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diff --git a/37981.txt b/37981.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b44783d --- /dev/null +++ b/37981.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1581 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of May Flowers, by Louisa May Alcott + +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: May Flowers + +Author: Louisa May Alcott + +Release Date: November 11, 2011 [EBook #37981] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAY FLOWERS *** + + + + +Produced by Fulvia Hughes, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. + + + + +[Illustration: "The best of all were the cosey talks we had in the +twilight." + + _Frontispiece._] + + + + +MAY FLOWERS + +BY +LOUISA M. ALCOTT + +AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "LITTLE MEN," +"AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," ETC. + +Illustrated + +BOSTON +LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY + + + + +_Copyright, 1887_, +BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT. + +_Copyright, 1899_, +BY JOHN S. P. ALCOTT. + +University Press +JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. + + + + +MAY FLOWERS + + +Being Boston girls, of course they got up a club for mental improvement, +and, as they were all descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, they called it +the May Flower Club. A very good name, and the six young girls who were +members of it made a very pretty posy when they met together, once a +week, to sew, and read well-chosen books. At the first meeting of the +season, after being separated all summer, there was a good deal of +gossip to be attended to before the question, "What shall we read?" came +up for serious discussion. + +Anna Winslow, as president, began by proposing "Happy Dodd;" but a +chorus of "I've read it!" made her turn to her list for another title. + +"'Prisoners of Poverty' is all about workingwomen, very true and very +sad; but Mamma said it might do us good to know something of the hard +times other girls have," said Anna, soberly; for she was a thoughtful +creature, very anxious to do her duty in all ways. + +"I'd rather not know about sad things, since I can't help to make them +any better," answered Ella Carver, softly patting the apple blossoms she +was embroidering on a bit of blue satin. + +"But we might help if we really tried, I suppose; you know how much +Happy Dodd did when she once began, and she was only a poor little girl +without half the means of doing good which we have," said Anna, glad to +discuss the matter, for she had a little plan in her head and wanted to +prepare a way for proposing it. + +"Yes, I'm always saying that I have more than my share of fun and +comfort and pretty things, and that I ought and will share them with +some one. But I don't do it; and now and then, when I hear about real +poverty, or dreadful sickness, I feel _so_ wicked it quite upsets me. If +I knew _how_ to begin, I really would. But dirty little children don't +come in my way, nor tipsy women to be reformed, nor nice lame girls to +sing and pray with, as it all happens in books," cried Marion Warren, +with such a remorseful expression on her merry round face that her mates +laughed with one accord. + +"I know something that I _could_ do if I only had the courage to begin +it. But Papa would shake his head unbelievingly, and Mamma worry about +its being proper, and it would interfere with my music, and everything +nice that I especially wanted to go to would be sure to come on whatever +day I set for my good work, and I should get discouraged or ashamed, and +not half do it, so I don't begin, but I know I ought." And Elizabeth +Alden rolled her large eyes from one friend to another, as if appealing +to them to goad her to this duty by counsel and encouragement of some +sort. + +"Well, I suppose it's right, but I do perfectly hate to go poking round +among poor folks, smelling bad smells, seeing dreadful sights, hearing +woful tales, and running the risk of catching fever, and diphtheria, and +horrid things. I don't pretend to like charity, but say right out I'm a +silly, selfish wretch, and want to enjoy every minute, and not worry +about other people. Isn't it shameful?" + +Maggie Bradford looked such a sweet little sinner as she boldly made +this sad confession, that no one could scold her, though Ida Standish, +her bosom friend, shook her head, and Anna said, with a sigh: "I'm +afraid we all feel very much as Maggie does, though we don't own it so +honestly. Last spring, when I was ill and thought I might die, I was so +ashamed of my idle, frivolous winter, that I felt as if I'd give all I +had to be able to live it over and do better. Much is not expected of a +girl of eighteen, I know; but oh! there were heaps of kind little things +I _might_ have done if I hadn't thought only of myself. I resolved if I +lived I'd try at least to be less selfish, and make some one happier for +my being in the world. I tell you, girls, it's rather solemn when you +lie expecting to die, and your sins come up before you, even though they +are very small ones. I never shall forget it, and after my lovely summer +I mean to be a better girl, and lead a better life if I can." + +Anna was so much in earnest that her words, straight out of a very +innocent and contrite heart, touched her hearers deeply, and put them +into the right mood to embrace her proposition. No one spoke for a +moment, then Maggie said quietly,-- + +"I know what it is. I felt very much so when the horses ran away, and +for fifteen minutes I sat clinging to Mamma, expecting to be killed. +Every unkind, undutiful word I'd ever said to her came back to me, and +was worse to bear than the fear of sudden death. It scared a great deal +of naughtiness out of me, and dear Mamma and I have been more to each +other ever since." + +"Let us begin with 'The Prisoners of Poverty,' and perhaps it will show +us something to do," said Lizzie. "But I must say I never felt as if +shop-girls needed much help; they generally seem so contented with +themselves, and so pert or patronizing to us, that I don't pity them a +bit, though it must be a hard life." + +"I think we can't do _much_ in that direction, except set an example of +good manners when we go shopping. I wanted to propose that we each +choose some small charity for this winter, and do it faithfully. That +will teach us how to do more by and by, and we can help one another with +our experiences, perhaps, or amuse with our failures. What do you say?" +asked Anna, surveying her five friends with a persuasive smile. + +"What _could_ we do?" + +"People will call us goody-goody." + +"I haven't the least idea how to go to work." + +"Don't believe Mamma will let me." + +"We'd better change our names from May Flowers to sisters of charity, +and wear meek black bonnets and flapping cloaks." + +Anna received these replies with great composure, and waited for the +meeting to come to order, well knowing that the girls would have their +fun and outcry first, and then set to work in good earnest. + +"I think it's a lovely idea, and I'll carry out my plan. But I won't +tell what it is yet; you'd all shout, and say I couldn't do it, but if +you were trying also, that would keep me up to the mark," said Lizzie, +with a decided snap of her scissors, as she trimmed the edges of a plush +case for her beloved music. + +"Suppose we all keep our attempts secret, and not let our right hand +know what the left hand does? It's such fun to mystify people, and then +no one _can_ laugh at us. If we fail, we can say nothing; if we succeed, +we can tell of it and get our reward. I'd like that way, and will look +round at once for some especially horrid boot-black, ungrateful old +woman, or ugly child, and devote myself to him, her, or it with the +patience of a saint," cried Maggie, caught by the idea of doing good in +secret and being found out by accident. + +The other girls agreed, after some discussion, and then Anna took the +floor again. + +"I propose that we each work in our own way till next May, then, at our +last meeting, report what we have done, truly and honestly, and plan +something better for next year. Is it a vote?" + +It evidently was a unanimous vote, for five gold thimbles went up, and +five blooming faces smiled as the five girlish voices cried, "Aye!" + +"Very well, now let us decide what to read, and begin at once. I think +the 'Prisoners' a good book, and we shall doubtless get some hints from +it." + +So they began, and for an hour one pleasant voice after the other read +aloud those sad, true stories of workingwomen and their hard lives, +showing these gay young creatures what their pretty clothes cost the +real makers of them, and how much injustice, suffering, and wasted +strength went into them. It was very sober reading, but most absorbing; +for the crochet needles went slower and slower, the lace-work lay idle, +and a great tear shone like a drop of dew on the apple blossoms as Ella +listened to "Rose's Story." They skipped the statistics, and dipped here +and there as each took her turn; but when the two hours were over, and +it was time for the club to adjourn, all the members were deeply +interested in that pathetic book, and more in earnest than before; for +this glimpse into other lives showed them how much help was needed, and +made them anxious to lend a hand. + +"We can't do much, being 'only girls,'" said Anna; "but if each does one +small chore somewhere it will pave the way for better work; so we will +all try, at least, though it seems like so many ants trying to move a +mountain." + +"Well, ants build nests higher than a man's head in Africa; you remember +the picture of them in our old geographies? And we can do as much, I'm +sure, if each tugs her pebble or straw faithfully. I shall shoulder mine +to-morrow if Mamma is willing," answered Lizzie, shutting up her +work-bag as if she had her resolution inside and was afraid it might +evaporate before she got home. + +"I shall stand on the Common, and proclaim aloud, 'Here's a nice young +missionary, in want of a job! Charity for sale cheap! Who'll buy? who'll +buy?'" said Maggie, with a resigned expression, and a sanctimonious +twang to her voice. + +"I shall wait and see what comes to me, since I don't know what I'm fit +for;" and Marion gazed out of the window as if expecting to see some +interesting pauper waiting for her to appear. + +"I shall ask Miss Bliss for advice; she knows all about the poor, and +will give me a good start," added prudent Ida, who resolved to do +nothing rashly lest she should fail. + +"I shall probably have a class of dirty little girls, and teach them how +to sew, as I can't do anything else. They won't learn much, but steal, +and break, and mess, and be a dreadful trial, and I shall get laughed at +and wish I hadn't done it. Still I shall try it, and sacrifice my +fancy-work to the cause of virtue," said Ella, carefully putting away +her satin glove-case with a fond glance at the delicate flowers she so +loved to embroider. + +"I have no plans, but want to do so much I shall have to wait till I +discover what is best. After to-day we won't speak of our work, or it +won't be a secret any longer. In May we will report. Good luck to all, +and good-by till next Saturday." + +With these farewell words from their president the girls departed, with +great plans and new ideas simmering in their young heads and hearts. + +It seemed a vast undertaking; but where there is a will there is always +a way, and soon it was evident that each had found "a little chore" to +do for sweet charity's sake. Not a word was said at the weekly meetings, +but the artless faces betrayed all shades of hope, discouragement, +pride, and doubt, as their various attempts seemed likely to succeed or +fail. Much curiosity was felt, and a few accidental words, hints, or +meetings in queer places, were very exciting, though nothing was +discovered. + +Marion was often seen in a North End car, and Lizzie in a South End car, +with a bag of books and papers. Ella haunted a certain shop where fancy +articles were sold, and Ida always brought plain sewing to the club. +Maggie seemed very busy at home, and Anna was found writing +industriously several times when one of her friends called. All seemed +very happy, and rather important when outsiders questioned them about +their affairs. But they had their pleasures as usual, and seemed to +enjoy them with an added relish, as if they realized as never before how +many blessings they possessed, and were grateful for them. + +So the winter passed, and slowly something new and pleasant seemed to +come into the lives of these young girls. The listless, discontented +look some of them used to wear passed away; a sweet earnestness and a +cheerful activity made them charming, though they did not know it, and +wondered when people said, "That set of girls are growing up +beautifully; they will make fine women by and by." The mayflowers were +budding under the snow, and as spring came on the fresh perfume began to +steal out, the rosy faces to brighten, and the last year's dead leaves +to fall away, leaving the young plants green and strong. + +On the 15th of May the club met for the last time that year, as some +left town early, and all were full of spring work and summer plans. +Every member was in her place at an unusually early hour that day, and +each wore an air of mingled anxiety, expectation, and satisfaction, +pleasant to behold. Anna called them to order with three raps of her +thimble and a beaming smile. + +"We need not choose a book for our reading to-day, as each of us is to +contribute an original history of her winter's work. I know it will be +very interesting, and I hope more instructive, than some of the novels +we have read. Who shall begin?" + +"You! you!" was the unanimous answer; for all loved and respected her +very much, and felt that their presiding officer should open the ball. + +Anna colored modestly, but surprised her friends by the composure with +which she related her little story, quite as if used to public speaking. + +"You know I told you last November that I should have to look about for +something that I _could_ do. I did look a long time, and was rather in +despair, when my task came to me in the most unexpected way. Our winter +work was being done, so I had a good deal of shopping on my hands, and +found it less a bore than usual, because I liked to watch the shop +girls, and wish I dared ask some of them if I could help them. I went +often to get trimmings and buttons at Cotton's, and had a good deal to +do with the two girls at that counter. They were very obliging and +patient about matching some jet ornaments for Mamma, and I found out +that their names were Mary and Maria Porter. I liked them, for they were +very neat and plain in their dress,--not like some, who seem to think +that if their waists are small, and their hair dressed in the fashion, +it is no matter how soiled their collars are, nor how untidy their +nails. Well, one day when I went for certain kinds of buttons which were +to be made for us, Maria, the younger one, who took the order, was not +there. I asked for her, and Mary said she was at home with a lame knee. +I was so sorry, and ventured to put a few questions in a friendly way. +Mary seemed glad to tell her troubles, and I found that 'Ria,' as she +called her sister, had been suffering for a long time, but did not +complain for fear of losing her place. No stools are allowed at +Cotton's, so the poor girls stand nearly all day, or rest a minute now +and then on a half-opened drawer. I'd seen Maria doing it, and wondered +why some one did not make a stir about seats in this place, as they have +in other stores and got stools for the shop women. I didn't dare to +speak to the gentlemen, but I gave Mary the Jack roses I wore in my +breast, and asked if I might take some books or flowers to poor Maria. +It was lovely to see her sad face light up and hear her thank me when I +went to see her, for she was very lonely without her sister, and +discouraged about her place. She did not lose it entirely, but had to +work at home, for her lame knee will be a long time in getting well. I +begged Mamma and Mrs. Allingham to speak to Mr. Cotton for her; so she +got the mending of the jet and bead work to do, and buttons to cover, +and things of that sort. Mary takes them to and fro, and Maria feels so +happy not to be idle. We also got stools for all the other girls in that +shop. Mrs. Allingham is so rich and kind she can do anything, and now +it's such a comfort to see those tired things resting when off duty that +I often go in and enjoy the sight." + +Anna paused as cries of "Good! good!" interrupted her tale; but she did +not add the prettiest part of it, and tell how the faces of the young +women behind the counters brightened when she came in, nor how gladly +all served the young lady who showed them what a true gentlewoman was. + +"I hope that isn't all?" said Maggie, eagerly. + +"Only a little more. I know you will laugh when I tell you that I've +been reading papers to a class of shop girls at the Union once a week +all winter." + +A murmur of awe and admiration greeted this deeply interesting +statement; for, true to the traditions of the modern Athens in which +they lived, the girls all felt the highest respect for "papers" on any +subject, it being the fashion for ladies, old and young, to read and +discuss every subject, from pottery to Pantheism, at the various clubs +all over the city. + +"It came about very naturally," continued Anna, as if anxious to explain +her seeming audacity. "I used to go to see Molly and Ria, and heard all +about their life and its few pleasures, and learned to like them more +and more. They had only each other in the world, lived in two rooms, +worked all day, and in the way of amusement or instruction had only what +they found at the Union in the evening. I went with them a few times, +and saw how useful and pleasant it was, and wanted to help, as other +kind girls only a little older than I did. Eva Randal read a letter from +a friend in Russia one time, and the girls enjoyed it very much. That +reminded me of my brother George's lively journals, written when he was +abroad. You remember how we used to laugh over them when he sent them +home? Well, when I was begged to give them an evening, I resolved to try +one of those amusing journal-letters, and chose the best,--all about how +George and a friend went to the different places Dickens describes in +some of his funny books. I wish you could have seen how those dear girls +enjoyed it, and laughed till they cried over the dismay of the boys, +when they knocked at a door in Kingsgate Street, and asked if Mrs. Gamp +lived there. It was actually a barber's shop, and a little man, very +like Poll Sweedlepipes, told them 'Mrs. Britton was the nuss as lived +there now.' It upset those rascals to come so near the truth, and they +ran away because they couldn't keep sober." + +The members of the club indulged in a general smile as they recalled the +immortal Sairey with "the bottle on the mankle-shelf," the "cowcumber," +and the wooden pippins. Then Anna continued, with an air of calm +satisfaction, quite sure now of her audience and herself,-- + +"It was a great success. So I went on, and when the journals were done, +I used to read other things, and picked up books for their library, and +helped in any way I could, while learning to know them better and give +them confidence in me. They are proud and shy, just as we should be, but +if you _really_ want to be friends and don't mind rebuffs now and then, +they come to trust and like you, and there is so much to do for them one +never need sit idle any more. I won't give names, as they don't like +it, nor tell how I tried to serve them, but it is very sweet and good +for me to have found this work, and to know that each year I can do it +better and better. So I feel encouraged and am very glad I began, as I +hope you all are. Now, who comes next?" + +As Anna ended, the needles dropped and ten soft hands gave her a hearty +round of applause; for all felt that she had done well, and chosen a +task especially fitted to her powers, as she had money, time, tact, and +the winning manners that make friends everywhere. + +Beaming with pleasure at their approval, but feeling that they made too +much of her small success, Anna called the club to order by saying, +"Ella looks as if she were anxious to tell her experiences, so perhaps +we had better ask her to hold forth next." + +"Hear! hear!" cried the girls; and, nothing loath, Ella promptly began, +with twinkling eyes and a demure smile, for _her_ story ended +romantically. + +"If you are interested in shop girls, Miss President and ladies, you +will like to know that _I_ am one, at least a silent partner and +co-worker in a small fancy store at the West End." + +"No!" exclaimed the amazed club with one voice; and, satisfied with this +sensational beginning, Ella went on. + +"I really am, and you have bought some of my fancy-work. Isn't that a +good joke? You needn't stare so, for I actually made that needle-book, +Anna, and my partner knit Lizzie's new cloud. This is the way it all +happened. I didn't wish to waste any time, but one can't rush into the +street and collar shabby little girls, and say, 'Come along and learn to +sew,' without a struggle, so I thought I'd go and ask Mrs. Brown how to +begin. Her branch of the Associated Charities is in Laurel Street, not +far from our house, you know; and the very day after our last meeting I +posted off to get my 'chore.' I expected to have to fit work for poor +needlewomen, or go to see some dreadful sick creature, or wash dirty +little Pats, and was bracing up my mind for whatever might come, as I +toiled up the hill in a gale of wind. Suddenly my hat flew off and went +gayly skipping away, to the great delight of some black imps, who only +grinned and cheered me on as I trotted after it with wild grabs and +wrathful dodges. I got it at last out of a puddle, and there I was in a +nice mess. The elastic was broken, feather wet, and the poor thing all +mud and dirt. I didn't care much, as it was my old one,--dressed for my +work, you see. But I couldn't go home bareheaded, and I didn't know a +soul in that neighborhood. I turned to step into a grocery store at the +corner, to borrow a brush, or buy a sheet of paper to wear, for I looked +like a lunatic with my battered hat and my hair in a perfect mop. +Luckily I spied a woman's fancy shop on the other corner, and rushed in +there to hide myself, for the brats hooted and people stared. It was a +very small shop, and behind the counter sat a tall, thin, +washed-out-looking woman, making a baby's hood. She looked poor and blue +and rather sour, but took pity on me; and while she sewed the cord, +dried the feather, and brushed off the dirt, I warmed myself and looked +about to see what I could buy in return for her trouble. + +"A few children's aprons hung in the little window, with some knit lace, +balls, and old-fashioned garters, two or three dolls, and a very poor +display of small wares. In a show-case, however, on the table that was +the counter, I found some really pretty things, made of plush, silk, and +ribbon, with a good deal of taste. So I said I'd buy a needle-book, and +a gay ball, and a pair of distracting baby's shoes, made to look like +little open-work socks with pink ankle-ties, so cunning and dainty, I +was glad to get them for Cousin Clara's baby. The woman seemed pleased, +though she had a grim way of talking, and never smiled once. I observed +that she handled my hat as if used to such work, and evidently liked to +do it. I thanked her for repairing damages so quickly and well, and she +said, with my hat on her hand, as if she hated to part with it, 'I'm +used to millinaryin' and never should have give it up, if I didn't have +my folks to see to. I took this shop, hopin' to make things go, as such +a place was needed round here, but mother broke down, and is a sight of +care; so I couldn't leave her, and doctors is expensive, and times hard, +and I had to drop my trade, and fall back on pins and needles, and so +on.'" + +Ella was a capital mimic, and imitated the nasal tones of the Vermont +woman to the life, with a doleful pucker of her own blooming face, which +gave such a truthful picture of poor Miss Almira Miller that those who +had seen her recognized it at once, and laughed gayly. + +"Just as I was murmuring a few words of regret at her bad luck," +continued Ella, "a sharp voice called out from a back room, 'Almiry! +Almiry! come here.' It sounded very like a cross parrot, but it was the +old lady, and while I put on my hat I heard her asking who was in the +shop, and what we were 'gabbin' about.' Her daughter told her, and the +old soul demanded to 'see the gal;' so I went in, being ready for fun as +usual. It was a little, dark, dismal place, but as neat as a pin, and in +the bed sat a regular Grandma Smallweed smoking a pipe, with a big cap, +a snuff-box, and a red cotton handkerchief. She was a tiny, dried-up +thing, brown as a berry, with eyes like black beads, a nose and chin +that nearly met, and hands like birds' claws. But such a fierce, lively, +curious, blunt old lady you never saw, and I didn't know what would be +the end of me when she began to question, then to scold, and finally to +demand that 'folks should come and trade to Almiry's shop after +promisin' they would, and she havin' took a lease of the place on +account of them lies.' I wanted to laugh, but dared not do it, so just +let her croak, for the daughter had to go to her customers. The old +lady's tirade informed me that they came from Vermont, had 'been wal on +'t till father died and the farm was sold.' Then it seems the women came +to Boston and got on pretty well till 'a stroke of numb-palsy,' whatever +that is, made the mother helpless and kept Almiry at home to care for +her. I can't tell you how funny and yet how sad it was to see the poor +old soul, so full of energy and yet so helpless, and the daughter so +discouraged with her pathetic little shop and no customers to speak of. +I did not know what to say till 'Grammer Miller,' as the children call +her, happened to say, when she took up her knitting after the lecture, +'If folks who go spendin' money reckless on redic'lous toys for +Christmas only knew what nice things, useful and fancy, me and Almiry +could make ef we had the goods, they'd jest come round this corner and +buy 'em, and keep me out of a Old Woman's Home and that good, +hard-workin' gal of mine out of a 'sylum; for go there she will ef she +don't get a boost somehow, with rent and firin' and vittles all on her +shoulders, and me only able to wag them knittin'-needles.' + +"'I will buy things here and tell all my friends about it, and I have a +drawer full of pretty bits of silk and velvet and plush, that I will +give Miss Miller for her work, if she will let me.' I added that, for I +saw that Almiry was rather proud, and hid her troubles under a grim +look. + +"That pleased the old lady, and, lowering her voice, she said, with a +motherly sort of look in her beady eyes: 'Seein' as you are so friendly, +I'll tell you what frets me most, a layin' here, a burden to my darter. +She kep' company with Nathan Baxter, a master carpenter up to +Westminster where we lived, and ef father hadn't a died suddin' they'd a +ben married. They waited a number o' years, workin' to their trades, and +we was hopin' all would turn out wal, when troubles come, and here we +be. Nathan's got his own folks to see to, and Almiry won't add to _his_ +load with hern, nor leave me; so she give him back his ring, and jest +buckled to all alone. She don't say a word, but it's wearin' her to a +shadder, and I can't do a thing to help, but make a few pin-balls, knit +garters, and kiver holders. Ef she got a start in business it would +cheer her up a sight, and give her a kind of a hopeful prospeck, for old +folks can't live forever, and Nathan is a waitin', faithful and true.' + +"That just finished me, for I am romantic, and do enjoy love stories +with all my heart, even if the lovers are only a skinny spinster and a +master carpenter. So I just resolved to see what I could do for poor +Almiry and the peppery old lady. I didn't promise anything but my bits, +and, taking the things I bought, went home to talk it over with Mamma. I +found she had often got pins and tape, and such small wares, at the +little shop, and found it very convenient, though she knew nothing about +the Millers. She was willing I should help if I could, but advised going +slowly, and seeing what they could do first. We did not dare to treat +them like beggars, and send them money and clothes, and tea and sugar, +as we do the Irish, for they were evidently respectable people, and +proud as poor. So I took my bundle of odds and ends, and Mamma added +some nice large pieces of dresses we had done with, and gave a fine +order for aprons and holders and balls for our church fair. + +"It would have done your hearts good, girls, to see those poor old faces +light up as I showed my scraps, and asked if the work would be ready by +Christmas. Grammer fairly swam in the gay colors I strewed over her bed, +and enjoyed them like a child, while Almiry tried to be grim, but had +to give it up, as she began at once to cut aprons, and dropped tears all +over the muslin when her back was turned to me. I didn't know a +washed-out old maid _could_ be so pathetic." + +Ella stopped to give a regretful sigh over her past blindness, while her +hearers made a sympathetic murmur; for young hearts are very tender, and +take an innocent interest in lovers' sorrows, no matter how humble. + +"Well, that was the beginning of it. I got so absorbed in _making_ +things go well that I didn't look any further, but just 'buckled to' +with Miss Miller and helped run that little shop. No one knew me in that +street, so I slipped in and out, and did what I liked. The old lady and +I got to be great friends; though she often pecked and croaked like a +cross raven, and was very wearing. I kept her busy with her 'pin-balls +and knittin'-work,' and supplied Almiry with pretty materials for the +various things I found she could make. You wouldn't believe what dainty +bows those long fingers could tie, what ravishing doll's hats she would +make out of a scrap of silk and lace, or the ingenious things she +concocted with cones and shells and fans and baskets. I love such work, +and used to go and help her often, for I wanted her window and shop to +be full for Christmas, and lure in plenty of customers. Our new toys, +and the little cases of sewing silk sold well, and people began to come +more, after I lent Almiry some money to lay in a stock of better goods. +Papa enjoyed my business venture immensely, and was never tired of +joking about it. He actually went and bought balls for four small black +boys who were gluing their noses to the window one day, spellbound by +the orange, red, and blue treasures displayed there. He liked my +partner's looks, though he teased me by saying that we'd better add +lemonade to our stock as poor dear Almiry's acid face would make lemons +unnecessary and sugar and water were cheap. + +"Well, Christmas came, and we did a great business, for Mamma came and +sent others, and our fancy things were as pretty and cheaper than those +at the art stores, so they went well, and the Millers were cheered up, +and I felt encouraged, and we took a fresh start after the holidays. One +of my gifts at New Year was my own glove-case,--you remember the +apple-blossom thing I began last autumn? I put it in our window to fill +up, and Mamma bought it, and gave it to me full of elegant gloves, with +a sweet note, and Papa sent a check to 'Miller, Warren, & Co.' I was so +pleased and proud I could hardly help telling you all. But the best joke +was the day you girls came in and bought our goods, and I peeped at you +through the crack of the door, being in the back room dying with +laughter to see you look round, and praise our 'nice assortment of +useful and pretty articles.'" + +"That's all very well, and we can bear to be laughed at if you +succeeded, Miss. But I don't believe you did, for no Millers are there +now. Have you taken a palatial store on Boylston Street for this year, +intending to run it alone? We'll all patronize it, and your name will +look well on a sign," said Maggie, wondering what the end of Ella's +experience had been. + +"Ah! I still have the best of it, for my romance finished up +delightfully, as you shall hear. We did well all winter, and no wonder. +What was needed was a little 'boost' in the right direction, and I could +give it; so my Millers were much comforted, and we were good friends. +But in March Grammer died suddenly, and poor Almiry mourned as if she +had been the sweetest mother in the world. The old lady's last wishes +were to be 'laid out harnsome in a cap with a pale blue satin ribbin, +white wasn't becomin', to hev at least three carriages to the funeral, +and be sure a paper with her death in it was sent to N. Baxter, +Westminster, Vermont.' + +"I faithfully obeyed her commands, put on the ugly cap myself, gave a +party of old ladies from the Home a drive in the hacks, and carefully +directed a marked paper to Nathan, hoping that he _had_ proved 'faithful +and true.' I didn't expect he would, so was not surprised when no answer +came. But I _was_ rather amazed when Almiry told me she didn't care to +keep on with the store now she was free. She wanted to visit her friends +a spell this spring, and in the fall would go back to her trade in some +milliner's store. + +"I was sorry, for I really enjoyed my partnership. It seemed a little +bit ungrateful after all my trouble in getting her customers, but I +didn't say anything, and we sold out to the Widow Bates, who is a good +soul with six children, and will profit by our efforts. + +"Almiry bid me good-by with all the grim look gone out of her face, many +thanks, and a hearty promise to write soon. That was in April. A week +ago I got a short letter saying,-- + + "'DEAR FRIEND,--You will be pleased to hear that I am married + to Mr. Baxter, and shall remain here. He was away when the + paper came with mother's death, but as soon as he got home he + wrote. I couldn't make up my mind till I got home and see him. + Now it's all right, and I am very happy. Many thanks for all + you done for me and mother. I shall never forget it. My husband + sends respects, and I remain + + "'Yours gratefully, + "'ALMIRA M. BAXTER.'" + +"That's splendid! You did well, and next winter you can look up another +sour spinster and cranky old lady and make them happy," said Anna, with +the approving smile all loved to receive from her. + +"My adventures are not a bit romantic, or even interesting, and yet I've +been as busy as a bee all winter, and enjoyed my work very much," began +Elizabeth, as the President gave her a nod. + +"The plan I had in mind was to go and carry books and papers to the +people in hospitals, as one of Mamma's friends has done for years. I +went once to the City Hospital with her, and it was very interesting, +but I didn't dare to go to the grown people all alone, so I went to the +Children's Hospital, and soon loved to help amuse the poor little dears. +I saved all the picture-books and papers I could find for them, dressed +dolls, and mended toys, and got new ones, and made bibs and night-gowns, +and felt like the mother of a large family. + +"I had my pets, of course, and did my best for them, reading and singing +and amusing them, for many suffered very much. One little girl was so +dreadfully burned she could not use her hands, and would lie and look at +a gay dolly tied to the bedpost by the hour together, and talk to it and +love it, and died with it on her pillow when I 'sung lullaby' to her for +the last time. I keep it among my treasures, for I learned a lesson in +patience from little Norah that I never can forget. + +[Illustration: "I had my pets of course, and did my best for them."] + +"Then Jimmy Dolan with hip disease was a great delight to me, for he was +as gay as a lark in spite of pain, and a real little hero in the way he +bore the hard things that had to be done to him. He never can get well, +and he is at home now; but I still see to him, and he is learning to +make toy furniture very nicely, so that by and by, if he gets able to +work at all, he may be able to learn a cabinet-maker's trade, or some +easy work. + +"But my pet of pets was Johnny, the blind boy. His poor eyes had to be +taken out, and there he was left so helpless and pathetic, all his life +before him, and no one to help him, for his people were poor, and he had +to go away from the hospital since he was incurable. He seemed almost +given to me, for the first time I saw him I was singing to Jimmy, when +the door opened and a small boy came fumbling in. + +"'I hear a pretty voice, I want to find it,' he said, stopping as I +stopped with both hands out as if begging for more. + +"'Come on, Johnny, and the lady will sing to you like a bobolink,' +called Jimmy, as proud as Barnum showing off Jumbo. + +"The poor little thing came and stood at my knee, without stirring, +while I sang all the nursery jingles I knew. Then he put such a thin +little finger on my lips as if to feel where the music came from, and +said, smiling all over his white face, 'More, please more, lots of 'em! +I love it!' + +"So I sang away till I was as hoarse as a crow, and Johnny drank it all +in like water; kept time with his head, stamped when I gave him +'Marching through Georgia,' and hurrahed feebly in the chorus of 'Red, +White, and Blue.' It was lovely to see how he enjoyed it, and I was so +glad I had a voice to comfort those poor babies with. He cried when I +had to go, and so touched my heart that I asked all about him, and +resolved to get him into the Blind School as the only place where he +could be taught and made happy." + +"I thought you were bound there the day I met you, Lizzie; but you +looked as solemn as if all your friends had lost their sight," cried +Marion. + +"I did feel solemn, for if Johnny could not go there he would be badly +off. Fortunately he was ten, and dear Mrs. Russell helped me, and those +good people took him in though they were crowded. 'We cannot turn one +away,' said kind Mr. Parpatharges. + +"So there my boy is, as happy as a king with his little mates, learning +all sorts of useful lessons and pretty plays. He models nicely in clay. +Here is one of his little works. Could you do as well without eyes?" and +Lizzie proudly produced a very one-sided pear with a long straw for a +stem. "I don't expect he will ever be a sculptor, but I hope he will do +something with music, he loves it so, and is already piping away on a +fife very cleverly. Whatever his gift may prove, if he lives, he will be +taught to be a useful, independent man, not a helpless burden, nor an +unhappy creature sitting alone in the dark. I feel very happy about my +lads, and am surprised to find how well I get on with them. I shall look +up some more next year, for I really think I have quite a gift that way, +though you wouldn't expect it, as I have no brothers, and always had a +fancy boys were little imps." + +The girls were much amused at Lizzie's discovery of her own powers, for +she was a stately damsel, who never indulged in romps, but lived for her +music. Now it was evident that she had found the key to unlock childish +hearts, and was learning to use it, quite unconscious that the sweet +voice she valued so highly was much improved by the tender tones singing +lullabies gave it. The fat pear was passed round like refreshments, +receiving much praise and no harsh criticism; and when it was safely +returned to its proud possessor, Ida began her tale in a lively tone. + +"I waited for _my_ chore, and it came tumbling down our basement steps +one rainy day in the shape of a large dilapidated umbrella with a pair +of small boots below it. A mild howl made me run to open the door, for I +was at lunch in the dining-room, all alone, and rather blue because I +couldn't go over to see Ella. A very small girl lay with her head in a +puddle at the foot of the steps, the boots waving in the air, and the +umbrella brooding over her like a draggled green bird. + +"'Are you hurt, child?' said I. + +[Illustration: "'Are you hurt, child?' said I."] + +"'No, I thank you, ma'am,' said the mite quite calmly, as she sat up and +settled a woman's shabby black hat on her head. + +"'Did you come begging?' I asked. + +"'No, ma'am, I came for some things Mrs. Grover's got for us. She told +me to. I don't beg.' And up rose the sopping thing with great dignity. + +"So I asked her to sit down, and ran up to call Mrs. Grover. She was +busy with Grandpa just then, and when I went back to my lunch there sat +my lady with her arms folded, water dripping out of the toes of her old +boots as they hung down from the high chair, and the biggest blue eyes I +ever saw fixed upon the cake and oranges on the table. I gave her a +piece, and she sighed with rapture, but only picked at it till I +asked if she didn't like it. + +"'Oh yes, 'm, it's elegant! Only I was wishin' I could take it to Caddy +and Tot, if you didn't mind. They never had frostin' in all their lives, +and I did once.' + +"Of course I put up a little basket of cake and oranges and figs, and +while Lotty feasted, we talked. I found that their mother washed dishes +all day in a restaurant over by the Albany Station, leaving the three +children alone in the room they have on Berry Street. Think of that poor +thing going off before light these winter mornings to stand over horrid +dishes all day long, and those three scraps of children alone till +night! Sometimes they had a fire, and when they hadn't they stayed in +bed. Broken food and four dollars a week was all the woman got, and on +that they tried to live. Good Mrs. Grover happened to be nursing a poor +soul near Berry Street last summer, and used to see the three little +things trailing round the streets with no one to look after them. + +"Lotty is nine, though she looks about six, but is as old as most girls +of fourteen, and takes good care of 'the babies,' as she calls the +younger ones. Mrs. Grover went to see them, and, though a hard-working +creature, did all she could for them. This winter she has plenty of time +to sew, for Grandpa needs little done for him except at night and +morning, and that kind woman spent her own money, and got warm flannel +and cotton and stuff, and made each child a good suit. Lotty had come +for hers, and when the bundle was in her arms she hugged it close, and +put up her little face to kiss Grover so prettily, I felt that I wanted +to do something too. So I hunted up Min's old waterproof and rubbers, +and a hood, and sent Lotty home as happy as a queen, promising to go and +see her. I did go, and there was my work all ready for me. Oh, girls! +such a bare, cold room, without a spark of fire, and no food but a pan +of bits of pie and bread and meat, not fit for any one to eat, and in +the bed, with an old carpet for cover, lay the three children. Tot and +Caddy cuddled in the warmest place, while Lotty, with her little blue +hands, was trying to patch up some old stockings with bits of cotton. I +didn't know _how_ to begin, but Lotty did, and I just took her orders; +for that wise little woman told me where to buy a bushel of coal and +some kindlings, and milk and meal, and all I wanted. I worked like a +beaver for an hour or two, and was so glad I'd been to a cooking-class, +for I could make a fire, with Lotty to do the grubby part, and start a +nice soup with the cold meat and potatoes, and an onion or so. Soon the +room was warm, and full of a nice smell, and out of bed tumbled 'the +babies,' to dance round the stove and sniff at the soup, and drink milk +like hungry kittens, till I could get bread and butter ready. + +"It was great fun! and when we had cleared things up a bit, and I'd put +food for supper in the closet, and told Lotty to warm a bowl of soup for +her mother and keep the fire going, I went home tired and dirty, but +very glad I'd found something to do. It is perfectly amazing how little +poor people's things cost, and yet they can't get the small amount of +money needed without working themselves to death. Why, all I bought +didn't cost more than I often spend for flowers, or theatre tickets, or +lunches, and it made those poor babies so comfortable I could have cried +to think I'd never done it before." + +Ida paused to shake her head remorsefully, then went on with her story, +sewing busily all the while on an unbleached cotton night-gown which +looked about fit for a large doll. + +"I have no romantic things to tell, for poor Mrs. Kennedy was a +shiftless, broken-down woman, who could only 'sozzle round,' as Mrs. +Grover said, and rub along with help from any one who would lend a hand. +She had lived out, married young, and had no faculty about anything; so +when her husband died, and she was left with three little children, it +was hard to get on, with no trade, feeble health, and a discouraged +mind. She does her best, loves the girls, and works hard at the only +thing she can find to do; but when she gives out, they will all have to +part,--she to a hospital, and the babies to some home. She dreads that, +and tugs away, trying to keep together and get ahead. Thanks to Mrs. +Grover, who is very sensible, and knows how to help poor people, we have +made things comfortable, and the winter has gone nicely. + +"The mother has got work nearer home, Lotty and Caddy go to school, and +Tot is safe and warm, with Miss Parsons to look after her. Miss Parsons +is a young woman who was freezing and starving in a little room +upstairs, too proud to beg and too shy and sick to get much work. I +found her warming her hands one day in Mrs. Kennedy's room, and hanging +over the soup-pot as if she was eating the smell. It reminded me of the +picture in Punch where the two beggar boys look in at a kitchen, +sniffing at the nice dinner cooking there. One says, 'I don't care for +the meat, Bill, but I don't mind if I takes a smell at the pudd'n' when +it's dished.' I proposed a lunch at once, and we all sat down, and ate +soup out of yellow bowls with pewter spoons with such a relish it was +fun to see. I had on my old rig; so poor Parsons thought I was some +dressmaker or work-girl, and opened her heart to me as she never would +have done if I'd gone and demanded her confidence, and patronized her, +as some people do when they want to help. I promised her some work, and +proposed that she should do it in Mrs. K.'s room, as a favor, mind you, +so that the older girls could go to school and Tot have some one to look +after her. She agreed, and that saved her fire, and made the K.'s all +right. Sarah (that's Miss P.) tried to stiffen up when she learned where +I lived; but she wanted the work, and soon found I didn't put on airs, +but lent her books, and brought her and Tot my bouquets and favors after +a german, and told her pleasant things as she sat cooking her poor +chilblainy feet in the oven, as if she never could get thawed out. + +"This summer the whole batch are to go to Uncle Frank's farm and pick +berries, and get strong. He hires dozens of women and children during +the fruit season, and Mrs. Grover said it was just what they all needed. +So off they go in June, as merry as grigs, and I shall be able to look +after them now and then, as I always go to the farm in July. That's +all,--not a bit interesting, but it came to me, and I did it, though +only small chore." + +"I'm sure the helping of five poor souls is a fine work, and you may +well be proud of it, Ida. Now I know why you wouldn't go to matinees +with me, and buy every pretty thing we saw as you used to. The pocket +money went for coal and food, and your fancy-work was little clothes for +these live dolls of yours. You dear thing! how good you were to cook, +and grub, and prick your fingers rough, and give up fun, for this kind +work!" + +Maggie's hearty kiss, and the faces of her friends, made Ida feel that +her humble task had its worth in their eyes, as well as in her own; and +when the others had expressed their interest in her work, all composed +themselves to hear what Marion had to tell. + +"I have been taking care of a scarlet runner,--a poor old +frost-bitten, neglected thing; it is transplanted now, and doing well, +I'm happy to say." + +"What _do_ you mean?" asked Ella, while the rest looked very curious. + +Marion picked up a dropped stitch in the large blue sock she was +knitting, and continued, with a laugh in her eyes: "My dears, that is +what we call the Soldiers' Messenger Corps, with their red caps and busy +legs trotting all day. I've had one of them to care for, and a gorgeous +time of it, I do assure you. But before I exult over my success, I must +honestly confess my failures, for they were sad ones. I was so anxious +to begin my work at once, that I did go out and collar the first pauper +I saw. It was an old man, who sometimes stands at the corners of streets +to sell bunches of ugly paper flowers. You've seen him, I dare say, and +his magenta daisies and yellow peonies. Well, he was rather a forlorn +object, with his poor old red nose, and bleary eyes, and white hair, +standing at the windy corners silently holding out those horrid flowers. +I bought all he had that day, and gave them to some colored children on +my way home, and told him to come to our house and get an old coat Mamma +was waiting to get rid of. He told a pitiful story of himself and his +old wife, who made the paper horrors in her bed, and how they needed +everything, but didn't wish to beg. I was much touched, and flew home to +look up the coat and some shoes, and when my old Lear came creeping in +the back way, I ordered cook to give him a warm dinner and something +nice for the old woman. + +"I was called upstairs while he was mumbling his food, and blessing me +in the most lovely manner; and he went away much comforted, I flattered +myself. But an hour later, up came the cook in a great panic to report +that my venerable and pious beggar had carried off several of Papa's +shirts and pairs of socks out of the clothes-basket in the laundry, and +the nice warm hood we keep for the girl to hang out clothes in. + +"I was _very_ angry, and, taking Harry with me, went at once to the +address the old rascal gave me, a dirty court out of Hanover Street. No +such person had ever lived there, and my white-haired saint was a +humbug. Harry laughed at me, and Mamma forbade me to bring any more +thieves to the house, and the girls scolded awfully. + +"Well, I recovered from the shock, and, nothing daunted, went off to the +little Irishwoman who sells apples on the Common,--not the fat, cosey +one with the stall near West Street, but the dried-up one who sits by +the path, nodding over an old basket with six apples and four sticks of +candy in it. No one ever seems to buy anything, but she sits there and +trusts to kind souls dropping a dime now and then, she looks so feeble +and forlorn, 'on the cold, cold ground.' + +"She told me another sad tale of being all alone and unable to work, and +'as wake as wather-grewl, without a hap-worth av flesh upon me bones, +and for the love of Heaven gimme a thrifle to kape the breath av loife +in a poor soul, with a bitter hard winter over me, and niver a chick or +child to do a hand's turn.' I hadn't much faith in her, remembering my +other humbug, but I did pity the old mummy; so I got some tea and sugar, +and a shawl, and used to give her my odd pennies as I passed. I never +told at home, they made such fun of my efforts to be charitable. I +thought I really was getting on pretty well after a time, as my old +Biddy seemed quite cheered up, and I was planning to give her some coal, +when she disappeared all of a sudden. I feared she was ill, and asked +Mrs. Maloney, the fat woman, about her. + +"'Lord love ye, Miss dear, it's tuk up and sint to the Island for tree +months she is; for a drunken ould crayther is Biddy Ryan, and niver a +cint but goes for whiskey,--more shame to her, wid a fine bye av her own +ready to kape her daycint.' + +"Then I _was_ discouraged, and went home to fold my hands, and see what +fate would send me, my own efforts being such failures." + +"Poor thing, it _was_ hard luck!" said Elizabeth, as they sobered down +after the gale of merriment caused by Marion's mishaps, and her clever +imitation of the brogue. + +"Now tell of your success, and the scarlet runner," added Maggie. + +"Ah! that was _sent_, and so I prospered. I must begin ever so far back, +in war times, or I can't introduce my hero properly. You know Papa was +in the army, and fought all through the war till Gettysburg, where he +was wounded. He was engaged just before he went; so when his father +hurried to him after that awful battle, Mamma went also, and helped +nurse him till he could come home. He wouldn't go to an officer's +hospital, but kept with his men in a poor sort of place, for many of +his boys were hit, and he wouldn't leave them. Sergeant Joe Collins was +one of the bravest, and lost his right arm saving the flag in one of the +hottest struggles of that great fight. He had been a Maine lumberman, +and was over six feet tall, but as gentle as a child, and as jolly as a +boy, and very fond of his colonel. + +"Papa left first, but made Joe promise to let him know how he got on, +and Joe did so till he too went home. Then Papa lost sight of him, and +in the excitement of his own illness, and the end of the war, and being +married, Joe Collins was forgotten, till we children came along, and +used to love to hear the story of Papa's battles, and how the brave +sergeant caught the flag when the bearer was shot, and held it in the +rush till one arm was blown off and the other wounded. We have fighting +blood in us, you know, so we were never tired of that story, though +twenty-five years or more make it all as far away to us as the old +Revolution, where _our_ ancestor was killed, at _our_ Bunker Hill! + +"Last December, just after my sad disappointments, Papa came home to +dinner one day, exclaiming, in great glee: 'I've found old Joe! A +messenger came with a letter to me, and when I looked up to give my +answer, there stood a tall, grizzled fellow, as straight as a ramrod, +grinning from ear to ear, with his hand to his temple, saluting me in +regular style. "Don't you remember Joe Collins, Colonel? Awful glad to +see you, sir," said he. And then it all came back, and we had a good +talk, and I found out that the poor old boy was down on his luck, and +almost friendless, but as proud and independent as ever, and bound to +take care of himself while he had a leg to stand on. I've got his +address, and mean to keep an eye on him, for he looks feeble and can't +make much, I'm sure.' + +[Illustration: "And there stood a tall grizzly man, saluting in regular +style."] + +"We were all very glad, and Joe came to see us, and Papa sent him on +endless errands, and helped him in that way till he went to New York. +Then, in the fun and flurry of the holidays, we forgot all about Joe, +till Papa came home and missed him from his post. I said I'd go and find +him; so Harry and I rummaged about till we did find him, in a little +house at the North End, laid up with rheumatic fever in a stuffy back +room, with no one to look after him but the washerwoman with whom he +boarded. + +"I was _so_ sorry we had forgotten him! but _he_ never complained, +only said, with his cheerful grin, 'I kinder mistrusted the Colonel was +away, but I wasn't goin' to pester him.' He tried to be jolly, though in +dreadful pain; called Harry 'Major,' and was so grateful for all we +brought him, though he didn't want oranges and tea, and made us shout +when I said, like a goose, thinking that was the proper thing to do, +'Shall I bathe your brow, you are so feverish?' + +"'No, thanky, miss, it was swabbed pretty stiddy to the horsepittle, and +I reckon a trifle of tobaccer would do more good and be a sight more +relishin', ef you'll excuse my mentionin' it.' + +"Harry rushed off and got a great lump and a pipe, and Joe lay +blissfully puffing, in a cloud of smoke, when we left him, promising to +come again. We did go nearly every day, and had lovely times; for Joe +told us his adventures, and we got so interested in the war that I began +to read up evenings, and Papa was pleased, and fought all his battles +over again for us, and Harry and I were great friends reading together, +and Papa was charmed to see the old General's spirit in us, as we got +excited and discussed all our wars in a fever of patriotism that made +Mamma laugh. Joe said I 'brustled up' at the word _battle_ like a +war-horse at the smell of powder, and I'd ought to have been a drummer, +the sound of martial music made me so 'skittish.' + +"It was all new and charming to us young ones, but poor old Joe had a +hard time, and was very ill. Exposure and fatigue, and scanty food, and +loneliness, and his wounds, were too much for him, and it was plain his +working days were over. He hated the thought of the poor-house at home, +which was all his own town could offer him, and he had no friends to +live with, and he could not get a pension, something being wrong about +his papers; so he would have been badly off, but for the Soldiers' Home +at Chelsea. As soon as he was able, Papa got him in there, and he was +glad to go, for that seemed the proper place, and a charity the proudest +man might accept, after risking his life for his country. + +"There is where I used to be going when you saw me, and I was _so_ +afraid you'd smell the cigars in my basket. The dear old boys always +want them, and Papa says they _must_ have them, though it isn't half so +romantic as flowers, and jelly, and wine, and the dainty messes we women +always want to carry. I've learned about different kinds of tobacco and +cigars, and you'd laugh to see me deal out my gifts, which are received +as gratefully as the Victoria Cross, when the Queen decorates _her_ +brave men. I'm quite a great gun over there, and the boys salute when I +come, tell me their woes, and think that Papa and I can run the whole +concern. I like it immensely, and am as proud and fond of my dear old +wrecks as if I'd been a Rigoletto, and ridden on a cannon from my +babyhood. That's _my_ story, but I can't begin to tell how interesting +it all is, nor how glad I am that it led me to look into the history of +American wars, in which brave men of our name did their parts so well." + +A hearty round of applause greeted Marion's tale, for her glowing face +and excited voice stirred the patriotic spirit of the Boston girls, and +made them beam approvingly upon her. + +"Now, Maggie, dear, last but not least, I'm sure," said Anna, with an +encouraging glance, for _she_ had discovered the secret of this friend, +and loved her more than ever for it. + +Maggie blushed and hesitated, as she put down the delicate muslin +cap-strings she was hemming with such care. Then, looking about her with +a face in which both humility and pride contended, she said, with an +effort, "After the other lively experiences, mine will sound very flat. +In fact, I have no story to tell, for _my_ charity began at home, and +stopped there." + +"Tell it, dear. I know it is interesting, and will do us all good," said +Anna, quickly; and, thus supported, Maggie went on. + +"I planned great things, and talked about what I meant to do, till Papa +said one day, when things were in a mess, as they often are, at our +house, 'If the little girls who want to help the world along would +remember that charity begins at home, they would soon find enough to +do.' + +"I was rather taken aback, and said no more, but after Papa had gone to +the office, I began to think, and looked round to see what there was to +be done at that particular moment. I found enough for that day, and took +hold at once; for poor Mamma had one of her bad headaches, the children +could not go out because it rained, and so were howling in the nursery, +cook was on a rampage, and Maria had the toothache. Well, I began by +making Mamma lie down for a good long sleep. I kept the children quiet +by giving them my ribbon box and jewelry to dress up with, put a +poultice on Maria's face, and offered to wash the glass and silver for +her, to appease cook, who was as cross as two sticks over extra work +washing-day. It wasn't much fun, as you may imagine, but I got through +the afternoon, and kept the house still, and at dusk crept into Mamma's +room and softly built up the fire, so it should be cheery when she +waked. Then I went trembling to the kitchen for some tea, and there +found three girls calling, and high jinks going on; for one whisked a +plate of cake into the table drawer, another put a cup under her shawl, +and cook hid the teapot, as I stirred round in the china closet before +opening the slide, through a crack of which I'd seen, heard, and smelt +'the party,' as the children call it. + +"I was angry enough to scold the whole set, but I wisely held my tongue, +shut my eyes, and politely asked for some hot water, nodded to the +guests, and told cook Maria was better, and would do her work if she +wanted to go out. + +"So peace reigned, and as I settled the tray, I heard cook say in her +balmiest tone, for I suspect the cake and tea lay heavy on her +conscience, 'The mistress is very poorly, and Miss takes nice care of +her, the dear.' + +"All blarney, but it pleased me and made me remember how feeble poor +Mamma was, and how little I really did. So I wept a repentant weep as I +toiled upstairs with my tea and toast, and found Mamma all ready for +them, and so pleased to find things going well. I saw by that what a +relief it would be to her if I did it oftener, as I ought, and as I +resolved that I would. + +"I didn't say anything, but I kept on doing whatever came along, and +before I knew it ever so many duties slipped out of Mamma's hands into +mine, and seemed to belong to me. I don't mean that I liked them, and +didn't grumble to myself; I did, and felt regularly crushed and injured +sometimes when I wanted to go and have my own fun. Duty is right, but it +isn't easy, and the only comfort about it is a sort of quiet feeling you +get after a while, and a strong feeling, as if you'd found something to +hold on to and keep you steady. I can't express it, but you know?" And +Maggie looked wistfully at the other faces, some of which answered her +with a quick flash of sympathy, and some only wore a puzzled yet +respectful expression, as if they felt they ought to know, but did not. + +"I need not tire you with all my humdrum doings," continued Maggie. "I +made no plans, but just said each day, 'I'll take what comes, and try +to be cheerful and contented.' So I looked after the children, and that +left Maria more time to sew and help round. I did errands, and went to +market, and saw that Papa had his meals comfortably when Mamma was not +able to come down. I made calls for her, and received visitors, and soon +went on as if I were the lady of the house, not 'a chit of a girl,' as +Cousin Tom used to call me. + +"The best of all were the cosey talks we had in the twilight, Mamma and +I, when she was rested, and all the day's worry was over, and we were +waiting for Papa. Now, when he came, I didn't have to go away, for they +wanted to ask and tell me things, and consult about affairs, and make me +feel that I was really the eldest daughter. Oh, it was just lovely to +sit between them and know that they needed me, and loved to have me with +them! That made up for the hard and disagreeable things, and not long +ago I got my reward. Mamma is better, and I was rejoicing over it, when +she said, 'Yes, I really am mending now, and hope soon to be able to +relieve my good girl. But I want to tell you, dear, that when I was most +discouraged my greatest comfort was, that if I had to leave my poor +babies they would find such a faithful little mother in you.' + +"I was _so_ pleased I wanted to cry, for the children _do_ love me, and +run to me for everything now, and think the world of Sister, and they +didn't use to care much for me. But that wasn't all. I ought not to tell +these things, perhaps, but I'm so proud of them I can't help it. When I +asked Papa privately, if Mamma was _really_ better and in no danger of +falling ill again, he said, with his arms round me, and such a tender +kiss,-- + +"'No danger now, for this brave little girl put her shoulder to the +wheel so splendidly, that the dear woman got the relief from care she +needed just at the right time, and now she really rests sure that we are +not neglected. You couldn't have devoted yourself to a better charity, +or done it more sweetly, my darling. God bless you!'" + +Here Maggie's voice gave out, and she hid her face, with a happy sob, +that finished her story eloquently. Marion flew to wipe her tears away +with the blue sock, and the others gave a sympathetic murmur, looking +much touched; forgotten duties of their own rose before them, and sudden +resolutions were made to attend to them at once, seeing how great +Maggie's reward had been. + +"I didn't mean to be silly; but I wanted you to know that I hadn't been +idle all winter, and that, though I haven't much to tell, I'm _quite_ +satisfied with my chore," she said, looking up with smiles shining +through the tears till her face resembled a rose in a sun-shower. + +"Many daughters have done well, but thou excellest them all," answered +Anna, with a kiss that completed her satisfaction. + +"Now, as it is after our usual time, and we must break up," continued +the President, producing a basket of flowers from its hiding-place, "I +will merely say that I think we have all learned a good deal, and will +be able to work better next winter; for I am sure we shall want to try +again, it adds so much sweetness to our own lives to put even a little +comfort into the hard lives of the poor. As a farewell token, I sent for +some real Plymouth mayflowers, and here they are, a posy apiece, with my +love and many thanks for your help in carrying out my plan so +beautifully." + +So the nosegays were bestowed, the last lively chat enjoyed, new plans +suggested, and goodbyes said; then the club separated, each member +going gayly away with the rosy flowers on her bosom, and in it a clearer +knowledge of the sad side of life, a fresh desire to see and help still +more, and a sweet satisfaction in the thought that each had done what +she could. + + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Note: + +All punctuation kept as per original, including unclosed quotes. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of May Flowers, by Louisa May Alcott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAY FLOWERS *** + +***** This file should be named 37981.txt or 37981.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/8/37981/ + +Produced by Fulvia Hughes, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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