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diff --git a/29597.txt b/29597.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..661a16e --- /dev/null +++ b/29597.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2109 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Neighbor Nelly Socks, by Sarah L. Barrow + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Neighbor Nelly Socks + Being the Sixth and Last Book of the Series + +Author: Sarah L. Barrow + +Release Date: August 3, 2009 [EBook #29597] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEIGHBOR NELLY SOCKS *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: OUR PARTY.] + + + + +THE SOCK STORIES, + +BY "AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER. + +NEIGHBOR NELLY SOCKS: + +BEING + +THE SIXTH AND LAST BOOK OF THE SERIES. + +BY + +"AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER, + +THE AUTHOR OF "THE LITTLE WHITE ANGEL." + + NEW YORK: + LEAVITT & ALLEN, 21 & 23 MERCER ST. + 1863. + + ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by + S. L. BARROW, + + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States + for the + Southern District of New York. + + + JOHN F. TROW, + PRINTER, STEREOTYPER, AND ELECTROTYPER, + 50 Greene Street, New York. + + + + + TO + + MY DEAR FATHER, + + TO WHOSE KINDLY AND CHARMING WAYS WITH THE + + "LITTLE FOLK" + + I OWE THE CHARACTER OF "NEIGHBOR OLDBIRD," + + THIS BOOK + + IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED. + + + + +CONTEXTS OF VOL. VI. + + PAGE + + NEIGHBOR NELLY. IN THREE STORIES. + + 1. THE OLD BACHELOR'S STORY, 7 + + 2. THE BIG BOY'S STORY, 45 + + 3. THE FAT GENTLEMAN'S STORY, 86 + + POSTSCRIPT BY THE OLD BACHELOR, 90 + + CONCLUSION, 132 + + + + +NEIGHBOR NELLY. + +IN THREE STORIES. + + + + +THE OLD BACHELOR'S STORY. + + +IN the city block where I live, there are just twenty-four houses on the +other side of the street, and twenty-four on this side, six lamp posts, +and eight ailanthus trees in green boxes. Oh, dear me, what a tiresome +row! That's what I thought when I first came to lodge here; for, as I am +an old bachelor, I don't want a whole house to myself; but now, when I +sit at my window and look out at the street, I find no end of things to +amuse and interest me; particularly when the gas is lighted of an +evening, and I can see a little way into the parlors of the opposite +neighbors. I suppose they know that an old bachelor like Josiah Oldbird +can do no harm by looking on at their evening amusements; so they do not +pull the blinds down if they chance to see me, sitting lonely at my +window, and willing to accept such crumbs of their society and happiness +as I can glean over the way. + +First, then, is the family at No. 7, three maiden sisters and a bachelor +brother. As I don't in the least know their names, I have dubbed them +the Bluejays, because the three maiden sisters always wear blue merino +gowns in winter, and blue muslin ones in summer; and because they are +all so fond of singing that no family of birds could be more musical. +They have a pet poodle and a pet squirrel, too. The poodle is very fat, +and his hair sticks out so much all over him, that he looks perpetually +astonished, as if he had just seen a spook. He always stands on the +window sill, when the sash is raised of an afternoon, and glares into +the street until he sees the bachelor brother coming. Then he achieves a +series of frantic yells and bounces, until somebody comes to open the +door and lets him out, when he waddles to the front steps to meet his +master, wagging his tail to that tremendous extent, that it looks like +the shuttle of a steam power loom. + +The squirrel is slim and sleek, and seems to enjoy life amazingly, he +hops about so. When one of the Miss Bluejays takes him in her arms, he +won't stay there, but gets away, and walks all over her head and +shoulders; and at last runs down her back and disappears. + +Then, at No. 11, a very fat gentleman lives with his fat and pretty +wife, and round dumpling of a baby. As I don't know him either, I call +him Mr. Fatty, and he seems to be a "good-natured giant." I saw a little +boy actually stop short to stare at him the other day, when he was +sitting out at his front door--he is such a regular roly-poly of a +gentleman--but he only laughed good-temperedly, and never got vexed in +the least. I don't advise you to try this with all fat gentlemen though; +they might accidentally sit down on a chair--where you were--afterward, +and that would be the last of you. This piece of advice, however, is a +great secret between you and me! + +[Illustration] + +He is so glad to meet the fat baby when he comes home at night, that I +can see him in the parlor first kissing it almost black and blue, and +then tossing it up in the air until I feel as though its head must come +bump against the ceiling, but it doesn't--and at last, carrying it off +perched on his shoulder, and looking very much perturbed in its spirits. + +But the pleasantest neighbors of all live exactly opposite, at No. 9. +They take tea every evening in the back parlor; and as the front window +shades are up, and only the back room lighted, I can always see them at +their cheerful meal. The rooms are furnished in winter with dark red +velvet carpets and furniture; with red damask curtains and red velvet +paper hangings. In summer they put up white curtains, and carpets and +furniture have cool, cream-colored linen coverings, so that the parlors +look cozy and charming at all seasons. + +As for the family there is a papa and mamma, of course, and a dear +little girl and boy. The little girl is about ten years old, I should +think, with great, dark-blue eyes, and curling auburn hair. Her cheeks +are as rosy as ripe peaches, and her teeth as white as so many pearls. +Her nose does turn up at the end a little, to be sure; but that is +rather saucy and becoming than otherwise; and she always looks so sweet +tempered, and full of fun, too, when I see her of an evening, that I am +sure she is as good as pie, and as merry as a cricket! Her little +brother, who is a year or two younger, looks very much like her, and +their obedient and pretty behavior at table is something really +beautiful to observe. + +It is nearly a year now, since I moved into my lodging at "No. 10," and +began to wonder what No. 9's name was; and now I must make haste and +tell you how, only last June, I became acquainted with these dear little +neighbors of mine. + +One pleasant Friday morning, after breakfast, I put on my old-fashioned +beaver hat, and taking my gold-headed cane in one hand and my market +basket in the other, I trotted out to buy something nice for dinner; +for, you see, I am a particular old bachelor, and like to market for +myself. + +Just as I was coming down the steps, the door of No. 9 opened, and the +little girl ran down _her_ steps. She looked so bright and pretty in her +cunning round straw hat with the blue ribbons, and white Marseilles +cloak, carrying her satchel of books and lunch basket in her hand, that +I could not help nodding to her. So she nodded to me, and then _I_ +nodded again and smiled, and we each walked along on our own side of the +way. When we came to the corner I thought I would cross over and scrape +some more acquaintance with my little neighbor. Now on the side of her +satchel, I saw, when I came near her, was printed in gold letters, +"Nelly Lawson;" so I said, as cheerily as I could, in my old, quavering +voice: + +"Good morning, Neighbor Nelly!" + +The little maiden looked up in my face in a shy fashion at first; but +when she saw what a mild, gray-headed old bachelor had bade her good +morning, she took courage, and answered, "Good morning, sir." + +"So you are going to school this fine day?" + +"Yes; I go to school, but brother Jimmy doesn't; he learns at home. I +think he is going next year. Have you got a baby at your house? We +have." + +"No," said I, sighing; "I haven't got any baby; I am an old bachelor. +Will you marry me?" + +"Oh, I am too little," she replied quite seriously. "You will have to +wait until I grow up to you." + +I laughed, and asked her, "Don't you want to go to market with me before +you go to school? There is plenty of time." + +"No," replied my little neighbor, firmly; "I can't go anywheres that +mamma does not know of." + +"That's right!" I said. "Don't do anything your mother would disapprove. +Well, Neighbor Nelly, since you won't go to market with me, I must go to +school with you; and tell your mother that Neighbor Josiah Oldbird would +like you to take a walk with him to-morrow; will you?" + +"Oh yes! that would be real nice!" said my little neighbor with a +joyous skip. + +By this time we were walking along hand in hand; and soon, seeing my +little neighbor look in at the window of the candy shop round the corner +from our street, I thought I would take her in and buy her some candy. +So in we marched, Nelly's great blue eyes dancing with pleased +expectation, and stood close by the counter, waiting for our turn to +come. There were a good many people in the candy shop, and we had to +wait some time; so, to amuse ourselves, Neighbor Nelly and I turned +round, and began looking at the funny folks near us. + +There was one very fat old country woman, who seemed to be buying +"quarter or pound," as she said, of every kind of candy in the shop. As +soon as the papers were handed to her she began eating out of them, and +before she left, I should think, she had eaten about two pounds of +candy. Besides the old woman, there were a great many little children, +who only wanted a penny's worth each; but they hesitated so long whether +to have "taffie" or "molasses," a lemon-candy horse, or a cinnamon-candy +trumpet, that they were the most troublesome customers of anybody. Then +there were several older boys and girls; some, I am sorry to say, +picking up a loose bit of candy every time the shopman turned away--as +if that were not stealing; and finally, there was Neighbor Nelly and I, +who did none of these things, but just looked on, and waited until the +shopman came to serve us. + +I bought some lemon candy, as clear as a bit of yellow glass, and some +pungent cinnamon, and delectable chocolate; and then I popped the papers +into Neighbor Nelly's satchel, and we hurried on to school. We had not +far to go now, and when we came to the house, my little new friend bid +me good-by, and thanked me so sweetly, that I went away quite a happy +old bachelor. + +In the evening I was looking out of my window as usual, when I saw the +servant girl come in to light the gas in the back parlor at No. 9, with +Neighbor Nelly and the little brother Jimmy behind her. While she was +setting the tea table, the children came running to the window, and both +nodded and smiled at me. Presently the little boy thrust both hands in +his pockets, and held them up crammed full of candy. "Thank you, Mr. Old +Bachelor!" he shouted; "we like you real well!" + +That made me real happy; for I am not a crabbed old bachelor by any +means. In a minute more their father came home; and as they all sat +around the pleasant tea table, I hope they talked of their lonely old +neighbor, who watched them from his window. + +The next morning, as I was reading the paper, in came the servant and +gave me the funniest little note! It was addressed on the outside, "To +my neighbor Oldbird," and ran thus: + + "MY DEAR NEIGHBOR: + + "Mamma says I may take a walk with you this + morning, because you are a good old bachelor. + Jimmy wants to go, and Gipsey. Gipsey is my dog. + He is black and tan, and his tail curls round so, + that papa says you might use it for a cork-screw. + Jimmy and I mean to try some time. Gipsey likes to + be on the seashore, and so does baby. We are going + there next week--to Long Branch. I hope you will + write me a letter when I am gone, and I am + Your affectionate + "NEIGHBOR NELLY. + + "Saturday Morning." + +You may believe how pleased I was with this dear little note, and I +thought I would answer it. So I sat down at my writing desk, found a +cunning little sheet of paper, with a flag on it, and commenced. + +Now I happened to think, at that moment, of some very comical letters +written by the great poet, Tom Hood, to his little friends on the +seashore; and as they were ever so much funnier than anything I could +have written, I copied one of them out, and sent it to my little new +friend. + + "MY DEAR NEIGHBOR NELLY: + + "I am very glad you are to walk with me, and very + sorry you are going away so soon. Do you like to + be on the seashore? I did, when I was a boy. I + and my brother chucked hundreds of stones into the + sea, when we were there, but we came away before + we could fill it up. Then there is the fun of + finding shiny pebbles and jelly fish on the beach. + I used to think jelly fish were made of + sea-calves' feet, and no flavoring. I suppose the + mermaids eat them at their parties. + + "Then there's fishing on the seaside. I used to + catch flat fish sometimes, with a long string + line, it was like swimming a kite. If you go out + in a surf boat, take care it does not "flounder" + and get "squamped," as some people say, instead of + founder and swamped. + + "Have you ever been bathed in the sea? I was, + and, dear me! how I kicked and screamed; or, at + least, tried to scream, but the sea, ships and + all, began to run into my mouth, and so I shut it + up. Remember, when you are bathing, if you meet + with a shark, the best way is to bite off his + legs, if you can, before he walks away with yours; + and pray, pray, pray take care of yourself in the + sea, for in some places, they say, it has not even + a bottom to go to. + + "Could you bring me a little crab off the beach? + If you would catch one for me, and teach it to + shake hands without nipping and biting, it would + make me quite happy, for I have not had any toys + or playthings in a long time. It would be a good + plan to hire a little crab to teach the baby to + crawl, if he can't walk yet. Bless him! But I must + not write on him any more; he is so soft, and I + have nothing but steel pens. + + "Now good-by; give my love to everybody, and my + compliments to all the rest, and believe me, up + hill and down dale, + + "Your affectionate neighbor, + "JOSIAH OLDBIRD." + +Then I put my letter in a flag envelope, sealed it up tight, and wrote +on it, "To my dear Neighbor Nelly," and had the maid take it to her. + +Presently I could see two little figures flitting about in one of the +upper chambers, and soon after all four of us, Nelly, Jimmy, I, and +Gipsey, were in the street. Gipsey was a "toy terrier" that ought to +have belonged to "Commodore Nutt," the dwarf at "Barnum's," and ran +along on three legs most of the time, with the fourth, and his +cork-screw tail elevated in the air for joy at being allowed to join the +party; while the children were all hop, skip, and jump, and kept tight +hold of a hand of mine apiece, as though they were afraid of flying away +if they let go. Meanwhile, I walked quietly along, with my market basket +on my arm, a sober old bachelor. I expect the people who passed us in +the street thought me a rather incongruous addition to such a frisky +party; but then, you know, children _must_ caper about. Bless your +heart! it would never do in the world to see children mincing solemnly +along, like little old men and women; it would be as absurd as to have +my Neighbor Nelly wearing her great-grandmother's coal-scuttle bonnet! +The last idea struck me as so odd, that I drew a little picture of +Neighbor Nelly in this guise when I got home, and here it is. How do you +like it? + +[Illustration] + +We thought we would go to market first. So we walked slowly down Fourth +Avenue, and crossed over to the market where the Seventh Regiment armory +is, opposite the Cooper Institute. + +"My cousin is a Seventh Regimenter!" said Jimmy as we climbed up the +iron steps; "he often let us look on at his company drills last winter, +and afterward Nelly and I drilled in our yard. The big boy who comes to +see the old ladies next door, looked over the fence and laughed at us, +but we didn't care; and we mean to fight for our country like everything +when we are bigger; that is, I mean to, and Nelly would like to, but +she's only a girl, you know." + +"Only a girl!" repeated Nelly, tossing her long curls; "girls are a +great deal of use, too; I mended all his stockings and all papa's this +week--think of that, neighbor Oldbird!" + +"That was really splendid!" said I; and just then we entered the market. + +The very first thing we met was a horrid big dog, that belonged to some +butcher; and, bless me! how he began to show his great rows of teeth, +and growl at Gipsey! Nelly gave a little scream, and tried to hide +behind me; Jimmy valiantly flew at the big dog with my walking stick; +and poor little Gipsey nearly stood on the end of his tail with fright, +and squealed dismally. What a fuss we were all in, to be sure! So at +last, to quiet the disputants, I caught Gipsey up, and put him in my +coat pocket, where he sat, looking out at the top, very much comforted. + +Then we turned to the right, and went by the brightest and prettiest +stall in the whole market. It was kept by a Frenchman, who, in his own +language, would be called a "_charcutier_;" but Jimmy and Nell shouted +out together "Oh, there's the _pig man_!" as loud as ever they could, +and then stopped, blushing very much, because they were afraid the pork +merchant heard them. I expect he did; for he looked very funny when we +came close, and smoothing down his snowy apron with his fat hands, said +"Bonjour, mademoiselle!" and laughed good humoredly. There was a great +"head cheese" on the pig man's marble counter, moulded in the shape of a +boar's head. The tusks were made of white carrots, the eyes of red +jelly, and the sides of the dish it was on were beautifully ornamented +with white roses, cut out of turnips, and parsley foliage. Then there +were ever so many pork pies, with the most elegant wreaths of flowers on +the top crust, comical little hams already cooked, and fat dumplings of +sucking pigs, as pink as baby himself! + +When we had looked about us a little, we concluded to buy a pork pie of +the pig man; and while that was being nicely packed up in paper, out +popped Gipsey from my pocket, and stood triumphant on the counter, in +the midst of the little pigs and savory pastries. I don't know what +forays he would not have made upon them, if he had not been captured by +the pig man, Jimmy, and me; but he did contrive to jump right into the +very middle of another pork-pie! and then we had to pay for that, too; +and wipe the gravy off Gipsey's feet and the ends of his tail and nose, +and button him up tight in the market basket for half an hour, as a +punishment for his naughtiness. As to the pie we had bought, Jimmy +carried that, and Gipsey cut up so many antics inside the basket, that +he nearly wriggled it out of my hand altogether. + +After that we went on, and found, dear me! such a comfortable old market +woman, who sold us a nice little chicken, and some fresh vegetables, and +gave the children each a great handful of cherries; but we had to tell +her to send them home, with our pie, because Gipsey had the basket in +possession. + +Then we walked into the street again, and when we had let Gipsey out of +prison, concluded to leave the basket at my baker's, and take a walk in +Broadway. Dear, dear me! what quantities of shop windows there were to +stare into, and how we flattened our three noses, and spread our six +hands all over every one of them, while we admired the splendid picture +books, the stores of sugar plums, or the wonders of toys they contained! +While we were occupied in this way, a little girl, poorly dressed, and +lugging a large bundle of work in both arms, came along, and stopping +beside us at the window of the most splendid toy shop, stood looking +wistfully in. + +Neighbor Nelly straightway twitched my hand, and whispered, "Oh look, +Neighbor Oldbird! what a poor little girl! I don't suppose she ever saw +a doll before in her life. How she must wish she had one!" + +"Suppose we ask her?" I said. + +"Will you ask?" she answered; "I don't like to." + +"Nonsense! ask her yourself; she won't eat you, or Gipsey either;" for +Gipsey was sidling away between my feet, as if he were alarmed too; the +saucy scamp! + +Thereupon Nelly moved closer to the poor girl, and said, in a kind, +little, timid voice, "Do you like dolls?" + +"Yes, very much!" said the child, with a surprised look. + +"Oh, so do I!" cried Nelly, rapturously. "I have lots of them at home; +let me see, there's Jenny, and Willie, and old black Nanny, and--" she +stopped short, seeing the other look wistfully at her, and then said, +"Oh, I forgot! you have none, perhaps; would you like to have one?" + +"Oh yes, miss!" said the child; "not so much for myself, though, as my +little sister; she is sick, and can't do anything, poor Clara! but I +work, and help my mother!" she added, proudly. + +"What does your mother do?" asked Jimmy. + +"She makes shirts for the army; and I do all the button holes." + +"I can't make a button hole," said Nelly, regretfully. + +Here I proposed we should walk into the shop, and after we had looked +all we wanted to at the pretty things, and the children, with screams of +delight, had ridden in turn on a "spring rocking horse," that sent them +flying half way to the top of the glass cases behind the counter, I gave +Jimmy and Nelly each two shillings, and told them to buy whatever the +little girl would like best. The poor little thing's eyes sparkled with +happiness when Nelly bought her the composition doll she chose out of a +heap that were piled in a great basket, gorgeously dressed in pink +mosquito netting, as I thought, but which Nelly informed me was a +"tarletane;" and Jimmy laid out his money on a tiny bowl and pitcher of +sprigged china ware, and an astonished china baby sitting in a bath, and +looking as if it had turned on the hot water, and couldn't turn it off +again. + +Then we trundled Gipsey about a little in a wicker wagon we found, and +put him in the patent baby-jumper to take an airing; and at last, when +we had teased him till he barked like one of the toy poodles on the +shelves, we took ourselves off, and sent the poor child on her way +rejoicing. + +But it was getting late, and time to trot home, before His Majesty the +Sun roasted us all like so many eggs. Our street is always shady and +cool, it seems to me, and we were glad enough to find ourselves once +more on its pavement. I invited Nelly and Jimmy and Gipsey all to take +lunch with me, and didn't we have fun! We ate the pork pie, and stuffed +Gipsey with lumps of sugar, and discovered a pot of raspberry jam in the +closet, and ornamented ourselves with red rims round our mouths, digging +it out; and sliced, and buttered, and disposed of almost half a loaf of +French bread, and hardly stopped laughing, chattering, and barking a +single minute. + +And then, after all this was over, my little neighbors bid me good-by, +and Gipsey barked at me and poked his cold nose into my hand, which +meant "Good-by and thank you," all the same, and the three went home as +merry as crickets. + +I could not see much of my little neighbors before they went away the +next Tuesday, but I was invited to take tea at No. 9 the very last +evening; and then, what should I find out but that Nelly's mamma was the +daughter of an old friend of mine whom I had not seen for years! So we +felt quite like relations right away. Just as tea was over, lo and +behold! there was a tremendous hullaballoo on the back piazza, and when +we poked our heads out of the window to see what the matter was, there +was Gipsey high and dry on the back of Miss Bluejay's fat poodle--having +squeezed through the railing which separated the two piazzas--with the +squirrel, which had come to the rescue of his friend, hanging on to his +tail! and all three setting up a squeal of remonstrance. Gipsey's plight +was so extremely well deserved, that we wouldn't go to his rescue; but +at last, with a tremendous twist, he snatched away his cork-screw tail, +and ran to hide himself and his injured feelings under the sofa in the +front room. How we laughed at him! and how Nelly tried to make him come +out and be lump-sugared into good humor, but he wouldn't; so, to make +up, we coaxed the fat poodle, which had been staring in at the +performance and sniffing satisfaction, to sit up and beg for us until we +gave him the lump of sugar. Then Mrs. Lawson sat down to the piano, and +began playing a funny little hornpipe tune that sounded just like a +banjo; and, to our astonishment, the fat poodle developed another +accomplishment; for, getting on his hind legs, he gravely hopped up and +down on the piazza, keeping time to the music, until we nearly died of +laughter. + +You may fancy, after all these comical doings, that we managed to spend +a merry evening, and when I at last bid my neighbors good night, it was +no longer with the feeling that I was a lonely old bachelor. + +I did find the street pretty lonely though, after they had gone, next +day, with two great big trunks strapped on behind the carriage, a +middling sized trunk hoisted up in front, and several small carpet bags, +and tiny tawny bundles and baskets in every place where room could be +found. I fancy Gipsey was in one of the baskets, by the way it bounced +and wriggled about in Neighbor Nelly's lap; but I don't know; I only saw +it from my window, whence I waved an adieu to them as they rolled away. + +A few days after they had gone, I thought I would amuse myself, in their +absence, by trying to find out if any of the other neighbors knew +anything about my neighbor, Nelly. I succeeded in learning what two of +them knew, and they shall tell it for themselves in the stories that +follow, and which I have written out. And now, if any other dear little +children have been pleased with me, in what I have told of my walks and +talks with Neighbor Nelly, just let them come to No. 10, and meet the +hearty greeting and loving welcome of the + + OLD BACHELOR! + + + + +THE BIG BOY'S STORY. + + +YOU want me to tell you what I know about the pretty little girl next +door? Well, I'm ready to begin, if you won't mind my talk; I'm only a +boy, you know, and can't use fine words--that's all humbug. + +My name is Tom Halstead. I am nephew to the Miss Brandlaws, who live at +No. 7. The idea of calling my darling old friskies "The Bluejays!" (If +you don't give me that Australian post stamp I saw in your desk, I'll +tell 'em, too!) However, to go on with my story. + +One morning last winter, just at the end of the Christmas holidays, +while I was on a visit there, I didn't know what on earth to do with +myself. So I caught Poddles (that's the poodle), dressed him up in Aunt +Elsie's nightcap, tied a life preserver round him, and put him in the +portable shower-bath, just for fun; it didn't hurt him a bit, and--would +you believe it? the hateful thing hopped out, squealing murder, shook +himself all over the carpet, scratched off the nightcap, and danced +round the room with it in a fury, till it was in perfect rags. + +Up rushed Aunt Elsie, and was so horrified when she saw the carpet and +her cap in such a mess, and "darling doggie" all "wetsey-petsey," that +she locked me up in my room for the rest of the day on bread and water! +and there was gingerbread, with raisins in it, baking down stairs!! +Horrid!!! + +Of course I couldn't spend my time sucking my thumbs; so, like a +sensible fellow, I set myself to find some better employment, and soon a +grand idea came into my head. I had just finished reading a jolly +old-fashioned novel I found in Uncle Herbert's room, called "The Castle +Spectre: a Tale of Spain;" where a goose of a lover, such a spooney! had +scrambled down from the top of a castle, hanging on to his bedclothes. +_Now_, don't you see it? Perhaps not, so I'll explain. + +My bedroom is the third floor, back room, always; and you know that +piazza at the back of the house? Well, what did I do, but twitch off +_my_ bedcover--nice white one it was, too--tie it to the bedpost, and +let the end hang out of the window. Then I scrambled out, and slid down +the wall like a streak of lightning! You can't think what jolly fun it +was! + +There was lots of amusement in the yard; twelve cats on the fence to +plague, and no end of snow to make balls and pelt the cook with; beside, +the gingerbread was just baked, and I got a _brown corner_! So! there! +while I was eating it, and it was so hot that it almost sizzled, all at +once I heard a lot of noise in the next yard. Some boys seemed to be +having a drill there; so I ran up the steps leading from the piazza to +the ground, and looked over the fence. But lor now! what do you think? +one of the boys was a girl! She had on long india-rubber boots, and I +called out, "Go it, Boots!" + +Then the little boy that was with her, who seemed to be her brother, +looked so mad at me! and, really and truly, I couldn't help plaguing +them a little. I know you think I was real mean; but if you had seen how +funny they looked, in paper cocked hats, with turkey tails for feathers, +and the little boy thumping a big tin saucepan for a drum, you would +have laughed, too; so you needn't look so provoked, Neighbor Oldbird! + +"Gee up, awkward squad!" I said; "double quick halt on the right flank! +Ha-ahup!" + +But the little girl only laughed good humoredly, and said: "Jimmy and I +belong to the Seventh Regiment, and drill in the last fashion. Don't you +want to come and learn the Lefferts Tactics?" + +Wasn't she a nice little thing! Never got mad or anything, but just gave +me back as good as I sent. I declare, I fell right smack in love with +her that minute, and I don't care a fig now for the girl I met in +dancing school, upon my word I don't; so I rushed back into the +kitchen, coaxed the cook to give me two more hunks of gingerbread, and +called out, "Won't you have some cake?" + +They came running up on the piazza like lamplighters; and while they +were eating the gingerbread, _I_ was eating something I got especially +for myself at the same time. Did you ever try it? You have a great big +sour apple, as cold as it can be, and a tremendous pickled pepper, as +hot as it can be; then you take first a bite of the pepper, and nearly +burn all the skin off your throat, and then a bite of the apple to cool +it again; and so on. It's gorgeous, I tell you! + +Presently the little boy (whose name, as I said, was Jimmy), stopped +his eating to ask me, "Do you live in New York?" + +"No, I live at White Plains. I go to the Military Academy there; don't +you want me to show you some drill?" + +"Oh, Cousin Charley is going to teach us some time. He belongs to the +Seventh Regiment. We love to be soldiers, though, and we know a boy, +Freddy Jourdain his name is, who got up a whole regiment, and has +parades, and went into camp, and everything." + +"We have a camp at White Plains," I told them. "Do you ever go there in +summer, Miss----" here I stopped, rather awkwardly, not knowing what her +name was. + +"Oh, I'm not 'Miss' anybody;" she said; "I'm Nelly; but we go to the +seashore in summer 'most always." + +"Can't you dress up in your uniform, and show us how you look at +school?" said Jimmy. + +"Yes, if you like;" here I remembered that the key of my room was in +Aunt Elsie's pocket, and had to say, "but I can't get into my room now; +I was locked in, and Aunt Elsie has the key." + +"How do you come to be here, then?" said Nelly; "why, dear me, just look +at the counterpane hanging out of the window; how funny!" + +"Why, that's the way I got out!" I said; and so I told them all about +"The Castle Spectre," and "Lord Alonzo Algernon" Spooneyman, and we got +into such a perfect _gig_ of laughter, that we nearly rode off in it! +(Now, don't say that's not a good joke, or I'll not tell another word of +my story.) + +Just then out came Poddles, looking as surprised as ever; and Nelly +exclaimed, "Oh, there's that funny old dog! what do you call him?" + +"His name is Poddles!" said I; "_I_ christened him." + +"What a queer name!" said Jimmy; "let's take him into our house and see +what Gipsey and he will do!" + +"Good!" said I. So, without remembering that plaguey white spread, I cut +over the piazza railings with Poddles under one arm, and we all three +rushed up stairs together. + +They had such a famous play room, with a splendid swing, and a +teetertorter, and ten-pins, and I don't know what beside; and there was +the nattiest little dog! but you know him, that "toy-terrier" of theirs. +Poddles looked a greater fright than ever beside him; so, to pay him +off, we put that wretched Pod into a basket, tied it fast to the swing, +and swung him up to the ceiling. It frightened him half to death, and +serve him right, for being so ugly! after which he and Gipsey went to +sleep in a big rocking chair, as friendly as possible. Then I gave Nelly +a splendid swing, "ran under," and cracked my cocoanut three times, +beside making my arms ache like everything; but I didn't care, she was +such a dear little thing. + +Afterward Jimmy went and got a great plateful of rosy apples; and just +as we were eating them, and having such fun, up came one of our girls, +and said that "Miss Brandlaw wanted Master Tom right home!" Wasn't it +hateful? But, of course, I had to go; so I bundled Poddles under my arm +again, bid them good-by, and walked off with Mary; but I poked her ribs +and set Poddles at her all the way, which was some comfort. + +I expected a scolding when I came home, and I didn't have one--oh no! +Aunt Elsie wanted to know where I thought I should die when I went +to--(no, I believe it was the other way, but never mind)--if I hung +best bed spreads out of the window, and left my room without permission? +besides informing me that she should write to ma', and have me sent for. +Finally, she marched me up stairs again; and when I said I _must_ have +something to do to keep me out of mischief, she gave me a Sunday school +book to read, and took herself off. + +Of course you will say I was dreadfully wicked not to like the Sunday +school book, but I couldn't. It was so full of hard names and long +words, and was all about sanctification and justification and +regeneration, and how was I to understand a word of it? I love Bible +stories, but I don't think there is a boy or girl who _understands hard +doctrines_. Do you, Neighbor Oldbird? + +I pretty soon gave up that employment, and amused myself instead with +pelting the cats on the fence with a few marbles, and trying on my +uniform, to see how I looked in it; until Aunt Elsie relented, I +suppose, for she came up and asked me through the keyhole if I was +sorry, and wouldn't do any more. You can fancy what my answer was, and +after dinner I got permission to go out and play on the sidewalk. + +Neighbor Nelly and Jimmy joined me there pretty soon, and we had such +fun playing "tag" and driving hoop. It wasn't hoop _time_, to be sure, +but that was no matter. Then, when we were tired of that, we all sat +down together on the upper step of No. 9, and began talking about their +school and mine, and what we learned. + +"Do you ever learn pieces of poetry?" asked Nelly. "My teacher, Miss +Backboard, always gives the girls each a piece of poetry every Friday; +so we call that poetry day." + +"I used to learn pieces too," I said; "but I don't care much for poetry +unless it's funny." + +"Tell us a funny piece," said Jimmy. + +"Ah yes, do!" added Nelly; and, of course, when a _lady_ asked me I had +to, though I felt pretty bashful; so I began. + + +A DAY OF MISHAPS. + +(AS TOLD BY BOBBY BREAKWINDOW, A SCHOOLBOY.) + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration: BOBBY AND ROVER.] + +[Illustration] + + Oh dear! was there ever anybody so unlucky as I am, + From General ----, who lost that battle t'other day, + all the way back to Priam! + Come, sit down--do, and let me tell you all about it, + and what's the matter; + Perhaps it will do me good to have a nice, comfortable, + miserable chatter. + To begin, then. This morning I woke, and thought I was + up with the sun. + So never hurried myself; but dressed slow, and came down, + to find breakfast all done, + And nothing left for me but one cold slapjack, and all + the chicken gone, + Unless, to be sure, I could have eaten the drumsticks, + and one perfectly clean breast bone! + And, of course, I had to make haste, for it was nine + o'clock and after, + And the master had offered a prize to the earliest boy--and + here was I beaten by even lazy Tommy Shafter! + But it was no use to fret, so I snatched up my satchel, and + would have been off in a minute, + When lo and behold! my geography was gone; and though we hunted + the house, it was plain it wasn't in it, + Till at last I remembered that yesterday I had gone after school + to the dog pound, + And then been fishing with Fred Lee; so, probably, it was at the + bottom of the frog pond! + Well, off to school I went, and came in after every schoolmate; + So, to pay me off, the schoolmaster and all the boys called me + Bobby Toolate! + But that wasn't all; for the class was just up for spelling, + And I didn't know the lesson, and Tommy Shafter prompted me to + spell boots _butes_; and that's all I got for telling, + Besides going to the foot of the class, and having to get the + lesson over; + I tell you what! a hand-organ monkey's life, compared to a + schoolboy's, is perfect rolling in clover! + And I wish I was a monkey, if I did get beaten--yes, that I do-- + In a red coat all over spangles, and blue trowsers, and a long + tail behind to come through! + Well, thank goodness, it's over; but that's not the half of my + pother; + For the very minute I got out of school, Tommy Shafter began + to plague and bother, + And wanted me to ride on the gate with him that goes in to his + grandfather Chowser's; + So I did; but there's spikes on the top of that gate; and, + confound it, I went to work and tore my trowsers! + Just then along came Miss Kitty Snow, and didn't I look dashing, + And that hateful Tommy Shafter bawled out "How are you, trowsers?" + and jumped down and walked off with her; but just see if I + don't give him a thrashing! + To pay him off for what he did and more too; for, when I came home + weeping and wailing, + Pa boxed my ears, and said I was such a bad boy I shouldn't go + with him now out sailing; + So I had the pleasure of seeing the rockaway drive up to the door, + And pa and ma getting in, and sister Tilly, and brother Sam, and + ever so many more, + All looking so happy and gay, and not caring a bit for poor Bobby, + Just as if I _wanted_ to get into scrapes, and mischief and + bad conduct were quite my hobby! + Then off they whirled; and as I was left alone, I thought I might + as well be up and doing. + Oh, good gracious, why didn't I sit still? but how could I tell + what was brewing? + So I went to the stable to see our big dog Rover, and thought + I would take him out with me; + When, just as I had slipped his chain, he broke loose, and ran, + I don't know where! and, I'm sure, pa will never forgive me! + For he thought so much of Rover. Oh, dear me, what shall I do? + If it would be any use in the world, I really think I should begin + to boohoo! + The stable boy told me not to take him; but I should like to see + myself minding him _rather_; + And of course, out of revenge, he'll just go and make the worst + of it to father. + Well, one would think that was enough; but when I came back to + the house, oh jolly! + There was our big cat just making a spring at sister Tilda's + pretty polly! + And in my haste to save the bird I threw the poker at the cat + and killed her! + And got myself in for a scolding from ma, and no great thanks + from Tilda. + It's six o'clock now; so, I suppose, they'll soon be home as + cross as any Tartar, + To give it to me for being such a bad boy, though I'm sure + I'm a regular martyr; + Don't you think so now, after all that I've just been telling? + No breakfast, no geography, late at school, tore my trowsers, + kept at home, lost the dog, killed the cat, and didn't know + my spelling! + I think the best thing I can do is to go to bed, put my head + under the clothes, + And in a good, comfortable sleep try to forget all my sorrows + and my woes; + But you may be sure, after this, I shall not neglect to take + warning, + And begin to-morrow all right, without any sort of fail, by + getting up early in the morning! + +"There!" said I, when I had finished, and it quite wore my tongue thin +to repeat such a long piece of poetry. "What do you think of _that_ for +a story?" + +"I think it is real funny," said Nelly, laughing; "I wish I knew +something to tell." + +"I can say a funny piece!" shouted Jimmy. + +"Well, say it, then," we two--Nelly and I--put in. + +Up he jumped right off, struck a funny attitude, and began: + + "The boy stood on the burning deck, + Peeling potatoes by the peck! + The flames rolled on and scorched his shins, + As he stood peeling potato skins! + 'Oh pa'!' he cried, 'the flames is hot, + Come, put the potatoes in the pot!' + But his father, alas! ne'er came to sup, + So the flames rolled on and frizzled him up!" + +"Did you ever hear anything so ridiculous as that?" cried Nelly. "Poor +Casabianca! I used to cry over him dreadfully; but I shall never think +of him now without laughing. Where did you learn that, Jimmy?" + +"Oh, Harry Agnew told it to me; he said he repeated it one day in +school, when the master asked him if he could say a piece of poetry, and +everybody burst out laughing. The master laughed too; so he couldn't put +anybody down for a bad mark, though Harry was afraid he would." + +"That was almost equal to the trick we played at school," said I. "We +wanted the doctor to give us a holiday, but he didn't seem to see it; so +when we were called up for our reading after recess, we were told to +read Montgomery's poem called 'Questions to Birds and their Answers.' +One of the verses is about the swallow, and reads thus: + + "'Swallow, why homeward turned thy joyful wing?' + 'In a far land I heard the voice of spring; + I found myself that moment on the way, + My wings, my wings, they had not power to stay.' + +--but we changed it as though the doctor was asking us a question and we +were answering--this way: + + "'Boys! why are you forever on the wing, + Wanting a holiday for everything?' + 'From you we are so glad to get away, + Our legs, our legs, they will not let us stay.'" + +How we all laughed over this; it was real true, too; and pretty soon +after, as it was getting dark, I bid them good-by and ran home. + +Next morning, what should Aunt Elsie and Aunt Ruth (Aunt Priscilla was +away on a visit) take into their heads, but that they hadn't had any fun +house-cleaning--(I suppose they must think it's fun, or they wouldn't do +it so often)--for ever so long; so nothing would suit them but to set +the whole house in an uproar as quick as possible. Of course, I was in +the way, whether I stayed in the garret or the kitchen; knocked down +three pails and a scrubbing brush every time I went down stairs, nearly +drowned Poddles in hot soapsuds, splashed myself all over with whitewash +trying to "do" the kitchen ceiling (on my own account, when nobody was +by), until I looked as if I had been out in a snowstorm, and watering +the windows outside with the long hosepipe, until every one of them was +dripping _inside_ like a waterfall. + +Now, Neighbor Nelly and Jimmy had been looking out of their parlor +window, and advising me which were the best parts of our windows to play +on, when, all of a sudden, Nelly said: + +"Why, Tom, it doesn't half clean the panes to do them that way; they +ought to be washed with soap and hot water. Suppose we try it? Only +think!" she went on, "how much your aunties would be obliged to us if we +were to find out a new way to make windows clean, ever so much better +than the old one!" + +"Splendid!" said I and Jimmy together. "Come, let's try it right away!" + +With that, Nelly and Jimmy came into our house, and into the front +basement; Aunt Elsie and Aunt Ruth were both up stairs; so we had the +two lower stories all to ourselves. + +As Nelly was afraid of spoiling her frock, I dived into the cook's +dresser drawer, where she keeps her own table covers and clean dish +cloths, and fished out a great big brown roller-towel, which we pinned +round her neck, making her look in front as if she was tied up in a +potato sack, with only her head left out. Then Jimmy and I took off our +nice jackets, rolled up our shirt sleeves, lugged in three big yellow +dishes full of hot water, spilling plenty on the way, found a long bar +of brown soap, and helped ourselves to three more of Bridget's clean +towels; and then we all three began scrubbing away at the windows! + +Such fun as we had! We put on the greatest lot of soap, and paid away +with both hands, so as to make them good and _clean_, laughing and +talking all the time; and when we thought the water had been used +enough, or, rather when it was nearly all spilt, we took up our yellow +bowls and marched into the kitchen for more. + +Our boiler, you must know, is a tin affair, like a large soup kettle +without the handle, and has a faucet in front to draw the water off. We +put it on the middle of the range, and keep it always full and boiling; +and now, instead of filling our dishes right away, we began playing the +kitchen was a steamboat, and the water heater the boiler, just ready to +burst; so, of course, it was necessary to let off steam, which we did by +drawing a little water at a time from the faucet into one of our yellow +dishes, and tilting it back again as soon as the dish was full, beside +"tooting," as loud as we could, to represent the commotion going on to +perfection. We were soon so busy over this, that we forgot all about +the front basement windows for ever so long, until we heard Aunt Elsie +calling out, "Tom! Tom! where are you?" + +"Here I am, Aunt Elsie! come right along! Here we all are, washing the +windows for you as nice as anything!" + +Down marched Aunt Elsie, short order; and the minute she came into the +basement we heard her give an "O----h!" about a quarter of a mile long. +We all rushed to ask what was the matter; and such a pickle as the +windows were in you never did see. The soap was in streaks, and smears, +and lumps all over the panes, making them look as if somebody had spilt +a lot of hasty pudding on them, and it had stuck fast. Of course, as we +left them so long, the soap had hardened on; and poor Nelly, frightened +half out of her wits, began to cry. That put me up, I can tell you; I +was determined Aunt Elsie shouldn't scold her; so I begged her not to be +angry with anybody but me, for it wasn't their fault at all. + +"And I must say you are old enough to know better, Tom," said my aunt, +looking at me reproachfully over the tops of her spectacles; "and as a +punishment, you must get all the soap off the window before you have any +dinner. The children had better go home." + +But now, what do you think that darling of a Nelly, and Jimmy did? They +declared I shouldn't do it all alone by myself, but they would stay and +help me; so, after Aunt Elsie had been coaxed to let us, we filled our +dishes again, and went to work as busy as bees. It was pretty hard work +getting the soap off, but we made a joke of it, and by the time the +windows were fairly polished up, as bright as new pins, we were in a +perfect frolic. I expect Nelly's bright eyes had something to do with +it, for Aunt Elsie, after we had finished, and come shouting to her with +our faces as red as fire, and considerable brown soap on us in spots, +said, "we were famous workpeople," and gave us New Year's cookies, and +almonds, and raisins for lunch. I had a Philopoena among my nuts, +which I ate with Nelly; and pretty soon after they went home. + +I did hope she would catch me on the Philopoena, because I had +something that I meant to give her all along; and this would be a famous +chance. It was a nest of little boxes, made of plaid papier-mache, about +a dozen, one inside the other; and when you came to the very last, and +had opened that, there was a gold thimble and scissors, and a little +gold bodkin, a needlecase full of tiny needles, and a puncher, just big +enough for the queen of the fairies; I won it at a raffle on Christmas +Eve, and kept it to give to some little girl, for, of course, it wasn't +any use to me; what could I do with a thimble and needles? Sure enough, +when I looked out of the back parlor window next morning, Neighbor Nelly +looked out of _her_ window, said with a saucy smile, "Good morning, Mr. +Tom--Philopoena!" and popped back again. + +"Good!" I said. So, after breakfast, I asked Aunt Elsie for a nice sheet +of paper and a new pen, and then I ran up to my own room, and sat down +to write a little note to my neighbor. I'm sure, that showed how much I +liked her, if anything could, for I'd rather do a sum in compound +fractions, or a French exercise, than write a note. It quite gives me +the toothache; but at last I wrote something very pretty, as, I'm sure, +you will say when I repeat it to you. This is what I said: + + "MY DEAR MISS NELLY: + + "I hope you will accept the little present I send + you for a Philopoena, because I like you very + much. I am real glad you caught me, for perhaps + this will remind you of me when I go back to + school. I hope the needles will sew all the holes + in your clothes, that the thimble will keep you + from pricking your pretty little finger, and that + + "If you loves I as I loves you, + The scissors won't cut our love in two. + + "Good-by. + "From your affectionate friend + "TOM." + +Then I packed up the boxes and the letter in nice white paper, and +coaxed Mary to take it in right away; and you can't tell how many +pretty, smiling thanks I had in return. + +But you think I am making my story too long, Neighbor Oldbird? Well, +perhaps I am, but there seems to be so much to tell about Nelly, and the +nice times we had together, that I don't know when to stop. I am 'most +through now. + +The day I sent her the Philopoena present was the last of my stay in +town; and after I had packed up my clothes ready to start (with a +gorgeous plum cake and two jars of raspberry jam in a box, which my dear +old Friskies gave me,--they always do make everything of me, in spite of +their lectures), I went to Uncle Herbert's room to bid him good-by, for +I knew I should not see him again before I started, and he made me the +best present of all. It was a dear little watch and chain; for he said, +as I was nearly fifteen, I was quite old enough to take care of one. +Wasn't that kind of him? + +Well, dear me, I don't want to say good-by a bit, and I did not then; +but, of course, it had to come, and I shook hands with my dear little +friends, only wishing to goodness that I lived in New York. + +We promised about twenty-five times apiece always to be friends; and +then I kissed Aunt Elsie and Aunt Ruth, pulled Poddles' ears for +good-by, and pranced off all alone; of course, boys that have watches +are plenty big enough to go from New York to White Plains by +themselves. I suppose we always shall stay there, for papa is abominably +fond of the country; but just wait until I am a man, and see if I don't +come to live in New York, and marry Neighbor Nelly, if she will have me. +Mind you keep that last remark a secret, now, Neighbor Oldbird! That's +all there is about it. + + + + +THE FAT GENTLEMAN'S STORY. + + + I'M in love with Neighbor Nelly, + Though I know she's only ten; + While I am five and forty, + And the _married-est_ of men. + I've a wife as fat as butter, + And a baby--such a boy! + With the plumpest cheeks and shoulders, + Who's his father's dearest joy. + + Though a Square toes and a Buffer, + Still I've sunshine in my heart; + Still I'm fond of tops and marbles + Can appreciate a tart. + I can love my Neighbor Nelly, + Just as though I were a boy, + And would hand her cakes and apples, + From my depths of corduroy. + + She is tall, and growing taller; + She is vigorous of limb; + (You should see her playing soldiers + With her little brother Jim!) + She has eyes as blue as damsons; + She has pounds of auburn curls; + She regrets the game of leapfrog + Is prohibited to girls. + + I adore my Neighbor Nelly, + I invite her in to tea, + And I let her nurse the baby + Her delightful ways to see. + Such a darling bud of woman! + Yet remote from any teens; + I have learnt from Neighbor Nelly + What the girls' doll instinct means. + + Oh! to see her with the baby! + (He adores her more than I); + How she choruses his crowing, + How she hushes every cry! + How she loves to pit his dimples + With her light forefinger deep; + How she boasts, as one in triumph, + When she gets him off to sleep! + + We must part, my Neighbor Nelly, + For the summers quickly flee; + And the middle-aged admirer + Must, too soon, supplanted be. + Yet, as jealous as a mother, + A suspicious, cankered churl, + I look vainly for the setting, + To be worthy such a pearl! + + NOTE.--This charming little gem is not original, + being gleaned from the pages of Putnam's Magazine. + As it was there published anonymously, the author + is unable to make any further acknowledgment. + + + + +POSTSCRIPT TO THE THREE STORIES. + +BY THE OLD BACHELOR. + + +WHEN I had finished copying out the stories of the Big Boy and the Fat +Gentleman last summer, the thought struck me that, as I had been in town +all the warm bright June weather, it would do my health a great deal of +good to take a trip to Long Branch. Of course, it was not to see +Neighbor Nelly--certainly not. + +So, the very next Saturday afternoon I dusted up my valise, and put some +nice cool summer clothes in it, and a great paper of candy, which I +meant for my little neighbors, in case I should see them by accident! +Somebody had told me that the Mansion House was the best hotel to stop +at. Shall I tell you why? Because there was a party there, of a papa and +mamma, a dear little girl and boy, and a remarkably nice little toy +terrier, which would put me in mind very much of some friends of mine +called Lawson. In fact, this family was called Lawson, too, and the +younger members were christened Nelly and Jimmy! Comical, wasn't it? + +If you have never been to Long Branch, you can't think what a pleasant +sail it is down the Bay in the "Thomas Collyer," and how much I enjoyed +my trip. The pleasant shores of Long and Staten Islands (_I_ used to +live on Staten Island, and had some comical times there, which I mean to +write out one of these days) looked as verdant and beautiful as ever; +the sea was as blue as a bluebottle fly, and the sun as light as a cork! +As I looked at the great, rolling waves, I laughed to myself, thinking +what nice times we were going to have in bathing; ducking under them, +when they came roaring along the shore after us, as if they meant to +gobble us up, and bouncing out again when they had passed, all dripping +and laughing, and ready for the next one to play the same trick on us. +Sometimes, to be sure, the waves play too rough, and knock you off your +feet without "by your leave;" or a little crab will walk up and bite +your toes, just by way of welcoming you to Long Branch; but nobody minds +it. Bless you!--that only makes it more fun to go in bathing! + +Well, the boat stopped at the pier, which extends a quarter of a mile +from the shore, putting one in mind of a long crab's claw stuck out for +"shake hands" by old Neptune; and I jumped into the cars and was bounced +and rattled along to Long Branch. As it was Saturday afternoon, a great +crowd of people were going there with me, and, deary me! when _I_ came +to the Mansion House, there wasn't any room left for me! Wasn't it too +bad? Just when I had fixed to have such a nice time with my dear little +friends! It would never do to go away, however, so I said: "Well, never +mind, Mr. Mansion House--that is, Mr. Neighbor Nelly--dear me!--Mr. +Laird, I can do without a room; and at night you can put me to sleep in +the pigeon house, or the hen coop, or under the counter of the office, +or up the chimney, I don't care which; but go away I can't!" + +Now, I expect, Mr. Laird must have known I had come to see Neighbor +Nelly, and what a disappointment it would be not to get in; for after a +consultation with his bookkeeper, he told me he could give me a room +after all! and I was so glad, that I offered him my snuff box +immediately, which is a favor I only grant to very nice people! + +So up stairs I hurried, to get ready for tea, in high good humor, and, +would you believe it, when I came down again, whose table should I be +put to sit at, but Neighbor Nelly's? Oh, how surprised and pleased she +was to see me! and Jimmy and his father and mother were just as glad. +There was famous "clam chowder" for tea, and such great big +blackberries, that we really had to make two bites of them! not to +mention the quantities of other good things; and after tea we strolled +out on the bluff, which overlooks the ocean. There are three pretty +little summer houses before the Mansion House, and in one of these we +took our seats. Gipsey had come scampering up to me in delighted +recognition as we left the dining room, barking and wagging his tail, +until I should think both his tail and his bark would have been quite +out of joint. + +"Oh, Neighbor Oldbird, I'm so glad you have come," began Nelly, eagerly; +"we have been having such fun, and, now you are here, it will be nicer +than ever." + +"Do you and Jimmy go in bathing?" I asked. + +"I guess we do!" cried Jimmy. "We rush into the water first of anybody, +and go out real deep, when we have hold of the ropes. Some great big +boys are as afraid as anything! But we like to have the waves go over +our heads." + +"Talking about big boys," said I, looking wonderfully sly, "I made the +acquaintance of a big boy in our street, not long ago, who knows a +certain little lady very well; and likes her very well, too!" + +"Oh, I know!" chimed both the children; "it's Tom Halstead. Isn't it?" + +"Yes; he told me something funny about you, too; I did not know you +could wash windows before, Neighbor Nelly." + +My little neighbor laughed and blushed comically when I said that, and +then Jimmy said: + +"He's a first rate fellow, I tell you. He sent us a letter the other +day, and what do you think? he's coming here!" + +"Coming here!" I exclaimed; "my stars! I shall be quite thrown in the +shade when such a nice friend makes his appearance. I think I shall have +to go home again Monday, and I did mean to stay till Wednesday," and I +made up a dismal face, and pretended to be quite heart-broken. + +"No, indeed, Neighbor Oldbird! we shall always like you the best!" cried +Nelly, catching both my hands in hers. "He is a very nice boy, to be +sure, but we like _you_ just as much as if you were our bachelor uncle." + +"Then I move to be called Uncle Josiah directly!" I said, laughing; +"so, my dear niece and nephew, don't you think it would be a good plan +for us to go down on that nice yellow sand there, and look at the +waves?" + +The children were delighted with this plan, so we all three walked to +the steep wooden steps that lead from the bluff to the beach below, and +were soon on the sands. Gipsey came racing after as usual, and in his +haste to join us, ran so fast down the steps, that he couldn't stop +himself, but had to bring up on the sand past the water mark, looking +comically astonished. To put a finishing touch to his misfortunes, a +great big wave came tumbling in just then, and over poor Gipsey it went! +sousing him head and ears! It frightened him so much that he rushed +dripping wet to Neighbor Nelly, and jumped into her lap, squealing +dismally. Such a perfect shower-bath of cold salt water as rained all +over her pretty muslin dress, and trim little gaiters and stockings! We +had to shake her well, and put Gipsey to bed on a sandhill near us, +where he went to sleep, and, I hope, forgot his miseries. + +Perhaps you don't know it, but the sand is a famous place to write your +name. You go as near the retreating wave as you dare, and then, with a +walking stick or an umbrella, or your finger, if nothing better is to be +had, write your name, or draw a hideous spook on the wet sand. You have +to be quick about it, too; for just as you are putting the finishing +touches to the work, another great billow is sure to come tearing at +you, with a wide, deep hollow of emerald green, and foaming crest, +looking like molten silver in the moonlight. Crash! it falls on the +beach; and a long rush of foam slides up the sand as you scamper out of +reach, not always without a wet shoe or two. Now the water has all run +back, but where is the writing? The sand is smooth once more, and ready, +like a great blackboard, to be marked on anew. So the sea is always +clearing your writing book for you, and giving you a chance to begin +again and see how long it will last! + +I should think we wrote "Nelly," "Jimmy," and "Neighbor Oldbird," about +fifty times each on the sand, with my walking stick; and then we "hung +Jeff. Davis on a sour apple tree," and depicted him with Old Spookey +coming after him, and told the Atlantic Ocean, "We like blue fish," and +"We're going in bathing Monday," and never succeeded in keeping one of +our achievements more than half a minute. + +We stayed down on the delightful beach until nearly half-past nine; and, +dear me, what a heap of sand we got in our shoes! It was quite wonderful +how it contrived to work its way in; but there it was, making us lift up +our feet as heavily as though we had cannon balls tied to our ankles. + +But it was getting late, and high time for small people to be off to +bed; so, with a shake of the hand from one of my little neighbors, and a +"good kiss" from the other, I don't say _which_, Gipsey was waked up, +and they all trotted off together. + +Next morning was Sunday, and a beautiful sunshiny day. The first thing I +did when I woke up, was to pop my head out of the window and take a look +at the ocean. There it was, as beautiful as ever, and now I found out a +funny thing about Long Branch that I hadn't noticed the evening before. +"Why," said I, "is it possible I am in the country? Where are the +trees?" They were nowhere to be seen, not so much as a bush; while the +flowers were represented by everybody's bathing dresses hanging over +all the fences, and on ever so many clothes-lines besides, to dry. The +fact is, that the Atlantic Ocean is determined to let nothing be admired +but itself; so it will not permit a tree to grow any nearer its shores +than half a mile. So all the foliage there consists of the direful old +bathing dresses, flapping in the wind and looking like so many +scarecrows put up to frighten off the fishhawks. + +In the morning we went to the cunning little Episcopal church, and +listened to the earnest teachings of the noble young rector, who is +working so bravely in his Master's cause with such poor earthly reward. +That he is laying up treasure where "neither moth nor rust doth +corrupt," we cannot but believe. We did not like to leave the quiet +little church for the great noisy hotels, in one of which, as we passed +it, they were _playing billiards_. Oh! what an occupation for God's holy +day! I cannot believe they were Christians who were playing, but I know +I wanted to go and beg them to stop. + +In the afternoon it clouded up, and began to rain very hard; so we could +not go to church, and as it was very little like Sunday in the crowded +hall and parlor, Mrs. Lawson proposed we should all come and sit in her +room, which opened on one of the upper piazzas. So we established +ourselves here, where it was quiet and cool, very glad to escape from +the bustle down stairs. + +"Suppose you were to repeat that pretty German hymn I gave you the other +day," said her mother to Nelly. "Perhaps Mr. Oldbird would like to hear +it." + +"Yes, that I should," I said; so Nelly began the beautiful verses +called-- + + +"ALL THERE." + + "Nothing is lost; the treasures which the ocean + Hath taken to itself in ages fled, + The lives that rest beneath its ceaseless motion + Until 'the sea shall render up its dead:' + + "The dew drops that the warm bright sunshine drieth, + The cloud that melts away in summer air, + The bud that lifteth its sweet head--and dieth, + They are not lost--God keeps them in his care. + + "Nothing is lost; the anguish of the mourner, + And bitter tears that fall like solemn rain, + Are safely stored within the heavenly garner, + Till Christ shall come unto his own again. + + "And our beloved ones that Death doth gather + To their calm, dreamless sleep beneath the tomb, + Like tender flowers, are cherished by the Father + In the celestial fields of Heaven to bloom. + + "Nothing is lost; oh, let the promise cheer us; + By God himself to weary mortals given; + Our darling ones shall soon again be near us, + Our hopes shall bloom, unfadingly, in Heaven." + +"I think that is the best hymn I know," added Nelly, when she had +finished. "Now, what shall we do?" + +"Let's play church!" suggested Jimmy. + +"Oh yes! that's the very thing!" said Nelly. "Suppose we ask Kitty and +Robby Morris to come in." + +So Kitty and Robby were found, and consented to join the play, which +straightway began; mamma and I looking on, though we made believe not to +be taking notice, for fear of disturbing the little visitors. + +Robby, who was a dear little fellow, only five years old, with long +golden curls and great blue eyes, was the minister, at his own special +request. The children dressed him in a long white sack of Mrs. Lawson's +by way of a gown, and gave him a small table for a pulpit. The others, +with Gipsey, and a large gray cat, the property of Robby and Kitty, +which marched in after them, were the congregation, sitting on the edge +of the bed, to be like the long church pew. The minister took for his +text, "Little children, love one another," and his sermon was such a +dear, funny little discourse, that I must write it down for you. + +"Now, my dear peoples," he said, "I hope, whenever you feel like +karrelling,[A] or being as cross as bears, you will 'member what the +Bible says 'bout loving one another. Gipsey fighted my tat to-day, and +pulled some of her fur out; but he's only a dog, and I readed in my Dr. +Watts-- + + "Let dogs delight to bark and bite, + For God has made 'em so; + Let bears and lions growl and fight, + For 'tis their nature too. + But, children, _you_ s'ould _never_ let + Your angry _pass'ons_ rise! + Your little hands were _never_ made + To sc'atch each other's eyes." + +----so I was not mad at him, 'cause he didn't _know_ he ought to love +pussy. + +"I _s'apped_ nurse the other day, 'cause she made me come out of the +water before I wanted to, and _that_ was _very_ naughty; I begged her +pardon, though, and gave her a piece of my _tandy_, that papa had +brought me. Now, my dear peoples, I think that is long enough. S'pose we +sing, 'I want to be an angel.'" + +[Illustration: PLAYING CHURCH.] + +Wasn't that a cunning little sermon? It put me in mind of how I used to +play church in my childhood, long ago; when my young brother, dear +little Davy, would stand on a chair, while I sat on my stool at his +feet, and preach a sermon something like Robby's. Darling Davy! I +fancied I could see his sweet face and earnest eyes looking down at me, +from his happy home in heaven that Sunday afternoon; for he closed those +dark eyes on this weary earth many long years since, and I never think +of him now but as standing on the chair in our father's study (with, +perhaps, mother looking in, unknown to him), and preaching from some +simple text that we knew and loved, in quaint, yet childish words. Ah, +well! perhaps it was better so, than that he should have lived to be a +gray-headed old bachelor like "brother Jose!" + +So the children all sang the hymn, and that was the end of church. We +passed the rest of the afternoon telling Bible stories, and repeating +hymns, and after tea it was clear once more, and dry enough to go out on +the bluff. + +You may be sure, we were all in famous spirits Monday morning, and ready +for any sort of a frolic. Who could help being good humored with such +company as my little neighbors? Mr. Lawson left us in the first train +for the city; but, to make up, who should have come down in the early +morning boat, but Tom Halstead and Miss Elsie Bluejay--or Brandlaw, I +ought to say, since I know her name now; and they drove straight up to +the Mansion House, of course--who wouldn't, when Neighbor Nelly was +there? The children received Tom with shouts of joy; and he looked so +handsome and happy, and his great black eyes sparkled so with good humor +and fun, that I felt quite ready to admit him into my circle of little +people that I knew and loved. Neighbor Nelly and he were an admirable +contrast in point of appearance, and I shouldn't be surprised if the +last remark made to me in strict confidence, by my friend Tom in his +account of her, should come true some day. + +I wish I could sketch a little picture of our party as we clustered +together on the piazza, to show what manner of people we were then; and +another, of our appearance in the water afterward. Ten o'clock was the +hour for bathing that morning; so we each armed ourselves with our +bathing clothes and a prodigious towel, like the main sail of a fishing +smack, and rushed down to the beach; that is, the younger members; Aunt +Elsie, Mrs. Lawson, and I walked soberly along. Then we popped into +separate bathing houses, still looking like respectable and responsible +members of society, and popped out five minutes afterward--scarecrows! +spooks! animated rag-bags! with the last vestige of our gentility and +good looks departed. + +Aunt Elsie had taken leave of a most beautiful brown "front" and +fourteen luxuriant curls, the absence of which gave her an appearance +very like a staid bald-headed owl; particularly as she would keep on her +very round spectacles, and wore a pair of extremely long-fingered green +cotton gloves. The long ends of the glove fingers, waving about in the +water, were not unlike the owl's claws; while her gray woollen bathing +dress might have passed for a new sort of flannel feathers. A mortified +blue sunbonnet, with all the canes out, was perched lop-sided on her +head, and she wore a pair of bathing shoes, like brown poultices. The +rest of us were just as bad, though; I was an ogre in green flannel, Tom +and Jimmy monkeys in red, Mrs. Lawson tolerably lady-like in blue, with +white tape trimmings, and Neighbor Nelly a ridiculous little old jumping +Jenny in white, with gorgeous red facings; and all in hats that defied +our best friends to know us in. + +How we laughed at each other, and then made haste over the sand, which +was so hot that it nearly scorched our feet, and plumped into the nice +cool ocean, where ever so many other frights were already hopping about. + +Now for a rush into the deep water! here comes a big wave! down, down +now! and over our heads it went! dousing us as it had Gipsey the +Saturday night, only we didn't squeal. + +Presently, some people who had come from the next hotel, began dancing +the "Lancers" in the water, ducking under instead of bowing, and +seeming to have such a good time, that nothing would suit the children +but that they must begin dancing, too; in consequence of which a wave +twice as high as usual came roaring up, and carried Neighbor Nelly right +off her feet. Under the water she went, and for an instant we were quite +frightened; but presently up she popped laughing, and trying to squeeze +the salt water out of her eyes. + +However, that put a stop to the dancing; and here let me tell you, that +surf bathing is always a pretty venturesome thing to attempt, unless you +grasp the ropes firmly, or have hold of some older and stronger person's +hand. + +There was one gentleman flourishing about near us, who seemed bent upon +trying how many odd things he could do in the water. Presently we saw +him going down head first, and then his feet coming up in the air like a +duck's! It looked so comical to see any one besides a duck standing +upside down in the water, that we all burst out laughing, and just then +along came another billow, and treated us each to a mouthful of salt +water! + +By this time we had been in long enough for one day, for you should +always remember to come out before you feel chilled, and so we waded to +the shore, looking more outlandish than ever, now the bathing dresses +were all soaked, and hurried into the houses to get dry and dressed. + +Surf bathing is a famous thing to give you an appetite; and I don't +wonder Mr. Laird provides so bountiful and well cooked a dinner, when I +think of the famishing five hundred people that were to be fed the day I +was there, and every day beside. The "Charge of the Light Brigade" was +nothing to the charge we made upon the dishes; and as the dining room is +sensibly arranged with tables accommodating about a dozen people each, +we all sat together; and had such a merry time that two or three cross +old dames looked sharply at our party, very curious to know what all the +laughing was about. Our small friend Gipsey was the cause of it, partly, +for he posted himself beside each of our chairs in turn, and made such +surprising and despairing hops and skips after bits of chicken held up +beyond his reach, that he very nearly turned a somerset each time. + +We rewarded his patience at last by giving him some bones, which he +crunched under the table with perfect satisfaction, while we were +discussing the ice cream and other good things. + +In the afternoon I was sitting reading the paper on the upper piazza, +and the children were amusing themselves in their own fashion near me. +Nelly, with another little girl, whose name seemed to be "Baby," for +they never called her anything else, were manufacturing a resplendent +doll's dress for a waxen angel in a white spencer--or whatever those +muslin concerns are called, which the ladies wear with colored skirts +nowadays, and a black velvet pointed belt; while the boys, with their +arms fraternally entwined, were interchanging confidences on the +important subjects of "My peg top," "Don't you think thirty-eight cents +is a tremendous price for kites?" "How many glass agates have you got?" +and so on--when Tom, looking very mischievous, suddenly lifted up dolly +by the toe of her shoe, and asked, "Why, Nelly, what's the matter with +this doll; has she got the spinal complaint?" + +"No, you goose," said Nelly, laughing. "What makes you ask that?" + +"Because she has on a supporter," said Tom, with perfect gravity, +pointing to the velvet belt. "Poor thing! why don't you take her in +bathing? It would do her health good, I'm sure; she looks fearfully +pale." + +"Ah, make him put her down, Nelly," said Baby; "he'll break her if he +goes on so;" for Tom was now amusing himself by balancing dolly on her +head in his hand, making a great display of embroidered trowsers and +hoop petticoats; and now, catching her by both hands, he suddenly swung +her over the railing. "This is the way she ought to be ducked under the +waves!" he added. Nelly sprang forward at the same moment with an "Oh, +Tom! please!" and caught his arm rather suddenly. His hold relaxed at +the same moment, and crash! down tumbled poor dolly on the ground below, +breaking one of her wax arms completely off, and making a fearful cavity +in her forehead, which killed her completely! that is, I should think +so. I never heard of any one who survived fracture of the skull. Did +you? + +Poor Nelly! She tried hard not to mind it; but dolly's head was one too +many for her, and the tears came rolling quickly down her cheeks as she +gazed at the unfortunate waxen damsel below, with quivering lip. Tom +turned red and white alternately in silence for a moment, and then began +pouring forth apologies and regrets. He called himself all the imps +that ever were heard of for being so careless; he offered to go to New +York that very day to buy another doll, and have his hair well pulled +beside, if she only would forgive him, and say she didn't think he had +done it on purpose; and, in short, we had quite a little scene; when, +fortunately, there occurred to me a pleasant means of diverting the +minds of the party from the accident that had happened. So I laid down +my paper, as though I had not been listening, and said: + +"Well, little people, I believe I have discovered all the news there is; +so what do you say to coming to a party I am thinking of giving in my +room?" + +"A party!" cried the children, dropping the subject of the doll to look +at me; "why, we should like that very much. What sort of a party is it?" + +"A reading party," I answered. "I have some papers I have been thinking +of reading to you, to get your opinion of them before I put them in a +book; and I shouldn't be surprised if there was a paper of candy in my +drawer besides." + +"Why, do you write books?" asked Baby, opening her bright eyes very wide +indeed, as if to be certain what a real live author looked like. + +"To be sure I do," I said, laughing. "Funny stories, and sad ones, too; +and some that are every word of them true, and others that are told me +by my friends; and you shall tell me whether they are true or not." + +So we all made haste into my room--not the same I had when I first came, +but one on the front piazza, near Neighbor Nelly's. The papers I meant +were my own, Tom's, and the Fat Gentleman's stories, which I had brought +down with me, to look over and correct. The candy I had bought for Nelly +and Jimmy, as I told you, and forgotten all about to that moment. Little +Robby came trotting along just then, so we asked him to be of the party; +and Mrs. Lawson, looking out to see why we were in such a bustle, made +up the company. + +I wish you could have been at Our Party that afternoon. We made a cosey +little group, I assure you. Mrs. Lawson sat by the table with her +sewing; Tom established himself close to my chair, and Nelly nestled by +my other side. Baby and Jimmy sat on hassocks, contrived from carpet +bags, at my feet; dear little Robby was lifted to my knee, and the +reading began. Oh, the laughter, and comical wonder, and blushes, when +my little neighbors found the stories were about them! Nelly burst out +with "Oh, Neighbor Oldbird!" and hid her face on my shoulder every time +there was some special praise of herself. Tom turned perfectly crimson +when we came to his story, and was in and out of his seat twenty times, +begging me to stop, during its progress, his splendid black eyes +glancing appealingly at me and Nelly by turns. I wouldn't spare him a +single word, however; and when I came to his declaration at the end, +concerning Nelly, there was a general shout of laughter. + +"There's an eligible offer for you, Miss Nell," I said solemnly. "You'd +better take it into consideration!" and so on, until Mrs. Lawson begged +me to stop. She did not like to have ideas about marriage put into the +children's heads; and I, when I reflected, was very sorry I had been so +thoughtless. Tom bore my teasing manfully; but Nelly's face was rather +grave, as if she did not like such remarks to be made about her; so I +hurried on to the Fat Gentleman's story, and brought up at the end, and +then handed round the candy, amid general approbation. + +How we all passed that evening together on the beach, and had a wildly +happy time; how we went in bathing the next day, and the next; and how, +on Wednesday afternoon, I bid a most reluctant good-by to my little +neighbors, I have not room to tell. I want to write how gladly we met +again in the city in the fall; how Tom did come to live in New York, and +favored us with his company as often as possible; how we chanced again +on the little girl whom we had met in the toy shop, and found her living +in a wretched tenement house in Cherry street, whence Mr. Lawson and I, +with some other friends, removed them in haste, and established them in +a nice little thread-needle store on one of the business avenues not far +from our street; but all this would take too long. + +I must say, though, what a blessed change it has been for them, +particularly for poor little crippled Clara, who never fails to greet us +with a smile when we go there to see her, as she sits in her comfortable +arm-chair by the window, with her pet spaniel "Dandy" beside her. She is +always contented and cheerful, in spite of the sharp pain that often +racks her slender limbs; and as I look on her pale face, which is so +plainly not long for this earth, and think that now her suffering life +will end amid comfort and peace, I whisper to myself with a heart full +of love, "All this through thy sweet influence, dear + + "NEIGHBOR NELLY!" + +FOOTNOTE: + +[A] Quarrelling. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + +AND that was the end of the famous Sock Stories, which had afforded +George and Helen so much amusement during nearly three months; for it +took all that time for Aunt Fanny's daughter to write, and the children +to read them all. They could not tell which they liked the best; for it +so happened that the "Funny Little Socks" made their appearance just at +the time when some dear little cousins of theirs, only four or five +years old, had come to spend a week or two with them, which made baby +stories doubly welcome; and I don't know what the good and delightful +gentleman to whom the fifth book is dedicated will say about it, when he +sees his name at the front; but it was thought very appropriate by +Helen's papa; as the very best story in the book is all about +philosophers, grave and gay. + +One thing in particular I am most happy to record; and that is, that the +good habits which keeping mamma's little code of rules had engendered, +were not broken off at the close of the readings; but instead, were +formed more lastingly with every week; until now every one who knows +George and Helen says, the first thing, "What good children they are! +and yet, they never have to be whipped, or shut up in a dark closet to +make them so." No! they are good from a higher motive than the dread of +punishment; for they are inspired with the sincere desire to make their +dear mother as happy as they can; and it would not surprise me at all if +Santa Claus, who is a very discerning old gentleman, were to put +something very nice indeed in both socks and stockings this +Christmas--in spite of the hard times! + +And now, one last word, before Aunt Fanny's daughter bids you good-by, +little reader. She hopes and prays, in all sincerity, that she has +succeeded not only in amusing you, but in giving you some lessons which +will sink into your hearts for your real good. And if in the shadowy +train of personages who have moved before you in these Sock Stories, +there is one who has pleased you especially, from Colonel Freddy and +little tender-hearted Greta, to Little Mother and the Old Bachelor, +Neighbor Nelly, with her bright eyes and merry ways, or Gipsey, of the +cork-screw tail and yap! yap! bark, the knowledge of this fact will give +_her_ what she wishes for you all, a very + + MERRY CHRISTMAS! + + + THE END OF THE SIXTH AND LAST BOOK. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Page 026, "anx" changed to "any" (him any more) + +Page 32, "eat" changed to "ate" (We ate the) + +Page 086, "found" changed to "fond" (fond of tops and marbles) + +Page 126, "copmany" changed to "company" (made up the company) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Neighbor Nelly Socks, by Sarah L. 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