the next carriage dropped +back and let them close in behind, so Sally and Peter were "in +the midst thereof." Instead of throwing old shoes, as always had +been done, the Princess coaxed them to throw rice and roses, and +every other flower pulled from the bouquets at home, and from the +gardens we had passed. Every one was out watching us go by, and +when William Justus rode beside the fences crying, "Flowers for +the bride! Give us flowers for the bride!" some of the women +were so excited they pulled things up by the roots and gave him +armloads, and he rode ahead and supplied Laddie and the Princess, +and they kept scattering them in the road until every foot of the +way to Groveville was covered with flowers, "the fair young +flowers that lately sprang and stood." He even made side-cuts +into swampy places and gathered armloads of those perfectly +lovely, fringy blue gentians, caught up, and filled the carriage +and scattered them in a wicked way, because you should only take +a few of those rare, late flowers that only grow from seed. + +Sally looked just as if she had come into her own and was made +for it; I never did see her look so pretty, but Peter sweated and +acted awful silly. Father had a time with the team. Ned and Jo +became excited and just ranted. They simply danced. Laddie had +braided their manes and tails, and they waved like silken floss +in the sunshine, and the carriage was freshly washed and the +patent leather and brass shone, and we rode flower-covered. +Ahead, Laddie and the Princess fairly tried themselves. She +hadn't put on her hat or habit after all. When Laddie told her +they were going to lead, she said: "Very well! Then I shall go +as I am. The dress makes no difference. It's the first time +I've had a chance to spoil one since I left England." + +When the other girls saw what she was going to do, nearly every +one of them left off their hats and riding skirts. Every family +had saddle horses those days, and when the riders came racing up +they looked like flying flowers, they were all laughing, bloom +ladened, singing and calling jokes. Ahead, Laddie and the +Princess just plain showed off. Her horse came from England with +them, and Laddie said it had Arab blood in it, like the one in +the Fourth Reader poem, "Fret not to roam the desert now, With +all thy winged speed," and the Princess loved her horse more than +that man did his. She said she'd starve before she'd sell it, +and if her family were starving, she'd go to work and earn food +for them, and keep her horse. Laddie's was a Kentucky +thoroughbred he'd saved money for years to buy; and he took a +young one and trained it himself, almost like a circus horse. +Both of them COULD ride; so that day they did. They ran those +horses neck and neck, right up the hill approaching Groveville, +until they were almost from sight, then they whirled and came +sweeping back fast as the wind. The Princess' eyes were like +dead coals, and her black curls streamed, the thin silk dress +wrapped tight around her and waved back like a gossamer web such +as spiders spin in October. Laddie's hair was blowing, his +cheeks and eyes were bright, and with one eye on the Princess-- +she didn't need it--and one on the road, he cut curves, turned, +wheeled, and raced, and as he rode, so did she. + +"Will they break their foolish necks?" wailed mother. + +"They are the handsomest couple I ever have seen in my life!" +said father. + +"Yes, and you two watch out, or you'll strike trouble right +there," said Sally, leaning forward. + +I gave her an awful nudge. It made me so happy I could have +screamed to see them flying away together like that. + +"Well, if that girl represents trouble," said father, "God knows +it never before came in such charming guise." + +"You can trust a man to forget his God and his immortal soul if a +sufficiently beautiful woman comes along," said my mother dryly, +and all of them laughed. + +She didn't mean that to be funny, though. You could always tell +by the set of her lips and the light in her eyes. + +Just this side of Groveville we passed a man on horseback. He +took off his hat and drew his horse to one side when Laddie and +the Princess rode toward him. He had a big roll of papers under +his arm, to show that he had been for his mail. But I knew, so +did Laddie and the Princess, that he had been compelled to saddle +and ride like mad, to reach town and come that far back in time +to watch us pass; for it was the Princess' father, and WATCH was +exactly what he was doing; he wanted to see for himself. Laddie +and the Princess rode straight at him, neck and neck, and then +both of them made their horses drop on their knees and they waved +a salute, and then they were up and away. Of course father and +mother saw, so mother bowed, and father waved his whip as we +passed. He sat there like he'd turned the same on horseback as +Sabethany had in her coffin; but he had to see almost a mile of +us driving our best horses and carriages, wearing our wedding +garments and fine raiment, and all that "cavalcade," father +called it, of young, reckless riders. You'd have thought if +there were a hint of a smile in his whole being it would have +shown when Sally leaned from the carriage to let him see that her +face and clothes were as good as need be and smiled a lovely +smile on him, and threw him a rose. He did leave his hat off and +bow low, and then Shelley, always the very dickens for daring, +rode right up to him and laughed in his face, and she leaned and +thrust a flower into his bony hands; you would have thought he +would have been simply forced to smile then, but he looked far +more as if he would tumble over and roll from the saddle. My +heart ached for a man in trouble like that. I asked the Lord to +preserve us from secrets we couldn't tell the neighbours! + +At the station there wasn't a thing those young people didn't do. + +They tied flowers and ribbons all over Sally's satchel and trunk. + +They sowed rice as if it were seeding time in a wheatfield. They +formed a circle around Sally and Peter and as mushy as ever they +could they sang, "As sure as the grass grows around the stump, +You are my darling sugar lump," while they danced. They just +smiled all the time no matter what was done to them. Some of it +made me angry, but I suppose to be pleasant was the right way. +Sally was strong on always doing the right thing, so she just +laughed, and so did all of us. Going home it was wilder yet, for +all of them raced and showed how they could ride. + +At the house people were hungry again, so the table was set and +they ate up every scrap in sight, and Leon and I ate with them +that time and saved ours. Then one by one the carriages, spring +wagons, and horseback riders went away, all the people saying +Sally was the loveliest bride, and hers had been the prettiest +wedding they'd ever seen, and the most good things to eat, and +Laddie and the Princess went with them. When the last one was +gone, and only the relatives from Ohio were left, mother pitched +on the bed, gripped her hands and cried as if she'd go to pieces, +and father cried too, and all of us, even Mrs. Freshett, who +stayed to wash up the dishes. She was so tickled to be there, +and see, and help, that mother had hard work to keep her from +washing the linen that same night. She did finish the last dish, +scrub the kitchen floor, black the stove, and pack all the +borrowed china in tubs, ready to be taken home, and things like +that. Mother said it was a burning shame for any neighbourhood +to let a woman get so starved out and lonesome she'd act that +way. She said enough was enough, and when Mrs. Freshett had +cooked all day, and washed dishes until the last skillet was in +place, she had done as much as any neighbour ought to do, and the +other things she went on and did were a rebuke to us. + +I felt sore, weepy, and tired out. It made me sick to think of +the sage bag in the cracked churn, so I climbed my very own +catalpa tree in the corner, watched up the road for Laddie, and +thought things over. If I ever get married I want a dress, and a +wedding exactly like that, but I would like a man quite different +from Peter; like Laddie would suit me better. When he rode under +the tree, I dropped from a limb into his arms, and went with him +to the barn. He asked me what was going on at the house, and I +told him about Mrs. Freshett being a rebuke to us; and Laddie +said she was, and he didn't believe one word against her. When I +told him mother was in bed crying like anything, he said: "I +knew that had to come when she kept up so bravely at the station. + +Thank the Lord, she showed her breeding by holding in until she +got where she had a right to cry if she pleased." + +Then I whispered for fear Leon might be around: "Did he set the +dogs on you?" + +"He did not," said Laddie, laughing softly. + +"Did he call you names again?" + +"He did!" said Laddie, "but I started it. You see, when we got +there, Thomas was raking the grass and he came to take the +Princess' horse. Her father was reading on a bench under a tree. + +I helped her down, and walked with her to the door and said good- +bye, and thanked her for the pleasure she had added to the day +for us, loudly enough that he could hear; then I went over to him +and said: `Good evening, Mr. Pryor. If my father knew anything +about it, he would very much regret that company from Ohio +detained him and compelled me to escort your daughter home. He +would greatly have enjoyed the privilege, but I honestly believe +that I appreciated it far more than he could.'" + +"Oh Laddie, what did he say?" + +"He arose and glared at me, and choked on it, and he tried +several times, until I thought the clods were going to fly again, +but at last he just spluttered: `You blathering rascal, you!' +That was such a compliment compared with what I thought he was +going to say that I had to laugh. He tried, but he couldn't keep +from smiling himself, and then I said: `Please think it over, +Mr. Pryor, and if you find that Miss Pryor has had an agreeable, +entertaining day, won't you give your consent for her to come +among us again? Won't you allow me to come here, if it can be +arranged in such a way that I intrude on no one?'" + +"Oh Laddie!" + +"He exploded in a kind of a snarl that meant, I'll see you in the +Bad Place first. So I said to him: `Thank you very much for to- +day, anyway. I'm sure Miss Pryor has enjoyed this day, and it +has been the happiest of my life--one to be remembered always. +Of course I won't come here if I am unwelcome, but I am in honour +bound to tell you that I intend to meet your daughter elsewhere, +whenever I possibly can. I thought it would be a better way for +you to know and have us where you could see what was going on, if +you chose, than for us to meet without your knowledge." + +"Oh Laddie," I wailed, "now you've gone and ruined everything!" + +"Not so bad as that, Little Sister," laughed Laddie. "Not half +so bad! He exploded in another growl, and he shook his walking +stick at me, and he said--guess what he said." + +"That he would kill you," I panted, clinging to him. + +"Right!" said Laddie. "You have it exactly. He said: `Young +man, I'll brain you with my walking stick if ever I meet you +anywhere with my daughter, when you have not come to her home and +taken her with my permission.'" + +"What!" I stammered. "What! Oh Laddie, say it over! Does it +mean----?" + +"It means," said Laddie, squeezing me until I was near losing my +breath, "it means, Little Sister, that I shall march to his door +and ask him squarely, and if it is anywhere the Princess wants to +go, I shall take her." + +"Like, `See the conquering hero comes?'" + +"Exactly!" laughed Laddie. + +"What will mother say?" + +"She hasn't made up her mind yet," answered Laddie. + +"Do you mean----?" I gasped again. + +"Of course!" said Laddie. "I wasn't going to let a girl get far +ahead of me. The minute I knew she had told her mother, I told +mine the very first chance." + +"Mother knows that you feel about the Princess as father does +about her?" + +"Mother knows," answered Laddie, "and so does father. I told +both of them." + +Both of them knew! And it hadn't made enough difference that any +one living right with them every day could have told it. Time +and work will be needed to understand grown people. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Shropshire and the Crusader + + "For, among the rich and gay, + Fine, and grand, and decked in laces, + None appear more glad then they, + With happier hearts, or happier faces." + +Every one told mother for a week before the wedding that she +would be sick when it was over, and sure enough she was. She had +been on her feet too much, and had so many things to think about, +and there had been such a dreadful amount of work for her and +Candace, even after all the neighbours helped, that she was sick +in bed and we couldn't find a thing she could eat, until she was +almost wild with hunger and father seemed as if he couldn't +possibly bear it a day longer. + +After Candace had tried everything she could think of, I went up +and talked it over with Sarah Hood, and she came down, pretending +she happened in, and she tried thickened milk, toast and mulled +buttermilk; she kept trying for two days before she gave up. +Candace thought of new things, and Mrs. Freshett came and made +all the sick dishes she knew, but mother couldn't even taste +them; so we were pretty blue, and we nearly starved ourselves, +for how could we sit and eat everything you could mention, and +mother lying there, almost crying with hunger? + +Saturday morning I was hanging around her room hoping maybe she +could think of some least little thing I could do for her, even +if no more than to bring a glass of water, or a late rose to lay +on her pillow; it would be better than not being able to do +anything at all. After a while she opened her eyes and looked at +me, and I scarcely knew her. She smiled the bravest she could +and said: "Sorry for mother, dear?" + +I nodded. I couldn't say much, and she tried harder than ever to +be cheerful and asked: "What are you planning to do to-day?" + +"If you can't think of one thing I can do for you, guess I'll go +fishing," I said. + +Her eyes grew brighter and she seemed half interested. + +"Why, Little Sister," she said, "if you can catch some of those +fish like you do sometimes, I believe I could eat one of them." + +I never had such a be-hanged time getting started. I slipped +from the room, and never told a soul even where I was going. I +fell over the shovel and couldn't find anything quick enough but +my pocket to put the worms in, and I forgot my stringer. At +last, when I raced down the hill to the creek and climbed over +the water of the deep place, on the roots of the Pete Billings +yowling tree, I had only six worms, my apple sucker pole, my +cotton cord line, and bent pin hook. I put the first worm on +carefully, and if ever I prayed! Sometimes it was hard to +understand about this praying business. My mother was the best +and most beautiful woman who ever lived. She was clean, and +good, and always helped "the poor and needy who cluster round +your door," like it says in the poetry piece, and there never +could have been a reason why God would want a woman to suffer +herself, when she went flying on horseback even dark nights +through rain or snow, to doctor other people's pain, and when she +gave away things like she did--why, I've seen her take a big +piece of meat from the barrel, and a sack of meal, and heaps of +apples and potatoes to carry to Mandy Thomas--when she gave away +food by the wagonload at a time, God couldn't have WANTED her to +be hungry, and yet she WAS that very minute almost crying for +food; and I prayed, oh how I did pray! and a sneaking old back- +ended crayfish took my very first worm. I just looked at the sky +and said: "Well, when it's for a sick woman, can't You do any +better than that?" + +I suppose I shouldn't have said it, but if it had been your +mother, how would you have felt? I pinched the next worm in two, +so if a crayfish took that, it wouldn't get but half. I lay down +across the roots and pulled my bonnet far over my face and tried +to see to the bottom. I read in school the other day: + + + "And by those little rings on the water I know + The fishes are merrily swimming below." + + +There were no rings on the water, but after a while I saw some +fish darting around, only they didn't seem to be hungry; for they +would come right up and nibble a tiny bit at my worm, but they +wouldn't swallow it. Then one did, so I jerked with all my +might, jerked so hard the fish and worm both flew off, and I had +only the hook left. I put on the other half and tried again. I +prayed straight along, but the tears would come that time, and +the prayer was no powerful effort like Brother Hastings would +have made; it was little torn up pieces mostly: "O Lord, please +do make only one fish bite!" At last one did bite good, so I +swung carefully that time, and landed it on the grass, but it was +so little and it hit a stone and was killed. I had no stringer +to put it back in the water to keep cool, and the sun was hot +that day, like times in the fall. Stretched on the roots, with +it shining on my back, and striking the water and coming up from +below, I dripped with heat and excitement. + +I threw that one away, put on another worm, and a big turtle took +it, the hook, and broke my line, and almost pulled me in. I +wouldn't have let go if it had, for I just had to have a fish. +There was no help from the Lord in that, so I quit praying, only +what I said when I didn't know it. Father said man was born a +praying animal, and no matter how wicked he was, if he had an +accident, or saw he had just got to die, he cried aloud to the +Lord for help and mercy before he knew what he was doing. + +I could hear the roosters in the barnyard, the turkey gobbler, +and the old ganders screamed once in a while, and sometimes a +bird sang a skimpy little fall song; nothing like spring, except +the killdeers and larks; they were always good to hear--and then +the dinner bell rang. I wished I had been where I couldn't have +heard that, because I didn't intend going home until I had a fish +that would do for mother if I stayed until night. If the best +one in the family had to starve, we might as well all go +together; but I wouldn't have known how hungry I was, if the bell +hadn't rung and told me the others were eating. So I bent +another pin and tried again. I lost the next worm without +knowing how, and then I turned baby and cried right out loud. I +was so thirsty, the salty tears running down my cheeks tasted +good, and doing something besides fishing sort of rested me; so I +looked around and up at the sky, wiped my face on the skirt of my +sunbonnet, and put on another worm. I had only one more left, +and I began to wonder if I could wade in and catch a fish by +hand; I did teeny ones sometimes, but I knew the water there was +far above my head, for I had measured it often with the pole; it +wouldn't do to try that; instead of helping mother any, a funeral +would kill her, too, so I fell back on the Crusaders, and tried +again. + +Strange how thinking about them helped. I pretended I was +fighting my way to the Holy City, and this was the Jordan just +where it met the sea, and I had to catch enough fish to last me +during the pilgrimage west or I'd never reach Jerusalem to bring +home a shell for the Stanton crest. I pretended so hard, that I +got braver and stronger, and asked the Lord more like there was +some chance of being heard. All at once there was a jerk that +almost pulled me in, so I jerked too, and a big fish flew over my +head and hit the bank behind me with a thump. Of course by a big +fish I don't mean a red horse so long as my arm, like the boys +bring from the river; I mean the biggest fish I ever caught with +a pin in our creek. It looked like the whale that swallowed +Jonah, as it went over my head. I laid the pole across the +roots, jumped up and turned, and I had to grab the stump to keep +from falling in the water and dying. There lay the fish, the +biggest one I ever had seen, but it was flopping wildly, and it +wasn't a foot from a hole in the grass where a muskrat had +burrowed through. If it gave one flop that way, it would slide +down the hole straight back into the water; and between me and +the fish stood our cross old Shropshire ram. I always looked to +see if the sheep were in the meadow before I went to the creek, +but that morning I had been so crazy to get something for mother +to eat, I never once thought of them--and there it stood! + +That ram hadn't been cross at first, and father said it never +would be if treated right, and not teased, and if it were, there +would be trouble for all of us. I was having more than my share +that minute, and it bothered me a lot almost every day. I never +dared enter a field any more if it were there, and now it was +stamping up and down the bank, shaking its head, and trying to +get me; with one flop the fish went ALMOST in the hole, and the +next a little away from it. Everything put together, I thought I +couldn't stand it. I never wanted anything as I wanted that +fish, and I never hated anything as I hated that sheep. It +wasn't the sheep's fault either; Leon teased it on purpose, just +to see it chase Polly Martin; but that was more her doings than +his. + +She was a widow and she crossed our front meadow going to her +sister's. She had two boys big as Laddie, and three girls, and +father said they lived like "the lilies of the field; they toiled +not, neither did they spin." They never looked really hungry or +freezing, but they never plowed, or planted, they had no cattle +or pigs or chickens, only a little corn for meal, and some +cabbage, and wild things they shot for meat, and coons to trade +the skins for more powder and lead--bet they ate the coons--never +any new clothes, never clean, they or their house. Once when +father and mother were driving past, they saw Polly at the well +and they stopped for politeness sake to ask how she was, like +they always did with every one. Polly had a tin cup of water and +was sopping at her neck with a carpet rag, and when mother asked, +"How are you, Mrs. Martin?" she answered: "Oh I ain't very well +this spring; I gest I got the go-backs!" + +Mother said Polly looked as if she'd been born with the "go- +backs," and had given them to all her children, her home, garden, +fields, and even the FENCES. We hadn't a particle of patience +with such people. When you are lazy like that it is very +probable that you'll live to see the day when your children will +peep through the fence cracks and cry for bread. I have seen +those Martin children come mighty near doing it when the rest of +us opened our dinner baskets at school; and if mother hadn't +always put in enough so that we could divide, I bet they would. +If Polly Martin had walked up as if she were alive, and had been +washed and neat, and going somewhere to do some one good, Leon +never would have dreamed of such a thing as training the +Shropshire to bunt her. She was so long and skinny, always wore +a ragged shawl over her head, a floppy old dress that the wind +whipped out behind, and when she came to the creek, she sat +astride the foot log, and hunched along with her hands; that +tickled the boys so, Leon began teasing the sheep on purpose to +make it get her. But inasmuch as she saw fit to go abroad +looking so funny, that any one could see she'd be a perfect +circus if she were chased, I didn't feel that it was Leon's +fault. If, like the little busy bee, she had "improved each +shining hour," he never would have done it. Seems to me, she +brought the trouble on her own head. + +First, Leon ran at the Shropshire and then jumped aside; but soon +it grew so strong and quick he couldn't manage that, so he put +his hat on a stick and poked it back and forth through a fence +crack, and that made the ram raving mad. At last it would butt +the fence until it would knock itself down, and if he dangled the +hat again, get right up and do it over. Father never caught +Leon, so he couldn't understand what made the sheep so dreadfully +cross, because he had thought it was quite peaceable when he +bought it. The first time it got after Polly, she threw her +shawl over its head, pulled up her skirts, and Leon said she hit +just eleven high places crossing an eighty-acre field; she came +to the house crying, and father had to go after her shawl, and +mother gave her a roll of butter and a cherry pie to comfort her. + +The Shropshire never really got Polly, but any one could easily +see what it would do to me if I dared step around that stump, and +it was dancing and panting to begin. If whoever wrote that +"Gentle Sheep, pray tell me why," piece ever had seen a sheep +acting like that, it wouldn't have been in the books; at least I +think it wouldn't, but one can't be sure. He proved that he +didn't know much about anything outdoors or he wouldn't have said +that sheep were "eating grass and daisies white, from the morning +till the night," when daisies are bitter as gall. + +Flop! went the fish, and its tail touched the edge of the hole. +Then I turned around and picked up the pole. I put my sunbonnet +over the big end of it, and poked it at the ram, and drew it back +as Leon did his hat. One more jump and mother's fish would be +gone. I stood on the roots and waved my bonnet. The sheep +lowered its head and came at it with a rush. I drew back the +pole, and the sheep's forefeet slid over the edge, and it braced +and began to work to keep from going in. The fish gave a big +flop and went down the hole. Then I turned Crusader and began to +fight, and I didn't care if I were whipped black and blue, I +meant to finish that old black-faced Shropshire. I set the pole +on the back of its neck and pushed with all my might, and I got +it in, too. My, but it made a splash! It wasn't much good at +swimming either, and it had no chance, for I stood on the roots +and pushed it down, and hit it over the nose with all my might, +and I didn't care how far it came on the cars, or how much money +it cost, it never would chase me, and make me lose my fish again. + +I didn't hear him until he splashed under the roots and then I +was so mad I didn't see that it was Laddie; I only knew that it +was someone who was going to help out that miserable ram, so I +struck with all my might, the sheep when I could hit it, if not, +the man. + +"You little demon, stop!" cried Laddie. + +I got in a good one right on the ram's nose. Then Laddie dropped +the sheep and twisted the fish pole from my fingers, and I pushed +him as hard as I could, but he was too strong. He lifted the +sheep, pulled it to the bank, and rolled it, worked its jaws, and +squeezed water from it, and worked and worked. + +"I guess you've killed it!" he said at last. + +"Goody!" I shouted. "Goody! Oh but I am glad it's dead!" + +"What on earth has turned you to a fiend?" asked Laddie, +beginning work on the sheep again. + +"That ram!" I said. "Ever since Leon made it cross so it would +chase Polly Martin, it's got me oftener than her. I can't go +anywhere for it, and to-day it made me lose a big fish, and +mother is waiting. She thought maybe she could eat some." + +Then I roared; bet I sounded like Bashan's bull. + +"Dear Lord!" said Laddie dropping the sheep and taking me in his +wet arms. "Tell me, Biddy! Tell me how it is." + +Then I forgot I was a Crusader, and told him all about it as well +as I could for choking, and when I finished he bathed my hot +face, and helped me from the roots. Then he went and looked down +the hole I showed him and he cried out quicklike, and threw +himself on the grass, and in a second up came the fish. Some one +had rolled a big stone in the hole, so the fish was all right, +not even dead yet, and Laddie said it was the biggest one he ever +had seen taken from the creek. Then he said if I'd forgive him +and all our family, for spoiling the kind of a life I had a +perfect right to lead, and if I'd run to the house and get a big +bottle from the medicine case quick, he would see to it that some +place was fixed for that sheep where it would never bother me +again. So I took the fish and ran as fast as I could, but I sent +May back with the bottle, and did the scaling myself. No one at +our house could do it better, for Laddie taught me the right way +long ago, when I was small, and I'd done it hundreds of times. + +Then I went to Candace and she put a little bit of butter and a +speck of lard in a skillet, and cooked the fish brown. She made +a slice of toast and boiled a cup of water and carried it to the +door; then she went in and set the table beside the bed, and I +took in the tray, and didn't spill a drop. Mother never said a +word; she just reached out and broke off a tiny speck and nibbled +it, and it stayed; she tried a little bigger piece, and another, +and she said: "Take out the bones, Candace!" She ate every +scrap of that fish like the hungriest traveller who ever came to +our door, and the toast, and drank the hot water. Then she went +into a long sleep and all of us walked tiptoe, and when she waked +up she was better, and in a few days she could sit in her chair +again, and she began getting Shelley ready to go to music school. + +I have to tell you the rest, too. Laddie made the ram come +alive, and father sold it the next day for more than he paid for +it. He said he hoped I'd forgive him for not having seen how it +had been bothering me, and that he never would have had it on the +place a day if he'd known. The next time he went to town he +bought me a truly little cane rod, a real fishing line, several +hooks, and a red bobber too lovely to put into the water. I +thought I was a great person from the fuss all of them made over +me, until I noticed Laddie shrug his shoulders, and reach back +and rub one, and then I remembered. + +I went flying, and thank goodness! he held out his arms. + +"Oh Laddie! I never did it!" I cried. "I never, never did! I +couldn't! Laddie, I love you best of any one; you know I do!" + +"Of course you didn't!" said Laddie. "My Little Sister wasn't +anywhere around when that happened. That was a poor little girl +I never saw before, and she was in such trouble she didn't know +WHAT she was doing. And I hope I'll never see her again," he +ended, twisting his shoulder. But he kissed me and made it all +right, and really I didn't do that; I just simply couldn't have +struck Laddie. + +Marrying off Sally was little worse than getting Shelley ready +for school. She had to have three suits of everything, and a new +dress of each kind, and three hats; her trunk wouldn't hold all +there was to put in it; and father said he never could pay the +bills. He had promised her to go, and he didn't know what in +this world to do; because he never had borrowed money in his +life, and he couldn't begin; for if he died suddenly, that would +leave mother in debt, and they might take the land from her. +That meant he'd spent what he had in the bank on Sally's wedding, +and all that was in the Underground Station, or maybe the Station +money wasn't his. + +Just when he was awfully bothered, mother said to never mind, she +believed she could fix it. She sent all of us into the orchard +to pick the fine apples that didn't keep well, and father made +three trips to town to sell them. She had big jars of lard she +wouldn't need before butchering time came again, and she sold +dried apples, peaches, and raspberries from last year. She got +lots of money for barrels of feathers she'd saved to improve her +feather beds and pillows; she said she would see to that later. +Father was so tickled to get the money to help him out that he +said he'd get her a pair of those wonderful new blue geese like +Pryors had, that every one stopped to look at. When there was +not quite enough yet, from somewhere mother brought out money +that she'd saved for a long time, from butter and eggs, and +chickens, and turkeys, and fruit and lard, and things that +belonged to her. Father hated to use it the worst way, but she +said she'd saved it for an emergency, and now seemed to be the +time. + +She said if the child really had talent, she should be about +developing it, and while there would be many who would have far +finer things than Shelley, still she meant her to have enough +that she wouldn't be the worst looking one, and so ashamed she +couldn't keep her mind on her work. Father said, with her face +it didn't make any difference what she wore, and mother said that +was just like a man; it made all the difference in the world what +a girl wore. Father said maybe it did to the girl, and other +women; what he meant was that it made none to a man. Mother said +the chief aim and end of a girl's life was not wrapped up in a +man; and father said maybe not with some girls, but it would be +with Shelley: she was too pretty to escape. I do wonder if I'm +going to be too pretty to escape, when I put on long dresses. +Sometimes I look in the glass to see if it's coming, but I don't +suppose it's any use. Mother says you can't tell a thing at the +growing age about how a girl is going to look at eighteen. + +When everything was almost ready, Leon came in one day and said: +"Shelley, what about improving your hair? Have you tried your +wild grape sap yet?" + +Shelley said: "Why, goodness me! We've been so busy getting +Sally married, and my clothes made, I forgot all about that. +Have you noticed the crock in passing? Is there anything in it?" + +"It was about half full, once when I went by," said Leon. "I +haven't seen it lately." + +"Do please be a dear and look, when you go after the cows this +evening," said Shelley. "If there's anything in it, bring it +up." + + "Do it yourself for want of me, + The boy replied quite manfully," + + +quoted Leon from "The Little Lord and the Farmer." He was always +teasing. + +"I think you're mean as dirt if you don t bring it," said +Shelley. + +Leon grinned and you should have heard the nasty, teasing way he +said more of that same piece: + + "Anger and pride are both unwise, + Vinegar never catches flies----" + + +I wondered she didn't slap him. You could see she wanted to. "I +can get it myself," she said angrily. + +"What will you give me to bring it?" asked Leon, who never missed +a chance to make a bargain. + +"My grateful thanks. Are they not a proper reward?" asked +Shelley. + +"Thanks your foot!" said Leon. "Will you bring something pretty +from Chicago for Susie Fall's Christmas present?" + +Every one laughed, but Leon never cared. He liked Susie best of +any of the girls, and he wanted every one to know it. He went +straight to her whenever he had a chance, and he'd already told +her mother to keep all the other boys away, because he meant to +marry her when he grew up, and Widow Fall said that was fair +enough, and she'd save her for him. So Shelley said she would +get him something for Susie, and Leon brought the crock. Shelley +looked at it sort of dubious-like, tipped it, and stared at the +dirt settled in the bottom, and then stuck in her finger and +tasted it. She looked at Leon with a queer grin and said: +"Smarty, smarty, think you're smart!" She threw the creek water +into the swill bucket. No one said a word, but Leon looked much +sillier than she did. After he was gone I asked her if she would +bring him a Christmas present for Susie NOW, and she said she +ought to bring him a pretty glass bottle labelled perfume, with +hartshorn in it, and she would, if she thought he'd smell it +first. + +Shelley felt badly about leaving mother when she wasn't very +well; but mother said it was all right, she had Candace to keep +house and May and me, and father, and all of us to take care of +her, and it would be best for Shelley to go now and work hard as +she could, while she had the chance. So one afternoon father +took her trunk to the depot and bought the tickets and got the +checks, and the next day Laddie drove to Groveville with father +and Shelley, and she was gone. Right at the last, she didn't +seem to want to leave so badly, but all of them said she must. +Peter's cousin, who had gone last year, was to meet her, and have +a room ready where she boarded if she could, and if she couldn't +right away, then the first one who left, Shelley was to have the +place, so they'd be together. + +There were eight of us left, counting Candace and Miss Amelia, +and you wouldn't think a house with eight people living in it +would be empty, but ours was. Everything seemed to wilt. The +roses on the window blinds didn't look so bright as they had; +mother said the only way she could get along was to keep right on +working. She helped Candace all she could, but she couldn't be +on her feet very much, so she sat all day long and peeled peaches +to dry, showed Candace how to jelly, preserve, and spice them, +and peeled apples for butter and to dry, quantities more than we +could use, but she said she always could sell such things, and +with the bunch of us to educate yet, we'd need the money. + +When it grew cold enough to shut the doors, and have fire at +night, first thing after supper all of us helped clear the table, +then we took our slates and books and learned our lessons for the +next day, and then father lined us against the wall, all in a row +from Laddie down, and he pronounced words--easy ones that divided +into syllables nicely, for me, harder for May, and so up until I +might sit down. For Laddie, May and Leon he used the geography, +the Bible, Roland's history, the Christian Advocate, and the +Agriculturist. My, but he had them so they could spell! After +that, as memory tests, all of us recited our reading lesson for +the next day, especially the poetry pieces. I knew most of them, +from hearing the big folks repeat them so often and practise the +proper way to read them. I could do "Rienzi's Address to the +Romans," "Casablanca," "Gray's Elegy," or "Mark Antony's Speech," +but best of all, I liked "Lines to a Water-fowl." When he was +tired, if it were not bedtime yet, all of us, boys too, sewed +rags for carpet and rugs. Laddie braided corn husks for the +kitchen and outside door mats, and they were pretty, and "very +useful too," like the dog that got his head patted in McGuffey's +Second. + +Then they picked the apples. These had to be picked by hand, +wrapped in soft paper, packed in barrels, and shipped to Fort +Wayne. Where they couldn't reach by hand, they stood on barrels +or ladders, and used a long handled picker, so as not to bruise +the fruit. Laddie helped with everything through the day, worked +at his books at night, and whenever he stepped outside he looked +in the direction of Pryors'. He climbed to the topmost limbs of +the trees with a big basket, picked it full and let it down with +a long piece of clothesline. I loved to be in the orchard when +they were working; there were plenty of summer apples to eat yet; +it was fun to watch the men, and sometimes I could be useful by +handing baskets or heaping up apples to be buried for us. + +One night father read about a man who had been hanged for killing +another man, and they cut him down too soon, so he came alive, +and they had to hang him over; and father got all worked up about +it. He said the man had suffered death the first time to "all +intents and purposes," so that fulfilled the requirements of the +law, and they were wrong when they hanged him again. Laddie said +it was a piece of bungling sure enough, but the law said a man +must be "hanged by his neck until he was dead," and if he weren't +dead, why, it was plain he hadn't fulfilled the requirements of +the law, so they were forced to hang him again. Father said that +law was wrong; the man never should have been hanged in the first +place. They talked and argued until we were all excited about +it, and the next evening after school Leon and I were helping +pick apples, and when father and Laddie went to the barn with a +load we sat down to rest and we thought about what they said. + +"Gee, that was tough on the man!" said Leon, "but I guess the law +is all right. Of course he wouldn't want to die, and twice over +at that, but I don't suppose the man he killed liked to die +either. I think if you take a life, it's all right to give your +own to pay for it." + +"Leon," I said, "some time when you are fighting Absalom Saunders +or Lou Wicks, just awful, if you hit them too hard on some tender +spot and kill them, would you want to die to pay for it?" + +"I wouldn't want to, but I guess I'd have to," said Leon. +"That's the law, and it's as good a way to make it as any. But +I'm not going to kill any one. I've studied my physiology hard +to find all the spots that will kill. I never hit them behind +the ear, or in the pit of the stomach; I just black their eyes, +bloody their snoots, and swat them on the chin to finish off +with." + +"Well, suppose they don't study their physiologies like you do, +and hit YOU in the wrong place, and kill you, would you want THEM +hanged by the neck until they were dead, to pay for it?" + +"I don't think I'd want anything if I were dead," he said. "I +wonder how it feels to die. Now THAT man knew. I'd like to be +hanged enough to find out how it goes, and then come back, and +brag about it. I don't think it hurts much; I believe I'll try +it." + +So Leon took the rope Laddie lowered the baskets with, and threw +it over a big limb. Then he rolled up a barrel and stood on it +and put my sunbonnet on with the crown over his face, for a black +cap, and made the rope into a slip noose over his head, and told +me to stand back by the apple tree and hold the rope tight, until +he said he was hanged enough. Then he stepped from the barrel. +It jerked me toward him about a yard, as he came down smash! on +his feet. I held with all my might, but he was too heavy--and +falling that way. So he went to trying to fix some other plan, +and I told him the sensible thing to do would be for him to hang +me, because he'd be strong enough to hold me and I could tell him +how it felt just as well. So we fixed me up like we had him, and +when Leon got the rope stretched, he wrapped it twice around the +apple tree so it wouldn't jerk him as it had me, and when he said +"Ready," I stepped from the barrel. The last thing I heard was +Leon telling me to say when I was hanged enough. I was so heavy, +the rope stretched, and I went down until it almost tore off my +head, and I couldn't get a single breath, so of course I didn't +tell him, and I couldn't get on the barrel, and my tongue went +out, and my chest swelled up, and my ears roared, and I kicked +and struggled, and all the time I could hear Leon laughing, and +shouting to keep it up, that I was dying fine; only he didn't +know that I really was, and at last I didn't feel or know +anything more. + +When I came to, I was lying on the grass, while father was +pumping my arms, and Laddie was pouring creek water on my face +from his hat, and Leon was running around in circles, clear +crazy. I heard father tell him he'd give him a scutching he'd +remember to the day of his death; but inasmuch as I had told Leon +to do it, I had to grab father and hold to him tight as I could, +until I got breath enough to explain how it happened. Even then +I wasn't sure what he was going to do. + +After all that, when I tried to tell Leon how it felt, he just +cried like a baby, and he wouldn't listen to a word, even when +he'd wanted to know so badly. He said if I hadn't come back, +he'd have gone to the barn and used the swing rope on himself, so +it was a good thing I did, for one funeral would have cost +enough, when we needed money so badly, not to mention how mother +would have felt to have two of us go at once, like she had +before. And anyway, it didn't amount to so awful much. It was +pretty bad at first, but it didn't last long, and the next day my +neck was only a little blue and stiff, and in three days it was +all over, only a rough place where the rope grained the skin as I +went down; but I never got to tell Leon how it felt; I just +couldn't talk him into hearing, and it was quite interesting too; +but still I easily saw why the man in the paper would object to +dying twice, to pay for killing another man once. + +When the apples were picked and the cabbage, beets, turnips, and +potatoes were buried, some corn dried in the garret for new meal, +pumpkins put in the cellar, the field corn all husked, and the +butchering done, father said the work was in such fine shape, +with Laddie to help, and there was so much more corn than he +needed for us, and the price was so high, and the turkeys did so +well, and everything, that he could pay back what mother helped +him, and have quite a sum over. + +It was Thanksgiving by that time, and all of Winfield's, Lucy's, +Sally and Peter, and our boys came home. We had a big time, all +but Shelley; it was too expensive for her to come so far for one +day, but mother sent her a box with a whole turkey for herself +and her friends; and cake, popcorn, nuts, and just everything +that wasn't too drippy. Shelley wrote such lovely letters that +mother saved them and after we had eaten as much dinner as we +could, she read them before we left the table. + +I had heard most of them, but I liked to listen again, because +they sounded so happy. You could hear Shelley laugh on every +page. She told about how Peter's cousin was waiting when the +train stopped. They couldn't room together right away, but they +were going to the first chance they had. Shelley felt badly +because they were so far apart, but she was in a nice place, +where she could go with other girls of the school until she +learned the way. She told about her room and the woman she +boarded with and what she had to eat; she wrote mother not to +worry about clothes, because most of the others were from the +country, or small towns, and getting ready to teach, and lots of +them didn't have NEARLY as many or as pretty dresses as she did. +She told about the big building, the classes, the professors, and +of going to public recitals where some of the pupils who knew +enough played; and she was working her fingers almost to the +bone, so she could next year. She told of people she met, and +how one of the teachers took a number of girls in his class to +see a great picture gallery. She wrote pages about a young +Chicago lawyer she met there, and only a few lines about the +pictures, so father said as that was the best collection of art +work in Chicago, it was easy enough to see that Shelley had been +far more impressed with the man than she had been with the +pictures. Mother said she didn't see how he could say a thing +like that about the child. Of course she couldn't tell in a +letter about hundreds of pictures, but it was easy enough to tell +all about a man. + +Father got sort of spunky at that, and he said it was mighty +little that mattered most, that could be told about a Chicago +lawyer; and mother had better caution Shelley to think more about +her work, and write less of the man. Mother said that would stop +the child's confidences completely and she'd think all the time +about the man, and never mention him again, so she wouldn't know +what WAS going on. She said she was glad Shelley had found +pleasing, refined friends, and she'd encourage her all she could +in cultivating them; but of course she'd caution her to be +careful, and she'd tell her what the danger was, and after that +Shelley wrote and wrote. Mother didn't always read the letters +to us, but she answered every one she got that same night. +Sometimes she pushed the pen so she jabbed the paper, and often +she smiled or laughed softly. + +I liked Thanksgiving. We always had a house full of company, and +they didn't stay until we were tired of them, as they did at +Christmas, and there was as much to eat; the only difference was +that there were no presents. It wasn't nearly so much work to +fix for one day as it was for a week; so it wasn't so hard on +mother and Candace, and father didn't have to spend much money. +We were wearing all our clothes from last fall that we could, and +our coats from last winter to help out, but we didn't care. We +had a lot of fun, and we wanted Sally and Shelley to have fine +dresses, because they were in big cities where they needed them, +and in due season, no doubt, we would have much more than they, +because, as May figured it, there would be only a few of us by +that time, so we could have more to spend. That looked sensible, +and I thought it would be that way, too. We were talking it over +coming from school one evening, and when we had settled it, we +began to play "Dip and Fade." That was a game we made up from +being at church, and fall and spring were the only times we could +play it, because then the rains filled all the ditches beside the +road where the dirt was plowed up to make the bed higher, and we +had to have the water to dip in and fade over. + +We played it like that, because it was as near as we could come +to working out a song Isaac Thomas sang every time he got happy. +He had a lot of children at home, and more who had died, from +being half-fed and frozen, mother thought; and he was always +talking about meeting the "pore innocents" in Heaven, and singing +that one song. Every time he made exactly the same speech in +meeting. It began like reciting poetry, only it didn't rhyme, +but it sort of cut off in lines, and Isaac waved back and forth +on his feet, and half sung it, and the rags waved too, but you +just couldn't feel any thrills of earnestness about what he said, +because he needed washing, and to go to work and get him some +clothes and food to fill out his frame. He only looked funny, +and made you want to laugh. It took Emanuel Ripley to raise your +hair. I don't know why men like my father, and the minister, and +John Dover stood it; they talked over asking Isaac to keep quiet +numbers of times, but the minister said there were people like +that in every church, they always came among the Lord's anointed, +and it was better to pluck out your right eye than to offend one +of them, and he was doubtful about doing it. So we children all +knew that the grown people scarcely could stand Isaac's speech, +and prayer, and song, and that they were afraid to tell him plain +out that he did more harm than good. Every meeting about the +third man up was Isaac, and we had to watch him wave, and rant, +and go sing-songy: + + "Oh brethering and sistering--ah, + It delights my heart--ah to gather with you, + In this holy house of worship--ah. + In his sacred word--ah, + The Lord--ah tells us, + That we are all his childring--ah. + And now, lemme exhort you to-night--ah, + As one that loves you--ah, + To choose that good part, that Mary chose--ah, + That the worrrr-uld kin neither give ner take away--ah." + +That went on until he was hoarse, then he prayed, and arose and +sang his song. Other men spoke where they stood. Isaac always +walked to the altar, faced the people, and he was tired out when +he finished, but so proud of himself, so happy, and he felt so +sure that his efforts were worth a warm bed, sausage, pancakes, +maple syrup, and coffee for breakfast, that it was mighty seldom +he failed to fool some one else into thinking so too, and if he +could, he wouldn't have to walk four miles home on cold nights, +with no overcoat. In summer, mostly, they let him go. Isaac +always was fattest in winter, especially during revivals, but at +any time mother said he looked like a sheep's carcass after the +buzzards had picked it. It could be seen that he was perfectly +strong, and could have fed and clothed himself, and Mandy and the +children, quite as well as our father did us, if he had wanted to +work, for we had the biggest family of the neighbourhood. So we +children made fun of him and we had to hold our mouths shut when +he got up all tired and teary-like, and began to quaver: + + "Many dear childurn we know dew stan' + Un toon ther harps in the better lan', + Ther little hans frum each soundin' string, + Bring music sweet, wile the Anguls sing, + Bring music sweet, wile the Anguls sing,-- + We shell meet them agin on that shore, + We shell meet them agin on that shore, + With fairer face, un angel grace, + Each loved un ull welcome us ther. + + "They uster mourn when the childurn died, + Un said goo-bye at the river side, + They dipped ther feet in the glidin' stream, + Un faded away, like a loveli dream, + Un faded away like a loveli dream." + + +Then the chorus again, and then Isaac dropped on the front seat +exhausted, and stayed there until some good-hearted woman, mostly +my mother, felt so sorry about his shiftlessness she asked him to +go home with us and warmed and fed him, and put him in the +traveller's bed to sleep. The way we played it was this: we +stood together at the edge of a roadside puddle and sang the +first verse and the chorus exactly as Isaac did. Then I sang the +second verse, and May was one of the "many dear childurn," and as +I came to the lines she dipped her feet in the "glidin' stream," +and for "fading away," she jumped across. + +Now May was a careful little soul, and always watched what she +was doing, so she walked up a short way, chose a good place, and +when I sang the line, she was almost birdlike, she dipped and +faded so gracefully. Then we laughed like dunces, and then May +began to sway and swing, and drone through her nose for me, and I +was so excited I never looked. I just dipped and faded on the +spot. I faded all right too, for I couldn't jump nearly across, +and when I landed in pure clay that had been covered with water +for three weeks, I went down to my knees in mud, to my waist in +water, and lost my balance and fell backward. + +A man passing on horseback pried me out with a rail and helped me +home. Of course he didn't know how I happened to fall in, and I +was too chilled to talk. I noticed May only said I fell, so I +went to bed scorched inside with red pepper tea, and never told a +word about dipping and fading. Leon whispered and said he bet it +was the last time I would play that, so as soon as my coat and +dress were washed and dried, and I could go back to school, I did +it again, just to show him I was no cowardy-calf; but I had +learned from May to choose a puddle I could manage before I +faded. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +"Even So" + + "All things whatsoever ye would + That men should do to you, + Do ye even so to them." + + +Our big girls and boys always made a dreadful fuss and said we +would catch every disease you could mention, but mother and +father were set about it, just like the big rocks in the hills. +They said they, themselves, once had been at the mercy of the +people, and they knew how it felt. Mother said when they were +coming here in a wagon, and she had ridden until she had to walk +to rest her feet, and held a big baby until her arms became so +tired she drove while father took it, and when at last they saw a +house and stopped, she said if the woman hadn't invited her in, +and let her cook on the stove, given her milk and eggs, and +furnished her a bed to sleep in once in a while, she couldn't +have reached here at all; and she never had been refused once. +Then she always quoted: "All things whatsoever ye would that men +should do to you, do ye EVEN SO to them." + +Father said there were men who made a business of splitting +hairs, and of finding different meanings in almost everything in +the Bible. I would like to have seen any one split hairs about +that, or it made to mean something else. Of all the things in +the Bible that you had to do because it said to, whether you +liked it or not, that was the one you struck oftenest in life and +it took the hardest pull to obey. It was just the hatefulest +text of any, and made you squirm most. There was no possible way +to get around it. It meant, that if you liked a splinter new +slate, and a sharp pencil all covered with gold paper, to make +pictures and write your lessons, when Clarissa Polk sat next you +and sang so low the teacher couldn't hear until she put herself +to sleep on it, "I WISHT I had a slate! I wisht I HAD a slate! +I wisht I had a SLATE! Oh I WISHT I HAD A SLATE!"--it meant that +you just had to wash up yours and stop making pictures yourself, +and pass it over; you even had to smile when you offered it, if +you did it right. I seldom got through it as the Lord would, for +any one who loaned Clarissa a slate knew that it would come back +with greasy, sweaty finger marks on it you almost had to dig a +hole to wash off, and your pencil would be wet. And if there +were the least flaw of crystal in the pencil, she found it, and +bore down so hard that what she wrote never would come off. + +The Lord always seemed bigger and more majestic to me, than at +any other time, when I remembered that He could have known all +that, and yet smiled as He loaned Clarissa His slate. And that +old Bible thing meant, too, that if you would like it if you were +travelling a long way, say to California to hunt gold, or even +just to Indiana, to find a farm fit to live on--it meant that if +you were tired, hungry, and sore, and would want to be taken in +and fed and rested, you had to let in other people when they +reached your house. Father and mother had been through it +themselves, and they must have been tired as could be, before +they reached Sarah Hood's and she took them in, and rested and +fed them, even when they were only a short way from the top of +the Little Hill, where next morning they looked down and stopped +the wagon, until they chose the place to build their house. +Sarah Hood came along, and helped mother all day, so by night she +was settled in the old cabin that was on the land, and ready to +go to work making money to build a new one, and then a big house, +and fix the farm all beautiful like it was then. They knew so +well how it felt, that they kept one bed in the boys' room, and +any man who came at dusk got his supper, to sleep there, and his +breakfast, and there never was anything to pay. The girls always +scolded dreadfully about the extra washing, but mother said she +slept on sheets when she came out, and some one washed them. + +One time Sally said: "Mother, have you ever figured out how many +hundred sheets you've washed since, to pay for that?" + +Mother said: "No, but I just hope it will make a stack high +enough for me to climb from into Heaven." + +Sally said: "The talk at the church always led me to think that +you flew to Heaven." + +Mother answered: "So I get there, I don't mind if I creep." + +Then Sally knew it was time to stop. We always knew. And we +stopped, too! + +We had heard that "All things" quotation, until the first two +words were as much as mother ever needed repeat of it any more, +and we had cooked, washed for, and waited on people travelling, +until Leon got so when he saw any one coming--of course we knew +all the neighbours, and their horses and wagons and carriages--he +always said: "Here comes another `Even So!'" He said we had +done "even so" to people until it was about our share, but mother +said our share was going to last until the Lord said, "Well done, +good and faithful servant," and took us home. She had much more +about the stranger at the gate and entertaining angels unawares; +why, she knew every single thing in the Bible that meant it was +her duty to feed and give a bed to any one, no matter how dirty +or miserable looking he was! So when Leon came in one evening at +dusk and said, "There's another `Even So' coming down the Little +Hill!" all of us knew that we'd have company for the night, and +we had. + +I didn't like that man, but some of the others seemed to find him +amusing. Maybe it was because I had nothing to do but sit and +watch him, and so I saw more of him than the ones who came and +went all the time. As long as there was any one in the room, he +complained dreadfully about his sore foot, and then cheered up +and talked, and he could tell interesting things. He was young, +but he must have been most everywhere and seen everything. He +was very brave and could stand off three men who were going to +take from him the money he was carrying to buy a piece of land in +Illinois. The minute the grown folks left the room to milk, do +the night feeding, and begin supper, he twisted in his chair and +looked at every door, and went and stood at the back dining-room +window, where he could see the barn and what was out there, and +coming back he took a peep into father's and mother's room, and +although he limped dreadfully when he came, he walked like any +one when he went over and picked up father's gun and looked to +see if it were loaded, and seemed mighty glad when he found it +wasn't. Father said he could load in a flash when it was +necessary, but he was dubious about a loaded gun in a house full +of children. Not one of us ever touched it, until the boys were +big enough to have permission, like Laddie and Leon had. He said +a gun was such a great "moral persuader," that the sight of one +was mostly all that was needed, and nobody could tell by looking +at it whether it was loaded or not. This man could, for he +examined the lock and smiled in a pleased way over it, and he +never limped a step going back to his chair. He kept on +complaining, until father told him before bedtime that he had +better rest a day or two, and mother said that would be a good +idea. + +He talked so much we couldn't do our lessons or spell very well, +but it was Friday and we'd have another chance Saturday, so it +didn't make so much difference. Father said the traveller must +be tired and sleepy and Leon should take a light and show him to +bed. He stayed so long father went to the foot of the stairway, +and asked him why he didn't come down and he said he was in bed +too. The next morning he was sleepy at breakfast and Laddie said +it was no wonder, because Leon and the traveller were talking +when he went upstairs. The man turned to father and said: +"That's a mighty smart boy, Mr. Stanton." Father frowned and +said: "Praise to the face is open disgrace. I hope he will be +smart enough not to disgrace us, anyway." + +The traveller said he was sure he would be, and we could see that +he had taken a liking to Leon, for he went with him to the barn +to help do the morning feeding. They stayed so long mother sent +me to call them, and when I got there, the man was telling Leon +how foolish it was for boys to live on a farm; how they never +would amount to anything unless they went to cities, and about +all the fun there was there, and how nice it was to travel, +even along the roads, because every one fed you, and gave you a +good bed. He forgot that walking had made his foot lame, and I +couldn't see, to save me, why he was going to spend his money to +buy a farm, if he thought a town the only place where it was fit +to live. + +He stayed all Saturday, and father said Sunday was no suitable +time to start on a journey again, and the man's foot was bad when +father was around, so it would be better to wait until Monday. +The traveller tagged Leon and told him what a fine fellow he was, +how smart he was, and to prove it, Leon boasted about everything +he knew, and showed the man all over the farm. + +I even saw them pass the Station in the orchard, and heard Leon +brag how father had been an agent for the Governor; but of course +he didn't really show him the place, and probably it would have +made no difference if he had, for all the money must have been +spent on Sally's wedding. Of course father might have put some +there he had got since, or that money might never have been his +at all, but it seemed as if it would be, because it was on his +land. + +Sunday evening all of us attended church, but the traveller was +too tired, so when Leon said he'd stay with him, father thought +it was all right. I could see no one wanted to leave the man +alone in the house. He said they'd go to bed early, and we came +in quite late. The lamp was turned low, the door unlocked, and +everything in place. Laddie went to bed without a candle, and +said he'd undress and slip in easy so as not to waken them. + +In the morning when he got up the traveller's bed hadn't been +slept in, and neither had Leon's. The gun was gone, and father +stared at mother, and mother stared at Laddie, and he turned and +ran straight toward the Station, and in a minute he was back, +whiter than a plate. He just said: "All gone!" Father and +mother both sat down suddenly and hard. Then Laddie ran to the +barn and came back and said none of the horses had been taken. +Soon they went into the parlour and shut the door, and when they +came out father staggered and mother looked exactly like +Sabethany. Laddie ran to the barn, saddled Flos and rode away. +Father wanted to ring an alarm on the dinner bell, like he had a +call arranged to get all the neighbours there quickly if we had +sickness or trouble, and mother said: "Paul, you shall not! +He's so young! We've got to keep this as long as we can, and +maybe the Lord will help us find him, and we can give him another +chance." + +Father started to say something, and mother held up her hand and +just said, "Paul!" and he sank back in the chair and kept still. +Mother always had spoken of him as "the Head of the Family," and +here he wasn't at all! He minded her quickly as I would. + +When Miss Amelia came downstairs they let her start to school and +never told her a word, but mother said May and I were not to go. +So I slipped out and ran through the orchard to look at the +Station, and sure enough! the stone was rolled back, the door +open and the can lying on the floor. I slid down and picked it +up, and there was one sheet of paper money left in it stuck to +the sides. It was all plain as a pikestaff. Leon must have +thought the money had been spent, and showed the traveller the +Station, just to brag, and he guessed there might be something +there, and had gone while we were at church and taken it. He had +all night the start of us, and he might have a horse waiting +somewhere, and be almost to Illinois by this time, and if the +money belonged to father, there would be no Christmas; and if it +happened to be the money the county gave him to pay the men who +worked the roads every fall, and Miss Amelia, or collections from +the church, he'd have to pay it back, even if it put him in debt; +and if he died, they might take the land, like he said; and where +on earth was Leon? Knew what he'd done and hiding, I bet! He +needed the thrashing he would get that time, and I started out to +hunt him and have it over with, so mother wouldn't be uneasy +about him yet; and then I remembered Laddie had said Leon hadn't +been in bed all night. He was gone too! + +Maybe he wanted to try life in a city, where the traveller had +said everything was so grand; but he must have known that he'd +kill his mother if he went, and while he didn't kiss her so +often, and talk so much as some of us, I never could see that he +didn't run quite as fast to get her a chair or save her a step. +He was so slim and light he could race for the doctor faster than +Laddie or father, either one. Of course he loved his mother, +just as all of us did; he never, never could go away and not let +her know about it. If he had gone, that watchful-eyed man, who +was lame only part of the time, had taken the gun and made him +go. I thought I might as well save the money he'd overlooked, so +I gripped it tight in my hand, and put it in my apron pocket, the +same as I had Laddie's note to the Princess, and started to the +barn, on the chance that Leon might be hiding. I knew precious +well I would, if I were in his place. So I hunted the granaries, +the haymow, the stalls, then I stood on the threshing floor and +cried: "Leon! If you're hiding come quick! Mother will be sick +with worrying and father will be so glad to see you, he won't do +anything much. Do please hurry!" + +Then I listened, and all I could hear was a rat gnawing at a +corner of the granary under the hay. Might as well have saved +its teeth, it would strike a strip of tin when it got through, +but of course it couldn't know that. Then I went to every hole +around the haystack, where the cattle had eaten; none were deep +yet, like they would be later in the season, and all the way I +begged of Leon to come out. Once a rooster screamed, flew in my +face and scared me good, but no Leon; so I tried the corn crib, +the implement shed, and the wood house, climbing the ladder with +the money still gripped in one hand. Then I slipped in the front +door, up the stairs, and searched the garret, even away back +where I didn't like to very well. At last I went to the dining- +room, and I don't think either father or mother had moved, while +Sabethany turned to stone looked good compared with them. Seemed +as if it would have been better if they'd cried, or scolded, or +anything but just sit there as they did, when you could see by +their moving once in a while that they were alive. In the +kitchen Candace and May finished the morning work, and both of +them cried steadily. I slipped to May, "Whose money was it?" I +whispered. "Father's, or the county's, or the church's?" + +"All three," said May. + +"The traveller took it." + +"How would he find it? None of us knew there was such a place +before." + +"Laddie seemed to know!" + +"Oh Laddie! Father trusts him about everything." + +"They don't think HE told?" + +"Of course not, silly. It's Leon who is gone!" + +"Leon may have told about the Station!" I cried. "He didn't +touch the money. He never touched it!" + +Then I went straight to father. Keeping a secret was one thing; +seeing the only father you had look like that, was another. I +held out the money. + +"There's one piece old Even So didn't get, anyway," I said. +"Found it on the floor of the Station, where it was stuck to the +can. And I thought Leon must be hiding for fear he'd be whipped +for telling, but I've hunted where we usually hide, and promised +him everything under the sun if he'd come out; but he didn't, so +I guess that traveller man must have used the gun to make him go +along." + +Father sat and stared at me. He never offered to touch the +money, not even when I held it against his hand. So I saw that +money wasn't the trouble, else he'd have looked quick enough to +see how much I had. They were thinking about Leon being gone, at +least father was. Mother called me to her and asked: "You knew +about the Station?" + +I nodded. + +"When?" + +"On the way back from taking Amanda Deam her ducks this summer." + +"Leon was with you?" + +"He found it." + +"What were you doing?" + +"Sitting on the fence eating apples. We were wondering why that +ravine place wasn't cleaned up, when everywhere else was, and +then Leon said there might be a reason. He told about having +seen a black man, and that he was hidden some place, and we +hunted there and found it. We rolled back the stone, and opened +the door, and Leon went in, and both of us saw a can full of +money." + +"Go on." + +"We didn't touch it, mother! Truly we didn't! Leon said we'd +found something not intended for children, and we'd be whipped +sick if we ever went near or told, and we never did, not even +once, unless Leon wanted to boast to the traveller man, but if he +showed him the place, he thought sure the money had all been +spent on the wedding and sending Shelley away." + +Father's arms shot out, and his head pitched on the table. +Mother got up and began to walk the floor, and never went near or +even touched him. I couldn't bear it. I went and pulled his arm +and put the bill under his hand. + +"Leon didn't take your money! He didn't! He didn't! I just +know he didn't! He does tricks because they are so funny, or he +thinks they'll be, but he doesn't steal! He doesn't touch a +single thing that is not his, only melons, or chicken out of the +skillet, or bread from the cellar; but not money and things. I +take gizzards and bread myself, but I don't steal, and Leon or +none of us do! Oh father, we don't! Not one of us do! Don't +you remember about `Thou shalt not,' and the Crusaders? Leon's +the best fighter of any of us. I'm not sure that he couldn't +even whip Laddie, if he got mad enough! Maybe he can't whip the +traveller if he has the gun, but, father, Leon simply couldn't +take the money. Laddie will stay home and work, and all of us. +We can help get it back. We can sell a lot of things. Laddie +will sell Flos before he'll see you suffer so; and all of us will +give up Christmas, and we'll work! We'll work as hard as ever we +can, and maybe you could spare the little piece Joe Risdell wants +to build his cabin on. We can manage about the money, father, +indeed we can. But you don't dare think Leon took it! He never +did! Why, he's yours! Yours and mother's!" + +Father lifted his head and reached out his arms. + +"You blessing!" he said. "You blessing from the Lord!" + +Then he gave me a cold, stiff kiss on the forehead, went to +mother, took her arm, and said: "Come, mommy, let's go and tell +the Lord about it, and then we'll try to make some plan. Perhaps +Laddie will be back with word soon." + +But he almost had to carry her. Then we could hear him praying, +and he was so anxious, and he made it so earnest it sounded +exactly like the Lord was in our room and father was talking +right to His face. I tried to think, and this is what I thought: +as father left the room, he looked exactly as I had seen Mr. +Pryor more than once, and my mother had both hands gripped over +her heart, and she said we must not let any one know. Now if +something could happen to us to make my father look like the +Princess' and my mother hold her heart with both hands, and if no +one were to know about it like they had said, how were we any +different from Pryors? We might be of the Lord's anointed, but +we could get into the same kind of trouble the infidels could, +and have secrets ourselves, or at least it seemed as if it might +be very nearly the same, when it made father and mother look and +act the way they did. I wondered if we'd have to leave our +lovely, lovely home, cross a sea and be strangers in a strange +land, as Laddie said; and if people would talk about us, and make +us feel that being a stranger was the loneliest, hardest thing in +all the world. Well, if mysteries are like this, and we have to +live with one days and years, the Lord have mercy on us! Then I +saw the money lying on the table, so I took it and put it in the +Bible. Then I went out and climbed the catalpa tree to watch for +Laddie. + +Soon I saw a funny thing, such as I never before had seen. +Coming across the fields, straight toward our house, sailing over +the fences like a bird, came the Princess on one of her horses. +Its legs stretched out so far its body almost touched the ground, +and it lifted up and swept over the rails. She took our meadow +fence lengthwiselike, and at the hitching rack she threw the +bridle over the post, dismounted, and then I saw she had been +riding astride, like a man. I ran before her and opened the +sitting-room door, but no one was there, so I went on to the +dining-room. Father had come in, and mother was sitting in her +chair. Both of them looked at the Princess and never said a +word. + +She stopped inside the dining-room door and spoke breathlessly, +as if she as well as the horse had raced. + +"I hope I'm not intruding," she said, "but a man north of us told +our Thomas in the village that robbers had taken quite a large +sum of hidden money you held for the county, and church, and of +your own, and your gun, and got away while you were at church +last night. Is it true?" + +"Practically," said my father. + +Then my mother motioned toward a chair. + +"You are kind to come," she said. "Won't you be seated?" + +The Princess stepped to the chair, but she gripped the back in +both hands and stood straight, breathing fast, her eyes shining +with excitement, her lips and cheeks red, so lovely you just had +to look, and look. + +"No," she said. "I'll tell you why I came, and then if there is +nothing I can do here, and no errand I can ride for you, I'll go. + +Mother has heart trouble, the worst in all the world, the kind no +doctor can ever hope to cure, and sometimes, mostly at night, she +is driven to have outside air. Last night she was unusually ill, +and I heard her leave the house, after I'd gone to my room. I +watched from my window and saw her take a seat on a bench under +the nearest tree. I was moving around and often I looked to see +if she were still there. Then the dogs began to rave, and I +hurried down. They used to run free, but lately, on account of +her going out, father has been forced to tie them at night. They +were straining at their chains, and barking dreadfully. I met +her at the door, but she would only say some one passed and gave +her a fright. When Thomas came in and told what he had heard, +she said instantly that she had seen the man. + +"She said he was about the size of Thomas, that he came from your +direction, that he ran when our dogs barked, but he kept beside +the fences, and climbed over where there were trees. He crossed +our barnyard and went toward the northwest. Mother saw him +distinctly as he reached the road, and she said he was not a +large man, he stooped when he ran, and she thought he moved like +a slinking, city thief. She is sure he's the man who took your +money; she says he acted exactly as if he were trying to escape +pursuit; but I was to be SURE to tell you that he didn't carry a +gun. If your gun is gone, there must have been two, and the +other man took that and went a different way. Did two men stop +here?" + +"No," said father. "Only one." + +The Princess looked at him thoughtfully. + +"Do you think, Mr. Stanton," she said, "that the man who took the +money would burden himself with a gun? Isn't a rifle heavy for +one in flight to carry?" + +"It is," said father. "Your mother saw nothing of two men?" + +"Only one, and she knows he didn't carry a gun. Except the man +you took in, no stranger has been noticed around here lately?" + +"No one. We are quite careful. Even the gun was not loaded as +it stood; whoever took it carried the ammunition also, but he +couldn't fire until he loaded." + +Father turned to the corner where the gun always stood and then +he stooped and picked up two little white squares from the floor. + +They were bits of unbleached muslin in which he wrapped the +bullets he made. + +"The rifle was loaded before starting, and in a hurry," he said, +as he held up the squares of muslin. Then he scratched a match, +bent, and ran it back and forth over the floor, and at one place +there was a flash, and the flame went around in funny little +fizzes as it caught a grain of powder here and there. "You see +the measure was overrun." + +"Wouldn't the man naturally think the gun was loaded, and take it +as it stood?" + +"That would be a reasonable conclusion," said father. + +"But he looked!" I cried. "That first night when you and the +boys went to the barn, and the girls were getting supper, he +looked at the gun, and he LIKED it when he saw it wasn't loaded. +He smiled. And he didn't limp a mite when I was the only one in +the room. He and Leon knew it wasn't loaded, and I guess he +didn't load it, for he liked having it empty so well." + +"Ummmm!" said father. "What it would save in this world if a +child only knew when to talk and when to keep still. Little +Sister, the next time you see a stranger examine my gun when I'm +not in the room, suppose you take father out alone and whisper to +him about it." + +"Yes, sir," I said. + +The way I wished I had told that at the right time made me dizzy, +but then there were several good switchings I'd had for telling +things, besides what Sally did to me about her and Peter. I +would have enjoyed knowing how one could be sure. Hereafter, it +will be all right about the gun, anyway. + +"Could I take my horse and carry a message anywhere for you? Are +both your sons riding to tell the neighbours?" + +Father hesitated, but it seemed as if he stopped to think, so I +just told her: "Laddie is riding. Leon didn't take a horse." + +Father said there was nothing she could do, so she took my hand +and we started for the gate. + +"I do hope they will find him, and get back the money, and give +him what he deserves!" she cried. + +"Yes, father and mother are praying that they'll find him," I +said. "It doesn't seem to make the least difference to them +about the money. Father didn't even look at a big paper piece I +found where it was hidden. But they are anxious about the man. +Mother says he is so young, we just must find him, and keep this +a secret, and give him another chance. You won't tell, will +you?" + +The Princess stood still on our walk, and then of all things! if +she didn't begin to go Sabethany-like. The colour left her +cheeks and lips and she shivered and shook and never said one +word. I caught her arm. "Say, what ails you?" I cried. "You +haven't gone and got heart trouble too, have you?" + +She stood there trembling, and then, wheeling suddenly, ran back +into the house, and went to my mother. On her knees, the +Princess buried her face in mother's breast and said: "Oh Mrs. +Stanton! Oh, if I only could help you!" + +She began to cry as if something inside her had broken, and she'd +shake to pieces. + +Mother stared above her head at father, with her eyebrows raised +high, and he waved his hand toward me. Mother turned to me, but +already she had put her arms around the Princess, and was trying +to hold her together. + +"What did you tell her that made her come back?" she asked +sternlike. + +"You forgot to explain that the man was so young, and you wanted +to keep it a secret and give him another chance," I said. "I +just asked her not to tell." + +Mother looked at father and all the colour went from her face, +and she began to shake. He stared at her, then he opened her +door and lifted the Princess with one arm, and mother with the +other, and helped them into mother's room, stepped back and +closed the door. After a while it opened and they came out +together, with both mother's arms around the Princess, and she +had cried until she staggered. Mother lifted her face and kissed +her, when they reached the door and said: "Tell your mother I +understand enough to sympathize. Carry her my love. I do wish +she would give herself the comfort of asking God to help her." + +"She does! Oh, I'm sure she does!" said the Princess. "It's +father who has lost all judgment and reason." + +Father went with her to the gate, and this time she needed help +to mount her horse, and she left it to choose its way and go +where it pleased on the road. When father came in he looked at +mother, and she said: "I haven't the details, but she +understands too well. The Pryor mystery isn't much of a mystery +any more. God help their poor souls, and save us from suffering +like that!" + +She said so little and meant so much, I couldn't figure out +exactly what she did mean, but father seemed to understand. + +"I've often wondered," he said, but he didn't say what he +wondered, and he hurried to the barn and saddled our best horse +and came in and began getting ready to ride, and we knew he would +go northwest. I went back to the catalpa tree and wondered +myself; but it was too much for me to straighten out: just why my +mother wanting to give the traveller man another chance would +make the Princess feel like that. If she had known my mother as +I did, she'd have known that she ALWAYS wanted to give every man +a second chance, no matter whether he was young or old. + +Then I saw Laddie coming down the Big Hill beside the church, but +he was riding so fast I thought he wouldn't want to bother with +me, so I slid from the tree, and ran to tell mother. She went to +the door and watched as he rode up, but you could see by his face +he had not heard of them. + +"Nothing, but I have some men out. I am going east now," he +said. "I wish, father, you would rub Flos down, blanket her, and +if you can, walk her slowly an hour while she cools off. I am +afraid I've ruined her. How much had you there?" + +"I haven't stopped to figure," said father. "I think I'd better +take the horse I have ready and go on one of the northwest roads. + +The Pryor girl was here a few moments ago, and her mother saw a +man cross their place about the right time last evening. He ran +and acted suspiciously when the dogs barked. But he was alone +and he didn't have a gun." + +"Was she sure?" + +"Positive." + +"Then it couldn't have been our man, but I'll ride in that +direction and start a search. They would keep to the woods, I +think! You'd better stay with mother. I'll ask Jacob Hood to +take your place." + +So Laddie rode away again without even going into the house, and +mother said to father: "What can he be saying to people, that +the neighbours don't come?" + +Father answered: "I don't know, but if any one can save the +situation, Laddie will." + +Mother went to bed, while father sat beside her reading aloud +little scraps from the Bible, and they took turns praying. From +the way they talked to the Lord, you could plainly see that they +were reminding Him of all the promises He had made to take care +of people, comfort those in trouble, and heal the broken-hearted. + +One thing was so curious, I asked May if she noticed, and she +had. When they had made such a fuss about money only a short +while before, and worked so hard to get our share together, and +when they would have to pay back all that belonged to the county +and church, neither of them ever even mentioned money then. +Every minute I expected father to ask where I'd put the piece I +found, and when he opened right at it, in the Bible, he turned on +past, exactly as if it were an obituary, or a piece of Sally's +wedding dress, or baby hair from some of our heads. He went on +hunting places where the Lord said sure and strong that He'd help +people who loved Him. When either of them prayed, they asked the +Lord to help those near them who were in trouble, as often and +earnestly as they begged Him to help them. There were no people +near us who were in trouble that we knew of, excepting Pryors. +Hard as father and mother worked, you'd have thought the Lord +wouldn't have minded if they asked only once to get the money +back, or if they forgot the neighbours, but they did neither one. + +May said because they were big like that was why all of us loved +them so. + +I would almost freeze in the catalpa, but as I could see far in +all directions there, I went back, and watched the roads, and +when I remembered what Laddie had said, I kept an eye on the +fields too. At almost dusk, and frozen so stiff I could scarcely +hang to the limb, I heard the bulldogs at Pryors' begin to rave. +They kept on steadily, and I thought Gypsies must be passing. +Then from the woods came a queer party that started across the +cornfield toward the Big Meadow in front of the house, and I +thought they were hunters. I stood in the tree and watched until +they climbed the meadow fence, and by that time I could see +plainly. + +The traveller man got over first, then Leon and the dogs, and +then Mr. Pryor handed Leon the gun, leaped over, and took it. I +looked again, and then fell from the tree and almost bursted. As +soon as I could get up, and breathe, I ran to the front door, +screaming: "Father! Father! Come open the Big Gate. Leon's +got him, but he's so tired Mr. Pryor is carrying the gun, and +helping him walk!" + +Just like one, all of us ran; father crossed the road, and opened +the gate. The traveller man wouldn't look up, he just slouched +along. But Leon's chin was up and his head high. He was +scratched, torn, and dirty. He was wheezing every breath most +from his knees, and Mr. Pryor half carried him and the gun. When +they met us, Leon reached in his trousers pocket and drew out a +big roll of money that he held toward father. "My fault!" he +gasped. "But I got it back for you." + +Then he fell over and father caught him in his arms and carried +him into the house, and laid him on the couch in the dining-room. + +Mr. Pryor got down and gathered up the money from the road. He +followed into the house and set the gun in the corner. + +"Don't be frightened," he said to mother. "The boy has walked +all night, and all day, with no sleep or food, and the gun was a +heavy load for him. I gathered from what he said, when the dogs +let us know they were coming, that this hound took your money. +Your dog barked and awakened the boy and he loaded the gun and +followed. The fellow had a good start and he didn't get him +until near daybreak. It's been a stiff pull for the youngster +and he seems to feel it was his fault that this cowardly cur you +sheltered learned where you kept your money. If that is true, I +hope you won't be hard on him!" + +Father was unfastening Leon's neckband, mother was rubbing his +hands, Candace was taking off his shoes, and May was spilling +water father had called for, all over the carpet, she shook so. +When Leon drew a deep breath and his head rolled on the pillow, +father looked at Mr. Pryor. I don't think he heard all of it, +but he caught the last words. + +"`Hard on him! Hard on him!'" he said, the tears rolling down +his cheeks. "`This my son, who was lost, is found!'" + +"Oh!" shouted Mr. Pryor, slamming the money on the table. "Poor +drivel to fit the circumstances. If I stood in your boots, sir, +I would rise up in the mighty strength of my pride and pull out +foundation stones until I shook the nation! I never envied +mortal man as I envy you to-day!" + +Candace cried out: "Oh look, his poor feet! They are blistered +and bleeding!" + +Mother moved down a little, gathered them in her arms, and began +kissing them. Father wet Leon's lips and arose. He held out his +hand, and Mr. Pryor took it. + +"I will pray God," he said, "that it may happen `even so' to +you." + +Leon opened his eyes and caught only the last words. + +"You had better look out for the `Even So's,' father," he said. + +And father had to laugh, but Mr. Pryor went out, and slammed the +door, until I looked to see if it had cracked from top to bottom; +but we didn't care if it had, we were so happy over having Leon +back. + +I went and picked up the money and carried it to father to put +away, and that time he took it. But even then he didn't stop to +see if he had all of it. + +"You see!" I said, "I told you----" + +"You did indeed!" said father. "And you almost saved our reason. +There are times when things we have come to feel we can't live +without, so press us, that money seems of the greatest +importance. This is our lesson. Hereafter, I and all my family, +who have been through this, will know that money is not even +worth thinking about when the life and honour of one you love +hangs in the balance. When he can understand, your brother shall +know of the wondrous faith his Little Sister had in him." + +"Maybe he won't like what you and mother thought. Maybe we +better not tell him. I can keep secrets real well. I have +several big ones I've never told, and I didn't say a word about +the Station when Leon said I shouldn't." + +"After this there will be no money kept on the place," said +father. "It's saving time at too great cost. All we have goes +into the bank, and some of us will cheerfully ride for what we +want, when we need it. As for not telling Leon, that is as your +mother decides. For myself, I believe I'd feel better to make a +clean breast of it." + +Mother heard, for she sobbed as she bathed Leon's feet, and when +his eyes came open so they'd stay a little while, he kept looking +at her so funny, between sips of hot milk. + +"Don't CRY, mammy!" he said. "I'M all right. Sorry such a +rumpus! Let him fool me. Be smart as the next fellow, after +this! Know how glad you are to get the money!" + +Mother sat back on her heels and roared as I do when I step in a +bumblebee's nest, and they get me. Leon was growing better every +minute, and he stared at her, and then his dealish, funny old +grin began to twist his lips and he cried: "Oh golly! You +thought _I_ helped take it and went with him, didn't you?" + +"Oh my son, my son!" wailed mother until she made me think of +Absalom under the oak. + +"Well, I be ding-busted!" said Leon, sort of slow and wondering- +like, and father never opened his head to tell him that was no +way to talk. + +Mother cried more than ever, and between sobs she tried to +explain that I heard what the traveller man had said about how +bad it was to live in the country; and how Leon was now at an age +where she'd known boys to get wrong ideas, and how things looked, +and in the middle of it he raised on his elbow and took her in +his arms and said: "Well of all the geese! And I 'spose father +was in it too! But since it's the first time, and since it is +you----! Go to bed now, and let me sleep----But see that you +don't ever let this happen again." + +Then he kissed her over and over and clung to her tight and at +last dropped back and groaned: + + "My reputation, O my reputation! + I've lost my reputation!" + + +She had to laugh while the tears were still running, and father +and Laddie looked at each other and shouted. I guess they +thought Leon was about right after that. Laddie went and bent +over him and took his hand. + +"Don't be in quite such a hurry, old man," he said. "Before you +wink out I have got to tell you how proud I am of having a +brother who is a real Crusader. The Lord knows this took nerve! +You're great, boy, simply great!" + +Leon grabbed Laddie's hand with both of his and held tight and +laughed. You could see the big tears squeeze out, although he +fought to wink them back. He held to Laddie and said low-like, +only for him to hear: "It's all right if you stay by a while, +old man." + +He began to talk slowly. + +"It was a long time before I caught up, and then I had to hide, +and follow until day, and he wasn't so very easy to handle. Once +I thought he had me sure! It was an awful load, but if it hadn't +been for the good old gun, I'd never have got him. When we mixed +up, I had fine luck getting that chin punch on him; good thing I +worked it out so slick on Absalom Saunders, and while old Even So +was groggy I got the money away from him, took the gun, and stood +back some distance, before he came out of it. Once we had it +settled who walked ahead, and who carried the money and gun, we +got along better, but I had to keep an eye on him every minute. +To come through the woods was the shortest, but I'm tired out, +and so is he. Getting close I most felt sorry for him, he was so +forlorn, and so scared about what would be done to him. He +stopped and pulled out another roll, and offered me all of it, if +I'd let him go. I didn't know whether it was really his, or part +of father's, so I told him he could just drop it until I found +out. Made him sweat blood, but I had the gun, and he had to +mind. I was master then. So there may be more in the roll I +gave father than Even So took. Father can figure up and keep +what belongs to him. Even So had gone away past Flannigans' +before I tackled him, and I was sleepy, cold, and hungry; you'd +have thought there'd have been a man out hunting, or passing on +the road, but not a soul did we see 'til Pryors'! Say, the old +man was bully! He helped me so, I almost thought I belonged to +him! My! he's fine, when you know him! After he came on the +job, you bet old Even So walked up. Say, where is he? Have you +fed him?" + +Laddie looked at father, who was listening, and we all rushed to +the door, but it must have been an hour, and Even So hadn't +waited. Father said it was a great pity, because a man like that +shouldn't be left to prey on the community; but mother said she +didn't want to be mixed up with a trial, or to be responsible for +taking the liberty of a fellow creature, and father said that was +exactly like a woman. Leon went to sleep, but none of us thought +of going to bed; we just stood around and looked at him, and +smiled over him, and cried about him, until you would have +thought he had been shipped to us in a glass case, and cost, +maybe, a hundred dollars. + +Father got out his books and figured up his own and the road +money, and Miss Amelia's, and the church's. Laddie didn't want +her around, so he stopped at the schoolhouse and told her to stay +at Justices' that night, we'd need all our rooms; but she didn't +like being sent away when there was such excitement, but every +one minded Laddie when he said so for sure. + +When father had everything counted there was more than his, quite +a lot of it, stolen from other people who sheltered the traveller +no doubt, father said. We thought he wouldn't be likely to come +back for it, and father said he was at loss what to do with it, +but Laddie said he wasn't--it was Leon's--he had earned it; so +father said he would try to find out if anything else had been +stolen, and he'd keep it a year, and then if no one claimed it, +he would put it on interest until Leon decided what he wanted to +do with it. + +When you watched Leon sleep you could tell a lot more about what +had happened to him than he could. He moaned, and muttered +constantly, and panted, and felt around for the gun, and breathed +like he was running again, and fought until Laddie had to hold +him on the couch, and finally awakened him. But it did no good; +he went right off to sleep again, and it happened all over. Then +father began getting his Crusader blood up, although he always +said he was a man of peace. But it was a lucky thing Even So got +away; for after father had watched Leon a while, he said if that +man had been on the premises, his fingers itched so to get at +him, he was positive he'd have vented a little righteous +indignation on him that would have cost him within an inch of his +life. And he'd have done it too! He was like that. It took a +lot, and it was slow coming, but when he became angry enough, and +felt justified in it, why you'd be much safer to be some one else +than the man who provoked him. + +After ten o'clock the dog barked, some one tapped, and father +went; he always would open the door; you couldn't make him +pretend he was asleep, or not at home when he was, and there +stood Mr. Pryor. He said they could see the lights and they were +afraid the boy was ill, and could any of them help. Father said +there was nothing they could do; Leon was asleep. Then Mr. Pryor +said: "If he is off sound, so it won't disturb him, I would like +to see him again." + +Father told him Leon was restless, but so exhausted a railroad +train wouldn't waken him, so Mr. Pryor came in and went to the +couch. He took off his hat, like you do beside a grave, while +his face slowly grew whiter than his hair, and that would be +snow-white; then he turned at last and stumbled toward the door. +Laddie held it for him, but he didn't seem to remember he was +there. He muttered over and over: "Why? Why? In the name of +God, why?" Laddie followed to the gate to help him on his horse, +because he thought he was almost out of his head, but he had +walked across the fields, so Laddie kept far behind and watched +until he saw him go safely inside his own door. + +I think father and Laddie sat beside Leon all night. The others +went to sleep. A little after daybreak, just as Laddie was +starting to feed, there was an awful clamour, and here came a lot +of neighbours with Even So. Mr. Freshett had found him asleep in +a cattle hole in the straw stack, and searched him, and he had +more money, and that made Mr. Freshett sure; and as he was very +strong, and had been for years a soldier, and really loved to +fight, he marched poor Even So back to our house. Every few rods +they met more men out searching who came with them, until there +were so many, our front yard and the road were crowded. Of all +the sights you ever saw, Even So looked the worst. You could see +that he'd drop over at much more. Those men kept crying they +were going to hang him; but mother went out and talked to them, +and said they mustn't kill a man for taking only money. She told +them how little it was worth compared with other things; she had +Candace bring Even So a cup of hot coffee, lots of bread, and +sausage from the skillet, and she said it was our money, and our +lad, and we wanted nothing done about it. The men didn't like +it, but the traveller did. He grabbed and gobbled like a beast +at the hot food and cried, and mother said she forgave him, and +to let him go. + +Then Mr. Freshett looked awful disappointed, and he came up to +father, with his back toward mother, and asked: "That's your say +too, Mr. Stanton?" Father grinned sort of rueful-like, but he +said to give Even So his money and let him go. He told all about +getting ours back, and having had him at the house once before. +He brought the money Leon took from him, but the men said no +doubt he had stolen that, and Leon had earned it bringing him +back, so the traveller shouldn't have it. They took him away on +a horse and said they'd let him go, but that they'd escort him +from the county. Father told Mr. Freshett that he was a little +suspicious of them, and he would hold him responsible for the +man's life. Mr. Freshett said that he'd give his word that the +man would be safe; they only wanted to make sure he wouldn't come +back, and that he'd be careful in the future how he abused +hospitality, so they went, and all of us were glad of it. + +I don't know what Mr. Freshett calls safe, for they took Even So +to Groveville and locked him up until night. Then they led him +to the railroad, and made him crawl back and forth through an old +engine beside the track, until he was blacker than any negro ever +born; and then they had him swallow a big dose of croton oil for +his health. That was the only KIND thing they did, for afterward +they started him down the track and told him to run, and all of +them shot at his feet as he went. Hannah Freshett told me at +school the next day. Her father said Even So just howled, and +flew up in the air, and ducked, and dodged and ran like he'd +never walked a step, or was a bit tired. We made a game of it, +and after that one of the boys was Even So, and the others were +the mob, and the one who could howl nicest, jump highest, and go +fastest, could be "It" oftenest. + +Leon grew all right faster than you would think. He went to +school day after next, and the boys were sick with envy. They +asked and asked, but Leon wouldn't tell much. He didn't seem to +like to talk about it, and he wouldn't play the game or even +watch us. He talked a blue streak about the money. Father was +going to write to every sheriff of the counties along the way the +man said he had come, and if he could find no one before spring +who had been robbed, he said Leon might do what he liked with the +money. I used to pretend it was coming to me, and each day I +thought of a new way to spend it. Leon was so sure he'd get it +he marched right over and asked Mr. Pryor about a nice young +thoroughbred horse, from his stables, and when he came back he +could get a coltlike one so very cheap that father and Laddie +looked at each other and gasped, and never said a word. They +figured up, and if Leon got the money, he could have the horse, +and save some for college, and from the start he never changed a +mite about those two things he wanted to do with it. He had the +horse picked out and went to the field to feed and pet it and +make it gentle, so he could ride bareback, and mother said he +would be almost sick if the owner of the money turned up. + +Pulling his boots one night, father said so too, and that the +thoughts of it worried him. He said Mr. Pryor had shaded his +price so that if the money had to go, he would be tempted to see +if we couldn't manage it ourselves. I don't know how shading the +price of a horse would make her feel better, but it did, and +maybe Leon is going to get it. + + + +CHAPTER X + +Laddie Takes the Plunge + + + "This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth + The tender leaves of hopes; to-morrow blossoms, + And bears his blushing honors thick upon him; + The third day comes a frost, a killing frost, + And, when he thinks, good, easy man, full surely + His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root, + And then he falls, as I do." + + +Watch me take the plunge!" said Laddie. + +"`Mad frenzy fires him now,'" quoted Leon. + +It was Sunday after dinner. We had been to church and Sunday- +school in the forenoon, and we had a houseful of company for +dinner. All of them remained to spend the afternoon, because in +our home it was perfectly lovely. We had a big dinner with +everything good to start on, and then we talked and visited and +told all the news. The women exchanged new recipes for cooking, +advised each other about how to get more work done with less +worry, to doctor their sick folks, and to make their dresses. At +last, when every thing was talked over, and there began to be a +quiet time, father would reach across the table, pick up a paper +and read all the interesting things that had happened in the +country during the past week; the jokes too, and they made people +think of funny stories to tell, and we just laughed. In the +Agriculturist there were new ways to farm easier, to make land +bear more crops; so he divided that with the neighbours, also how +to make gardens, and prune trees. Before he finished, he always +managed to work in a lot about being honest, kind, and loving +God. + +He and mother felt so good over Leon, and by this time they were +beginning to see that they were mighty glad about the money too. +It wouldn't have been so easy to work, and earn, and pay back all +that for our school, roads, and the church; and every day you +could see plainer how happy they felt that they didn't have to do +it. Because they were so glad about these things, they invited +every one they met that day; but we knew Saturday mother felt +that probably she would ask a crowd, from the chickens, pie, and +cake she got ready. When the reading part was over, and the +women were beginning to look at the clock, and you knew they felt +they should go home, and didn't want to, Laddie arose and said +that, and Leon piped up like he always does and made every one +laugh. Of course they looked at Laddie, and no one knew what he +meant, so all the women and a few of the men asked him. + +"Watch me, I said," laughed Laddie as he left the room. + +Soon Mrs. Dover, sitting beside the front window, cried: "Here +he is at the gate!" + +He was on his horse, but he hitched it and went around the house +and up the back way. Before long the stair door of the sitting- +room opened, and there he stood. We stared at him. Of course he +was bathed, and in clean clothing to start with, but he had +washed and brushed some more, until he shone. His cheeks were as +smooth and as clear pink as any girl's, his eyes blue-gray and +big, with long lashes and heavy brows. His hair was bright brown +and wavy, and he was so big and broad. He never had been sick a +day in his life, and he didn't look as if he ever would be. + +And clothes DO make a difference. He would have had exactly the +same hair, face, and body, wearing a hickory shirt and denim +trousers; but he wouldn't have looked as he did in the clothes he +wore at college, when it was Sunday there, or he was invited to a +party at the President's. I don't see how any man could possibly +be handsomer or look finer. His shirt, collar, and cuffs were +snow-white, like everything had to be before mother got through +with it; his big loose tie almost reached his shoulders; and our +men could do a thing no other man in the neighbourhood did: they +could appear easier in the finest suit they could put on than in +their working clothes. + +Mother used to say one thing she dreaded about Sunday was the +evident tortures of the poor men squirming in boots she knew +pinched them, coats too tight, and collars too high. She said +they acted like half-broken colts fretting over restriction. +Always she said to father and the boys when they went to buy +their new clothes: "Now, DON'T join the harness fighters! Get +your clothing big enough to set your bodies with comfort and +ease." + +I suppose those other men would have looked like ours if their +mothers had told them. You can always see that a man needs a +woman to help him out awful bad. + +Of course Laddie knew he was handsome; he had to know all of them +were looking at him curiously, but he stood there buttoning his +glove and laughing to himself until Sarah Hood asked: "Now what +are you up to?" + +He took a step toward her, ran one hand under her lanternjawed +chin, pulled her head against his side and turned up her face. + +"Sarah," he said, "'member the day we spoiled the washing?" + +Every one laughed. They had made jokes about it until our +friends knew what they meant. + +"What are you going to spoil now?" asked Sarah. + +"The Egyptians! The `furriners.' I'm going right after them!" + +"Well, you could be in better business," said Sarah Hood sharply. + +Laddie laughed and squeezed her chin, and hugged her head against +him. + +"Listen to that, now!" he cried. "My best friend going back on +me. Sarah, I thought you, of all people, would wish me luck." + +"I do !" she said instantly. "And that's the very reason I don't +want you mixed up with that mysterious, offish, stuck-up mess." + +"Bless your dear heart!" said Laddie, giving her a harder squeeze +than ever. "You got that all wrong, Sarah. You'll live to see +the day, very shortly, when you'll change every word of it." + +"I haven't done anything but get surer about it every day for two +years, anyway," said Sarah Hood. + +"Exactly!" said Laddie, "but wait until I have taken the plunge! +Let me tell you how the Pryor family strikes me. I think he is a +high-tempered, domineering man, proud as Lucifer! For some +cause, just or not, he is ruining his life and that of his family +because he so firmly believes it just; he is hiding here from his +home country, his relatives, and friends. I think she is, +barring you and mother, the handsomest woman of her age I ever +saw----" + +All of them laughed, because Sarah Hood was nearly as homely as a +woman could grow, and maybe other people didn't find our mother +so lovely as we thought her. I once heard one of her best +friends say she was "distinctly plain." I didn't see how she +could; but she said that. + +"--and the most pitiful," Laddie went on. "Sarah, what do you +suppose sends a frail little woman pacing the yard, and up and +down the road, sometimes in storm and rain, gripping both hands +over her heart?" + +"I suppose it's some shameful thing I don't want you mixed up +with!" said Sarah Hood promptly, and people just shouted. + +"Sarah," said Laddie, "I've seen her closely, watched her move, +and studied her expression. There's not one grain of possibility +that you, or mother, or Mrs. Fall, or any woman here, could be +any closer connected with SHAME. Shame there is," said Laddie, +"and what a word! How it stings, burns, withers, and causes +heart trouble and hiding; but shame in connection with that +woman, more than shame thrust upon her, which might come to any +of us, at any time, shame that is her error, in the life of a +woman having a face like hers, Sarah, I am ashamed of you! Your +only excuse is that you haven't persisted as I have until you got +to see for yourself." + +"I am not much on persistence in the face of a locked door, a +cast-iron man with a big cane, and two raving bulldogs," said +Mrs. Hood. "Wait, young man! Just wait until he sets them on +you." + +Laddie's head went back and how he laughed. + +"Hist! A word with you, Sarah!" he said. "'Member I have a sort +of knack with animals. I never yet have failed with one I +undertook to win. Now those bulldogs of Pryors' are as mild as +kittens with a man who knows the right word. Reason I know, +Sarah, I've said the word to them, separately and collectively, +and it worked. There is a contrast, Sarah, between what I say +and do to those dogs, and the kicks and curses they get from +their owner. I'll wager you two to one that if you can get Mr. +Pryor to go into a `sic-ing' contest with me, I can have his own +dogs at his throat, when he can't make them do more than to lick +my hands." + +They laughed as if that were funny. + +"Well, I didn't know about this," said Sarah. "How long have you +lived at Pryors'?" + +You couldn't have heard what Laddie said if he'd spoken; so he +waited until he could be heard, and it never worried him a speck. + +He only stood and laughed too; then, "Long enough," he said, "to +know that all of us are making a big and cruel mistake in taking +them at their word, and leaving them penned up there weltering in +misery. What we should do, is to go over there, one at a time, +or in a body, and batter at the door of their hearts, until we +break down the wall of pride they have built around them, ease +their pain, and bring them with us socially, if they are going to +live among us. You people who talk loudly and often about loving +God, and `doing unto others,' should have gone long ago, for +Jesus' sake; I'm going for the sake of a girl, with a face as +sweet, and a heart as pure, as any accepted angel at the foot of +the throne. Mother, I want a cup of peach jelly, and some of +that exceptionally fine cake you served at dinner, to take to our +sick neighbour." + +Mother left the room. + +"Father, I want permission to cut and carry a generous chestnut +branch, burred, and full fruited, to the young woman. There is +none save ours in this part of the country, and she may never +have seen any, and be interested. And I want that article about +foot disease in horses, for Mr. Pryor. I'll bring it back when +he finishes." + +Father folded the paper and handed it to Laddie, who slipped it +in his pocket. + +"Take the finest branch you can select," father said, and I +almost fell over. + +He had carried those trees from Ohio, before I had been born, and +mother said for years he wrapped them in her shawl in winter and +held an umbrella over them in summer, and father always went red +and grinned when she told it. He was wild about trees, and +bushes, so he made up his mind he'd have chestnuts. He planted +them one place, and if they didn't like it, he dug them up and +set them another where he thought they could have what they +needed and hadn't got the last place. Finally, he put them, on +the fourth move, on a little sandy ridge across the road from the +wood yard, and that was the spot. They shot up, branched, +spread, and one was a male and two were females, so the pollen +flew, the burrs filled right, and we had a bag of chestnuts to +send each child away from home, every Christmas. The brown +leaves and burrs were so lovely, mother cut one of the finest +branches she could select and hung it above the steel engraving +of "Lincoln Freeing the Slaves," in the boys' room, and nothing +in the house was looked at oftener, or thought prettier. That +must have been what was in the back of Laddie's head when he +wanted a branch for the Princess. + +Mother came in with the cake and jelly in a little fancy basket, +and Laddie said: "Thank you! Now every one wish me luck! I'm +going to ride to Pryors', knock at the door, and present these +offerings with my compliments. If I'm invited in, I'm going to +make the effort of my life at driving the entering wedge toward +social intercourse between Pryors and their neighbours. If I'm +not, I'll be back in thirty minutes and tell you what happened to +me. If they refuse my gifts, you shall have the jelly, Sarah; +I'll give Mrs. Fall the olive branch, bring back the paper, and +eat the cake to console my wounded spirits." + +Of course every one laughed; they couldn't help it. I watched +father and he laughed hardest of the men, but mother was more +stiff-lipped about it; she couldn't help a little, though. And I +noticed some of those women acted as if they had lost something. +Maybe it was a chance to gossip about Laddie, for he hadn't left +them a thing to guess at, and mother says the reason gossip is so +dreadful is because it is always GUESSWORK. Well, that was all +fair and plain. He had told those people, our very best friends, +what he thought about everything, the way they acted included. +He was carrying something to each member of the Pryor family, and +he'd left a way to return joking and unashamed, if they wouldn't +let him in. He had fixed things so no one had anything to guess +at, and it would look much worse for the Pryors than it would for +him, if he did come back. + +I wondered if he had been born that smart, or if he learned it in +college. If he did, no wonder Leon was bound to go. Come to +think of it, though, mother said Laddie was always like that. +She said he never bit her when he nursed; he never mauled her as +if she couldn't be hurt when he was little, he never tore his +clothes and made extra work as he grew, and never in his life +gave her an hour's uneasiness. But I guess she couldn't have +said that about uneasiness lately, for she couldn't keep from +looking troubled as all of us followed to the gate to see him +start. + +How they joked, and tried to tease him! But they couldn't get a +breath ahead. He shot back answers as fast as they could ask +questions, while he cut the branch and untied the horse. He gave +the limb and basket to mother to hold, kissed her good-bye, and +me too, before he mounted. With my arms around his neck--I never +missed a chance to try to squeeze into him how I loved him--I +whispered: "Laddie, is it a secret any more?" + +He threw back his head and laughed the happiest. + +"Not the ghost of a secret!" he said. "But you let me do the +talking, until I tell you." Then he went on right out loud: +"I'm riding up the road waving the banner of peace. If I suffer +repulse, the same thing has happened to better men before, so +I'll get a different banner and try again." + +Laddie mounted, swept a circle in the road, dropped Flos on her +knees in a bow, and waved the branch. Leon began to sing at the +top of his voice, "Nothing but leaves, nothing but leaves," while +Laddie went flashing up the road. + +The women went back to the house; the men stood around the gate, +watched him from sight, talked about his horse, how he rode, and +made wagers that he'd get shut out, like every one did, but they +said if that happened he wouldn't come back. Father was annoyed. + +"You heard Laddie say he'd return immediately if they wouldn't +let him in," he said. "He's a man of his word. He will either +enter or come home at once." + +It was pitch dark and we had supper before some of them left; +they never stayed so late. After we came from church, father +read the chapter and we were ready for bed; still Laddie hadn't +come back. And father liked it! He just plain liked it! He +chuckled behind the Advocate until you could see it shake; but +mother had very little to say, and her lips closed tight. + +At bedtime he said to mother: "Well, they don't seem in a hurry +about sending the boy back." + +"Did you really think he WOULD be sent back?" asked mother. + +"Not ordinarily," said father, "no! If he had no brain, no wit, +no culture, on an animal basis, a woman would look twice before +she'd send him away; but with such fanatics as Pryors, one can't +always tell what will happen." + +"In a case like this, one can be reasonably certain," said +mother. + +"You don't know what social position they occupied at home. +Their earmarks are all good. We've no such notions here as they +have." + +"Thank God for so much, at any rate," said mother. "How old +England would rise up and exult if she had a man in line with +Laddie's body, blood and brain, to set on her throne. This talk +about class and social position makes me sick. Men are men, and +Laddie is as much above the customary timber found in kings and +princes, physically and mentally, as the sky is above the earth. +Talk me no talk about class! If I catch it coming from any of +mine, save you, I will beat it out of them. He has admitted he's +in love with the girl; the real question is, whether she's fit to +be his wife." + +"I should say she appears so," said father. + +"Drat appearances!" cried mother. "When it's a question of +lifetime misery, and the soul's salvation of my son, if things go +wrong, I've no time for appearances. I want to know!" + +He might have known he would make her angry when he laughed. She +punched the pillow, and wouldn't say another word; so I went to +sleep, and didn't miss anything that time. + +Next morning at breakfast Laddie was beaming, and father hardly +waited to ask the blessing before he inquired: "Well, how did +you make it, son?" + +Laddie laughed and answered: "Altogether, it might have been +much worse." + +That was all he would say until Miss Amelia started to school, +then he took me on his lap and talked as he buttoned my coat. + +"Thomas met me at the gate," he said, "and held my horse while I +went to the door. One of their women opened it, and I inquired +for Mr. Pryor. She said he was in the field looking at the +horses, so I asked for Miss Pryor. She came in a minute, so I +gave her the branch, told her about it, and offered the jelly and +cake for her mother. The Princess invited me to enter. I told +her I couldn't without her father's permission, so I went to the +field to see him. The dogs were with him and he had the surprise +of his life when his man-eaters rolled at my feet, and licked my +hands." + +"What did he say?" chuckled father. + +"Told Thomas they'd been overfed and didn't amount to a brass +farthing; to take them to the woods and shoot them. Thomas said +he'd see to it the very first thing in the morning, and then Mr. +Pryor told him he would shoot him if he did." + +"Charming man to work for," said mother. + +"Then I told him I'd been at the house to carry a little gift to +his wife and daughter, and to inquire if I might visit an hour, +and as he was not there, I had come to the field to ask him. +Then I looked him in the eye and said: `May I?' + +"`I'll warrant the women asked you to come in,' he said. + +"`Miss Pryor was so kind,' I answered, `but I enter no man's +house without his permission. May I talk with your daughter an +hour, and your wife, if she cares to see me?' + +"`It makes no earthly difference to me,' he said, which was not +gracious, but might have been worse, so I thanked him, and went +back to the house. When I knocked the second time, the Princess +came, and I told her the word was that it made `no difference to +her father' if I came in, so she opened the door widely, took my +hat and offered me a seat. Then she went to the next room and +said: `Mother, father has given Mr. Stanton permission to pay us +a call. Do you feel able to meet him?' She came at once, +offering her hand and saying: `I have already met Mr. Stanton so +often, really, we should have the privilege of speaking.'" + +"What did she mean by that?" asked mother. + +"She meant that I have haunted the road passing their place for +two years, and she'd seen me so frequently that she came to +recognize me." + +"Umph!" said mother. + +"Laddie tell on!" I begged. + +"Well, I sharpened all the wits I had and went to work. I never +tried so hard in my life to be entertaining. Of course I had to +feel my way. I'd no idea what would interest a delicate, high- +bred lady"--mother sniffed again--"so I had to search and probe, +and go by guess until I saw a shade of interest, then I worked in +more of the same. It was easy enough to talk to the Princess-- +all young folks have a lot in common, we could get along on fifty +topics; it was different with the housebound mother. I did my +best, and after a while Mr. Pryor came in. I asked him if any of +his horses had been attacked with the trouble some of the +neighbours were having, and told him what it was. He had the +grace to thank me. He said he would tell Thomas not to tie his +horse at the public hitching rack when he went to town, and once +he got started, he was wild to talk with a man, and I'd no chance +to say a word to the women. He was interested in our colleges, +state, and national laws, in land development, and everything +that all live men are. When a maid announced dinner I apologized +for having stayed so long, and excused myself, because I had been +so interested, but Mrs. Pryor merely said: `I'm waiting to be +offered your arm.' + +"Well, you should have seen me drop my hat and step up. I did my +best, and while I talked to him a little, I made it most to the +women. Any one could see they were starved for company, so I +took the job of entertaining them. I told some college jokes, +funny things that had happened in the neighbourhood, and +everything of interest I could think up. I know we were at the +table for two hours with things coming and going on silver +platters." + +Mother sat straight suddenly. + +"Just what did they have to eat, and how did they serve it?" she +asked. + +"Couldn't tell if I were to be shot for it, mummy," said Laddie. +"Forgive me! Next time I'll take notes for you. This first +plunge, I had to use all my brains, not to be a bore to them; and +to handle food and cutlery as the women did. It's quite a +process, but as they were served first, I could do right by +waiting. I never was where things were done quite so elaborately +before." + +"And they didn't know they would have company until you went to +the table?" + +"Well, they must have thought likely, there was a place for me." + +"Umph!" said mother. "Fine idea! Then any one who drops in can +be served, and see that they are not a mite of trouble. Candace, +always an extra place after this!" + +Father just shouted. + +"I thought you'd get something out of it!" he said. + +"Happy to have justified your faith!" replied mother calmly. "Go +on, son!" + +"That's all!" said Laddie. "We left the table and talked an hour +more. The women asked me to come again; he didn't say anything +on that subject; but when he ordered my horse, he asked the +Princess if she would enjoy a little exercise, and she said she +would, so he told Thomas to bring their horses, and we rode +around the section, the Princess and I ahead, Mr. Pryor +following. Where the road was good and the light fine enough +that there was no danger of laming a horse, we dropped back, one +on either side of him, so we could talk. Mrs. Pryor ate the cake +and said it was fine; and the `conserve,' she called it, +delicious as she ever had tasted. She said all our fruits here +had much more flavour than at home; she thought it was the dryer +climate and more sunshine. She sent her grateful thanks, and she +wants your recipe before next preserving time." + +Mother just beamed. My! but she did love to have the things she +cooked, bragged on. + +"Possibly she'd like my strawberries?" she said. + +"There isn't a doubt about it," said Laddie. "I've yet to see +the first person who doesn't." + +"Is that all?" asked mother. + +"I can think of nothing more at this minute," answered Laddie. +"If anything comes to my mind later, I won't forget to tell you. +Oh yes, there was one thing: You couldn't keep Mr. Pryor from +talking about Leon. He must have taken a great fancy to him. He +talked until he worried the Princess, and she tried to keep him +away from the subject, but his mind seemed to run on it +constantly. When we were riding she talked quite as much as he, +and it will hustle us to think what the little scamp did, any +bigger than they do. Of course, father, you understood the price +Mr. Pryor made on one of his very finest colts was a joke. +There's a strain of Arab in the father--he showed me the record-- +and the mother is bluegrass. There you get gentleness and +endurance combined with speed and nerve. I'd trade Flos for that +colt as it stands to-day. There's nothing better on earth in the +way of horse. His offer is practically giving it away. I know, +with the records to prove its pedigree, what that colt would +bring him in any city market." + +"I don't like it," said mother. "I want Leon to have a horse, +but a boy in a first experience, and reckless as he is, doesn't +need a horse like that, for one thing, and what is more +important, I refuse to be put under any obligations to Pryors." + +"That's the reason Mr. Pryor asked anything at all for the horse. + +It is my opinion that he would be greatly pleased to give it to +Leon, if he could do what he liked." + +"Well, that's precisely the thing he can't do in this family," +said mother sternly. + +"What do you think, father?" asked Laddie. + +"I think Amen! to that proposition," said father; "but I would +have to take time to thresh it out completely. It appeals to me +that Leon is old enough to recognize the value of the animal; and +that the care of it would develop and strengthen his character. +It would be a responsibility that would steady him. You could +teach him to tend and break it." + +"Break it!" cried Laddie. "Break it! Why father, he's riding it +bareback all over the Pryor meadow now, and jumping it over logs. +Whenever he leaves, it follows him to the fence, and the Princess +says almost any hour of the day you look out you can see it +pacing up and down watching this way and whinnying for him to +come." + +"And your best judgment is----?" + +Laddie laughed as he tied my hood strings. "Well I don't feel +about the Pryors as the rest of you do," he said. "If the money +isn't claimed inside the time you specified, I would let Leon and +Mr. Pryor make their own bargain. The boy won't know for years +that it is practically a gift, and it would please Mr. Pryor +immensely. Now run, or you'll be late!" + +I had to go, so I didn't know how they settled it, but if they +wouldn't let Leon have that horse, it was downright mean. What +if we were under obligations to Mr. Pryor? We were to Sarah +Hood, and half the people we knew, and what was more, we LIKED to +be. + +When I came from school that night father had been to town. He +had an ax and was opening a big crate, containing two of the +largest, bluest geese you ever saw. Laddie said being boxed that +way and seeing them so close made them look so big; really, they +were no finer than Pryors', where he had got the address of the +place that sold them. Mother was so pleased. She said she had +needed a new strain, for a long time, to improve her feathers; +now she would have pillows worth while, in a few years. They put +them in the barn where our geese stayed over night, and how they +did scream. That is, one of them did; the other acted queerly +and father said to Laddie that he was afraid the trip was hard on +it. Laddie said it might have been hurt, and mother was worried +too. Before she had them an hour, she had sold all our ganders; +spring had come, she had saved the blue goose eggs, set them +under a hen, raised the goslings with the little chickens, never +lost one, picked them and made a new pair of pillows too fine for +any one less important than a bishop, or a judge, or Dr. Fenner +to sleep on. Then she began saving for a featherbed. And still +the goose didn't act as spry or feel as good as the gander. He +stuck up his head, screamed, spread his wings and waved them, and +the butts looked so big and hard, I was not right certain whether +it would be safe to tease him or not. + +The first person who came to see them was Sarah Hood, and she +left with the promise of a pair as soon as mother could raise +them. Father said the only reason mother didn't divide her hair +with Sarah Hood was because it was fast, and she couldn't. +Mother said gracious goodness! she'd be glad to get rid of some +of it if she could, and of course Sarah should have first chance +at it. Hadn't she kept her over night so she could see her new +home when she was rested, and didn't she come with her, and help +her get settled, and had she ever failed when we had a baby, or +sickness, or trouble, or thrashers, or a party? Of course she'd +gladly divide, even the hair of her head, with Sarah Hood. And +father said, "Yes, he guessed she would, and come to think of it, +he'd just as soon spare Sarah part of his," and then they both +laughed, when it was nothing so very funny that I could see. + +The next caller the geese had was Mrs. Freshett. My! she thought +they were big and fine. Mother promised her a couple of eggs to +set under a hen. Father said she was gradually coming down the +scale of her feelings, and before two weeks she'd give Isaac +Thomas, at least, a quill for a pen. Almost no one wrote with +them any more, but often father made a few, and showed us how to +use them. He said they were gone with candles, sand boxes, and +snuff. Mother said she had no use for snuff, but candles were +not gone, she'd make and use them to the day of her death, as +they were the nicest light ever invented to carry from room to +room, or when you only wanted to sit and think. Father said +there was really no good pen except the quill you sharpened +yourself; and while he often used steel ones like we children had +at school to write to the brothers and sisters away, and his +family, he always kept a few choice quills in the till of his +chest, and when he wrote a deed, or any valuable paper, where +there was a deal with money, he used them. He said it lent the +dignity of a past day to an important occasion. + +After mother and Mrs. Freshett had talked over every single thing +about the geese, and that they were like Pryors' had been +settled, Mrs. Freshett said: "Since he told about it before all +of us, and started out the way he did, would it be amiss to ask +how Laddie got on at Pryors'?" + +"Just the way I thought he would," said mother. "He stayed until +all of us were in bed, and I'd never have known when he came in, +if it were not a habit of his always to come to my door to see if +I'm sleeping. Sometimes I'm wakeful, and if he pommels my pillow +good, brings me a drink, and rubs my head a few strokes with his +strong, cool hands, I can settle down and have a good night's +rest. I was awake when he came, or I'd never have known. It was +almost midnight; but they sat two hours at the table, and then +all of them rode." + +"Not the Missus?" + +"Oh no! She's not strong enough. She really has incurable heart +trouble, the worst kind there is; her daughter told me so." + +"Then they better look out," said Mrs. Freshett. "She is likely +to keel over at a breath." + +"They must know it. That's why she keeps so quiet." + +"And they had him to supper?" + +"It was a dinner served at night. Yes. He took Mrs. Pryor in on +his arm, and it was like a grand party, just as they fixed for +themselves, alone. Waiters, and silver trays, and things carried +in and out in courses." + +"My land! Well, I s'pose he had enough schoolin' to get him +through it all right!" + +My mother's face grew red. She never left any one in doubt as to +what she meant. Father said that "was the Dutch of it." And +mother always answered that if any one living could put things +plainer than the English, she would like to hear them do it. + +"He certainly had," said mother, "or they wouldn't have invited +him to come again. And all mine, Mrs. Freshett, knew how to sit +properly at the table, and manage a knife, fork and napkin, +before they ever took a meal away from home." + +"No 'fence," laughed Mrs. Freshett. "I meant that maybe his +years of college schoolin' had give him ways more like theirs +than most of us have. For all the money it takes to send a boy +to college, he ought to get somethin' out of it more than jest +fillin' his head with figgers, an' stars, an' oratin'; an' most +always you can see that he does." + +"It is contact with cultivated people," said mother. "You are +always influenced by it, without knowing it often." + +"Maybe you are, bein' so fine yourself," said Mrs. Freshett. +"An' me too, I never get among my betters that I don't carry home +a lot I put right into daily use, an' nobody knows it plainer. I +come here expectin' to learn things that help me, an' when I go +home I know I have." + +"Why, thank you," said mother. "I'm sure that is a very nice +compliment, and I wish I really could feel that it is well +deserved." + +"Oh I guess you do!" said Mrs. Freshett laughing. "I often +noticed you makin' a special effort to teach puddin' heads like +me somethin', an' I always thank you for it. There's a world in +right teachin'. I never had any. So all I can pick up an' +hammer into mine is a gain for me an' them. If my Henry had +lived, an' come out anything like that boy o' yourn an' the show +he made last Sunday, I'd do well if I didn't swell up an' bust +with pride. An' the little tow-haired strip, takin' the gun an' +startin' out alone after a robber, even if he wa'n't much of a +man, that was downright spunky. If my boys will come out +anywhere near like yourn, I'll be glad." + +"I don't know how my boys will come out," said mother. "But I +work, pray, hope, and hang to them; that's all I know to do." + +"Well, if they don't come out right, they ought to be bumped!" +said Mrs. Freshett. "After all the chances they've had! I don' +know jest how Freshett was brung up, but I'd no chance at all. +My folks--well, I guess the less said--little pitchers, you know! +I can't see as I was to blame. I was the youngest, an' I knew +things was wrong. I fought to go to school, an' pap let me +enough that I saw how other people lived. Come night I'd go to +the garret, an' bar the trapdoor; but there would be times when I +couldn't help seein' what was goin' on. How'd you like chances +such as that for a girl of yourn?" + +"Dreadful!" said mother. "Mrs. Freshett, please do be careful!" + +"Sure!" laughed Mrs. Freshett. "I was jest goin' to tell you +about me an' Josiah. He come to our house one night, a stranger +off the road. He said he was sick, an' tired, an' could he have +a bed. Mother said, `No, for him to move on.' He tried an' he +couldn't. They was somethin' about him--well, you know how them +things go! I wa'n't only sixteen, but I felt so sorry for him, +all fever burned and mumblin', I helped pap put him to bed, an' +doctored him all I could. Come mornin' he was a sick man. Pap +went for the county doctor, an' he took jest one look an' says: +`Small pox! All of ye git!' + +"I was bound I wouldn't go, but pap made me, an' the doctor said +he'd send a man who'd had it; so I started, but I felt so bad, +come a chanct when they got to Groveville, I slipped out an' went +back. The man hadn't come, so I set to work the best I knowed. +'Fore long Josiah was a little better an' he asked who I was, an' +where my folks went, an' I told him, an' he asked WHY I came back +an' I didn't know what to say, so I jest hung my head an' +couldn't face him. After a while he says, `All right! I guess I +got this sized up. If you'll stay an' nuss me through, I'll be +well enough to pull you out, by the time you get it, an' soon as +you're able we'll splice, if you say so.' + +"`Marry me, you mean?' says I. They wa'n't ever any talk about +marryin' at our house. `Sure!' says he. `You're a mighty likely +lookin' girl! I'll do fair by ye.' An' he always has, too! But +I didn't feel right to let him go it blind, so I jest up and +says. `You wouldn't if you knowed my folks!' `You look as +decent as I do,' says he; `I'll chance it!' Then I tole him I +was as good as I was born, an' he believed me, an' he always has, +an' I was too! So I nussed him, but I didn't make the job of it +he did. You 'member he is pitted considerable. He was so strong +I jest couldn't keep him from disfigerin' himself, but he tied +me. I begged to be loose, an' he wouldn't listen, so I got a +clean face, only three little scars, an' they ain't deep to speak +of. He says he looks like a piece of side meat, but say! they +ain't nothin' the matter with his looks to me! + +"The nuss man never did come, but the county doctor passed things +in the winder, till I was over the worst, an' Josiah sent for a +preacher an' he married us through the winder--I got the writin's +to show, all framed an' proper. Josiah said he'd see I got all +they was in it long that line, anyway. When I was well, hanged +if he didn't perdooce a wad from his clothes before they burnt +'em, an' he got us new things to wear, an' a horse, an' wagon, +an' we driv away here where we thought we could start right, an' +after we had the land, an' built the cabin, an' jest as happy as +heart could wish, long come a man I'd made mad once, an' he tole +everythin' up and down. Josiah was good about it. He offered to +sell the land, an' pull up an' go furder. `What's the use?' says +I. `Hundreds know it. We can't go so far it won't be like to +follow us; le's stay here an' fight it.' `All right,' says +Josiah, but time an' ag'in he has offered to go, if I couldn't +make it. `Hang on a little longer,' says I, every time he knew I +was snubbed an' slighted. I never tole what he didn't notice. I +tried church, when my children began to git a size I wanted 'em +to have right teachin', an' you come an' welcomed me an' you been +my friend, an' now the others is comin' over at last, an' +visitin' me, an' they ain't a thing more I want in life." + +"I am so glad!" said mother. "Oh my dear, I am so glad!" + +"Goin' right home an' tell that to Josiah," said Mrs. Freshett, +jumping up laughing and crying like, "an' mebby I'll jest spread +wings and fly! I never was so happy in all my life as I was +Sunday, when you ast me before all of them, so cordial like, an' +says I to Josiah, `We'll go an' try it once,' an' we come an' +nobody turned a cold shoulder on us, an' I wa'n't wearin' specks +to see if they did, for I never knowed him so happy in all his +days. Orter heard him whistle goin' home, an' he's tryin' all +them things he learned, on our place, an' you can see it looks a +heap better a'ready, an' now he's talkin' about buildin' in the +spring. I knowed he had money, but he never mentioned buildin' +before, an' I always thought it was bekase he 'sposed likely we'd +have to move on, some time. 'Pears now as if we can settle, an' +live like other folks, after all these years. I knowed ye didn't +want me to talk, but I had to tell you! When you ast us to the +weddin', and others began comin' round, says I to Josiah, `Won't +she be glad to know that my skirts is clear, an' I did as well as +I could?' An' he says, `That she will! An' more am I,' says he. + +`I mighty proud of you,' says he. Proud! Think of that! Miss +Stanton, I'd jest wade fire and blood for you!" + +"Oh my dear !" said mother. "What a dreadful thing to say!" + +"Gimme the chanct, an' watch if I don't," said Mrs. Freshett. +"Now, Josiah is proud I stuck it out! Now, I can have a house! +Now, my children can have all the show we can raise to give 'em! +I'm done cringin' an' dodgin'! I've always done my best; +henceforth I mean to hold up my head an' say so. I sure can't be +held for what was done 'fore I was on earth, or since neither. +You've given me my show, I'm goin' to take it, but if you want to +know what's in my heart about you, gimme any kind of a chanct to +prove, an' see if I don't pony right up to it!" + +Mother laughed until the tears rolled, she couldn't help it. She +took Mrs. Freshett in her arms and hugged her tight, and kissed +her mighty near like she does Sarah Hood. Mrs. Freshett threw +her arms around mother, and looked over her shoulder, and said to +me, "Sis, when you grow up, always take a chanct on welcomin' the +stranger, like your maw does, an' heaven's bound to be your home! +My, but your maw is a woman to be proud of!" she said, hugging +mother and patting her on the back. + +"All of us are proud of her!" I boasted. + +"I doubt if you are proud enough!" cried Mrs. Freshett. "I have +my doubts! I don't see how people livin' with her, an' seein' +her every day, are in a shape to know jest what she can do for a +person in the place I was in. I have my doubts!" + +That night when I went home from school mother was worrying over +the blue goose. When we went to feed, she told Leon that she was +afraid it was weak, and not getting enough to eat when it fed +with the others. She said after the work was finished, to take +it out alone, and give it all it would eat; so when the horses +were tended, the cows milked, everything watered, and the barn +ready to close for the night, Laddie took the milk to the house, +while Leon and I caught the blue goose, carried her to the well, +and began to shell corn. She was starved to death, almost. She +ate a whole ear in no time and looked for more, so Leon sent me +after another. By the time that was most gone she began to eat +slower, and stick her bill in the air to help the grains slip +down, so I told Leon I thought she had enough. + +"No such thing!" said Leon. "You distinctly heard mother tell me +to give her `all she would eat.' She's eating, isn't she? Go +bring another ear!" + +So she was, but I was doubtful about more. + +Leon said I better mind or he would tell mother, so I got it. +She didn't begin on it with any enthusiasm. She stuck her bill +higher, stretched her neck longer, and she looked so funny when +she did it, that we just shrieked. Then Leon reached over, took +her by the bill, and stripped her neck to help her swallow, and +as soon as he let go, she began to eat again. + +"You see!" said Leon, "she's been starved. She can't get enough. +I must help her!" + +So he did help her every little bit. By that time we were +interested in seeing how much she could hold; and she looked so +funny that Leon sent me for more corn; but I told him I thought +what she needed now was water, so we held her to the trough, and +she tried to drink, but she couldn't swallow much. We set her +down beside the corn, and she went to eating again. + +"Go it, old mill-hopper!" cried Leon. + +Right then there was an awful commotion in the barn, and from the +squealing we knew one of the horses was loose, and fighting the +others. We ran to fix them, and had a time to get Jo back into +his stall, and tied. Before we had everything safe, the supper +bell rang, and I bet Leon a penny I could reach the house while +he shut the door and got there. We forgot every single thing +about the goose. + +At supper mother asked Leon if he fed the goose all she would +eat, and I looked at him guilty-like, for I remembered we hadn't +put her back. He frowned at me cross as a bear, and I knew that +meant he had remembered, and would slip back and put her inside +when he finished his supper, so I didn't say anything. + +"I didn't feed her ALL she would eat!" said Leon. "If I had, +she'd be at it yet. She was starved sure enough! You never saw +anything like the corn she downed." + +"Well I declare!" said mother. "Now after this, take her out +alone, for a few days, and give her as much as she wants." + +"All right!" chuckled Leon, because it was a lot of fun to see +her run her bill around, and gobble up the corn, and stick up her +head. + +The next day was Saturday, so after breakfast I went with Leon to +drive the sheep and geese to the creek to water; the trough was +so high it was only for the horses and cattle; when we let out +the geese, the blue one wasn't there. + +"Oh Leon, did you forget to come back and put her in?" + +"Yes I did!" he said. "I meant to when I looked at you to keep +still, and I started to do it, but Sammy Deam whistled, so I went +down in the orchard to see what he wanted, and we got to planning +how to get up a fox chase, and I stayed until father called for +night, and then I ran and forgot all about the blame old goose." + +"Oh Leon! Where is she? What will mother say? 'Spose a fox got +her!" + +"It wouldn't help me any if it had, after I was to blame for +leaving her outside. Blast a girl! If you ever amounted to +anything, you could have put her in while I fixed the horses. At +least you could have told me to." + +I stood there dumblike and stared at him. He has got the +awfulest way of telling the truth when he is scared or provoked. +Of course I should have thought of the goose when he was having +such a hard fight with the horses. If I'd been like he was, I'd +have told him that he was older, mother told HIM to do it, and it +wasn't my fault; but in my heart I knew he did have his hands +full, and if you're your brother's keeper, you ought to HELP your +brother remember. So I stood gawking, while Leon slowly turned +whiter and whiter. + +"We might as well see if we can find her," he said at last, so +slow and hopeless like it made my heart ache. So he started +around the straw stack one way, and I the other, looking into all +the holes, and before I had gone far I had a glimpse of her, and +it scared me so I screamed, for her head was down, and she didn't +look right. Leon came running and pulled her out. The swelled +corn rolled in a little trail after her, and the pigs ran up and +began to eat it. Pigs are named righter than anything else I +know. + +"Busted!" cried Leon in tones of awe; about the worst awe you +ever heard, and the worst bust you ever saw. + +From bill to breast she was wide open, and the hominy spilling. +We just stood staring at her, and then Leon began to kick the +pigs; because it would be no use to kick the goose; she would +never know. Then he took her up, carried her into the barn, and +put her on the floor where the other geese had stayed all night. +We stood and looked at her some more, as if looking and hoping +would make her get up and be alive again. But there's nothing in +all this world so useless as wishing dead things would come +alive; we had to do something. + +"What are you going to tell mother?" + +"Shut up!" said Leon. "I'm trying to think." + +"I'll say it was as much my fault as yours. I'll go with you. +I'll take half whatever they do to you." + +"Little fool!" said Leon. "What good would that do me?" + +"Do you know what they cost? Could you get another with some of +your horse money?" + +I saw it coming and dodged again, before I remembered the +Crusaders. + +"All right!" I said. "If that's the way you are going to act, +Smarty, I'll lay all the blame on you; I won't help you a bit, +and I don't care if you are whipped until the blood runs." + +Then I went out of the barn and slammed the door. For a minute I +felt better; but it was a short time. I SAID that to be mean, +but I did care. I cared dreadfully; I was partly to blame, and I +knew it. Coming around the barn, I met Laddie, and he saw in a +flash I was in trouble, so he stopped and asked: "What now, +Chicken?" + +"Come into the barn where no one will hear us," I said. + +So we went around the outside, entered at the door on the +embankment, and he sat in the wheelbarrow on the threshing floor +while I told him. I thought I felt badly enough, but after I saw +Laddie, it grew worse, for I remembered we were short of money +that fall, that the goose was a fine, expensive one, and how +proud mother was of her, and how she'd be grieved, and that was +trouble for sure. + +"Run along and play!" said Laddie, "and don't tell any one else +if you can help it. I'll hide the goose, and see if I can get +another in time to take the place of this one, so mother won't be +worried." + +I walked to the house slowly, but I was afraid to enter. When +you are all choked up, people are sure to see it, and ask fool +questions. So I went around to the gate and stood there looking +up and down the road, and over the meadow toward the Big Woods; +and all at once, in one of those high, regular bugle calls, like +they mostly scream in spring, one of Pryors' ganders split the +echoes for a mile; maybe farther. + +I was across the road and slinking down inside the meadow fence +before I knew it. There was no thought or plan. I started for +Pryors' and went straight ahead, only I kept out of line with our +kitchen windows. I tramped through the slush, ice, and crossed +fields where I was afraid of horses; but when I got to the top of +the Pryor backyard fence, I stuck there, for the bulldogs were +loose, and came raving at me. I was going to be eaten alive, for +I didn't know the word Laddie did; and those dogs climbed a fence +like a person; I saw them the time Leon brought back Even So. I +was thinking what a pity it was, after every one had grown +accustomed to me, and had begun loving me, that I should be +wasted for dog feed, when Mr. Pryor came to the door, and called +them; they didn't mind, so he came to the fence, and crossest you +ever heard, every bit as bad as the dogs, he cried: "Whose brat +are you, and what are you doing here?" + +I meant to tell him; but you must have a minute after a thing +like that. + +"God of my life!" he fairly frothed. "What did anybody send a +dumb child here for?" + +"Dumb child!" I didn't care if Mr. Pryor did wear a Crown of +Glory. It wasn't going to do him one particle of good, unless he +was found in the way of the Lord. "Dumb child!" I was no more +dumb than he was, until his bulldogs scared me so my heart got +all tangled up with my stomach, my lungs, and my liver. That +made me mad, and there was nothing that would help me to loosen +up and talk fast, like losing my temper. I wondered what kind of +a father he had. If he'd been stood against the wall and made to +recite, "Speak gently," as often as all of us, perhaps he'd have +remembered the verse that says: + + "Speak gently to the little child; + Its love be sure to gain; + Teach it in accents soft and mild; + It may not long remain." + + +I should think not, if it had any chance at all to get away! I +was so angry by that time I meant to tell him what I thought. +Polite or not polite, I'd take a switching if I had to, but I +wasn't going to stand that. + +"You haven't got any God in your life," I reminded him, "and no +one sent me here. I came to see the Princess, because I'm in +awful trouble and I hoped maybe she could fix up a way to help +me." + +"Ye Gods!" he cried. He would stick to calling on God, whether +he believed in Him or not. "If it isn't Nimrod! I didn't +recognize you in all that bundling." + +Probably he didn't know it, but Nimrod was from the Bible too! +By bundling, he meant my hood and coat. He helped me from the +fence, sent the bulldogs rolling--sure enough he did kick them, +and they didn't like it either--took my hand and led me straight +into the house, and the Princess was there, and a woman who was +her mother no doubt, and he said: "Pamela, here is our little +neighbour, and she says she's in trouble, and she thinks you may +be of some assistance to her. Of course you will be glad if you +can." + +"Surely!" said the Princess, and she introduced me to her mother, +so I bowed the best I knew, and took off my wet mitten, dirty +with climbing fences, to shake hands with her. She was so +gracious and lovely I forgot what I went after. The Princess +brought a cloth and wiped the wet from my shoes and stockings, +and asked me if I wouldn't like a cup of hot tea to keep me from +taking a chill. + +"I've been much wetter than this," I told her, "and I never have +taken a chill, and anyway my throat's too full of trouble to +drink." + +"Why, you poor child!" said the Princess. "Tell me quickly! Is +your mother ill again?" + +"Not now, but she's going to be as soon as she finds out," I +said, and then I told them. + +They all listened without a sound until I got where Leon helped +the goose eat, and from that on Mr. Pryor laughed until you could +easily see that he had very little feeling for suffering +humanity. It was funny enough when we fed her, but now that she +was bursted wide open there was nothing amusing about it; and to +roar when a visitor plainly told you she was in awful trouble, +didn't seem very good manners to me. The Princess and her mother +never even smiled; and before I had told nearly all of it, Thomas +was called to hitch the Princess' driving cart, and she took me +to their barnyard to choose the goose that looked most like +mother's, and all of them seemed like hers, so we took the first +one Thomas could catch, put it into a bag in the back of the +cart, and then we got in and started for our barn. As we reached +the road, I said to her: "You'd better go past Dovers', for if +we come down our Little Hill they will see us sure; it's baking +day." + +"All right!" said the Princess, so we went the long way round the +section, but goodness me! when she drove no way was far. + +When we were opposite our barn she stopped, hitched her horse to +the fence, and we climbed over, and slipping behind the barn, +carried the goose around to the pen and put it in with ours. She +said she wanted the broken one, because her father would enjoy +seeing it. I didn't see how he could! We were ready to slip +out, when our geese began to run at the new one, hiss and scream, +and make such a racket that Laddie and Leon both caught us. They +looked at the goose, at me, the Princess, and each other, and +neither said a word. She looked back a little bit, and then she +laughed as hard as she could. Leon grew red, and he grinned +ashamed-like, so she laughed worse than ever. Laddie spoke to +me: "You went to Mr. Pryor's and asked for that goose?" + +"She did not!" said the Princess before I could answer. "She +never asked for anything. She was making a friendly morning call +and in the course of her visit she told about the pathetic end of +the goose that was expected to lay the golden egg--I mean stuff +the Bishop's pillow--and as we have a large flock of blue geese, +father gave her one, and he had the best time he's had in years +doing it. I wouldn't have had him miss the fun he got from it +for any money. He laughed like home again. Now I must slip away +before any one sees me, and spoils our secret. Leon, lad, you +can go to the house and tell your little mother that the feeding +stopped every pain her goose had, and hereafter it looks to you +as if she'd be all right." + +"Miss Pryor," said Leon, "did you care about what I said at you +in church that day?" + +"`Thou art all fair, my love. There is no spot in thee.' Well, +it was a little pointed, but since you ask a plain question, I +have survived it." + +"I'm awfully sorry," said Leon. "Of course I never would, if I'd +known you could be this nice." + +The Princess looked at Laddie and almost gasped, and then both of +them laughed. Leon saw that he had told her he was sorry he said +she was "fair, and no spot in her." + +"Oh I don't mean that!" he said. "What I do mean is that I thank +you awful much for the goose, and helping me out like such a +brick of a good fellow, and what I wish is, that I was as old as +Laddie, and he'd hump himself if he got to be your beau." + +The Princess almost ran. Laddie and I followed to the road, +where he unhitched the horse and helped her in. Then he stood +stroking its neck, as he held the bridle. + +"I don't know what to say!" said Laddie. + +"In such case, I would counsel silence," advised the Princess. + +"I hope you understand how I thank you." + +"I fail to see what for. Father gave the goose to Little Sister. +Her thanks and Leon's are more than enough for him. We had great +sport." + +"I insist on adding mine. Deep and fervent!" + +"You take everything so serious. Can't you see the fun of this?" + +"No," said Laddie. "But if you can, I am glad, and I'm thankful +for anything that gives me a glimpse of you." + +"Bye, Little Sister," said the Princess, and when she loosened +the lines the mud flew a rod high. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Keeping Christmas Our Way + + "I remember, I remember + How my childhood fleeted by,-- + The mirth of its December, + And the warmth of its July." + +When dusk closed in it would be Christmas eve. All day I had +three points--a chair beside the kitchen table, a lookout melted +through the frost on the front window, and the big sitting-room +fireplace. + +All the perfumes of Araby floated from our kitchen that day. +There was that delicious smell of baking flour from big snowy +loaves of bread, light biscuit, golden coffee cake, and cinnamon +rolls dripping a waxy mixture of sugar, butter, and spice, much +better than the finest butterscotch ever brought from the city. +There was the tempting odour of boiling ham and baking pies. The +air was filled with the smell of more herbs and spices than I +knew the names of, that went into mincemeat, fruit cake, plum +pudding, and pies. There was a teasing fragrance in the spiced +vinegar heating for pickles, a reminder of winesap and rambo in +the boiling cider, while the newly opened bottles of grape juice +filled the house with the tang of Concord and muscadine. It +seemed to me I never got nicely fixed where I could take a sly +dip in the cake dough or snipe a fat raisin from the mincemeat +but Candace would say: "Don't you suppose the backlog is halfway +down the lane?" + +Then I hurried to the front window, where I could see through my +melted outlook on the frosted pane, across the west eighty to the +woods, where father and Laddie were getting out the Christmas +backlog. It was too bitterly cold to keep me there while they +worked, but Laddie said that if I would watch, and come to meet +them, he would take me up, and I might ride home among the +Christmas greens on the log. + +So I flattened my nose against the pane and danced and fidgeted +until those odours teased me back to the kitchen; and no more did +I get nicely located beside a jar of pudding sauce than Candace +would object to the place I had hung her stocking. It was my +task, my delightful all-day task, to hang the stockings. Father +had made me a peg for each one, and I had ten feet of mantel +front along which to arrange them. But it was no small job to do +this to every one's satisfaction. No matter what happened to any +one else, Candace had to be pleased: for did not she so manage +that most fowls served on mother's table went gizzardless to the +carving? She knew and acknowledged the great importance of +trying cookies, pies, and cake while they were hot. She was +forever overworked and tired, yet she always found time to make +gingerbread women with currant buttons on their frocks, and pudgy +doughnut men with clove eyes and cigars of cinnamon. If my own +stocking lay on the hearth, Candace's had to go in a place that +satisfied her--that was one sure thing. Besides, I had to make +up to her for what Leon did, because she was crying into the +corner of her apron about that. + +He slipped in and stole her stocking, hung it over the +broomstick, and marched around the breakfast table singing to the +tune of-- + + "Ha, ha, ha, who wouldn't go-- + Up on the housetop click, click, click? + Down through the chimney, + With good Saint Nick----" + +words he made up himself. He walked just fast enough that she +couldn't catch him, and sang as he went: + + "Ha, ha, ha, good Saint Nick, + Come and look at this stocking, quick! + + If you undertake its length to fill, + You'll have to bust a ten-dollar bill. + Who does it belong to? Candace Swartz. + Bring extra candy,--seven quarts----" + + +She got so angry she just roared, so father made Leon stop it, +but I couldn't help laughing myself. Then we had to pet her all +day, so she'd cheer up, and not salt the Christmas dinner with +her tears. I never saw such a monkey as Leon! I trotted out to +comfort her, and snipped bites, until I wore a triangle on the +carpet between the kitchen and the mantel, the mantel and the +window, and the window and the kitchen, while every hour things +grew more exciting. + +There never had been such a flurry at our house since I could +remember; for to-morrow would be Christmas and bring home all the +children, and a house full of guests. My big brother, Jerry, who +was a lawyer in the city, was coming with his family, and so were +Frank, Elizabeth, and Lucy with theirs, and of course Sally and +Peter--I wondered if she would still be fixing his tie--and +Shelley came yesterday, blushing like a rose, and she laughed if +you pointed your finger at her. + +Something had happened to her in Chicago. I wasn't so sure as I +had been about a city being such a dreadful place of noise, bad +air, and wicked people. Nothing had hurt Shelley. She had grown +so much that you could see she was larger. Her hair and face-- +all of Shelley just shone. Her eyes danced, she talked and +laughed all the time, and she hugged every one who passed her. +She never loved us so before. Leon said she must have been +homesick and coming back had given her a spell. I did hope it +would be a bad one, and last forever. I would have liked for all +our family to have had a spell if it would have made them act and +look like Shelley. The Princess was not a speck lovelier, and +she didn't act any nicer. + +If I could have painted, I'd have made a picture of Shelley with +a circle of light above her head like the one of the boy Jesus +where He talked with the wise men in the temple. I asked father +if he noticed how much prettier and nicer she was, and he said he +did. Then I asked him if he thought now, that a city was such a +bad place to live in, and he said where she was had nothing to do +with it, the same thing would happen here, or anywhere, when +life's greatest experience came to a girl. That was all he would +say, but figuring it out was easy. The greatest experience that +happened to our girls was when they married, like Sally, so it +meant that Shelley had gone and fallen in love with that lawyer +man, and she liked sitting on the sofa with him, and no doubt she +fixed his ties. But if any one thought I would tell anything I +saw when he came they were badly mistaken. + +All of us rushed around like we were crazy. If father and mother +hadn't held steady and kept us down, we might have raised the +roof. We were all so glad about getting Leon and the money back; +mother hadn't been sick since the fish cured her; the new blue +goose was so like the one that had burst, even father never +noticed any difference; all the children were either home or +coming, and after we had our gifts and the biggest dinner we ever +had, Christmas night all of us would go to the schoolhouse to see +our school try to spell down three others to whom they had sent +saucy invitations to come and be beaten. + +Mother sat in the dining-room beside the kitchen door, so that +she could watch the baking, brewing, pickling, and spicing. It +took four men to handle the backlog, which I noticed father +pronounced every year "just a little the finest we ever had," and +Laddie strung the house with bittersweet, evergreens, and the +most beautiful sprays of myrtle that he raked from under the +snow. Father drove to town in the sleigh, and the list of things +to be purchased mother gave him as a reminder was almost a yard +long. + +The minute they finished the outdoor work Laddie and Leon began +bringing in baskets of apples, golden bellflowers, green pippins, +white winter pearmains, Rhode Island greenings, and striped +rambos all covered with hoarfrost, yet not frozen, and so full of +juice you had to bite into them carefully or they dripped and +offended mother. These they washed and carried to the cellar +ready for use. + +Then they cracked big dishes of nuts; and popped corn that popped +with the most resounding pops in all my experience--popped a +tubful, and Laddie melted maple sugar and poured over it and made +big balls of fluff and sweetness. He took a pan and filled it +with grains, selected one at a time, the very largest and +whitest, and made an especial ball, in the middle of which he put +a lovely pink candy heart on which was printed in red letters: +"How can this heart be mine, yet yours, unless our hearts are +one?" He wouldn't let any of them see it except me, and he only +let me because he knew I'd be delighted. + +It was almost dusk when father came through the kitchen loaded +with bundles and found Candace and the girls still cooking. + +We were so excited we could scarcely be gathered around the +supper table, and mother said we chattered until she couldn't +hear herself think. After a while Laddie laid down his fork and +looked at our father. + +"Have you any objection to my using the sleigh to-morrow night?" +he asked. + +Father looked at mother. + +"Had you planned to use it, mother?" + +Mother said: "No. If I go, I'll ride in the big sled with all +of us. It is such a little way, and the roads are like glass." + +So father said politely, as he always spoke to us: "Then it will +give me great pleasure for you to take it, my son." + +That made Leon bang his fork loudly as he dared and squirm in his +chair, for well he knew that if he had asked, the answer would +have been different. If Laddie took the sleigh he would harness +carefully, drive fast, but reasonably, blanket his horse, come +home at the right time, and put everything exactly where he found +it. But Leon would pitch the harness on some way, race every +step, never think of his steaming horse, come home when there was +no one so wild as he left to play pranks with, and scatter the +harness everywhere. He knew our father would love to trust him +the same as he did Laddie. He wouldn't always prove himself +trustworthy, but he envied Laddie. + +"You think you'll take the Princess to the spelling bee, don't +you?" he sneered. + +"I mean to ask her," replied Laddie. + +"Maybe you think she'll ride in our old homemade, hickory +cheesebox, when she can sail all over the country like a bird in +a velvet-lined cutter with a real buffalo robe." + +There was a quick catch in mother's breath and I felt her hand on +my chair tremble. Father's lips tightened and a frown settled on +his face, while Laddie fairly jumped. He went white to the lips, +and one hand dropped on the table, palm up, the fingers closing +and unclosing, while his eyes turned first to mother, and then to +father, in dumb appeal. We all knew that he was suffering. No +one spoke, and Leon having shot his arrow straight home, saw as +people so often do in this world that the damage of unkind words +could not easily be repaired; so he grew red in the face and +squirmed uncomfortably. + +At last Laddie drew a deep, quivering breath. "I never thought +of that," he said. "She has seemed happy to go with me several +times when I asked her, but of course she might not care to ride +in ours, when she has such a fine sleigh of her own." + +Father's voice fairly boomed down the length of the table. + +"Your mother always has found our sleigh suitable," he said. + +The fact was, father was rarely proud of it. He had selected the +hickory in our woods, cut it and hauled it to the mill, cured the +lumber, and used all his spare time for two winters making it. +With the exception of having the runners turned at a factory and +iron-bound at a smithy, he had completed it alone with great +care, even to staining it a beautiful cherry colour, and fitting +white sheepskins into the bed. We had all watched him and been +so proud of it, and now Leon was sneering at it. He might just +as well have undertaken to laugh at father's wedding suit or to +make fun of "Clark's Commentaries." + +Laddie appealed to mother: "Do you think I'd better not ask +her?" + +He spoke with an effort. + +"Laddie, that is the first time I ever heard you propose to do +any one an injustice," she said. + +"I don't see how," said Laddie. + +"It isn't giving the Princess any chance at all," replied mother +"You've just said that she has seemed pleased to accompany you +before, now you are proposing to cut her out of what promises to +be the most delightful evening of the winter, without even giving +her the chance to say whether she'd go with you or not. Has she +ever made you feel that anything you offered her or wanted to do +for her was not good enough?" + +"Never!" exclaimed Laddie fervently. + +"Until she does, then, do you think it would be quite manly and +honourable to make decisions for her? You say you never thought +of anything except a pleasant time with her; possibly she feels +the same. Unless she changes, I would scarcely let a boy's +foolish tongue disturb her pleasure. Moreover, as to the matter +of wealth, your father may be as rich as hers; but they have one, +we have many. If what we spend on all our brood could be +confined to one child, we could easily duplicate all her +luxuries, and I think she has the good sense to realize the fact +as quickly as any one. I've no doubt she would gladly exchange +half she has for the companionship of a sister or a brother in +her lonely life." + +Laddie turned to father, and father's smile was happy again. +Mother was little but she was mighty. With only a few words she +had made Leon feel how unkind and foolish he had been, quieted +Laddie's alarm, and soothed the hurt father's pride had felt in +that he had not been able to furnish her with so fine a turnout +as Pryors had. + +Next morning when the excitement of gifts and greetings was over, +and Laddie's morning work was all finished, he took a beautiful +volume of poems and his popcorn ball and started across the +fields due west; all of us knew that he was going to call on and +offer them to the Princess, and ask to take her to the spelling +bee. I suppose Laddie thought he was taking that trip alone, but +really he was surrounded. I watched him from the window, and my +heart went with him. Presently father went and sat beside +mother's chair, and stroking her hand, whispered softly: "Please +don't worry, little mother. It will be all right. Your boy will +come home happy." + +"I hope so," she answered, "but I can't help feeling dreadfully +nervous. If things go wrong with Laddie, it will spoil the day." + +"I have much faith in the Princess' good common sense," replied +father, "and considering what it means to Laddie, it would hurt +me sore to lose it." + +Mother sat still, but her lips moved so that I knew she was +making soft little whispered prayers for her best loved son. But +Laddie, plowing through the drift, never dreamed that all of us +were with him. He was always better looking than any other man I +ever had seen, but when, two hours later, he stamped into the +kitchen he was so much handsomer than usual, that I knew from the +flush on his cheek and the light in his eye, that the Princess +had been kind, and by the package in his hand, that she had made +him a present. He really had two, a beautiful book and a +necktie. I wondered to my soul if she gave him that, so she +could fix it! I didn't believe she had begun on his ties at that +time; but of course when he loved her as he did, he wished she +would. + +It was the very jolliest Christmas we ever had, but the day +seemed long. When night came we were in a precious bustle. The +wagon bed on bobs, filled with hay and covers, drawn by Ned and +Jo, was brought up for the family, and the sleigh made spick-and- +span and drawn by Laddie's thoroughbred, stood beside it. Laddie +had filled the kitchen oven with bricks and hung up a comfort at +four o'clock to keep the Princess warm. + +Because he had to drive out of the way to bring her, Laddie +wanted to start early; and when he came down dressed in his +college clothes, and looking the manliest of men, some of the +folks thought it funny to see him carefully rake his hot bricks +from the oven, and pin them in an old red breakfast shawl. I +thought it was fine, and I whispered to mother: "Do you suppose +that if Laddie ever marries the Princess he will be good to her +as he is to you?" + +Mother nodded with tear-dimmed eyes, but Shelley said: "I'll +wager a strong young girl like the Princess will laugh at you for +babying over her." + +"Why?" inquired Laddie. "It is a long drive and a bitter night, +and if you fancy the Princess will laugh at anything I do, when I +am doing the best I know for her comfort, you are mistaken. At +least, that is the impression she gave me this morning." + +I saw the swift glance mother shot at father, and father laid +down his paper and said, while he pretended his glasses needed +polishing: "Now there is the right sort of a girl for you. No +foolishness about her, when she has every chance. Hurrah for the +Princess!" + +It was easy to see that she wasn't going to have nearly so hard a +time changing father's opinion as she would mother's. It was not +nearly a year yet, and here he was changed already. Laddie said +good-bye to mother--he never forgot--gathered up his comfort and +bricks, and started for Pryors' downright happy. We went to the +schoolhouse a little later, all of us scoured, curled, starched, +and wearing our very best clothes. My! but it was fine. There +were many lights in the room and it was hung with greens. There +was a crowd even though it was early. On Miss Amelia's table was +a volume of history that was the prize, and every one was looking +and acting the very best he knew how, although there were cases +where they didn't know so very much. + +Our Shelley was the handsomest girl there, until the Princess +came, and then they both were. Shelley wore one of her city +frocks and a quilted red silk hood that was one of her Christmas +gifts, and she looked just like a handsome doll. She made every +male creature in that room feel that she was pining for him +alone. May had a gay plaid frock and curls nearly a yard long, +and so had I, but both our frocks and curls were homemade; mother +would have them once in a while; father and I couldn't stop her. + +But there was not a soul there who didn't have some sort of gift +to rejoice over, and laughter and shouts of "Merry Christmas!" +filled the room. It was growing late and there was some talk of +choosers, when the door opened and in a rush of frosty air the +Princess and Laddie entered. Every one stopped short and stared. + +There was good reason. The Princess looked as if she had +accidentally stepped from a frame. She was always lovely and +beautifully dressed, but to-night she was prettier and finer than +ever before. You could fairly hear their teeth click as some of +the most envious of those girls caught sight of her, for she was +wearing a new hat!--a black velvet store hat, fitting closely +over her crown, with a rim of twisted velvet, a scarlet bird's +wing, and a big silver buckle. Her dress was of scarlet cloth +cut in forms, and it fitted as if she had been melted and poured +into it. It was edged around the throat, wrists, and skirt with +narrow bands of fur, and she wore a loose, long, silk-lined coat +of the same material, and worst of all, furs--furs such as we had +heard wealthy and stylish city ladies were wearing. A golden +brown cape that reached to her elbows, with ends falling to the +knees, finished in the tails of some animal, and for her hands a +muff as big as a nail keg. + +Now, there was not a girl in that room, except the Princess, an +she had those clothes, who wouldn't have flirted like a peacock, +almost bursting with pride; but because the Princess had them, +and they didn't, they sat stolid and sullen, and cast glances at +each other as if they were saying: "The stuck-up thing!" +"Thinks she's smart, don't she?" + +Many of them should have gone to meet her and made her welcome, +for she was not of our district and really their guest. Shelley +did go, but I noticed she didn't hurry. + +The choosers began at once, and Laddie was the first person +called for our side, and the Princess for the visitors'. Every +one in the room was chosen on one side or the other; even my name +was called, but I only sat still and shook my head, for I very +well knew that no one except father would remember to pronounce +easy ones for me, and besides I was so bitterly disappointed I +could scarcely have stood up. They had put me in a seat near the +fire; the spellers lined either wall, and a goodly number that +refused to spell occupied the middle seats. I couldn't get a +glimpse of Laddie or the home folks, or worst of all, of my +idolized Princess. + +I never could bear to find a fault with Laddie, but I sadly +reflected that he might as well have left me at home, if I were +to be buried where I could neither hear nor see a thing. I was +just wishing it was summer so I could steal out to the cemetery, +and have a good visit with the butterflies that always swarmed +around Georgiana Jane Titcomb's grave at the corner of the +church. I never knew Georgiana Jane, but her people must have +been very fond of her, for her grave was scarlet with geraniums, +and pink with roses from earliest spring until frost, and the +bright colours attracted swarms of butterflies. I had learned +that if I stuck a few blossoms in my hair, rubbed some sweet +smelling ones over my hands, and knelt and kept so quiet that I +fitted into the landscape, the butterflies would think me a +flower too, and alight on my hair, dress, and my hands, even. +God never made anything more beautiful than those butterflies, +with their wings of brightly painted velvet down, their bright +eyes, their curious antennae, and their queer, tickly feet. +Laddie had promised me a book telling all about every kind there +was, the first time he went to a city, so I was wishing I had it, +and was among my pet beauties with it, when I discovered him +bending over me. + +He took my arm, and marching back to his place, helped me to the +deep window seat beside him, where with my head on a level, and +within a foot of his, I could see everything in the whole room. +I don't know why I ever spent any time pining for the beauties of +Georgiana Jane Titcomb's grave, even with its handsome headstone +on which was carved a lamb standing on three feet and holding a +banner over its shoulder with the fourth, and the geraniums, +roses, and the weeping willow that grew over it, thrown in. I +might have trusted Laddie. He never had forgotten me; until he +did, I should have kept unwavering faith. + +Now, I had the best place of any one in the room, and I smoothed +my new plaid frock and shook my handmade curls just as near like +Shelley as ever I could. But it seems that most of the ointment +in this world has a fly in it, like in the Bible, for fine as my +location was, I soon knew that I should ask Laddie to put me +down, because the window behind me didn't fit its frame, and the +night was bitter. Before half an hour I was stiff with cold; but +I doubt if I would have given up that location if I had known I +would freeze, because this was the most fun I had ever seen. + +Miss Amelia began with McGuffey's spelling book, and whenever +some poor unfortunate made a bad break the crowd roared with +laughter. Peter Justice stood up to spell and before three +rounds he was nodding on his feet, so she pronounced "sleepy" to +him. Some one nudged Pete and he waked up and spelled it, s-l-e, +sle, p-e, pe, and because he really was so sleepy it made every +one laugh. James Whittaker spelled compromise with a k, and +Isaac Thomas spelled soap, s-o-a-p-e, and it was all the funnier +that he couldn't spell it, for from his looks you could tell that +he had no acquaintance with it in any shape. Then Miss Amelia +gave out "marriage" to the spooniest young man in the district, +and "stepfather" to a man who was courting a widow with nine +children; and "coquette" to our Shelley, who had been making +sheep's eyes at Johnny Myers, so it took her by surprise and she +joined the majority, which by that time occupied seats. + +There was much laughing and clapping of hands for a time, but +when Miss Amelia had let them have their fun and thinned the +lines to half a dozen on each side who could really spell, she +began business, and pronounced the hardest words she could find +in the book, and the spellers caught them up and rattled them off +like machines. + +"Incompatibility," she gave out, and before the sound of her +voice died away the Princess was spelling: "I-n, in, c-o-m, com, +in com, p-a-t, pat, incompat, i, incompati, b-i-l, bil, +incompatibil, i, incompatibili, t-y, ty, incompatibility." + +Then Laddie spelled "incomprehensibility," and they finished up +the "bilities" and the "alities" with a rush and changed +McGuffey's for Webster, with five on Laddie's side and three on +the Princess', and when they quit with it, the Princess was +alone, and Laddie and our little May facing her. + +From that on you could call it real spelling. They spelled from +the grammars, hyperbole, synecdoche, and epizeuxis. They spelled +from the physiology, chlorophyll, coccyx, arytenoid, and the +names of the bones and nerves, and all the hard words inside you. + +They tried the diseases and spelled jaundice, neurasthenia, and +tongue-tied. They tried all the occupations and professions, and +went through the stores and spelled all sorts of hardware, china +and dry goods. Each side kept cheering its own and urging them +to do their best, and every few minutes some man in the back of +the house said something that was too funny. When Miss Amelia +pronounced "bombazine" to Laddie our side cried, "Careful, +Laddie, careful! you're out of your element!" + +And when she gave "swivel-tree" to the Princess, her side +whispered, "Go easy! Do you know what it is? Make her define +it." + +They branched over the country. May met her Jonah on the +mountains. Katahdin was too much for her, and Laddie and the +Princess were left to fight it out alone. I didn't think Laddie +liked it. I'm sure he never expected it to turn out that way. +He must have been certain he could beat her, for after he +finished English there were two or three other languages he knew, +and every one in the district felt that he could win, and +expected him to do it. It was an awful place to put him in, I +could see that. He stood a little more erect than usual, with +his eyes toward the Princess, and when his side kept crying, +"Keep the prize, Laddie! Hold up the glory of the district!" he +ground out the words as if he had a spite at them for not being +so hard that he would have an excuse for going down. + +The Princess was poised lightly on her feet, her thick curls, +just touching her shoulders, shining in the light; her eyes like +stars, her perfect, dark oval face flushed a rich red, and her +deep bosom rising and falling with excitement. Many times in +later years I have tried to remember when the Princess was +loveliest of all, and that night always stands first. + +I was thinking fast. Laddie was a big man. Men were strong on +purpose so they could bear things. He loved the Princess so, and +he didn't know whether she loved him or not; and every +marriageable man in three counties was just aching for the chance +to court her, and I didn't feel that he dared risk hurting her +feelings. + +Laddie said, to be the man who conquered the Princess and to whom +she lifted her lips for a first kiss was worth life itself. I +made up my mind that night that he knew just exactly what he was +talking about. I thought so too. And I seemed to understand why +Laddie--Laddie in his youth, strength, and manly beauty, Laddie, +who boasted that there was not a nerve in his body--trembled +before the Princess. + +It looked as if she had set herself against him and was working +for the honours, and if she wanted them, I didn't feel that he +should chance beating her, and then, too, it was beginning to be +plain that it was none too sure he could. Laddie didn't seem to +be the only one who had been well drilled in spelling. + +I held my jaws set a minute, so that I could speak without Laddie +knowing how I was shivering, and then I whispered: "Except her +eyes are softer, she looks just like a cardinal." + +Laddie nodded emphatically and moving a step nearer laid his +elbow across my knees. Heavens, how they spelled! They finished +all the words I ever heard and spelled like lightning through a +lot of others the meaning of which I couldn't imagine. Father +never gave them out at home. They spelled epiphany, gaberdine, +ichthyology, gewgaw, kaleidoscope, and troubadour. Then Laddie +spelled one word two different ways; and the Princess went him +one better, for she spelled another three. + +They spelled from the Bible, Nebuchadnezzar, Potiphar, Peleg, +Belshazzar, Abimelech, and a host of others I never heard the +minister preach about. Then they did the most dreadful thing of +all. "Broom," pronounced the teacher, and I began mentally, b-r- +o-o-m, but Laddie spelled "b-r-o-u-g-h-a-m," and I stared at him +in a daze. A second later Miss Amelia gave out "Beecham" to the +Princess, and again I tried it, b-e-e-c-h, but the Princess was +spelling "B-e-a-u-c-h-a-m-p," and I almost fell from the window. + +They kept that up until I was nearly crazy with nervousness; I +forgot I was half frozen. I pulled Laddie's sleeve and whispered +in his ear: "Do you think she'll cry if you beat her?" + +I was half crying myself, the strain had been awful. I was torn +between these dearest loves of mine. + +"Seen me have any chance to beat her?" retorted Laddie. + +Miss Amelia seemed to have used most of her books, and at last +picked up an old geography and began giving out points around the +coast, while Laddie and the Princess took turns snatching the +words from her mouth and spelling them. Father often did that, +so Laddie was safe there. They were just going it when Miss +Amelia pronounced, "Terra del Fuego," to the Princess. "T-e-r-r- +a, Terra, d-e-l, del, F-i-e-u-g-o," spelled the Princess, and sat +down suddenly in the midst of a mighty groan from her side, +swelled by a wail from one little home district deserter. + +"Next!" called Miss Amelia. + +"T-e-r-r-a, Terra, d-e-l, del, F-e-u-g-o," spelled Laddie. + +"Wrong!" wailed Miss Amelia, and our side breathed one big groan +in concert, and I lifted up my voice in that also. Then every +one laughed and pretended they didn't care, and the Princess came +over and shook hands with Laddie, and Laddie said to Miss Amelia: + +"Just let me take that book a minute until I see how the thing +really does go." It was well done and satisfied the crowd, which +clapped and cheered; but as I had heard him spell it many, many +times for father, he didn't fool me. + +Laddie and the Princess drew slips for the book and it fell to +her. He was so pleased he kissed me as he lifted me down and +never noticed I was so stiff I could scarcely stand--and I did +fall twice going to the sleigh. My bed was warm and my room was +warm, but I chilled the night through and until the next +afternoon, when I grew so faint and sleepy I crept to Miss +Amelia's desk, half dead with fright--it was my first trip to ask +an excuse--and begged: "Oh teacher, I'm so sick. Please let me +go home." + +I think one glance must have satisfied her that it was true, for +she said very kindly that I might, and she would send Leon along +to take care of me. But my troubles were only half over when I +had her consent. It was very probable I would be called a baby +and sent back when I reached home, so I refused company and +started alone. It seemed a mile past the cemetery. I was so +tired I stopped, and leaning against the fence, peeped through at +the white stones and the whiter mounds they covered, and wondered +how my mother would feel if she were compelled to lay me beside +the two little whooping cough and fever sisters already sleeping +there. I decided that it would be so very dreadful, that the +tears began to roll down my cheeks and freeze before they fell. + +Down the Big Hill slowly I went. How bare it looked then! Only +leafless trees and dried seed pods rattling on the bushes, the +sand frozen, and not a rush to be seen for the thick blanket of +snow. A few rods above the bridge was a footpath, smooth and +well worn, that led down to the creek, beaten by the feet of +children who raced it every day and took a running slide across +the ice. I struck into the path as always; but I was too stiff +to run, for I tried. I walked on the ice, and being almost worn +out, sat on the bridge and fell to watching the water bubbling +under the glassy crust. I was so dull a horse's feet struck the +bridge before I heard the bells--for I had bells in my ears that +day--and when I looked up it was the Princess--the Princess in +her red dress and furs, with a silk hood instead of her hat, her +sleigh like a picture, with a buffalo robe, that it was whispered +about the country, cost over a hundred dollars, and her +thoroughbred mare Maud dancing and prancing. "Bless me! Is it +you, Little Sister?" she asked. "Shall I give you a ride home?" + +Before I could scarcely realize she was there, I was beside her +and she was tucking the fine warm robe over me. I lifted a pair +of dull eyes to her face. + +"Oh Princess, I am so glad you came," I said. "I don't think I +could have gone another step if I had frozen on the bridge." + +The Princess bent to look in my face. "Why, you poor child!" She +exclaimed, "you're white as death! Where are you ill?" + +I leaned on her shoulder, though ordinarily I would not have +offered to touch her first, and murmured: "I am not ill, +outdoors, only dull, sleepy, and freezing with the cold." + +"It was that window!" she exclaimed. "I thought of it, but I +trusted Laddie." + +That roused me a little. + +"Oh Princess," I cried, "you mustn't blame Laddie! I knew it was +too cold, but I wouldn't tell him, because if he put me down I +couldn't see you, and we thought, but for your eyes being softer, +you looked just like a cardinal." + +The Princess hugged me close and laughed merrily. "You darling!" +she cried. + +Then she shook me up sharply: "Don't you dare go to sleep!" she +said. "I must take you home first." + +Once there she quieted my mother's alarm, put me to bed, drove +three miles for Dr. Fenner and had me started nicely on the road +to a month of lung fever, before she left. In my delirium I +spelled volumes; and the miracle of it was I never missed a word +until I came to "Terra del Fuego," and there I covered my lips +and stoutly insisted that it was the Princess' secret. + +To keep me from that danger sleep on the road, she shook me up +and asked about the spelling bee. I thought it was the grandest +thing I had ever seen in my life, and I told her so. She +gathered me close and whispered: "Tell me something, Little +Sister, please." + +The minx! She knew I thought that a far finer title than hers. + +"Would Laddie care?" I questioned. + +"Not in the least!" + +"Well then, I will." + +"Can Laddie spell `Terra del Fuego?'" she whispered. + +I nodded. + +"Are you sure?" + +"I have heard him do it over and over for father." + +The Princess forgot I was so sick, forgot her horse, forgot +everything. She threw her head back and her hands up, until her +horse stopped in answer to the loosened line, and she laughed and +laughed. She laughed until peal on peal re-echoed from our Big +Woods clear across the west eighty. She laughed until her +ringing notes set my slow pulses on fire, and started my numbed +brain in one last effort. I stood up and took her lovely face +between my palms, turning it until I could see whether the +thought that had come to me showed in her eyes, and it did. + +"Oh you darling, splendid Princess!" I cried. "You missed it on +purpose to let Laddie beat! You can spell it too!" + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Horn of the Hunter + + "The dusky night rides down the sky, + And ushers in the morn: + The hounds all join in glorious cry, + The huntsman winds his horn." + +Leon said our house reminded him of the mourners' bench before +any one had "come through." He said it was so deadly with Sally +and Shelley away, that he had a big notion to marry Susie Fall +and bring her over to liven things up a little. Mother said she +thought that would be a good idea, and Leon started in the +direction of Falls', but he only went as far as Deams'. When he +came back he had a great story to tell about dogs chasing their +sheep, and foxes taking their geese. Father said sheep were only +safe behind securely closed doors, especially in winter, and +geese also. Leon said every one hadn't as big a barn as ours, +and father said there was nothing to prevent any man from +building the sized barn he needed to shelter his creatures in +safety and comfort, if he wanted to dig in and earn the money to +put it up. There was no answer to that, and Mr. Leon didn't try +to make any. Mostly, he said something to keep on talking, but +sometimes he saw when he had better quit. + +I was having a good time, myself. Of course when the fever was +the worst, and when I never had been sick before, it was pretty +bad, but as soon as I could breathe all right, there was no pain +to speak of, and every one was so good to me. I could have Bobby +on the footboard of my bed as long as I wanted him, and he would +crow whenever I told him to. I kept Grace Greenwood beside me, +and spoiled her dress making her take some of each dose of +medicine I did, but Shelley wrote that she was saving goods and +she would make her another as soon as she came home. I made +mother put red flannel on Grace's chest and around her neck, +until I could hardly find her mouth when she had to take her +medicine, but she swallowed it down all right, or she got her +nose held, until she did. She was not nearly so sick as I was, +though. We both grew better together, and, when Dr. Fenner +brought me candy, she had her share. + +When I began to get well it was lovely. Such toast, chicken +broth, and squirrels, as mother always had. I even got the +chicken liver, oranges, and all of them gave me everything they +had that I wanted--I must almost have died to make them act like +that! + +Laddie and father would take me up wrapped in blankets and hold +me to rest my back. Father would rock me and sing about "Young +Johnny," just as he had when I was little. We always laughed at +it, we knew it was a fool song, but we liked it. The tune was +smooth and sleepy-like and the words went: + + "One day young Johnny, he did go, + Way down in the meadow for to mow. + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O! + + He scarce had mowed twice round the field, + When a pesky sarpent bit him on the heel, + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O! + + He threw the scythe upon the ground, + An' shut his eyes, and looked all round, + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O! + + He took the sarpent in his hand, + And then ran home to Molly Bland, + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O! + + O Molly dear, and don't you see, + This pesky sarpent that bit me? + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O! + + O Johnny dear, why did you go, + Way down in the meadow fot to mow? + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O! + + O Molly dear, I thought you knowed + 'Twas daddy's grass, and it must be mowed, + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-n an-incty, noddy O! + + Now all young men a warning take, + And don't get bit by a rattlesnake. + Li-tu-di-nan-incty, tu-di-nan-incty, noddy O!" + + + +All of them told me stories, read to me, and Frank, one of my big +gone-away brothers, sent me the prettiest little book. It had a +green cover with gold on the back, and it was full of stories and +poems, not so very hard, because I could read every one of them, +with help on a few words. The piece I liked best was poetry. If +it hadn't been for that, I'm afraid, I was having such a good +time, I'd have lain there until I forgot how to walk, with all of +them trying to see who could be nicest to me. The ones who +really could, were Laddie and the Princess, except mother. +Laddie lifted me most carefully, the Princess told the best +stories, but after all, if the burning and choking grew so bad I +could scarcely stand it, mother could lay her hand on my head and +say, "Poor child," in a way that made me work to keep on +breathing. Maybe I only THOUGHT I loved Laddie best. I guess if +I had been forced to take my choice when I had the fever, I'd +have stuck pretty tight to mother. Even Dr. Fenner said if I +pulled through she'd have to make me. I might have been lying +there yet, if it hadn't been for the book Frank sent me, with the +poetry piece in it. It began: + + "Somewhere on a sunny bank, buttercups are bright, + Somewhere 'mid the frozen grass, peeps the daisy white." + + +I read that so often I could repeat it quite as well with the +book shut as open, and every time I read it, I wanted outdoors +worse. In one place it ran: + + + "Welcome, yellow buttercups, welcome daisies white, + Ye are in my spirit visioned a delight. + Coming in the springtime of sunny hours to tell, + Speaking to our hearts of Him who doeth all things well." + + +That piece helped me out of bed, and the blue gander screaming +opened the door. It was funny about it too. I don't know WHY it +worked on me that way; it just kept singing in my heart all day, +and I could shut my eyes and go to sleep seeing buttercups in a +gold sheet all over our Big Hill, although there never was a +single one there; and meadows full of daisies, which were things +father said were a pest he couldn't tolerate, because they spread +so, and he grubbed up every one he found. Yet that piece filled +our meadow until I imagined I could roll on daisies. They might +be a pest to farmers, but sheets of them were pretty good if you +were burning with fever. Between the buttercups and the daisies +I left the bed with a light head and wobbly legs. + +Of course I wasn't an idiot. I knew when I looked from our south +window exactly what was to be seen. The person who wrote that +piece was the idiot. It sang and sounded pretty, and it pulled +you up and pushed you out, but really it was a fool thing, as I +very well knew. I couldn't imagine daisies peeping through +frozen grass. Any baby should have known they bloomed in July. +Skunk cabbage always came first, and hepatica. If I had looked +from any of our windows and seen daisies and buttercups in March, +I'd have fallen over with the shock. I knew there would be +frozen brown earth, last year's dead leaves, caved-in apple and +potato holes, the cabbage row almost gone, puddles of water and +mud everywhere, and I would hear geese scream and hens sing. And +yet that poem kept pulling and pulling, and I was happy as a +queen--I wondered if they were for sure; mother had doubts--the +day I was wrapped in shawls and might sit an hour in the sun on +the top board of the back fence, where I could see the barn, +orchard, the creek and the meadow, as you never could in summer +because of the leaves. I wasn't looking for buttercups and +daisies either. I mighty well knew there wouldn't be any. + +But the sun was there. A little taste of willow, oak and maple +was in the air. You could see the buds growing fat too, and you +could smell them. If you opened your eyes and looked in any +direction you could see blue sky, big, ragged white clouds, bare +trees, muddy earth with grassy patches, and white spots on the +shady sides where unmelted snow made the icy feel in the air, +even when the sun shone. You couldn't hear yourself think for +the clatter of the turkeys, ganders, roosters, hens, and +everything that had a voice. I was so crazy with it I could +scarcely hang to the fence; I wanted to get down and scrape my +wings like the gobbler, and scream louder than the gander, and +crow oftener than the rooster. There was everything all ice and +mud. They would have frozen, if they hadn't been put in a house +at night, and starved, if they hadn't been fed; they were not at +the place where they could hunt and scratch, and not pay any +attention to feeding time, because of being so bursting full. +They had no nests and babies to rejoice over. But there they +were! And so was I! Buttercups and daisies be-hanged! Ice and +mud really! But if you breathed that air, and shut your eyes, +north, you could see blue flags, scarlet lilies, buttercups, +cattails and redbirds sailing over them; east, there would be +apple bloom and soft grass, cowslips, and bubbling water, robins, +thrushes, and bluebirds; and south, waving corn with wild rose +and alder borders, and sparrows, and larks on every fence rider. + +Right there I got that daisy thing figured out. It wasn't that +there were or ever would be daisies and buttercups among the +frozen grass; but it was forever and always that when this FEEL +came into the air, you knew they were COMING. THAT was what +ailed the gander and the gobbler. They hadn't a thing to be +thankful for yet, but something inside them was swelling and +pushing because of what was coming. I felt exactly as they did, +because I wanted to act the same way, but I'd been sick enough to +know that I'd better be thankful for the chance to sit on the +fence, and think about buttercups and daisies. Really, one old +brown and purple skunk cabbage with a half-frozen bee buzzing +over it, or a few forlorn little spring beauties, would have set +me wild, and when a lark really did go over, away up high, and a +dove began to coo in the orchard, if Laddie hadn't come for me, I +would have fallen from the fence. + +I simply had to get well and quickly too, for the wonderful time +was beginning. It was all very well to lie in bed when there was +nothing else to do, and every one would pet me and give me +things; but here was maple syrup time right at the door, and the +sugar camp most fun alive; here was all the neighbourhood crazy +mad at the foxes, and planning a great chase covering a circuit +of miles before the ground thawed; here was Easter and all the +children coming, except Shelley--again, it would cost too much +for only one day--and with everything beginning to hum, I found +out there would be more amusement outdoors than inside. That was +how I came to study out the daisy piece. There was nothing in +the silly, untrue lines: the pull and tug was in what they made +you think of. + +I was still so weak I had to take a nap every day, so I wasn't +sleepy as early at night, and I heard father and mother talk over +a lot of things before they went to bed. After they mentioned +it, I remembered that we hadn't received nearly so many letters +from Shelley lately, and mother seldom found time to read them +aloud during the day and forgot, or her eyes were tired, at +night. + +"Are you worrying about Shelley?" asked father one night. + +"Yes, I am," answered mother. + +"What do you think is the trouble?" + +"I'm afraid things are not coming out with Mr. Paget as she +hoped." + +"If they don't, she is going to be unhappy?" + +"That's putting it mildly." + +"Well, I was doubtful in the beginning." + +"Now hold on," said mother. "So was I; but what are you going to +do? I can't go through the world with my girls, and meet men for +them. I trained them just as carefully as possible before I +started them out; that was all I could do. Shelley knows when a +man appears clean, decent and likable. She knows when his +calling is respectable. She knows when his speech is proper, his +manners correct, and his ways attractive. She found this man all +of these things, and she liked him accordingly. At Christmas she +told me about it freely." + +"Have you any idea how far the thing has gone?" + +"She said then that she had seen him twice a week for two months. + +He seemed very fond of her. He had told her he cared more for +her than any girl he ever had met, and he had asked her to come +here this summer and pay us a visit, so she wanted to know if he +might." + +"Of course you told her yes." + +"Certainly I told her yes. I wish now we'd saved money and you'd +gone to visit her and met him when she first wrote of him. You +could have found out who and what he was, and with your +experience you might have pointed out signs that would have +helped her to see, before it was too late." + +"What do you think is the trouble?" + +"I wish I knew! She simply is failing to mention him in her +letters; all the joy of living has dropped from them, she merely +writes about her work; and now she is beginning to complain of +homesickness and to say that she doesn't know how to endure the +city any longer. There's something wrong." + +"Had I better go now?" + +"Too late!" said mother, and I could hear her throat go wrong and +the choke come into her voice. "She is deeply in love with him; +he hasn't found in her what he desires; probably he is not coming +any more; what could you do?" + +"I could go and see if there is anything I could do?" + +"She may not want you. I'll write her to-morrow and suggest that +you or Laddie pay her a visit and learn what she thinks." + +"All right," said father. + +He kissed her and went to sleep, but mother was awake yet, and +she got up and stood looking down at the church and the two +little white gravestones she could see from her window, until I +thought she would freeze, and she did nearly, for her hands were +cold and the tears falling when she examined my covers, and felt +my face and hands before she went to bed. My, but the mother of +a family like ours is never short of a lot of things to think of! + +I had a new one myself. Now what do you suppose there was about +that man? + +Of course after having lived all her life with father and Laddie, +Shelley would know how a man should look, and act to be right; +and this one must have been right to make her bloom out in winter +the way other things do in spring; and now what could be wrong? +Maybe city girls were prettier than Shelley. But all women were +made alike on the outside, and that was as far as you could see. +You couldn't find out whether they had pure blood, true hearts, +or clean souls. No girl could be so very much prettier than +Shelley; they simply were not made that way. She knew how to +behave; she had it beaten into her, like all of us. And she knew +her books, what our schools could teach her, and Groveville, and +Lucy, who had city chances for years, and there never was a day +at our house when books and papers were not read and discussed, +and your spelling was hammered into you standing in rows against +the wall, and memory tests--what on earth could be the matter +with Shelley that a man who could make her look and act as she +did at Christmas, would now make her unhappy? Sometimes I wanted +to be grown up dreadfully, and again, times like that, I wished +my bed could stay in mother's room, and I could creep behind +father's paper and go to sleep between his coat and vest, and +have him warm my feet in his hands forever. + +This world was too much for me. I never worked and worried in +all my life as I had over Laddie and the Princess, and Laddie +said I, myself, never would know how I had helped him. Of course +nothing was settled; he had to try to make her love him by +teaching her how lovable he was. We knew, because we always had +known him, but she was a stranger and had to learn. It was +mighty fine for him that he could force his way past the dogs, +Thomas, the other men, her half-crazy father, and through the +locked door, and go there to try to make her see, on Sunday +nights, and week days, every single chance he could invent, and +he could think up more reasons for going to Pryors' than mother +could for putting out an extra wash. + +Now just as I got settled a little about him, and we could see +they really wanted him there, at least the Princess and her +mother did, and Mr. Pryor must have been fairly decent or Laddie +never would have gone; and the Princess came to our house to +bring me things to eat, and ask how mother was, and once to learn +how she embroidered Sally's wedding chemise, and social things +like that; and when father acted as if he liked her so much he +hadn't a word to say, and mother seemed to begin to feel as if +Laddie and the Princess could be trusted to fix it up about God; +and the old mystery didn't matter after all; why, here Shelley +popped up with another mystery, and it belonged to us. But +whatever ailed that man I couldn't possibly think. It had got to +be him, for Shelley was so all right at Christmas, it made her +look that pretty we hardly knew her. + +I was thinking about her until I scarcely could study my lessons, +so I could recite to Laddie at night, and not fall so far behind +at school. Miss Amelia offered to hear me, but I just begged +Laddie, and father could see that he taught me fifty things in a +lesson that you could tell to look at Miss Amelia, she never +knew. Why, he couldn't hear me read: + + "We charged upon a flock of geese, + And put them all to flight + Except one sturdy gander + That thought to show us fight,"-- + +without teaching me that the oldest picture in all the world was +made of a row of geese, some of which were kinds we then had--the +earth didn't seem so old when you thought of that--and how a +flock of geese once wakened an army and saved a city, and how far +wild geese could fly without alighting in migration, and +everything you could think of about geese, only he didn't know +why eating the same grass made feathers on geese and wool on +sheep. Anyway, Miss Amelia never told you a word but what was in +the book, and how to read and spell it. May said that father was +very much disappointed in her, and he was never going to hire +another teacher until he met and talked with her, no matter what +kind of letters she could send. He was not going to help her get +a summer school, and O my soul! I hope no one does, for if they +do, I have to go, and I'd rather die than go to school in the +summer. + +Leon came in about that time with more fox stories. Been in +Jacob Hood's chicken house and taken his best Dorking rooster, +and father said it was time to do something. He never said a +word so long as they took Deams', except they should have barn +room for their geese, but when anything was the matter at Hoods' +father and mother started doing something the instant they heard +of it. So father and Laddie rode around the neighbourhood and +talked it over, and the next night they had a meeting at our +schoolhouse; men for miles came, and they planned a regular old- +fashioned foxchase, and every one was wild about it. + +Laddie told it at Pryors' and the Princess wanted to go; she +asked to go with him, and if you please, Mr. Pryor wanted to go +too, and their Thomas. They attended the meeting to tell how +people chase foxes in England, where they seem to hunt them most +of the time. Father said: "Thank God for even a foxchase, if it +will bring Mr. Pryor among his neighbours and help him to act +sensibly." They are going away fifteen miles or farther, and +form a big circle of men from all directions, some walking in a +line, and others riding to bring back any foxes that escape, and +with dogs, and guns, they are going to rout out every one they +can find, and kill them so they won't take the geese, little +pigs, lambs, and Hoods' Dorking rooster. Laddie had a horn that +Mr. Pryor gave him when he told him this country was showing +signs of becoming civilized at last; but Leon grinned and said +he'd beat that. + +Then when you wanted him, he was in the wood house loft at work, +but father said he couldn't get into mischief there. He should +have seen that churn when it was full of wedding breakfast! We +ate for a week afterward, until things were all moulded, and we +didn't dare anymore. One night I begged so hard and promised so +faithfully he trusted me; he did often, after I didn't tell about +the Station; and I went to the loft with him, and watched him +work an hour. He had a hollow limb about six inches through and +fourteen long. He had cut and burned it to a mere shell, and +then he had scraped it with glass inside and out, until it shone +like polished horn. He had shaved the wool from a piece of +sheepskin, soaked, stretched, and dried it, and then fitted it +over one end of the drumlike thing he had made, and tacked and +bound it in a little groove at the edge. He put the skin on damp +so he could stretch it tight. Then he punched a tiny hole in the +middle, and pulled through it, down inside the drum, a sheepskin +thong rolled in resin, with a knot big enough to hold it, and not +tear the head. Then he took it under his arm and we slipped +across the orchard below the Station, and went into the hollow +and tried it. + +It worked! I almost fell dead with the first frightful sound. +It just bellowed and roared. In only a little while he found +different ways to make it sound by his manner of working the +tongue. A long, steady, even pull got that kind of a roar. A +short, quick one made it bark. A pull half the length of the +thong, a pause, and another pull, made it sound like a bark and a +yelp. To pull hard and quick, made it go louder, and soft and +easy made it whine. Before he had tried it ten minutes he could +do fifty things with it that would almost scare the livers out of +those nasty old foxes that were taking every one's geese, Dorking +roosters, and even baby lambs and pigs. Of course people +couldn't stand that; something had to be done! + +Even in the Bible it says, "Beware of the little foxes that spoil +the vines," and geese, especially blue ones, Dorking roosters, +lambs, and pigs were much more valuable than mere vines; so Leon +made that awful thing to scare the foxes from their holes that's +in the Bible too, about the holes I mean, not the scaring. I +wanted Leon to slip to the back door and make the dumb-bell-- +that's what he called it; if I had been naming it I would have +called it the thunder-bell--go; but he wouldn't. He said he +didn't propose to work as he had, and then have some one find +out, and fix one like it. He said he wouldn't let it make a +sound until the night before the chase, and then he'd raise the +dead. I don't know about the dead; but it was true of the +living. Father went a foot above his chair and cried: "Whoo- +pee!" All of us, even I, when I was waiting for it, screamed as +if Paddy Ryan raved at the door. Then Leon came in and showed +us, and every one wanted to work the dumb-bell, even mother. +Leon marched around and showed off; he looked "See the conquering +hero comes," all over. I never felt worse about being made into +a girl than I did that night. + +I couldn't sleep for excitement, and mother said I might as well, +for it would be at least one o'clock before they would round-up +in our meadow below the barn. All the neighbours were to shut up +their stock, tie their dogs, or lead them with chains, if they +took them, so when the foxes were surrounded, they could catch +them alive, and save their skins. I wondered how some of those +chasing people, even Laddie, Leon, and father--think of that! +father was going too--I wondered how they would have liked to +have had something as much bigger than they were, as they were +bigger than the foxes, chase them with awful noises, guns and +dogs, and catch them alive--to save their skins. No wonder I +couldn't sleep! I guess the foxes wouldn't either, if they had +known what was coming. Maybe hereafter the mean old things would +eat rabbits and weasels, and leave the Dorking roosters alone. + +May, Candace, and Miss Amelia were going to Deams' to wait, and +when the round-up formed a solid line, they planned to stand +outside, and see the sport. If they had been the foxes, maybe +they wouldn't have thought it was so funny; but of course, people +just couldn't have even their pigs and lambs taken. We had to +have wool to spin yarn for our stockings, weave our blankets and +coverlids, and our Sunday winter dresses of white flannel with +narrow black crossbars were from the backs of our own sheep, and +we had to have ham to fry with eggs, and boil for Sunday night +suppers, and bacon to cook the greens with--of course it was all +right. + +Before it was near daylight I heard Laddie making the kitchen +fire, so father got right up, Leon came down, and all of them +went to the barn to do the feeding. I wanted to get up too, but +mother said I should stay in bed until the house was warm, +because if I took more cold I'd be sick again. At breakfast May +asked father about when they should start for Deams' to be ahead +of the chase, and he said by ten o'clock at least; because a fox +driven mad by pursuit, dogs, and noise, was a very dangerous +thing, and a bite might make hy----the same thing as a mad dog. +He said our back barn door opening from the threshing floor would +afford a fine view of the meet, but Candace, May, and Miss Amelia +wanted to be closer. I might go with them if they would take +good care of me, and they promised to; but when the time came to +start, there was such a queer feeling inside me, I thought maybe +it was more fever, and with mother would be the best place for +me, so I said I wanted to watch from the barn. Father thought +that was a capital idea, because I would be on the east side, +where there would be no sun and wind, and it would be perfectly +safe; also, I really could see what was going on better from that +height than on the ground. + +The sun was going to shine, but it hadn't peeped above Deams' +strawstack when father on his best saddle horse, and Laddie on +Flos, rode away, their eyes shining, their faces red, their blood +pounding so it made their voices sound excited and different. +Leon was to go on foot. Father said he would ride a horse to +death. He just grinned and never made a word of complaint. +Seemed funny for him. + +"I was over having a little confidential chat with my horse, last +night," he said, "and next year we'll be in the chase, and we'll +show you how to take fences, and cut curves; just you wait!" + +"Leon, DON'T build so on that horse," wailed mother. "I'm sure +that money was stolen like ours, and the owner will claim it! I +feel it in my bones!" + +"Aw, shucks!" said Leon. "That money is mine. He won't either!" + +When they started, father took Leon behind him to ride as far as +the county line. He said he would go slowly, and it wouldn't +hurt the horse, but Leon slipped off at Hoods', and said he'd go +with their boys, so father let him, because light as Leon was, +both of them were quite a load for one horse. Laddie went to +ride with the Princess. We could see people moving around in +Pryors' barnyard when our men started. Candace washed, Miss +Amelia wiped the dishes, May swept, and all of them made the +beds, and then they went to Deams', while I stayed with mother. +When she thought it was time, she bundled me up warmly, and I +went to the barn. Father had the east doors standing open for +me, so I could sit in the sun, hang my feet against the warm +boards, and see every inch of our meadow where the meet was to +be. I was really too warm there, and had to take off the scarf, +untie my hood, and unbutton my coat. + +It was a trifle muddy, but the frost had not left the ground yet, +the sparrows were singing fit to burst, so were the hens. I +didn't care much for the music of the hen, but I could see she +meant well. She liked her nest quite as much as the red velvet +bird with black wings, or the bubbly yellow one, and as for baby +chickens, from the first peep they beat a little naked, blind, +wobbly tree bird, so any hen had a right to sing for joy because +she was going to be the mother of a large family of them. A hen +had something was going to be the mother of a large family of +them. A hen had something to sing about all right, and so had +we, when we thought of poached eggs and fried chicken. When I +remembered them, I saw that it was no wonder the useful hen +warbled so proudlike; but that was all nonsense, for I don't +suppose a hen ever tasted poached eggs, and surely she wouldn't +be happy over the prospect of being fried. Maybe one reason she +sang was because she didn't know what was coming; I hardly think +she'd be so tuneful if she did. + +Sometimes the geese, shut in the barn, raised an awful clatter, +and the horses and cattle complained about being kept from the +sunshine and fresh air. You couldn't blame them. It was a +lovely day, and the big upper door the pleasantest place. I +didn't care if the fox hunters never came, there was so much to +see, hear, and smell. Everything was busy making signs of +spring, and one could become tired of ice and snow after a while, +and so hungry for summer that those first days which were just +hints of what was coming were almost better than the real thing +when it arrived. Bud perfume was stronger than last week, many +doves and bluebirds were calling, and three days more of such +sunshine would make cross-country riding too muddy to be +pleasant. I sat there thinking; grown people never know how much +children do think, they have so much time, and so many bothersome +things to study out. I heard it behind me, a long, wailing, +bellowing roar, and my hood raised right up with my hair. I was +in the middle of the threshing floor in a second, in another at +the little west door, cut into the big one, opening it a tiny +crack to take a peep, and see how close they were. + +I could see nothing, but I heard a roar of dreadful sound +steadily closing in a circle around me. No doubt the mean old +foxes wished then they had let the Dorking roosters alone. +Closer it came and more dreadful. Never again did I want to hear +such sounds coming at me; even when I knew what was making them. +And then away off, beyond Pryors', and Hoods', and Dovers', I +could see a line of tiny specks coming toward me, and racing +flying things that must have been people on horses riding back +and forth to give the foxes no chance to find a hiding place. No +chance! Laddie and the Princess, Mr. Pryor and father, and all +of them were after the bad old foxes; and they were going to get +them; because they'd have no chance--Not with a solid line of men +with raving dogs surrounding them, and people on horseback racing +after them, no! the foxes would wish now that they had left the +pigs and lambs alone. In that awful roaring din, they would +wish, Oh how they would wish, they were birds and could fly! Fly +back to their holes like the Bible said they had, where maybe +they LIKED to live, and no doubt they had little foxes there, +that would starve when their mammies were caught alive, to save +their skins. + +To save their skins! I could hear myself breathe, and feel my +teeth click, and my knees knock together. And then! Oh dear! +There they came across our cornfield. Two of them! And they +could fly, almost. At least you could scarcely see that they +touched the ground. The mean old things were paying up for the +pigs and lambs now. Through the fence, across the road, straight +toward me they came. Almost red backs, nearly white beneath, +long flying tails, beautiful pointed ears, and long tongues, fire +red, hanging from their open mouths; their sleek sides pulsing, +and that awful din coming through the woods behind them. One +second, the first paused to glance toward either side, and threw +back its head to listen. What it saw, and heard, showed it. I +guess then it was sorry it ever took people's ham, and their +greens, and their blankets; and it could see and hear that it had +no chance--to save its skin. + +"Oh Lord! Dear Lord! Help me!" I prayed. + +It had to be me, there was no one else. I never had opened the +big doors; I thought it took a man, but when I pushed with all my +might--and maybe if the hairs of our heads were numbered, and the +sparrows counted, there would be a little mercy for the foxes--I +asked for help; maybe I got it. The doors went back, and I +climbed up the ladder to the haymow a few steps and clung there, +praying with all my might: "Make them come in! Dear Lord, make +them come in! Give them a chance! Help them to save their +skins, O Lord!" + +With a whizz and a flash one went past me, skimmed the cider +press, and rushed across the hay; then the other. I fell to the +floor and the next thing I knew the doors were shut, and I was +back at my place. I just went down in a heap and leaned against +the wall and shook, and then I laughed and said: "Thank you, +Lord! Thank you for helping with the door! And the foxes! The +beautiful little red and white foxes! They've got their chance! +They'll save their skins! They'll get back to their holes and +their babies! Praise the Lord!" + +I knew when I heard that come out, that it was exactly like my +father said it when Amos Hurd was redeemed. I never knew father +to say it so impressively before, because Amos had been so bad, +people really were afraid of him, and father said if once he got +started right, he would go at it just as hard as he had gone at +wrongdoing. I suppose I shouldn't have said it about a fox, when +there were the Dorkings, and ham, and white wool dresses, and all +that, but honestly, I couldn't remember that I cared particularly +whether Amos Hurd was redeemed or not; he was always lovely to +children; while I never in all my life had wanted anything worse +than I wanted those foxes to save their skins. I could hear them +pant like run out dogs; and I could hear myself, and I hadn't +been driven from my home and babies, maybe--and chased miles and +miles, either. + +Then I just shook. They came pounding, roaring and braying right +around the barn, and down the lane. The little door flew open +and a strange man stuck in his head. + +"Shut that door!" I screamed. "You'll let them in on me, and +they bite! They're poison! They'll kill me!" + +I hadn't even thought of it before. + +"See any foxes?" cried the man. + +"Two crossed our barnyard headed that way!" I cried back, +pointing east. "Shut the door!" + +The man closed it and ran calling as he went: "It's all right! +They crossed the barnyard. We've got them!" + +I began to dance and beat my hands, and then I stopped and held +my breath. They were passing, and the noise was dreadful. They +struck the sides of the barn, poked around the strawstack, and +something made me look up, and at the edge of the hay stood a fox +ready to spring. If it did, it would go from the door, right +into the midst thereof. Nothing but my red hood sailing straight +at it, and a yell I have, drove it back. No one hit the barn +again, the line closed up, and went on at a run now, they were so +anxious to meet and see what they had. Then came the beat of +hoofs and I saw that all the riders had dropped back, and were +behind the line of people on foot. I watched Laddie as he flew +past waving to me, and I grabbed my scarf to wave at him. The +Princess flashed by so swiftly I couldn't see how she looked, and +then I heard a voice I knew cry: "Ep! Ep! Over Lad!" And I +almost fell dead where I stood. Mr. Pryor sailed right over the +barnyard fence into the cornfield, ripping that dumb-bell as he +went, and neck and neck, even with him, on one of his finest +horses, was our Leon. His feet were in the stirrups, he had the +reins tight, he almost stood as he arose, his face was crimson, +his head bare, his white hair flying, the grandest sight you ever +saw. At the top of my voice I screamed after them, "Ep! Ep! +Over lad!" and then remembered and looked to see if I had to +chase back the foxes, but they didn't mind only me, after what +they had been through. Then I sat down suddenly again. + +Well! What would father think of that! Leon kill a horse of +ours indeed! There he was on one of Mr. Pryor's, worth as much +as six of father's no doubt, flying over fences, and the creek +was coming, and the bank was steep behind the barn. I was up +again straining to see. + +"Ep! Ep! Over!" rang the cry. + +There they went! Laddie and the Princess too. I'll never spend +another cent on paper dolls, candy, raisins, or oranges. I'll +give all I have to help Leon buy his horse; then I'm going to +begin saving for mine. + +The line closed up, a solid wall of men with sticks, clubs and +guns; the dogs ranged outside, and those on horseback stopped +where they could see best; and inside, raced back and forth, and +round and round, living creatures. I couldn't count they moved +so, but even at that distance I could see that some were poor +little cotton tails. The scared things! A whack over the head, +a backward toss, and the dogs were mouthing them. The long +tailed, sleek, gracefully moving ones, they were foxes, the foxes +driven from their holes, and nothing on earth could save their +skins for them now; those men meant to have them. + +I pulled the doors shut suddenly. I was so sick I could scarcely +stand. I had to work, but at last I pushed the west doors open +again. I don't think the Lord helped me any that time, for I +knew what it took--before, they just went. Or maybe He did help +me quite as much, but I had harder work to do my share, because I +felt so dizzy and ill. Anyway, they opened. Then I climbed the +upright ladder to the top beam, walked it to the granary, and +there I danced, pounded and yelled so that the foxes jumped from +the hay, leaped lightly to the threshing floor, and stood looking +and listening. I gave them time to hear where the dreadful +racket was, and then I jumped to the hay and threw the pitchfork +at them. It came down smash! and both of them sprang from the +door. When I got down the ladder and where I could see, they +were so rested they were hiking across the cornfield like they +never had raced a step before; and as the clamour went up behind +me, that probably meant the first fox had lost its beautiful red +and white skin, they reached our woods in safety. The doors went +shut easier, and I started to the house crying like any +blubbering baby; but when mother turned from the east window, and +I noticed her face, I forgot the foxes. + +"You saw Leon!" I cried. + +"That I did!" she exulted, rocking on her toes the same as she +does at the Meeting House when she is going to cry, "Glory!" any +minute. "That I did! Ah! the brave little chap! Ah! the fine +fellow!" + +Her cheeks were the loveliest pink, and her eyes blazed. I +scarcely knew her. + +"What will father say?" + +"If his father isn't every particle as proud of him as I am this +day, I've a big disappointment coming," she answered. "If Mr. +Pryor chose to let him take that fine horse, and taught him how +to ride it, father should be glad." + +"If he'd gone into the creek, you wouldn't feel so fine." + +"Ah! but he didn't! He didn't! He stuck to the saddle and +sailed over in one grand, long sweep! It was fine! I hope--to +my soul, I hope his father saw it!" + +"He did!" I said. "He did! He was about halfway down the lane. +He was where he could see fine." + +"You didn't notice----?" + +"I was watching if Leon went under. What if he had, mother?" + +"They'd have taken him out, and brought him to me, and I'd have +worked with all the strength and skill God has given me, and if +it were possible to us, he would be saved, and if it were not, it +would be a proud moment for a woman to offer a boy like that to +the God who gave him. One would have nothing to be ashamed of!" + +"Could you do it, like you are now, and not cry, mother?" I asked +wonderingly. + +"Patience no!" said she. "Before long you will find out, child, +that the fountain head of tears and laughter lies in the same +spot, deep in a woman's heart. Men were made for big things! +They must brave the wild animals, the Indians, fight the battles, +ride the races, till the fields, build the homes. In the making +of a new country men must have the thing in their souls that +carried Leon across the creek. If he had checked that horse and +gone to the ford, I would have fallen where I stood!" + +"Father crossed the ford!" + +"True! But that's different. He never had a chance at a horse +like that! He never had time for fancy practice, and his nose +would have been between the pages of a book if he had. But +remember this! Your father's hand has never faltered, and his +aim has never failed. All of us are here, safe and comfortable, +through him. It was your father who led us across the +wilderness, and fended from us the wildcat, wolf, and Indian. He +built this house, cleared this land, and gave to all of us the +thing we love. Get this in your head straight. Your father rode +a plow horse; he never tried flourishes in riding; but no man can +stick in the saddle longer, ride harder, and face any danger with +calmer front. If you think this is anything, you should have +seen his face the day he stood between me and a band of Indians, +we had every reason to think, I had angered to the fighting +point." + +"Tell me! Please tell me!" I begged. + +All of us had been brought up on that story, but we were crazy to +hear it, and mother loved to tell it, so she dropped on a chair +and began: + +"We were alone in a cabin in the backwoods of Ohio. Elizabeth +was only nine months old, and father always said a mite the +prettiest of any baby we ever had. Many of the others have +looked quite as well to me, but she was the first, and he was so +proud of her he always wanted me to wait in the wagon until he +hitched the horses, so he would get to take and to carry her +himself. Well, she was in the cradle, cooing and laughing, and I +had my work all done, and cabin shining. I was heating a big +poker red-hot, and burning holes into the four corners of a board +so father could put legs in it to make me a bench. A greasy old +squaw came to the door with her papoose on her back. She wanted +to trade berries for bread. There were berries everywhere for +the picking; I had more dried than I could use in two years. We +planted only a little patch of wheat and father had to ride three +days to carry to mill what he could take on a horse. I baked in +an outoven and when it was done, a loaf of white bread was by far +the most precious thing we had to eat. Sometimes I was caught, +and forced to let it go. Often I baked during the night and hid +the bread in the wheat at the barn. There was none in the cabin +that day and I said so. She didn't believe me. She set her +papoose on the floor beside the fireplace, and went to the +cupboard. There wasn't a crumb there except cornbread, and she +didn't want that. She said: `Brod! Brod!' + +"She learned that from the Germans in the settlement. I shook my +head. Then she pulled out a big steel hunting knife, such as the +whites traded to the Indians so they would have no trouble in +scalping us neatly, and walked to the cradle. She took that +knife loosely between her thumb and second finger and holding it +directly above my baby's face, she swung it lightly back and +forth and demanded: `Brod! Brod!' + +"If the knife fell, it would go straight through my baby's head, +and Elizabeth was reaching her little hands and laughing. There +was only one thing to do, and I did it. I caught that red-hot +poker from the fire, and stuck it so close her baby's face, that +the papoose drew back and whimpered. I scarcely saw how she +snatched it up and left. When your father came, I told him, and +we didn't know what to do. We knew she would come back and bring +her band. If we were not there, they would burn the cabin, ruin +our crops, kill our stock, take everything we had, and we +couldn't travel so far, or so fast, that on their ponies they +couldn't overtake us. We endangered any one with whom we sought +refuge, so we gripped hands, knelt down and told the Lord all +about it, and we felt the answer was to stay. Father cleaned the +gun, and hours and hours we waited. + +"About ten o'clock the next day they came, forty braves in war +paint and feathers. I counted until I was too sick to see, then +I took the baby in my arms and climbed to the loft, with our big +steel knife in one hand. If your father fell, I was to use it, +first on Elizabeth, then on myself. The Indians stopped at the +woodyard, and the chief of the band came to the door, alone. +Your father met him with his gun in reach, and for a whole +eternity they stood searching each other's eyes. I was at the +trapdoor where I could see both of them. + +"To the depths of my soul I enjoyed seeing Leon take the fence +and creek: but what was that, child, to compare with the timber +that stood your father like a stone wall between me and forty +half-naked, paint besmeared, maddened Indians? Don't let any +showing the men of to-day can make set you to thinking that +father isn't a king among men. Not once, but again and again in +earlier days, he fended danger from me like that. I can shut my +eyes and see his waving hair, his white brow, his steel blue +eyes, his unfaltering hand. I don't remember that I had time or +even thought to pray. I gripped the baby, and the knife, and +waited for the thing I must do if an arrow or a shot sailed past +the chief and felled father. They stood second after second, +like two wooden men, and then slowly and deliberately the chief +lighted his big pipe, drew a few puffs and handed it to father. +He set down his gun, took the pipe and quite as slowly and +deliberately he looked at the waiting band, at the chief, and +then raised it to his lips. + +"`White squaw brave! Heap much brave!' said the chief. + +"`In the strength of the Lord. Amen!' said father. + +"Then he reached his hand and the chief took it, so I came down +the ladder and stood beside father, as the Indians began to file +in the front door and out the back. As they passed, every man of +them made the peace sign and piled in a heap, venison, fish, and +game, while each squaw played with the baby and gave me a gift of +beads, a metal trinket, or a blanket she had woven. After that +they came often, and brought gifts, and if prowling Gypsies were +pilfering, I could look to see a big Indian loom up and seat +himself at my fireside until any danger was past. I really got +so I liked and depended on them, and father left me in their care +when he went to mill, and I was safe as with him. You have heard +the story over and over, but to-day is the time to impress on you +that an exhibition like THIS is the veriest child's play compared +with what I have seen your father do repeatedly!" + +"But it was you, the chief said was brave!" + +Mother laughed. + +"I had to be, baby," she said. "Mother had no choice. There's +only one way to deal with an Indian. I had lived among them all +my life, and I knew what must be done." + +"I think both of you were brave," I said, "you, the bravest!" + +"Quite the contrary," laughed mother. "I shall have to confess +that what I did happened so quickly I'd no time to think. I only +realized the coal red iron was menacing the papoose when it drew +back and whimpered. Father had all night to face what was coming +to him, and it was not one to one, but one to forty, with as many +more squaws, as good fighters as the braves, to back them. It +was a terror but I never have been sorry we went through it +together. I have rested so securely in your father ever since." + +"And he is as safe in you," I insisted. + +"As you will," said mother. "This world must have her women +quite as much as her men. It is shoulder to shoulder, heart to +heart, business." + +The clamour in the meadow arose above our voices and brought us +back to the foxes. + +"There goes another!" I said, the tears beginning to roll again. + +"It is heathenish business," said mother. "I don't blame you! +If people were not too shiftless to care for their stuff, the +foxes wouldn't take their chickens and geese. They never get +ours!" + +"Hoods aren't shiftless!" I sobbed. + +"There are always exceptions," said mother, "and they are the +exception in this case." + +The door flew open and Leon ran in. He was white with +excitement, and trembling. + +"Mother, come and see me take a fence on Pryor's Rocket!" he +cried. + +Mother had him in her arms. + +"You little whiffet!" she said. "You little tow-haired whiffet!" + +Both of them were laughing and crying at the same time, and so +was I. + +"I saw you take one fence and the creek, Weiscope!" she said, +holding him tight, and stroking his hair. "That will do for to- +day. Ride the horse home slowly, rub it down if they will allow +you, and be sure to remember your manners when you leave. To +trust such a child as you with so valuable a horse, and for Mr. +Pryor to personally ride with you and help you, I think that was +a big thing for a man like him to do." + +"But, mother, he's been showing me for weeks, or I couldn't have +done it to-day. It was our secret to surprise you. When I get +my horse, I'll be able to ride a little, as well as Mr. Laddie." + +"Leon, don't," said mother, gripping him tighter. + +"You must bear in mind, word about that money may come any day." + +"Aw, it won't either," said Leon, pulling away. "And say, +mother, that dumb-bell was like country boys make in England. He +helped me hunt the wood and showed me, and I couldn't ride and +manage it, so he had it all day, and you should have heard him +make it rip. Say, mother, take my word, he was some pumpkins in +England. I bet he ordered the Queen around, when he was there!" + +"No doubt!" laughed mother, kissing him and pushing him from the +door. + +Some people are never satisfied. After that splendid riding and +the perfect day, father, Leon, and Laddie came home blaming every +one, and finding fault, and trying to explain how it happened, +that the people from the east side claimed two foxes, and there +was only one left for the west side, when they had seen and knew +they had driven three for miles. They said they lost them in our +Big Woods. + +I didn't care one speck. I would as lief wear a calico dress, +and let the little foxes have their mammies to feed them; and I +was willing to bet all my money that we would have as much ham, +and as many greens next summer as we ever had. And if the foxes +took Hoods' Dorkings again, let them build a coop with safe +foundations. The way was to use stone and heap up dirt around it +in the fall, to be perfectly sure, and make it warmer. + +We took care of our chickens because we had to have them. All +the year we needed them, but most especially for Easter. Mother +said that was ordained chicken time. Turkeys for Thanksgiving, +sucking pigs for Christmas, chickens for Easter, goose, she +couldn't abide. She thought it was too strong. She said the egg +was a symbol of life; of awakening, of birth, and the chickens +came from the eggs, first ones about Easter, so that proved it +was chicken time. + +I am going to quit praying about little things I can manage +myself. Father said no prayer would bring an answer unless you +took hold and pulled with all your being for what you wanted. I +had been intending for days to ask the Lord to help me find where +Leon hid his Easter eggs. It had been the law at our house from +the very first, that for the last month before Easter, aside from +what mother had to have for the house, all of us might gather +every egg we could find and keep them until Easter. If we could +locate the hiding place of any one else, we might take all +theirs. The day before Easter they were brought in, mother put +aside what she required, and the one who had the most got to sell +all of them and take the money. Sometimes there were two +washtubs full, and what they brought was worth having, for sure. +So we watched all year for safe places, and when the time came we +almost ran after the hens with a basket. Because Laddie and Leon +were bigger they could outrun us, and lots of hens laid in the +barn, so there the boys always had first chance. Often during +the month we would find and take each other's eggs a dozen times. + +We divided them, and hid part in different places, so that if +either were found there would still be some left. + +Laddie had his in the hopper of the cider press right on the +threshing floor, and as he was sure to get more than I had +anyway, I usually put mine with his. May had hers some place, +and where Leon had his, none of us could find or imagine. I +almost lay awake of nights trying to think, and every time I +thought of a new place, the next day I would look, and they +wouldn't be there. Three days before Easter, mother began to +cook and get the big dinner ready, and she ran short of eggs. +She told me to go to the barn and tell the boys that each of them +must send her a dozen as quickly as they could. Of course that +was fair, if she made both give up the same number. So I went to +the barn. + +The lane was muddy, and as I had been sick, I wore my rubbers +that spring. I thought to keep out of the deep mud, where horses +and cattle trampled, I'd go up the front embankment, and enter +the little door. My feet made no sound, and it so happened that +the door didn't either, and as I started to open it. I saw Leon +disappearing down the stairway, with a big sack on his back. I +thought it was corn for the horses, and followed him, but he went +to the cow stable door and started toward the lane, and then I +thought it was for the pigs, so I called Laddie and told him +about the eggs. He said he'd give me two dozen of his, and Leon +could pay him back. We went together to get them, and there was +only one there. + +Wasn't that exactly like Leon? Leave ONE for the nest egg! If +he were dying and saw a joke or a trick, he'd stop to play it +before he finished, if he possibly could. If he had no time at +all, then he'd go with his eyes twinkling over the thoughts of +the fun it would have been if he possibly could have managed it. +Of course when we saw that one lonely egg in the cider hopper, +just exactly like the "Last Rose of Summer, left to pine on the +stem," I thought of the sack Leon carried, and knew what had been +in it. We hurried out and tried to find him, but he was +swallowed up. You couldn't see him or hear a sound of him +anywhere. + +Mother was as cross as she ever gets. Right there she made a new +rule, and it was that two dozen eggs must be brought to the house +each day, whether any were hidden or not. She had to stop baking +until she got eggs. She said a few times she had used a goose +egg in custard. I could fix that. I knew where one of our gray +geese had a nest, and if she'd cook any goose egg, it would be a +gray one. Of course I had sense enough not to take a blue one. +So I slipped from the east door, crossed the yard and orchard +corner, climbed the fence and went down the lane. There was the +creek up and tearing. It was half over the meadow, and the +floodgate between the pasture and the lane rocked with the rush +of water; still, I believed I could make it. So I got on the +fence and with my feet on the third rail, and holding by the top +one, I walked sidewise, and so going reached the floodgate. It +was pretty wobbly, but I thought I could cross on the run. I +knew I could if I dared jump at the other end; but there the +water was over the third rail, and that meant above my head. + +It was right at that time of spring when you felt so good you +thought you could do most anything, except fly--I tried that +once--so I went on. The air was cold for all the sun shone, the +smell of catkin pollen, bursting buds, and the odour of earth +steaming in the sun, was in every breath; the blackbirds were +calling, and the doves; the ganders looked longingly at the sky +and screamed a call to every passing wild flock, and Deams' +rooster wanted to fight all creation, if you judged by the +boasting he was doing from their barnyard gate. He made me think +of eggs, so I set my jaws, looked straight ahead, and scooted +across the floodgate to the post that held it and the rails of +the meadow fence. I made it too, and then the fence was easy, +only I had to double quite short, because the water was over the +third rail there, but at last it was all gone, and I went to the +fence corner and there was the goose on the nest, laying an egg. +She had built on a little high place, among puddles, wild rose +bushes, and thorns, and the old thing wouldn't get off. She just +sat there and stuck out her head and hissed and hissed. I never +noticed before that geese were so big and so aggravating. I +wasn't going to give up, after that floodgate, so I hunted a big +stick, set it against her wing, pushed her off and grabbed three +eggs and ran. When I got to the fence, I was in a pickle for +sure. I didn't know what in the world to do with the eggs. + +At last I unbuttoned my coat, put them in my apron front, +gathered it up, and holding it between my teeth, started back. I +had to double more than ever on account of the eggs, and when I +reached the floodgate it rocked like a branch in the wind; but I +had to get back, so I rested and listened to the larks a while. +That was a good plan. They were calling for mates, and what they +said was so perfectly lovely, you couldn't think of anything +else; and the less you thought about how that gate rocked, and +how deep and swift the water ran, the better for you. At last +one lark went almost from sight and he rang, twisted and trilled +his call, until my heart swelled so big it hurt. I crossed on +the jump with no time to think at all. That was a fine plan, for +I made it, but I hit the post so hard I broke the middle egg. I +was going to throw it away, but there was so much starch in my +apron it held like a dish, and it had been clean that morning, +now the egg soiled it anyway, so I ran and got home all right. + +Mother was so pleased about the eggs she changed the apron and +never said a word, except to brag on me. She said she couldn't +keep house without me, and I guess that was a fact. I came in +handy a lot of times. But at dinner when she scolded the boys +about the eggs, and told them I brought the goose eggs for her +custard, else there would have been no pie, father broke loose, +and I thought he was going to whip me sure. He told mother all +about the water and the gate, and how I had to cross, and he +said, `it was a dispensation of Providence that we didn't have a +funeral instead of celebrating Easter,' so I said: + +"Well, if you think I came so near drowning myself, when you +rejoice because Christ is risen from the dead, you can be glad I +am too, and that will make it all the better." + +The boys laughed, but father said it was no laughing matter. I +think that speech saved me from going on the threshing floor, for +he took me on his lap when I thought I'd have to go, and told me +never, never to do anything like that again, and then he hugged +me until I almost broke. Gracious! He should have seen us going +to school some days. Why, we even walked the top rail when it +was the only one above water, and we could cross the bridge if we +wanted to. At least when Laddie or Miss Amelia was not around, +we did. + +Leon was so bursting full he scarcely could eat, and Laddie +looked pretty glum when he had to admit he had no eggs; so Laddie +had to hand over the whole two dozen. Leon didn't mind that, but +he said if he must, then all of us should stay in the dining-room +until he brought them, because of course he couldn't walk +straight and get them in broad daylight with us watching, and not +show where they were. Father said that was fair, so Leon went +out and before so very long he came back with the eggs. + +I thought until my skull almost cracked, about where he COULD +have gone, and I was almost to the place where the thing seemed +serious enough that I'd ask the Lord to help me find Laddie's +eggs, when mother sent me to the garret for red onion skins. She +had an hour to rest, and she was going to spend it fixing +decorations for our eggs. Of course there were always red and +black aniline ones, and yellow and blue, but none of us ever like +them half so well as those mother coloured, herself. + +She took the dark red skins and cut boys, girls, dogs, cats, +stars, flowers, butterflies, fish, and everything imaginable, and +wet the skins a little and laid them on very white eggs that had +been soaked in alum water to cut the grease, and then wrapped +light yellow skins over, and then darker ones, and at last layer +after layer of cloth, and wet that, and roasted them an hour in +hot ashes and then let them cool and dry, before unwrapping. +When she took them out, rubbed on a little grease and polished +them--there they were! They would have our names, flowers, +birds, animals, all in pale yellow, deep rich brown, almost red, +and perfectly beautiful colours, while you could hunt and hunt +before you found everything on one egg. And sometimes the onion +skins slipped, and made things of themselves that she never put +on. + +I was coming from the bin with an apron full of skins and I +almost fell over. I couldn't breathe for a long time. I danced +on my toes, and held my mouth to keep from screaming. On the +garret floor before me lay a little piece of wet mud, and the +faintest outline of a boot, a boot about Leon's size. That was +all I needed to know. As soon as I could hold steady, I took the +skins to mother, slipped back and hunted good; and of course I +had to find them--grainsacks half full of them--carried in the +front door in the evening, and up the front stairs, where no one +went until bedtime, unless there were company. Away back under +the eaves, across the joists, behind the old clothing waiting to +be ripped, coloured and torn for carpet rangs and rugs, Mr. Leon +had almost every egg that had been laid on the place for a month. + +NOW he'd see what he'd get for taking Laddie's! + +Then I stopped short. What I thought most made me sick, but I +didn't propose to lie in bed again for a year at least, for it +had its bad parts as well as its good; so I went straight and +whispered to Laddie. He never looked pleased at all, so I knew I +had been right. He kissed me, and thanked me, and then said +slowly: "It's mighty good of you, Little Sister, but you see it +wouldn't be FAIR. He found mine himself, so he had a right to +take them. But I don't dare touch his, when you tell me where +they are. I never in a month of Sundays would have looked for +them in the house. I was going to search the wood house and +smoke house this afternoon. I can't take them. But thank you +just as much." + +Then I went to father and he laughed. How he did laugh! + +"Laddie is right!" he said at last. "He didn't find them, and he +mustn't take them. But you may! They're yours! That front door +scheme of Leon's was fairly well, but it wasn't quite good +enough. If he'd cleaned his feet as he should, before he crossed +mother's carpet and climbed the stairs, he'd have made it all +right. `His tracks betrayed him,' as tracks do all of us, if we +are careless enough to leave any. The eggs are yours, and to- +night is the time to produce them. Where do you want to hide +them?" + +Well of all things! and after I had stumbled on them without +pestering the Lord, either! Just as slick as anything! Mine! I +never ever thought of it. But when I did think, I liked it. The +more I thought, the funnier it grew. + +"Under mother's bed," I whispered. "But I never can get them. +They're in wheat sacks, and full so high, and they'll have to be +handled like eggs." + +"I'll do the carrying," laughed father. "Come show me!" + +So we took all those eggs, and put them under mother's bed. + +Of course she and Candace saw us, but they didn't hunt eggs and +they'd never tell. If ever I thought I'd burst wide open! About +dusk I saw Leon coming from the barn carrying his hat at his +side--more eggs--so I ran like a streak and locked the front +door, and then slipped back in the dining-room and almost +screamed, when I could hear him trying it, and he couldn't get +in. After a while he came in, fussed around, and finally went +into the sitting-room, and the key turned and he went upstairs. +I knew I wouldn't dare look at him when he came down, so I got a +reader and began on a piece I just love: + + "A nightingale made a mistake; + She sang a few notes out of tune: + Her heart was ready to break, + And she hid away from the moon." + + +When I did get a peep, gracious but he was black! Maybe it +wasn't going to be so much fun after all. But he had the money +last year, and the year before, and if he'd cleaned his feet +well--I was not hunting his eggs, when I found them. "His tracks +betrayed him," as father said. I was thankful supper was ready +just then, and while it was going on mother said: "As soon as +you finish, all bring in your eggs. I want to wrap the ones to +colour to-night, and bury them in the fireplace so they will +colour, dry, and be ready to open in the morning." + +No one said a word, but neither Laddie nor Leon looked very +happy, and I took awful bites to keep my face straight. When all +of us finished May brought a lot from the bran barrel in the +smoke house, but Laddie and Leon only sat there and looked silly; +it really was funny. + +"I must have more eggs than this?" said mother. "Where are they +to come from?" + +Father nodded to me and I said: "From under your bed!" + +"Oh, it was you! And I never once caught you snooping!" cried +Leon. + +"Easy son!" said father. "That will do. You lost through your +own carelessness. You left wet mud on the garret floor, and she +saw it when mother sent her for the onion skins. You robbed +Laddie of his last egg this morning; be a good loser yourself!" + +"Well, anyway, you didn't get 'em," said Leon to Laddie. + +"And she only found them by accident!" + +Then we had a big time counting all those eggs, and such another +heap as there was to sell, after mother filled baskets to cook +with and colour. When the table was cleared, Laddie and Leon +made tallow pencils from a candle and wrote all sorts of things +over eggs that had been prepared to colour. Then mother boiled +them in copperas water, and aniline, and all the dyes she had, +and the boys polished them, and they stood in shining black, red, +blue and yellow heaps. The onion ones would be done in the +morning. Leon had a goose egg and mother let him keep it, so he +wrote and wrote on it, until Laddie said it would be all writing, +and no colour, and he boiled it in red, after mother finished, +and polished it himself. It came out real pretty with roses on +it and lots of words he wouldn't let any of us read; but of +course it was for Susie Fall. + +Next morning he slipped it to her at church. When we got home, +all of us were there except Shelley, and we had a big dinner and +a fine time and Laddie stayed until after supper, before he went +to Pryors'. + +"How is he making it?" asked Sally. + +You could see she was making it all right; she never looked +lovelier, and mother said Peter was letting her spend away too +much money on her clothes. She told him so, but Peter just +laughed and said business was good, and he could afford it, and +she was a fine advertisement for his store when she was dressed +well." + +"All I know is," said mother, "that he goes there every +whipstitch, and the women, at least, seem glad to have him. He +says Mr. Pryor treats him decently, and that is more than he does +his own family and servants. He and the girl and her mother are +divided about something. She treats her father respectfully, but +she's in sympathy with mother." + +"Laddie can't find out what the trouble is?" + +"I don't think that he tries." + +"Maybe he'd feel better not to know," said Peter. + +"Possibly!" said mother. + +"Nonsense!" said father. + +"You seem to be reconciled," said Elizabeth. + +"That girl would reconcile a man to anything," said father. + +"Not to the loss of his soul, I hope," said mother stiffly. + +"Souls are not so easy to lose," said father. "Besides, I am +counting on Laddie saving hers." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Garden of the Lord + + "With what content and merriment, + Their days are spent, whose minds are bent + To follow the useful plow." + +That spring I decided if school didn't stop pretty soon, I'd run +away again, and I didn't in the least care what they did to me. +A country road was all right and it was good enough, if it had +been heaped up, leveled and plenty of gravel put on; and of +course our road would be fine, because father was one of the +commissioners, and as long as he filled that office, every road +in the county would be just as fine as the law would allow him to +make it. I have even heard him tell mother that he "stretched it +a leetle mite," when he was forced to by people who couldn't seem +to be made to understand what was required to upbuild a nation. +He said our language was founded on the alphabet, and to master +it you had to begin with "a". And he said the nation was like +that; it was based on townships, and when a township was clean, +had good roads, bridges, schoolhouses, and churches, a county was +in fine shape, and when each county was in order, the state was +right, and when the state was prosperous, the nation could +rejoice in its strength. + +He said Atlas in the geography book, carrying the world on his +back, was only a symbol, but it was a good one. He said when the +county elected him to fill an important office, it used his +shoulder as a prop for the nation, so it became his business to +stand firmly, and use every ounce of strength and brains he had, +first of all to make his own possessions a model, then his +township, his county, and his state, and if every one worked +together doing that, no nation on earth had our amount of +territory and such fine weather, so none of them could beat us. + +Our road was like the barn floor, where you drove: on each side +was a wide grassy strip, and not a weed the length of our land. +All the rails in the fences were laid straight, the gates were +solid, sound, and swung firmly on their beams, our fence corners +were full of alders, wild roses, sumac, blackberry vines, masses +of wild flowers beneath them, and a bird for every bush. Some of +the neighbours thought that to drive two rails every so often, +lay up the fences straight, and grub out the shrubs was the way, +but father said they were vastly mistaken. He said that was such +a shortsighted proceeding, he would be ashamed to indulge in it. +You did get more land, but if you left no place for the birds, +the worms and insects devoured your crops, and you didn't raise +half so much as if you furnished the birds shelter and food. So +he left mulberries in the fields and fence corners and wild +cherries, raspberries, grapes, and every little scrub apple tree +from seeds sown by Johnny Appleseed when he crossed our land. + +Mother said those apples were so hard a crane couldn't dent them, +but she never watched the birds in winter when the snow was +beginning to come and other things were covered up. They swarmed +over those trees until spring, for the tiny sour apples stuck +just like oak leaves waiting for next year's crop to push them +off. She never noticed us, either. After a few frosts, we could +almost get tipsy on those apples; there was not a tree in our +orchard that had the spicy, teasing tang of Johnny Appleseed's +apples. Then too, the limbs could be sawed off and rambo and +maiden's-blush grafted on, if you wanted to; father did on some +of them, so there would be good apples lying beside the road for +passers-by, and they needn't steal to get them. You could graft +red haws on them too, and grow great big, little haw-apples, that +were the prettiest things you ever saw, and the best to eat. +Father said if it didn't spoil the looks of the road, he wouldn't +care how many of his neighbours straightened their fences. If +they did, the birds would come to him, and the more he had, the +fewer bugs and worms he would be troubled with, so he would be +sure of big crops, and sound fruit. He said he would much rather +have a few good apples picked by robins or jays, than untouched +trees, loaded with wormy falling ones he could neither use nor +sell. He always patted my head and liked every line of it when I +recited, sort of tearful-like and pathetic: + + "Don't kill the birds! the happy birds, + That bless the field and grove; + So innocent to look upon, + They claim our warmest love." + + +The roads crossing our land were all right, and most of the +others near us; and a road is wonderful, if it is taking you to +the woods or a creek or meadow; but when it is walking you +straight to a stuffy little schoolhouse where you must stand up +to see from a window, where a teacher is cross as fire, like Miss +Amelia, and where you eternally HEAR things you can't see, there +comes a time about the middle of April when you had quite as soon +die as to go to school any longer; and what you learn there +doesn't amount to a hill of beans compared with what you can find +out for yourself outdoors. + +Schoolhouses are made wrong. If they must be, they should be +built in a woods pasture beside a stream, where you could wade, +swim, and be comfortable in summer, and slide and skate in +winter. The windows should be cut to the floor, and stand wide +open, so the birds and butterflies could pass through. You ought +to learn your geography by climbing a hill, walking through a +valley, wading creeks, making islands in them, and promontories, +capes, and peninsulas along the bank. You should do your +arithmetic sitting under trees adding hickory-nuts, subtracting +walnuts, multiplying butternuts, and dividing hazelnuts. You +could use apples for fractions, and tin cups for liquid measure. +You could spell everything in sight and this would teach you the +words that are really used in the world. Every single one of us +could spell incompatibility, but I never heard father, or the +judge, or even the Bishop, put it in a speech. + +If you simply can't have school THAT way, then you should be shut +in black cells, deep under the ground, where you couldn't see, or +hear a sound, and then if they'd give you a book and candle and +Miss Amelia, and her right-hand man, Mister Ruler, why you might +learn something. This way, if you sat and watched the windows +you could see a bird cross our woods pasture to the redbird swamp +every few minutes; once in a while one of my big hawks took your +breath as he swept, soared, sailed, and circled, watching the +ground below for rabbits, snakes, or chickens. The skinny old +blue herons crossing from the Wabash to hunt frogs in the cowslip +swale in our meadow, sailed so slow and so low, that you could +see their sharp bills stuck out in front, their uneven, ragged +looking feathers, and their long legs trailing out behind. I bet +if Polly Martin wore a blue calico dress so short her spindle- +shanks showed, and flew across our farm, you couldn't tell her +from a heron. + +There were so many songs you couldn't decide which was which to +save you; it was just a pouring jumble of robins, larks, doves, +blackbirds, sparrows, everything that came that early; the red +and the yellow birds had not come yet, or the catbirds or +thrushes. You could hear the thumping wings of the roosters in +Sills' barnyard nearest the schoolhouse, and couldn't tell which +was whipping, so you had to sit there and wonder; and worst of +all you must stand Miss Amelia calmly telling you to pay +attention to your books or you would be kept in, and all the time +you were forced to bear torments, while you watched her walk from +window to window to see every speck of the fight. One day they +had thumped and fought for half an hour; she had looked from +every window in the room, and at last there was an awful +whacking, and then silence. It grew so exciting I raised my +hand, and almost before she nodded permission, "Which whipped?" I +asked. + +Miss Amelia turned red as a beet. Gee, but she was mad! + +"I did!" she said. "Or at least I will. You may remain for it +after school is dismissed." + +Now if you are going to be switched, they never do it until they +are just so angry anyway, and then they always make it as hard as +they dare not to stripe you, so it isn't much difference HOW +provoked they are, it will be the same old thrashing, and it's +sure to sting for an hour at least, so you might as well be +beaten for a little more as hardly anything at all. At that +instant from the fence not far from my window came a triumphant +crow that fairly ripped across the room. + +"Oh, it was the Dorking!" I said. "No wonder you followed clear +around the room to see him thrash a Shanghai three times his +size! I bet a dollar it was great!" + +Usually, I wouldn't have put up more than five cents, but at that +time I had over six dollars from my Easter eggs, and no girl of +my age at our school ever had half that much. Miss Amelia +started toward me, and I braced my feet so she'd get a good jolt +herself, when she went to shake me; she never struck us over the +head since Laddie talked to her that first day; but John Hood's +foot was in the aisle. I thought maybe I'd have him for my beau +when we grew up, because I bet he knew she was coming, and stuck +out his foot on purpose; anyway, she pitched, and had to catch a +desk to keep off the floor, and that made her so mad at him, that +she forgot me, while he got his scolding; so when my turn came at +last, she had cooled down enough that she only marched past to +her desk, saying I was to remain after school. I had to be +careful after that to be mighty good to May and Leon. + +When school was out they sat on the steps before the door and +waited. Miss Amelia fussed around and there they sat. Then her +face grew more gobblerish than usual, and she went out and told +them to go home. Plain as anything I heard May say It: "She's +been awful sick, you know, and mother wouldn't allow it." And +then Leon piped up: "You DID watch the roosters, all the time +they fought, and of course all of us wanted to see just as badly +as you did." + +She told them if they didn't go right home she'd bring them back +and whip them too; so they had to start, and leave me to my sad +fate. I was afraid they had made it sadder, instead of helping +me; she was so provoked when she came in she was crying, and over +nothing but the plain truth too; if we had storied on her, she'd +have had some cause to beller. She arranged her table, cleaned +the board, emptied the water bucket, and closed the windows. +Then she told me I was a rude, untrained child. I was rude, I +suppose, but goodness knows, I wasn't untrained; that was hard on +father and mother; I had a big notion to tell them; and then, she +never whipped me at all. She said if I wanted her to love me, I +mustn't be a saucy, impudent girl, and I should go straight home +and think it over. + +I went, but I was so dazed at her thinking I wanted her to love +me, that I hardly heard May and Leon calling; when I did I went +to the cemetery fence and there they lay in the long grass +waiting. + +"If you cried, we were coming back and pitch into her," said +Leon. + +There was a pointer. Next time, first cut she gave me, I decided +to scream bloody murder. But that would be no Crusader way. +There was one thing though. No Crusader ever sat and heard a +perfectly lovely fight going on, and never even wondered which +whipped. + +May and Leon stepped one on each side, took a hand, and we ran +like Indians, and slid down the hill between the bushes, climbed +the fence, crossed the pasture back of the church, and went to +the creek. There we sat on a log, I told them, and we just +laughed. I didn't know what I could do to pay them, for they +saved me sure as fate that time. + +I wished we lived in the woods the way it was when father and +mother were married and moved to Ohio. The nearest neighbours +were nine miles, and there wasn't a dollar for school funds, so +of course the children didn't have to go, and what their fathers +and mothers taught them was all they knew. That would not have +helped me much though, for we never had one single teacher who +knew anything to compare with what father and mother did, and we +never had one who was forever reading books, papers, and learning +more things that help, to teach other people. I wished father +had time to take our school. It would have been some fun to go +to him, because I just knew he would use the woods for the room, +and teach us things it would do some good to know about. + +I began debating whether it was a big enough thing to bother the +Lord with: this being penned up in the schoolhouse droning over +spelling and numbers, when you could smell tree bloom, flower +bloom, dozens of birds were nesting, and everything was beginning +to hum with life. I couldn't think for that piece about "Spring" +going over in my head: + + "I am coming, I am coming: + Hark! the little bee is humming: + See! the lark is soaring high, + In the bright and sunny sky; + All the birds are on the wing: + Little maiden, now is spring." + + +I made up my mind that it was of enough importance to call for +the biggest prayer I could think of and that I would go up in the +barn to the top window, stand on a beam, and turn my face to the +east, where Jesus used to be, and I'd wrestle with the Lord for +freedom, as Jacob wrestled with the Angel on the banks of the +Jabbok in the land of Ammon. I was just getting up steam to pray +as hard as ever I could; for days I'd been thinking of it, and I +was nearly to the point where one more killdeer crying across the +sky would have sent me headlong from the schoolhouse anywhere +that my feet were on earth, and the air didn't smell of fried +potatoes, kraut, sweat, and dogs, like it did whenever you sat +beside Clarissa Polk. When I went to supper one night; father +had been to Groveville, and he was busy over his papers. After +he finished the blessing, he seemed worried, at last he said the +funds were all out, and the county would make no appropriation so +school would have to close next week. + +Well that beats me! I had faith in that prayer I was going to +make, and here the very thing I intended to ask for happened +before I prayed. I decided I would save the prayer until the +next time I couldn't stand anything another minute, and then I +would try it with all my might, and see if it really did any +good. After supper I went out the back door, spread my arms +wide, and ran down the orchard to the fence in great bounds, the +fastest I ever went in my life. I climbed my pulpit in the +corner and tried to see how much air my lungs would hold without +bursting, while I waved my arms and shouted at the top of my +voice: "Praise ye the Lord! Praised be His holy name!" + +"Ker-awk!" cried an old blue heron among the cowslips below me. +I had almost scared it to death, and it arose on flapping wings +and paid me back by frightening me so I screamed as I dodged its +shadow. + +"What is all this?" asked father behind me. + +"Come up and take a seat, and I'll try to tell you," I said. + +So he stepped on my pulpit and sat on the top rail, while I stood +between his knees, put my arms around his neck, took off his hat +and loosened his hair so the wind could wave it, and make his +head feel cool and good. His hair curled a little and it was +black and fine. His cheeks were pink and his eyes the brightest +blue, with long lashes, and heavier brows than any other man I +ever have seen. He was the best looking--always so clean and +fresh, and you never had to be afraid of him, unless you had been +a bad, sinful child. If you were all right, you would walk into +his arms, play with his hair, kiss him all you pleased, and there +wasn't a thing on earth you couldn't tell him, excepting a secret +you had promised to keep. + +So I explained all this, and more too. About how I wanted to +hunt for the flowers, to see which bloomed first, and watch in +what order the birds came, and now it was a splendid time to +locate nests, because there were no leaves, so I could see +easily, and how glad mother would be to know where the blue goose +nested, and her white turkey hen; because she wanted her geese +all blue, and the turkeys all white, as fast as she could manage. + +Every little thing that troubled me or that I wanted, I told him. + +He sat there and he couldn't have listened with more interest or +been quieter if I had been a bishop, which is the biggest thing +that ever happened at our house; his name was Ninde and he came +from Chicago to dedicate our church when it was new. So father +listened and thought and held his arms around me, and-- + +"And you think the Lord was at the bottom of the thing that makes +you happy?" + +"Well, you always go to Him about what concerns you, and you say, +`Praise the Lord,' when things go to please you." + +"I do indeed!" said father. "But I had thought of this running +short of school funds as a calamity. If I had been praying about +it, I would have asked Him to show me a way to raise money to +continue until middle May at least." + +"Oh father!" + +I just crumpled up in his arms and began to cry; to save me I +couldn't help it. He held me tight. At last he said: "I think +you are a little overstrained this spring. Maybe you were sicker +than we knew, or are growing too fast. Don't worry any more +about school. Possibly father can fix it." + +Next morning when I wakened, my everyday clothes lay across the +foot of the bed, so I called mother and asked if I should put +them on; she took me in her arms, and said father thought I had +better be in the open, and I needn't go to school any more that +spring. I told her I thought I could bear it a few more days, +now it was going to be over so soon; but she said I might stay at +home, father and Laddie would hear me at night, and I could take +my books anywhere I pleased and study when I chose, if I had my +spelling and reading learned at evening. NOW, say the Lord +doesn't help those who call on Him in faith believing! + +Think of being allowed to learn your lessons on the top of the +granary, where you could look out of a window above the treetops, +lie in the cool wind, and watch swallows and martins. Think of +studying in the pulpit when the creek ran high, and the wild +birds sang so sweetly you seemed to hear them for the first time +in all your life, and hens, guineas, and turkeys made prime music +in the orchard. You could see the buds swell, and the little +blue flags push through the grass, where Mrs. Mayer had her +flowerbed, and the cowslips greening under the water of the swale +at the foot of the hill, while there might be a Fairy under any +leaf. I was so full, so swelled up and excited, that when I got +ready to pick up a book, I could learn a lesson in a few minutes, +tell all about it, spell every word, and read it back, front, and +sideways. I never learned lessons so quick and so easy in all my +life; father, Laddie, and every one of them had to say so. One +night, father said to Laddie: "This child is furnishing evidence +that our school system is wrong, and our methods of teaching far +from right." + +"Or is it merely proof that she is different," said Laddie, "and +you can't run her through the same groove you could the rest of +us?" + +"A little of both," said father, "but most that the system is +wrong. We are not going at children in a way to gain and hold +their interest, and make them love their work. There must be a +better way of teaching, and we should find different teachers. +You'll have to try the school next year yourself, Laddie." + +"I have a little plan about a piece of land I am hoping to take +before then," answered Laddie. "It's time for me to try my wings +at making a living, and land is my choice. I have fully decided. +I stick to the soil!" + +"Amen!" cried father. "You please me mightily. I hate to see +sons of mine thriving on law, literally making their living out +of the fruit of other men's discord. I dislike seeing them +sharpen their wits in trade, buying at the lowest limit, +extorting the highest. I don't want their horizons limited by +city blocks, their feet on pavements, everything under the sun in +their heads that concerns a scheme to make money; not room for an +hour's thought or study in a whole day, about the really vital +things of life. After all, land and its products are the basis +of everything; the city couldn't exist a day unless we feed and +clothe it. In the things that I consider important, you are a +king among men, with your feet on soil you own." + +"So I figure it," said Laddie. + +"And you are the best educated man I have reared," said father. +"Take this other thought with you: on land, the failure of the +bank does not break you. The fire another man's carelessness +starts, does not wipe out your business or home. You are not in +easy reach of contagion. Any time you want to branch out, your +mother and I will stand back of you." + +"Thank you!" said Laddie. "You backed none of the others. They +would resent it. I'll make the best start I can myself, and as +they did, stand alone." + +Father looked at him and smiled slowly. + +"You are right, as always," he said. "I hadn't thought so far. +It would make trouble. At any rate, let me inspect and help you +select your land." + +"That of course!" said Laddie. + +I suspect it's not a very nice thing for me to tell, but all of +us were tickled silly the day Miss Amelia packed her trunk and +left for sure. Mother said she never tried harder in all her +days, but Miss Amelia was the most distinctly unlovable person +she ever had met. She sympathized with us so, she never said a +word when Leon sang: + + + "Believe me, if all those endearing young charms, + Which I gaze on so fondly to-day, + Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms, + Like fairy-gifts fading away, + Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art, + Let thy loveliness fade as it will, + And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart + Would entwine itself verdantly still--" + +while Miss Amelia drove from sight up the Groveville road. + +As he sang Leon stretched out his arms after her vanishing form. +"I hope," he said, "that you caught that touching reference to +`the dear ruin,' and could anything be expressed more beautifully +and poetically than that `verdantly still?'" + +I feel sorry for a snake. I like hoptoads, owls, and shitepokes. +I envy a buzzard the way it can fly, and polecats are beautiful; +but I never could get up any sort of feeling at all for Miss +Amelia, whether she was birdlike or her true self. So no one was +any gladder than I when she was gone. + +After that, spring came pushing until you felt shoved. Our +family needed me then. If they never had known it before, they +found out there was none too many of us. Every day I had to +watch the blue goose, and bring in her egg before it was chilled, +carrying it carefully so it would not be jarred. I had to hunt +the turkey nests and gather their eggs so they would be right for +setting. There had to be straw carried from the stack for new +nests, eggs marked, and hens set by the dozen. Garden time came, +so leaves had to be raked from the beds and from the dooryard. +No one was busier than I; but every little while I ran away, and +spent some time all by myself in the pulpit, under the hawk oak, +or on the roof. + +Coming from church that Sunday, when we reached the top of the +Big Hill, mother touched father's arm. "Stop a minute," she +said, and he checked the horses, while we sat there and wondered +why, as she looked and looked all over the farm, then, "Now drive +to the top of the Little Hill and turn, and stop exactly on the +place from which we first viewed this land together," she said. +"You know the spot, don't you?" + +"You may well believe I know it," said father. "I can hit it to +the inch. You see, children," he went on, "your mother and I +arranged before the words were said over us"--he always put it +that way--I never in my life heard him say, "when we were +married"; he read so many books he talked exactly like a book-- +"that we would be partners in everything, as long as we lived. +When we decided the Ohio land was not quite what we wanted, she +sent me farther west to prospect, while she stayed at home and +kept the baby. When I reached this land, found it for sale, and +within my means, I bought it, and started home happy. Before I'd +gone a mile, I turned to look back, and saw that it was hilly, +mostly woods, and there was no computing the amount of work it +would require to make it what I could see in it; so I began to +think maybe she wouldn't like it, and to wish I had brought her, +before I closed the deal. By the time I returned home, packed +up, and travelled this far on the way back with her, there was +considerable tension in my feelings--considerable tension," +repeated father as he turned the horses and began driving +carefully, measuring the distance from Hoods' and the bridge. At +last he stopped, backed a step, and said: "There, mommy, did I +hit the spot?" + +"You did!" said mother, stepping from the carriage and walking up +beside him. She raised one hand and laid it on the lamp near +him. He shifted the lines, picked up her hand, and held it +tight. Mother stood there looking, just silently looking. May +jabbed me in the side, leaned over and whispered: + + "Could we but stand where Moses stood, + And view the landscape o'er, + Not our Little Creek, nor dinner getting cold, + Could fright us from that shore." + + +I couldn't help giggling, but I knew that was no proper time, so +I hid my head in her lap and smothered the sound the best I +could; but they were so busy soft-soddering each other they +didn't pay a bit of attention to us. + +It was May now, all the leaves were fresh and dustless, +everything that flowered at that time was weighted with bloom, +bees hummed past, butterflies sailed through the carriage, while +birds at the tops of their voices, all of them, every kind there +was, sang fit to split; friendly, unafraid bluebirds darted +around us, and talked a blue streak from every fence rider. Made +you almost crazy to know what they said. The Little Creek flowed +at our feet across the road, through the blue-flag swamp, where +the red and the yellow birds lived. You could see the sun flash +on the water where it emptied into the stream that crossed +Deams', and flowed through our pasture; and away beyond the Big +Hill arose, with the new church on top, the graveyard around it, +the Big Creek flashing at its base. In the valley between lay +our fields, meadows, the big red barn, the white house with the +yard filled with trees and flowering shrubs, beyond it the +garden, all made up, neat and growing; and back of it the orchard +in full bloom. + +Mother looked and looked. Suddenly she raised her face to +father. "Paul," she said, "that first day, did you ever dream it +could be made to look like this?" + +"No!" said father. "I never did! I saw houses, barns, and +cleared fields; I hoped for comfort and prosperity, but I didn't +know any place could grow to be so beautiful, and there is +something about it, even on a rainy November day, there is +something that catches me in the breast, on the top of either of +these hills, until it almost stifles me. What is it, Ruth?" + +"The Home Feeling!" said mother. "It is in my heart so big this +morning I am filled with worship. Just filled with the spirit of +worship." + +She was rocking on her toes like she does when she becomes too +happy at the Meeting House to be quiet any longer, and cries, +"Glory!" right out loud. She pointed to the orchard, an immense +orchard of big apple trees in full bloom, with two rows of peach +trees around the sides. It looked like a great, soft, pinkish +white blanket, with a deep pink border, spread lightly on the +green earth. + +"We planted that way because we thought it was best; how could we +know how it would look in bloom time? It seems as if you came to +these hilltops and figured on the picture you would make before +you cleared, or fenced a field." + +"That's exactly what I did," said father. "Many's the hour, all +told, that I have stopped my horse on one of these hilltops and +studied how to make the place beautiful, as well as productive. +That was a task you set me, my girl. You always considered +BEAUTY as well as USE about the house and garden, and wherever +you worked. I had to hold my part in line." + +"You have made it all a garden," said mother. "You have made it +a garden growing under the smile of the Master; a very garden of +the Lord, father." + +Father drew up her hand and held it tight against his heart. + +"Your praise is sweet, my girl, sweet!" he said. "I have tried, +God knows I have tried, to make it first comfortable, then +beautiful, for all of us. To the depths of my soul I thank Him +for this hour. I am glad, Oh I am so glad you like your home, +Ruth! I couldn't endure it if you complained, found fault and +wished you lived elsewhere." + +"Why, father!" said my mother in the most surprised voice. "Why, +father, it would kill me to leave here. This is ours. We have +made it by and through the strength of the Lord and our love for +each other. All my days I want to live here, and when I die, I +want to lie beside my blessed babies and you, Paul, down by the +church we gave the land for, and worked so hard to build. I love +it, Oh I love it! See how clean and white the dark evergreens +make the house look! See how the big chestnuts fit in and point +out the yellow road. I wish we had a row the length of it!" + +"They wouldn't grow," said father. "You mind the time I had +finding the place those wanted to set their feet?" + +"I do indeed!" said mother, drawing her hand and his with it +where she could rub her cheek against it. "Now we'll go home and +have our dinner and a good rest. I'm a happy woman this day, +father, a happy, happy woman. If only one thing didn't worry +me----" + +"Must there always be a `fly in the ointment,' mother?" + +She looked at him with a smile that was like a hug and kiss, and +she said: "I have found it so, father, and I have been happy in +spite of it. Where one has such wide interests, at some point +there is always a pull, but in His own day, in His own way, the +Lord is going to make everything right." + +"`Thy faith hath made thee whole,'" quoted father. + +Then she stepped into the carriage, and he waited a second, quite +long enough to let her see that he was perfectly willing to sit +there all day if she wanted him to, and then he slowly and +carefully drove home, as he always did when she was in the +carriage. Times when he had us children out alone, he went until +you couldn't see the spokes in the wheels. He just loved to +"speed up" once in a while on a piece of fine road to let us know +how going fast felt. + +Mother sat there trembling a little, smiling, misty-eyed. I was +thinking, for I knew what the "fly in the ointment" was. She had +a letter from Shelley yesterday, and she said there wasn't a +reason on earth why father or Laddie should spend money to come +to Chicago, she would soon be home, she was counting the hours, +and she never wanted to leave again. In the start she didn't +want to go at all, unless she could stay three years, at the very +least. Of course it was that dreadful man, who had made her so +beautiful and happy, and then taken away all the joy; how COULD a +man do it? It was the hardest thing to understand. + +Next morning mother was feeling fine, the world was lovely, Miss +Amelia was gone, May was home to help, so she began housecleaning +by washing all the curtains. She had been in the kitchen to show +Candace how. I had all my work done, and was making friends with +a robin brooding in my very own catalpa tree, when Mr. Pryor rode +up, tied his horse, and started toward the gate. I knew he and +father had quarrelled; that is, father had told him he couldn't +say "God was a myth" in this house, and he'd gone home mad as +hops; so I knew it would be something mighty important that was +bringing him back. I slid from the tree, ran and opened the +gate, and led the way up the walk. I opened the front door and +asked him in, and then I did the wrong thing. I should have +taken his hat, told him to be seated, and said I would see if I +could find father; I knew what to do, and how to do it, but +because of that about God, I was so excited I made a mistake. I +never took his hat, or offered him a chair; I just bolted into +the dining-room, looking for father or mother, and left the door +wide open, so he thought that wasn't the place to sit, because I +didn't give him a chair, and he followed me. The instant I saw +mother's face, I knew what I had done. The dining-room was no +place for particular company like him, and bringing him in that +way didn't give her time to smooth her hair, pull shut her dress +band at the neck, put on her collar, and shiny goldstone pin, her +white apron, and rub her little flannel rag, with rice flour on +it, on her nose to take away the shine. I had made a mess of it. + +There she came right in the door, just as she was from the tub. +Her hair was damp and crinkled around her face, her neckband had +been close in stooping, so she had unfastened it, and tucked it +back in a little V-shaped place to give her room and air. Her +cheeks were pink, her eyes bright, her lips red as a girl's, and +her neck was soft and white. The V-shaped place showed a little +spot like baby skin, right where her neck went into her chest. +Sure as father kissed her lips, he always tipped back her head, +bent lower and kissed that spot too. I had seen hundreds of them +go there, and I had tried it myself, lots of times, and it WAS +the sweetest place. Seeing what I had done, I stopped +breathless. You have to beat most everything you teach a child +right into it properly to keep it from making such a botch of +things as that. I hardly dared to peep at mother, but when I +did, she took my breath worse than the mistake I had made. + +Caught, she stood her ground. She never paused a second. +Straight to him she went, holding out her hand, and I could see +that it was red and warm from pressing the lace in the hot suds. +A something flashed over her, that made her more beautiful than +she was in her silk dress going to town to help Lucy give a +party, and her voice was sweet as the bubbling warbler on the +garden fence when he was trying to coax a mate into the privet +bush to nest. + +Mother asked him to be seated, so he took one of the chairs +nearest him, and sat holding his hat in one hand, his whip in the +other. Mother drew a chair beside the dining table, dropped her +hands on each other, and looking in his eyes, she smiled at him. +I tell the same thing over about people's looks, but I haven't +told of this smile of mother's; because I never saw exactly how +it was, or what it would do to people, until that morning. Then +as I watched her--for how she felt decided what would happen to +me, after Mr. Pryor was gone I saw something I never had noticed +until that minute. She could laugh all over her face, before her +lips parted until her teeth showed. She was doing it now. With +a wide smile running from cheek to cheek, pushing up a big dimple +at each end, her lips barely touching, her eyes dancing, she sat +looking at him. + +"This IS the most blessed season for warming up the heart," she +said. "If you want the half of my kingdom, ask quickly. I'm in +the mood to bestow it." + +How she laughed! He just had to loosen up a little, and smile +back, even though it looked pretty stiff. + +"Well, I'll not tax you so far," he said. "I only want Mr. +Stanton." + +"But he is the whole of the kingdom, and the King to boot!" she +laughed, dimpled, and flamed redder. + +Mr. Pryor stared at her wonderingly. You could even see the +wonder, like it was something you could take hold of. I suppose +he wondered what could make a woman so happy, like that. + +"Lucky man!" he said. "All of us are not so fortunate." + +"Then it must be you don't covet the place or the title," said +mother more soberly. "Any woman will crown the man she marries, +if he will allow her. Paul went farther. He compelled it." + +"I wonder how!" said Mr. Pryor, his eyes steadily watching +mother's face. + +"By never failing in a million little things, that taken as a +whole, make up one mighty big thing, on which he stands like the +Rock of Ages." + +"Yet they tell me that you are the mother of twelve children," he +said, as if he marvelled at something. + +"Yes!" cried mother, and the word broke right through a bubbling +laugh. "Am I not fortunate above most women? We had the grief +to lose two little daughters at the ages of eight and nine, all +the others I have, and I rejoice in them." + +She reached out, laid a hand on me, drew me to her, and lightly +touched my arm, sending my spirits sky-high. She wasn't going to +do a thing to me, not even scold! Mr. Pryor stared at her like +Jacob Hood does at Laddie when he begins rolling Greek before +him, so I guess what mother said must have been Greek to Mr. +Pryor. + +"I came to see Mr. Stanton," he said suddenly, and crosslike as +if he didn't believe a word she said, and had decided she was too +foolish to bother with any longer; but he kept on staring. He +couldn't quit that, no matter how cross he was. The funniest +thing came into my mind. I wondered what on earth he'd have done +if she'd gone over, sat on his lap, put her arms around his neck, +took his face between her hands and kissed his forehead, eyes, +lips, and tousled his hair, like she does father and our boys. +I'll bet all I got, he'd have turned to stonier stone than +Sabethany. You could see that no one ever served HIM like that +in all his old, cold, hard, cross, mysterious, shut-in life. I +was crazy to ask, "Say, did anybody ever kiss you?" but I had +such a close escape bringing him in wrong, I thought it would be +wise not to take any risks so soon after. It was enough to stand +beside mother, and hear every word they said. What was more, she +wanted me, because she kept her hand on mine, or touched my apron +every little while. + +"I'm so sorry!" she said. "He was called to town on business. +The County Commissioners are sitting to-day." + +"They are deciding about the Groveville bridge, and pike?" + +"Yes. He is working so hard for them." + +"The devil you say! I beg pardon! But it was about that I came. + +I'm three miles from there, and I'm taxed over sixty pounds for +it." + +"But you cross the bridge every time you go to town, and travel +the road. Groveville is quite a resort on account of the water +and lovely country. Paul is very anxious to have the work +completed before the summer boarders come from surrounding +cities. We are even farther from it than you; but it will cost +us as much." + +"Are you insane?" cried Mr. Pryor, not at all politely; but you +could see that mother was bound she wouldn't become provoked +about anything, for she never stopped a steady beam on him. +"Spend all that money for strangers to lazy around on a few weeks +and then go!" + +"But a good bridge and fine road will add to their pleasure, and +when they leave, the improvements remain. They will benefit us +and our children through all the years to come." + +"Talk about `the land of the free'!" cried Mr. Pryor. "This is a +tax-ridden nation. It's a beastly outrage! Ever since I came, +it's been nothing but notice of one assessment after another. I +won't pay it! I won't endure it. I'll move!" + +Mother let go of me, gripped her hands pretty tight together on +the table, and she began to talk. + +"As for freedom--no man ever was, or is, or will be free," she +said, quite as forcibly as he could speak. "You probably knew +when you came here that you would find a land tax-ridden from a +great civil war of years' duration, and from newness of vast +territory to be opened up and improved. You certainly studied +the situation." + +"`Studied the situation'!" His whip beat across his knee. +"`Studied the situation'! My leaving England was--er--the result +of intolerable conditions there--in the nature of flight from +things not to be endured. I had only a vague idea of the +States." + +"If England is intolerable, and the United States an outrage, I +don't know where in this world you'll go," said mother softly. + +Mr. Pryor stared at her sharply. + +"Madame is pleased to be facetious," he said sneeringly. + +Mother's hands parted, and one of them stretched across the table +toward him. + +"Forgive me!" she cried. "That was unkind. I know you are in +dreadful trouble. I'd give--I'd almost give this right hand to +comfort you. I'd do nearly anything to make you feel that you +need bear no burden alone; that we'd love to help support you." + +"I believe you would," he said slowly, his eyes watching her +again. "I believe you would. I wonder why!" + +"All men are brothers, in the broader sense," said mother, "and +if you'll forgive me, your face bears marks of suffering almost +amounting to torture." + +She stretched out the other hand. + +"You couldn't possibly let us help you?" + +Slowly he shook his head. + +"Think again!" urged mother. "A trouble shared is half over to +start with. You lay a part of it on your neighbours, and your +neighbours in this case would be glad, glad indeed, to see you +care-free and happy as all men should be." + +"We'll not discuss it," he said. "You can't possibly imagine the +root of my trouble." + +"I shan't try!" said mother. "But let me tell you this: I don't +care if you have betrayed your country, blasphemed your God, or +killed your own child! So long, as you're a living man, daily a +picture of suffering before me, you're a burden on my heart. +You're a load on my shoulders, without your consent. I have +implored God, I shall never cease to implore Him, until your brow +clears, your head is lifted, and your heart is at rest. You +can't prevent me! This hour I shall go to my closet and beg Him +to have mercy on your poor soul, and when His time comes, He +will. You can't help yourself, or you would have done so, long +ago. You must accept aid! This must end, or there will be +tragedy in your house." + +"Madame, there has been!" said Mr. Pryor, shaking as he sat. + +"I recognize that," said mother. "The question is whether what +has passed is not enough." + +"You simply cannot understand!" he said. + +"Mr. Pryor," she said, "you're in the position of a man doubly +bereft. You are without a country, and without a God. Your face +tells every passer-by how you are enjoying that kind of life. +Forgive me, if I speak plainly. I admire some things about you +so much, I am venturing positive unkindness to try to make you +see that in shutting out your neighbours you will surely make +them think more, and worse things, than are true. I haven't a +doubt in my mind but that your trouble is not one half so +dreadful as you imagine while brooding over it. We will pass +that. Let me tell you how we feel about this road matter. You +see we did our courting in Pennsylvania, married and tried Ohio, +and then came on here. We took this land when it was mostly +woods. I could point you to the exact spot where we stopped; we +visited it yesterday, looked down the hill and selected the place +where we would set this house, when we could afford to build it. +We moved into the cabin that was on the land first, later built a +larger one, and finally this home as we had planned it. Every +fruit tree, bush, vine, and flower we planted. Here our children +have been born, lived, loved, and left us; some for the graveyard +down yonder, some for homes of their own. Always we have planned +and striven to transform this into the dearest, the most +beautiful spot on earth. In making our home the best we can, in +improving our township, county, and state, we are doing our share +toward upbuilding this nation." + +She began at the a b c's, and gave it to him straight: the whole +thing, just as we saw it; and he listened, as if he were a +prisoner, and she a judge telling him what he must do to gain his +freedom. She put in the birds to keep away the worms, the trees +to break the wind, the creeks to save the moisture. She whanged +him, and she banged him, up one side, and down the other. She +didn't stop to be mincy. She shot things at him like a man +talking to another man who had plenty of sense but not a particle +of reason. She gave him the reason. She told him exactly why, +and how, and where, and also just WHAT he must do to feel RIGHT +toward his neighbours, his family, and his God. No preacher ever +talked half so well. Yea verily, she was as interesting as the +Bishop himself, and far pleasanter to look at. When she ran +short of breath, and out of words, she reached both hands toward +him again. + +"OH DO PLEASE THINK OF THESE THINGS!" she begged. "Do try to +believe that I am a sensible person, and know what I am talking +about." + +"Madame," said Mr. Pryor, "there's no doubt in my mind but you +are the most wonderful woman I ever have met. Surely I believe +you! Surely I know your plan of life is the true, the only right +way. It is one degree added to my humiliation that the ban I am +under keeps me from friendly intercourse with so great a lady." + +"`Lady'?" said my mother, her eyes widening. "`Lady'? Now it is +you who are amused." + +"I don't understand!" he said. "Certainly you are a lady, a very +great lady." + +"Goodness, gracious me!" cried my mother, laughing until her +dimples would have held water. "That's the first time in all my +life I was ever accused of such a thing." + +"Again, I do not comprehend," said Mr. Pryor, as if vexed about +all he would endure. + +Mother laughed on, and as she did so she drew back her hands and +studied them. Then she looked at him again, one pink dimple +flashing here and there, all over her face. + +"Well, to begin at the root of the matter," she said, "that is an +enormous big word that you are using lightly. Any one in +petticoats is not a lady--by no means! A lady must be born of +unsullied blood for at least three generations, on each side of +her house. Think for a minute about where you are going to +fulfil that condition. Then she must be gentle by nature, and +rearing. She must know all there is to learn from books, have +wide experience to cover all emergencies, she must be steeped in +social graces, and diplomatic by nature. She must rise unruffled +to any emergency, never wound, never offend, always help and +heal, she must be perfect in deportment, virtue, wifehood and +motherhood. She must be graceful, pleasing and beautiful. She +must have much leisure to perfect herself in learning, graces and +arts----" + +"Madame, you draw an impossible picture!" cried Mr. Pryor. + +"I draw the picture of the only woman on earth truly entitled to +be called a lady. You use a good word lightly. I have told you +what it takes to make a lady--now look at me!" + +How she laughed! Mr. Pryor looked, but he didn't laugh. + +"More than ever you convince me that you are a lady, indeed," he +said. + +Mother wiped her eyes. + +"My dear man!" she cried, "I'm the daughter of a Dutch miller, +who lived on a Pennsylvania mountain stream. There never was a +school anywhere near us, and father and mother only taught us to +work. Paul Stanton took a grist there, and saw me. He married +me, and brought me here. He taught me to read and write. I +learned my lessons with my elder children. He has always kept +school in our house, every night of his life. Our children +supposed it was for them; I knew it was quite as much for me. +While I sat at knitting or sewing, I spelled over the words he +gave out. I know nothing of my ancestors, save that they came +from the lowlands of Holland, down where there were cities, +schools, and business. They were well educated, but they would +not take the trouble to teach their children. As I have spoken +to you, my husband taught me. All I know I learn from him, from +what he reads aloud, and places he takes me. I exist in a +twenty-mile radius, but through him, I know all lands, +principalities and kingdoms, peoples and customs. I need never +be ashamed to go, or afraid to speak, anywhere." + +"Indeed not!" cried Mr. Pryor. + +"But when you think on the essentials of a real lady--and then +picture me patching, with a First Reader propped before me; +facing Indians, Gypsies, wild animals--and they used to be bad +enough--why, I mind one time in Ohio when our first baby was only +able to stand beside a chair, and through the rough puncheon +floor a copperhead stuck up its gleam of bronzy gold, and shot +its darting tongue within a foot of her bare leg. By all +accounts, a lady would have reached for her smelling salts and +gracefully fainted away; in fact, a lady never would have been in +such a place at all. It was my job to throw the first thing I +could lay my hands on so straight and true that I would break +that snake's neck, and send its deadly fangs away from my baby. +I did it with Paul's plane, and neatly too! Then I had to put +the baby on the bed and tear up every piece of the floor to see +that the snake had not a mate in hiding there, for copperheads at +that season were going pairs. Once I was driven to face a big +squaw, and threatened the life of her baby with a red-hot poker +while she menaced mine with a hunting knife. There is not one +cold, rough, hard experience of pioneer life that I have not +endured. Shoulder to shoulder, and heart to heart, I've stood +beside my man, and done what had to be done, to build this home, +rear our children, save our property. Many's the night I have +shivered in a barn doctoring sick cattle and horses we could ill +afford to lose. Time and again I have hung on and brought things +out alive, after the men gave up and quit. A lady? How funny!" + +"The amusement is all on your part, Madame." + +"So it seems!" said mother. "But you see, I know so well how +ridiculous it is. When I think of the life a woman must lead in +order to be truly a lady, when I review the life I have been +forced to live to do my share in making this home, and rearing +these children, the contrast is too great. I thank God for any +part I have been able to take. Had I life to live over, I see +now where I could do more; but neighbour, believe me, my highest +aspiration is to be a clean, thrifty housekeeper, a bountiful +cook, a faithful wife, a sympathetic mother. That is life work +for any woman, and to be a good woman is the greatest thing on +earth. Never mind about the ladies; if you can honestly say of +me, she is a good woman, you have paid me the highest possible +tribute." + +"I have nothing to change, in the face of your argument," said +Mr. Pryor. "Our loved Queen on her throne is no finer lady." + +That time mother didn't laugh. She looked straight at him a +minute and then she said: "Well, for an Englishman, as I know +them, you have said the last word. Higher praise there is none. +But believe me, I make no such claim. To be a good wife and +mother is the end toward which I aspire. To hold the respect and +love of my husband is the greatest object of my life." + +"Then you have succeeded. You stand a monument to wifehood; your +children prove your idea of motherhood," said Mr. Pryor. "How in +this world have you managed it? The members of your family whom +I have seen are fine, interesting men and women, educated above +the average. It is not idle curiosity. I am deeply interested +in knowing how such an end came to be accomplished here on this +farm. I wish you would tell me just how you have gone about +schooling your children." + +"By educating ourselves before their coming, and with them +afterward. Self-control, study, work, joy of life, satisfaction +with what we have had, never-ending strife to go higher, and to +do better--Dr. Fenner laughs when I talk of these things. He +says he can take a little naked Hottentot from the jungle, and +educate it to the same degree that I can one of mine. I don't +know; but if these things do not help before birth, at least they +do not hinder; and afterward, you are in the groove in which you +want your children to run. With all our twelve there never has +been one who at nine months of age did not stop crying if its +father lifted his finger, or tapped his foot and told it to. +From the start we have rigorously guarded our speech and actions +before them. From the first tiny baby my husband has taught all +of them to read, write and cipher some, before they went to +school at all. He is always watching, observing, studying: the +earth, the stars, growing things; he never comes to a meal but he +has seen something that he has or will study out for all of us. +There never has been one day in our home on which he did not read +a new interesting article from book or paper; work out a big +problem, or discuss some phase of politics, religion, or war. +Sometimes there has been a little of all of it in one day, always +reading, spelling, and memory exercises at night. He has a +sister who twice in her life has repeated the Bible as a test +before a committee. He, himself, can go through the New +Testament and all of the Old save the books of the generations. +He always says he considers it a waste of gray matter to learn +them. He has been a schoolmaster, his home his schoolroom, his +children, wife and helpers his pupils; the common things of life +as he meets them every day, the books from which we learn. + +"I was ignorant at first of bookish subjects, but in his +atmosphere, if one were no student, and didn't even try to keep +up, or forge ahead, they would absorb much through association. +Almost always he has been on the school board and selected the +teachers; we have made a point of keeping them here, at great +inconvenience to ourselves, in order to know as much of them as +possible, and to help and guide them in their work. When the +children could learn no more here, for most of them we have +managed the high school of Groveville, especially after our +daughter moved there, and for each of them we have added at least +two years of college, music school, or whatever the peculiar bent +of the child seemed to demand. + +"Before any daughter has left our home for one of her own, she +has been taught all I know of cleanliness about a house, cookery, +sewing, tending the sick, bathing and dressing the new born. She +has to bake bread, pie, cake, and cook any meat or vegetable we +have. She has had her bolt of muslin to make as she chose for +her bedding, and linen for her underclothing. The quilts she +pieced and the blankets she wove have been hers. All of them +have been as well provided for as we could afford. They can +knit, darn, patch, tuck, hem, and embroider, set a hen and plant +a garden. I go on a vacation and leave each of them to keep +house for her father a month, before she enters a home of her +own. They are strong, healthy girls; I hope all of them are +making a good showing at being useful women, and I know they are +happy, so far at least." + +"Wonderful!" said Mr. Pryor. + +"Father takes the boys in hand and they must graduate in a +straight furrow, an even fence, planting and tending crops, +trimming and grafting trees, caring for stock, and handling +plane, auger and chisel. Each one must select his wood, cure, +fashion, and fit his own ax with a handle, grind and swing it +properly, as well as cradle, scythe and sickle. They must be +able to select good seed grain, boil sap, and cure meat. They +must know animals, their diseases and treatment, and when they +have mastered all he can teach them, and done each thing +properly, they may go for their term at college, and make their +choice of a profession. As yet I'm sorry to say but one of them +has come back to the land." + +"You mean Laddie?" + +"Yes." + +"He has decided to be a farmer?" + +"He is determined to make the soil yield his living." + +"I am sorry--sorry indeed to hear it," said Mr. Pryor. "He has +brain and education to make a brilliant figure at law or +statesmanship; he would do well in trade." + +"What makes you think he would not do well on land?" + +"Wasted!" cried Mr. Pryor. "He would be wasted!" + +"Hold a bit!" said mother, her face flushing as it did when she +was very provoked. "My husband is, and always has been, on land. +He is far from being wasted. He is a power in this community. +He has sons in cities in law and in trade. Not one of them has +the friends, and the influence on his time, that his father has. +Any day he says the word, he can stand in legislative halls, and +take any part he chooses in politics. He prefers his home and +family, and the work he does here, but let me tell you, no son of +his ever had his influence or opportunity, or ever will have." + +"All this is news to me," said Mr. Pryor. + +"You didn't expect us to come over, force our way in and tell +you?" + +It was his turn to blush and he did. + +"Laddie has been at our house often," he said. "He might have +mentioned----" + +Mother laughed. She was the gayest that morning. + +"He `might,' but he never would. Neither would I if you hadn't +seemed to think that the men who do the things Mr. Stanton +REFUSES to do are the ones worth while." + +"He could accomplish much in legislative halls." + +"He figures in the large. He thinks that to be a commissioner, +travel his county and make all of it the best possible, to stand +in primaries and choose only worthy men for all offices, is doing +a much bigger work than to take one place for himself, and strive +only for that. Besides, he really loves his land, his house, and +family. He says no man has a right to bring twelve children into +the world and not see personally to rearing and educating them. +He thinks the farm and the children too much for me, and he's +sure he is doing the biggest thing for the community at large, to +go on as he does." + +"Perhaps so," said Mr. Pryor slowly. "He should know best. +Perhaps he is." + +"I make no doubt!" said mother, lifting her head proudly. "And +as Laddie feels and has fitted himself, I look to see him go head +and shoulders above any other son I have. Trade is not the only +way to accumulate. Law is not the only path to the legislature. +Comfort, independence, and freedom, such as we know here, is not +found in any city I ever have visited. We think we have the best +of life, and we are content on land. We have not accumulated +much money; we have spent thousands; we have had a big family for +which to provide, and on account of the newness of the country, +taxes always have been heavy. But we make no complaint. We are +satisfied. We could have branched off into fifty different +things after we had a fair start here. We didn't, because we +preferred life as we worked it out for ourselves. Paul says when +he leaves the city, and his horses' hoofs strike the road between +our fields, he always lifts his head higher, squares his +shoulders, and feels a man among men. To own land, and to love +it, is a wonderful thing, Mr. Pryor." + +She made me think of something. Ever since I had added to my +quill and arrow money, the great big lot at Easter, father had +shared his chest till with me. The chest stood in our room, and +in it lay his wedding suit, his every Sunday clothes, his best +hat with a red silk handkerchief in the crown, a bundle of +precious newspapers he was saving on account of rare things in +them he wanted for reference, and in the till was the wallet of +ready money he kept in the house for unexpected expense, his +deeds, insurance papers, all his particular private papers, the +bunches of lead pencils, slate pencils, and the box of pens from +which he supplied us for school. Since I had grown so rich, he +had gone partners with me, and I might lift the lid, open the +till and take out my little purse that May bought from the +huckster for my last birthday. I wasn't to touch a thing, save +my own, and I never did; but I knew precious well what was there. + +If Mr. Pryor thought my father didn't amount to much because he +lived on land; if it made him think more of him, to know that he +could be in the legislature if he chose, maybe he'd think still +more---- + +I lifted the papers, picked it up carefully, and slipping back +quietly, I laid it on Mr. Pryor's knee. He picked it up and held +it a minute, until he finished what he was saying to mother, and +then he looked at it. Then he looked long and hard. Then he +straightened up and looked again. + +"God bless my soul!" he cried. + +You see when he was so astonished he didn't know what he was +saying, he called on God, just as father says every one does. I +took a side look at mother. Her face was a little extra flushed, +but she was still smiling; so I knew she wasn't angry with me, +though of course she wouldn't have shown the thing herself. She +and father never did, except as each of us grew big enough to be +taught about the Crusaders. Father said he didn't care the snap +of his finger about it, except as it stood for hardihood and +bravery. But Mr. Pryor cared! He cared more than he could say. +He stared, and stared, and over and over he wonderingly repeated: + +"God bless my soul!" + +"Where did you get the crest of the Earl of Eastbrooke, the +master of Stanton house?" he demanded. "Stanton house!" he +repeated. "Why--why, the name! It's scarcely possible, but----" + +"But there it is!" laughed mother. "A mere bauble for show and +amounting to nothing on earth save as it stands a mark for brave +men who have striven to conquer." + +"Surgere tento!" read Mr. Pryor, from the little shield. "Four +shells! Madame, I know men who would give their lives to own +this, and to have been born with the right to wear it. It came +to your husband in straight line?" + +"Yes," said mother, "but generations back. He never wore it. He +never would. He only saves it for the children." + +"It goes to your eldest son?" + +"By rights, I suppose it should," said mother. "But father +mentioned it the other night. He said none of his boys had gone +as he tried to influence them, unless Laddie does now in choosing +land for his future, and if he does, his father is inclined to +leave it to him, and I agree. At our death it goes to Laddie I +am quite sure." + +"Well, I hope--I hope," said Mr. Pryor, "that the young man has +the wit to understand what this would mean to him in England." + +"His wit is just about level with his father's," said mother. +"He never has been in England, and most probably he never will +be. I don't think it means a rap more to Laddie than it does to +my husband. Laddie is so busy developing the manhood born in +him, he has no time to chase the rainbow of reflected glory, and +no belief in its stability if he walked in its light. The child +of my family to whom that trinket really means something is +Little Sister, here. When Leon came in with the thief, I thought +he should have it; but after all, she is the staunchest little +Crusader I have." + +Mr. Pryor looked me over with much interest. + +"Yes, yes! No doubt!" he said. "But the male line! This +priceless treasure should descend to one of the male line! To +one whose name will remain Stanton! To Laddie would be best, no +doubt! No doubt at all!" + +"We will think about it," said mother serenely as Mr. Pryor arose +to go. + +He apologized for staying so long, and mother said it hadn't been +long, and asked him the nicest ever to come again. She walked in +the sunlight with him and pointed out the chestnuts. She asked +what he thought of a line of trees to shade the road, and they +discussed whether the pleasure they would give in summer would +pay for the dampness they would hold in winter. They wandered +around the yard and into the garden. She sent me to bring a +knife, trowel, and paper, so when he started for home, he was +carrying a load of cuttings, and roots to plant. + +When father came from town that evening, at the first sight of +him, she went straight into his arms, her face beaming; she had +been like a sun all that day. Some of it must have been joy +carried over from yesterday. + +"Praise God, the wedge is in!" she cried. + +Father held her tight, stroked her hair, and began smiling +without having the least idea why, but he very well knew that +whatever pleased her like that was going to be good news for him +also. + +"What has happened, mother?" he asked. + +"Mr. Pryor came over about the road and bridge tax, and oh Paul! +I've said every word to him I've been bursting to say from the +very start. Every single word, Paul!" + +"How did he take it?" + +"Time will tell. Anyway, he heard it, all of it, and he went +back carrying a load of things to plant. Only think of that! +Once he begins planting, and watching things grow, the home +feeling is bound to come. I tell you, Paul, the wedge is in! Oh +I'm so happy!" + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Crest of Eastbrooke + + "Sow;--and look onward, upward, + Where the starry light appears,-- + Where, in spite of coward's doubting, + Or your own heart's trembling fears, + You shall reap in joy the harvest + You have sown to-day in tears." + +Any objections to my beginning to break ground on the west eighty +to-day?" asked Laddie of father at breakfast Monday morning. + +"I had thought we would commence on the east forty, when planning +the work." + +"So had I," said Laddie. "But since I thought that, a very +particular reason has developed for my beginning to plow the west +eighty at once, and there is a charming little ditty I feel +strongly impelled to whistle every step of the way." + +Father looked at him sharply, and so, I think, did all of us. +And because we loved him deeply, we saw that his face was a +trifle pale for him; his clear eyes troubled, in spite of his +laughing way. He knew we were studying him too, but he wouldn't +have said anything that would make us look and question if he had +minded our doing it. That was exactly like Laddie. He meant it +when he said he hated a secret. He said there was no place on +earth for a man to look for sympathy and love if he couldn't find +it in his own family; and he never had been so happy since I had +been big enough to notice his moods as he had been since all of +us knew about the Princess. He didn't wait for father to ask why +he'd changed his mind about the place to begin. + +"You see," he said, "a very charming friend of mine expressed +herself strongly last night about the degrading influence of +farming, especially that branch of agriculture which evolves +itself in a furrow; hence it is my none too happy work to plow +the west eighty where she can't look our way without seeing me; +and I have got to whistle my favourite `toon' where she must stop +her ears if she doesn't hear; and then it will be my painful +task, I fear, to endeavour to convince her that I am still clean, +decent, and not degraded." + +"Oh Laddie!" cried mother. + +"Abominable foolishness!" roared father like he does roar once in +about two years. + +"Isn't it now?" asked Laddie sweetly. "I don't know what has got +into her head. She has seen me plowing fifty times since their +land has joined ours, and she never objected before." + +"I can tell you blessed well!" said mother. "She didn't care two +hoots how much my son plowed, but it makes a difference when it +comes to her lover." + +"Maw, you speak amazing reckless," said Laddie, "if I thought +there was anything in THAT feature of the case, I'd attempt a +Highland fling on the ridgepole of our barn." + +"Be serious!" said father sternly. "This is no laughing matter." + +"That's precisely why I am laughing," said Laddie. "Would it +help me any to sit down and weep? I trow not! I have thought +most of the silent watches--by the way they are far from silent +in May--and as I read my title clear, it's my job to plow the +west eighty immejit." + +Father tried to look stern, but he just had to laugh. + +"All right then, plow it!" he said. + +"What did she say?" asked mother. + +"Phew!" Laddie threw up both hands. "She must have been bottled +some time on the subject. The ferment was a spill of +considerable magnitude. The flood rather overwhelmed me, because +it was so unexpected. I had been taking for granted that she +accepted my circumstances and surroundings as she did me. But +no, kind friends, far otherwise! She said last night, in the +clearest English I ever heard spoken impromptu, that I was a man +suitable for her friend, but I would have to change my occupation +before I could be received on more than a friendly footing." + +"`On more than a friendly footing'?" repeated mother. + +"You have her exact words," said Laddie. "Kindly pass the ham." + +"What did you say?" + +"Nothing! I am going to plow the answer. Please don't object to +my beginning this morning." + +"You try yourself all winter to get as far as you have, and then +upset the bowl like this?" cried mother. + +"Softly, mummy, softly!" said Laddie. "What am I to do? I've +definitely decided on my work. I see land and life, as you and +father taught me, in range and in perspective far more than +you've got from it. You had a first hand wrestle. The land I +covet has been greatly improved already. I can do what I choose +with it, making no more strenuous effort than plowing; and I am +proud to say that I LOVE to plow. I like my feet in the soil. I +want my head in the spring air. I can become almost tipsy on the +odours that fill my nostrils. Music evolved by the Almighty is +plenty good enough for me. I'm proud of a spanking big team, +under the control of a touch or a word. I enjoy farming, and I +am going to be a farmer. Plowing is one of the most pleasing +parts of the job. Sowing the seed beats it a little, from an +artistic standpoint, either is preferable to haying, threshing, +or corn cutting: all are parts of my work, so I'm going to begin. + +Mother, I hope you don't mind if I take your grays. I'll be very +careful; but the picture I present to my girl to-day is going to +go hard with her at best, so I'd like to make it level best." + +He arose, went around and knelt beside mother. He took her, +chair and all, in his arms: + + "Best of mothers! on my breast + Lean thy head, and sink to rest." + + +She quoted. Mother laughed. + +"Mammy," he asked bending toward her, "am I clean?" + +"You goose!" she said, putting her arms around him and holding +him tight. + +"Gander love," said Laddie, turning up his face for a kiss. +"Honest mother, you have been through nigh unto forty years of +it, tell me, can a man be a farmer and keep neat enough not to be +repulsive to a refined woman?" + +"Your father is the answer," said mother. "All of you know how +perfectly repulsive he is and always has been to me." + +"`Repulsive,"' said father. "That's an ugly word!" + +"There are a whole lot of unpleasant things that peep around +corners occasionally," said Laddie. "But whoever of you dear +people it was that showed Mr. Pryor the Crest of Eastbrooke, +brought out this particular dragon for me to slay." + +"Tut, tut! Now what does that mean?" said father. "Have we had +a little exhibition of that especial brand of pride that goes +before a fall?" + +"We have! and I take the tumble," said Laddie. "Watch me start! +`Jack fell down and broke his crown.' Question--will `Jill come +tumbling after?'" + +My heart stopped and I was shaking in my bare feet, because I +wore no shoes to shake in. Oh my soul! No matter how Laddie +jested I knew he was almost killed; the harder he made fun, the +worse he was hurt. I opened my mouth to say I did it, I had to, +but Leon began to talk. + +"Well, I think she's smart!" he cried. "If she was going to give +you the mitten, why didn't she do it long ago?" + +"She had to find out first whether there were a possibility of +her wanting to keep it," said Laddie. + +"You're sure you are all signed, sealed, and delivered on this +plowing business, are you?" asked Leon. + +"Dead sure!" said Laddie. + +"All right, if you like it!" said Leon. "None for me after +college! But say, you can be a farmer and not plow, you know. +You go trim the trees, and work at cleaner, more gentlemanly +jobs. I'll plow that field. I'd just as soon as not. I plowed +last year and you said I did well, didn't you, father?" + +"Yes, on the potato patch," said father. "A cornfield is a +different thing. I fear you are too light." + +"Oh but that was a year ago!" cried Leon. + +He pushed back his chair and went to father. + +"Just feel my biceps now! Most like steel!" he boasted. "A +fellow can grow a lot in a year, and all the riding I've been +doing, and all the exercise I've had. Cert' I can plow that +meadow." + +"You're all right, shaver," said Laddie. "I'll not forget your +offer; but in this case it wouldn't help. Either the Princess +takes her medicine or I take mine. I'm going to live on land: +I'm going to plow in plain sight of the Pryor house this week, if +I have to hire to Jacob Hood to get the chance. May I plow, and +may I take the grays, father?" + +"Yes!" said father roundly. + +"Then here goes!" said Laddie. "You needn't fret, mother. I'll +not overheat them. I must give a concert simultaneous with this +plowing performance, and I'm particular about the music, so I +can't go too fast. Also, I'll wrap the harness." + +"Goodness knows I'm not thinking about the horses," said mother. + +"No, but if they turned up next Sunday, wind-broken, and with +nice large patches of hair rubbed from their sides, you would be! +If you were me, would you whistle, or vocalize to start on?" + +Mother burst right out crying and laid her face all tear-wet +against him. Laddie kissed her, and wiped away the tears, teased +her, and soon as he could he bolted from the east door; but I was +closest, so I saw plainly that his eyes were wet too. My soul +and body! AND I HAD DONE IT! I might as well get it over. + +"I showed Mr. Pryor the trinket," I said. + +"How did you come to do that?" asked father sternly. + +"When he was talking with mother. He told her Laddie would be +`wasted' farming----" + +"Wasted?" + +"That's what he said. Mother told him you had always farmed and +you were a `power in this community.' She told him about what +you did, because you wanted to, and what you COULD do if you +chose, about holding office, you know, and that seemed to make +him think heaps more of you, so I thought it would be a good +thing for him to know about the Crusaders too, and I ran and got +the crest. I THOUGHT it would help----" + +"And so it will," said mother. "They constantly make the best +showing they can, we might as well, too. The trouble is they got +more than they expected. They thought they could look down on +us, and patronize us, if they came near at all; when they found +we were quite as well educated as they, had as much land, could +hold prominent offices if we chose, and had the right to that +bauble, they veered to the other extreme. Now they seem to +demand that we quit work----" + +"Move to the city, `sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,'" +suggested father. + +"Exactly!" said mother. "They'll have to find out we are running +our own business; but I'm sorry it fell to Laddie to show them. +You could have done it better. It will come out all right. The +Princess is not going to lose a man like Laddie on account of how +he makes his money." + +"Don't be too confident," said father. "With people of their +stripe, how much money a man can earn, and at what occupation, +constitute the whole of life." + +She wasn't too confident. Yesterday she had been so happy she +almost flew. To-day she kept things going, and sang a lot, but +nearly every time you looked at her you could see her lips draw +tight, a frown cross her forehead, and her head shake. Pretty +soon we heard a racket on the road, so we went out. There was +Laddie with the matched team of carriage horses and a plow. Now, +in dreadfully busy times, father let Ned and Jo work a little, +but not very much. They were not plow horses; they were +roadsters. They liked to prance, and bow their necks and dance +to the carriage. It shamed them to be hitched to a plow. They +drooped their heads and slunk along like dogs caught sucking +eggs. But they were a sight on the landscape. They were lean +and slender and yet round too, matched dapple gray on flank and +side, with long snow-white manes and tails. No wonder mother +didn't want them to work. Laddie had reached through the garden +fence and hooked a bunch of red tulips and yellow daffodils. The +red was at Jo's ear, and the yellow at Ned's, and they did look +fine. So did he! Big, strong, clean, a red flower in his floppy +straw hat band; and after he drove through the gate, he began a +shrill, fifelike whistle you could have heard a half mile: + + "See the merry farmer boy, tramp the meadows through, + Swing his hoe in careless joy, while dashing off the dew. + Bobolink in maple high, trills a note of glee, + Farmer boy in gay reply now whistles cheerily." + + +The chorus was all whistle, and it was written for folks who +could. It went up until it almost split the echoes, and Laddie +could easily sail a measure above the notes. He did it too. As +for me, I kept from sight. For a week Laddie whistled and +plowed. He wore that tune threadbare, and got an almost +continuous pucker on his lips. Leon said if he didn't stop +whistling, and sing more, the girls would think he was doing a +prunes and prisms stunt. So after that he sang the words, and +whistled the chorus. But he made no excuse to go, and he didn't +go, to Pryors'. When Sunday came, he went to Westchester to see +Elizabeth, and stayed until Monday morning. Not once that week +did the Princess ride past our house, or her father either. By +noon Monday Laddie was back in the field, and I had all I could +bear. He was neither whistling nor singing so much now, because +he was away at the south end, where he couldn't be seen or heard +at Pryors'. He almost scoured the skin from him, and he wore his +gloves more carefully than usual. If he soiled his clothing in +the least, and it looked as if he would make more than his share +of work, he washed the extra pieces at night. + +Tuesday morning I hurried with all my might, and then I ran to +the field where he was. I climbed on the fence, sat there until +he came up, and then I gave him some cookies. He stopped the +horses, climbed beside me and ate them. Then he put his arms +around me and hugged me tight. + +"Laddie, do you know I did it?" I wailed. + +"Did you now?" said Laddie. "No, I didn't know for sure, but I +had suspicions. You always have had such a fondness for that +particular piece of tinware." + +"But Laddie, it means so much!" + +"Doesn't it?" said Laddie. "A few days ago no one could have +convinced me that it meant anything at all to me, or ever could. +Just look at me now!" + +"Don't joke, Laddie! Something must be done." + +"Well, ain't I doing it?" asked Laddie. "Look at all these acres +and acres of Jim-dandy plowing!" + +"Don't!" I begged. "Why don't you go over there?" + +"No use, Chicken," said Laddie. "You see her exact stipulation +was that I must CHANGE MY OCCUPATION before I came again." + +"What does she want you to do?" + +"Law, I think. Unfortunately, I showed her a letter from Jerry +asking me to enter his office this fall." + +"Hadn't you better do it, Laddie?" + +"How would you like to be shut in little, stuffy rooms, and set +to droning over books and papers every hour of the day, all your +life, and to spend the best of your brain and bodily strength +straightening out other men's quarrels?" + +"Oh Laddie, you just couldn't!" I cried. + +"Precisely!" said Laddie. "I just couldn't, and I just won't!" + +"What can you do?" + +"I might compromise on stock," he said. "I could follow the same +occupation as her father, and with better success. Neither he +nor his men get the best results from horses. They don't +understand them, especially the breeds they are attempting to +handle. Most Arab horsemen are tent dwellers. They travel from +one oasis to another with their stock. At night their herds are +gathered around them as children. As children they love them, +pet them, feed them. Each is named for a divinity, a planet or a +famous ruler, and the understanding between master and beast is +perfect. Honestly, Little Sister, I think you have got to +believe in the God of Israel, in order to say the right word to +an Arabian horse; and I know you must believe in the God of love. +A beast of that breed, jerked, kicked, and scolded is a fine +horse ruined. If I owned half the stock Mr. Pryor has over +there, I could put it in such shape for market that I could get +twice from it what his men will." + +"Are Thomas and James rough with the horses?" + +"`Like master, like man,' " quoted Laddie. "They are! They are +foolish with the Kentucky strain, and fools with the Arab; and +yet, that combination beats the world. But I must get on with +the P.C. job." + +He slid from the fence, took a drink from his water jug, and +pulled a handful of grass for each horse. As he stood feeding +them, I almost fell from the top rail. + +"Laddie!" I whispered. "Look! Mr. Pryor is halfway across the +field on Ranger." + +"So?" said Laddie. "Now I wonder----" + +"Shall I go?" + +"No indeed !" said Laddie. "Stay right where you are. It can't +be anything of much importance." + +At first it didn't seem to be. They talked about the weather, +the soil, the team. Laddie scooped a handful of black earth, and +holding it out, told Mr. Pryor all about how good it was, and +why, and he seemed interested. Then they talked about +everything; until if he had been Jacob Hood, he would have gone +away. But just at the time when I expected him to start, he +looked at Laddie straight and hard. + +"I missed you Sabbath evening," he said. + +Then I looked at him. He had changed, some way. He seemed more +human, more like our folks, less cold and stern. + +"I sincerely hope it was unanimous," said Laddie. + +Mr. Pryor had to laugh. + +"It was a majority, at any rate." + +Laddie stared dazed. You see that was kind of a joke. An easy +one, because I caught it; but we were not accustomed to expecting +a jest from Mr. Pryor. Not one of us dreamed there was a joke +between his hat crown and his boot soles. Then Laddie laughed; +but he sobered quickly. + +"I'm mighty sorry if Mrs. Pryor missed me," he said. "I thought +of her. I have grown to be her devoted slave, and I hoped she +liked me." + +"You put it mildly," said Mr. Pryor. "Since you didn't come when +she expected you, we've had the worst time with her that we have +had since we reached this da--ah--er--um--this country." + +"Could you make any suggestion?" asked Laddie. + +"I could! I would suggest that you act like the sensible fellow +I know you to be, and come as usual, at your accustomed times." + +"But I'm forbidden, man!" cried Laddie. + +Ugh! Such awful things as Mr. Pryor said. + +"Forbidden!" he cried. "Is a man's roof his own, or is it not? +While I live, I propose to be the head of my family. I invite +you! I ask you! Mrs. Pryor and I want you! What more is +necessary?" + +"TWO things," said Laddie, just as serenely. "That Miss Pryor +wants me, and that I want to come." + +"D'ye mean to tell me that you DON'T want to come, eh? After the +fight you put up to force your way in!" + +Laddie studied the sky, a whimsy smile on his lips. + +"Now wasn't that a good fight?" he inquired. "I'm mighty proud +of it! But not now, or ever, do I wish to enter your house +again, if Miss Pryor doesn't want, and welcome me." + +Then he went over, took Mr. Pryor's horse by the head, and began +working with its bridle. It didn't set right some way, and Mr. +Pryor had jerked, spurred, and mauled, until there was a big +space tramped to mortar. Laddie slid his fingers beneath the +leather, eased it a little, and ran his hands over the fretful +creature's head. It just stopped, stood still, pushed its nose +under his arm, and pressed against his side. Mr. Pryor arose in +one stirrup, swung around and alighted. He looped an arm through +the bridle rein, and with both hands gripped his whipstock. + +"How the devil do you do it?" he asked, as if he were provoked. + +"First, the bridle was uncomfortable; next, you surely know, Mr. +Pryor, that a man can transfer his mental state to his mount." + +Laddie pointed to the churned up earth. + +"THAT represents your mental state; THIS"--he slid his hand down +the neck of the horse--"portrays mine." + +Mr. Pryor's face reddened, but Laddie was laughing so heartily he +joined in sort of sickly-like. + +"Oh I doubt if you are so damnably calm!" he cried. + +"I'm CALM enough, so far as that goes," said Laddie. "I'm not +denying that I've got about all the heartache I can conveniently +carry." + +"Do you mind telling me how far this affair has gone?" + +"Wouldn't a right-minded man give the woman in the case the first +chance to answer that question? I greatly prefer that you ask +Miss Pryor." + +If ever I felt sorry for any one, I did then for Mr. Pryor. He +stood there gripping the whip with both hands and he looked +exactly as if the May wind might break him into a thousand tiny +pieces, and every one of them would be glass. + +"Um--er----" he said at last. "You're right, of course, but +unfortunately, Pamela and her mother did not agree with my +motives, or my course in coming to this country; and while there +is no outward demonstration er--um--other than Mrs. Pryor's +seclusion; yet, er--um!--I am forced to the belief that I'm NOT +in their confidence." + +"I see!" said Laddie. "And of course you love your daughter as +any man would love so beautiful a child, and when she is all he +has----" I thought the break was coming right there, but Mr. +Pryor clenched his whip and put it off; still, any one watching +with half an eye could see that it was only put off, and not for +long at that,--"It has been my idea, Mr. Pryor, that the proper +course for me was to see if I could earn any standing with your +daughter. If I could, and she gave me permission, then I +intended coming to you the instant I knew how she felt. But in +such a case as this, I don't think I shall find the slightest +hesitation in telling you anything you want to know, that I am +able." + +"You don't know how you stand with her?" + +Laddie took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. +His feet were planted widely apart, and his face was sober enough +for any funeral now. At last he spoke. + +"I've been trying to figure that out," he said slowly. "I +believe the situation is as open to you as it is to me. She was +a desperately lonely, homesick girl, when she caught my eye and +heart; and I placed myself on her horizon. In her case the women +were slow in offering friendship, because, on account of Mrs. +Pryor's seclusion, none was felt to be wanted; then Miss Pryor +was different in dress and manner. I found a way to let her see +that I wanted to be friends, and she accepted my friendship, and +at the same time allowed it go only so far. On a few rare +occasions, I've met her alone, and we've talked out various +phases of life together; but most of our intercourse has taken +place in your home, and in your presence. You probably have seen +her meet and entertain her friends frequently. I should think +you would be more nearly able to gauge my standing with her than +I am." + +"You haven't told her that you love her?" + +"Haven't I though?" cried Laddie. "Man alive! What do you think +I'm made of? Putty? Told her? I've told her a thousand times. +I've said it, and sung it and whistled it, and looked it, and +lived it. I've written it, and ridden it, and this week I've +plowed it! Your daughter knows as she knows nothing else, in all +this world, that she has only to give me one glance, one word, +one gesture of invitation, to find me before her six feet of the +worst demoralized beefsteak a woman ever undertook to handle. +Told her? Ye Gods! I should say I've told her!" + +If any of Pryors had been outdoors they certainly could have +heard Mr. Pryor. How he laughed! He shook until he tottered. +Laddie took his arm and led him to the fence. He lifted a broad +top rail, pushed it between two others across a corner and made a +nice comfortable seat for him. After a while Mr. Pryor wiped his +eyes. Laddie stood watching him with a slow grin on his face. + +"And she hasn't given the signal you are waiting for?" he asked +at last. + +Laddie slowly shook his head. + +"Nary the ghost of a signal!" he said. "Now we come to Sunday +before last. I only intimated, vaguely, that a hint of where I +stood would be a comfort--and played Jonah. The whale swallowed +me at a gulp, and for all my inches, never batted an eye. You +see, a few days before I showed her a letter from my brother +Jerry, because I thought it might interest her. There was +something in it to which I had paid little or no attention, about +my going to the city and beginning work in his law office; to cap +that, evidently you had mentioned before her our prize piece of +family tinware. There was a culmination like a thunder clap in a +January sky. She said everything that was on her mind about a +man of my size and ability doing the work I am, and then she said +I must change my occupation before I came again." + +"And for answer you've split the echoes with some shrill, +abominable air, and plowed, before her very eyes, for a week!" + +Then Laddie laughed. + +"Do you know," he said; "that's a good one on me! It never +occurred to me that she would not be familiar with that air, and +understand its application. Do you mean to crush me further by +telling me that all my perfectly lovely vocalizing and whistling +was lost?" + +"It was a dem irritating, challenging sort of thing," said Mr. +Pryor. "I listened to it by the hour, myself, trying to make out +exactly what it did mean. It seemed to combine defiance with +pleading, and through and over all ran a note of glee that was +really quite charming." + +"You have quoted a part of it, literally," said Laddie. "`A note +of glee'--the cry of a glad heart, at peace with all the world, +busy with congenial work." + +"I shouldn't have thought you'd have been so particularly +joyful." + +"Oh, the joy was in the music," said Laddie. "That was a whistle +to keep up my courage. The joy was in the song, not in me! Last +week was black enough for me to satisfy the most exacting +pessimist." + +"I wish you might have seen the figure you cut! That fine team, +flower bedecked, and the continuous concert!" + +"But I did!" cried Laddie. "We have mirrors. That song can't be +beaten. I know this team is all right, and I'm not dwarfed or +disfigured. That was the pageant of summer passing in review. +It represented the tilling of the soil; the sowing of seed, +garnering to come later. You buy corn and wheat, don't you? +They are vastly necessary. Much more so than the settling of +quarrels that never should have taken place. Do you think your +daughter found the spectacle at all moving?" + +"Damn you, sir, what I should do, is to lay this whip across your +shoulders!" cried Mr. Pryor. + +But if you will believe it, he was laughing again. + +"I prefer that you don't," said Laddie, "or on Ranger either. +See how he likes being gentled." + +Then he straightened and drew a deep breath. + +"Mr. Pryor," he said, "as man to man, I have got this to say to +you--and you may use your own discretion about repeating it to +your daughter: I can offer her six feet of as sound manhood as +you can find on God's footstool. I never in my whole life have +had enough impure blood in my body to make even one tiny eruption +on my skin. I never have been ill a day in my life. I never +have touched a woman save as I lifted and cared for my mother, +and hers, or my sisters. As to my family and education she can +judge for herself. I offer her the first and only love of my +heart. She objects to farming, because she says it is dirty, +offensive work. There are parts of it that are dirty. Thank +God, it only soils the body, and that can be washed. To delve +and to dive into, and to study and to brood over the bigger half +of the law business of any city is to steep your brain in, and +smirch your soul with, such dirt as I would die before I'd make +an occupation of touching. Will you kindly tell her that word +for word, and that I asked you to?" + +Mr. Pryor was standing before I saw him rise. He said those +awful words again, but between them he cried: "You're right! +It's the truth! It's the eternal truth!" + +"It IS the truth," said Laddie. "I've only to visit the offices, +and examine the business of those of my family living by law, to +KNOW that it's the truth. Of course there's another side! There +are times when there are great opportunities to do good; I +recognize that. To some these may seem to overbalance that to +which I object. If they do, all right. I am merely deciding for +myself. Once and for all, for me it is land. It is born in me +to love it, to handle it easily, to get the best results from +stock. I am going to take the Merriweather place adjoining ours +on the west, and yours on the south. I intend to lease it for +ten years, with purchase privilege at the end, so that if I make +of it what I plan, my work will not be lost to me. I had thought +to fix up the place and begin farming. If Miss Pryor has any use +whatever for me, and prefers stock, that is all right with me. +I'll go into the same business she finds suitable for you. I can +start in a small way and develop. I can afford a maid for her +from the beginning, but I couldn't clothe her as she has been +accustomed to being dressed, for some time. I would do my best, +however. I know what store my mother sets by being well gowned. +And as a husband, I can offer your daughter as loving +consideration as woman ever received at the hands of man. +Provided by some miracle I could win her consent, would you even +consider me, and such an arrangement?" + +"Frankly sir," said Mr. Pryor, "I have reached the place where I +would be----" whenever you come to a long black line like that, +it means that he just roared a lot of words father never said, +and never will--"glad to! To tell the truth, the thing you +choose to jestingly refer to as `tinware'--I hope later to +convince of the indelicacy of such allusion--would place you in +England on a social level above any we ever occupied, or could +hope to. Your education equals ours. You are a physical +specimen to be reckoned with, and I believe what you say of +yourself. There's something so clean and manly about you, it +amounts to confirmation. A woman should set her own valuation on +that; and the height of it should correspond with her knowledge +of the world." + +"Thank you!" said Laddie. "You are more than kind! more than +generous!" + +"As to the arrangements you could make for Pamela," said Mr. +Pryor, "she's all we have. Everything goes to her, ultimately. +She has her stipulated allowance now; whether in my house or +yours, it would go with her. Surely you wouldn't be so callous +as to object to our giving her anything that would please us!" + +"Why should I?" asked Laddie. "That's only natural on your part. + +Your child is your child; no matter where or what it is, you +expect to exercise a certain amount of loving care over it. My +father and mother constantly send things to their children absent +from home, and they take much pleasure in doing it. That is +between you and your daughter, of course. I shouldn't think of +interfering. But in the meantime, unless Miss Pryor has been +converted to the beauties of plowing through my continuous +performance of over a week, I stand now exactly where I did +before, so far as she is concerned. If you and Mrs. Pryor have +no objection to me, if you feel that you could think of me, or +find for me any least part of a son's place in your hearts, I +believe I should know how to appreciate it, and how to go to work +to make myself worthy of it." + +Mr. Pryor sat down so suddenly, the rail almost broke. I thought +the truth was, that he had heart trouble, himself. He stopped +up, choked on things, flopped around, and turned so white. I +suppose he thought it was womanish, and a sign of weakness. and +so he didn't tell, but I bet anything that he had it--bad! + +"I'll try to make the little fool see!" he said. + +"Gently, gently! You won't help me any in that mood," said +Laddie. "The chances are that Miss Pryor repeated what she heard +from you long ago, and what she knows you think and feel, unless +you've changed recently." + +"That's the amount of it!" cried Mr. Pryor. "All my life I've +had a lot of beastly notions in my head about rank, and class, +and here they don't amount to a damn! There's no place for them. +Things are different. Your mother, a grand, good woman, opened +my eyes to many things recently, and I get her viewpoint-- +clearly, and I agree with her, and with you, sir!--I agree with +you!" + +"I am more than glad," said Laddie. "You certainly make a friend +at court. Thank you very much!" + +"And you will come----?" + +"The instant Miss Pryor gives me the slightest sign that I am +wanted, and will be welcomed by her, I'll come like a Dakota +blizzard! Flos can hump herself on time for once." + +"But you won't come until she does?" + +"Man alive! I can't!" cried Laddie. "Your daughter said +positively exactly what she meant. It was unexpected and it hit +me so hard I didn't try to argue. I simply took her at her word, +her very explicit word." + +"Fool!" cried Mr. Pryor. "The last thing on earth any woman ever +wants or expects is for a man to take her at her word." + +"What?" cried Laddie. + +"She had what she said in her mind of course, but what she wanted +was to be argued out of it! She wanted to be convinced!" + +"I think not! She was entirely too convincing herself," said +Laddie. "It's my guess that she has thought matters over, and +that her mind is made up; but I would take it as a mighty big +favour if you would put that little piece of special pleading +squarely up to her. Will you?" + +"Yes," said Mr. Pryor, "I will. I'll keep cool and do my best, +but I am so unfortunate in my temper. I could manage slaves +better than women. This time I'll be calm, and reason things out +with her, or I'll blow out my brains." + +"Don't you dare!" laughed Laddie. "You and I are going to get +much pleasure, comfort and profit from this world, now that we +have come to an understanding." + +Mr. Pryor arose and held out his hand. Laddie grasped it tight, +and they stood there looking straight at each other, while a lark +on the fence post close by cried, "Spring o' ye-ar !" at them, +over and over, but they never paid the least attention. + +"You see," said Mr. Pryor, "I've been thinking things over +deeply, deeply! ever since talking with your mother. I've cut +myself off from going back to England, by sacrificing much of my +property in hasty departure, if by any possibility I should ever +want to return, and there is none, not the slightest! There's no +danger of any one crossing the sea, and penetrating to this +particular spot so far inland; we won't be molested! And +lately--lately, despite the rawness, and the newness, there is +something about the land that takes hold, after all. I should +dislike leaving now! I found in watching some roots your mother +gave me, that I wanted them to grow, that I very much hoped they +would develop, and beautify our place with flowers, as yours is. +I find myself watching them, watching them daily, and oftener, +and there seems to be a sort of home feeling creeping around my +heart. I wish Pamela would listen to reason! I wish she would +marry you soon! I wish there would be little children. Nothing +else on earth would come so close to comforting my wife, and me +also. Nothing! Go ahead, lad, plow away! I'll put your special +pleading up to the girl." + +He clasped Laddie's hand, mounted and rode back to the gate he +had entered when he came. Laddie sat on the rail, so I climbed +down beside him. He put his arm around me. + +"Do I feel any better?" he asked dubiously. + +"Of course you do!" I said stoutly. "You feel whole heaps, and +stacks, and piles better. You haven't got him to fight any more, +or Mrs. Pryor. It's now only to convince the Princess about how +it's all right to plow." + +"Small matter, that!" said Laddie. "And easy! Just as simple +and easy!" + +"Have you asked the Fairies to help you?" + +"Aye, aye, sir," said Laddie. "Also the winds, the flowers, the +birds and the bees! I have asked everything on earth to help me +except you, Little Sister. I wonder if I have been making a +mistake there?" + +"Are you mad at me, Laddie?" + +"'Cause for why?" + +"About the old crest thing!" + +"Forget it!" laughed Laddie. "I have. And anyway, in the long +run, I must be honest enough to admit that it may have helped. +It seems to have had its influence with Mr. Pryor, no doubt it +worked the same on Mrs. Pryor, and it may be that it was because +she had so much more to bank on than she ever expected, that the +Princess felt emboldened to make her demand. It may be, you +can't tell! Anyway, it's very evident that it did no real harm. +And forget my jesting, Chicken. A man can't always cry because +there are tears in his heart. I think quite as much of that +crest as you do. In the sum of human events, it is a big thing. +No one admires a Crusader more than I. No one likes a good fight +better. No Crusader ever put up a stiffer battle than I have in +the past week while working in these fields. Every inch of them +is battlefield, every furrow a separate conflict. Gaze upon the +scene of my Waterloo! When June covers it with green, it will +wave over the resting place of my slain heart!" + +"Oh Laddie!" I sobbed. "There you go again! How can you?" + +"Whoo-pee!" cried Laddie. "That's the question! How can I? Got +to, Little Sister! There's no other way." + +"No," I was forced to admit, "there isn't. What are we going to +do now?" + +"Life-saver, we'll now go to dinner," said Laddie. "Nothing +except the partnership implied in `we' sustains me now. YOU'LL +FIND A WAY TO HELP ME OUT, WON'T YOU, LITTLE SISTER?" + +"OF COURSE I WILL!" I promised, without ever stopping a minute to +think what kind of a job that was going to be. + +Did you ever wish with all your might that something would +happen, and wait for it, expect it, and long for it, and nothing +did, until it grew so bad, it seemed as if you had to go on +another minute you couldn't bear it? Now I thought when Mr. +Pryor talked to her, maybe she'd send for Laddie that very same +night; but send nothing! She didn't even ride on our road any +more. Of course her father had made a botch of it! Bet I could +have told her Laddie's message straighter than he did. I could +think it over, and see exactly how he'd do. He'd talk nicely +about one minute, and the first word she said, that he didn't +like, he'd be ranting, and using unsuitable words. Just as like +as not he told her that he'd lay his whip across her shoulders, +like he had Laddie. Any one could see that as long as she was +his daughter, she might be slightly handy with whips herself; at +least she wouldn't be likely to stand still and tell him to go +ahead and beat her. + +Sunday Laddie went to Lucy's. He said he was having a family +reunion on the installment plan. Of course we laughed, but none +of us missed the long look he sent toward Pryors' as he mounted +to start in the opposite direction. + +Everything went on. I didn't see how it could, but it did. It +even got worse, for another letter came from Shelley that made +matters concerning her no brighter, and while none of us talked +about Laddie, all of us knew mighty well how we felt; and what +was much worse, how he felt. Father and mother had quit worrying +about God; especially father. He seemed to think that God and +Laddie could be trusted to take care of the Princess, and I don't +know exactly what mother thought. No doubt she saw she couldn't +help herself, and so she decided it was useless to struggle. + +The plowing on the west side was almost finished, and some of the +seed was in. Laddie went straight ahead flower-trimmed and +whistling until his face must have ached as badly as his heart. +In spite of how hard he tried to laugh, and keep going, all of us +could see that he fairly had to stick up his head and stretch his +neck like the blue goose, to make the bites go down. And you +couldn't help seeing the roundness and the colour go from his +face, a little more every day. My! but being in love, when you +couldn't have the one you loved, was the worst of all. I wore +myself almost as thin as Laddie, hunting a Fairy to ask if she'd +help me to make the Princess let Laddie go on and plow, when he +was so crazy about it. I prayed beside my bed every night, until +the Lord must have grown so tired He quit listening to me, for I +talked right up as impressively as I knew how, and it didn't do +the least bit of good. I hadn't tried the one big prayer toward +the east yet; but I was just about to the place where I intended +to do it soon. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Laddie, the Princess, and the Pie + + "O whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad." + +Candace was baking the very first batch of rhubarb pies for the +season and the odour was so tempting I couldn't keep away from +the kitchen door. Now Candace was a splendid cook about chicken +gizzards--the liver was always mother's--doughnuts and tarts, but +I never really did believe she would cut into a fresh rhubarb +pie, even for me. As I reached for the generous big piece I +thought of Laddie poor Laddie, plowing away at his Crusader +fight, and not a hint of victory. No one in the family liked +rhubarb pie better than he did. I knew there was no use to ask +for a plate. + +"Wait--oh wait!" I cried. + +I ran to the woodshed, pulled a shining new shingle from a bale +stacked there, and held it for Candace. Then I slipped around +the house softly. I didn't want to run any one's errands that +morning. I laid the pie on the horseblock and climbed the +catalpa carefully, so as not to frighten my robins. They were +part father's too, because robins were his favourite birds; he +said their song through and after rain was the sweetest music on +earth, and mostly he was right; so they were not all my robins, +but they were most mine after him; and I owned the tree. I +hunted the biggest leaf I could see, and wiped it clean on my +apron, although it was early for much dust. It covered the pie +nicely, because it was the proper shape, and I held the stem with +one hand to keep it in place. + + +If I had made that morning myself I couldn't have done better. +It was sunny, spring air, but it was that cool, spicy kind that +keeps you stopping every few minutes to see just how full you can +suck your lungs without bursting. It seemed to wash right +through and through and make you all over. The longer you +breathed it the clearer your head became, and the better you +felt, until you would be possessed to try and see if you really +couldn't fly. I tried that last summer, and knocked myself into +jelly. You'd think once would have been enough, but there I was +going down the road with Laddie's pie, and wanting with all my +heart to try again. + +Sometimes I raced, but I was a little afraid the pie would shoot +from the shingle and it was like pulling eye teeth to go fast +that morning. I loved the soft warm dust, that was working up on +the road. Spat! Spat! I brought down my bare feet, already +scratched and turning brown, and laughed to myself at the velvety +feel of it. There were little puddles yet, where May and I had +"dipped and faded" last fall, and it was fun to wade them. The +roadsides were covered with meadow grass and clover that had +slipped through the fence. On slender green blades, in spot +after spot, twinkled the delicate bloom of blue-eyed grass. +Never in all this world was our Big Creek lovelier. It went +slipping, and whispering, and lipping, and lapping over the +stones, tugging at the rushes and grasses as it washed their +feet; everything beside it was in masses of bloom, a blackbird +was gleaming and preening on every stone, as it plumed after its +bath. Oh there's no use to try--it was just SPRING when it +couldn't possibly be any better. + +But even spring couldn't hold me very long that morning, for you +see my heart was almost sick about Laddie; and if he couldn't +have the girl he wanted, at least I could do my best to comfort +him with the pie. I was going along being very careful the more +I thought about how he would like it, so I was not watching the +road so far ahead as I usually did. I always kept a lookout for +Paddy Ryan, Gypsies, or Whitmore's bull. When I came to an +unusually level place, and took a long glance ahead, my heart +turned right over and stopped still, and I looked long enough to +be sure, and then right out loud some one said, "I'll DO +something!" and as usual, I was the only one there. + +For days I'd been in a ferment, like the vinegar barrel when the +cider boils, or the yeast jar when it sets too close to the +stove. To have Laddie and the Princess separated was dreadful, +and knowing him as I did, I knew he never really would get over +it. I had tried to help once, and what I had done started things +going wrong; no wonder I was slow about deciding what to try +next. That I was going to do something, I made up my mind the +instant Laddie said he was not mad at me; that I was his partner, +and asked me to help; but exactly WHAT would do any good, took +careful thought. + +Here was my chance coming right at me. She was far up the road, +riding Maud like racing. I began to breathe after a while, like +you always do, no matter how you are worked up, and with my brain +whirling, I went slowly toward her. How would I manage to stop +her? Or what could I say that would help Laddie? I was shaking, +and that's the truth; but through and over it all, I was watching +her too. I only wish you might have seen her that morning. Of +course the morning was part of it. A morning like that would +make a fence post better looking. Half a mile away you could see +she was tipsy with spring as I was, or the song sparrows, or the +crazy babbling old bobolinks on the stakes and riders. She made +such a bright splash against the pink fence row, with her dark +hair, flushed cheeks, and red lips, she took my breath. Father +said she was the loveliest girl in three counties, and Laddie +stretched that to the whole world. As she came closer, smash! +through me went the thought that she looked precisely as Shelley +had at Christmas time; and Shelley had been that way because she +was in love with the Paget man. Now if the Princess was gleaming +and flashing like that, for the same reason, there wasn't any one +for her to love so far as I knew, except Laddie. + +Then smash! came another thought. She HAD to love him! She +couldn't help herself. She had all winter, all last summer, and +no one but themselves knew how long before that, and where was +there any other man like Laddie? Of course she loved him! Who +so deserving of love? Who else had his dancing eyes of deep +tender blue, cheeks so pink, teeth so white, such waving chestnut +hair, and his height and breadth? There was no other man who +could ride, swim, leap, and wrestle as he could. None who could +sing the notes, do the queer sums with letters having little +figures at the corners in the college books, read Latin as fast +as English, and even the Greek Bible. Of course she loved him! +Every one did! Others might plod and meander, Laddie walked the +tired, old road that went out of sight over the hill, with as +prideful a step as any king; his laugh was as merry as the song +of the gladdest thrush, while his touch was so gentle that when +mother was in dreadful pain I sometimes thought she would a +little rather have him hold her than father. + +Now, he was in this fearful trouble, the colour was going from +his face, his laugh was a little strained, and the heartache +almost more than he could endure--and there she came! I stepped +squarely in the middle of the road so she would have to stop or +ride over me, and when she was close, I stood quite still. I was +watching with my eyes, heart, and brain, and I couldn't see that +she was provoked, as she drew rein and cried: "Good morning, +Little Queer Person!" + +I had supposed she would say Little Sister, she had for ages, +just like Laddie, but she must have thought it was queer for me +to stop her that way, so she changed. I was in for it. I had +her now, so I smiled the very sweetest smile that I could think +up in such a hurry, and said, "Good morning," the very politest I +ever did in all my life. Then I didn't know what to do next, but +she helped me out. + +"What have you there?" she asked. + +"It's a piece of the very first rhubarb pie for this spring, and +I'm carrying it to Laddie," I said, as I lifted the catalpa leaf +and let her peep, just to show her how pie looked when it was +right. I bet she never saw a nicer piece. + +The Princess slid her hand down Maud's neck to quiet her +prancing, and leaned in the saddle, her face full of interest. I +couldn't see a trace of anything to discourage me; her being on +our road again looked favourable. She seemed to think quite as +much of that pie as I did. She was the finest little +thoroughbred. She understood so well, I was sorry I couldn't +give it to her. It made her mouth water all right, for she drew +a deep breath that sort of quivered; but it was no use, she +didn't get that pie. + +"I think it looks delicious," she said. "Are you carrying it for +Candace?" + +"No! She gave it to me. It's my very own." + +"And you're doing without it yourself to carry it to Laddie, I'll +be bound!" cried the Princess. + +"I'd much rather," I said. + +"Do you love Laddie so dearly?" she asked. + +My heart was full of him right then; I forgot all about when I +had the fever, and as I never had been taught to lie, I told her +what I thought was the truth, and I guess it WAS: "Best of any +one in all this world!" + +The Princess looked across the field, where she must have seen +him finishing the plowing, and thought that over, and I waited, +sure in my mind, for some reason, that she would not go for a +little while longer. + +"I have been wanting to see you," she said at last. "In fact I +think I came this way hoping I'd meet you. Do you know the words +to a tune that goes like this?" + +Then she began to whistle "The Merry Farmer Boy." I wish you +might have heard the flourishes she put to it. + +"Of course I do," I answered. "All of us were brought up on it." + +"Well, I have some slight curiosity to learn what they are," she +said. "Would you kindly repeat them for me?" + +"Yes," I said. "This is the first verse: + +"`See the merry farmer boy tramp the meadows through, + Swing his hoe in careless joy while dashing off the dew. + Bobolink in maple high----' + +"Of course you can see for yourself that they're not. There +isn't a single one of them higher than a fence post. The person +who wrote the piece had to put it that way so high would rhyme +with reply, which is coming in the next line." + +"I see!" said the Princess. + + "`Bobolink in maple high, trills a note of glee + Farmer boy a gay reply now whistles cheerily.' + + +"Then you whistle the chorus like you did it." + +"You do indeed!" said the Princess. "Proceed!" + +"`Then the farmer boy at noon, rests beneath the shade, + Listening to the ceaseless tune that's thrilling through + the glade. + Long and loud the harvest fly winds his bugle round, + Long, and loud, and shrill, and high, he whistles back + the sound.'" + + +"He does! He does indeed! I haven't a doubt about that!" cried +the Princess. "`Long, and loud, and shrill, and high,' he +whistles over and over the sound, until it becomes maddening. Is +that all of that melodious, entrancing production?" + +"No, evening comes yet. The last verse goes this way: + +"`When the busy day's employ, ends at dewy eve, + Then the happy farmer boy, doth haste his work to leave, + Trudging down the quiet lane, climbing o'er the hill, + Whistling back the changeless wail, of plaintive + + whip-poor-will,'-- + +and then you do the chorus again, and if you know how well enough +you whistle in, `whip-poor-will,' 'til the birds will answer you. +Laddie often makes them." + +"My life!" cried the Princess. "Was that he doing those bird +cries? Why, I hunted, and hunted, and so did father. We'd never +seen a whip-poor-will. Just fancy us!" + +"If you'd only looked at Laddie," I said. + +"My patience!" cried the Princess. "Looked at him! There was no +place to look without seeing him. And that ear-splitting thing +will ring in my head forever, I know." + +"Did he whistle it too high to suit you, Princess?" + +"He was perfectly welcome to whistle as he chose," she said, "and +also to plow with the carriage horses, and to bedeck them and +himself with the modest, shrinking red tulip and yellow +daffodil." + +Now any one knows that tulips and daffodils are NOT modest and +shrinking. If any flowers just blaze and scream colour clear +across a garden, they do. She was provoked, you could see that. + +"Well, he only did it to please you," I said. "He didn't care +anything about it. He never plowed that way before. But you +said he mustn't plow at all, and he just had to plow, there was +no escaping that, so he made it as fine and happy as possible to +show you how nicely it could be done." + +"Greatly obliged, I'm sure!" cried the Princess. "He showed me! +He certainly did! And so he feels that there's `no escaping' +plowing, does he?" + +Then I knew where I was. I'd have given every cent of mine in +father's chest till, if mother had been in my place. Once, for a +second, I thought I'd ask the Princess to go with me to the +house, and let mother tell her how it was; but if she wouldn't +go, and rode away, I felt I couldn't endure it, and anyway, she +had said she was looking for me; so I gripped the shingle, dug in +my toes and went at her just as nearly like mother talked to her +father as I could remember, and I'd been put through memory +tests, and descriptive tests, nearly every night of my life, so I +had most of it as straight as a string. + +"Well, you see, he CAN'T escape it," I said. "He'd do anything +in all this world for you that he possibly could; but there are +some things no man CAN do." + +"I didn't suppose there was anything you thought Laddie couldn't +do," she said. + +"A little time back, I didn't," I answered. "But since he took +the carriage horses, trimmed up in flowers, and sang and whistled +so bravely, day after day, when his heart was full of tears, why +I learned that there was something he just COULDN'T DO; NOT TO +SAVE HIS LIFE, OR HIS LOVE, OR EVEN TO SAVE YOU." + +"And of course you don't mind telling me what that is?" coaxed +the Princess in her most wheedling tones. + +"Not at all! He told our family, and I heard him tell your +father. The thing he can't do, not even to win you, is to be +shut up in a little office, in a city, where things roar, and +smell, and nothing is like this----" + +I pointed out the orchard, hill, and meadow, so she looked where +I showed her--looked a long time. + +"No, a city wouldn't be like this," she said slowly. + +"And that isn't even the beginning," I said. "Maybe he could +bear that, men have been put in prison and lived through years +and years of it, perhaps Laddie could too; I doubt it! but anyway +the worst of it is that he just couldn't, not even to save you, +spend all the rest of his life trying to settle other people's +old fusses. He despises a fuss. Not one of us ever in our lives +have been able to make him quarrel, even one word. He simply +won't. And if he possibly could be made to by any one on earth, +Leon would have done it long ago, for he can start a fuss with +the side of a barn. But he can't make Laddie fuss, and nobody +can. He NEVER would at school, or anywhere. Once in a while if +a man gets so overbearing that Laddie simply can't stand it, he +says: `Now, you'll take your medicine!' Then he pulls off his +coat, and carefully, choosing the right spots, he just pounds the +breath out of that man, but he never stops smiling, and when he +helps him up he always says: `Sorry! hope you'll excuse me, but +you WOULD have it.' That's what he said about you, that you had +to take your medicine----" + +I made a mistake there. That made her too mad for any use. + +"Oh," she cried, "I do? I'll jolly well show the gentleman!" + +"Oh, you needn't take the trouble," I cried. "He's showing you!" + +She just blazed like she'd break into flame. Any one could fuss +with her all right; but that was the last thing on earth I wanted +to do. + +"You see he already knows about you," I explained as fast as I +could talk, for I was getting into an awful mess. "You see he +knows that you want him to be a lawyer, and that he must quit +plowing before he can be more than friends with you. That's what +he's plowing for! If it wasn't for that, probably he wouldn't; +be plowing at all. He asked father to let him, and he borrowed +mother's horses, and he hooked the flowers through the fence. +Every night when he comes home, he kneels beside mother and asks +her if he is `repulsive,' and she takes him in her arms and the +tears roll down her cheeks and she says: `Father has farmed all +his life, and you know how repulsive he is.'" + +I ventured an upward peep. I was doing better. Her temper +seemed to be cooling, but her face was a jumble. I couldn't find +any one thing on it that would help me, so I just stumbled ahead +guessing at what to say. + +"He didn't WANT to do it. He perfectly HATED it. Those fields +were his Waterloo. Every furrow was a FIGHT, but he was FORCED +to show you." + +"Exactly WHAT was he trying to show me?" + +"I can think of three things he told me," I answered. "That +plowing could be so managed as not to disfigure the +landscape----" + +"The dunce!" she said. + +"That he could plow or do dirtier work, and not be repulsive----" + +"The idiot!" she said. + +"That if he came over there, and plowed right under your nose, +when you'd told him he mustn't, or he couldn't be more than +friends; and when you knew that he'd much rather die and be laid +beside the little sisters up there in the cemetery than to NOT be +more than friends, why, you'd see, if he did THAT, he couldn't +help it, that he just MUST. That he was FORCED----" + +"The soldier!" she said. + +"Oh Princess, he didn't want to!" I cried. "He tells me secrets +he doesn't any one else, unless you. He told me how he hated it; +but he just had to do it." + +"Do you know WHY?" + +"Of course! It's the way he's MADE! Father is like that! He +has chances to live in cities, make big business deals, and go to +the legislature at Indianapolis; I've seen his letters from his +friend Oliver P. Morton, our Governor, you know; they're in his +chest till now; but father can't do it, because he is made so he +stays at home and works for us, and this farm, and township, and +county where he belongs. He says if all men will do that the +millennium will come to-morrow. I 'spose you know what the +millennium is?" + +"I do!" said the Princess. "But I don't know what your father +and his friend Oliver P. Morton have to do with Laddie." + +"Why, everything on earth! Laddie is father's son, you see, and +he is made like father. None of our other boys is. Not one of +them loves land. Leon is going away as quick as ever he finishes +college; but the more you educate Laddie, the better he likes to +make things grow, the more he loves to make the world beautiful, +to be kind to every one, to gentle animals--why, the biggest +fight he ever had, the man he whipped 'til he most couldn't bring +him back again, was one who kicked his horse in the stomach. +Gee, I thought he'd killed him! Laddie did too for a while, but +he only said the man deserved it." + +"And so he did!" cried the Princess angrily. "How beastly!" + +"That's one reason Laddie sticks so close to land. He says he +doesn't meet nearly so many two-legged beasts in the country. +Almost every time he goes to town he either gets into a fight or +he sees something that makes him fighting mad. Princess, you +think this beautiful, don't you?" + +I just pointed anywhere. All the world was in it that morning. +You couldn't look right or left and not see lovely places, hear +music, and smell flowers. + +"Yes! It is altogether wonderful!" she said. + +"Would you like to live among this all your life, and have your +plans made to fix you a place even nicer, and then be forced to +leave it and go to a little room in the city, and make all the +money you earned off of how much other men fight over business, +and land and such perfectly awful things, that they always have +to be whispered when Jerry tells about them? Would you?" + +"You little dunce!" she cried. + +"I know I'm a fool. I know I'm not telling you a single thing I +should! Maybe I'm hurting Laddie far more than I'm helping him, +and if I am, I wish I would die before I see him; but oh! +Princess, I'm trying with all my might to make you understand how +he feels. He WANTS to do every least thing you'd like him to. +He will, almost any thing else in the world, he would this-- he +would in a minute, but he just CAN'T. All of us know he can't! +If you'd lived with him since he was little and always had known +him, you wouldn't ask him to; you wouldn't want him to! You +don't know what you're doing! Mother says you don't! You'll +kill him if you send him to the city to live, you just will! You +are doing it now! He's getting thinner and whiter every day. +Don't! Oh please don't do it!" + +The Princess was looking at the world. She was gazing at it so +dazed-like she seemed to be surprised at what she saw. She acted +as if she'd never really seen it before. She looked and she +looked. She even turned her horse a full circle to see all of +it, and she went around slowly. I stepped from one foot to the +other and sweat; but I kept quiet and let her look. At last when +she came around, she glanced down at me, and she was all melted, +and lovely as any one you ever saw, exactly like Shelley at +Christmas, and she said: "I don't think I ever saw the world +before. I don't know that I'm so crazy about a city myself, and +I perfectly hate lawyers. Come to thing of it, a lawyer helped +work ruin in our family, and I never have believed, I never will +believe----" + +She stopped talking and began looking again. I gave her all the +time she needed. I was just straining to be wise, for mother +says it takes the very wisest person there is to know when to +talk, and when to keep still. As I figured it, now was the time +not to say another word until she made up her mind about what I +had told her already. If Pryors didn't know what we thought of +them by that time, it wasn't mother's fault or mine. As she +studied things over she kept on looking. What she saw seemed to +be doing her a world of good. Her face showed it every second +plainer and plainer. Pretty soon it began to look like she was +going to come through as Amos Hurd did when he was redeemed. +Then, before my very eyes, it happened! I don't know how I ever +held on to the pie or kept from shouting, "Praise the Lord!" as +father does at the Meeting House when he is happiest. Then she +leaned toward me all wavery, and shining eyed, and bloomful, and +said: "Did you ever hurt Laddie's feelings, and make him angry +and sad?" + +"I'm sure I never did," I answered. + +"But suppose you had! What would you do?" + +"Do? Why, I'd go to him on the run, and I'd tell him I never +intended to hurt his feelings, and how sorry I was, and I'd give +him the very best kiss I could." + +The Princess stroked Maud's neck a long time and thought while +she studied our farm, theirs beyond it, and at the last, the far +field where Laddie was plowing. She thought, and thought, and +afraid to cheep, I stood gripping the shingle and waited. +Finally she said: "The last time Laddie was at our house, I said +to him those things he repeated to you. He went away at once, +hurt and disappointed. Now, if you like, along with your +precious pie, you may carry him this message from me. You may +tell him that I said I am sorry!" + +I could have cried "Glory!" and danced and shouted there in the +road, but I didn't. It was no time to lose my head. That was +all so fine and splendid, as far as it went, but it didn't quite +cover the case. I never could have done it for myself; but for +Laddie I would venture anything, so I looked her in the eyes, +straight as a dart, and said: "He'd want the kiss too, +Princess!" + +You could see her stiffen in the saddle and her fingers grip the +reins, but I kept on staring right into her eyes. + +"I could come up, you know," I offered. + +A dull red flamed in her cheeks and her lips closed tight. One +second she sat very still, then a dancing light leaped sparkling +into her eyes; a flock of dimples chased each other around her +lips like swallows circling their homing place at twilight. + +"What about that wonderful pie?" she asked me. + +I ran to the nearest fence corner, and laid the shingle on the +gnarled roots of a Johnny Appleseed apple tree. Then I set one +foot on the arch of the Princess' instep and held up my hands. +One second I thought she would not lift me, the next I was on her +level and her lips met mine in a touch like velvet woven from +threads of flame. Then with a turn of her stout little wrist, +she dropped me, and a streak went up our road. Nothing so +amazing and so important ever had happened to me. It was an +occasion that demanded something unusual. To cry, "Praise the +Lord!" was only to repeat an hourly phrase at our house; this +demanded something out of the ordinary, so I said just exactly as +father did the day the brown mare balked with the last load of +seed clover, when a big storm was breaking--"Jupiter Ammon!" + +When I had calmed down so I could, I climbed the fence, and +reached through a crack for the pie. As I followed the cool, +damp furrow, and Laddie's whistle, clear as the lark's above the +wheat, thrilled me, I was almost insane with joy. Just joy! +Pure joy! Oh what a good world it was!--most of the time! Most +of the time! Of course, there WERE Paget men in it. But anyway, +THIS couldn't be beaten. I had a message for Laddie from the +Princess that would send him to the seventh heaven, wherever that +was; no one at our house spent any time thinking farther than the +first one. I had her kiss, that I didn't know what would do to +him, and I also had a big piece of juicy rhubarb pie not yet +entirely cold. If that didn't wipe out the trouble I had made +showing the old crest thing, nothing ever could. I knew even +then, that men were pretty hard to satisfy, but I was quite +certain that Laddie would be satisfied that morning. As I +hurried along I wondered whether it would be better to give him +my gift first, or the Princess'. I decided that joy would keep, +while the pie was cold enough, with all the time I had stopped; +and if I told him about her first, maybe he wouldn't touch it at +all, and it wasn't so easy as it looked to carry it to him and +never even once stick in my finger for the tiniest lick--joy +would keep; but I was going to feed him; so with shining face, I +offered the pie and stood back to see just how happy I could get. + +"Mother send it?" asked Laddie. + +People were curious that morning, as if I had a habit of stealing +pie. I only took pieces of cut ones from the cellar when mother +didn't care. So I explained again that Candace gave it to me, +and I was free to bring it. + +"Oh I see!" said Laddie. + +After nearly two weeks of work, the grays had sobered down enough +to stand without tying; so he wound the lines around the plow +handle, sat on the beam, and laid aside his hat, having a fresh +flower in the band. Once he started a thing, he just simply +wouldn't give up. He unbuttoned his neckband until I could see +his throat where it was white like a woman's, took out his knife +and ate that pie. Of course we knew better than to use a knife +at the table, but there was no other way in the field. He ate +that pie, slowly and deliberately, and between bites he talked. +I watched him with a wide grin, wondering what in this world he +WOULD say, in a minute. I don't think I ever had quite such a +good time in all my life before, and I never expect to again. He +was saying: "Talk about nectar and ambrosia! Talk about the +feasts of Lucullus! Talk about food for the Gods!" + +I put on his hat, sat on the ground in front of him, and was the +happiest girl in the world, of that I am quite sure. When the +last morsel was finished, Laddie looked at me steadily. + +"I wonder," he said, "I wonder if there's another man in the +world who is blest with quite such a loving, unselfish little +sister as mine?" Then he answered himself: "No! By all the +Gods, ant half-Gods, I swear it--No!" + +It was grand as a Fourth of July oration or the most exciting +part when the Bishop dedicated our church. I couldn't hold in +another second, I could hear my heart beat. + +"Oh Laddie!" I shouted, jumping up, "that pie is only the +beginning of the good things I have brought you. I have a +message, and a gift besides, Laddie!" + +"A message and a gift?" Laddie repeated. "What! More?" + +"Truly I have a message and a gift for you," I cried, "and +Laddie--they are from the Princess!" + +His eyes raised to mine now, and slowly he turned Sabethany-like. + +"From the Princess!" he exclaimed. "A message and a gift for me, +Little Sister? You never would let Leon put you up to serve me a +trick?" + +That hurt. He should have KNOWN I wouldn't, and besides, "Leon +feels just as badly about this as any of us," I said. "Have you +forgotten he offered to plow, and let you do the clean, easy +work?" + +"Forgive me! I'm overanxious," said Laddie, his arms reaching +for me. "Go on and tell carefully, and if you truly love me, +don't make a mistake!" + +Crowding close, my arms around his neck, his crisp hair against +my lips, I whispered my story softly, for this was such a fine +and splendid secret, that not even the shining blackbirds, and +the pert robins in the furrows were going to get to hear a word +of it. Before I had finished Laddie was breathing as Flos does +when he races her the limit. He sat motionless for a long time, +while over his face slowly crept a beauty that surpassed that of +Apollo in his Greek book. + +"And her gift?" + +It was only a breath. + +"She helped me up, and she sent you this," I answered. + +Then I set my lips on his, and held them there a second, trying +my level best to give him her very kiss, but of course I could +only try. + +"Oh, Laddie," I cried. "Her eyes were like when stars shine down +in our well! Her cheeks were like mother's damask roses! She +smelled like flowers, and when her lips touched mine little +stickers went all over me!" + +Then Laddie's arms closed around me and I thought sure every bone +in my body was going to be broken; when he finished there wasn't +a trace of that kiss left for me. Remembering it would be all +I'd ever have. It made me see what would have happened to the +Princess if she had been there; and it was an awful pity for her +to miss it, because he'd sober down a lot before he reached her, +but I was sure as shooting that he wouldn't be so crazy as to +kiss her hands again. Peter wasn't a patching to him! + +That night Laddie rode to Pryors'. When he brought Flos to the +gate you could see the shadow of your face on her shining flank; +her mane and tail were like ravelled silk, her hoofs bright as +polished horn, and her muzzle was clean as a ribbon. I broke one +of those rank green sprouts from the snowball bush and brushed +away the flies, so she wouldn't fret, stamp, and throw dust on +herself. Then Laddie came, fresh from a tubbing, starched linen, +dressed in his new riding suit, and wearing top hat and +gauntlets. He looked the very handsomest I ever had seen him; +and at the same time, he seemed trembling with tenderness, and +bursting with power. Goodness sake! I bet the Princess took one +good look and "came down" like Davy Crockett's coon. Mother was +on his arm and she walked clear to the gate with him. + +"LADDIE, ARE YOU SURE ENOUGH TO GO?" I heard her ask him whisper- +like. + +"SURE AS DEATH!" Laddie answered. + +Mother looked, and she had to see how it was with him; no doubt +she saw more than I did from having been through it herself, so +she smiled kind of a half-sad, half-glad smile. Then she turned +to her damask rose bush, the one Lucy brought her from the city, +and that she was so precious about, that none of us dared touch +it, and she searched all over it and carefully selected the most +perfect rose. When she borrowed Laddie's knife and cut the stem +as long as my arm, I knew exactly how great and solemn the +occasion was; for always before about six inches had been her +limit. She held it toward him, smiling bravely and beautifully, +but the tears were running straight down her cheeks. + +"Take it to her," she said. "I think, my son, it is very like." + +Laddie took her in his arms and wiped away the tears; he told her +everything would come out all right about God, and the mystery, +even. Then he picked me clear off the ground, and he tried to +see how near he could come to cracking every bone in my body +without really doing it, and he kissed me over and over. It +hadn't been so easy, but I guess you'll admit that paid. Then he +rode away with the damask rose waving over his heart. Mother and +I stood beside the hitching rack and looked after him, with our +arms tight around each other while we tried to see which one +could bawl the hardest. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Homing Pigeon + + "A millstone and the human heart, + Are ever driven round, + And if they've nothing else to grind, + They must themselves be ground." + +It seemed to me that my mother was the person who really could +have been excused for having heart trouble. The more I watched +her, the more I wondered that she didn't. There was her own +life, the one she and father led, where everything went exactly +as she wanted it to; and if there had been only themselves to +think of, no people on earth could have lived happier, unless the +pain she sometimes suffered made them trouble, and I don't think +it would, for neither of them were to blame for that. They +couldn't help it. They just had it to stand, and fight the +stiffest they could to cure it, and mother always said she was +better; every single time any one asked, she was better. I hoped +soon it would all be gone. Then they could have been happy for +sure, if some of us hadn't popped up and kept them in hot water +all the time. + +I can't tell you about Laddie when he came back from Pryors'. He +tore down the house, then tore it up, and then threw around the +pieces, and none of us cared. Every one was just laughing, +shouting, and every bit as pleased as he was, while I was the +Queen Bee. Laddie said so, himself, and if he didn't know, no +one did. Pryors had been lovely to him. When mother asked him +how he made it, he answered: "I rode over, picked up the +Princess and helped myself. After I finished, I remembered the +little unnecessary formality of asking her to marry me; and she +said right out loud that she WOULD. When I had time for them, I +reached Father and Mother Pryor, and maybe it doesn't show, but +somewhere on my person I carry their blessing, genially and +heartily given, I am proud to state. Now, I'm only needing +yours, to make me a king among men." + +They gave it quite as willingly, I am sure, although you could +see mother scringe when Laddie said "Father and Mother Pryor." I +knew why. She adored Laddie, like the Bible says you must adore +the Almighty. From a tiny baby Laddie had taken care of her. He +used to go back, take her hand, and try to help her over rough +places while he still wore dresses. Straight on, he had been +like that; always seeing when there was too much work and trying +to shield her; always knowing when a pain was coming and fighting +to head it off; always remembering the things the others forgot, +going to her last at night, and his face against hers on her +pillow the first in the morning, to learn how she was before he +left the house. If you were the mother of a man like that, how +would you like to hear him call some one else mother, and have +the word slip from his tongue so slick you could see he didn't +even realize that he had used it? The answer would be, if you +were honest, that you wouldn't have liked it any more than she +did. She knew he had to go. She wanted him to be happy. She +was as sure of the man he was going to be as she was sure of the +mercy of God. That is the strongest way I know to tell it. She +was unshakably sure of the mercy of God, but I wasn't. There +were times when it seemed as if He couldn't hear the most +powerful prayer you could pray, and when instead of mercy, you +seemed to get the last torment that could be piled on. Take +right now. Laddie was happy, and all of us were, in a way; and +in another we were almost stiff with misery. + +I dreaded his leaving us so, I would slip to the hawk oak and cry +myself sick, more than once; whether any of the others were that +big babies I don't know; but anyway, THEY were not his Little +Sister. I was. I always had been. I always would be, for that +matter; but there was going to be a mighty big difference. I had +the poor comfort that I'd done the thing myself. Maybe if it +hadn't been for stopping the Princess when I took him that pie, +they never would have made up, and she might have gone across the +sea and stayed there. Maybe she'd go yet, as mysteriously as she +had come, and take him along. Sometimes I almost wished I hadn't +tried to help him; but of course I didn't really. Then, too, I +had sense enough to know that loving each other as they did, they +wouldn't live on that close together for years and years, and not +find a way to make up for themselves, like they had at the start. + +I liked Laddie saying I had made his happiness for him; but I +wasn't such a fool that I didn't know he could have made it for +himself just as well, and no doubt better. So everything was all +right with Laddie; and what happened to us, the day he rode away +for the last time, when he went to stay--what happened to us, +then, was our affair. We had to take it, but every one of us +dreaded it, while mother didn't know how to bear it, and neither +did I. Once I said to her: "Mother, when Laddie goes we'll just +have to make it up to each other the best we can, won't we?" + +"Oh my soul, child!" she cried, staring at me so surprised-like. +"Why, how unspeakably selfish I have been! No little lost sheep +ever ran this farm so desolate as you will be without your +brother. Forgive me baby, and come here!" + +Gee, but we did cry it out together! The God she believed in has +wiped away her tears long ago; this minute I can scarcely see the +paper for mine. If you could call anything happiness, that was +mixed with feeling like that, why, then, we were happy about +Laddie. But from things I heard father and mother say, I knew +they could have borne his going away, and felt a trifle better +than they did. I was quite sure they had stopped thinking that +he was going to lose his soul, but they couldn't help feeling so +long as that old mystery hung over Pryors that he might get into +trouble through it. Father said if it hadn't been for Mr. +Pryor's stubborn and perverted notions about God, he would like +the man immensely, and love to be friends; and if Laddie married +into the family we would have to be as friendly as we could +anyway. He said he had such a high opinion of Mr. Pryor's +integrity that he didn't believe he'd encourage Laddie to enter +his family if it would involve the boy in serious trouble. +Mother didn't know. Anyway, the thing was done, and by fall, no +doubt, Laddie would leave us. + +Just when we were trying to keep a stiff upper lip before him, +and whistling as hard as ever he had, to brace our courage, a +letter came for mother from the head of the music school Shelley +attended, saying she was no longer fit for work, so she was being +sent home at once, and they would advise us to consult a +specialist immediately. Mother sat and stared at father, and +father went to hitch the horses to drive to Groveville. + +There's only one other day of my life that stands out as clearly +as that. The house was clean as we could make it. I finished +feeding early, and had most of the time to myself. I went down +to the Big Hill, and followed the top of it to our woods. Then I +turned around, and started toward the road, just idling. If I +saw a lovely spot I sat down and watched all around me to see if +a Fairy really would go slipping past, or lie asleep under a +leaf. I peeked and peered softly, going from spot to spot, +watching everything. Sometimes I hung over the water, and +studied tiny little fish with red, yellow, and blue on them, +bright as flowers. The dragonflies would alight right on me, and +some wore bright blue markings and some blood red. There was a +blue beetle, a beautiful green fly, and how the blue wasps did +flip, flirt and glint in the light. So did the blackbirds and +the redwings. That embankment was left especially to shade the +water, and to feed the birds. Every foot of it was covered with +alders, wild cherry, hazelbush, mulberries, everything having a +berry or nut. There were several scrub apple trees, many red +haws, the wild strawberries spread in big beds in places, and +some of them were colouring. + +Wild flowers grew everywhere, great beds were blue with calamus, +and the birds flocked in companies to drive away the water +blacksnakes that often found nests, and liked eggs and bird +babies. When I came to the road at last, the sun was around so +the big oak on the top of the hill threw its shadow across the +bridge, and I lay along one edge and watched the creek bottom, or +else I sat up so the water flowed over my feet, and looked at the +embankment and the sky. In a way, it was the most peculiar day +of my life. I had plenty to think of, but I never thought at +all. I only lived. I sat watching the world go past through a +sort of golden haze the sun made. When a pair of kingbirds and +three crows chased one of my hawks pell-mell across the sky, I +looked on and didn't give a cent what happened. When a big +blacksnake darted its head through sweet grass and cattails, and +caught a frog that had climbed on a mossy stone in the shade to +dine on flies, I let it go. Any other time I would have hunted a +stick and made the snake let loose. To-day I just sat there and +let things happen as they did. + +At last I wandered up the road, climbed the back garden fence, +and sat on the board at the edge of a flowerbed, and to-day, I +could tell to the last butterfly about that garden: what was in +bloom, how far things had grown, and what happened. Bobby flew +under the Bartlett pear tree and crowed for me, but I never +called him. I sat there and lived on, and mostly watched the +bees tumble over the bluebells. They were almost ready to be cut +to put in the buttered tumblers for perfume, like mother made for +us. Then I went into the house and looked at Grace Greenwood, +but I didn't take her along. Mother came past and gave me a +piece of stiff yellow brocaded silk as lovely as I ever had seen, +enough for a dress skirt; and a hand-embroidered chemise sleeve +that only needed a band and a button to make a petticoat for a +Queen doll, but I laid them away and wandered into the orchard. + +I dragged my bare feet through the warm grass, and finally sat +under the beet red peach tree. If ever I seemed sort of lost and +sorry for myself, that was a good place to go; it was so easy to +feel abused there because you didn't dare touch those peaches. +Fluffy baby chickens were running around, but I didn't care; +there was more than a bird for every tree, bluebirds especially; +they just loved us and came early and stayed late, and grew so +friendly they nested all over the wood house, smoke house, and +any place we fixed for them, and in every hollow apple limb. +Bobby came again, but I didn't pay any attention to him. + +Then I heard the carriage cross the bridge. I knew when it was +father, every single time his team touched the first plank. So I +ran like an Indian, and shinned up a cedar tree, scratching +myself until I bled. Away up I stood on a limb, held to the tree +and waited. Father drove to the gate, and mother came out, with +May, Candace, and Leon following. When Shelley touched the +ground and straightened, any other tree except a spruce having +limbs to hold me up, I would have fallen from it. She looked +exactly as if she had turned to tombstone with eyes and hair +alive. She stopped a second to brush a little kiss across +mother's lips, to the others she said without even glancing at +them: "Oh do let me lie down a minute! The motion of that train +made me sick." + +Well, I should say it did! I quit living, and began thinking in +a hooray, and so did every one else at our house. Once I had +been sick and queened it over them for a while, now all of us +strained ourselves trying to wait on Shelley; but she wouldn't +have it. She only said she was tired to death, to let her rest, +and she turned her face to the wall and lay there. Once she said +she never wanted to see a city again so long as she lived. When +mother told her about Laddie and the Princess to try to interest +her, she never said a word; I doubted if she even listened. +Father and mother looked at each other, when they thought no one +would see, and their eyes sent big, anxious questions flashing +back and forth. I made up my mind I'd keep awake that night and +hear what they said, if I had to take pins to bed with me and +stick myself. + +Once mother said to Shelley that she was going to send for Dr. +Fenner, and she answered: "All right, if you need him. Don't +you dare for me! I'll not see him. All I want is a little peace +and rest." + +The idea! Not one of us ever had spoken to mother like that +before in all our born days. I held my breath to see what she +would do, but she didn't seem to have heard it, or to notice how +rude it had been. Well, THAT told about as plain as anything +what we had on our hands. I wandered around and NOW there was no +trouble about thinking things. They came in such a jumble I +could get no sense from them; but one big black thought came +over, and over, and over, and wouldn't be put away. It just +stood, stayed, forced you, and made you look it in the face. If +Shelley weren't stopped quickly she was going up on the hill with +the little fever and whooping cough sisters. There it was! You +could try to think other things, to play, to work, to talk it +down in the pulpit, to sing it out in a tree, to slide down the +haystack away from it--there it stayed! And every glimpse you +had of Shelley made it surer. + +There was no trouble about keeping awake that night; I couldn't +sleep. I stood at the window and looked down the Big Hill +through the soft white moonlight, and thought about it, and then +I thought of mother. I guess NOW you see what kind of things +mothers have to face. All day she had gone around doing her +work, every few minutes suggesting some new thing for one of us +to try, or trying it herself; all day she had talked and laughed, +and when Sarah Hood came she told her she thought Shelley must be +bilious, that she had travelled all night and was sleeping: but +she would be up the first place she went, and then they talked +all over creation and Mrs. Hood went home and never remembered +that she hadn't seen Shelley. She worked Mrs. Freshett off the +same way, but you could see she was almost too tired to do it, so +by night she was nearly as white as Shelley, yet keeping things +going. When the house was still, she came into the room, and +stood at the window as I had, until father entered, then she +turned, and I could see they were staring at each other in the +moonlight, as they had all day. + +"She's sick?" asked father, at last. + +"Heartsick!" said mother bitterly. + +"We'd better have Doc come?" + +"She says she isn't sick, and she won't see him." + +"She will if I put my foot down." + +"Best not, Paul! She'll feel better soon. She's so young! She +must get over it." + +They were silent for a long time and then father asked in a harsh +whisper: "Ruth, can she possibly have brought us to shame?" + +"God forbid!" cried mother. "Let us pray." + +Then those two people knelt on each side of that bed, and I could +hear half the words they muttered, until I was wild enough to +scream. I wished with all my heart that I hadn't listened. I +had always known it was no nice way. I must have gone to sleep +after a while, but when I woke up I was still thinking about it, +and to save me, I couldn't quit. All day, wherever I went, that +question of father's kept going over in my head. I thought about +it until I was almost crazy, and I just couldn't see where +anything about shame came in. + +She was only mistaken. She THOUGHT he loved her, and he didn't. +She never could have been so bloomy, so filled with song, +laughter, and lovely like she was, if she hadn't truly believed +with all her heart that he loved her. Of course it would almost +finish her to give him up, when she felt like that; and maybe she +did wrong to let herself care so much, before she was sure about +him; but that would only be foolish, there wouldn't be even a +shadow of shame about it. Besides, Laddie had done exactly the +same thing. He loved the Princess until it nearly killed him +when he thought he had to give her up, and he loved her as hard +as ever he could, when he hadn't an idea whether she would love +him back, even a tiny speck; and the person who wasn't foolish, +and never would be, was Laddie. + +The more I thought, the worse I got worked up, and I couldn't see +how Shelley was to blame for anything at all. Love just came to +her, like it came to Laddie. She would hardly have knelt down +and beseeched the Lord to make her fall in love with a man she +scarcely knew, and when she couldn't be sure what he was going to +do about it--not the Lord, the man, I mean. You could see for +yourself she wouldn't do that. I finished my work, and then I +tried to do things for her, and she wouldn't let me. Mother told +me to ask her to make Grace Greenwood the dress she had promised +when I was so sick; so I took the Scotch plaid to her and +reminded her, and she pushed me away and said: "Some time!" + +I even got Grace, and showed Shelley the spills on her dress, and +how badly she needed a new one, but she never looked, she said: +"Oh bother! My head aches. Do let me be!" + +Mother was listening. I could see her standing outside the door. + +She motioned to me to come away, so I went to her and she was +white as Shelley. She was sick too, she couldn't say a word for +a minute, but after a while she kissed me, I could feel the +quivers in her lips, and she said stifflike: "Never mind, she'll +be better soon, then she will! Run play now!" + +Sometimes I wandered around looking at things and living dully. +I didn't try to study out anything, but I must have watched +closer than I knew, for every single thing I saw then, over that +whole farm, I can shut my eyes and see to-day; everything, from +the old hawk tilting his tail to steer him in soaring, to a snake +catching field mice in the grass, lichens on the fence, flowers, +butterflies, every single thing. Mostly I sat to watch something +that promised to become interesting, and before I knew it, I was +back on the shame question. That's the most dreadful word in the +dictionary. There's something about it that makes your face +burn, only to have it in your mind. + +Laddie said he never had met any man who knew the origin of more +words than father. He could even tell every clip what +nationality a man was from his name. Hundreds of time I have +heard him say to stranger people, "From your name you'd be of +Scotch extraction," or Irish, or whatever it was, and every time +the person he was talking with would say, "Yes." Some day away +out in the field, alone, I thought I would ask him what people +first used the word "shame," and just exactly what it did mean, +and what the things were that you could do that would make the +people who loved you until they would die for you, ashamed of +you. + +Thinking about that and planning out what it was that I wanted to +know, gave me another idea. Why not ask her? She was the only +one who knew what she had done away there in the city, alone +among strangers; I wasn't sure whether all the music a girl could +learn was worth letting her take the chances she would have to in +a big city. From the way Laddie and father hated them, they were +a poor place for men, and they must have been much worse for +girls. Shelley knew, why not ask HER? Maybe I could coax her to +tell me, and it would make my life much easier to know; and only +think what was going on in father's and mother's heads and +hearts, when I felt that way, and didn't even know what there was +to be ashamed about. She wouldn't any more than slap me; and +sick as she was, I made up my mind not to get angry at her, or +ever to tell, if she did. I'd rather have her hit me when she +was so sick than to have Sally beat me until she couldn't strike +another lick, just because she was angry. But I forgave her +that, and I was never going to think of it again--only I did. + +Mother kept sending Leon to the post-office, and she met him at +the gate half the time herself and fairly snatched the letters +from his hands. Hum! She couldn't pull the wool over my eyes. +I knew she hoped somehow, some way, there would be a big fat one +with Paget, Legal Adviser, or whatever a Chicago lawyer puts on +his envelopes. Jerry's just say: "Attorney at Law." + +No letter ever came that had Paget in the corner, or anything +happened that did Shelley any good. Far otherwise! Just before +supper Leon came from Groveville one evening, and all of us could +see at a glance that he had been crying like a baby. He had +wiped up, and was trying to hold in, but he was killed, next. I +nearly said, "Well, for heaven's sake, another!" when I saw him. +He slammed down a big, long envelope, having printing on it, +before father, and glared at it as if he wanted to tear it to +smithereens, and he said: "If you want to know why it looks like +that, I buried it under a stone once; but I had to go back, and +then I threw it as far as I could send it, into Ditton's gully, +but after a while I hunted it up again!" + +Then he keeled over on the couch mother keeps for her in the +dining-room, and sobbed until he looked like he'd come apart. + +Of course all of us knew exactly what that letter was from the +way he acted. Mother had told him, time and again, not to set +his heart so; father had, too and Laddie, and every one of us, +but that little half-Arab, half-Kentucky mare was the worst +temptation a man who loved horses could possibly have; and while +father and mother stopped at good work horses, and matched +roadsters for the carriage, they managed to prize and tend them +so that every one of us had been born horse-crazy, and we had +been allowed to ride, care for, and taught to love horses all our +lives. Treat a horse ugly, and we'd have gone on the thrashing +floor ourselves. + +Father laid the letter face down, his hand on it, and shook his +head. "This is too bad!" he said. "It's a burning shame, but +the money, the exact amount, was taken from a farmer in Medina +County, Ohio, by a traveller he sheltered a few days, because he +complained of a bad foot. The description of the man who robbed +us is perfect. The money was from the sale of some prize cattle. +It will have to be returned." + +"Just let me see the letter a minute," said Laddie. + +He read it over thoughtfully. He was long enough about it to +have gone over it three times; then he looked at Leon, and his +forehead creased in a deep frown. The tears slid down mother's +cheeks, but she didn't know it, or else she'd have wiped them +away. She was never mussy about the least little thing. + +"Father!" she said. "Father----!" + +That was as far as she could go. + +"The man must have his money," said father, "but we'll look into +this----" + +He pushed back the plates and tablecloth, and cleared his end of +the table. Mother never budged to stack the plates, or +straighten the cloth so it wouldn't be wrinkled. Then father +brought his big account book from the black walnut chest in our +room, some little books, and papers, sharpened a pencil and began +going up and down the columns and picking out figures here and +there that he set on a piece of paper. I never had seen him look +either old or tired before; but he did then. Mother noticed it +too, for her lips tightened, she lifted her head, wiped her eyes, +and pretended that she felt better. Laddie said something about +doing the feeding, and slipped out. Just then Shelley came into +the room, stopped, and looked questioningly at us. Her eyes +opened wide, and she stared hard at Leon. + +"Why what ails him?" she asked mother. + +"You remember what I wrote you about a man who robbed us, and the +money Leon was to have, provided no owner was found in a +reasonable time; and the horse the boy had planned to buy, and +how he had been going to Pryors'--Oh, I think he's slipped over +there once a day, and often three times, all this spring! Mr. +Pryor encouraged him, let him take his older horses to practise +on, even went out and taught him cross-country riding +himself----" + +"I remember!" said Shelley. + +Leon sobbed out loud. Shelley crossed the room swiftly, dropped +beside him and whispered something in his ear. Quick as a shot +his arm reached out and went around her. She hid her head deep +in the pillow beside him, and they went to pieces together. +Clear to pieces! Pretty soon father had to take off his glasses +and wipe them so he could see the figures. Mother took one long +look at him, a short one at Leon and Shelley, then she arose, her +voice as even and smooth, and she said: "While you figure, +father, I'll see about supper. I have tried to plan an extra +good one this evening." + +She left the room. NOW, I guess you know about all I can tell +you of mother! I can't see that there's a thing left. That was +the kind of soldier she was. Talk about Crusaders, and a good +fight! All the blood of battle in our family wasn't on father's +side, not by any means! The Dutch could fight too! + +Father's pencil scraped a little, a bee that had slipped in +buzzed over the apple butter, while the clock ticked as if it +used a hammer. It was so loud one wanted to pitch it from the +window. May and I sat still as mice when the cat is near. +Candace couldn't keep away from the kitchen door to save her, and +where mother went I hadn't an idea, but she wasn't getting an +extra good supper. Shelley and Leon were quieter now. May +nudged me, and I saw that his arm around her was gripping her +tight, while her hand on his head was patting him and fingering +his hair. + +Ca-lumph! Ca-lumph! came the funniest sound right on the stone +walk leading to the east door, then a shrill whicker that made +father drop his pencil. Leon was on his feet, Shelley beside +him, while at the door stood Laddie grinning as if his face would +split, and with her forefeet on the step and her nose in the +room, stood the prettiest, the very prettiest horse I ever saw. +She was sticking her nose toward Leon, whinnying softly, as she +lifted one foot, and if Laddie hadn't backed her, she would have +walked right into the dining-room. + +"Come on, Weiscope, she's yours!" said Laddie. "Take her to the +barn, and put her in one of the cow stalls, until we fix a place +for her." + +Leon crossed the room, but he never touched the horse. He threw +his arms around Laddie's neck. + +"Son! Son! Haven't you let your feelings run away with you? +What does this mean?" asked father sternly. + +"There's nothing remarkable in a big six-footer like me buying a +horse," said Laddie. "I expect to purchase a number soon, and +without a cent to pay, in the bargain. I contracted to give five +hundred dollars for this mare. She is worth more; but that +should be satisfactory all around. I am going to earn it by +putting five of Mr. Pryor's fancy, pedigreed horses in shape for +market, taking them personally, and selling them to men fit to +own and handle real horses. I get one hundred each, and my +expenses for the job. I'll have as much fun doing it as I ever +had at anything. It suits me far better than plowing, even." + +Mother entered the room at a sweep, and pushed Leon aside. + +"Oh you man of my heart!" she cried. "You man after my own +heart!" + +Laddie bent and kissed her, holding her tight as he looked over +her head at father. + +"It's all right, of course?" he said. + +"I never have known of anything quite so altogether right," said +father. "Thank you, lad, and God bless you!" + +He took Laddie's hand, and almost lifted him from the floor, then +he wiped his glasses, gathered up his books with a big, deep +breath of relief, and went into his room. If the others had +looked to see why he was gone so long, they would have seen him +on his knees beside his bed thanking God, as usual. Leon +couldn't have come closer than when he said, "The same yesterday, +to-day, and forever," about father. + +Leon had his arms around the neck of his horse now, and he was +kissing her, patting her, and explaining to Shelley just why no +other horse was like her. He was pouring out a jumble all about +the oasis of the desert, the tent dwellers, quoting lines from +"The Arab to His Horse," bluegrass, and gentleness combined with +spirit, while Shelley had its head between her hands, stroking it +and saying, "Yes," to every word Leon told her. Then he said: +"Just hop on her back from that top step and ride her to the +barn, if you want to see the motion she has." + +Shelley said: "Has a woman ever been on her back? Won't she shy +at my skirts?" + +"No," explained Leon. "I've been training her with a horse +blanket pinned around me, so Susie could ride her! She'll be all +right." + +So Shelley mounted, and the horse turned her head, and tried to +rub against her, as she walked away, tame as a sheep. I wondered +if she could be too gentle. If she went "like the wind," as Leon +said, it didn't show then. I was almost crazy to go along, and +maybe Leon would let me ride a little while; but I had a question +that it would help me to know the answer and I wanted to ask +father before I forgot; so I waited until he came out. When he +sat down, smiled at me and said, "Well, is the girl happy for +brother?" I knew it was a good time, and I could ask anything I +chose, so I sat on his knee and said: "Father, when you pray for +anything that it's all perfectly right for you to have, does God +come down from heaven and do it Himself, or does He send a man +like Laddie to do it for him?" + +Father hugged me tight, smiling the happiest. + +"Why, you have the whole thing right there in a nutshell, Little +Sister," he said. "You see it's like this: the Book tells us +most distinctly that `God is love.' Now it was love that sent +Laddie to bind himself for a long, tedious job, to give Leon his +horse, wasn't it?" + +"Of course!" I said. "He wouldn't have been likely to do it if +he hated him. It was love, of course!" + +"Then it was God," said father, "because `God is love.' They are +one and the same thing." + +Then he kissed me, and THAT was settled. So I wondered when you +longed for anything so hard you really felt it was worth +bothering God about, whether the quickest way to get it was to +ask Him for it, or to try to put a lot of love into the heart of +some person who could do what you wanted. I decided it all went +back to God though, for most of the time probably we wouldn't +know who the right one was to try to awaken love in. I was +mighty sure none of us ever dreamed Laddie could walk over to +Pryors', and come back with that horse, in a way perfectly +satisfactory to every one, slick as an eel. + +You should have seen Leon following around after Laddie, trying +to do things for him, taking on his work to give him more time +with the horses, getting up early to finish his own stunts, so he +could go over to Pryors' and help. Mother said it had done more +to make a man of him than anything that ever happened. It helped +Shelley, too. Something seemed to break in her, when she cried +so with Leon, because he was in trouble. Then he was so crazy to +show off his horse he had Shelley ride up and down the lane, +while he ran along and led, so she got a lot of exercise, and it +made her good and hungry. If you don't think by this time that +my mother was the beatenest woman alive, I'll prove it to you. +When the supper bell rang there was strawberry preserves instead +of the apple butter, biscuit, fried chicken, and mashed potatoes. + +She must have slapped those chickens into the skillet before they +knew their heads were off. When Shelley came to the table, for +the first time since she'd been home, had pink in her cheeks, and +talked some, and ate too, mother forgot her own supper. She +fumbled over her plate, but scarcely touched even the livers, and +those delicious little kidneys in the tailpiece like Leon and I +had at Sally's wedding. When we finished, and it was time for +her to give the signal to arise, no one had asked to be excused, +she said: "Let us have a word with the Most High." Then she +bowed her head, so all of us did too. "O Lord, we praise Thee +for all Thy tender mercies, and all Thy loving kindness. Amen!" + +Of course father always asked the blessing to begin with, and +mostly it was the same one, and that was all at meal time, but +this was a little extra that mother couldn't even wait until +night to tell the Almighty, she was so pleased with Him. Maybe I +haven't told everything about her, after all. Father must have +thought that was lovely of her; he surely felt as happy as she +did, to see Shelley better, for he hugged and kissed her over and +over, finishing at her neck like he always did, and then I be- +hanged, if he didn't hug and kiss every last one of us--tight, +even the boys. Shelley he held long and close, and patted her a +little when he let her go. It made me wonder if the rest of us +didn't get ours, so he'd have a chance at her without her +noticing it. One thing was perfectly clear. If shame came to +us, they were going to love her, and stick tight to her right +straight through it. + +Now that everything was cleared up so, Shelley seemed a little +more like herself every day, although it was bad enough yet; I +thought I might as well hurry up the end a little, and stop the +trouble completely, so I began watching for a chance to ask her. +But I wanted to get her away off alone, so no one would see if +she slapped me. I didn't know how long I'd have to wait. I +tried coaxing her to the orchard to see a bluebird's nest, but +she asked if bluebirds were building any different that year, and +I had to admit they were not. Then I tried the blue-eyed Mary +bed, but she said she supposed it was still under the cling peach +tree, and the flower, two white petals up, two blue down, and so +it was. Just as I was beginning to think I'd have to take that +to the Lord in prayer, I got my chance by accident. + +May and Candace were forever going snake hunting. You would +think any one with common sense would leave them alone and be +glad of the chance, but no indeed! They went nearly every day as +soon as the noon work was finished, and stayed until time to get +supper. They did have heaps of fun and wild excitement. May was +gentle, and tender with everything else on earth; so I 'spose she +had a right to bruise the serpent with her heel--really she used +sticks and stones--if she wanted to. I asked her how she COULD, +and she said there was a place in the Bible that told how a snake +coaxed Eve to eat an apple, that the Lord had told her she +mustn't touch; and so she got us into most of the trouble there +was in the world. May said it was all the fault of the SNAKE to +begin with, and she meant to pay up every one she could find, +because she had none of the apple, and lots of the trouble. +Candace cried so much because Frederick Swartz had been laid in +the tomb, that mother was pleased to have her cheer up, even +enough to go snake hunting. + +That afternoon Mehitabel Heasty had come to visit May, so she +went along, and I followed. They poked around the driftwood at +the floodgate behind the barn, and were giving up the place. +Candace had crossed the creek and was coming back, and May had +started, when she saw a tiny little one and chased it. We didn't +know then that it was a good thing to have snakes to eat moles, +field mice, and other pests that bother your crops; the Bible had +no mercy on them at all, so we were not saving our snakes; and +anyway we had more than we needed, while some of them were too +big to be safe to keep, and a few poison as could be. May began +to bruise the serpent, when out of the driftwood where they +hadn't found anything came its mammy, a great big blacksnake, +maddest you ever saw, with its pappy right after her, mad as ever +too. Candace screamed at May to look behind her, but May was +busy with the snake and didn't look quick enough, so the old +mammy struck right in her back. She just caught in the hem of +May's skirt, and her teeth stuck in the goods--you know how a +snake's teeth turn back--so she couldn't let go. May took one +look and raced down the bank to the crossing, through the water, +and toward us, with the snake dragging and twisting, and trying +her best to get away. May was screaming at every jump for +Candace, and Mehitabel was flying up and down crying: "Oh +there's snakes in my shoes! There's snakes in my shoes!" + +That was a fair sample of how much sense a Heasty ever had. It +took all Mehitabel's shoes could do to hold her feet, for after +one went barefoot all week, and never put on shoes except on +Sunday or for a visit, the feet became so spread out, shoes had +all they could do to manage them, and then mostly they pinched +until they made one squirm. But she jumped and said that, while +May ran and screamed, and Candace gripped her big hickory stick +and told May to stand still. Then she bruised that serpent with +her whole foot, for she stood on it, and swatted it until she +broke its neck. Then she turned ready for the other one, but +when it saw what happened to its mate, it decided to go back. +Even snakes, it doesn't seem right to break up families like +that; so by the time Candace got the mammy killed, loose from +May's hem, and stretched out with the back up, so she wouldn't +make it rain, when Candace wasn't sure that father wanted rain, I +had enough. I went down the creek until I was below the orchard, +then I crossed, passed the cowslip bed, climbed the hill and +fence, and stopped to think what I would do first; and there only +a few feet away was Shelley. She was sitting in the shade, her +knees drawn up, her hands clasped around them, staring straight +before her across the meadow at nothing in particular, that I +could see. She jumped as if I had been a snake when she saw me, +then she said, "Oh, is it you?" like she was half glad of it. My +chance had come. + +I went to her, sat close beside her and tried snuggling up a +little. It worked. She put her arm around me, drew me tight, +rubbed her cheek against my head and we sat there. I was +wondering how in the world I could ask her, and not get slapped. +I was growing most too big for that slapping business, anyway. +We sat there; I was looking across the meadow as she did, only I +was watching everything that went on, so when I saw a grosbeak +fly from the wild grape where Shelley had put the crock for sap, +it made me think of her hair. She used to like to have me play +with it so well, she'd give me pennies if I did. I got up, and +began pulling out her pins carefully. I knew I was getting a +start because right away she put up her hand to help me. + +"I can get them," I said just as flannel-mouthed as ever I could, +like all of us talked to her now, so I got every one and never +pulled a mite. When I reached over her shoulder to drop them in +her lap, being so close I kissed her cheek. Then I shook down +her hair, spread it out, lifted it, parted it, and held up +strands to let the air on her scalp. She shivered and said: +"Mercy child, how good that does feel! My head has ached lately +until it's a wonder there's a hair left on it." + +So I was pleasing her. I never did handle hair so carefully. I +tried every single thing it feels good to you to have done with +your hair, rubbed her head gently, and to cheer her up I told her +about May and the snake, and what fool Mehitabel had said, and +she couldn't help laughing; so I had her feeling about as good as +she could, for the way she actually felt, but still I didn't +really get ahead. Come right to the place to do it, that was no +very easy question to ask a person, when you wouldn't hurt their +feelings for anything; I was beginning to wonder if I would lose +my chance, when all at once a way I could manage popped into my +mind. + +"Shelley," I said, "they told you about Laddie and the Princess, +didn't they?" + +I knew they had, but I had to make a beginning some way. + +"Yes," she said. "I'm glad of it! I think she's pretty as a +picture, and nice as she looks. Laddie may have to hump himself +to support her, but if he can't get her as fine clothes as she +has, her folks can help him. They seem to have plenty, and she's +their only child." + +"They're going to. I heard Mr. Pryor ask Laddie if he'd be so +unkind as to object to them having the pleasure of giving her +things." + +"Well, the greenhorn didn't say he would!" + +"No. He didn't want to put his nose to the grindstone quite that +close. He said it was between them." + +"I should think so!" + +"Shelley, there's a question I've been wanting to ask some one +for quite a while." + +"What?" + +"Why, this! You know, Laddie was in love with the Princess, like +you are when you want to marry folks, for a long, long time, +before he could be sure whether she loved him back." + +"Yes." + +"Well, now, 'spose she never had loved him, would he have had +anything to be ashamed of?" + +"I can't see that he would. Some one must start a courtship, or +there would be no marrying, and it's conceded to be the place of +the man. No. He might be disappointed, or dreadfully hurt, but +there would be no shame about it." + +"Well, then, suppose she loved him, and wanted to marry him, and +he hadn't loved her, or wanted her, would SHE have had anything +to be ashamed of?" + +"I don't think so! If she was attracted by him, and thought she +would like him, she would have a right to go to a certain extent, +to find out if he cared for her, and if he didn't, why, she'd +just have to give him up. But any sensible girl waits for a man +to make the advances, and plenty of them, before she allows +herself even to dream of loving him, or at least, I would." + +Now I was getting somewhere! + +"Of course you would!" I said. "That would be the WAY mother +would, wouldn't it?" + +"Surely!" + +"If that Paget man you used to write about had seemed to be just +what you liked, you'd have waited to know if he wanted you, +before you loved him, wouldn't you?" + +"I certainly would!" answered Shelley. "Or at least, I'd have +waited until I THOUGHT sure as death, I knew. It seems that +sometimes you can be fooled about those things." + +"But if you thought sure you knew, and then found out you had +been mistaken, you wouldn't have anything to be ASHAMED of, would +you?" + +"Not-on-your-life-I-wouldn't!" cried Shelley, hammering each word +into her right knee with her doubled fist. "What are you driving +at, Blatherskite? What have you got into your head?" + +"Oh just studying about things," I said, which was exactly the +truth. "Sally getting married last fall, and Laddie going to +this, just started me to wondering." + +Fooled her, too! + +"Oh well, there's no harm done," she said. "The sooner you get +these matters straightened out, the better able you will be to +take care of yourself. If you ever go to a city, you'll find out +that a girl needs considerable care taken of her." + +"You could look out for yourself, Shelley?" + +"Well, I don't know as I made such a glorious fist of it," she +said, "but at least, as you say, I've nothing to be ashamed of!" + +I almost hugged her head off. + +"Of course you haven't!" I cried. "Of course you wouldn't have!" + +I just kissed her over and over for joy; I was so glad my heart +hurt for father and mother. Shame had not come to them! + +"Now, I guess I'll run to the house and get a comb," I told her. + +"Go on," said Shelley. "I know you are tired." + +"I'm not in the least," I said. "Don't you remember I always use +a comb when I fuss with your hair?" + +"It is better," said Shelley. "Go get one." + +As I got up to start I took a last look at her, and there was +something in her face that I couldn't bear. I knelt beside her, +and put both arms around her neck. + +"Shelley, it's a secret," I said in a breathless half whisper. +"It's a great, big secret, but I'm going to tell you. Twice now +I've had a powerful prayer all ready to try. It's the kind where +you go to the barn, all alone, stand on that top beam below the +highest window and look toward the east. You keep perfectly +still, and just think with all your might, and you look away over +where Jesus used to be, and when the right feeling comes, you +pray that prayer as if He stood before you, and it will come +true. I KNOW it will come true. The reason I know is because +twice now I've been almost ready to try it, and what I intended +to ask for happened before I had time; so I've saved that prayer; +but Shelley, shall I pray it about the Paget man, for you?" + +She gripped me, and she shook until she was all twisted up; you +could hear her teeth click, she chilled so. The tears just +gushed, and she pulled me up close and whispered right in my ear: + +"Yes!" + +It was only pretend about the comb; what I really wanted was to +get to father and mother quick. I knew he was at the barn and he +was going to be too happy for words in a minute. But as I went +up the lane, I wasn't sure whether I'd rather pray about that +Paget man or bruise him with my heel like a serpent. The only +way I could fix it was to remember if Shelley loved him so, he +must be mighty nice. Father was in the wagon shovelling corn +from it to a platform where it would be handy to feed the pigs, +so I ran and called him, and put one foot on a hub and raised my +hands. He pulled me up and when he saw how important it was, he +sat on the edge of the bed, so I told him: "Father, you haven't +got a thing in the world to be ashamed of about Shelley." + +"Praise the Lord!" said father like I knew he would, but you +should have seen his face. "Tell me about it!" + +I told him and he said: "Well, I don't know but this is the +gladdest hour of my life. Go straight and repeat to your mother +exactly what you've said to me. Take her away all alone, and +then forget about it, you little blessing." + +"Father, have you got too many children?" + +"No!" he said. "I wish I had a dozen more, if they'd be like +you." + +When I went up the lane I was so puffed up with importance I felt +too dignified to run. I strutted like our biggest turkey +gobbler. The only reason you couldn't hear my wings scrape, was +because through mistake they grew on the turkey. If I'd had +them, I would have dragged them sure, and cried "Ge-hobble- +hobble!" at every step. + +I took mother away alone and told her, and she asked many more +questions than father, but she was even gladder than he. She +almost hugged the breath out of me. Sometimes I get things +RIGHT, anyway! Then I took the comb and ran back to Shelley. + +"I thought you'd forgotten me," she said. + +She had wiped up and was looking better. If ever I combed +carefully I did then. Just when I had all the tangles out, there +came mother. She had not walked that far in a long time. I +thought maybe she could comfort Shelley, so I laid the comb in +her lap and went to see how the snake hunters were coming on. It +must be all right, when the Bible says so, but the African Jungle +will do for me, and a popgun is not going to scatter families. I +never felt so strongly about breaking home ties in my life as I +did then. There was nothing worse. It was not where I wanted to +be, so I thought I'd go back to the barn, and hang around father, +hoping maybe he'd brag on me some more. Going up the lane I saw +a wagon passing with the biggest box I ever had seen, and I ran +to the gate to watch where it went. It stopped at our house and +Frank came toward me as I hurried up the road. + +"Where are the folks?" he asked, without paying the least +attention to my asking him over and over what was in the box. + +"May and Candace are killing every snake in the driftwood behind +the barn, Shelley and mother are down in the orchard, and father +and the boys are hauling corn." + +"Go tell the boys to come quickly and keep quiet," he said. "But +don't let any one else know I'm here." + +That was so exciting I almost fell over my feet running, and all +three of them came quite as fast. I stood back and watched, and +I just danced a steady hop from one foot to the other while those +men got the big box off the wagon and opened it. On the side I +spelled Piano, so of course it was for Shelley. It was so heavy +it took all six of them, father and the three boys, the driver +and another very stylish looking man to carry it. They put it in +the parlour, screwed a leg on each corner, and a queer harp in +the middle, then they lifted it up and set it on its feet, under +the whatnot, and it seemed as if it filled half the room. Then +Frank spread a beauteous wine coloured cover all embroidered in +pink roses with green leaves over it, and the stylish man opened +a lid, sat down and spread out his hands. Frank said: "Soft +pedal! Mighty soft!" So he smothered it down, and tried only +enough to find that it had not been hurt coming, and then he went +away on the wagon. Father and the boys gathered up every scrap, +swept the walk, and put all the things they had used back where +they got them, like we always did. + +Then Frank took a card from his pocket and tied it to the music +rack, and it read: "For Shelley, from her brothers in fact, and +in law." To a corner of the cover he pinned another card that +read: "From Peter." + +"What is that?" asked father. + +"That's from Peter," said Frank. "Peter is great on finishing +touches. He had to outdo the rest of us that much or bust. Fact +is, none of us thought of a cover except him." + +"How about this?" asked father, staring at it as if it were an +animal that would bite. + +"Well," said Frank, "it was apparent that practising her fingers +to the bone wouldn't do Shelley much good unless she could keep +it up in summer, and you and mother always have done so much for +the rest of us, and now mother isn't so strong and the expenses +go on the same with these youngsters; we know you were figuring +on it, but we beat you. Put yours in the bank, and try the feel +of a surplus once more. Haven't had much lately, have you, +father?" + +"Well, not to speak of," said father. + +"Now let's shut everything up, ring the bell to call them, and +get Shelley in here and surprise her." + +"She's not very well," said father. "Mother thinks she worked +too hard." + +"She's all right now, father," I said. "She is getting pink +again and rounder, and this will fix her grand." + +Wouldn't it though! There wasn't one anywhere, short of the +city. Even the Princess had none. Father hunted up a song book, +opened it and set it on the rack. Then all of us went out. + +"We'll write to the boys, mother and I, and Shelley also," said +father. "I can't express myself just now. This is a fine thing +for all of you to do." + +Frank seemed to think so too, and looked rather puffed up, until +Leon began telling about his horse. When Frank found out that +Laddie, who had not yet branched out for himself, had given Leon +much more than any one of them had Shelley, he looked a little +disappointed. He explained how the piano cost eight hundred +dollars, but by paying cash all at once, the man took seven +hundred and fifty, so it only cost them one hundred and fifty a +piece, and none of them felt it at all. + +"Sometimes the clouds loom up pretty black, and mother and I +scarcely know how to go on, save for the help of the Lord, but we +certainly are blest with good children, children we can be proud +of. Your mother will like that instrument as well as Shelley, +son," said father. + +Frank went out and rang the bell, tolled it, and made a big noise +like he always did when he came unexpectedly, and then sat on the +back fence until he saw them coming, and went to meet them. He +walked between mother and Shelley, with an arm around each one. +If he thought Shelley looked badly, he didn't mention it. What +he did say was that he was starved, and to fly around and get +supper. I thought I'd burst. They began to cook, and the boys +went to feed and see Leon's horse, and then we had supper. I +just sat and stared at Frank and grinned. I couldn't eat. + +"Do finish your supper," said mother. "I never saw anything take +your appetite like seeing your brother. You'll be wanting a +piece before bedtime." + +I didn't say a word, because I was afraid to, but I kept looking +at Leon and he smiled back, and we had great fun. Secrets are +lovely. Mother couldn't have eaten a bite if she'd known about +that great shining thing, all full of wonderful sound, standing +in our parlour. When the last slow person had finished, father +said: "Shelley, won't you step into the front room and bring me +that book I borrowed from Frank on `Taxation.' I want to talk +over a few points." + +All of us heard her little breathless cry, and mother said, +"There!" as if she'd been listening for something, and she beat +all of us to the door. Then she cried out too, and such a time +as we did have. At last after all of us had grown sensible +enough to behave, Shelley sat on the stool, spread her fingers +over the keys and played at the place father had selected, and +all of us sang as hard as we could: "Be it ever so humble, +There's no place like home;" and there WAS no place like ours, of +THAT I'm quite sure. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +In Faith Believing + + "Nor could the bright green world around + A joy to her impart, + For still she missed the eyes that made + The summer of her heart." + +Soon as she had the piano, Shelley needed only the Paget man to +make her happy as a girl could be; and having faith in that +prayer, I decided to try it right away. So I got Laddie to +promise surely that he'd wake me when he got up the next morning. + +I laid my clothes out all ready; he merely touched my foot, and I +came to, slipped out with him, and he helped me dress. We went +to the barn when the morning was all gray. + +"What the dickens have you got in your head now, Chicken?" he +asked. "Is it business with the Fairies?" + +"No, this is with the Most High," I said solemnly, like father. +"Go away and leave me alone." + +"Well of all the queer chickens!" he said, but he kissed me and +went. + +I climbed the stairs to the threshing floor, then the ladder to +the mow, walked a beam to the wall, there followed one to the +east end, and another to the little, high-up ventilator window. +There I stood looking at the top of the world. A gray mist was +rising like steam from the earth, there was a curious colour in +the east, stripes of orange and flames of red, where the sun was +coming. I folded my hands on the sill, faced the sky, and stood +staring. Just stood, and stood, never moving a muscle. By and +by I began to think how much we loved Shelley, how happy she had +been at Christmas the way she was now, and how much all of us +would give in money, or time, or love, to make her sparkling, +bubbling, happy again; so I thought and thought, gazing at the +sky, which every second became a grander sight. Little cold +chills began going up my back, and soon I was talking to the Lord +exactly as if He stood before me on the reddest ray that topped +our apple trees. + +I don't know all I said. That's funny, for I usually remember to +the last word; but this time it was so important, I wanted it so +badly, and I was so in earnest that words poured in a stream. I +began by reminding Him that He knew everything, and so He'd +understand if what I asked was for the best. Then I told Him how +it looked to us, who knew only a part; and then I went at Him and +implored and beseeched, if it would be best for Shelley, and +would make her happy, to send her the Paget man, and to be quick +about it. When I had said the last word that came to me, and +begged all I thought becoming--I don't think with His face, that +Jesus wants us to grovel to Him, at least He looks too dignified +to do it Himself--I just stood there, still staring. + +I didn't expect to see a burning bush, or a pillar of fire, or a +cloud of flame, or even to hear a small, still voice; but I +watched, so I wouldn't miss it if there should be anything +different in that sunrise from any other I ever had seen, and +there was not. Not one thing! It was so beautiful, and I was so +in earnest my heart hurt; but that was like any other sunrise on +a fine July morning. There wasn't the least sign that Jesus had +heard me, and would send the man; yet before I knew it, I was +amazed to find the feeling creeping over me that he was coming. +If I had held the letter in my hand saying he would arrive on the +noon train, I couldn't have grown surer. Why, I even looked down +the first time I moved, to see if I had it; but I was certain +anyway. So I looked steadily toward the east once more and said, +"Thank you, with all my heart, Lord Jesus," then I slowly made my +way down and back to the house. + +Shelley was at the orchard gate, waiting; so I knew they had +missed me, and Laddie had told them where I was and not to call. +She had the strangest look on her face, as she asked: "Where +have you been?" + +I looked straight and hard at her and said, "It's all right, +Shelley. He's going to come soon"; but I didn't think it was a +thing to mouth over, so I twisted away from her, and ran to the +kitchen to see if breakfast had all been eaten. I left Shelley +standing there with her eyes wide, also her mouth. She looked +about as intelligent as Mehitabel Heasty, and it wouldn't have +surprised me if she had begun to jump up and down and say there +were snakes in HER shoes. No doubt you have heard of people +having been knocked silly; I knew she was, and so she had a +perfect right to look that way, until she could remember what she +was doing, and come back to herself. Maybe it took her longer, +because mother wasn't there, to remind her about her mouth, and I +didn't propose to mention it. + +At breakfast, mother said father was going to drive Frank home in +the carriage, and if I would like, I might go along. I would +have to sit on the back seat alone, going; but coming home I +could ride beside and visit with father. I loved that, for you +could see more from the front seat, and father would stop to +explain every single thing. He always gave me the money and let +me pay the toll. He would get me a drink at the spring, let me +wade a few minutes at Enyard's riffles, where their creek, with +the loveliest gravel bed, ran beside the road; and he always +raced like wildfire at the narrows, where for a mile the railroad +ran along the turnpike. + +We took Frank to his office, stopped a little while to visit +Lucy, and give her the butter and cream mother sent, went to the +store to see Peter, and then to the post-office. From there we +could see that the veranda of the hotel across the street was +filled with gayly dressed people, and father said that the summer +boarders from big cities around must be pouring in fast. When he +came out with the mail he said he better ask if the landlord did +not want some of mother's corn and milk fed spring chickens, +because last year he had paid her more than the grocer. So he +drove across the street, stopped at the curb, and left me to hold +the team. + +Maybe you think I wasn't proud! I've told you about Ned and Jo, +with their sharp ears, dappled sides, and silky tails, and the +carriage almost new, with leather seats, patent leather +trimmings, and side lamps, so shiny you could see yourself in the +brass. We never drove into the barn with one speck of mud or +dust on it. That was how particular mother was. + +I watched the team carefully; I had to if I didn't want my neck +broken; but I also kept an eye on that veranda. You could see at +a glance that those were stylish women. Now my mother liked to +be in fashion as well as any one could; so I knew she'd be +mightily pleased if I could tell her a new place to set her comb, +a different way to fasten her collar, or about an unusual pattern +for a frock. + +I got my drink at the spring, father offered to stop at the +riffle, but I was enjoying the ride so much, and I could always +wade at home, although our creek was not so beautiful as +Enyard's, but for common wading it would do; we went through the +narrows, like two shakes of a sheep's tail, then we settled down +to a slow trot, and were having the loveliest visit possible, +when in the bundle on my lap, I saw the end of something that +interested me. Mr. Agnew always made our mail into a roll with +the Advocate and the Agriculturist on the outside, and because +every one was so anxious about their letters, and some of them +meant so much, I felt grown and important while holding the +package. + +I was gripping it tight when I noticed the end of one letter much +wider and fatter than any I ever had seen, so when father was not +looking I began pushing it a little at one end, and pulling it at +the other, to work it up, until I could read the address. I got +it out so far I thought every minute he'd notice, and tell me not +to do that, but I could only see Stanton. All of us were +Stanton, so it might be for me, for that matter. Jerry might be +sending me pictures, or a book, he did sometimes, but there was +an exciting thing about it. Besides being fatter than it looked +right at the end, it was plastered with stamps--lots of them, +enough to have brought it clear around the world. I pushed that +end back, pulled out the other, and took one good look. I almost +fell from the carriage. I grabbed father's arm and cried: +"Stop! Stop this team quick. Stop them and see if I can read." + +"Are you crazy, child?" asked father, but he checked the horses. + +"No, but you are going to be in a minute," I said. "Look at +that!" + +I yanked the letter from the bundle, and held it over. I THOUGHT +I could read, but I was too scared to be sure. I thought it said +in big, strong, upstanding letters, Miss Shelley Stanton, +Groveville, Indiana. And in the upper corner, Blackburn, Yeats +and PAGET, Counsellors of Law, 37 to 39 State St., Chicago. I +put my finger on the Paget, and looked into father's face. I was +no fool after all. He was not a bit surer that HE could read +than I was, from the dazed way he stared. + +"You see!" I said. + +"It says Paget!" he said, like he would come nearer believing; it +if he heard himself pronounce the word. + +"I THOUGHT it said `Paget,'" I gasped, "but I wanted to know if +you thought so too." + +"Yes, it's Paget plain enough," said father, but he acted like +there was every possibility that it might change to Jones any +minute. "It says `Paget,' plain as print." + +"Father!" I cried, clutching his arm, "father, see how fat it is! + +There must be pages and pages! Father, it wouldn't take all that +to tell her he didn't like her, and he never wanted to see her +again. Would it, father?" + +"It doesn't seem probable," said father. + +"Father don't you think it means there's been some big mistake, +and it takes so much to tell how it can be fixed?" + +"It seems reasonable." + +I gripped him tighter, and maybe shook him a little. + +"Father!" I cried. "Father, doesn't it just look HURRY, all +over? Can't you speed up a little? They have all day to cool +off. Oh father, won't you speed a little?" + +"That I will!" said father. "Get a tight hold, and pray God it +is good word we carry." + +"But I prayed the one big prayer to get this," I said. "It +wouldn't be sent if it wasn't good. The thing to do now is to +thank the Lord for `all his loving kindnesses,' like mother said. + +Drive father! Make them go!" + +At first he only touched them up; I couldn't see that we were +getting home so fast; but in a minute a cornfield passed like a +streak, a piece of woods flew by a dark blur, a bridge never had +time to rattle, and we began to rock from side to side a little. +Then I gripped the top supports with one hand, the mail with the +other, and hung on for dear life. I took one good look at +father. + +His feet were on the brace, his face was clear, even white, his +eyes steely, and he never moved a muscle. When Jo thought it was +funny, that he was loose in the pasture, and kicked up a little +behind, father gave him a sharp cut with the whip and said: +"Steady boy! Get along there!" + +Sometimes he said, "Aye, aye! Easy!" but he never stopped a +mite. We whizzed past the church and cemetery, and scarcely +touched the Big Hill. People ran to their doors, even to the +yards, and I was sure they thought we were having a runaway, but +we were not. Father began to stop at the lane gate, he pulled +all the way past the garden, and it was as much as he could do to +get them slowed down so that I could jump out by the time we +reached the hitching rack. He tied them, and followed me into +the house instead of going to the barn. I ran ahead calling: +"Shelley! Where is Shelley?" + +"What in this world has happened, child?" asked mother, catching +my arm. + +"Her letter has come! Her Paget letter! The one you looked for +until you gave up. It's come at last! Oh, where is she?" + +"Be calmer, child, you'll frighten her," said mother. + +May snatched the letter from my fingers and began to read all +that was on it aloud. I burst out crying. + +"Make her give that back!" I sobbed to father. "It's mine! I +found it. Father, make her let me take it!" + +"Give it to her!" said father. "I rather feel that it is her +right to deliver it." + +May passed it back, but she looked so disappointed, that by how +she felt I knew how much I wanted to take it myself; so I reached +my hand to her and said: "You can come along! We'll both take +it! Oh where is she?" + +"She went down in the orchard," said mother. "I think probably +she's gone back where she was the other day." + +Gee, but we ran! And there she was! As we came up, she heard us +and turned. + +"Shelley!" I cried. "Here's your letter! Everything is all +right! He's coming, Shelley! Look quick, and see when! Mother +will want to begin baking right away!" + +Shelley looked at me, and said coolly: "Paddy Ryan! What's the +matter?" + +"Your letter!" I cried, shoving it right against her hands. +"Your letter from Robert! From the Paget man, you know! I told +you he was coming! Hurry, and see when!" + +She took it, and sat there staring at it, so much like father, +that it made me think of him, so I saw that she was going to have +to come around to it as we did, and that one couldn't hurry her. +She just had to take her time to sense it. + +"Shall I open it for you?" I asked, merely to make her see that +it was time she was doing it herself. + +Blest if she didn't reach it toward me!--sort of woodenlike. I +stuck my finger under the flap, gave it a rip across and emptied +what was inside into her lap. Bet there were six or seven +letters in queer yellow envelopes I never before had seen any +like, and on them was the name, Robert Paget, while in one corner +it said, "Returned Dead Letter"; also there was a loose folded +white sheet. She sat staring at the heap, touching one, another, +and repeating "Robert Paget?" as she picked each up in turn. + +"What do you suppose it means?" she asked May. May examined +them. + +"You must read the loose sheet," she advised. "No doubt that +will explain." + +But Shelley never touched it. She handled those letters and +stared at them. Father and mother came through the orchard and +stood together behind us, so father knelt down at last, reached +across Shelley's shoulder, picked one up and looked at it. + +"Have you good word, dear?" asked mother of Shelley. + +"Why, I don't understand at all," said Shelley. "Just look at +all these queer letters, addressed to Mr. Paget. Why should they +be sent to me? I mustn't open them. They're not mine. There +must be some mistake." + +"These are DEAD LETTERS," said father. "They've been written to +you, couldn't be delivered, and so were sent to the Dead Letter +Office at Washington, which returned them to the writer, and +unopened he has forwarded them once more to you. You've heard of +dead letters, haven't you?" + +"I suppose so," said Shelley. "I don't remember just now; but +there couldn't be a better name. They've come mighty near +killing me." + +"If you'd only read that note!" urged May, putting it right into +her fingers. + +Shelley still sat there. + +"I'm afraid of it," she said exactly like I'd have spoken if +there had been a big rattlesnake coming right at me, when I'd +nothing at hand to bruise it. + +Laddie and Leon came from the barn. They had heard me calling, +seen May and me run, and then father and mother coming down, so +they walked over. + +"What's up?" asked Leon. "Has Uncle Levi's will been discovered, +and does mother get his Mexican mines?" + +"What have you got, Shelley?" asked Laddie, kneeling beside her, +and picking up one of the yellow letters. + +"I hardly know," said Shelley. + +"I brought her a big letter with all those little ones and a note +in it, and they are from the Paget man," I explained to him. +"But she won't even read the note, and see what he writes. She +says she's afraid." + +"Poor child! No wonder!" said Laddie, sitting beside her and +putting his arm around her. "Suppose I read it for you. May I?" + +"Yes," said Shelley. "You read it. Read it out loud. I don't +care." + +She leaned against him, while he unfolded the white sheet. + +"Umph!" he said. "This DOES look bad for you. It begins: `My +own darling Girl.'" + +"Let me see!" cried Shelley, suddenly straightening, and reaching +her hand. + +Laddie held the page toward her, but she only looked, she didn't +offer to touch it. + +"`My own darling Girl:'" repeated Laddie tenderly, making it mean +just all he possibly could, because he felt so dreadfully sorry +for her--" `On my return to Chicago, from the trip to England I +have so often told you I intended to make some time soon----'" + +"Did he?" asked mother. + +"Yes," answered Shelley. "He couldn't talk about much else. It +was his first case. It was for a friend of his who had been +robbed of everything in the world; honour, relatives, home, and +money. If Robert won it, he got all that back for his friend and +enough for himself--that he could--a home of his own, you know! +Read on, Laddie!" + +"`I was horrified to find on my desk every letter I had written +you during my absence returned to me from the Dead Letter Office, +as you see.'" + +"Good gracious!" cried mother, picking up one and clutching it +tight as if she meant to see that it didn't get away again. + +"Go on!" cried Shelley. + +"`I am enclosing some of them as they came back to me, in proof +of my statement. I drove at once to your boarding place and +found you had not been there for weeks, and your landlady was +distinctly crabbed. Then I went to the college, only to find +that you had fallen ill and gone to your home. That threw me +into torments, and all that keeps me from taking the first train +is the thought that perhaps you refused to accept these letters, +for some reason. Shelley, you did not, did you? There is some +mistake somewhere, is there not----'" + +"One would be led to think so," said father sternly. "Seems as +if he might have managed some way----" + +"Don't you blame him!" cried Shelley. "Can't you see it's all my +fault? He'd been coming regularly, and the other girls envied +me; then he just disappeared, and there was no word or anything, +and they laughed and whispered until I couldn't endure it; so I +moved in with Peter's cousin, as I wrote you; but that left Mrs. +Fleet with an empty room in the middle of the term, and it made +her hopping mad. I bet anything she wouldn't give the postman my +new address, to pay me back. I left it, of course. But if I'd +been half a woman, and had the confidence I should have had in +myself and in him---- Oh how I've suffered, and punished all of +you----!" + +"Never you mind about that," said mother, stroking Shelley's +hair. "Likely there isn't much in Chicago to give a girl who +never had been away from her family before, `confidence' in +herself or any one else. As for him--just disappearing like +that, without a word or even a line---- Go on Laddie!" + +"`Surely, you knew that I was only waiting the outcome of this +trip to tell you how dearly I love you. Surely, you encouraged +me in thinking you cared for me a little, Shelley. Only a little +will do to begin with----'" + +"You see, I DID have something to go on!" cried Shelley, wiping +her eyes and straightening up. + +"`No doubt you misunderstood and resented my going without coming +to explain, and bid you good-bye in person, but Shelley, _I_ +SIMPLY DARED NOT. You see, it was this way: I got a cable about +the case I was always talking of, and the only man who could give +the testimony I MUST HAVE was dying!'" + +"For land's sake! The poor boy!" cried mother, patting Shelley's +shoulder. + +"`An hour's delay might mean the loss of everything in the world +to me, even you. For if I lost any time, and the man escaped me, +there was no hope of winning my case, and everything, even you, +as I said before, depended on him----'" + +"Good Lord! I mean land!" cried Leon. + +"`If I could catch the train in an hour, I could take a boat at +New York, and go straight through with no loss of time. So I +wrote you a note that probably said more than I would have +ventured in person, and paid a boy to deliver it.'" + +"Kept the money and tore up the note, I bet!" said May. + +"`I wrote on the train, but found after sailing that I had rushed +so I had failed to post it in New York. I kept on writing every +day on the boat, and mailed you six at Liverpool. All the time I +have written frequently; there are many more here that this +envelope will not hold, that I shall save until I hear from +you.'" + +"Well, well!" said father. + +"`Shelley, I beat death, reached my man, got the testimony I had +to have, and won my case.'" + +"Glory!" cried mother. "Praise the Lord!" + +"`Then I scoured England, and part of the continent, hunting some +interested parties; and when I was so long finding them, and +still no word came from you, I decided to come back and get you, +if you would come with me, and go on with the work together.'" + +"Listen to that! More weddings!" cried Leon. He dropped on his +knees before Shelley. "Will you marry me, my pretty maid?" he +begged. + +"Young man, if you cut any capers right now, I'll cuff your +ears!" cried father. "This is no proper time for your +foolishness!" + +"`Shelley, I beg that you will believe me, and if you care for me +in the very least, telegraph if I may come. Quick! I'm half +insane to see you. I have many things to tell you, first of all +how dear you are to me. Please telegraph. Robert.'" + +"Saddle a horse, Leon!" father cried as he unstrapped his wallet. + +"Laddie, take down her message." + +"Can you put it into ten words?" asked Laddie. + +"Mother, what would you say?" questioned Shelley. + +Leon held up his fingers and curled down one with each word. +"Say, `Dear Robert. Well and happy. Come when you get ready.'" + +"But then I won't know when he's coming," objected Shelley. "You +don't need to," said Leon. "You can take it for granted from +that epistolary effusion that he won't let the grass grow under +his feet while coming here. That's a bully message! It sounds +as if you weren't crazy over him, and it's a big compliment to +mother. Looks as if she didn't have to know when people are +coming--like she's ready all the time." + +"Write it out and let me see," said Shelley. + +So Laddie wrote it, and she looked at it a long time, it seemed +to me, at last she said: "I don't like that `get.' It doesn't +sound right. Wouldn't `are' be better?" + +"Come when you are ready," repeated Laddie. "Yes, that's better. + +`Get' sounds rather saucy." + +"Why not put it, `Come when you choose?'" suggested mother. +"That will leave a word to spare, so it won't look as if you had +counted them and used exactly ten on purpose, and it doesn't +sound as if you expected him to make long preparations, like the +other. That will leave it with him to start whenever he likes." + +"Yes! yes!" cried Shelley. "That's much better! Say, `Come when +you choose!'" + +"Right!" said Laddie as he wrote it. "Now I'll take this!" + +"Oh no you won't!" cried Leon. "Father told me to saddle my +horse. She's got enough speed in her to beat yours a mile. I +take that! Didn't you say for me to saddle, father?" + +"Such important business, I think I better," said Laddie, and +Leon began to cry. + +"I think you should both go," said Shelley. "It is so important, +and if one goes to make a mistake, maybe the other will notice +it." + +"Yes, that's the best way," said mother. + +"Yes, both go," said father. + +It was like one streak when they went up the Big Hill. Father +shook his head. "Poor judgment--that," he said. "Never run a +horse up hill!" + +"But they're in such a hurry," Shelley reminded him. + +"So they are," said father. "In this case I might have broken +the rule myself. Now come all of you, and let the child get at +her mail." + +"But I want you to stay," said Shelley. "I'm so addle-pated this +morning. I need my family to help me." + +"Of course you do, child," said mother. "Families were made to +cling together, and stand by each other in every circumstance of +life--joy or sorrow. Of course you need your family." + +May began sorting the letters by dates so Shelley could start on +the one that had been written first. Father ran his knife across +the top of each, and cut all the envelopes, and Shelley took out +the first and read it; that was the train one. In it he told her +about sending the boy with the note again, and explained more +about how it was so very important for him to hurry, because the +only man who could help him was so sick. We talked it over, and +all of us thought the boy had kept the money and torn up the +note. Father said the way would have been to send the note and +pay the boy when he came back; but Shelley said Mr. Paget would +have been gone before the boy got back, so father saw that +wouldn't have been the way, in such a case. + +Next she read one written on the boat. He told more about +sending the boy; how he loved her, what it would mean to both of +them if he got the evidence he wanted and won his first case; and +how much it would bring his friend. The next one told it all +over again, and more. In that he wrote a little about the ocean, +the people on board the ship, and he gave Shelley the name of the +place where he was going and begged her to write to him. He told +her if the ship he was on passed another, they were going to stop +and send back the mail. He begged her to write often, and to say +she forgave him for starting away without seeing her, as he had +been forced to. + +The next one was the same thing over, only a little more yet. In +the last he had reached England, the important man was still +living, but he was almost gone, and Mr. Paget took two good +witnesses, all the evidence he had, and went to see him; and the +man saw it was no use, so he made a statement, and Robert had it +all written out, signed and witnessed. For the real straight +sense there was in that letter, I could have done as well myself. + +It was a wild jumble, because Robert was so crazy over having the +evidence that would win his case; and he told Shelley that now he +was perfectly free to love her all she would allow him. He said +he had to stay a while longer to find his friend's people so they +would get back their share of the money, but it was not going to +be easy to locate them. You wouldn't think the world so big, but +maybe it seemed smaller to me because as far as I could see from +the top of our house, was all I knew about it. After Shelley had +read the letters, and the note again, father heaved a big sigh +that seemed to come clear from his boot soles and he said: "Well +Shelley, it looks to me as if you had found a MAN. Seems to me +that's a mighty important case for a young lawyer to be trusted +with, in a first effort." + +"Yes, but it was for Robert's best friend, and only think, he has +won!" + +"I don't see how he could have done better if he'd been old as +Methuselah, and wise as Solomon," boasted mother. + +"But he hasn't found the people who must have back their money," +said May. "He will have to go to England again. And he wants to +take you, Shelley. My! You'll get to sail on a big steamer, +cross the Atlantic Ocean, and see London. Maybe you'll even get +a peep at the Queen!" + +Shelley was busy making a little heap of her letters; when the +top one slid off I reached over and put it back for her. She +looked straight at me, and smiled the most wonderful and the most +beautiful smile I ever saw on any one's face, so I said to her: +"You see! I TOLD you he was coming!" + +"I can't understand it!" said Shelley. + +"YOU KNOW I told you." + +"Of course I do! But what made you think so?" + +"That was the answer. Just that he was coming." + +"What are you two talking about?" asked mother. + +Shelley looked at me, and waited for me to tell mother as much as +I wanted to, of what had happened. But I didn't think things +like that were to be talked about before every one, so I just +said: + +"Oh nothing! Only, I told Shelley this very morning that the +Paget man was coming soon, and that everything was going to be +all right." + +"You did? Well of all the world! I can't see why." + +"Oh something told me! I just FELT that way." + +"More of that Fairy nonsense?" asked father sharply. + +"No. I didn't get that from the Fairies." + +"Well, never mind!" said Shelley, rising, because she saw that I +had told all I wanted to. "Little Sister DID tell me this +morning that he was coming, that everything would be made right, +and it's the queerest thing, but instantly I believed her. +Didn't I sing all morning, mother? The first note since Robert +didn't come when I expected him in Chicago, weeks ago." + +"Yes," said mother. "That's a wonderfully strange thing. I +can't see what made you think so." + +"Anyway, I did!" I said. "Now let's go have dinner. I'm +starving." + +I caught May's hand, and ran to get away from them. Father and +mother walked one on each side of Shelley, while with both hands +she held her letters before her. When we reached the house we +just talked about them all the time. Pretty soon the boys were +back, and then they told about sending the telegram. Leon vowed +he gave the operator a dime extra to start that message with a +shove, so it would go faster. + +"It will go all right," said Laddie, "and how it will go won't be +a circumstance to the way he'll come. If there's anything we +ought to do, before he gets here, we should hustle. Chicago +isn't a thousand miles away. That message can reach him by two +o'clock, it's probable he has got ready while he was waiting, so +he will start on the first train our way. He could reach +Groveville on the ten, to-morrow. We better meet it." + +"Yes, we'll meet it," said mother. "Is the carriage perfectly +clean?" + +Father said: "It must be gone over. Our general manager here +ordered me to speed up, and we drove a little coming from town." + +Mother went to planning what else should be done. + +"Don't do anything!" cried Shelley. "The house is all right. +There's no need to work and worry into a sweat. He won't notice +or care how things look." + +"I miss my guess if he doesn't notice and care very much indeed," +said mother emphatically. "Men are not blind. No one need think +they don't see when things are not as they should be, just +because they're not cattish enough to let you know it, like a +woman always does. Shelley, wouldn't you like to ride over and +spend the afternoon with the Princess?" + +"Nope!" said Shelley. "It's her turn to come to see me. +Besides, you don't get me out of the way like that. I know what +you'll do here, and I intend to help." + +"Do you need one of the boys at the house?" asked father, and if +you'll believe it, both of them wanted to stay. + +Father said he must have one to help wash the carriage and do a +little fixing around the barn; so he took Leon, but he didn't +like to go. He said: "I don't see what all this fuss is about, +anyway. Probably he'll be another Peter." + +Shelley looked at him: "Oh Mr. Paget isn't nearly so large as +Peter," she said, "and his hair is whiter than yours, while his +eyes are not so blue." + +"Saints preserve us!" cried Leon. "Come on, father, let's only +dust the carriage! He's not worth washing it for." + +"Is he like that?" asked mother anxiously. + +"Wait and see!" said Shelley. "Looks don't make a man. He has +proved what he can do." + +Then all of us went to work. Before night we were hunting over +the yard, and beside the road, to see if we could find anything +to pick up. Six chickens were in the cellar, father was to bring +meat and a long list of groceries from town in the morning. He +was to start early, get them before train time, put them under +the back seat, and take them out after he drove into the lane, +when he came back. That made a little more trouble for father, +but there was not the slightest necessity for making Mr. Paget +feel that he had ridden in a delivery wagon. + +Next morning I wakened laughing softly, because some one was +fussing with my hair, patting my face, and kissing me, so I put +up my arms and pulled that loving person down on my pillow, and +gave back little half-asleep kisses, and slept on; but it was +Shelley, and she gently shook me and began repeating that fool +old thing I have been waked up with half the mornings of my life: + + "Get up, Little Sister, the morning is bright, + The birds are all singing to welcome the light, + Get up; for when all things are merry and glad, + Good children should never be lazy and sad; + For God gives us daylight, dear sister, that we + May rejoice like the lark and work like the bee." + + +Usually I'd have gone on sleeping, but Shelley was so sweet and +lovely, and she kissed me so hard, that I remembered it was going +to be a most exciting day, so I came to quick as snap and jumped +right up, for I didn't want to miss a single thing that might +happen. + +The carriage was shining when it came to the gate, so was father. + +I thought there was going to be a vacant seat beside him, and I +asked if I might go along. He said: "Yes, if mother says so." +He always would stick that in. So I ran to ask her, and she +didn't care, if Shelley made no objections. I was just starting +to find her, when here she came, all shining too, but Laddie was +with her. I hadn't known that he was going, and I was so +disappointed I couldn't help crying. + +"What's the matter?" asked Shelley. + +"Father and mother both said I might go, if you didn't care." + +"Why, I'm dreadfully sorry," said Shelley, "but I have several +things I want Laddie to do for me." + +Laddie stooped down to kiss me good-bye and he said: "Don't cry, +Little Sister. The way to be happy is to be good." + +Then they drove to Groveville, and we had to wait. But there was +so much to do, it made us fly to get all of it finished. So +mother sent Leon after Mrs. Freshett to help in the kitchen, +while Candace wore her white dress, and waited on the table. +Mother cut flowers for the dining table, and all through the +house. She left the blinds down to keep the rooms cool, chilled +buttermilk to drink, and if she didn't think of every single, +least little thing, I couldn't see what it was. Then all of us +put on our best dresses. Mother looked as glad and sweet as any +girl, when she sat to rest a little while. I didn't dare climb +the catalpa in my white dress, so I watched from the horse block, +and when I saw the grays come over the top of the hill, I ran to +tell. As mother went to the gate, she told May and me to walk +behind, to stay back until we were spoken to, and then to keep +our heads level, and remember our manners. I don't know where +Leon went. He said he lost all interest when he found there was +to be another weak-eyed towhead in the family, and I guess he was +in earnest about it, because he wasn't even curious enough to be +at the gate when Mr. Paget came. + +Father stopped with a flourish, Laddie hurried around and helped +Shelley, and then Mr. Paget stepped down. Goodness, gracious, +sakes alive! Little? Towhead? He was taller than Laddie. His +hair was most as black as ink, and wavy. His eyes were big and +dark; he was broad and strong and there was the cleanest, +freshest look about him. He put his arm spang around Shelley, +right there in the road, and mother said: "Hold there! Not so +fast, young man! I haven't given my consent to that." + +He laughed, and he said: "Yes, but you'ah going to!" And he put +his other arm around mother, so May and I crowded up, and we had +a family reunion right between the day lilies and the snowball +bush. We went into the house, and he LIKED us, his room, and +everything went exactly right. He was crazy about the cold +buttermilk, and while he was drinking it Leon walked into the +dining-room, because he thought of course Mr. Paget and Shelley +would be on the davenport in the parlour. When he saw Robert he +said lowlike to Shelley: "Didn't Mr. Paget come? Who's that?" + +Shelley looked so funny for a minute, then she remembered what +she had told him and she just laughed as she said: "Mr. Paget, +this is my brother." + +Robert went to shake hands, and Leon said right to his teeth: +"Well a divil of a towhead you are!" + +"Towhead?" said Robert, bewildered-like. + +"Shelley said you were a little bit of a man, with watery blue +eyes, and whiter hair than mine." + +"Oh I say!" cried Robert. "She must have been stringin' you!" + +Leon just whooped; because while Mr. Paget didn't talk like the +'orse, 'ouse people, he made you think of them in the way he said +things, and the sound of his voice. Then we had dinner, and I +don't remember that we ever had quite such a feast before. +Mother had put on every single flourish she knew. She used her +very best dishes, and linen, and no cook anywhere could beat +Candace alone; now she had Mrs. Freshett to help her, and mother +also. If she tried to show Mr. Paget, she did it! No visitor +was there except him, but we must have been at the table two +hours talking, and eating from one dish after another. Candace +LIKED to wear her white dress, and carry things around, and they +certainly were good. + +And talk! Father, Laddie, and Robert talked over all creation. +Every once in a while when mother saw an opening, she put in her +paddle, and no one could be quicker, when she watched sharp and +was trying to make a good impression. Shelley was very quiet; +she scarcely spoke or touched that delicious food. Once the +Paget man turned to her, looking at her so fondlike, as he picked +up one of her sauce dishes and her spoon and wanted to feed her. +And he said: "Heah child, eat your dinnah! You have nawthing to +be fussed ovah! I mean to propose to you, and your parents +befowr night. That is what I am heah for." + +Every one laughed so, Shelley never got the bite; but after that +she perked up more and ate a little by herself. + +At last father couldn't stand it any longer, so he began asking +Robert about his trip to England, and the case he had won. When +the table was cleared for dessert, Mr. Paget asked mother to have +Candace to bring his satchel. He opened it and spread papers all +over, so that father and Laddie could see the evidence, while he +told them how it was. + +It seemed there was a law in England, all of us knew about it, +because father often had explained it. This law said that a man +who had lots of money and land must leave almost all of it to his +eldest son; and the younger ones must go into law, the army, be +clergymen, or enter trade and earn a living, while the eldest +kept up the home place. Then he left it to his eldest son, and +his other boys had to work for a living. It kept the big estates +together; but my! it was hard on the younger sons, and no one +seemed even to think about the daughters. I never heard them +mentioned. + +Now there was a very rich man; he had only two sons, and each of +them married, and had one son. The younger son died, and sent +his boy for his elder brother to take care of. He pretended to +be good, but for sure, he was bad as ever he could be. He knew +that if his cousin were out of the way, all that land and money +would be his when his uncle died. So he went to work and he +tried for years, and a lawyer man who had no conscience at all, +helped him. At last when they had done everything they could +think of, they took a lot of money and put it in the pocket of +the son they wanted to ruin; then when his father missed the +money, and the house was filled with policemen, detectives, and +neighbours, the bad man said he'd feel more comfortable to have +the family searched too, merely as a formality, so he stepped out +and was gone over, and when the son's turn came, there was the +money on him! That made him a public disgrace to his family, and +a criminal who couldn't inherit the estate, and his father went +raving mad and tried to kill him, so he had to run away. At +first he didn't care what he did, so he came over here. Robert +said that man was his best friend, and as men went, he was a +decent fellow, so he cheered him up all he could, and went to +work with all his might to prove he was innocent, and to get back +his family, and his money for him. + +When Robert had enough evidence that he was almost ready to start +to England, his man got a cable from an old friend of his +father's, who always had believed in him, and it said that the +bad man was dying--to come quick. So Robert went all of a +sudden, like the Dead Letters told about. Now, he described how +he reached there, took the old friend of the father of his friend +with him, and other witnesses, and all the evidence he had, and +went to see the sick man. When Robert showed him what he could +prove, the bad man said it was no use, he had to die in a few +days, so he might as well go with a clean conscience, and he told +about everything he had done. Robert had it all written out, +signed and sworn to. He told about all of it, and then he said +to father: "Have I made it clear to you?" + +Leon was so excited he forgot all the manners he ever had, for he +popped up before father could open his head, and cried: "Clear as +mud! I got that son business so plain in my mind, I'd know the +party of the first part, from the party of the second part, if I +met him promenading on the Stone Wall of China!" + +Father and Laddie knew so much law they asked dozens of +questions; but that Robert man wasn't a smidgin behind, for every +clip he had the answer ready, and then he could go on and tell +much more than he had been asked. He said as a Case, it was a +pretty thing to work on; but it was much more than a case to him, +because he always had known that his friend was not guilty; that +he was separated from his family, suffering terribly under the +disgrace, and they must be also. He had worked for life for his +friend, because the whole thing meant so much to both of them. +He said he must go back soon and finish up a little more that he +should have done while he was there, if it hadn't been that he +received no word from Shelley. + +"When I didn't heah from heh for so long, and wrote so many +letters, and had no reply, I thought possibly some gay `young +Lochinvah had come out from the west,' and taken my sweet 'eart," +he said, "and while I had my armour on, I made up my mind that +I'd give him a fight too. I didn't propose to lose Shelley, if +it were in my powah to win heh. I hadn't been able to say to heh +exactly what I desiahed, on account of getting a start alone in +this country; but if I won this case, I would have ample means. +When I secuahed the requiahed evidence, I couldn't wait to +finish, so I came straight ovah, to make sure of heh." + +He arose and handed the satchel to father. + +"I notice you have a very good looking gun convenient," he said. +"Would you put these papahs where you consider them safe until +I'm ready to return? Our home, our living, and the honah of a +man are there, and we are mighty particular about that bag, are +we not, Shelley?" + +"Well I should think we are!" cried Shelley. "For goodness sake, +father, hang to it! Is the man still living? Could you get that +evidence over again?" + +"He was alive when I left, but the doctors said ten days would be +his limit, so he may be gone befowr this." + +Father picked up the satchel, set it on his knees, and stroked it +as if it were alive. + +"Well! Well!" he said. "Now would any one think such a little +thing could contain so much?" + +Shelley leaned toward Robert. + +"Your friend!" she cried, "Your friend! What DID he say to you? +What did he DO?" + +"Well, for a time he was wildly happy ovah having the stain +removed from his honah, and knowing that he would have his family +and faw'tn back; but there is an extremely sad feature to his +case that is not yet settled, so he must keep his head level +until we work that out. Now about that hoss you wanted to show +me----" he turned to Leon. + +Mother gave the signal, and we left the table. Father carried +the satchel to his chest, made room for it, locked it in and put +the key in his pocket. Then our men started to the barn to show +the Arab-Kentucky horse. Mr. Paget went to Shelley and took her +in his arms exactly like Peter did Sally before the parlour door +that time when I got into trouble, and he looked at mother and +laughed as he said: "I hope you will excuse me, but I"e been +having a very nawsty, anxious time, and I cawn't conform to the +rules for a few days, until I become accustomed to the fawct that +Shelley is not lost to me. It was beastly when I reached +Chicago, had back all my letters, and found she had gone home +ill. I've much suffering to recompense. I'll atone for a small +portion immediately." + +He lifted Shelley right off the floor--that's how big and strong +he was--he hugged her tight, and kissed her forehead, cheeks, and +eyes. + +"When I've gone through the fahmality of asking your parents for +you, and they have said a gracious `yes,' I'll put the fust one +on your lips," he said, setting her down carefully. "In the +meantime, you be fixing your mouth to say, `yes,' also, when I +propose to you, because it's coming befowr you sleep." + +Shelley was like a peach blossom. She reached up and touched his +cheek, while she looked at mother all smiling, and sparkling, as +she said: "You see!" + +Mother smiled back. + +"I do, indeed!" she answered. + +Leon pulled Mr. Paget's sleeve. + +"Aw quit lally-gaggin' and come see a real horse," he said. + +Robert put his other arm around Leon, drew him to his side and +hugged him as if he were a girl. "I'm so glad Shelley has a +lawge family," he said. "Big families are jolly. I'm so proud +of all the brothers I'm going to have. I was the only boy at +home." + +"You haven't told us about your family," said mother. + +"No," said Robert, "but I intend to. I have a family! One of +the finest on uth. We'll talk about them after this hoss is +inspected." + +He let Shelley go and walked away, his arm still around Leon. +Shelley ran to mother and both of them sobbed out loud. + +"NOW YOU SEE HOW IT WAS!" she said. + +"You poor child!" cried mother. "Indeed I DO see how it was. +You've been a brave girl. A good, brave girl! Father and I are +mighty proud of you!" + +"Oh mother! I thought you were ashamed of me!" sobbed Shelley. + +"Oh my child!" said mother quavery-like. "Oh my child! You +surely see that none of us could understand, as we do now." + +She patted Shelley, and told her to run upstairs and lie down for +a while, because she was afraid she would be sick. + +"We mustn't have a pale, tired girl right now," said mother. + +Well!" said Shelley, but she just stood there holding mother. + +"Well?" said mother gripping her. + +"You see!" said Shelley. + +"Child," said mother, "I DO see! I see six feet of as handsome +manhood as I ever have seen anywhere. His manner is perfect, and +I find his speech most attractive. I am delighted with him. I +do see indeed! Your father is quite as proud and pleased as I +am. Now go to bed." + +Shelley held up her lips, and then went. I ran to the barn, +where the men were standing in the shade, while Leon led his +horse up and down before them, told about its pedigree, its +record, how he came to have it. The Paget man stood there +looking and listening gravely, as he studied the horse. At last +he went over her, and gee! but he knew horse! Then Laddie +brought out Flos and they talked all about her, and then went +into the barn. Father opened the east doors to show how much +land he had, which were his lines; and while the world didn't +look quite so pretty as it had in May, still it was good enough. +Then they went into the orchard, sat under the trees and began +talking about business conditions. That was so dry I went back +to the house. And maybe I didn't strike something interesting +there! + +As I came up the orchard path to a back yard gate, I saw a +carriage at the hitching rack in front of the house, so I took a +peep and almost fell over. It was the one the Princess had come +to Sally's wedding in; so I knew she was in the house visiting +Shelley. I went to the parlour and there I had another shock; +for lo and behold! in our big rocking chair, and looking as well +as any one, so far as you could see--of course you can't see +heart trouble, though--sat Mrs. Pryor. The Princess and mother +were there, all of them talking, laughing and having the best +time, while on the davenport enjoying himself as much as any one, +was Mr. Pryor. They talked about everything, and it was easy to +see that the Pryor door was OPEN so far as we were concerned, +anyway. Mrs. Pryor was just as nice and friendly as she could +be, and so was he. Shelley sat beside him, and he pinched her +cheek and said: "Something seems to make you especially +brilliant today, young woman!" + +Shelley flushed redder, laughed, and glanced at mother, so she +said: "Shelley is having a plain old-fashioned case of beau. +She met a young man in Chicago last fall and he's here now to ask +our consent. All of us are quite charmed with him. That's why +she's so happy." + +Then the Princess sprang up and kissed Shelley, so did Mrs. +Pryor, while such a chatter you never heard. No one could repeat +what they said, for as many as three talked at the same time. + +"Oh do let's have a double wedding!" cried the Princess when the +excitement was over a little. "I think it would be great fun; do +let's! When are you planning for?" + +"Nothing is settled yet," said Shelley. "We've had no time to +talk!" + +"Mercy!" cried the Princess. "Go make your arrangements quickly! + +Hurry up, then come over, and we'll plan for the same time. It +will be splendid! Don't you think that would be fine, Mrs. +Stanton?" + +"I can't see any objections to it," said mother. + +"Where is your young man? I'm crazy to see him," cried the +Princess. "If you have gone and found a better looking one than +mine, I'll never speak to you again." + +"She hasn't!" cried Mrs. Pryor calmly, like that settled it. I +like her. "They're not made!" + +"I am not so sure of that," said Shelley proudly. "Mother, isn't +my man quite as good looking, and as nice in every way, as +Laddie?" + +"Fully as handsome, and so far as can be seen in such a short +time, quite as fine," said mother. + +I was perfectly amazed at her; as if any man could be! + +"I don't believe it, I won't stand it, and I shan't go home until +I have seen for myself!" cried the Princess, laughing, and yet it +sounded as if she were half-provoked, and I knew I was. The +Paget man was all right, but I wasn't going to lose my head over +him. Laddie was the finest, of course! + +"Well, he's somewhere on the place with our men, this minute," +said Shelley, "but you stay for supper, and meet him." + +"When you haven't your arrangements made yet! You surely are +unselfish! Of course I won't do that, but I'd love to have one +little peep, then you bring him and come over to-morrow, so all +of us can become acquainted, and indeed, I'm really in earnest +about a double wedding." + +"Go see where the men are," said Shelley to me. + +I went to the back door, and their heads were bobbing far down in +the orchard. + +"They're under the greening apple tree," I reported. + +"If you will excuse us," said Shelley to Mr. and Mrs. Pryor, +"we'll walk down a few minutes and prove that I'm right." + +"Don't stay," said Mrs. Pryor. "This trip is so unusual for me +that I'm quite tired. For a first venture, in such a long time, +I think I've done well. But now I'm beginning to feel I should +go home." + +"Go straight along," said the Princess. "I'll walk across the +fields, or Thomas can come back after me." + +So Mr. and Mrs. Pryor went away, while the Princess, Shelley, +May, and I walked through the orchard toward the men. They were +standing on the top of the hill looking over the meadow, and +talking with such interest they didn't hear us or turn until +Shelley said: "Mr. Paget, I want to present you to Laddie's +betrothed--Miss Pamela Pryor." + +He swung around, finishing what he was saying as he turned, the +Princess took a swift step toward him, then, at the same time, +both of them changed to solid tombstone, and stood staring, and +so did all of us, while no one made a sound. At last the Paget +man drew a deep, quivery breath and sort of shook himself as he +gazed at her. + +"Why, Pam!" he cried. "Darling Pam, cawn it possibly be you?" + +If you ever heard the scream of a rabbit when the knives of a +reaper cut it to death, why that's exactly the way she cried out. + +She covered her eyes with her hands. He drew back and smiled, +the red rushed into his face, and he began to be alive again. +Laddie went to the Princess and took her hands. + +"What does this mean?" he begged. + +She pulled away from him, and went to the Paget man slowly, her +big eyes wild and strained. + +"Robert!" she cried. "Robert! how did you get here? Were you +hunting us?" + +"All ovah England, yes," he said. "Not heah! I came heah to see +Shelley. But you? How do you happen to be in this country?" + +"We've lived on adjoining land for two years!" + +"You moved heah! To escape the pity of our friends?" + +"Father moved! Mother and I had no means, and no refuge. We +were forced. We never believed it! Oh Robert, we never--not for +a minute! Oh Robert, say you never did it!" + +"Try our chawming cousin Emmet your next guess!" + +"That devil! Oh that devil!" + +She cried out that hurt way again, so he took her tight in his +arms; but sure as ever Laddie was my brother, he was hers, so +that was all right. When they were together you wondered why in +this world you hadn't thought of it the instant you saw him +alone. They were like as two peas. They talked exactly the +same, only he sounded much more so, probably from having just +been in England for weeks, while in two years she had grown a +little as we were. We gazed at them, open-mouthed, like as not, +and no one said a word. + +At last Mr. Paget looked over the Princess' shoulder at father +and said: "I can explain this, Mr. Stanton, in a very few wuds. +I am my friend. The case was my own. The evidence I secuahed +was for myself. This is my only sisteh. Heh people are +mine----" + +"The relationship is apparent," said father. "There is a +striking likeness between you and your sister, and I can discern +traces of your parents in your face, speech and manner." + +"If you know my father," said Robert, "then you undehstand what +happened to me when I was found with his money on my pehson, in +the presence of our best friends and the police. He went raving +insane on the instant, and he would have killed me if he hadn't +been prevented; he tried to; has he changed any since, Pam?" + +The Princess was clinging to him with both hands, staring at him, +wonder, joy, and fear all on her lovely face. + +"Worse!" she cried. "He's much worse! The longer he broods, the +more mother grieves, the bitterer he becomes. Mr. Stanton, he is +always armed. He'll shoot on sight. Oh what shall we do?" + +"Miss Pamela," said Leon, "did your man Thomas know your brother +in England?" + +"All his life." + +"Well, then, we'd better be doing something quick. He tied the +horses and was walking up and down the road while he waited, and +he saw us plainly when we crossed the wood yard a while ago. He +followed us and stared so, I couldn't help noticing him." + +"Jove!" cried Robert. "I must have seen him in the village this +morning. A man reminded me of him, then I remembered how like +people of his type are, and concluded I was mistaken. Mr. +Stanton, you have agreed that the evidence I hold is sufficient. +Pam cawn tell you that while I don't deny being full of tricks as +a boy, they weh not dirty, not low, and while father always +taking Emmet's paht against me drove me to recklessness +sometimes, I nevah did anything underhand or disgraceful. She +knows what provocation I had, and exactly what happened. Let heh +tell you!" + +"I don't feel that I require any further information," said +father. "You see, I happen to be fairly well acquainted with Mr. +Pryor." + +"Pryor?" + +"He made us use that name here," explained the Princess. + +"WELL, HIS NAME IS PAGET!" said Robert angrily. + +Laddie told me long ago he didn't believe it was Pryor. + +"Then, if you are acquainted with my father, what would you +counsel? Unless I'm prepahed to furnish the central figyah of +interest in a funeral, I dare not meet him, until he has seen +this evidence, had time to digest it, and calm himself." + +Shelley caught him by the arm. No wonder! She hadn't been +proposed to, or even had a kiss on her lips. She pulled him. + +"You come straight to the house," she said. "Thomas may tell +your father he thought he saw you." + +That was about as serious as anything could be, but nothing ever +stopped Leon. He sidled away from father, repeating in a low +voice: + + "`For sore dismayed, through storm and shade + His child he did discover; + One lovely hand she stretched for aid, + And one was round her lover--'" + + +Shelley just looked daggers at him, but she was too anxious to +waste any time. + +"Would Thomas tell your father?" she asked the Princess. + +"The instant he saw him alone, yes. He wouldn't before mother." + +"Hold one minute!" cried father. "We must think of our mother, +just a little. Shelley, you and the girls run up and explain how +this is. Better all of you go to the house, except Mr. Paget. +He'll be safe here as anywhere. Mr. Pryor will stop there, if he +comes. So it would be best for you to keep out of sight, Robert, +until I have had a little talk with him." + +"I'll stay here," I offered. "We'll talk until you get Mr. Pryor +cooled off. He can be awful ragesome when he's excited, and it +doesn't take much to start him." + +"You're right about that!" agreed Robert. + +So we sat under the greening and were having a fine visit while +the others went to break the news gently to mother that the Pryor +mystery had gone up higher than Gilderoy's kite. My! but she'd +be glad! It would save her many a powerful prayer. I was +telling Robert all about the time his father visited us, and what +my mother said to him, and he said: "She'd be the one to talk +with him now. Possibly he'd listen to her, until he got it +through his head that his own son is not a common thief." + +"Maybe he'll have to be held, like taking quinine, and made to +listen," I said. + +"That would be easy, if he were not a walking ahsenal," said +Robert. "You have small chance to reason with a half-crazy man +while he is handling a pistol." + +He meant revolver. + +"But he'll shoot!" I cried. "The Princess said he'd shoot!" + +"So he will!" said Robert. "Shoot first, then find out how +things are, and kill himself and every one else with remorse, +afterward. He is made that way." + +"Then he doesn't dare see you until he finds out how mistaken he +has been," I said, for I was growing to like Robert better every +minute longer I knew him. Besides, there was the Princess, +looking like him as possible, and loving him of course, like I +did Laddie, maybe. And if anything could cure Mrs. Pryor's heart +trouble, having her son back would, because that was what made it +in the first place, and even before them, there was Shelley to be +thought of, and cared for. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Pryor Mystery + + "And now old Dodson, turning pale, + Yields to his fate--so ends my tale." + +It didn't take me long to see why Shelley liked Robert Paget. He +was one of the very most likeable persons I ever had seen. We +were sitting under the apple tree, growing better friends every +minute, when we heard a smash, so we looked up, and it was the +sound made by Ranger as Mr. Pryor landed from taking our meadow +fence. He had ridden through the pasture, and was coming down +the creek bank. He was a spectacle to behold. A mile away you +could see that Thomas had told him he had seen Robert, and where +he was. Father had been mistaken in thinking Mr. Pryor would go +to the house. He had lost his hat, his white hair was flying, +his horse was in a lather, and he seemed to be talking to +himself. Robert took one good look. "Ye Gods!" he cried. +"There he comes now, a chattering madman!" + +"The Station," I panted. "Up that ravine! Roll back the stone +and pull the door shut after you. Quick!" + +He never could have been inside, before Mr. Pryor's horse was +raving along the embankment beside the fence. + +"Where is he?" he cried. "Thomas saw him here!" + +I didn't think his horse could take the fence at the top of the +hill, but it looked as if he intended trying to make it, and I +had to stop him if I could. + +"Saw who?" I asked with clicking teeth. + +"A tall, slender man, with a handsome face, and the heart of a +devil." + +"Yes, there was a man here like that in the face. I didn't see +his heart," I said. + +"Which way?" raved Mr. Pryor. "Which way? Is he at your house?" + +Then I saw that he had the reins in his left hand, and a big +revolver in his right. So there was no mistake about whether +he'd really shoot. But that gun provoked me. People have no +business to be careless with those things. They're dangerous! + +"He didn't do what you think he did," I cried, "and he can prove +he didn't, if you'll stop cavorting, and listen to reason." + +Mr. Pryor leaned over the fence, dark purple like a beet now. + +"You tell me where he is, or I'll choke it out of you," he said. + +I guess he meant it. I took one long look at his lean, clawlike +fingers, and put both hands around my neck. + +"He knew Thomas saw him. He went that way," I said, waving off +toward the north. + +"Hah! striking for petticoats, as usual!" he cried, and away he +went in the direction of his house. Then I flew for the Station. + +"Come from there, quick!" I cried. "I've sent him back to his +house, but when he finds you're not there, he will come here +again. Hurry, and I'll put you in the woodshed loft. He'd never +think of looking there." + +He came out and we started toward the house, going pretty fast. +Almost to the back gate we met Shelley. + +"Does mother know?" I asked. + +"I just told her," she said. + +"Father," I cried, going in the back dining-room door. "Mr. +Pryor was down in the meadow on Ranger. Thomas did see Robert, +and his father is hunting him with a gun. We saw him coming, so +I hid Robert in the Station and sent Mr. Pryor back home--I guess +I told him a lie, father, or at least part of one, I said he went +`that way,' and he did, but not so far as I made his father +think; so he started back home, but when he gets there and +doesn't find Robert he'll come here again, madder than ever. Oh +father, he'll come again, and he's crazy, father! Clear, raving +crazy! I know he'll come again!" + +"Yes," said father calmly. "I think it very probable that he +will come again." + +Then he started around shutting and latching windows, closing and +locking the doors, and he carefully loaded his gun, and leaned it +against the front casing. Then he put on his glasses, and began +examining the papers they had brought out again. Robert stood +beside him, and explained and showed him. + +"You see with me out of the way, the English law would give +everything to my cousin," he said, and he explained it all over +again. + +"And to think how he always posed for a perfect saint!" cried the +Princess. "Oh I hope the devil knows how to make him pay for +what all of us have suffered!" + +"Child! Child!" cried mother. + +"I can't help it!" said the Princess. "Let me tell you, Mr. +Stanton." + +Then SHE told everything all over again, but it was even more +interesting than the way Robert explained it, because what she +said was about how it had been with her and her mother. + +"It made father what he is," she said. "He would have killed +Robert, if our friends hadn't helped him away. He will now, if +he isn't stopped. I tell you he will! He sold everything he +could legally control, for what any one chose to give him, and +fled here stricken in pride, heartbroken, insane with anger, the +creature you know. In a minute he'll be back again. Oh what are +we going to do?" + +Father was laying out the papers that he wanted to use very +carefully. + +"These constitute all the proof any court would require," he said +to Robert. "If he returns, all of you keep from sight. This is +my house; I'll manage who comes here, in my own way." + +"But you must be allowed to take no risk!" cried Robert. "I +cawn't consent to youah facing danger for me." + +"There will be no risk," said father. "There is no reason why he +should want to injure me. As the master of this house, I am +accustomed to being obeyed. If he comes, step into the parlour +there, until I call you." + +He was busy with the papers when he saw Mr. Pryor coming. I +wondered if he would jump the yard fence and ride down mother's +flowers, but he left his horse at the hitching rack, and pounded +on the front door. + +"Did any of you notice whether he was displaying a revolver?" +asked father. + +"Yes father! Yes!" I cried. "And he's shaking so I'm afraid +he'll make it go, when he doesn't intend to." + +Father picked up and levelled his rifle on the front door. + +"Leon," he said, "you're pretty agile. Open this door, keep +yourself behind it, and step around in the parlour. The rest of +you get out, and stay out of range." + +Those nearest hurried into the parlour. Candace, May, and I +crouched in the front stairway, but things were so exciting we +just had to keep the door open a tiny crack so we could see plain +as anything. There had been nothing for Mrs. Freshett to do all +afternoon, so she had gone over to visit an hour with Amanda +Deam. Now Mr. Pryor probably thought father would meet him with +the Bible in his hand, and read a passage about loving your +neighbour as yourself. I'll bet anything you can mention that he +never expected to find himself looking straight down the barrel +of a shining big rifle when that door swung open. It surprised +him so, he staggered, and his arm wavered. If he had shot and +hit anything then, it would have been an accident. + +"Got you over the heart," said father, in precisely the same +voice he always said, "This is a fine day we are having." "Now +why are you coming here in such a shape?" This was a little +cross. "I'm not the man to cringe before you!" This was quite +boastful. "You'll get bullet for bullet, if you attempt to +invade my house with a gun." This pinged as if father shot words +instead of bullets. + +"I want my daughter to come home," said Mr. Pryor. "And if +you're sheltering the thief she is trying to hide, yield him up, +if you would save yourself." + +"Well, I'm not anxious about dying, with the family I have on my +hands, neighbour," said father, his rifle holding without a +waver, "but unless you put away that weapon, and listen to +reason, you cannot enter my house. Calm yourself, man, and hear +what there is to be said! Examine the proof, that is here +waiting to be offered to you." + +"Once and but once, send them out, or I'll enter over you!" cried +Mr. Pryor. + +"Sorry," said father, "but if only a muscle of your trigger +finger moves, you fall before I do. I've the best range, and the +most suitable implement for the work." + +"Implement for the work!" Well, what do you think of father? +Any one who could not see, to have heard him, would have thought +he was talking about a hoe. We saw a shadow before we knew what +made it; then, a little at a time, wonderingly, her jolly face a +bewildered daze, her mouth slowly opening, Mrs. Freshett, half- +bent and peering, stooped under Mr. Pryor's arm and looked in our +door. She had come back to help get supper, and because the +kitchen was locked, she had gone around the house to see if she +could get in at the front. What she saw closed her mouth, and +straightened her back. + +"WHY, YOU TWO OLD FOOLS!" she cried. "IF YE AIN'T DRAWED A BEAD +ON EACH OTHER!" + +None of us saw her do it. We only knew after it was over what +must have happened. She had said she'd risk her life for mother. + +She never stopped an instant when her chance came. She must have +turned, and thrown her big body against Mr. Pryor. He was tired, +old, and shaking with anger. They went down together, she +gripping his right wrist with both hands, and she was strong as +most men. Father set the gun beside the door, and bent over +them. A minute more and he handed the revolver to Leon, and +helped Mrs. Freshett to her feet. Mr. Pryor lay all twisted on +the walk, his face was working, and what he said was a stiff +jabber no one could understand. He had broken into the pieces we +often feared he would. + +Robert and Laddie came running to help father carry him in, and +lay him on the couch. + +"I hope, Miss Stanton," said Mrs. Freshett, "that I wa'n't too +rough with him. He was so shaky-like, I was 'feered that thing +would go off without his really makin' it, and of course I +couldn't see none of yourn threatened with a deadly weepon, +'thout buttin' in and doin' the best I could." + +Mother put her arms around her as far as they would reach. She +would have had to take her a side at a time to really hug all of +her, and she said: "Mrs. Freshett, you are an instrument in the +hands of the Lord this day. Undoubtedly you have kept us from a +fearful tragedy; possibly you have saved my husband for me. None +of us ever can thank you enough." + +"Loosen his collar and give him air," said Mrs. Freshett pushing +mother away. "I think likely he has bust a blood vessel." + +Father sent Leon flying to bring Dr. Fenner. Laddie took the +carriage and he and Robert went after Mrs. Pryor, while father, +mother, Mrs. Freshett, the Princess, May, and I, every last one, +worked over Mr. Pryor. We poured hot stuff down his throat, put +warm things around him, and rubbed him until the sweat ran on us, +trying to get his knotted muscles straightened out. When Dr. +Fenner came he said we were doing all he could; MAYBE Mr. Pryor +would come to and be all right, and maybe his left side would be +helpless forever; it was a stroke. Seemed to me having Mrs. +Freshett come against you like that, could be called a good deal +more than a stroke, but I couldn't think of the right word then. +And after all, perhaps stroke was enough. He couldn't have been +much worse off if the barn had fallen on him. I didn't think +there was quite so much of Mrs. Freshett; but then she was +scared, and angry; and he was about ready to burst, all by +himself, if no one had touched him. He had much better have +stayed at home and listened to what was to be said, reasonably, +like father would; and then if he really had to shoot, he would +have been in some kind of condition to take aim. + +After a long hard fight we got him limber, straightened out, and +warm, it didn't rip so when he breathed, then they put him in the +parlour on the big davenport. Leon said if the sparkin' bench +didn't bring him to, nothing would. Laddie sat beside him and +mother kept peeping. She wouldn't let Dr. Fenner go, because she +said Mr. Pryor just must come out of it right, and have a few +years of peace and happiness. + +Mrs. Pryor came back with Laddie and Robert. He carried her in, +put her in the big rocking chair again, and he sat beside her, +stroking and kissing her, while she held him with both hands. +You could see NOW why his mother couldn't sleep, walked the road, +and held her hands over her heart. She was a brave woman, and +she had done well to keep alive and going in any shape at all. +You see we knew. There had been only the few hours when it +seemed possible that one of our boys had taken father's money and +was gone. I well remembered what happened to our mother then. +And if she had been disgraced before every one, dragged from her +home away across a big sea to live among strangers, and not known +where her boy was for years, I'm not a bit sure that she'd have +done better than Mrs. Pryor. Yes, she would too; come to think +it out--she'd have kept on believing the Lord had something to do +with it, and that He'd fix it some way; and I know she and father +would have held hands no matter what happened or where they went. + +I guess the biggest thing the matter with Pryors was that they +didn't know how to go about loving each other right; maybe it was +because they didn't love God, so they couldn't know exactly what +PROPER LOVE was; because God is love, like father said. + +Mrs. Pryor didn't want to see Mr. Pryor--I can't get used to +calling them Paget--and she didn't ask anything about him. I +guess she was pretty mad at him. She never had liked the Emmet +cousin, and she'd had nothing but trouble with him all the time +he had been in her family, and then that awful disgrace, that she +always THOUGHT was all him, but she couldn't prove it, and she +had no money. + +That's a very bad thing. A woman should always have some money. +She works as hard as any one, and usually she has more that +worries her, so it's only fair for her to have part of what the +work and worry bring. Mother always has money. Why, she has so +much, she can help father out when he is pushed with bills, as +she did last fall, to start Shelley to music school. It's no way +to be forced to live with a man, just to get a home, food, and +clothing. I don't believe mother ever would do it in all this +world. But then mother has worked all her life, and so if father +doesn't do as she wants him to, she'd know exactly how to go +about taking care of herself. + +After all Mrs. Pryor didn't need to sit back on her dignity and +look so abused. He couldn't knock her down, and drag her clear +here. Why didn't she say right out, in the beginning, that her +son COULDN'T be a thief, that she knew it, and she'd stay at home +and wait for him to come back? She could have put a piece in the +paper saying she knew her boy was all right, and for him to come +back, so they could go to work and PROVE it. I bet if she'd had +one tenth of the ginger mother has, she'd have stopped the whole +fuss in the start. I looked at her almost steadily, trying to +figure out just what mother would have done in her place. Maybe +I'm mistaken about exactly how she would have set to work, but +this I KNOW: she'd have stuck to the Lord; she'd have loved +father, so dearly, he just COULDN'T have wanted her to do things +that hurt her until it gave her heart trouble; and she never, +never would have given up one of us, and sat holding her heart +for months, refusing to see or to speak to any one, while she +waited for some one else to do something. Mother never waits. +She always thinks a minute, if she's in doubt she asks father; if +he can't decide, both of them ask God; and then you ought to see +things begin to fly. + +The more I watched Mrs. Pryor, the more I began to think she was +a lady; and just about when I was sure that was what ailed her, I +heard father say: "Perhaps the lady would like a cup of tea." I +had a big notion to tell her to come on, and I would show her +where the cannister was, but I thought I better not. I wanted +to, though. She'd have felt much better if she had got up and +worked like the rest of us. With all the excitement, and +everything happening at once, you'd have thought mother would be +flat on her back, but flat nothing! Everything was picked up and +slid back, fast as it was torn down; she found time to flannel +her nose and brush her hair, her collar was straight, and the +goldstone pin shone in the light, while her starched white apron +fluttered as she went through the doors. She said a few words to +Candace and Mrs. Freshett, May took out a linen cloth and began +to set places for all the grown people, so I knew there'd be +strawberry preserves and fried ham, but in all that, would you +ever have thought that she'd find a second to make biscuit, and +tea cakes herself? Plain as preaching I heard her say to Mrs. +Freshett: "I do hope and pray that Mr. Pryor will come out of it +right, so we can take him home, and teach him to behave himself; +but if he's gone this minute, I intend to have another decent +meal for Shelley to offer her young man; and I don't care if I +show Mrs. Pryor that we're not hungry over here, if we do lack +servants to carry in food on silver platters." + +"That I jest would!" said Mrs. Freshett. "Even if he turns up +his toes, 'tain't YOUR funeral, thank the Lord! an' looky here, +I'd jest as soon set things in a bake pan an' pass 'em for you, +myself. I'll do it, if you say the word." + +Mother bit her lip, and fought her face to keep it straight, as +she said confidential-like: "No, I'm not going to toady to her. +I only want her to see that a meal really consists of food after +all; I don't mind putting my best foot foremost, but I won't ape +her." + +"Huccome they to fuss like this, peaceable as Mr. Stanton be, an' +what's Shelley's beau to them?" + +"I should think you could tell by looking at Pryors," said +mother. "He's their mystery, and also their son. Shelley met +him in Chicago, he came here to see her, and ran right into them. +I'll tell you about it before you go. Now, I must keep these +applications hot, for I've set my head on pulling Mr. Pryor out +so that he can speak, and have a few decent years of life yet." + +"But why did the old devil--EX-cuse me, I mean the old GENTLEMAN, +want to shoot your man?" + +"He didn't! I'll tell you all about it after they're gone." + +"I bet you don't get shet of them the night," said Mrs. Freshett. + +"All right!" said mother. "Whatever Dr. Fenner thinks. I won't +have Mr. Pryor moved until it can't hurt him, if he stays a week. +I blame her quite as much as I do him; from what I know. If a +woman is going to live with a man, there are times when she's got +to put her foot down--flat--most unmercifully flat!" + +"Ain't she though!" said Mrs. Freshett; then she and mother just +laughed. + +There! What did I tell you? I feel as good as if father had +patted me on the head and bragged on me a lot. I THOUGHT mother +wouldn't think that Mr. Pryor was ALL to blame, and she didn't. +I figured that out by myself, too. + +Every minute Mr. Pryor grew better. He breathed easier, and +mother tilted on her toes and waved her hands, when he moved his +feet, threw back his head, lifted his hand to it, and acted like +he was almost over it, and still in shape to manage himself. She +hurried to tell Mrs. Pryor, and I know mother didn't like it when +she never even said she was glad, or went to see for herself. + +Laddie and the Princess watched him, while every one else went to +supper. Laddie picked up Mrs. Pryor's chair, carried her to the +dining-room, and set her in my place beside father. He placed +Dr. Fenner next her, and left Robert to sit with Shelley. I +don't think Mrs. Pryor quite liked that, but no one asked her. + +I watched and listened until everything seemed to be going right +there, and then I slipped into the parlour, where Laddie and the +Princess were caring for Mr. Pryor. With one hand Laddie held +hers, the other grasped Mr. Pryor's wrist. Laddie never took his +eyes from that white, drawn face, except to smile at her, and +squeeze her hand every little while. At last Mr. Pryor turned +over and sighed, pretty soon he opened his eyes, and looked at +Laddie, then at the Princess, and it was nothing new to see them, +so he smiled and dozed again. After a while he opened them +wider, then he saw the piano--that was an eye-opener for any +one--and the strange room, so he asked, most as plain as he ever +talked, why he was at our house again, and then he began to +remember. He struggled to sit up and the colour came into his +face. So Laddie let go the Princess, and held him down while he +said: "Mr. Pryor, answer me this. Do you want to spend the +remainder of your life in an invalid's chair, or would you like +to walk abroad and sit a horse again?" + +He glared at Laddie, but he heard how things were plainly enough. + +Laddie held him, while he explained what a fight we had to unlock +his muscles, and start him going again, and how, if we hadn't +loved him, and wanted him so, and had left him untouched until +the Doctor came, very likely he'd have been paralyzed all the +rest of his life, if he hadn't died; and he said he wished he +HAD, and he didn't THANK any one for saving him. + +"Oh yes you do!" said Laddie, the same as he'd have talked to +Leon. "You can't stuff me on that, and you needn't try. Being +dead is a cold, clammy proposition, that all of us put off as +long as we can. You know you want to see Pamela in her own home. + +You know you are interested in how I come out with those horses. +You know you want the little people you spoke of, around you. +You know the pain and suspense you have borne have almost driven +you insane, and it was because you cared so deeply. Now lie +still, and keep quiet! All of us are tired and there's no sense +in making us go through this again, besides the risk of crippling +yourself that you run. Right here in this house are the papers +to prove that your nephew took your money, and hid it in your +son's clothing, as he already had done a hundred lesser things, +before, purposely to estrange you. Hold steady! You must hear +this! The sooner you know it, the better you'll feel. You +remember, don't you, that before your nephew entered your home, +you idolized your son. You thought the things he did were +amusing. A boy is a boy, and if he's alive, he's very apt to be +lively. Mother could tell you a few pranks that Leon has put us +through; but they're only a boy's foolishness, they are not +unusual or unforgivable. I've gone over the evidence your son +brings, with extreme care, so has father. Both of us are quite +familiar with common law. He has every proof you can possibly +desire. You can't get around it, even if your heart wasn't worn +out with rebellion, and you were not crazy to have the loving +sympathy of your family again." + +"I don't believe a word of it!" + +"You have got to! I tell you it is PROOF, man! The documents +are in this house now." + +"He forged them, or stole them, as he took the money!" + +Laddie just laughed. + +"How you do long, and fight, to be convinced!" he said. "I don't +blame you! When anything means this much, of course you must be +sure. But you'll know your nephew's signature; also your +lawyer's. You'll know letters from old friends who are above +question. Sandy McSheel has written you that he was with Robert +through all of it, and he gives you his word that everything is +all right. You will believe him, won't you?" + +Big tears began to squeeze from under Mr. Pryor's lids, until +Laddie and the Princess each tried to see how much of him they +could hold to keep him together-like. + +"Tell me!" he said at last, so they took turns explaining +everything plain as day, and soon he listened without being held. + +When they had told him everything they could think of, he asked: +"Did Robert kill Emmet?" + +"I am very happy to be able to tell you that he did not. It +would have been painful, and not helped a bad matter a particle. +Your nephew had dissipated until he was only a skeleton just +breathing his last. It's probable that his fear of death helped +your son out, so that he got the evidence he wanted easier than +he hoped to in the beginning. I don't mean that he is dead now; +but he is passing slowly, and loathsomely. Robert thinks word +that he has gone will come any hour. Think how pleasant it will +be to have your son! Think how happy your home will be now! +Think how you will love to see Sandy, and all your old friends! +Think how glad you'll be to go home, and take charge of your +estate!" + +"Think!" cried Mr. Pryor, pushing Laddie away and sitting up: +"Think how I shall enjoy wringing the last drop of blood from +that craven's body with these old hands!" + +What a sight he did look to be sure! Sick, half-crazy, on the +very verge of the grave himself, and wanting to kill a poor man +already dying. Aren't some people too curious? + +Laddie carefully laid him down, straightened him out and held him +again. Mother always said he was "patient as Job," and that day +it proved to be a good thing. + +"You're determined to keep yourself well supplied with trouble," +laughed Laddie. I don't believe any one else would have dared. +"Now to an unbiased observer, it would seem that you'd be ready +to let well enough alone. You have your son back, you have him +fully exonerated, you have much of your property, you are now +ready for freedom, life, and love, with the best of us; you have +also two weddings on your hands in the near future. Why in the +name of sense are you anxious for more?" + +"I should have thought that Sandy McSheel, if he's a real friend +of mine----" + +"Sandy tells you all about it in the letter he has sent. He went +with Robert fully intending to do that very thing for you, but +the poor creature was too loathsome. The sight of him made Sandy +sick. He writes you that when he saw the horrible spectacle, all +he could think of was to secure the evidence needed and get +away." + +Suddenly the Princess arose and knelt beside the davenport. She +put her arms around her father's neck and drew his wrinkled, +white old face up against her lovely one. + +"Daddy! Dear old Daddy!" she cried. "I've had such a hard spot +in my heart against you for so long. Oh do let's forget +everything, and begin all over again; begin away back where we +were before Emmet ever came. Oh Daddy, do let's forget, and +begin all over new, like other people!" + +He held her tight a minute, then his lips began whispering +against her ear. Finally he said: "Take yourselves off, and +send Robert here. I want my son. Oh I want my boy!" + +It was a long time before Robert came from the parlour; when he +did, it was only to get his mother and take her back with him; +then it was a still longer time before the door opened; but when +it did, it was perfectly sure that they were all friends again. +Then Leon went to tell Thomas, and he came with the big carriage. + +White and shaking, Mr. Pryor was lifted into it and they went +home together, taking Shelley with them to stay that night; so no +doubt she was proposed to and got her kiss before she slept. + +That fall there were two weddings at our church at the same time. + +Sally's had been fine; but it wasn't worth mentioning beside +Laddie and the Princess, and Robert and Shelley. You should have +seen my mother! She rocked like a kingbird on the top twig of +the winesap, which was the tallest tree in our orchard, and for +once there wasn't a single fly in her ointment, not one, she said +so herself, and so did father. As we watched the big ve-hi- +ackle, as Leon called it, creep slowly down the Little Hill, it +made me think of that pathetic poem, "The Three Warnings," in +McGuffey's Sixth. I guess I gave Mr. Pryor the first, that time +he got so angry he hit his horse until it almost ran away. +Mother delivered the second when she curry-combed him about the +taxes, and Mrs. Freshett finished the job. The last two lines +read as if they had been especially written about him: + + "And now old Dodson, turning pale, + Yields to his fate--so ends my tale." + + +The end of Project Gutenberg etext of "Laddie: A True Blue Story" + + + |