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diff --git a/42870-0.txt b/42870-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07523d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/42870-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8747 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42870 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 42870-h.htm or 42870-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42870/42870-h/42870-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42870/42870-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/mildredkeith00finliala + + + + + +MILDRED KEITH + + * * * * * + +LIST OF THE ELSIE BOOKS AND OTHER POPULAR BOOKS + +BY + +MARTHA FINLEY + + + _ELSIE DINSMORE._ + _ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS._ + _ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD._ + _ELSIE'S WOMANHOOD._ + _ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD._ + _ELSIE'S CHILDREN._ + _ELSIE'S WIDOWHOOD._ + _GRANDMOTHER ELSIE._ + _ELSIE'S NEW RELATIONS._ + _ELSIE AT NANTUCKET._ + _THE TWO ELSIES._ + _ELSIE'S KITH AND KIN._ + _ELSIE'S FRIENDS AT WOODBURN._ + _CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIE._ + _ELSIE AND THE RAYMONDS._ + _ELSIE YACHTING WITH THE RAYMONDS._ + _ELSIE'S VACATION._ + _ELSIE AT VIAMEDE._ + _ELSIE AT ION._ + _ELSIE AT THE WORLD'S FAIR._ + _ELSIE'S JOURNEY ON INLAND WATERS._ + _ELSIE AT HOME._ + _ELSIE ON THE HUDSON._ + _ELSIE IN THE SOUTH._ + _ELSIE'S YOUNG FOLKS._ + + _MILDRED KEITH._ + _MILDRED AT ROSELANDS._ + _MILDRED'S MARRIED LIFE._ + _MILDRED AND ELSIE._ + _MILDRED AT HOME._ + _MILDRED'S BOYS AND GIRLS._ + _MILDRED'S NEW DAUGHTER._ + + _CASELLA._ + _SIGNING THE CONTRACT AND WHAT IT COST._ + _THE TRAGEDY OF WILD RIVER VALLEY._ + _OUR FRED._ + _AN OLD-FASHIONED BOY._ + _WANTED, A PEDIGREE._ + _THE THORN IN THE NEST._ + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + +MILDRED KEITH + +BY + +MARTHA FINLEY + +(_Martha Farquharson_) + +Author of "Elsie Dinsmore," "Elsie's Children," "Old-Fashioned +Boy," "Our Fred," "Wanted--a Pedigree," etc., etc. + + + "She is pretty to walk with, + And witty to talk with, + And pleasant, too, to think on." + --BRENNORALT + + + + + + + +New York +Dodd, Mead & Company +Publishers + +Copyright, 1876, Dodd, Mead & Company. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +THE Keith family were relatives of Horace Dinsmore, and as my readers +will observe, the date of this story is some seven years earlier than +that of the first Elsie book. + +The journey, and that most _sickly_ season, which I have attempted to +describe, were events in my own early childhood. The latter still dwells +in my memory as a dreadful dream. + +Our family--a large one--were all down with the fever except my aged +grandmother and a little sister of six or seven, and "help could not be +had for love or money." + +My father, who was a physician, kept up and made his rounds among his +town and country patients for days after the fever had attacked him, but +was at length compelled to take his bed, and I well remember lying +there beside him while the neighbors flocked into the room to consult +him about their sick ones at home. + +That region of country is now, I believe, as healthy as almost any other +part of our favored land. Such a season, it was said, had never been +known before, and there has been none like it since. + + M. F. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +MILDRED KEITH. + + + + +Chapter First. + + "Weep not that the world changes--did it keep + A stable, changeless course, 'twere cause to weep." + --BRYANT. + + +A SPRING morning in 183-; winter's icy breath exchanged for gentle +breezes; a faint tinge of yellow green on the woods but now so brown and +bare; violets and anemones showing their pretty modest faces by the +roadside; hill and valley clothed with verdure, rivulets dancing and +singing, the river rolling onward in majestic gladness; apple, peach and +cherry trees in bloom; birds building their nests; men and women busied +here and there in field or garden, and over all + + "The uncertain glory of an April day." + +The sun now shining out warm and bright from a cloudless sky, now +veiling his face while a sudden shower of rain sends the busy workers +hurrying to the nearest shelter. + +The air is full of pleasant rural sounds--the chirp of insects, the +twittering of birds, the crowing of cocks--now near at hand, now far +away, mellowed by the distance; and in the streets of the pretty village +of Lansdale, down yonder in the valley, there is the cheerful hum of +busy life; of buying and selling, of tearing down and building up; +neighbors chatting on doorsteps or over the garden fence, boys whistling +and hallooing to their mates, children conning their tasks, and mothers +crooning to their babes. + +Out of the side door of a substantial brick house standing far back from +the street, in the midst of a garden where the grass is of a velvety +green spangled with violets, and snowballs and lilacs are bursting into +bloom, steps a slight girlish figure. + +The face half hidden under a broad brimmed garden hat, is not regularly +beautiful, but there is a great deal of character in it; the mouth is +both firm and sweet, the lips are full and red, the eyes are large, dark +and lustrous, and the complexion rich with the hues of health. + +She sends a quick glance from side to side, clasps her hands together +with a gesture as of sudden pain, paces rapidly to and fro for a moment, +seemingly striving after self-control, then turning into a path that +leads across the garden to the hedge that separates it from another, +hastens down it, opens the gate and passing through looks about as if in +search of some one. + +But there is no one there, and the girl trips gracefully onward to the +house, a pretty cottage with vine-covered porches. + +The parlor windows were open and within a little lady of middle age, +quaintly attired in a chintz gown very short and scant, and made after a +pattern peculiarly her own, was busied with brush and duster. + +Catching sight of the young girl as she stepped upon the porch, she +called to her in a remarkably sweet-toned voice, + +"In here, dearie! Just step through the window. I'm glad to see you." +The windows opening to the floor, it was an easy matter to obey, and the +girl did so; then stood silent, her lips quivering, her eyes full. + +"My child, what is it?" cried the older lady, dropping her duster to +take the girl's hand and draw her to a seat upon the sofa, "is--is any +one ill?" + +"No, no; not that, Aunt Wealthy!" and the girl swallowed down her tears +and spoke with a determined effort to be calm. "But something has +happened and mother delegated me to bring you the news. + +"You know father has been talking for some time of leaving Lansdale, and +this morning, at breakfast, he told us--us children, I mean--he and +mother had talked it over last night, and I don't believe she slept much +for thinking of it--that he had fully made up his mind to move out to +Indiana. And we're to go just as soon as we can get ready. + +"There, now you know it all!" finishing with a burst of tears in spite +of herself. + +For a moment her listener was dumb with surprise; but it was not in +Wealthy Stanhope's nature to witness distress without an effort to +comfort and relieve. + +To lose the society of this family who were her nearest and dearest +relatives, would be a great grief to her. The mother, Marcia Keith, the +orphan child of a sister, committed to her care in early infancy and +trained up by her to a lovely and useful womanhood, was as a daughter to +her--her boys and girls as grandchildren to be loved and petted and +rejoiced over after the custom of fond grandparents What a lonely old +age for her without them! + +That was her first thought, the next how to assuage the sorrow of the +weeping girl at her side. + +"There, there, Mildred, dear," she said, softly stroking and patting the +hand she held, "perhaps you will find it not so bad after all, there +must be a bright side to the picture that we shall discover if we look +for it determinately. There will be new scenes, perhaps some adventures +on the journey." + +"Yes, auntie, very likely; and I've often wished I could have some +adventures!" Mildred answered, dashing away her tears with a rather +hysterical little laugh. + +"You're not going to school to-day?" + +"No, auntie, no more school for me: that's the hard part of it, for I do +so want a good education." + +"Well, dear, you shall have books, and your father and mother--both +educated people--will help you; and who knows but you may in the end +distance your mates here? The knowledge we gain by our own efforts, out +of school, is often the most serviceable." + +The girl's face brightened. + +"If I don't turn out something worth while it shall not be for want of +trying," she said, her cheek flushing, her eyes sparkling. + +Then starting up. "I must hurry home; for mother and I are going to work +with might and main at the spring sewing; and then at the tearing up and +packing. Aunt Wealthy, I'm glad I'm old enough to be a help; there are +so many younger ones, you know." + +"Yes, Milly, and you are a great help and comfort to your mother." + +"If--if I could only learn her patience; but the children are dreadfully +trying--with their untidy ways, their mischief and noise. They nearly +distract me at times and before I know it I've given somebody a shake or +a slap, or if not that, a very uncomplimentary piece of my mind," she +added half laughing, half sighing. + +Then with a hasty good-bye she tripped away, her aunt calling after her, +"Tell your mother I'll be in after a while." + +Miss Stanhope sat where the girl had left her, the usually busy hands +folded in her lap her gaze fixed meditatively on the carpet. Presently +she lifted her head with a deep drawn sigh, her eye passed slowly about +the room resting lovingly now upon this familiar object, now upon that. + +"I don't think they would sell for much," she said, musingly: "the +carpet has been in wear for thirty odd years and the colors have faded +a good deal: the chairs and tables are older still and so are the +pictures on the walls, that sampler my grandmother worked when she was a +young girl--which was many years ago; and these chair-cushions +too"--rising and going from one to another, giving to each in turn a +little loving shake and pat--"she embroidered and filled with her own +feathers; and so I value them more than their weight in gold. Marcia, I +think, values them also, but--to a stranger, I suppose they would all +seem old, dingy and worthless, though to me they are real treasures. +I've a sincere affection for them. + +"But what is that to my love for Marcia and her children! what indeed!" + +She hastily picked up duster and brush, gave a finishing touch here and +there, drew down the blinds and left the room. + +A few moments later she might have been seen in bonnet and shawl and +armed with a large cotton umbrella, issuing from her front gate and +walking briskly toward the business part of the town. + +It was nearly two hours before she returned, with a step a trifle less +brisk, and arms filled with brown paper parcels. + +She passed her own gate and stopped at Mr. Keith's. + +Mildred ran to open it. + +"Why, auntie, how you are loaded! Give me your bundles." + +"Yes, child, carry them in to your mother. I've been to every store in +town; such beautiful remnants! couldn't help buying! make up pretty for +the children; afraid there's none big enough for you, dear. Am all out +of breath with walking." + +"Yes; it's too bad; don't say anything more till you've rested," said +the girl, leading the way into the pleasant family room, hastily laying +the packages on the table, and drawing forward a large cushioned rocking +chair. + +"There, sit down, auntie, and let me take your things." + +"Aunt Wealthy! come at last! we've been wondering what kept you," said a +handsome, matronly, but still youthful looking lady, with a babe in her +arms, coming in at that moment. "And you've been out shopping? I hope +you were not caught in any of the showers?" + +"No; I managed to dodge them; sandwiching my walks in between. So you're +going to leave Lansdale, Marcia?" + +"Yes, auntie; and you; that's the worst of it." + +The cheery voice faltered over the last words, and the bright eyes grew +dim. + +"Not so fast, Marcia; who says that I'm to be left behind?" + +"Aunt Wealthy! do you mean it? is it possible you could think of such a +sacrifice?" cried Mrs. Keith, starting up and nearly dropping her babe +in her intense, joyful surprise. + +"As what?" queried the aunt between a smile and a tear. "Marcia, I can't +give up my home, as you very well know; but I have found a tenant for it +(the minister and his wife who are perfectly delighted to get it; for +it's their only chance for going to housekeeping; and they'll be sure to +take good care of my furniture and other belongings), and rented it just +as it stands, for a year; and I'm going with you to Hoosier land. + +"It'll be quite an importation of Buckeyes, won't it? All coming in one +lot." + +And the good affectionate old soul finished with a laugh, jumped up from +her chair and stretching out her arms to three little ones who had come +running in while she was speaking, caught them to her bosom, kissed and +cried over them, asking, "Are you glad, Cyril? are you glad, Don? and +Fan, too? are you glad that auntie is going with you?" + +There was a chorus of shouts of delight; there were huggings and +kissings, asking and answering of questions; and then things quieted +down a little and the children went back to their play, Cyril remarking, +as he shut the door, + +"Now I shan't cry when we go; 'cause all my friends and colations is +goin' along." + +"Now to business," said Aunt Wealthy attacking the parcels. "I'm going +to help you, Marcia, in getting your tribe ready for their exodus out of +this land of plenty into that western wilderness. Here are two or three +dress patterns apiece for the little girls. These stuff ones are for +them to travel in, and I think they had better be made long necked and +high sleeved. Don't you?" + +Mrs. Keith looked up with a slightly puzzled expression; then a light +breaking over her face, for she was used to her aunt's transpositions--"I +don't know," she answered dubiously, "wouldn't it make them look a +little old-womanish? Low necks and short sleeves are prettier for +children, I think; and they're used to it. Summer's coming on, too, and +we must expect warm weather." + +"What route shall you take?" + +"Up the Ohio and Erie Canal and round Michigan by the lakes." + +"It will be cool on the water." + +"Yes, that's true; and I'll take your advice." + +"That's right; they'll be less likely to catch cold from any little +exposure, and their necks and arms will be protected from the sun. Now, +if you'll tear off a skirt, I'll get to work. I brought thimble and +scissors along." + +Those were not the days of sewing machines, and though garments were +made in much simpler style then than now, the sewing for such a family +as the Keiths was no small task. + +It would take some weeks of very diligent work by three or four pairs of +hands to accomplish what the mother deemed necessary in the way of +preparing their wardrobe for the contemplated journey. + +Under the instruction of her mother and aunt, Mildred had already become +as accomplished a needlewoman as either of them. A seamstress had been +engaged to assist but could not be had for a few days; so plans and +prospects could be talked over freely as the three sat and worked +together, Baby Annis asleep in her cradle or playing contentedly on the +carpet at her mother's feet. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Second. + + "The mother, in her office, holds the key + Of the soul; and she it is who stamps the coin + Of character, and makes the being who would be a savage, + But for her gentle cares, a Christian man." + --OLD PLAY. + + +THE striking of the town clock, the ringing of bells, the blowing of +whistles and "the schoolboy's glad shout" announced the noontide hour. + +A sound of coming footsteps, of gay, young voices, an opening of doors, +letting in fresh breezes from without, and with them two bright, +blooming, merry little girls and a lad between them and Mildred in age, +in whose great black eyes lurked a world of fun and mischief. + +"Softly, softly, children!" the mother said looking up with a smile as +they came dancing and prancing in. "Rupert, are you not old enough to +begin to act in a rather more gentlemanly way?" + +"Yes, mother, I beg your pardon. Yours too, Aunt Wealthy, I didn't know +till this moment that you were here." + +"Mother, he's always teasing," complained the younger of the girls, "he +says we'll have to live in wigwams like the Indians and perhaps grow to +be as black and ugly as they are." + +"But they're not black, Ada," exclaimed the other, "my g'ography calls +'em red men." + +"Well, that's 'most worse, I'd as lief be black as red." + +"If you're careful to wear your sunbonnets when you go out, you won't +grow to be either," remarked Mildred, while Mrs. Keith said with a look +of mild reproof, + +"Rupert, my son, was it quite truthful to tell your sisters such +things?" + +"I was only making fun," he answered, trying to turn it off with a +laugh, but blushing as he spoke. + +"Innocent fun I never object to, but sport is too dearly bought at the +sacrifice of truth. + +"My boy," she added with energy, "one should go to the stake rather than +tell a falsehood; though it were no more than to say that two and two do +not make four." + +"Mother, I believe you would!" he said, gazing with loving admiration +into her earnest face. "I've never known you to swerve a hair's breadth +from the truth in any way," and coming close to her side and speaking +almost in a whisper, "I mean to try to be worthy of you in the future." + +She looked at him with glistening eyes, and dropping her work took his +hands in hers for a moment. + +The others were not listening; Zillah and Ada had caught sight of the +new dresses, were admiring them and asking eager questions of their aunt +and sister. + +"My boy," Mrs. Keith said in moved tones, "I would rather be the mother +of a poor hard working man of whom it could be said that he had always +been perfectly honest and true, than of one who had amassed his millions +and attained to the highest worldly honors by fraud or questionable +deeds or words. Remember that all your life." + +"Mother, I will; I have my father's example to help me as well as +yours," the lad replied with a proud glance at the noble, kindly, +intellectual face of a gentleman who came in at that instant with Fan in +his arms and the two little boys gamboling about him. + +"Ah, Aunt Wealthy, good morning!" he said in a cheery tone, sitting down +beside her, putting Fan on one knee, and lifting the babe, who was +laughing and crowing with delight at sight of him, to the other. "I +suppose you have heard the news?" + +"That you are going to Indiana, Stuart! Yes. You are not contented to +let well enough alone?" + +"Can't consider it well enough to be barely making the two ends meet +while a growing family must be constantly increasing my expenses." + +"How is this removal to help you? It will cost a good deal." + +"'Nothing venture, nothing have.' I'm going to a new country where land +is cheap. I shall invest something in that and hope to see it increase +largely in value as the town grows. + +"Then lawyers are not so plenty there but that some more will be needed +as people move in, and I hope by being on the spot in good season, to +secure extensive practice. + +"It will cost the sundering of some very tender ties," he continued, his +face growing grave almost to sadness, "but we are willing to bear that +for our children's sake. Is it not so; wife?" and he turned to her with +a smile that spoke volumes of love and confidence. + +"Yes indeed, Stuart," she answered with cheerful heartiness. "I +shouldn't have hesitated for a moment if I had been quite sure it would +be the best thing for them; but, as you know, I'm afraid we can not give +them as good an education there as we might here. However we have now +decided to go, and I can only hope for the best. + +"And do you know," she went on with a smile directed to the corner where +Miss Stanhope sat, "that since you left us this morning something has +happened that takes away more than half the pain of the thought of +leaving Lansdale?" + +"No; what may that be?" + +"Oh, I know!" shouted Cyril, turning a somersault on the carpet. "Aunt +Wealthy's goin' along! Aunt Wealthy's goin' along!" + +And then such raptures of delight as were indulged in by those who had +not heard the news before! + +These were interrupted by a summons to the dinner-table; but when the +blessing had been asked and the plates filled, the talk went on again, +though in a somewhat more subdued fashion. + +"Is there absolutely no danger from the Indians, Stuart?" asked Miss +Stanhope. + +"None whatever; most of the tribes have been removed to the far west; +all but one, I think, and that will probably be taken soon." + +"What tribe is it? the Wottapottamies?" + +"Pottawottamies; yes." + +"Father, will we have to live in wigwams and dress in skins?" asked Ada, +anxiously. + +"No; we'll have a house; if it is only a log-cabin, and we'll carry +plenty of clothes along." + +"P'raps dey might det losted on the way," suggested Fan. + +"Well, pussy, I think we'll find some stores out there; and if +everything else fails we can always fall back on deerskins." + +Lansdale was but a small town; everybody in it knew the Keiths or knew +of them, and by the next day after their removal had been decided upon, +everybody knew that. + +Many regrets were expressed and there were some offers of assistance +with their preparations; but these were declined with thanks: "with Aunt +Wealthy's good help, and that of the seamstress already engaged," Mrs. +Keith said "she and Mildred would be able to do all that was necessary." + +They were very busy cutting, fitting and sewing, day after day, from +morning to night with occasional interruptions from the little ones who +were too young to go to school but old enough to roam over house and +grounds; and being adventurous spirits, full of life and energy, were +constantly getting into mischief, thus furnishing, gratis, a change of +works to mother and eldest sister, who, spite of a hearty affection for +the young rogues, was often sorely tried by their pranks. + +"Have you any cord, Mrs. Keith?" asked the seamstress, one morning. + +"Yes," turning to her work-basket. "Why, what has become of it? I had +two or three pieces here. And that paper of needles has disappeared! +Mildred did you--" + +"The children were here half an hour ago, mother, and I remember seeing +Donald peeping into your basket." + +"Run out and see what they have done with them." + +Going into the hall, Mildred stood a moment listening for some sound to +tell her where the children were. Little voices were prattling in the +garden near at hand. Stepping to the door she saw the two boys seated on +the grass busied with a kite Rupert had made for them. + +"What are you doing?" she asked, going nearer. + +"Makin' a longer tail." + +"Where did you get that piece of string?" + +No answer; only a guilty look on the two chubby faces. + +"Oh, I know! it's some cord you took from mother's work-basket. And now +it's wanted; but you've spoilt it entirely; why did you cut and knot it +so?" + +"Why," said Cyril, "you see Don was my crazy man and I had to tie him; +and then I had to cut the string to get it off, 'cause I couldn't untie +the knots." + +"Oh, you mischievous fellows. Another time don't you take things without +leave. Did you take a paper of needles too?" + +"No, we didn't; maybe Fan did." + +Mildred went in search of Fan, and found her digging and planting in her +little garden, the empty needle paper lying near. + +"Fan," said Mildred, picking it up, "What have you done with the needles +that were in this?" + +"Sowed 'em in dis bed; and when dey drows up we'll have lots an' lots +for mother an' you." + +"You silly, provoking little puss! needles don't grow. Show me where you +put them." + +"Tan't dey's all round and round in de gwond." + +Mildred took up a bit of stick and poked about in the fresh earth for a +minute or two, then remarking to herself that it was as bootless as +hunting in a haystack, went into the house with the report of the +hapless fate of the missing articles. + +The boys were there before her, penitently exhibiting the ruined cord +and promising to do so no more. + +"We didn't fink, mother," pleaded Don, looking up in her face with such +a droll mixture of fun and entreaty in his roguish blue eyes, that she +could not refrain from giving him a kiss and a smile as she answered, +"Ah, my boys must learn to think and not take mother's things without +leave. Now run away to your plays and try to be good children." + +"Mother, I do think you're a little too easy with them," Mildred said in +a slightly vexed tone. + +"Perhaps; but if I make a mistake, is it not far better to do so on the +side of mercy than of severity?" + +"I suppose so; I shouldn't like to see them whipped." + +Then laughingly she told the story of Fan's doings, and as needles and +cord must be replaced, put on her bonnet and sallied forth upon the +errand. + +Mildred as one of the prettiest, most accomplished, graceful, and +fascinating young ladies of the place, and belonging to one of the first +families, was a good deal admired, and never lacked attention at a +party, picnic or any sort of gathering of the young people of the town. + +As she left the store where she had made her purchases, Spencer Hall +crossed the street and joined her. + +He was the only son of the wealthiest man in the place and, because of +his great expectations, looked upon by most of the young girls and their +mammas as a desirable match. + +Mildred, however, was of a different opinion, knowing him to be idle, +purse-proud, vain and conceited. + +She therefore returned his greeting rather coldly; heartily wishing that +he had not happened to see her, or that something would occur to rid her +at once of his undesirable company. + +Greatly amazed would the young exquisite have been could he have read +her thoughts; for he had no doubt that she felt highly gratified and +honored by his notice. Was he not arrayed in broadcloth suit, silk hat +and immaculate kids, while she wore calico, cotton gloves and the +simplest of straw bonnets? And could not his father buy hers out ten +times over? + +His manner was gracious and patronizing as he remarked--sauntering along +by her side, "Why, Miss Mildred, can it be true that you are going to +leave us? I don't see what Lansdale will do without you." + +"It is quite true that we are going, Mr. Hall," she answered, with a +slight curl of the lip; "and I suppose my father and mother will be +missed; but I can not think that my loss will in any way affect the +prosperity of the town or the happiness of the people." + +"Some people's it certainly will," he said, with increased graciousness, +exerting himself slightly to keep pace with her, as she quickened her +steps to a very rapid walk. "We don't want to lose you; might it not be +possible to persuade you to remain among us?" + +"Certainly not; unless my parents should change their plans and decide +to stay. Of which there is not the least probability." + +"Do you know that you are walking very fast, Miss Mildred?" he said, +laughing. "Do let us slacken our pace a little, for who knows when we +may have the pleasure of walking together again." + +"You must excuse me; I am in great haste. But there is not the slightest +necessity for your exerting yourself to keep pace with me. It is broad +daylight and I know the way." + +"Now don't be sarcastic, my dear young lady. I'd be willing at any time +to make a far greater exertion for the pleasure of your society; but if +we move so rapidly it will shorten our interview considerably." + +"I have already explained that I am in haste; there is much to be done +in the few weeks before we leave," the girl answered coldly, pressing on +with accelerated speed. + +"Haven't time even for a word with an old friend, eh? Then good-morning, +Miss Keith," and turning about in disgust, he sauntered leisurely along +in another direction while she sped on her way as before. + +"Is it possible! what does the girl mean!" he ejaculated the next +minute, as on turning his head to look after her, he perceived that +Mildred had actually stopped upon the sidewalk--stopped to speak to a +mutual acquaintance, a lad a year or two younger than himself, who was +working his own way in the world, getting an education by the hardest +and helping a widowed, invalid mother. + +For Frank Osborne Mildred had the highest respect, though she looked +upon him as a mere boy and was wholly unconscious that to him she was +the embodiment of every virtue and grace; that her words, looks and +smiles were treasured up in his very heart of hearts; nor did she dream +how unhesitatingly he would have laid down his life to save hers had it +been in danger. It was only a boy's passion, but it was deep and strong. + +The news of the intended removal of the Keiths to what, in those days, +seemed a far distant region, had been a great shock to him; but with the +hopefulness of youth he consoled himself with the resolve to follow and +seek her out--when in the course of years he should earn fame and +fortune--though she should be carried to the ends of the earth. + +His eye brightened and his cheek flushed, as on turning a corner, he +came suddenly upon her in her rapid walk, and she stopped and held out +her hand in friendly greeting. + +He took it almost reverentially. + +"How d'ye do, Frank? and how is your mother to-day?" she was saying, her +bright eyes looking straight into his. + +"Better, thank you, Miss Mildred. And you are well? and oh, can it be +true that you are all going so far away?" he asked with a wistful, +longing look. + +"Yes; to the land of the Hoosiers, wild Indians and wolves," she said +gayly. "Don't you envy me?" + +"I envy those that go with you," he answered, sighing. "You won't forget +old friends, Miss Mildred?" + +"No; no, indeed, Frank," she said, heartily. "But good-bye. I must hurry +home," and with a nod and smile she tripped away; to the satisfaction of +Hall who had jealously watched the whole interview. + +He was glad it had been no longer, though he could not avoid the +unpleasant consciousness that more favor had been shown to "that pauper" +than to himself, the prospective heir to a comfortable fortune. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Third. + + "Lessons so dear, so fraught with holy truth + As those her mother's faith shed on her youth." + + +"NOW," said Mildred, taking up her sewing again, "I must work fast to +make up for lost time, for I've set my heart on finishing this dress of +Ada's to-day." + +The words had scarcely left her lips when there came a loud crash and +scream from the hall, followed by a sound of tumbling and rolling. + +Up sprang mother, aunt and sister, scattering scissors, thimbles and +work, and rushed toward the scene of commotion. + +They found the stairs, and Fan, who sat weeping half way up, drenched +with water; while at the foot were scattered fragments of a large +pitcher, Cyril lying among them half stunned and with the blood +streaming from a cut in his head; Don gazing down upon him from the +landing and adding his mite to the confusion by screaming, "Oh! oh! oh! +he's deaded! he's deaded!" + +"No, he ain't," said Cyril, slowly getting on his feet. "Mother, I +didn't mean to. Please don't let Milly scold us young ones. Oh, stop +this quick!" putting his hand to his head. + +"Yes, sonny, as soon as possible," said Mrs. Keith, taking his head in +her hands and holding the lips of the wound together. "A basin of cold +water, Milly, quick! and aunt, there is sticking plaster in the +work-table drawer. Hush Don; don't cry any more, Fan; Cyril isn't much +hurt and mother will soon make it all right." + +Her orders were promptly obeyed, the wound skillfully dressed, Fan's wet +clothes changed, and then inquiry was made as to how it had all +happened. + +"Why--why," said Cyril, "you see Fan wanted to wash her hands; 'cause +she'd been diggin' in her garden and dey was all dirty, and dere wasn't +any water in the pitcher and we brung it down and got it full and I was +carryin' it up and my foot tripped and I fell down with it and knocked +Fan over cause she was behind me. And I couldn't help it. Could I, Don?" + +"No, you touldna help it," assented Don. "And Fan touldn't too." + +"And he's dot a bad hurt on his head," put in Fan pityingly. + +"Yes, he's punished enough, I think," said the mother, caressing him; +"his intentions seem to have been good; but next time you want water, +dears, come and tell mother or sister Milly." + +"There, the morning's gone," said Mildred, as bells and whistles began +their usual announcement; "a full hour of it wasted, too, by the pranks +of those children. I hope they've finished up the business for to-day!" + +Vain hope! inactivity was impossible to those restless spirits: their +surplus energy must be worked off in some way. + +They had not been heard from for two hours and Mrs. Keith had just +remarked that she feared it must be some mischief that was keeping them +so quiet, when shrieks and wails from three infantile voices, coming +from the second story, appealed strongly to the compassion of their +relatives in the sitting-room. + +The call for help was responded to as promptly as on the previous +occasion. Mother, aunt, and sister flew to the rescue and on entering +the room whence the sounds proceeded, found Fan locked in the wardrobe +and the two boys seated in the lower drawer of the bureau which their +weight had caused to tip so far forward that they could not get out +without assistance. A chair standing so near as to prevent the bureau +from falling entirely to the floor, had probably saved them from a +serious accident; but there they were, bent nearly double, legs +dangling, vociferous screams issuing from their throats. + +It was the work of a moment for the laughing mother and aunt to lift up +the bureau and release the two rogues, while Mildred sprang to the +wardrobe, unlocked it and took the sobbing Fan in her arms. + +"You poor dear, who fastened you in there?" + +"Cyril did. He said I stealed and must go to jail. And--and I was 'f'aid +it would des tumble over; it shaked so when I tried to det out." + +"The naughty boy!" cried Mildred, flashing an indignant glance at him as +he and Don crept from the drawer, straightened themselves and stood up +looking very much abashed and ill at ease. + +"Mother, I do think Cyril ought to be punished." + +"I didn't hurt her," he muttered, hanging his head; "and I was goin' to +let her out 'fore long. And we didn't mean to tumble the bureau over. +Did we Don?" + +"No; it dus went yight over its ownse'f," chimed in the little brother. +"Pease, mamma we's doin to be dood boys now." + +"You might have been very much hurt if the chair had not been where it +was," she said, composing her features and speaking with becoming +gravity, "I am very thankful for your escape, and you must never do such +things again. Especially never lock each other into a wardrobe or +closet," she added sitting down, drawing Fan to her side and caressing +her tenderly, while Miss Stanhope and Mildred restored the contents of +the bureau drawers, which the boys had unceremoniously tossed upon the +carpet. + +"Why, mother?" queried the self-constituted jailor. + +"Because it is very dangerous. Your little sister might have been +frightened into a fit or have died for want of air to breathe." + +Cyril's eyes dilated, then filled with tears as he seemed to see the +little sister he loved so dearly lying before him white and cold and +dead. + +"I won't ever, ever do it again," he said tremulously. + +"No, you must be Fan's big brave brother that she can trust to take care +of her and shield her from harm. I don't believe my Cyril would be such +a mean coward as to hurt a little girl or anything smaller or weaker +than himself, except for that naughty 'didn't think!'" + +"But I didn't hurt her, mother." + +"Yes, my son, you hurt her feelings very much." + +He considered a moment. "Yes, I s'pose that's so," he said slowly, "Fan, +I'll tell you; I'm real sorry; and you may be jailor now and lock me up +in that wardrobe." + +"No, no! there must be no more such doings," quickly interposed mamma. + +"Dess I wouldn't do such sing!" said Fan, wiping away her tears with her +chubby little hand. + +"What a room!" said Mildred, shutting the last bureau drawer and turning +to look about her; "every chair out of place and turned on its side, the +bed all tumbled and bits of paper scattered over the carpet." + +"Pick them up, children, and try to keep out of mischief for the rest of +the day. I must go back to my sewing," Mrs. Keith said, following her +aunt, who had already left the room. + +Mildred staid behind to assist in setting it to rights. + +"You naughty children! really I could almost enjoy spanking you all +round," she exclaimed directly, as she came upon the fragments of a +delicate china vase belonging to herself, and a valued letter from a +friend torn into bits. + +"Milly," said Cyril solemnly, "s'pose we should get deaded some day; +wouldn't you be sorry?" + +"Suppose I should get deaded," she retorted, "wouldn't you be sorry for +spoiling my pretty things?" + +She was ashamed of her outburst nevertheless, and the child's words +haunted her all the afternoon. + +It was evening; two candles burned on the sitting-room table, and beside +it sat Mildred and her mother still busily plying their needles. + +The rest of the family were in bed and Miss Stanhope and the seamstress +had gone to their own homes hours ago. + +"My child, put up your work for to-night," said Mrs. Keith; "You are +looking weary and depressed; and no wonder, for you have had a hard +day." + +"A busy day, mother; but not so hard as yours, because I have had a walk +in the fresh air while you have been stitch, stitching from early +morning till now. And if you don't forbid it I shall sit up and work as +long as you do. I consider it one of the eldest daughter's privileges to +share her mother's burdens." + +"My dear girl! you are a comfort to me! I thank God for you every day," +the mother said, looking at her with dewy eyes and a beautiful smile, +"but because you are young and growing, you need more rest and sleep +than I do. So go, daughter, and never mind leaving me." + +"Mayn't I stay a little longer," pleaded the girl, "I want one of our +nice confidential talks. O mother, I am so disgusted with myself! I was +very angry with Cyril and Don to-day when I found they'd broken that +vase I valued so because you gave it to me as a birthday present; and it +was so pretty too--and torn up that sweet letter dear Miss Grey wrote me +just before she died." + +"Indeed! I didn't know they had done such damage and I am very sorry for +your loss, dear!" + +"Yes, mother, I knew you would be; my loss of temper, though, was worse +than all. I do wish I knew how you contrive always to be so patient." + +"I'm afraid it's very often all on the outside," the mother answered +with a slight smile. "But I find it a great help in bearing patiently +with the little every day worries, to think of them as sent, or +permitted, by my best Friend--One who never makes a mistake--for my +growth in grace; for you know we grow strong by resistance." + +"Well, mother, I am constantly resolving that I will not give way to my +temper, and yet I keep on doing so; and I grow so discouraged and so +disgusted with myself. What shall I do?" + +"My child, watch and pray. Our sufficiency is of God. He is our +strength. And do not look at yourself; try to forget self altogether in +'looking unto Jesus;' get your mind and heart full of his lovely image, +so full that there will be no room in it for aught else; and thus shall +you grow into His likeness." + +Mildred's eyes shone as she looked up into her mother's earnest face. + +"I am sure that must be the way," she said, low and feelingly, "and I +will try it; for I do long to be like Him, mother; for He is indeed to +me, 'the chiefest among ten thousand and the one altogether lovely!'" + +"Oh, how good He is to me!" ejaculated the mother, glad tears shining in +her eyes: "that you might learn thus to know and love Him has been the +burden of my prayer for you--for each of my dear children--since they +first saw the light." + +They worked on in silence for some minutes, then Mildred seeing a smile +playing about her mother's lips, asked what was the thought that +provoked it. + +"A reminiscence of some of your infantile pranks," her mother answered +laughing. "You should be forbearing with your little brother and sisters +for you were fully as mischievous as they are. + +"Before you could walk I caught you one day seated in the middle of the +table set for tea, your hand in the sugar bowl, your mouth full and your +face well besmeared. + +"You were a great climber and it was difficult to keep anything out of +your way; and as soon as Rupert could creep he followed you into danger +and mischief; pulling things about, breaking, tearing, cutting, climbing +fences and trees, and even getting out of windows on to roofs. + +"Besides, you had a perfect mania for tasting everything that could +possibly be eaten or drunk--soap, candles, camphor, lye, medicines +whatever you could lay your hands on--till I was in constant fear for +your lives." + +"You poor, dear mother, what a time you must have had with us!" +exclaimed the girl. "We can never hope to repay you for your patient +love and care." + +"My child, I have always felt that my darlings paid for their trouble as +they went along; their love has always been so sweet to me," Mrs. Keith +answered, cheerily. "And I can not tell you how much I enjoy the sweet +society and confidence of my eldest daughter--the knowledge that she has +no secrets from me." + +"I have not, indeed," Mildred said, heartily, "as why should I? knowing +as I do that my mother is my best and wisest, as well as dearest earthly +friend." + +Then recalling the events of the morning she gave a laughing account of +her interview with Spencer Hall. + +"If I could contemplate the possibility of leaving you behind it would +certainly not be in his care," her mother said, joining in her +merriment, "and I am glad you have sense enough not to fancy him." + +"Truly I do not in the least; though many of the girls consider him a +great catch because of his father's wealth," said Mildred. "But really I +don't believe he meant anything, and I felt like showing him that I +understood that very well and resented his trifling; and wouldn't have +been much better pleased if he had been in earnest." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Fourth. + + "And, like some low and mournful spell, + To whisper but one word--farewell." + --PARK BENJAMIN. + + +ONE sweet June morning an expectant group gathered in the shade of the +vine-wreathed porch of Miss Stanhope's pretty cottage. It consisted of +that good lady herself Mr. and Mrs. Keith and their eight children, all +attired in neat traveling costume, and awaiting the coming of the stage +coach which was to carry them the first step of their journey--to the +nearest town situate on the Ohio and Erie Canal. + +Mr. and Mrs. Park, the new occupants of the cottage, were there too, and +a few old neighbors and friends who had run in for a last good-bye. + +Mrs. Keith and Mildred turned now and then, a tearful lingering look +upon their deserted home and this other which was equally familiar, +almost equally dear; Miss Stanhope seemed to have some ado to control +her feelings of sadness and anxiety for the future; but Mr. Keith was in +fine spirits in which the children evidently shared very largely. + +Eager to be off, they moved restlessly about asking again and again, +"When will the stage come?" and kept sending out reconnoitering parties +to see if there were any signs of its approach. + +At length they espied it and announced the fact with joyful exclamations +as its four prancing steeds came sweeping around the corner and, swaying +and rolling, it dashed up to the gate. + +The driver drew rein, the guard sprang from his lofty perch, threw open +the door and let down the steps. + +There were hurried embraces and farewells, a hasty stowing away of bags, +bundles, and passengers large and small, in the inside, and of more +bulky baggage in the boot of the coach, the steps were replaced, the +door slammed to, and amid waving of handkerchiefs and a chorus of +good-byes and good wishes, the "toot, toot!" of the guard's horn, the +crack of the coachman's whip, they swept away down the street, looking, +in all probability, their last upon many a well known object, many a +friendly face, nodding and smiling to them from door or window. + +Frank Osborne, at work in his mother's garden, dropped his hoe to lift +his hat and bow as the stage passed, and to gaze after it with a +longing, lingering look. + +Spencer Hall, standing, cigar in mouth, on the steps of his father's +mansion, did likewise. + +But Mildred had turned her head away, purposely, and did not see him. + +Never before had Lansdale put on so inviting an appearance, or the +surrounding country looked so lovely as to-day, while they rolled onward +through the valley and over the hills now clothed in all the rich +verdure of early summer and basking in the brilliant sunlight +occasionally mellowed and subdued by the flitting shadow of some soft, +white, fleecy like cloud floating in the deep azure of the sky. + +A few hours' drive took our travellers to the town where they were to +exchange the stage for the canal boat, the packet Pauline. She lay at +the wharf, and having dined comfortably at a hotel near by, they went on +board, taking with them the luggage brought by the stage. + +Their household goods had been dispatched on the same route some days +before. + +Here they were in quarters only less confined than those of the stage, +the Pauline's cabin being so narrow that when the table was to be set +for a meal, most of the passengers had to go on deck to be out of the +way. + +All along the side of the cabin ran a cushioned seat; used for that +purpose in the daytime and as a lower berth at night; other shelf-like +berths being then set up over it; all so narrow that the occupant could +scarcely turn upon his couch; and the upper ones so close to the ceiling +that it required some care to avoid striking the head against it in +getting in or out. Also there was an unpleasant dampness about the +bedding. + +In the cool of the evening or when the sun was clouded, the deck was the +favorite place of resort; but there a constant lookout for bridges must +be kept, and to escape them it was sometimes necessary to throw one's +self flat upon the deck; not the most pleasant of alternatives. + +The progress of these packets was so slow too, that it took nearly a +week to reach Cleveland from the point where our friends embarked. + +But this mode of travel had its compensations. One was the almost +absolute safety; another the ease with which the voyager could step +ashore when the boat was in a lock and refresh himself with a brisk +walk along the tow-path; boarding her again when the next lock was +reached. + +This was done daily by some of the Keith family, even the very little +ones being sometimes allowed the treat when the weather and walking were +fine and the distance was not too great. + +Passengers were constantly getting off and on at the locks and the towns +along the route, and often the boat was crowded. It was so the first +night that our friends spent on board; babies cried, older children +fretted and some grown people indulged in loud complaints of scant and +uncomfortable accommodations; altogether the cabin was a scene of +confusion and the young Keiths felt very forlorn. + +But mother, aunt and older sister were very patient, soothed, comforted, +and at length succeeded in getting them all to sleep. + +Then Aunt Wealthy, saying that she felt disposed to lie down and rest +beside the children, persuaded Mrs. Keith and Mildred to go upon deck +for an hour to enjoy the moonlight and the pleasant evening breeze with +Mr. Keith and Rupert, who had been there ever since supper. + +Mr. Keith helped his wife and daughter up the short flight of steps +that led from the stern to the deck, and found them seats on some of +their own trunks. + +There were a number of other passengers sitting about or pacing to and +fro; among the former a burly German who sat flat on the deck at the +stern end of the boat, his long legs dangling over the edge, his elbow +on his knee and his bearded chin in his hand, gazing out idly over the +moonlight landscape, while wreaths of smoke from a pipe in his mouth, +curled slowly up from his lips. + +The Pauline glided onward with easy pleasant motion; all had grown quiet +in the cabin below and the song of the bullfrogs, the dull thud of the +horses' hoofs and the gentle rush of the water against the sides of the +boat, were the only sounds that broke the stillness. + +"How nice it is here!" exclaimed Mildred, "the breeze is so refreshing, +the moonlight so bewitching!" + +"Yes, the country is looking beautiful," said her mother, "and one gets +a good view of it here; but I feel somewhat apprehensive in regard to +the bridges. We must be on the watch for them and dodge in time." + +"We will," said her husband; "though we may pretty safely trust to the +steersman; it is his duty to be on the lookout and give timely +warning." + +"Well, we're facing in the right direction to see them," remarked +Rupert, "but that Dutchman back there is not. I s'pose he's safe enough, +though, with the man at the helm to sing out as we near them." + +With that they fell into talk on other topics, and thought no more of +the smoker. + +"Bridge!" sang out the steersman, and down went every head except that +of the German, who sat and smoked on unmoved. + +"Bridge!" The cry was repeated in louder, more emphatic tones. + +"Yah, pridge, pridge!" responded the German straightening up a little, +nodding his head assentingly, but not looking round. + +"Bridge!" sang out the steersman for the third time, "bridge, you stupid +lout! dodge or"-- + +But the boat was already sweeping under, and the bridge taking the +German across his shoulders threw him with sudden violence to the +platform below, whence he rolled over into the canal, uttering a half +stifled cry for help as the water closed over him. + +But he rose again instantly panting and spluttering, and striking out +vigorously for the boat; he presently succeeded in laying hold of the +edge of the platform, and, the steersman lending him a helping hand, +clambered on board, crestfallen and dripping, while the crowd on deck, +seeing him safe, indulged in a hearty laugh at his expense. + +"I loss mein bipe," he said ruefully, shrugging his shoulders and +shaking the water from his clothes. + +"Well, you got a free bath in exchange and may be thankful you didn't +lose your life," remarked the steersman with a grin. "Next time I call +out bridge I guess you'll duck your head like the rest." + +The rain had been falling heavily all night, but the sun shone brightly, +and the clouds were flying before a high wind that blew fresh and cool +from Lake Erie as the Pauline glided quietly into Cleveland. + +"What a beautiful city!" exclaimed the young Keiths as they stepped +ashore. "Do let us walk to the hotel, father, if it is not too far." + +"Just as Aunt Wealthy and your mother say," he replied, taking the baby +from his wife. "I am told it is but a short distance, Marcia; I will +have our heavy baggage carried directly to the steamer which leaves this +afternoon; and Rupert and the girls can take charge of the satchels and +small packages." + +The ladies decided in favor of the walk as affording agreeable exercise +and enabling them to see the city to better advantage than if cooped up +in hack or omnibus, and no one regretted their choice: they found the +wide streets so clean, the breeze so refreshing and exhilarating, and +enjoyed so very much gazing upon the tall, elegant looking houses and +the pretty things displayed in the windows of the large, handsome +stores. + +After a good dinner at the hotel, Mr. Keith, his wife and older +children, went out for another stroll about the city; Miss Stanhope, who +insisted that she had had exercise enough, and preferred to stay where +she was, taking charge of the little ones in their absence. + +On the return of the pedestrians the whole party went on board the +steamer which was to convey them across the lake to Detroit. It was a +fine boat, the cabin large and handsome; staterooms on each side +furnished with berths of far more comfortable size than those of the +canal packets. + +The table here was better, too, both in its appointments and the quality +of the food, and was set in a lower saloon, reached from the upper one +by a flight of broad winding stairs. + +The children were delighted with the change and wanted to be on the +guards all afternoon, watching the play of the great stern wheel, +admiring the rainbows in the clouds of spray it sent up, looking out +over the wide waste of waters, at the islands and an occasional passing +boat, or racing back and forth. + +Mildred and Rupert were given charge of the three little ones and found +great vigilance necessary to prevent Cyril and Don from putting +themselves in peril of their lives. Mildred was more than once sorely +tempted to shake the young rogues who gave her no peace; but, +remembering and acting upon her mother's advice, was able to restrain +herself and treat them with uniform gentleness. + +She felt rewarded when, as she was putting them to bed, her mother being +busy with the babe, Don threw his arms impulsively round her neck and +kissing her again and again, said "I loves you, Milly; you so dood to us +naughty chillens." + +"That she is!" assented Cyril, heartily, "an' I wish I didn't be so +bad." + +"Well, try again to-morrow to be ever so good," Mildred answered, +tucking them in and leaving them with a good-night kiss. + +She helped her sisters with their preparations for the night, then was +rewarded with a delightful evening spent with the older members of the +family in the open air, looking out upon the beautiful wide expanse of +waters, now starlit and anon illumined by the silvery rays of the moon +as she rose apparently from the distant eastern edge of the lake and +slowly ascended the azure vault of the heavens, now shining +resplendently and again veiling her fair face for a moment with a thin +floating cloud. + +The next morning the steamer lay at anchor in Detroit harbor and our +friends left her for a hotel in what was then the principal street of +the city. Here, too, they walked out to view the land, and passing the +stores and public buildings, found well-shaded streets and handsome +residences with pretty door-yards in front. + +Mr. Keith gave his children their choice of passing around the lakes in +a steamer or in the sloop Queen Charlotte. They chose the latter and the +next morning the family and their luggage were transferred to her decks. + +The ladies pointed out the articles they wished carried to their +staterooms and followed in the wake of the bearers. + +There was less of show here than on the steamer they had left, but +comfort and convenience had not been overlooked, and though Mildred's +face clouded a little, it brightened again in a moment as she noted the +cheerful content in those of her mother and aunt. + +They hurried on deck again where Rupert had been left in charge of the +younger children, to watch the vessel getting under way. + +They were lying close to a steamer on whose other side was a second +sloop in quite as close proximity. All seemed hurry and bustle on board +the three. + +"I don't see how we are to start," observed Mildred, glancing up at the +sails which hung almost motionless on the masts, "for there's scarcely a +breath of wind." + +"Don't you see that they're lashing us and the Milwaukee yonder fast to +the steamboat, one on each side?" said Rupert. "She's to tow both till +the wind gets up." + +"Oh, is that the way? she'll have hard work to do it, I should think." + +"She won't growl any way." + +"No, I suppose not. Which is the captain, Ru.?" + +"That nice jolly looking chap over yonder, that's giving orders in such +a loud peremptory tone, is Captain Wells, master of the ship; that blue +eyed, brown haired, rosy cheeked stripling standing near is his son, +Edward Wells; and they're both English; so don't remind them that this +vessel was taken from the British in the last war." + +"Of course not, unless they say something mean or exasperating about +Washington or America." + +"In that case I give you leave to twit 'em as hard as you like." + +"Who was that nice looking man that helped us on board? I thought father +or somebody called him captain." + +"So he is, Captain Jones; but acting as first mate here. That lady, +talking to mother and Aunt Wealthy, is his wife. They're both Yankees; +so you can relieve your mind occasionally on the subject of the ship, by +a little private exultation with them. + +"Do you notice the contrast between those two faces?--mother's and Mrs. +Jones'; hers so dark, mother's so beautifully fair and rosy." + +"Who could help noticing it? Rupert, I do think our mother has just the +loveliest face in the world!" + +"Ditto!" he said, gazing at her with a world of filial love, pride and +chivalric admiration in his handsome eyes. + +"I say what's the use? you may just as well set still where you hare," +growled a voice near at hand. + +The young people turned involuntarily at the sound, and perceived that +the speaker was a burly, red-faced young Englishman; the one so politely +and kindly addressed, a little meek-eyed woman of the same nationality, +with a chalky complexion, and washed out appearance generally, who, as +they afterward learned, and suspected at the time, was the wife of his +bosom. + +"'What a bear!" exclaimed Rupert in an aside to his sister, and drawing +her away as he spoke. "See, we're beginning to move. Let's go over to +the other side where we can have a better view." + +"I presume that's what she wanted to do," remarked Mildred, glancing +back at the meek-eyed woman. "And why shouldn't he have let her?" + +"Why, indeed, except that he's a cowardly bully." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because that's the only kind of man that would speak so to a decent +woman." + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Fifth. + + + "Hark! to the hurried question of despair: + 'Where is my child?' and echo answers 'where?'" + --BYRON. + + +"HOW did you learn all you've been telling me, Ru.?" asked Mildred as +they stood side by side watching with interest the Queen Charlotte and +her consorts slowly clearing the harbor. "Oh, easily enough; young Wells +and I got into talk while you and the others were down in the cabin; I +asked questions and he answered 'em. Ah, here he comes," he added +looking round, "I'll introduce him for he's a nice fellow, I'm sure, and +it's a good thing to have a friend at court; in other words to be in +favor with the reigning powers; _i. e._ the captain and his nearest of +kin. My sister, Miss Mildred Keith, Mr. Wells." + +"Happy to make your acquaintance, Miss," said the young sailor, +gallantly, lifting his hat and bowing low. "Hope you'll enjoy your +voyage on the Queen Charlotte. Shall be most happy to do all I can to +make the trip pleasant to you." + +"Thank you kindly." + +He began at once by finding comfortable seats for them where they were +sheltered from the sun, and had a good view of the Canada and Michigan +shores; and being acquainted with the localities, and their history, and +possessed of a ready command of language, he added much to the interest +of the scene by the information he imparted; sometimes unsolicited, at +others in answer to questions. + +When they had passed through Detroit river and so far out into Lake St. +Clair that little could be seen but water and sky, he offered to show +them over the vessel. + +They gladly accepted, enjoyed the tour, and when it was over rejoined +the rest of their party just as the cabin passengers were summoned to +the supper table. + +Mildred was seated between Rupert and Edward Wells; opposite them sat +Mr. and Mrs. Sims, the bullying Englishman and his meek-eyed wife, and a +bachelor gentleman of pleasing countenance and manners, whom Captain +Wells addressed as Mr. Carr. Next them were Captain and Mrs. Jones. +There were many more passengers of both sexes, several nationalities, +and a variety of ages from infants in arms, up to hoary headed +grandparents, but with most of them our story has little or nothing to +do. + +The two captains, the wife of the one and the son of the other, were +polite and genial, the fare was excellent, and every one present seemed +disposed to contentment and good humor except Mr. Sims, who turned up +his nose at the food, snubbed his wife and scowled at his opposite +neighbors; perchance reading too plainly in the frank, youthful +countenances their disapproval of him. + +Mildred so compassionated the long-suffering wife that, in the course of +the evening, seeing her sitting by herself and looking sad and lonely, +she drew near and opened a conversation. + +Mrs. Sims responded readily. + +"Do sit down, Miss," she said, making room for Mildred by her side, "I'm +so glad to 'ave some one to speak to, for I gets hawful 'omesick at +times." + +"Ah, that must be a very trying feeling," Mildred said compassionately. +"I know nothing of it myself; for I've never been away from home or +mother for a week at a time." + +"Well, Miss, you're fortunate." + +"Have you been long in the country?" + +"It's barely six months, Miss, since I left me father's 'ouse in London. +We kept an 'otel there; an' that's 'ow I came to know Mr. Sims; he +takin' lodgin' with us while up to London about some business 'e 'ad +with the lawyers." + +"And are your own family all still in England?" + +"Yes, Miss; hevery one; I left 'em all--father, mother, brothers and +sisters--for 'im," she answered with a tremble in her voice and wiping +her eyes furtively. + +"What a shame he should treat you as he does!" was the indignant +exclamation that rose to Mildred's lips, but she checked herself in +time, and changed it for, "Then I think he ought to be very good to +you." + +"I 'ope we'll be 'appy, Miss, when we're settled down in a 'ome of our +own," remarked the little woman with a half stifled patient sigh. "And +indeed it's not 'alf so bad as I expected; I've been hastonished, at +finding so many white women in America. I thought when I landed in New +York I'd be the honly white woman there. I s'posed all the rest would be +Injuns or niggers." + +"Indeed! how relieved you must have been on discovering your mistake," +remarked Mildred demurely, while her eyes twinkled with suppressed fun. + +"That I was, Miss, as you may well believe; it quite reconciled me to +the country." + +The sun rose brightly the next morning and the young Keiths were early +on deck, romping and racing about, fall of the vivacity and mirth +usually incident to extreme youth and perfect health. + +They were well watched over by their father, Mildred and Rupert, or +there is no knowing what wild and dangerous pranks might have been +indulged in by Cyril and Don. + +The former actually proposed a flying leap from the deck of the Queen +Charlotte to that of the steamer and was not at all pleased by the +decided veto put upon it by his father. + +"I think you might let a fellow try, papa," he grumbled, "it would be +such fun and I know I could do it." + +"No, you couldna," said Don, peeping over the ship's side, "it's a big, +big place." + +"Come over to the other side of the deck, and stay there," said Mr. +Keith, leading them away. + +Rupert followed holding Fan by the hand. "What was that? what were they +throwing in?" he asked, stopping suddenly at a sound as of a heavy body +plunging into the water, while at the same instant a startled cry came +from the deck of the Milwaukee. + +"A man overboard!" + +"A man overboard!" the fearful cry was taken up and repeated on all +sides amid the rush of many feet and the quick, sharp imperative words +of command. + +Almost instantly a boat was lowered and strong arms were pulling with +swift, vigorous strokes for the spot, already left far behind, where the +splash of the falling body had been heard, and keen eyes were eagerly +searching the waste of waters; the crews and passengers of the three +vessels crowding the decks and following their movements in breathless +anxiety and suspense. + +They pulled backward and forward, calling out to the drowning one that +help was near. + +"Ah, yonder he is at last!" cries a woman's voice in exultant tones; +"there he is with his head above water, for I see his hat." + +"And they see him too, and are pulling toward him with all their might!" + +"Ah, they're up with him! they have him now! hurrah!" and a wild cheer +rose from hundreds of throats. + +But it died away in a groan. + +"It was his hat--only his hat, poor fellow. And they've given it up and +are coming back without him!" sighs the woman who had been the first to +raise the alarm. + +Every face wears a look of sadness for the few moments of silent waiting +as the rowers slowly return. + +They gain the deck of the Milwaukee; one of them--a lad of nineteen or +twenty, a rough, hardy sailor--comes forward with a subdued manner--in +strange contrast to his accustomed rude hilarity--lips white and +quivering, tears in his manly eyes. + +"Mother, mother," he says, low and huskily, drawing near this woman with +tottering steps, "don't--don't take it too hard. I--I couldn't bear to +see you. I did my best; we all did; but we couldn't find him; and here's +his hat. It--it was little Billy." + +"My boy! mine! my little one!" she shrieked, and fell fainting into the +arms of her elder son. + +There was not a dry eye among the spectators, and as the sad story +spread to the other vessels many a tremulous tone and falling tear +attested the pity and sympathy of those who told the tale and those who +listened to it. + +"But how did it happen?" queried one and another; and the answer was, +"He was jumping back and forth from one vessel to another, and fell in +between the Milwaukee and the steamer; and it is conjectured that he +must have been struck by the wheel, as he did not come up again." + +"And it might have been one of ours," sobbed Mrs. Keith, clasping her +babe to her breast, while her eye glanced from one to another of her +darlings. "Ah, how frightened I was when I heard the cry. I don't know +how I got up the cabin steps! for I thought it was perhaps--" + +Tears choked her utterance; tears of mingled gratitude for herself and +sorrow for the bereaved mother. + +"Yes, it might have been you, Cyril or Don; and think how poor mother's +heart would have been broken, and mine too," Mr. Keith added, sitting +down and taking one on each knee. "Now do you want to try jumping across +like that boy did?" + +They shook their heads, gazing up into his face with awe-struck +countenances. + +The sad event of the morning seemed to have exerted a subduing influence +upon all the passengers; it was a very quiet day on board. + +The calm continued throughout the day but a breeze sprang up in the +night and the vessels parted company. + +By daylight the breeze had stiffened into a wind that made the lake very +rough; the ship tossed about on the waves with a motion by no means +agreeable to the land lubbers in her cabin and steerage; everything not +made fast to floor or walls went dashing and rolling from side to side +of stateroom or saloon; few of the passengers cared to breakfast, and +those who made the attempt had to do so under serious difficulties--table +and floor being both inclined planes, sloping now in one direction now +in another. + +They passed a miserable day, confined to the cabin, for the rain was +falling heavily and the great waves would now and then sweep across the +deck. + +Still the captain assured them the storm was not a bad one and they were +in no danger. + +By the next day it had abated so that they could seek the outer air, +going about without experiencing much difficulty in preserving the +centre of gravity; and nearly every one had so far recovered from the +deathly sea-sickness as to be able to appear at meals. + +Life on shipboard which had seemed quite dreadful during the long hours +of the storm, became very tolerable again. + +The older people promenaded the deck or sat there with book or work, or +merely chatting and looking out upon the restless waters, while the +children amused themselves with their plays or in running about +exploring every nook and cranny and making acquaintance with the sailors +who seemed to enjoy their innocent prattle and merry ways. + +All the Keiths had suffered from sea-sickness and Mildred was among the +last to recover; it was not until towards sunset of the second day that +she could be induced to leave her berth and allow her father to assist +her up the cabin stairs to the deck. + +Here a couch had been prepared for her and the loving hands of mother +and aunt busied themselves in making her comfortable. Brothers and +sisters gathered rejoicingly around. Mrs. Jones brought a glass of +lemonade, Mrs. Sims offered smelling salts, some one else a fan, and +presently the two captains and young Wells came up to offer their +congratulations on her recovery. + +Then Cyril and Don led up and introduced Mr. Carr, the bachelor +gentleman with whom they had already formed a firm friendship. + +"He's a real nice man, Milly," said Cyril; "knows lots of stories and +games and things, and--" + +"An' p'ays wis boys," put in Don, "and tan do every fing." + +"Yes, he's weal dood," chimed in Fan, "and I likes him." + +"Thank you, my little maid," said the gentleman, laughing and stroking +her curls. "Now if you could only get your sister to look at me through +your spectacles." + +"Why, I hasn't dot any 'pectacles!" exclaimed the child, opening her +eyes very wide. "Maybe papa buy me some when I dets an old lady. Den I +lets Milly 'ook froo." + +"That's my good, generous little sister," Mildred said, laughing, "and +if I'm so fortunate as to get glasses first, you shall borrow them +whenever you wish." + +"Now go to your plays, dears, and let sister rest till she feels +better," said their mother. + +"Please tum wis us, Mr. Tarr," said Don, tugging at that gentleman's +coat. + +"Don, Don, you must not--" + +"Ah, don't reprove him," interposed the gentleman, lifting the child to +his shoulder and prancing away with him, while the little fellow shouted +with laughter and delight. + +"Isn't he a nice man?" cried Zillah and Ada, looking after him, "we all +like him ever so much." + +"Yes," assented the mother, "but I am very much afraid my children +impose upon his good nature." + +"Don't let that trouble you, Mrs. Keith; he is surely able to take care +of himself. Besides it's quite evident that he enjoys their society as +much as they do his," said Edward Wells, taking a seat near Mildred's +couch, where he remained chatting in a lively strain with her and the +other ladies until it was time for them to retire to the cabin. + +Fair weather and favorable winds made the remaining days of the voyage a +pleasure till one bright June morning they entered the Straits of +Mackinaw and reaching the island of the same name, anchored in front of +its fort. + +The captain, informing his passengers that the ship would lie there for +a day or two, good-naturedly offered to take ashore any or all who would +like to go. + +Nearly everybody eagerly accepted. The boats put off from the ship, each +with a full complement of passengers, whom they landed just under the +white walls of the fortress, situate on a bluff one hundred and fifty +feet high. + +Passing up a flight of stone steps they entered the parade ground. It +was smooth, hard and clean as a well swept floor. They walked across and +about it, viewing the officers' quarters (on the outside) and the +barracks of the men, walked along by the wall, noting how it commanded +the harbor and the village of Mackinaw, with its great guns, beside each +of which lay a pile of black balls heaped up in pyramidal form. + +Then they visited the town, saw some Indians and bought curious little +bark baskets ornamented with porcupine quills, blue, red and white, and +filled with maple sugar; moccasins, too, made of soft skins and heavily +trimmed with bead work, all manufactured by the Indians. + +The young Keiths were made happy with a pair of moccasins apiece from +their father, bark baskets from their mother and aunt, and unlimited +maple sugar from their friend Mr. Carr. + +They returned to the ship tired but full of content. + +They were as usual early on deck the next morning, a little before the +rising of the sun, for they "liked to see him come up out of the +water." + +"How very still it is! hardly a breath of air stirring," Mildred was +saying to her father as Edward Wells drew near the little group, all +standing together looking eagerly for the first glimpse of the sun's +bright face. + +"Yes, we are becalmed," said Mr. Keith. + +"And very possibly may be detained here for several days in +consequence," added Edward, greeting them with a cheerful good-morning. +"In that case we will have an opportunity to explore the island. May I +have the pleasure of being your guide in so doing?" + +"Do you mean all of us?" queried Cyril. + +"Yes, my man; if you will all go?" answered the sailor lad; but the +glance of his eye seemed to extend the invitation to Mildred in +particular. + +"O father, can we? can we?" chorused the children. + +"We will see;" he said. "Now watch or you'll miss the sight we left our +beds so early for." + +The matter was under discussion at the breakfast table and afterward, +and it was decided that all might go ashore, but that the walk under +contemplation was too long for the little ones. + +Ada Keith was the youngest of that family who was permitted to go; but +others joined them and Edward found himself at the head of quite a party +of explorers. + +Ada came back looking heated, weary and troubled. "O mother," she cried, +with tears in her eyes, "we saw a cave where some Frenchmen were hiding +from the Indians and got smoked to death; the Indians did it by building +a fire at the cave's mouth, because they couldn't get at them to kill +them some other way. Oh, I'm so afraid of the savages; do persuade +father to take us all back to Ohio again!" + +The mother soothed and comforted the frightened child with caresses and +assurances of the present peaceable disposition of the Indians, and at +length succeeded in so far banishing her fears that she was willing to +proceed upon her journey. + +However, the calm continuing, nearly a week passed and many excursions +had been made to the island before they could quit its harbor. + +At length one day directly after dinner, a favorable wind having sprung +up, the good ship weighed anchor and pursuing her westward course passed +out of the straits into Lake Michigan. + +All night she flew before the wind and when our friends awoke the +following morning she rode safely at anchor in the harbor of Chicago. + +Though a large city now, it was then a town of less than five thousand +inhabitants. + +This was the port of the Queen Charlotte and her passengers must be +landed, her cargo discharged. + +It was with feelings of regret on both sides that her officers and the +Keiths parted; Edward Wells taking an opportunity to say in an undertone +to Mildred that he hoped they would sometime meet again. + +St. Joseph, on the opposite side of the lake, was the next port whither +the Keiths were bound. A much smaller vessel carried them across. + +They had a rough passage, wind and rain compelling them to keep closely +housed in a little confined cabin, and were glad to reach the town of +St. Joseph; though they found it but a dreary spot, no grass, no trees, +the hotel a large, barn-like, two story building, with the hot summer +sun streaming in through its windows without hindrance from curtain or +blind; for the rain ceased about the time of their arrival and the sun +shone out with fervid heat during the two or three days that they were +detained there, resting the Sabbath day and awaiting the arrival of +their household goods before ascending the St. Joseph river, on which +Pleasant Plains, their final destination, was situated. + +There were no railroads in that part of the country then, nor for many +years after; I think there was no stage route between the two places; +there were no steamers on the river; the best they could do was to take +a keel-boat. + +The rain had ceased and the sun shone brightly on the rippling, dancing +waters of the lake and river, on the little town and the green fields +and forests of the adjacent country, as they went on board the keel-boat +Mary Ann, and set out upon this the last stage of their long journey. + +The boatmen toiled at their oars and the Mary Ann moved slowly on +against the current, slowly enough to give our travelers abundance of +time to take in the beauties of the scenery; which they, the older ones +at least, did not fail to do. + +Much of it was unbroken forest, but they passed sometimes a solitary +clearing with its lonely log cabin, sometimes a little village. The +river flowed swiftly along, clear and sparkling, between banks now low, +now high, green to the water's edge. + +The sun was nearing the western horizon as, at last, the boat was run in +close to shore and made fast, with the announcement, "Here we are, +strangers; this here's the town of Pleasant Plains." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Sixth. + + "Nor need we power or splendor, + Wide hall or lordly dome; + The good, the true, the tender, + These form the wealth of home." + --MRS. HALE. + + +PLEASANT PLAINS considered itself quite a town. It stood high above the +river on two plains, the upper familiarly known as the "Bluff." It was +laid out in very wide, straight streets, crossing each other at right +angles; there were perhaps two hundred dwelling houses, principally +frame, but with a goodly proportion of log cabins and a respectable +sprinkling of brick buildings. + +The county seat, it had its court-house and jail; there were some half +dozen stores where almost everything could be had, from dress goods to +butter and eggs, and from a plowshare to a fine cambric needle; two +taverns, as many blacksmith, shoemaker, and carpenter shops, a flouring +mill and a bakery. + +Also two churches belonging to different denominations; both frame +structures, of extremely plain and unpretentious architecture, with bare +walls, uncurtained windows, rough, uncarpeted floors, and rude hard +benches in lieu of pews. + +No thought of architectural beauty or even of comfort and convenience, +beyond that of mere protection from the weather, seemed to have entered +the minds of any of the builders here; the houses were mere shells; with +no cupboards or closets or the slightest attempt at ornamentation. + +Nor was their unsightliness concealed by vines, trees, or shrubbery; +almost every one of the beautiful monarchs of the forest once adorning +the locality had been ruthlessly felled, and a stump here and there was +all that was left to tell of their former existence. + +As the keel of the Mary Ann grated on the gravelly shore, a tall figure +in rough farmer attire came springing down the bank, calling out in +tones of unfeigned joy, "Hello, Keith! Come at last--wife, children, and +all; eh? I'm glad to see ye! Never was more delighted in my life." + +And the speaker catching Mr. Keith's hand in his shook it with hearty +good will, then treating the rest of the party in like manner, as with +his and Mr. Keith's assistance, each in turn stepped from the boat. + +Mr. George Ward was an old client and friend of Mr. Keith's, who had +been long urging this removal. + +"I declare I wish I lived in town for a few days now," he went on, "but +we're three mile out on the prairie, as you know, Keith. I have my team +here, though, and if you like to pile into the wagon, all of you, I'll +take you home with me, as it is." + +The hospitable invitation was declined with thanks. + +"There are quite too many of us, Mr. Ward," Mrs. Keith said, smilingly, +"and we want to get into a house of our own just as soon as possible." + +"Ah yes, so your husband wrote me; and I've been looking round for you. +But the best that's to be had will seem a poor place to you, Mrs. Keith, +after what you've left behind in Lansdale." + +"I suppose so, but of course we must expect to put up with many +inconveniences and probably some hardships even, for the first few +years," she answered, cheerfully. + +"I'm afraid that's so, but I hope you'll find yourselves paid for it in +the long run. Now shall I take you to the Union Hotel? You can't, of +course, get into your own house to-night. + +"Here, let me carry you, bub," picking up Cyril, "the soil's real sandy +here and makes heavy walking." + +"If, as I presume from your recommendation of it, it is your best house +of entertainment," Mr. Keith said, in reply to the question. + +"Yes, sir, there's only one other, and it's a very poor affair," +returned Mr. Ward, leading the way. + +Mrs. Prior, the landlady, a pleasant-faced, middle-aged woman, with +kind, motherly manners, met them at the door with a welcome nearly as +hearty as that of their old time friend. + +"I'm glad to see you," she said, bustling about to wait upon them, +"We've plenty o' room here in town for the right sort o' folks, and glad +to get 'em." + +She had taken them into her parlor, the only one the house afforded. + +The furniture was plain--a rag carpet, green paper blinds, a table with +a rod and black cover, windsor chairs, two of them rocking chairs with +chintz-covered cushions, the rest straight-backed and hard; on the high +wooden mantel shelf an old-fashioned looking-glass, a few shells and two +brass candlesticks; these last bright as scouring could make them. + +"I'm afraid it must seem but a poor place to you, ladies," she +continued, pushing forward a rocking chair for each. "And you're +dreadful tired, ain't you? with your long journey. Do sit down and rest +yourselves." + +"You are very kind, and everything looks very nice indeed," Mrs. Keith +answered, looking up at her with a pleased smile as she accepted the +offered seat, and began untying her baby's bonnet strings. + +"Indeed, I, for one, didn't expect to find half as good accommodations +out in these western wilds," remarked Aunt Wealthy, glancing round the +room. "I thought you had no floors to your carpets." + +"No floors? oh yes; rather rough to be sure;--carpenters here don't make +the best of work; and I think sometimes I could a'most plane a board +better myself--but to get the carpets is the rub; we mostly make 'em +ourselves and the weavin's often done so poor that they don't last no +time hardly. Soil's sandy, you see, and it cuts the carpets right out." + +"They say this country's hard on women and oxen," put in Mr. Ward, "and +I'm afraid it's pretty true." + +"Now don't be frightening them first thing, Mr. Ward," laughed the +landlady. "Come, take off your things and the children's, ladies, and +make yourselves to home. Here, just let me lay 'em in here," she went +on, opening an inner door and revealing a bed covered with a patch-work +quilt. + +"You can have this room if you like, Mrs. Keith; I s'pose you'd prefer a +downstairs one with the baby and t'other little ones? There is a trundle +bed underneath that'll do for them. + +"And the rest of you can take the two rooms right over these. They're +all ready and you can go right up to 'em whenever you like. Is there +anything more I can do for you now?" + +The query was answered in the negative. + +"Then I'll just excuse myself," she said; "for I must go and see to the +supper; can't trust girls here." + +She passed out through another door, leaving it ajar. + +"That's the dining-room, I know, Fan, 'cause I see two big tables set," +whispered Cyril peeping in, "and there's not a bit of carpet on the +floor. Guess they're cleanin' house." + +"Well, wife, I'll have to leave you for a little, I must see to the +landing of our goods," said Mr. Keith, taking his hat. "Will you go +along, Ward?" + +"And let us go up and look at our rooms, girls," said Mildred to her +sisters. "Mayn't we, mother?" + +"Yes, go and make yourselves neat for the supper table." + +They came back reporting bare floors everywhere, of boards none too well +planed either, but everything scrupulously clean. + +"Then we may well be content," said their mother. The gentlemen returned +and the guests were presently summoned, by the ringing of a bell on top +of the house, to the supper table, which they found furnished with +abundance of good, wholesome well-cooked food. + +And they were really able to make a very comfortable meal, despite the +presence of deli ware, two-pronged steel forks, and the absence of +napkins. + +"What about the goods, Stuart?" asked Mrs. Keith on their return to the +parlor. + +"I have had them carted directly to the house; that is, I believe the +men are at it now." + +"The house?" + +"The one Ward spoke of. I have taken it. It was Hobson's choice, my +dear, or you should have seen it first." + +"Can I see it now?" + +"Why, yes, if you choose; it won't be dark yet for an hour. If you and +Aunt Wealthy will put on your bonnets, I'll take you round." + +"Ada and me, too, father?" cried Zillah eagerly. + +"And Fan and Don and me?" chorused Cyril. + +"You couldn't think of going without your eldest son;" said Rupert, +looking about for his hat. + +Mrs. Keith turned an inquiring eye upon her husband. + +"Is it far?" + +"No; even Fan can easily walk it. Let them come. You, too, Mildred," +taking the babe from her arms. "I'll carry baby." + +"We'll make quite a procession," laughed the young girl. "Won't the +people stare?" + +"What if they do? who of us cares?" + +"Not I!" cried Rupert, stepping back from the doorway with a commanding +wave of the hand, "Procession will please move forward Mr. Keith and +wife taking the lead, Miss Stanhope and Miss Keith next in order, Zilly +and Ada following close upon their heels, the three inseparables after +them, while Marshal Rupert brings up the rear to see that all are in +line." + +Everybody laughed at this sally while they promptly fell into line as +directed, passed out upon the sidewalk and pursued their way through the +quiet streets. + +People did stare to be sure, from open doors and windows, some asking, +"Who are they?" others answering "New comers and they've got a big +family to support." + +Some remarked that they were nice looking people; while others shook +their heads wisely, or dubiously, and said they "expected they were real +stuck up folks;--dressed so dreadful fine." + +However, the subjects of these charitable comments did not overhear, and +therefore were not disturbed by them. + +"Do you see that yellow frame yonder, wife?" Mr. Keith asked as they +turned a corner. + +"With the gable-end to the street and two doors in it, one above and one +below?" + +"The same." + +"It looks like a warehouse." + +"That's what it was originally intended for; but finding it not +available for that purpose, the owner offered it for rent." + +"And is it the one you have rented?" + +"Yes; a poor place to take you to, my dear but, as I told you, it was +Hobson's choice." + +"Then we'll make the best of it and be thankful." + +"What a horrid old thing!" remarked Mildred in an undertone, heard only +by Aunt Wealthy. + +"We'll hope to find the inside an improvement on the out," was the +cheerful rejoinder. + +"It has need to be, I should say!" cried the girl as they drew near. +"Just see! it fronts on two streets and there's not a bit of a space +separating it from either; doors open right out on to a sand bank." + +"That's what was made by digging the cellar," said Rupert. + +"There's a big yard at the side and behind," said Zillah. + +"Something green in it, too," added Ada, whose sight was imperfect. + +"Nothing but a crop of ugly weeds," said Mildred, ready to cry as memory +brought vividly before her the home they had left with its large garden +carpeted with green grass, adorned with shrubbery and filled with the +bloom of summer flowers. + +The June roses must be out now and the woodbine--the air sweet with +their delicious perfume--and they who had planted and tended them, so +far away in this desolate looking spot. + +"Not a tree, a shrub, a flower or a blade of grass!" she went on, +sighing as she spoke. + +"Never mind, we'll have lots of them next year, if I plant every one +myself," said Rupert. + +The last load of their household goods had just been brought up from the +river, the men were carrying in the heavy boxes and setting them down +upon the floor of the front room. The door stood wide open and they all +walked in. + +"Not a bit of a hall!" exclaimed Mildred, "not a cupboard or closet; +nothing but four bare walls and two windows each side of the front +door." + +"Yes, the floor and ceilings," corrected Rupert. + +"And another door on the other side," said Ada, running and opening it. + +"Not a mantelpiece to set anything on, nor any chimney at all! How on +earth are we going to keep warm in the winter time?" Mildred went on, +ignoring the remarks of her younger brother and sister. + +"With a stove, Miss; pipes run up through the floor into the room above; +there's a flue there," said one of the men, wiping the perspiration +from his forehead with the sleeve of his checked shirt. + +Mr. Keith stopped to settle with the men for their work, and the others +walked on into the next room. + +It was as bare and more dreary than the first; somewhat larger, but had +only one window, that and an outside door, opening directly upon the +side street. + +Back of the two rooms and in a line with them, was the kitchen; smaller +than either of the other rooms, but provided with a chimney and +fireplace; also a small, dark closet under a flight of steep and crooked +stairs which led from it to the story above. + +This, as they found on climbing up to it, consisted of two rooms, the +first extending over kitchen and sitting-room, the other over the front +room and of exactly the same size. + +The stairs led directly into the first room and it must be passed +through to reach the second; therefore had not the recommendation of +privacy. + +"What a house!" grumbled the children; "how'll we ever live in it? Such +a few rooms and not a bit nice." + +Mrs. Keith stood in the middle of that large, barn-like upper room, +saying never a word, but her heart sinking lower and lower as she +glanced from side to side taking in the whole situation. + +Aunt Wealthy saw it and came to the rescue. "Never mind, dearie; it will +look very different when we have unpacked and arranged your furniture. +With the help of curtains several rooms can be made out of this, and +we'll do nicely." + +"Yes, no doubt we shall, auntie," Mrs. Keith answered with determined +cheerfulness. "That front room shall be yours--" + +"No, no! you and Stuart must take that--" + +"I'm quite set on having my own way in this," interrupted the younger +lady in her turn. "It is the best room, and you must take it. Don't +hesitate or object, for I should be afraid to have my little ones in +there with that outside door opening on to nothing," she concluded, with +a laugh. + +"Well, wife, what do you think?" asked Mr. Keith, coming up the stairs. + +"That we can be very happy here if we make up our minds to be content +with our lot." + +"That is like you, Marcia; always ready to make the best of everything," +he said, with a pleased look. + +"I think it's a dreadful place!" exclaimed Mildred, "like a great barn; +and so dirty! plaster all over the floor and spattered on the windows +too." + +"I hope it can be cleaned," her father said, laughing at her rueful +face. "Mrs. Prior can probably tell us where to find a woman to do it." + +A little more time was spent in discussing plans for the arrangement of +the inside of the dwelling; then they stepped into the side-yard and +viewed it from the out. + +A great dead wall of rough weather boarding broken by one window only +and that in the second story, was what met their view as they looked up; +down below, first a heap of sand, beyond that a wilderness of weeds and +brushwood. + +"I'm dumb with despair!" cried Mildred, folding her hands with a +tragical air. + +"Can dumb folks talk?" asked Cyril. + +"As ugly as mud this side," remarked Zillah, turning up her nose +scornfully as she scanned the unsightly wall. + +"We'll cover it with vines," said Aunt Wealthy. + +"And I'll clear the yard and sod it," added Rupert, seizing a great +mullein stalk and pulling it up by the roots as he spoke. "Twon't be +nearly so hard as the clearing the early pioneers of Ohio had to do, our +grandfathers among the rest." + +"That's the right way to look at it, my boy," responded Mr. Keith, +heartily. "Come now, we'll lock up the house and go back to our hotel +for the night." + +"There's a log house nearly opposite," remarked Rupert, when they were +in the street again, "and the next is a real shabby one-and-a-half-story +frame with a blacksmith shop attached. We haven't the worst place in +town after all. Ho! look at the sign, 'G. Lightcap;' what a name! +'specially for a blacksmith." + +Mrs. Prior joined her guests in the parlor after the younger portion had +gone to bed. + +"Well, how did you like the house?" she asked. + +"I hope we shall be able to make ourselves comfortable there," Mr. Keith +answered, in a cheerful tone. + +"You can get possession right away, I s'pose." + +"Yes; and want to move in as quickly as possible, but must have some +cleaning done first." + +Mrs. Prior recommended a woman for that without waiting to be asked, +and offered to "send round" at once and see if she could be engaged for +the next day. + +The offer was accepted with thanks and the messenger brought back word +that Mrs. Rood would be at the house by six o'clock in the morning. + +"But," suggested Aunt Wealthy in dismay, "she'll want hot water, soap, +cloths, scrubbing brushes!" + +"I'll lend a big iron kettle to heat the water," said the landlady; "a +fire can be made in that kitchen fireplace, you know, or out doors, with +the brush wood." + +"And brushes and soap can be had at the stores, I presume," suggested +Mr. Keith. + +"Yes; and if they ain't open in time, I'll lend mine for her to start +on." + +"Thank you very much," said Mrs. Keith. "But, Stuart, we may as well +unpack our own; I can tell you just which box to open." + +"What a woman you are for doing things systematically, Marcia," he said, +admiringly. "Yours is the best plan, I think. Can we be up in season to +be on hand there at half-past five, think you?" + +"We can try," she answered brightly, "Mrs. Prior, where is your +market?" + +"We haven't got to that yet, ma'am," replied the landlady, laughing and +shaking her head. + +"No market? why how do you manage without?" + +"There's butcher shops where we can buy fresh meat once or twice a +week--beef, veal, mutton, lamb, just whatever they happen to kill--and +we put up our own salt pork, hams, dried beef, and so forth, and keep +codfish and mackerel on hand. + +"Most folks have their own chickens, and the country people bring 'em in +too; and butter and eggs and vegetables; though a good many town folks +have garden sass of their own raisin'; keep a cow and make their own +butter." + +"That's the most independent way," remarked Mr. Keith. "I think I must +have a cow; if I can get a girl who can milk. Do you know of a good girl +wanting a place, Mrs. Prior?" + +"I wish I did; but they're dreadful scarce sir; and so sassy! you can't +keep 'em unless you let 'em come to the table with the family; and you +must be mighty careful what you ask 'em to do." + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Seventh. + + "I feel my sinews slacken'd with the fright, + And a cold sweat thrills down all o'er my limbs, + As if I were dissolving into water." + --DRYDEN'S TEMPEST. + + +THE Lightcaps were at supper; father and eldest son, each of whom stood +six feet in his stockings, with shirt sleeves rolled up above their +elbows, displaying brown sinewy arms; the mother in a faded calico, +grizzled hair drawn straight back from a dull, careworn face and +gathered into a little knot behind in which was stuck a yellow horn +comb; years of incessant toil and frequent exposure to sun and wind had +not improved a naturally dark, rough skin, and there was no attempt at +adornment in her attire, not a collar or a ruffle to cover up the +unsightliness of the yellow, wrinkled neck. + +Rhoda Jane, the eldest daughter, seated at her father's right hand, was +a fac-simile of what the mother had been in her girlhood, with perhaps +an added touch of intelligence and a somewhat more bold and forward +manner. + +There were besides several younger children of both sexes, quite +ordinary looking creatures and just now wholly taken up with the +business in hand;--vieing with each other in the amount of bread and +butter and molasses, fried potatoes and fried pork they could devour in +a given space of time. + +"Some new comers in town, mother," remarked Mr. Lightcap, helping +himself to a second slice of pork. "The keelboat Mary Ann come up the +river with a lot of travellers." + +"Who, father? somebody that's going to stay?" + +"Yes; that lawyer we heerd was comin', you know. What's his name?" + +"Keith," said Rhoda Jane, "I heerd Miss Prior tell Damaris Drybread last +Sunday after meetin'. And so they've come, hev they?" + +"Yes; I had occasion to go up street a bit ago, and saw George Ward +takin' 'em to the Union Hotel; the man hisself and two or three wimmin +folks and a lot of young uns." + +"Damaris was wishing there'd be some children;" remarked Rhoda Jane, +"she wants more scholars." + +"It don't foller they'd go to her if there was," put in her brother. + +"Oh now you just shut up, Goto! you never did take no stock in Damaris." + +"No, nor you neither, Rhoda Jane; 'cept once in a while just fur +contrariness. No, I don't take no shine to Miss Drybread; she's a +unmitigated old maid." + +"I wish the man had been a doctor and good on curin' the agur," said +Mrs. Lightcap, replenishing her husband's cap. "What's up now, Rhoda +Jane?" as that damsel suddenly pushed back her chair, sprang up, and +rushed through the adjoining room to the front door. + +"A wagon goin' by filled full of great boxes o' goods," shouted back the +girl. "There they're stoppin' at the yaller house on the corner. Come +and look." + +The whole family, dropping knives and forks, the children with hands and +mouths full, ran pell mell to door and windows to enjoy the sight. + +"I wonder what's up, father? are we goin' to have a new store over +there, think?" queried Mrs. Lightcap, standing on the outer step with +her hands on her hips, her gaze turned steadily in the direction of the +corner house. + +"Dunno, mother; b'lieve I'll jest step over and ask. Come along Goto, I +guess they'd like some help with them thar big boxes." + +They were kind-hearted, neighborly folk--those early settlers of +Pleasant Plains, always ready to lend a helping hand wherever it was +needed. + +"It's the new lawyer feller's traps," announced Mr. Lightcap, as he and +his son rejoined the waiting, expectant wife and children; "he's took +the house and we'll have 'em for neighbors." + +There was another rush to the door, half an hour later, when the Keiths +were seen passing on their way to inspect their future abode. + +"The prettiest gal I ever see," remarked Gotobed, gazing admiringly +after Mildred's graceful, girlish figure. + +"They look like eastern folks," said his mother. "Won't they wish they'd +staid where they was when they find out how hard 'tis to get help here?" + +"Real stuck up folks; dressed to kill," sneered Rhoda Jane. "Look at the +white pantalets on them young uns! and the girl's got a veil on her +bunnit." + +"Well, what's the harm?" asked her brother. "If you had as pretty a +skin, I guess you'd be for takin' care of it too." + +"Humph! beauty that's only skin deep won't last," and with a toss of the +head Miss Lightcap walked into the house in her most dignified style. + +For the next ten days the doings at the corner house and the comings and +goings of the Keiths were a source of entertainment and intense interest +to their neighbors--the Lightcaps and others; a fact not to be wondered +at when we consider the monotony of life in the town at that time;--no +railroad, no telegraph, no newspaper, except those brought by the weekly +mail; no magazines, no public library, and very few books in private +houses. + +Really the daily small occurrences in their own little world were pretty +nearly all the Pleasant Plainers could find to talk or think about. + +And the Keiths, as recent arrivals from an older settled part of the +country, and above many of them in the social scale, were considered +worthy of more than ordinary attention. Their dress, their manners, the +furnishing of their house and their style of living were subjects of +eager discussion. + +The general opinion among the Lightcaps and their set seemed to be that +they were too fine for the place; such remarks as the following being +frequently heard, + +"Why would you believe it, they've got a real store carpet on that front +room, and a sofy and cheers covered with horse-hair cloth and white +curtains to the winders and picturs hanging up on to the walls." + +"And the little girls wears white pantalets caliker ones such as our +youngsters wears isn't good enough for them." + +There were in the town, however, a number of families of educated, +refined people who rejoiced in this addition to their society and only +waited for the new comers to get settled in their new home before +calling. + +Among these Mrs. Keith and her aunt found several pleasant, congenial +companions; and with two or three the acquaintance soon ripened into a +close intimacy, a warm, enduring friendship. + +Mildred also soon had more than one young girl crony whom she found as +worthy of regard as those she had left behind. + +Back of the yellow house was a grove of saplings which became a favorite +haunt of the children in their hours of recreation. They would bend down +the smaller trees and ride them, climb up into the larger and sit among +the branches; or build baby-houses and play housekeeping underneath, +where the shade was thickest. + +It was here they spent the warm, sunny days while the older members of +the family busied themselves in making the dwelling habitable and the +yard neat and orderly. + +On the morning after their arrival Rupert spread a buffalo robe on the +ground in the shadiest part of the grove, whereon Zillah and Ada seated +themselves with their baby sister who had been entrusted to their care. + +There were many lovely wild flowers springing up here and there, and +Cyril, Don and Fan ran hither and thither gathering them, prattling +merrily to each other the while, and now and then uttering a joyous +shout as they came upon some new floral treasure. + +"Be careful not to go too far away, children," Zillah called to them. + +"No, we won't go far," they answered, Cyril adding, "And I'll take care +of Fan." + +In a little while they came running back with full hands. + +"See, see!" they said, "so many and such pretty ones--blue, and white, +and purple, and yellow. There, you take these and we'll pick some more +for ourselves. And for mother and Aunt Wealthy; we'll make a big bunch +for each of them," and away they ran again. + +"Oh, aren't they pretty?" cried Ada. "Let's make a bouquet for mother +out of these." + +"She won't want two," said Zillah, "'specially just now when she's no +place to put them. Let's make wreaths for Annis and Fan." + +"Oh yes!" and they began sorting the flowers with eager interest, little +Annis pulling at them too, crowing and chattering in sweet baby fashion. + +Suddenly Zillah gave a start and laid a trembling hand on Ada's arm. Her +face had grown very pale and there was a look of terror in her large +blue eyes. + +Ada turned quickly to see what had caused it, and was quite as much +alarmed on beholding a tall Indian, with rifle in hand, tomahawk and +scalping knife in his belt, standing within a few feet of them, +evidently regarding them with curiosity. + +He wore moccasins and leggins, and had a blanket about his shoulders; +feathers on his head, too; but no war paint on his face. + +Behind him was a squaw with a great bark basket full of wild berries, +slung to her back. + +The little girls were too terribly frightened to cry out or speak, they +sat there as if turned to stone, while the Indian drew nearer and +nearer still closely followed by his squaw. + +Stopping close beside the children, he grunted out a word or two to her, +and she slung her basket to the ground. + +Taking up a double handful of the berries, he poured them into Zillah's +lap, saying, "Pappoose!" + +The squaw restored her basket to its place and the two walked leisurely +away; happily not in the direction of Fan and the boys. + +The little girls gazed at each other in blank astonishment; then burst +out simultaneously, "Oh, weren't you frightened? I thought he was going +to kill us!" + +"But wasn't it good in him to give us the berries?" + +"Yes; he meant them for baby; but mother doesn't let her have any, you +know; so we mustn't give them to her." + +"No, but I'll call the children to get some.' + +"Yes, do." + +"Where did you get em?" queried Cyril, devouring his share with zest. + +"An Indian gave them to us." + +"An Indian? why that was like a friend and colation! I shan't be 'fraid +of 'em any more." + +"I don't know," returned Ada with a wise shake of her head, "I'd rather +not see 'em even with their berries." + +The little feast was just ended when they espied a gentleman passing +along the road beyond the grove. He turned and came toward them. + +"Good-morning," he said, pleasantly. "These are Mr. Keith's children, I +believe?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Zillah. + +"I'm glad to see you," shaking hands with them; "and I should like to +make the acquaintance of your parents. Are they at home, in the house +yonder?" + +"Mother is, sir; but I saw father go away a little while ago." + +"Do you think your mother could see me for a moment? My name is Lord." + +Cyril opened his eyes very wide; gazing up into the gentleman's face +with an odd expression of mingled curiosity and astonishment. + +"I don't know, sir;" answered Zillah, "they're just cleaning the house +and--Cyril, run and ask mother." + +Away flew the child, rushing into the room where Miss Stanhope and Mrs. +Keith were overseeing the opening of boxes and the unpacking of the +household gear. + +"Mother, mother," he cried breathlessly, "the Lord's out yonder and he +wants to see you! Can he come in? shall I bring him?" + +"The Lord! what can the child mean?" cried Aunt Wealthy, in her +astonishment and perplexity nearly dropping a large china bowl which she +held in her hand. + +Mrs. Keith, too, looked bewildered for a moment, then a sudden light +breaking over her face, + +"Yes, bring him in," she said, and turning to her aunt as the child sped +on his errand, "It must be the minister, auntie; I remember now that +Stuart told me his name was Lord." + +Mr. Lord, who was a very absent-minded man, came in apologizing for his +"neglect in not calling sooner; he had been engaged with his sermon and +the matter had slipped his mind." + +"I think you are blaming yourself undeservedly, sir," Mrs. Keith said, +giving him her hand with a cordial smile, "we arrived in town only +yesterday. Let me introduce you to my aunt, Miss Stanhope." + +The two shook hands, and Mr. Lord seating himself upon a box, instead of +the chair that had been set for him, sprang up instantly with a hurried +exclamation. + +A portion of the contents of a paper of tacks had been accidentally +spilt there. + +The ladies were too polite to smile. Mrs. Keith offered the chair again, +simply saying, "You will find this a more comfortable seat; please +excuse the disorder we are in;" then plunged into talk about the town +and the little church he had recently organized there. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Eighth. + + "Home is the sphere of harmony and peace, + The spot where angels find a resting place, + When bearing blessings, they descend to earth." + --MRS. HALE. + + +CYRIL came running back carrying a covered basket. + +"He's gone, girls. He wasn't the Lord at all; only a man; and he didn't +stay long; I guess 'cause he sat down on the tacks and hurted himself. + +"Here's our dinner. Mother says we may eat it out here under the trees +and it'll be as good as a picnic." + +"So it will. Let's see what it is," and Zillah took the basket and +lifted the lid. "Oh that's nice! buttered biscuits and cold tongue and +cheese and ginger bread--lots of it--and a turnover apiece." + +"Isn't our mother good?" cried Ada gratefully. "Did you tell her about +the Indian the berries?" + +"Yes; and father was there--he just came home--and he says we needn't be +a single bit afraid; they don't kill folks now, and they wouldn't dare +to hurt us right here in the town; even if they wanted to." + +"Baby's been fretting a little; 'cause she's hungry, I guess," said +Zillah, putting a bit of gingerbread in the little one's hand. + +"Yes; mother said you should give her some cake; and she'll come +directly and take her awhile. Now let's begin to eat, for I'm as hungry +as a big black bear." + +"So am I," piped the small voices of Don and Fan. "But father always +asks a blessing first." + +"Yes," assented Zillah, stopping short in her distribution of the good +things; "and mother does it when he's away, but--" and she glanced from +one to the other of the childish but grave faces of the little group. + +"I'll do it," said Cyril, closing his merry blue eyes and folding his +chubby hands. "O Lord, we thank thee for the ginger bread and turnovers +and--and all the good things, Amen. Now gi me mine, Zil," opening his +eyes wide and holding out both hands. + +"Ladies first, you know," answered the sister, "and we must all spread +our handkerchiefs in our laps to keep the greasy crumbs from our +clothes." + +"Oh, yes; I fordot. Help Ada and Fan and yourself, then Don too, and me +last 'cause we're the gentlemen." + +"No, myself last, because that's the way mother does." + +"And mother and father always do everything right," commented Ada, +beginning upon her sandwich. + +They were rosy, healthy children and their appetites were keen; but they +were not selfish or greedy, and the supply of food was more than amply +sufficient for all. + +They were never stinted but had been taught that waste was sinful; so +the remains of the meal were put carefully by in the basket, which +Zillah then hung up on a branch near at hand. + +As she did so the others set up a glad shout, "Mother's coming!" and +sprang forward to meet her, while baby held out her hands with a crow of +delight. + +"Well, dears, had you plenty of dinner?" Mrs. Keith asked, taking Annis +in her arms and sitting down on the buffalo robe while they grouped +themselves about her. + +"Oh yes; yes indeed! some left; and it was very good. Thank you for it, +mother." + +"You quite deserved it; you have been dear, good children, taking care +of yourselves and baby all morning, and not giving any trouble to +anybody." + +How the young cheeks flushed and the eyes grew bright at these words of +commendation from those dear lips. How they loved her for them, and what +an increased desire to merit her approbation they felt swelling in their +breasts. + +She could stay with them only a little while but suggested various +amusements, some games they might play, some stories Zillah might relate +to the younger ones. + +"Are you getting done fast, mother? can we sleep in our own home +to-night?" they asked. + +"No, dears; for though the bedroom floors are cleaned there might be +some dampness that would injure us. We will go back to the tavern for +our supper and to sleep to-night; but to-morrow night we will be in our +own home once more." + +"Not the nice home we used to have, though!" sighed Zillah. + +"No, daughter; but we must try to be content and thankful; and if we +are, we may be as happy in the new home as we were in the old." + +With that the now sleeping babe was laid gently down on the robe, a +light covering thrown over her, and with a charge to the others to take +care of her, and a caress bestowed upon each, the mother hastened back +to the house. + +"We're tired running 'bout and picking flowers, Fan and Don and me," +said Cyril; "so won't you please tell us a story now, Zil?" + +"Yes; I'll tell you Androcles and the Lion; you always like that." + +"Yes; and then tell 'bout the girl that had a silk dress and couldn't +run and play 'cause her shoes pinched," begged Fan. + +"Oh look!" exclaimed Ada in an undertone, "see those girls. They haven't +silk dresses or shoes to pinch their toes. Don't they look queer?" + +The subjects of her remarks were two little maids--one about her own +size, the other a trifle smaller--who were slowly making their way +through the bushes toward the spot where the Keith children were seated. + +They had sallow, sunburnt faces, tawny, yellow locks straggling over +their shoulders, and their thin, lanky little forms were arrayed in +calico dresses faded, worn and skimpy: pantalets of the same material +but different color, appeared below their skirts. Their feet were bare, +and on their heads were sunbonnets of pasteboard covered with still +another pattern of calico both faded and soiled. + +"Shall we ask them to come and join us?" queried Zillah. + +"No; they don't look nice; they're dirty," whispered Cyril, with a +glance of disgust directed toward the strangers. + +"Maybe dey is hungry," suggested Fan, "let's dive 'em some fing out o' +de basket." + +"Good afternoon, little girls," said Zillah, raising her voice slightly +as they drew near; "will you come and sit with us?" + +They shook their heads but came creeping on, each with a finger in her +mouth. + +"Have you had your dinner?" An affirmative nod. + +"I'm going to tell a story to these children, and if you like to come +and listen too, you can. What are your names?" + +"Mine's Emmaretta Lightcap, and hers is Minerva Lightcap. She's my +sister, she is. Now go on and tell your story. Min, let's set down on +the grass right here." + +They listened in open-mouthed wonder till summoned by a shrill voice +from the direction of the smithy, when they rose and scampered away. + +The Keiths were a very domestic family; no place like home to them; and +all, from the father down to little Fan, were heartily weary of the +unsettled life they had led for some weeks past. + +It was therefore with joy they found themselves once more able to sit +down under their own vine and fig tree, (if a rented domicile so +unsightly as "the yellow house on the corner" may fitly be compared to +natural objects so full of beauty and grace). + +By the evening of the second day the advanced stage of the internal +improvements warranted them in taking possession. + +As the shadows grew long the children were called in, the family +gathered about a neatly appointed table set out in the centre one of the +three lower rooms; spoken of indifferently as the sitting, or +dining-room, since it must answer both purposes. + +The meal was enlivened by cheerful chat, in which the children were +allowed to take part; the only restriction being that but one voice was +to be heard at a time; and that not in loud or boisterous tones. + +No domestic had been found yet and leaving mother and aunt to chat with +the father, Mildred and the younger girls cleared the table, washed the +dishes and made all neat in the kitchen. + +This done they returned to the sitting-room. The great family Bible lay +open on the table before the father, a pile of hymn-books beside it. +These last Rupert took up and distributed; the father read a few verses +of Scripture and gave out a hymn. The mother's sweet voice set the tune, +the others joined in and a full chorus of praise swelled upon the summer +evening air. + +It died away, and all knelt while the father offered a short but fervent +prayer giving thanks for the mercies of the day, asking for protection +through the night, confessing sins and pleading for pardon and eternal +life, for all temporal and spiritual good, through the atoning blood of +Christ. + +It was thus each day was begun and ended in this truly Christian family. +"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord," was the resolution with +which Mr. and Mrs. Keith had begun their married life. + +Each little one came to claim a good-night kiss from father and Aunt +Wealthy, then cheerfully followed their mother up the steep crooked +stairway to the large room above. + +"Oh, how much nicer it looks!" they cried "Auntie's room too," running +to the open door and peeping in. + +Everything was now clean and neat, carpets covered the rough boards of +the floor, curtains draped the windows and divided the large room into +several apartments, in each of which was a neat, white bed. + +But little of their heavy furniture had been brought with them from the +old home, but its place was partially supplied by turning packing boxes +into chintz-covered and cushioned lounges, and toilet tables, whose +unsightliness was concealed by dainty drapery. Ingenuity and taste had +done wonders in making the house comfortable and attractive at small +expense. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Ninth. + + "'Tis necessity, + To which the gods must yield." + + +THE children had said their prayers, tired little heads were laid on +soft white pillows, weary young limbs stretched out to rest, and leaving +a kiss on each rosy mouth, the mother went down stairs to rejoin her +husband and aunt in the sitting-room. + +She found Mrs. Prior with them; the good woman had "just run in" to tell +them of a girl in want of a place. + +"I don't know anything about her," she went on, "except, that she's a +right decent looking girl and wants to work out a spell; and that they +tell me the family's English; respectable but poor. + +"If you would wish to give her a trial; Mis' Keith, I've an opportunity +to send her word this evening and as like as not she'd get a chance to +come in with some of the country folks to-morrow." + +Mrs. Keith gladly gave consent, feeling at the moment as if almost any +sort of help would be better than none; then asked, "Is there any school +in town that you could recommend for my little girls, Mrs. Prior?" + +"Well, I don't know of but one and I've my doubts about that bein' such +as you'd want to send to. Damaris Drybread's the teacher, and I +shouldn't judge by her talk that she'd had a finished education;--not by +no means! still she may do well enough for little ones. I haven't any, +you know, so I haven't tried her." + +"Suppose we have a light," suggested Mr. Keith, "it's growing too dark +for us to see each other's faces." + +Mildred rose, went to the kitchen, and presently returned with a lighted +candle and a pair of snuffers, which she placed on the table. + +Miss Stanhope was asking what sort of society was to be found in the +place, to which Mrs. Prior made answer, + +"Well, ma'am, we have pretty much all sorts; and yet don't divide up in +circles like they do in a good many places. I s'pose there'll be more of +that as the town grows larger. + +"There's educated folks that's fond o' books and the like, and know what +manners is, and how to talk well, and there's others that's rough and +ignorant, yet mostly well meaning with it all--real honest and +industrious. + +"There are very few thieves, if any; folks leave their doors +unlocked--sometimes wide open at night, and their clothes hanging out on +the line; and I never hear of anything bein' took. There's very little +drinking either; a drunken man's a rare sight with us." + +"There are a good many New Englanders here, are there not?" inquired Mr. +Keith. + +"Yes, quite a good many; and from York state and Pennsylvany and +Virginia; from Jersey too; I hail from there myself. + +"But I must be going, it's gettin' late; evenins is so short this time +o' year--and however it may be with Mr. Keith, I know you women folks +are tired enough to be ready for bed. + +"Now don't be formal with me, but run in whenever you can. I'll always +be glad to see you. + +"No, never mind your hat, Mr. Keith, I don't want a beau; for I'm not +the least mite afraid. Good-night to you all," and she hurried away. + +The candle was flaring and wasting in the wind. Miss Stanhope hastened +to snuff it, remarking, "These are miserable tallows; get me some +candle to-morrow, Stuart, and I'll try to make some that will be an +improvement upon them. We have the moulds and the wick; all we want is +the tallow." + +Near noon of the next day a flauntily dressed young woman walked in at +the open door and introduced herself to Mrs. Keith as the "Hinglish +girl, Viny Apple, that Mrs. Prior had recommended." + +Mrs. Keith received her kindly, "Can you cook and do general housework?" +she asked. + +"Yes, mum; of course, that's what I came for." + +"I hope you understand how to work, but it is not to be expected that +your way will always be what will suit me best; so I trust you are +willing to be directed." + +"If you're not too hard to please, mum, I'll suit, I'm sure." + +"We will try it. Zillah, show Viny where she is to sleep." + +"Is she to come to the table?" asked Mildred, when the two had +disappeared up the stairway. + +"We shall see; I have not spoken of it yet." + +"You won't put up with that, mother surely?" + +"I think I must if that is the only condition on which we can have help +with our housework." + +On coming down, Viny was directed to set the table for dinner, shown +where to find the requisite articles, told how many were in the family, +and left to the performance of her task. + +Mildred noted the number of plates set on, and saw that Viny had counted +herself in with the rest. + +"You have one plate too many," she said with some sharpness of tone. + +"No, Miss." + +"You certainly have. Here are eleven; and we are only ten." + +"And I make 'leven," returned Viny, a hot flush on her cheek and an +angry gleam in her eyes. + +"You?" + +"Yes, Miss, I'm as good as the rest; and if I cook the victuals I 'ave a +right to eat 'em." + +A warning glance from her mother's eye checked the angry exclamation on +the tip of Mildred's tongue. + +"We will consent to your coming to the table with us, Viny, on condition +that you are always neat and tidy in appearance," Mrs. Keith remarked +in a quiet tone. "And now you may help me to dish up the dinner." + +Aunt Wealthy was busied with her candle moulds in one corner of the +kitchen; putting in the wicks. + +"So that question's settled," she said in an aside to her niece; "and I +think you have done wisely, Marcia." + +The faces that surrounded the dinner-table that day were a study. Those +of Miss Stanhope and Mrs. Keith wore their usual placid expression, but +Mildred's was flushed and angry, Rupert's full of astonishment, +reflected to some extent by the younger ones, while that of the new +comer expressed self-assertion and defiance. + +Mr. Keith glanced quizzically from one to another for a moment. Then +gave his attention to filling the plates; talking at the same time in a +cheerful strain. + +"I have found a lot, wife, which I think will suit us for building on. +If nobody feels too tired for a walk after tea we will all go and look +at it. It is to be for the family, and the family must decide as to its +merits." + +This turned the current of thought and all the young people grew eager +and animated. It was quite evident that no one intended to be too much +fatigued to be of the party of inspection. + +In the midst of the talk a low, half-terrified exclamation from Fan drew +the attention of all, and following the direction of her glance they saw +a tall Indian in the doorway, while beyond in the street, were many +others, some on foot, some on horseback, some in the act of dismounting. + +They were of both sexes and all ages; the papooses tied into little +wooden troughs which the mothers stood up on end on the ground. + +The babies were very quiet, not a whimper to be heard from any of them; +though they were deprived of the use of their hands--their clothing +being a straight strip of cloth folded around their bodies in such a way +as to pin their poor little arms down to their sides--and had nothing to +amuse them but a string of tiny bells stretched across the trough in +front of their faces. + +"Ugh!" said the Indian on the doorstep, "shawp!" and he pointed from a +basket of berries his squaw had set down beside him to the loaf on the +table. + +"Oh do let's give it to 'im! no knowin' what 'e'll do if we don't!" +cried Viny in a fright. + +"It will be a good enough exchange," said Mr. Keith, taking the loaf and +handing it to the Indian. "Bring a pan for the berries." + +The Indian passed the loaf on to his squaw with a grunt of satisfaction, +poured a quart or so of berries into the pan Viny had hastened to bring, +then again pointed to the table. + +"What now?" asked Mr. Keith, good-humoredly. + +The Indian replied by a gesture as if lifting a cup to his lips; and +Mildred saying, "He's thirsty," hastened to pour out a tumbler of milk +and hand it to him. + +He drank it, returned the glass with a nod of thanks and walked away. + +"I'll just run hout and water 'em hall," said Viny, hurrying into the +kitchen for a bucket and tin cup, "it's always best to keep on the good +side of 'em, folks tell me, if you don't want to run no risk of losin' +the 'air hoff yer 'ead." + +Mr. Keith was standing in the doorway where the Indian had been a moment +before. + +"Come and look at them, wife, and all of you," he said, "it's quite a +show and there's not the least danger." + +Thus encouraged the children crowded to the door and window and found +much amusement in watching the movements of the savages and Viny's +efforts to win favor with them; efforts apparently well-directed, for +the day was warm and they drank the cool water freshly drawn from the +well in the yard, as if they found it very refreshing. + +The troop--some thirty or forty in number--did not tarry long; in less +than an hour they had all remounted and gone on their way. + +"There! them savage wild Hinguns is all clear gone and hour scalps is +safe for the present," remarked Viny, with a sigh of relief as the last +one disappeared from view in a cloud of dust far down the street. + +She had run out to the corner of the house, dishtowel in hand, to watch +their movements as far as she could see them. + +"Don't talk so; you'll frighten the children," said Mildred, +reprovingly, speaking from the front door where she stood with the +little ones grouped about her. + +"I don't take my horders from you," muttered the girl, stalking back to +her kitchen. + +After an early tea the proposed family walk was taken. + +The lot--a little farther to the north than any which had been built +upon as yet, on the high river bank and overlooking the ferry--was +pronounced all that could be desired. + +It was on a corner, and on two sides afforded a fine view of the river, +on the others of town and country. + +"When we have our house built," remarked Mr. Keith, "we'll be able to +see the Kankakee Marsh from the second story windows." + +"Marsh?" repeated his wife in a tone of alarm, "how far off is it?" + +"We're about two miles from this end; it is two hundred miles long, you +remember, extending far over into Illinois. But why that sigh?" + +"Ague!" + +"Well, don't let us cross the bridge before we come to it. This is a +beautiful spot. I think we can, in a few years, make it superior in +point of beauty to any we have ever lived in." + +"I think so too, if we can keep these fine old oaks." + +There were several of them; grand old trees that had stood the storms of +centuries, perhaps. + +"We will; we'll manage our building in a way not to interfere with +them." + +At that Mildred's face brightened as it had not since her first sight of +the yellow house. + +She had been very homesick for the dear old home in Lansdale, though +not a word of it had she breathed even into her mother's sympathetic +ear. + +"How soon can the house be done?" she asked. + +"Better inquire first how soon it will be begun," laughed her father. +"If we get into it by next spring we may consider ourselves fortunate." + +"Oh dear!" sighed the children with one accord. + +"The time will slip around before you know it, dears," remarked their +aunt cheerily. + +"And we'll soon get the ground fenced in and let you spend your leisure +time, and exercise your taste and ingenuity in beautifying it," said +their father. + +"And may we all help plan the house?" asked Rupert. + +Mr. Keith smiled, a kindly good-natured smile, with some amusement in it +too. + +"You may all make suggestions; it is to be our house:--not the parents' +only, but the children's, too." + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Tenth. + + "Heaven gives us friends to bless the present scene." + --YOUNG. + + +"OH, Rhody Jane, Rhody Jane, I say just come an' look!" + +"Look at what, Emmaret? you're always makin' a fuss about nothin'," +returned Miss Lightcap scornfully, but nevertheless, stepping very +promptly, plate and dishcloth in hand, to the front door whence the +hasty summons had come. + +"'Tain't nothin' this time," Emmaretta went on; "they're agoin' to +Sunday school, them Keith girls, and just see how they're dressed up!" + +"Did you ever see anything so fine?" chorused Minerva; "sech lovely +dresses; and black silk aprons with colored lace onto 'em. Oh my! I wish +I had one like 'em!" + +"Maybe you shall some o' these days when your pop gits rich," said her +mother, who was gazing from the window. + +"But the bonnets is what takes me. Did you notice 'em, Rhoda Jane? +they're gimp with blue ribbings and blue flowers." + +"And the white and red in their faces makes them powerful becoming," +remarked Gotobed, standing just outside. + +But he turned his head the other way, shamefacedly, as Mildred, looking +sweet and fair in white muslin and pink ribbons, followed her younger +sisters into the street, and sent a casual glance in his direction. + +"Don't she think she's some!" said Rhoda Jane enviously. + +"And so she is; she looks like a posey," said Gotobed. + +"Is that the grandmother? the old lady walking with Mr. Keith." + +"No; Viny Apple says she's Mrs. Keith's aunt; and talks in the funniest +way sometimes;--gets things hind part before--telling her to make up the +floors and sweep the beds, and the like. + +"There they're all out o' sight. I guess the mother's stayin' to home +with the baby; Viny said she wasn't agoin' to, and I s'pose she's up +stairs primpin'." + +"And that's what you'd ought to be doin' 'forelong, if you're goin' to +meetin', Rhoda Jane," observed Mrs. Lightcap, drawing in her head. +"Hurry up now with them dishes. And you children walk right in here and +hunt up your Sunday things, and wash your hands and faces and comb your +hair; it'll be meetin' time 'fore we know it." + +A narrow foot-path, bordered on each side by grass still wet with dew, +led past the grove of saplings to the little church whither the Keiths +were bound. + +Mildred, lifting her white skirts daintily, and warning her sisters and +brothers of the danger of wet and soiled shoes, should they step aside +from the beaten track, picked her way with careful steps, rejoicing in +the fact that the distance was not great. + +The church membership was as yet very small; Sabbath school ditto. The +newly arrived family made an important addition to the ranks of both +teachers and scholars. + +Two Bible classes were organized this morning and given, respectively, +into the charge of Mr. Keith and Miss Stanhope; Rupert becoming a member +of his father's, Mildred of Aunt Wealthy's. There were but two others in +this latter class; Claudina Chetwood and Lucilla Grange; both +intelligent, lady-like, refined girls, who made an agreeable impression +upon Miss Stanhope and Mildred also. And this was mutual. + +The morning service followed immediately upon the close of Sabbath +school. The sermon was excellent; the singing, though not artistic, and +somewhat interrupted by the necessity of lining out the hymn, on account +of the scarcity of books, earnest and spirited; the people singing, +apparently with the understanding and the heart also; the prayer was +fervent, and the behavior of the congregation throughout the whole +service was quiet and devotional. + +Most of them were town folk, but a few families had come in from the +surrounding country. + +There was little display of fashion or style in dress; no one was +expensively attired; most of the women and girls wore calico; but all +were neat, some really tasteful; and in intellect and moral worth, the +majority of faces would have compared favorably with an equal number in +the older States. + +People lingered after church for mutual introductions and the exchange +of friendly remarks and inquiries. The Keiths were warmly welcomed, +assured of intentions to call, hopes expressed that they would "like the +place," feel quite at home in the church and be sociable; the country +people adding "Come out and see us whenever you can." + +Squire Chetwood and Mr. Keith, who had made acquaintance during the +preceding week, now introduced their families; each with very excusable +fatherly pride in the good looks and good manners of his offspring. + +The young Chetwoods were nearly as numerous, as handsome and intelligent +as the Keiths. + +"I hope we shall be good friends," said Claudina, as she and Mildred +walked away together. "Mother was not out to-day because of a headache; +but she and I are coming to see your mother and you this week." + +"We shall be pleased to see you," Mildred answered heartily, "and I am +very glad to accept your offer of friendship." + +They parted at Mr. Keith's door, mutually pleased, and Mildred carried a +brighter face into the house than she had worn for weeks. + +Her mother remarked upon it with delight. + +"Yes, mother," she responded gayly, "I begin to feel a little happier +about living here, now that I find we are to have good preaching, Sunday +school--with an excellent and competent teacher for my share"--glancing +archly at Aunt Wealthy's kindly, sensible face--"and pleasant friends;" +going on to give a flattering description of the Chetwoods, particularly +Claudina. + +"I hope she will prove a valuable friend and a very great comfort to +you, daughter," said Mrs. Keith. "You need young companionship and I am +very glad to know that it will be provided." + +The little girls had been up stairs putting away their best bonnets. + +"Where's Viny?" asked Zillah, running back into the sitting-room where +the older people still were. + +"She went out telling me that she wouldn't be back till bedtime," +replied the mother. + +"Leaving us to do our own work!" cried Mildred. "Oh, mother, what made +you let her?" + +"Let her, my child? she did not ask my permission," laughed Mrs. Keith; +"but indeed I think we are quite as well off without her for to-day; as +we do no cooking on Sunday." + +Before another week had passed, Mildred was ready to subscribe to the +opinion that they were as well without her altogether--she having proved +herself utterly inefficient, slow and slovenly about her work, unwilling +to be directed, impertinent, bold and forward. + +There was not a day when Mildred's indignation did not rise to fever +heat in view of the many and aggravated sins of omission and commission +on the part of their "help;" yet it seldom found vent in words. She was +striving with determined purpose to rule her own spirit, and asking +daily and hourly for strength for the conflict from Him who has said, +"In me is thine help," "My strength is made perfect in weakness." + +The example set her by her mother and aunt was also most helpful. They +were both cheerful, patient, sunny-tempered women; never a word of +fretfulness or complaint from the lips of either; Aunt Wealthy calm and +serene as an unclouded summer day, Mrs. Keith often bringing to her aid +a strong sense of the ludicrous; turning her vexations into occasions +for jesting and mirth. + +Mildred knew that they were trials nevertheless, and her love and +admiration, and her resolve to show herself worthy to be the daughter of +such a mother, grew apace. + +To the affectionate heart of the unselfish girl there seemed no greater +trial than seeing this dear mother overburdened with care and toil; but +try as she might to take all the burdens on her young shoulders, it was +utterly impossible; and while the conviction that to see her impatient +and unhappy would add to her mother's troubles, helped her to maintain +her self-control, the reflection that Viny's shortcomings added largely +to those trials, made it tenfold more difficult to bear with them. + +So also with the little tempers, untidinesses, and mischievous pranks of +her younger brothers and sisters. + +Home, even a happy home, is often a hard-fought battle-field; and who +shall say that there is not sometimes more true courage displayed there +than in another kind of conflict amid the roar of cannon and clash of +arms, where earthly glory and renown are to be won. + +The Chetwoods and Granges, and several others of the same standing in +society, called that week; also Mr. Lord, the minister, brought his old +mother who kept house for him, he being a bachelor. + +When Viny happened to be the one to admit callers, she seemed to think +it incumbent upon her to take a seat in the parlor with them and exert +herself for their entertainment. + +Mildred speedily undertook to disabuse her of this impression, but the +girl haughtily informed her that "she had as good a right in the parlor +as anybody else." + +"But I wouldn't go into it to visit with anybody that didn't come to see +me," said Mildred, with a determined effort to keep down her rising +anger. + +"Well, I guess they're about as likely to want to see me as any o' the +rest; and if they don't they'd ought to. So there!" + +"But you have your work to attend to." + +"The work can wait. And the rest o' you's got plenty to do too." + +The only remedy was to keep Viny busy in the kitchen while some of the +family watched the doors into the streets and admitted visitors. + +Even this stratagem sometimes failed and they could only console +themselves that the visitors understood the situation. + +"Ain't you goin' to call on the Keiths?" asked Gotobed Lightcap at the +dinner table one day about the middle of the week. + +"Who? me?" queried his mother; then pushing away her empty plate, and +resting her elbow on the table, her chin in her hand, while she looked +reflectively off into vacancy. "Well, I s'pose a body'd ought to be +neighborly, and I'm as willin' to do my part as the next one; but +there's always a sight of work to do at home; and then I feel kinder +backward 'bout callin' on 'em; they live so fine, you know; Viny Apple +says they use real silver spoons and eat off real chaney every day; an' +that's more'n we can do when we have company." + +"Well, old woman, I guess the victuals don't taste no better for bein' +eat off them things," responded her husband, cheerfully, passing his +empty cup. + +"Maybe. And they don't have no tea nor coffee for dinner, Viny says. I +think it's real stingy." + +"P'raps they don't want it," remarked Gotobed. + +"Don't you b'lieve no such thing!" exclaimed Rhoda Jane, scornfully, +"'tain't fashionable; and they'd ruther be fashionable than comfortable. +Viny says they're awful stuck up; wouldn't let her come to the table or +into the parlor if they could help themselves. + +"But I don't keer, I'm not afeard on 'em, if mother is; and I'm goin' +over there this afternoon; if it's only to let 'em see that I feel +myself as good as they be any day; and I'll tell 'em so too, if they +don't treat me right." + +"Pshaw, Rhoda Jane, how you talk!" said her mother. + +"Well, I'm spunky, mother; that's a fact; and I ain't a bit ashamed of +it nuther." + +"Don't you go if you can't behave yourself," said Gotobed, leaving the +table and the room. + +Mrs. Keith had gathered her children about her in the parlor, it being +the shadiest and coolest apartment in the house in the afternoon. She, +herself, Aunt Wealthy and the little girls were sewing, while Rupert +kept the little boys quiet and interested with the making of a kite, and +Mildred read aloud from Mrs. Sherwood's "Roxobelle." + +Mildred had a clear, sweet-toned voice, enunciated distinctly, and read +with feeling and expression; so that it was a pleasure to listen to her. + +Rupert, Zillah and Ada were also good readers, and would take their +turns as such; for this was no new thing, but one of the mother's ways +of educating her children and training them to a love of literature. + +While many another thing had been left behind in Ohio, they had brought +all their books with them. Poetry, histories, biographies, books of +travel, religious and scientific works, juvenile story-books and a few +novels, all of the best class, were to be found among their treasured +stores, reveled in by old and young. + +Mr. Keith had his volumes of legal lore too, but with these the other +members of the family seldom if ever cared to interfere. + +Mrs. Sherwood was a favorite author with the young people; they were +reading "Roxobelle" for the first time and had reached a most exciting +part--the scene where the little dog had led Sophie Beauchamp into the +room where his invalid and much abused mistress lay, chained by disease +to her wretched bed, when Mrs. Lightcap and Rhoda Jane appeared in the +open doorway. + +They were dressed with the utmost simplicity--gowns, aprons and +sunbonnets of calico, made without regard to fashion; no collars or +cuffs; hands bare and brown; faces sunburnt, the mother's stolid, the +girl's sufficiently sharp but lacking education and refinement. + +It was far from being a welcome interruption. Mildred closed her book +with a half suppressed sigh, the little girls exchanged glances of +vexation and disappointment; Rupert, too scowled and uttered an +exclamation of impatience half under his breath; but Mrs. Keith and Miss +Stanhope rose smilingly, gave the visitors a cordial greeting, asked +them to be seated and entered into conversation. + +"It's powerful warm," remarked Mrs. Lightcap, accepting the offered +chair and wiping the perspiration from her heated face with the corner +of her apron. + +"Yes, it has been an unusually warm day," responded Miss Stanhope, +handing a fan; while Mrs. Keith asked if they would not take off their +bonnets. + +"Well ma'am, I don't care if I do," returned Mrs. Lightcap, pulling hers +off and laying it on her lap; Rhoda Jane doing likewise. + +"Let me lay them on the table," Mildred said, recovering her politeness. + +"No, thank you; 'tain't worth while fur the few minutes we're agoin' to +set; they's no ways hefty. + +"Our names is Lightcap; this here's my daughter Rhoda Jane and she says +to me, 'mother,' says she, 'we'd ought to be sociable with them new +neighbors of ourn; let's go over and set a bit.' No, now what am I +talkin' about?' 'twan't her nuther, 'twas Gote that spoke of it first, +but my gal here was more'n willing to come." + +"Yes, we always try to be neighborly," assented the girl. "How do you +like Pleasant Plains, ladies?" + +"It seems a pleasant town and we find very pleasant people in it," was +Mrs. Keith's smiling rejoinder. + +"That's the talk!" exclaimed Miss Lightcap laughing. "You'll do, Mis' +Keith." + +"Comin' so late you won't be able to raise no garden sass this year," +remarked the mother; then went on to give a detailed account of what +they had planted, what was growing well, and what was not, with an +occasional digression to her husband, her cooking and housework, the +occasional attacks of "agur" that interfered with her plans; and so on +and so on--her daughter managing to slip in a word or two now and then. + +At length they rose to go. + +"How's Viny?" queried Rhoda Jane, addressing Mildred. + +"Quite well, I believe," replied Mildred in a freezing tone, and drawing +herself up with dignity. + +"Tell her we come to see her too," laughed the girl, as she stepped from +the door, "Good-bye. Hope you won't be ceremonious, but run in sociable +any time o' day." + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Eleventh. + + "Zeal and duty are not slow: + But on occasion's forelock watchful wait." + --MILTON. + + +"THE impudent thing!" exclaimed Mildred to her mother with a flushed and +angry face; "putting us and our maid of all work on the same level! +Visit her? Not I, indeed, and I do hope, mother, that neither you nor +Aunt Wealthy will ever cross their threshold." + +"My dear, she probably did not mean it," said Mrs. Keith. + +"And now let us go on with our story. You have all waited quietly and +politely like good children." + +"Gotobed Lightcap! Lightcap! Gotobed Nightcap!" sang Cyril, tumbling +about on the carpet. "O Don, don't you wish you had such a pretty name?" + +"No, I wouldna; I just be Don." + +"There, dears, don't talk now; sister's going to read," said their +mother. "If you don't want to be still and listen you may run out and +play in the yard." + +"Somebody else tumin'," whispered Fan, pulling at her mother's skirts. + +Mildred closed again the book she had just resumed, rose and inviting +the new comer to enter, handed her a chair. + +She was a tall, gaunt, sallow-complexioned woman of uncertain age, with +yellow hair, pale watery blue eyes, and a sanctimonious expression of +countenance. + +Her dress was almost austere in its simplicity; a dove-colored calico, +cotton gloves of a little darker shade, a white muslin handkerchief +crossed on her bosom, a close straw bonnet with no trimming but a skirt +of plain, white ribbon and a piece of the same put straight across the +top, brought down over the ears and tied under the chin. + +"My name is Drybread," she announced with a slight, stiff courtesy; then +seating herself bolt upright on Mildred's offered chair, waited to be +addressed. + +"Mrs. or Miss?" queried Mrs. Keith pleasantly. + +"Miss. And yours?" + +"Mrs. Keith. Allow me to introduce my aunt, Miss Stanhope, and my +daughter Mildred. These little people too belong to me." + +"Gueth we do so?" said Don, showing a double row of pearly teeth, "cauth +you're our own mamma. Ain't she, Cyril?" + +"Do you go to school, my little man?" asked the visitor, unbending +slightly in the stiffness of her manner. + +"Ain't your man! don't like dwy bwead, 'cept when I'se vewy hungwy." + +"Neither do I," chimed in Cyril. "And we don't go to school. Papa says +we're not big enough." + +"Don! Cyril! my little boys must not be rude," reproved the mamma. "Run +away now to your plays." + +"They're pretty children," remarked the caller as the twain disappeared. + +"Very frank in the expression of their sentiments and wishes," the +mother responded smiling. + +"Extremely so, I should say;" added Mildred dryly. + +"Is it not a mother's duty to curb and restrain?" queried the visitor, +fixing her cold blue eyes upon Mrs. Keith's face. + +"Certainly; where she deems it needful." + +Mrs. Keith's tones were perfectly sweet-tempered; Mildred's not quite +so, as she added with emphasis, "And no one so capable of judging when +it is needful as my mother." + +"Quite natural and proper sentiments for her daughter, no doubt. How do +you like Pleasant Plains?" + +The question was addressed more particularly to Miss Stanhope, and it +was she who replied. + +"We are quite disposed to like the place Miss Stalebread; the streets +are widely pleasant and would be quite beautiful if the forest trees had +been left." + +"My name is _Dry_bread! a good honest name; if not quite so aristocratic +and fine sounding as Keith." + +"Excuse me!" said Miss Stanhope. "I have an unfortunate kind of memory +for names and had no intention of miscalling yours." + +"Oh! then it's all right. + +"Mrs. Keith, I'm a teacher; take young boys and girls of all ages. +Perhaps you might feel like entrusting me with some of yours. I see you +have quite a flock." + +"I will take it into consideration," Mrs. Keith answered; "What branches +do you teach?" + +"Reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and English grammar." + +"I've heard of teachers boarding round," remarked Mildred, assailed by a +secret apprehension; "is that the way you do?" + +"No; I live at home, at my father's." + +Miss Drybread was scarcely out of earshot when Ada burst out vehemently. + +"I don't want to be distrusted to her! she doesn't look distrusty, does +she, Zillah? Mother please don't consider it!" + +"But just say yes at once?" asked mother playfully, pressing a kiss upon +the little flushed, anxious face. + +"Oh no, no, no! please, mamma dear;" cried the child returning the +caress and putting her arms lovingly about her mother's neck. "You +didn't like her, did you?" + +Mrs. Keith acknowledged laughingly that she had not been very favorably +impressed, and Zillah joining in Ada's entreaties, presently promised +that she would try to hear their lessons at home. A decision which was +received with delight and a profusion of thanks and caresses. + +Mildred was glad to find herself alone with her mother that evening for +a short time, after the younger ones were in bed; for she had a plan to +unfold. + +It was that she should act as governess to her sisters, and the little +boys, if they were considered old enough now to begin the ascent of the +hill of science. + +"My dear child!" the mother said with a look of proud affection into the +glowing animated face, "I fully appreciate the love and self-devotion to +me and the children that have prompted this plan of yours; but I am by +no means willing to lay such heavy burdens on your young shoulders." + +"But mother--" + +"Wait a little, dearie, till I have said my say. Your own studies must +be taken up again. Your father is greatly pleased with an arrangement he +has just made for you and Rupert and Zillah to recite to Mr. Lord. + +"The English branches, Latin, Greek and the higher mathematics, are what +he is willing to undertake to teach." + +Mildred's eyes sparkled. "O mother, how glad I am! Will he open a +school?" + +"No; only hear recitations for a couple of hours every week-day except +Saturdays, which he says he must have unbroken for his pulpit +preparations. + +"Your father thinks he is very glad of the opportunity to add a little +to his salary; which, of course, is quite small." + +"Then we study at home? I shall like that. But he won't take little +ones?" + +"No; none that are too young to learn Latin. Your father wants Zillah to +begin that now; and he hopes that a few others will join the class--some +of the Chetwoods, perhaps." + +Mildred's face was all aglow with delight; for she had a great thirst +for knowledge, and there had seemed small hope of satisfying it in this +little frontier town where the means for acquiring a liberal education +were so scant and poor. + +"So you see, daughter, you will have no lack of employment," Mrs. Keith +went on; "especially as with such inefficient help in the kitchen and +with general housework, I shall often be compelled to call upon you; or +rather," she added, with a slight caress, "to accept the assistance you +are only too ready to give." + +"It is too bad!" cried the girl, indignantly; "that Viny doesn't earn +her salt! I wonder how you can have patience with her, mother, if I were +her mistress I'd have sent her off at a moment's warning long before +this." + +"Let us try to imitate God's patience with us, which is infinite;" Mrs. +Keith answered low and reverently; "let us bear with her a little +longer. But indeed, I do not know that we could fill her place with any +one who would be more competent or satisfactory in any way." + +"I'm afraid that is quite true; but it does seem too hard that such a +woman as my gifted, intellectual, accomplished mother should have to +spend her life in the drudgery of housework, cooking, mending and taking +care of babies." + +"No, dear; you are taking a wrong view of it. God appoints our lot; he +chooses all our changes for us; Jesus, the God-man, dignified manual +labor by making it his own employment during a great part of his life on +earth; and 'it is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and +the servant as his Lord.' + +"Besides, what sweeter work can a mother have than the care and training +of her own offspring?" + +"But then the cooking, mother, and all the rest of it!" + +"Well, dear, the health, and consequently the happiness and usefulness +of my husband and children, depend very largely upon the proper +preparation of their food; so that is no mean task." + +"Ah, mother, you are determined to make out a good case and not to +believe yourself hardly used," said Mildred, smiling, yet speaking in a +half petulant tone. + +"No, I am not hardly used; my life is crowned with mercies, of the very +least of which I am utterly unworthy," her mother answered, gently. + +"And, my child, I find that any work is sweet when done 'heartily as to +the Lord and not unto men!' What sweeter than a service of love! 'Be ye +followers of God as dear children.'" + +"Yes," said Aunt Wealthy, coming in at the moment; "'as dear children,' +not as servants or slaves, but doing the will of God from the heart; not +that we may be saved, but because we are saved; our obedience not the +ground of our acceptance; but the proof of our love to Him, our faith in +Him who freely gives us the redemption purchased for us by His own +blood. Oh what a blessed religion it is! how sweet to belong to Jesus +and to owe everything to him!" + +"I feel it so," Mrs. Keith said, with an undertone of deep joy in her +sweet voice. + +"And I," whispered Mildred, laying her head in her mother's lap as she +knelt at her side, as had been her wont in childish days. + +They were all silent after that for many minutes, sitting there in the +gloaming; Mrs. Keith's hand passing softly, caressingly over her +daughter's hair and cheeks; then Mildred spoke. + +"Let me try it, mother dear; teaching the children, I mean. You know +there is nothing helps one more to be thorough; and I want to fit myself +for teaching if ever I should have my own living to earn." + +"Well, well, my child, you may try." + +"That's my own dear mother!" exclaimed the girl joyfully, starting up to +catch and kiss the hand that had been caressing her. "Now, I must +arrange my plans. I shall have to be very systematic in order to do all +I wish." + +"Yes," said Miss Stanhope, "one can accomplish very little without +system, but often a great deal with it." + +Mildred set to work with cheerfulness and a great deal of energy and +determination, and showed herself not easily conquered by difficulties; +the rest of that week was given to planning and preparing for her work, +and on the following Monday her long neglected studies were resumed and +her duties as family governess entered upon. + +These took up the morning from nine to twelve, but by early rising and +diligence she was able to do a good deal about the house before the hour +for lessons to begin. + +Her mother insisted that she must have an hour for recreation every +afternoon, taking a walk when the weather permitted; then another for +study, and the two with Mr. Lord left but a small margin for anything +else; the sewing and reading with mother and sisters usually filled out +the remainder of the day. + +Sometimes her plans worked well and she was able to go through the round +of self-imposed duties with satisfaction to herself and to that of her +mother and aunt, who looked on with great interest and were ever on the +watch to lend a helping hand and keep hindrances out of her way. + +But these last would come now and again, in the shape of callers, +accidents, mischievous pranks on the part of the little ones or +delinquencies on that of the maid of all work, till at times Mildred's +patience and determination were sorely tried. + +She would grow discouraged, be nearly ready to give up, then summon all +her energies to the task, battle with her difficulties and for a time +rise superior to them. + +But a new foe appeared upon the field and vanquished her. It was the +ague, attacking now one, and now another of the family; soon they were +seldom all well and it was no uncommon thing for two or three to be +down with it at once. Viny took it and left, and they hardly knew +whether to be glad or sorry. + +Governessing had to be given up, nursing and housework substituted for +that and for sewing and reading, while still for some weeks longer the +lessons with Mr. Lord were kept up; but at length they also had to be +dropped, for Mildred herself succumbed to the malaria and grew too weak, +ill and depressed for study. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twelfth. + + "We're not ourselves, + When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind + To suffer with the body." + --SHAKS. KING LEAR. + + +THE neighbors were very kind; coming in with offers of assistance in +nursing the sick, bringing dainties to tempt their appetites, +encouraging them with the assurance that they were but sharing the +common lot; "almost everybody expected a chill about once in two or +three weeks; especially this time of year; and they weren't often +disappointed, and thought themselves fortunate if they could stop at one +paroxysm till the week came round again. + +"Quinine would generally stop it, and when people had a long siege of +the ague, they often got used to it so far as to manage to keep up and +about their work; if not at all times at least between the chills, which +as a general thing came only every other day. + +"Indeed it was no unusual thing for them to feel quite bright and well +on the intermediate day." + +The Lightcaps were not a whit behind the others in these little acts of +kindness. Rhoda Jane forgot her envy of Mildred on learning that she was +sick and seemed to have lost her relish for food. + +One morning Miss Stanhope, who was getting breakfast, was favored with +an early call from Miss Lightcap. + +She appeared at the open kitchen door basket in hand, and marched in +without stopping to knock. "I heerd Miss Mildred was sick and couldn't +eat nothin'," she said; "and I knowed you hadn't no garden sass o' your +own; so I fetched over some tomats; we have a lot this year, real +splendid big ones, and there ain't nothin' tastes better when you're +gettin' over the agur, than tomats. + +"Just you cut 'em up with vinegar and pepper and salt, and if she don't +say they're first-rate eatin'--I'm mistaken; that's all." + +"Thank you, you're very kind, Miss Nightcap," said Aunt Wealthy, looking +so pleased and grateful that the girl could not take the misnomer as an +intentional insult. + +"Pshaw!" she said, "it's nothin'; we've plenty of 'em." + +Having emptied her basket upon the table, she was starting for the door, +but looked back. + +"Say, do you want a girl?" + +"Yes, indeed, if we can get one that's worth anything." + +"Well, Celestia Ann Hunsinger told me she wouldn't mind coming here for +a spell; 'cause she wants money to git new clo'es." + +"What sort of a girl is she?" + +"Pretty high-strung and spunky, but some punkuns for work." + +"Thank you. I'll tell Mrs. Keith about it, and send you word directly +after breakfast." + +"All right. I guess she'll come if you want her." + +She was scarcely gone when the door at the foot of the stairs opened, +and Mildred's pale face appeared. + +"Aunt Wealthy, it is too bad to see you at work here. Let me get +breakfast. I do think I can. The children are dressing each other, +mother has the baby and won't let me do anything up there." + +"Well, you'll not find me a whit more tractable," returned Miss +Stanhope. "Let you get breakfast, indeed! I'd be worse than a brute if I +did. + +"Go into the sitting-room and lie down on the lounge," she continued +taking up one of the finest tomatoes and beginning to divest it of its +skin, "and I'll bring you something presently that I really hope will +taste good to you. + +"That Miss Heavycap brought you a present. She's not over refined, but +good-hearted, I think, in spite of her rude ways and rough talk." + +"Yes, they have been very kind and neighborly; I wish they were the sort +of people one could enjoy being intimate with," Mildred said, languidly. +"Auntie, let me skin those tomatoes." + +"Child, you look ready to drop." + +"Do I?" smiling faintly, "well, I'll sit down to it. I really can't let +you do everything. How fine and large these are; are they what Rhoda +Jane brought?" + +"Yes; for your breakfast. I hope you'll relish them; and the corn-pone I +have in the oven, too." + +"See here! haven't I learned how?" cried Rupert exultingly, stepping in +at the open door and holding up a foaming bucket of milk "Viny never +persuaded old Suky to give us so much." + +"It's beautiful," said Aunt Wealthy, taking it from him with a +congratulatory smile. "I'll strain it at once before the cream begins +to rise." + +"I'll carry the pans down cellar. And what more can I do, auntie?" + +"You may draw the butter up out of the well, presently, when breakfast +is quite ready." + +"And let it down again when the meal's over. Hello, Milly! is that you? +how white and weak you look!" + +"Yes," she said, laying the last tomato in the dish, "I believe I'll +have to lie down, as Aunt Wealthy bade me, till breakfast is ready." + +She tottered into the sitting-room and laid herself down on the lounge +feeling so miserably weak and forlorn, so homesick for the old home +where they had all enjoyed good health, that the tears would come in +spite of every effort to restrain them. + +Breakfast was to be eaten here; the table was already set, neatly, too, +with snowy cloth, shining silver and delicate china; but there was a +look of discomfort about the room that vexed and tried her orderly soul; +sand on the carpet, dust on the furniture, children's toys and a few +articles of clothing scattered here and there--and she had no strength +to rise and put it in order. + +"And no one else is much better able," she sighed to herself, "for Aunt +Wealthy, mother and Zillah have all had chills within a week. Oh dear, +this dreadful country! why did we ever come to it!" + +She heard her father's voice in the kitchen. + +"Here, Aunt Wealthy, is some steak; rather better than usual, I think; +can we have a bit broiled for breakfast?" and Miss Stanhope's cheery +tones in reply, + +"Yes, Stuart, I'll put it right on. I'm so glad you succeeded in getting +some fresh meat. It's something of a rarity to us in these days, and I +hope they'll all relish it, Marcia and Milly, especially; for they both +need something to build up their strength." + +"Where are they? not able to be up?" + +His tone was anxious and concerned. + +Mildred did not catch the words of Miss Stanhope's reply, but the door +opened, her father came to her side, stooped over her and kissed her +pale cheek tenderly. + +"How are you, daughter? Don't be discouraged; we'll have you all right +before long." + +"O father, I'm so out of heart," she sobbed, raising herself to put her +arms round his neck and lay her head on his shoulder. + +"Oh, that won't do! you must be brave and hopeful," he said, stroking +her hair. "You're not so very ill, my child; ague is not a dangerous +disease." + +"It isn't that, but there's so much to be done and nobody to do it; +we're all so poorly." + +"Don't fret about the work; we'll find some one to do it." + +"But they don't do it right. Viny never would spread up a bed straight +or sweep or dust without leaving half the dirt behind her. And when she +washed she faded the calicoes, shrank the flannels and made the white +clothes a wretched color, though she tore them to pieces with hard +rubbing and wringing." + +"Well, we'll have just to try not to mind these trifles or be too +particular," he said, soothingly. "Ah, here comes the breakfast," as +Miss Stanhope, Rupert, Zillah and Ada trooped in, each bearing a dish, +"let me help you to the table." + +"I don't feel in the least hungry," she objected. + +"Then eat to please father." + +"And mother too," said Mrs. Keith coming in with Baby Annis in her arms. +"Come, daughter, dear, auntie has prepared an excellent meal for us. +With some help from our kind neighbors too, I hear." + +"Yes," assented Miss Stanhope, "and I've directed them according to +preparations and they do taste good. Come now; when I see you eating, +I'll tell you a bit of news the girl brought besides." + +Mildred laughed, felt her spirits begin to rise, tasted the tomatoes, +pronounced them excellent and went on to make a good hearty meal. + +The world looked brighter after that. + +It had been decided to try Miss Hunsinger if she could be got. Mr. Keith +went in search of her shortly after breakfast, and within an hour she +was duly installed into office. + +She was a tall, strong woman with a large proportion of bone and muscle; +ditto of self-conceit and impudence united to uncommon energy and +decision, and a faculty of turning off a great amount of work; doing it +thoroughly well too. + +At first she seemed a great improvement upon Viny, and Mildred's heart +rejoiced in a complete sweeping, dusting and setting to rights of the +whole house. + +The children had been sent out to play in the shade of the sapling +grove, while Mrs. Keith superintended the operations of the new help, +and Miss Stanhope and Mildred, in the parlor, busied themselves, the one +with the week's mending for the family, the other over her sometime +neglected studies. + +"She's a real new broom--is my Celestia Ann," said Mrs. Keith, coming +cheerily in, "leaves no dirty corners or cobwebs, no wrinkles in sheets +or spreads." + +"O, mother, what a blessing?" cried Mildred, "if she'll only stay so." + +"Ah, there's the rub! she cannot be a rose without a thorn. What was it +Rhoda Jane said of her, Aunt Wealthy?" + +The old lady reflected a moment ere she answered. + +"Large potatoes, I think it was, Marcia; and I understood it to mean +that she was a good worker. Something also that gave me the impression +that she might be high-tempered and saucy. But as you say, we cannot +expect thorns without roses." + +"She's getting dinner now," remarked Mrs. Keith, "and seems to feel as +much at home there as about her other work. I've told her what to get, +and showed her where everything is; and now I shall leave her to her own +devices; and see what will be the result." + +Half an hour later the door of the parlor, where now the whole family +were gathered, was thrown open with the announcement, + +"Dinner's ready; all on the table here." + +Having given the summons Miss Hunsinger rushed back to the table in +advance of the family, seated herself, spread out her elbows upon it and +with a nonchalant air said, "Come, folks, it's all ready; set right up." + +There was a rapid exchange of glances among the party addressed, but not +a word of remonstrance or disapproval was uttered. Physically unequal to +the work that must be done, they were helpless in the hands of their +"help." + +The meal was begun in a profound silence which she was the first to +break. + +"Ther's some hot biscuits out thar," with a jerk of the head toward the +kitchen door. + +"You may bring some in," said Mrs. Keith. + +"Just let one o' your gals do it this time, I will next. Turn about fair +play you know." + +Mildred's eyes flashed, and she opened her lips to speak; then closed +them firmly as she thought of the consequences to her mother and aunt +should this girl be sent away before she was able to take up even a part +of the burden of the work. + +"I'll go, mother," said Zillah, hastily leaving her place, "I don't mind +it; but if I were paid for doing it, I would want to earn my money by +doing it myself." + +"Well, my dear, what do you think of your new help?" queried Mr. Keith, +mischievously when they had withdrawn to the privacy of the parlor. + +"The thorn is rather large and sharp," she answered laughing, "but we +are not the only people in the world who must make a choice of evils." + +"For my part," said Mildred severely, "I think it's a species of +dishonesty to take pay for doing the work of a family and then ask them +to do it themselves." + +"Aren't you a trifle too hard on her, dear?" said Miss Stanhope. "It was +very forward and impertinent, but I think hardly dishonest, because she +is not expected to do quite all the work of the family." + +"Here comes Emmaretta Lightcap," said Ada, who was standing in the open +doorway. "She has an old faded calico dress, and sunbonnet and bare +feet, just as usual; and a tin pan in her hands." + +"Come in, Emmaretta." + +The little girl stepped over the threshold and approaching Mrs. Keith +said, + +"Here's more tomats mother sent you and a bird for her," pointing to +Mildred, "Gote he's been out shootin' and he sent it to her." + +"He's very kind, take him my thanks for it," said Mildred, coloring, and +vexed with herself for doing so. "Please tell your sister, too, that I +thank her for the tomatoes and that I liked them very much." + +"Are you a comin' to our school? cause Miss Damaris, she said you was," +said the child, turning to Ada, while waiting for her pan, which Zillah +had carried away to empty it. + +"No! no, indeed!" cried Ada; "I don't like her, and wouldn't go there +for anything!" + +"Hush, hush, Ada! you don't know Miss Drybread," said Mrs. Keith, quite +surprised at the outbreak. + +"Yes, mother; don't you remember she was here one day?" + +"Rhoda Jane, she's comin' over to see you this evenin'," said the little +maid, taking her pan and departing. + +Mildred's countenance fell; she appreciated Rhoda Jane's kindness; but +could not enjoy her society. + +"Why, Ada," said Mr. Keith, "I knew nothing of your dislike to Miss +Drybread; and so when she met me in the street this morning and asked +me to send her a scholar, I thought of Milly's sickness and that she +must not have so much to do, and promised that you should go." + +"O father!" exclaimed the child beginning to cry. + +Then they all tried to comfort her, and finally she grew in a measure +reconciled to her fate. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Thirteenth. + + "'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none + Go just alike, yet each believes his own." + --POPE. + + +"YOU hain't returned more'n our fust call; and then you didn't stay but +ten minutes," Rhoda Jane said in a half-offended tone, to Mildred, "And +we're such near neighbors too; we'd ought to be real sociable." + +Mildred apologized by stating the fact that her time was very fully +occupied. + +"Well you and Claudina Chetwood seems to be pretty thick. But the +Chetwoods is richer'n we are, an' I s'pose that makes it easier to find +time to visit with 'em." + +"The riches don't make any difference," said Mildred, flushing; "and +I've heard that the Chetwoods are not very rich." + +"Well, they hold their heads high anyway. + +"I'm agoin' to have a rag carpet party pretty soon, and give you an +invite, and if you don't come I'll be so mad I won't never come near you +again." + +"Perhaps I may be sick," sighed Mildred, half hoping in her secret heart +that so it might fall out. + +"Oh, then of course I couldn't be mad; but I'll try to fix it when +you're well." + +"When is it to be? and what is it like?" + +"Soon's mother and me gits the rags all cut; 'bout a week from now, I +reckon. Why a passel o' girls gits together and sews the rags and winds +'em up into balls, and after awhile the boys come in and then we have +lots o' fun and good things to eat. Now I must run home. Good-bye, mind +you're to be sure to come." + +This was Friday. On the ensuing Monday morning little Ada set out +sorrowfully for Miss Drybread's school, in company with Emmaretta and +Minerva Lightcap. + +Mildred was alone in the parlor when the child came back at noon. + +"Well, pussy, how did you like it?" she asked with a sympathetic smile. + +"Not at all. O Mildred, she isn't a lady or a Christian; for she +deceives; she acts lies; she made a naughty girl believe she was going +to roast her to death. There's a stove and a big oven in it; and she +said she was going to put her in there and build up a hot fire and cook +her." + +"Did the girl believe it?" + +"Yes; she was dreadfully frightened; she screamed like everything and +promised that indeed, and indeed she'd be good; and Miss Drybread let +her go to her seat." + +"That was acting a lie and telling one too; and anybody who would do so, +is unfit to have the care of children," said Mildred. "I shall tell +father and mother about it, and I'm very sure they won't send you any +longer than this one quarter anyhow." + +"Mildred, she doesn't look like a lady either; she doesn't wear anything +white round her neck; just a pink calico cape and an apron of the same, +and another kind of calico dress." + +"No matter about that if she only acted and talked right. She's neat and +clean, I suppose?" + +"Yes; I didn't see any soil on her clothes." + +"Well, learn your lessons well and behave nicely, so that she can't find +any excuse for ill treating you." + +Mildred looked upon the expected carpet rag party with nearly as great +aversion as Ada felt for her new school, but was a good deal relieved on +learning from Claudina Chetwood that she, too, had been notified of its +approach and expected to attend. + +"I didn't know that you visited the Lightcaps," said Mildred. + +"Oh, yes; they are not cultivated people, or very refined; but they're +clever folks and kind neighbors; especially in times of sickness; and +would feel dreadfully hurt if one should decline their invitations. +They're not the sort of people we exchange formal calls with; indeed +they never make them; but, as mother says, while society here is in the +crude state it is now, it will not do to insist upon making associates +of those only who are congenial." + +"Or quite belong to our station in life?" + +"Yes; we can not divide up into many circles, and must be willing to mix +to some extent, with all who can lay claim to respectability and moral +worth." + +"I'm afraid I'm very proud," said Mildred laughing and blushing. "I've +never been used to associating with any one so rough and uncouth, and it +goes a good deal against the grain." + +"Perhaps it isn't exactly pride," suggested Claudina; "they offend your +taste; they do mine, I know; but surely we can bear that rather than +give them the pain of thinking that we despise them." + +"Yes, indeed," assented Mildred heartily; and from that moment ceased +to allow herself to hope that something would occur to give her a +plausible excuse for staying away from Rhoda Jane's merry-making. + +She repeated Claudina's remarks to her mother and aunt and found that +they fully approved of the sentiments she had expressed. + +"Time was when I should have been very unwilling to see you consort with +that class on terms of equality," said Mrs. Keith, "but circumstances +alter cases." + +The invitation came for Friday afternoon and evening; Rhoda Jane hailing +Rupert as he passed and sending it through him. + +Mildred was nearly in her usual health and accepted without a demur; but +puzzled to know what to wear, and at what hour to go, went to Claudina +for instruction on these important points. + +"We are invited to work, you know," said Miss Chetwood, laughing, "so +will be expected early; we should not be later than one o'clock, I +think, and as it is not very nice work--carpet rags being apt to be +dusty--we should not wear anything that will not wash. I shall put on a +calico dress and carry a big work apron with me." + +"Then I shall do the same." + +"I wish you would; for there will be some girls there who haven't the +means to dress and would feel badly if you or I outshone them very +much." + +"I can't go before three, or half-past, though; on account of having to +recite to Mr. Lord." + +"Never mind; I daresay it's just as well; for you'll get quite enough of +both the work and the company." + +Following out the instructions received, Mildred attired herself for the +occasion with the utmost simplicity; but could not lay aside her +delicate prettiness or a certain air of culture and refinement that made +her more the real lady in her calico, than almost any of her companions +of the afternoon would have been in the richest silk or velvet. + +Just as she was ready to go, Ada came in from school, crying heartily. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mildred, meeting her on the threshold and +turning back full of sympathy. + +"I--I've lost my place in the spelling-class," sobbed the child, "and I +didn't miss a word either. You know I got up head the first day, and +I've kept there ever since--'way above all those big, big girls, some of +'em as big as you, Milly." + +"But how did you get down if you didn't miss? was it for bad behavior?" + +"No; but she upset the class and made us all draw lots for our places, +and the one I drew made my place next to the foot." + +"Mother, do you hear that?" asked Mildred, hotly; for anything like +abuse or unjust treatment of her little brothers or sisters was sure to +rouse her ire. + +"Yes," Mrs. Keith said, "but Ada, you like the fun of getting up in your +class, and you could never have that if you were always at the head." + +This seemed a new idea to the child, and she smiled faintly through her +tears. + +But the wound was so deep it must bleed awhile, and the briny drops fell +fast again. + +She was an uncommonly good speller for a child of her age, and had taken +great pride in keeping her place, working very hard to be able to do so; +and this sudden, unexpected downfall, due to no failure on her part, +almost overwhelmed her with a sense of loss, humiliation and injustice. + +Mildred waited; she couldn't bear to go and leave Ada in such distress. + +"Don't cry," she said, stroking her hair caressingly while the mother +wiped away the fast flowing tears with her own soft white handkerchief, +and kissed the flushed cheek, "don't cry, you'll soon get up again." + +"And I shall write a note to Miss Drybread, telling her that I cannot +approve of drawing lots to decide so trivial a matter;" said Mrs. Keith. +"It seems to me very wrong; because it is an appeal to God. 'The lot is +cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord!' It +might be well enough to turn the class round occasionally, or in some +other way to give the poor scholars a chance to rise; but this +proceeding I so highly disapprove of that I shall not allow you to take +part in it again." + +"I wish you'd take me away out of her school, mother, oh do," pleaded +the little girl. + +"You shall not be kept there long," Mrs. Keith said. "But Mildred, +child," she added gayly, "you must hurry away or I fear you'll not earn +your supper." + +A dozen maidens, mostly under twenty years of age, were collected in +"the front room" at Mr. Lightcap's. A large clothes basket filled with +many colored rags, torn or cut into strips of various lengths, occupied +a conspicuous place upon the floor. + +A number of girls were grouped about it and armed with needles and +thread, scissors and thimbles, were busily engaged picking out the +strips, sewing the ends together and winding the long strings thus +formed, into balls; others had filled their laps and seated themselves +here and there about the room. + +They seemed a very merry company, laughing and chatting as they worked. + +"Oh, how d'ye do?" said Rhoda Jane, catching sight of Mildred as she +drew near the door, which was standing open; "thought you wasn't comin' +at all. Walk right in. Let me take your sunbonnet. Here's a seat for you +'long side of Miss Chetwood. Guess you're better acquainted with her +than any body else, without it's Viny Apple. + +"Ladies, this is Miss Keith." + +"I don't need no hintroduction," laughed Miss Apple. "'Ope you're well, +Miss Milly." + +The others looked up with a nod and a murmured word or two, as Rhoda +Jane named each in turn; then they seemed to take up the thread of their +discourse where it had been dropped, while Mildred tied on her apron, +took the chair assigned her, threaded a needle, and helping herself, by +invitation, from Claudina's lap, began her first ball, at the same time +explaining that her lessons had detained her. + +"You must be goin' to be dreadful learned," commented Rhoda Jane, +filling Mildred's lap from the basket, "I wouldn't be you for something. +I hate books and always did." + +"Are we all here now?" asked some one. + +"All but Damaris Drybread. She's oldish for the rest of us, but she's +the schoolma'am, you know, and likes to be invited. And though she's +late comin'--yonder she is now--she works dreadful fast when she does +get at it." + +Mildred overheard a whisper not complimentary to the coming woman, + +"Pshaw! I wish she hadn't been asked. She spoils everything; for she's +as solemn as a funeral and 'pears to think it's a sin to laugh." + +"Yes," assented another voice, "that's so! and she never forgets that +she's a schoolma'am; but takes it upon herself to tell you your duty +without waiting to be invited to." + +But now Miss Drybread was upon the threshold. + +"Good evening," she said, in solemn tone and with a stiff little bow, +addressing her salutation to the company in general; then giving her +sunbonnet to Rhoda Jane, she seated herself in her usual bolt upright +manner and fell to work. + +Her presence acted as a damper upon the spirits of the younger portion +of the party. A dead silence succeeded the merry chatter and laughter of +a moment before. + +Mildred had cared little for that while it went on, but it vexed her now +that this woman, for whom, principally on Ada's account, she began to +feel a decided dislike, should have it in her power thus to spoil the +enjoyment of others; and she determined that it should not be. + +Raising her voice that all might hear, she told an amusing anecdote that +set everybody to laughing except the "schoolma'am," whose increasing +solemnity of aspect seemed to reprove their levity. + +"Oh, that was first-rate! do tell us another," cried Rhoda Jane, holding +her sides. "I had no idea you could be so funny." + +Mildred went on with anecdotes, jests, conundrums, Claudina and one or +two others contributing their quota also, till with the ruder ones the +mirth became somewhat boisterous. + +As it died down again, Miss Drybread spoke. + +"Life, permit me to observe to you all, is too serious and solemn to be +spent in laughing and joking. Allow me to say, Miss Keith, that I am +astonished that you, a church member, should indulge in such +frivolity." + +"Do you think a Christian should always wear a long face, ma'am?" asked +Mildred, saucily, her tell-tale countenance showing all too plainly the +contempt and aversion she felt for her self-constituted censor. + +"Yes; I think that folks that profess that they've got religion ought to +be grave and sober, and let the world see that they don't belong to it." + +"As if there was any harm in innocent mirth!" exclaimed Mildred, "as if +there was anybody in the world with so good a right to be glad and happy +as one who knows that Jesus loves him! 'Rejoice in the Lord, ye +righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart,' The Bible +is full of commands to God's people to rejoice, to be glad, to sing for +joy; and the best Christians I know seem to me the happiest people on +earth." + +"You're rather young to set up your judgment as to who's the best +Christian and who's got religion and who hasn't," returned the spinster +bridling. + +"Well, none o' your long-faced, sour-looking Christians for me!" +exclaimed Rhoda Jane, "I'd never want to get religion till the last +minute, if I wasn't to be 'lowed to laugh and joke no more." + +"I can not read the heart, nor can any other human creature," said +Mildred, replying to Miss Drybread's last remark; "but Jesus says, 'By +their fruits ye shall know them.' 'He that keepeth my commandments he it +is that loveth me;' and when you live with people and see them +constantly serving God with gladness, walking in his ways, rejoicing in +his love, making the Bible always their rule of faith and practice, +showing far more solicitude about heavenly than about earthly things, +both for themselves and their children, I think you may be very sure +they are real Christians." + +"I think so too!" said Claudina emphatically. + +"So do I," "and I," chimed in several other voices, "but do you know any +such folks?" + +"I have been describing my father and mother," Mildred said. "And my +dear Aunt Wealthy too." + +"That's a fact," spoke up Viny. "You 'ave to live with folks to find 'em +out, and I've lived there and I never seen better Christians; they don't +keep their religion for Sundays, but Mr. Keith 'e reads in the good book +hevery night and mornin' and prays just like a minister--honly not so +long--and they sing 'ymns. And I never 'eard a cross word pass between +Mr. and Mrs. Keith--or Mrs. Stan'ope heither, and they never threaten +the children they'll do something hawful like breakin' their bones or +skinnin' of 'em alive, has some folks does; but just speaks to 'em quiet +like, sayin' exactly what they mean: and they're always minded too." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Fourteenth. + + "Jest and youthful jollity, + Quips and cranks and wanton wiles, + Nods and becks and wreathed smiles." + + +"THERE had better be less talk, if these rags are all to be sewed +to-day," remarked Miss Drybread, taking a fresh supply from the basket, +then straightening herself till she was, if possible, more erect than +before. + +"I can talk and work too; my needle haint stopped because my tongue was +runnin'," retorted Viny; "and it strikes me you've been doin' your share +as well's the rest." + +"My second ball's done," said Claudina, tossing it up. + +"A good big one too, and wound real tight," said Rhoda Jane taking it, +giving it a squeeze, then rolling it into a corner where quite a pile +had collected. + +"How quick you are, Claudina," said Mildred. + +"Not so very; I've been at it quite a good while. Some folks can pretty +nearly make two to my one." And she glanced toward Miss Drybread who was +just beginning to wind her second. + +"But 'tain't everybody that winds em as good and solid as you do, +Claudina," said another girl significantly; "windin' loose can make a +ball grow fast, I tell you!" + +"'All is not gold that glitters,'" quoted Mildred. + +"I'd begin to wind if I were you," said Claudina, "you have quite a pile +there and it might get into a tangle." + +"Thank you. I'm new to the business," said Mildred laughing, "and shall +take the advice of an older hand." + +"Supper's ready," announced Minerva, opening the kitchen door. + +"Put down your rags and walk right out, ladies," said Rhoda Jane. + +"It seems to me that I, for one, need some preparation," said Mildred, +dropping hers and looking at her hands. + +"Oh yes, we'll wash out here," said Rhoda Jane, leading the way. + +A tin bucket full of water, a dipper and washbasin, all bright from a +recent scouring, stood on a bench in the shed at the outer kitchen +door; a piece of brown soap lay there also, and a clean crash towel hung +on a nail in the wall close by. + +The girls used these in turn, laughing and chatting merrily the while, +then gathered about the table, which was bountifully spread with good +plain country fare--chicken, ham, dried beef, pickles, tomatoes, +cucumbers and radishes, cheese, eggs, pie, cake and preserves, in +several varieties, hot cakes and cold bread, tea and coffee. + +None of the family partook with their guests except Rhoda Jane; they +would eat afterwards; and Mrs. Lightcap busied herself now in waiting +upon the table; filling the tea and coffee cups in the shed where the +cooking stove stood during the months of the year when its heat was +objectionable in the house. + +"I don't know as we've earned our supper, Mis' Lightcap," remarked one +of the girls, stirring her tea; "we hain't begun to git all them rags +sewed up yet." + +"Well, then, I'll just set you to work again as soon as you're done +eatin'; that'll do just as well; folks don't always pay in advance, you +know." + +"And if we don't get through 'fore the boys come we'll make them help," +said Rhoda Jane. + +"What boys?" queried Mildred; whereat several of the girls giggled. + +"Why the fellows, of course," laughed Miss Lightcap; "the boys is what +we mostly call 'em; though some of 'em's pretty old, I should judge, for +that." + +"Yes, there's Rocap Stubblefield, must be thirty at least," said one. + +"And Nick Ransquattle's twenty-five if he's a day," remarked another. + +"Well, the rest's young enough," said Mrs. Lightcap. "Pass that cake +there, Rhoda Jane. There's my Gotobed just turned twenty-one, and York +Mocker, and Wallace Ormsby, and Claudina's brother Will's all younger by +some months or a year or so." + +The meal concluded, the work went on quite briskly again, Mildred +catching now and then a whispered word or two about the desirableness of +getting through with it in time to have some fun; but the raw material +for several more balls still remained in the basket when "the boys" +began to come. + +Gotobed was naturally among the first. He was quite "slicked up," as +Rhoda Jane elegantly expressed it, though his toilet had been made under +difficulties. + +The only legitimate way of reaching the second story and his Sunday +clothes, was by a stairway leading up from the front room, where the +girls were. + +The windows of his bedroom, however, looked out upon the leanto which +formed the kitchen part of the building and whose roof was not many feet +higher than that of the shed. + +Watching his opportunity for doing so unseen, he climbed upon the shed, +gained the roof of the leanto, and entered his room by the window. + +There was nothing of the dandy about the honest fellow, yet somehow +dressing was a slow business with him to-night; he stood before a little +square of looking-glass hanging on the wall, tying and retying his +cravat till it was too dark to see, then giving up in sheer despair went +down over the roof as he had come, and sought his mother, who, with the +help of Emmaretta and Minerva, was washing dishes in the kitchen. + +"My land!" she exclaimed, as he came in, "what a time you've been up +there. I never knowed you to take half as long to dress afore." + +"My fingers are all thumbs," he said, a hot flush overspreading his +sunburnt face, "I can't tie this decent nohow at all." + +"Well, just wait till I can wipe my hands, and I'll do it. There, +that'll do; the girls ain't agoin' to look partickler hard at that bit +o' black ribbing." + +"Maybe not, but I'm obleeged to you all the same for fixin' it right. Is +it time to go in?" + +"Of course, if you want to." + +He passed out at the back door and through the yard into the street. He +was bashful and did not like to face such a bevy of girls alone; at the +thought of addressing one of their number in especial--Mildred Keith--he +felt himself grow hot and uncomfortable. He had been admiring her from a +distance all these weeks, but had never met her, and much as he desired +an acquaintance, his courage seemed hardly equal to seeking it now. + +How rough and boorish, how awkward and ill-bred he would appear to one +so delicate and refined. + +He waited about a little, till joined by a fellow mechanic, Nicholas +Ransquattle, when they went in together. + +This was a wiser step than Gotobed knew; for his well-made, stalwart +figure showed to good advantage beside that of Nicholas, who was short +and thick-set, had scarcely any neck, moved like a wooden man, and +carried his head thrown back on his shoulders; he had a wooden face, +too; large featured and stolid in expression. + +But he was not troubled with bashfulness or any fear that his society +would be other than most acceptable to any one upon whom he might see +fit to bestow it. + +"Good evening, ladies; I'm happy to meet you all," he said, making a +sweeping bow to the company as he entered, hat in hand. "And I hope I +see you well." + +"Good evening," responded several voices. "Good-evening, Mr. Lightcap." + +"Find yourselves seats and we'll give you employment, threading our +needles for us." + +Rhoda Jane was snuffing the candles. Hastily laying down her snuffers, +she introduced the young men to Mildred, and dexterously managed to seat +Ransquattle on the farther side of the room, leaving the field clear for +her brother; for an empty chair stood invitingly at Miss Keith's side. + +Gotobed took it, and, almost wondering at his own audacity, addressed +his divinity with a remark upon the weather--that never-failing resource +when all other topics elude us. + +She answered with gracious sweetness, + +"Yes it has been a lovely day, Mr. Lightcap." + +What should he say next. + +"I--I guess you never sewed carpet rags afore?" + +"Is it my awkwardness at the business that makes you think so?" she +returned, with a quizzical look and smile, as she lifted her fine eyes +to his face. + +"No, no, no sirree! ma'am, I mean," he stammered growing red and hot; +"you do it beautiful!" + +"Let me give you some work," she said, taking pity on his embarrassment; +"will you thread this needle for me?" + +"And then mine, please," put in Claudina, who was again seated near her +friend; then to his further relief she launched out into a reminiscence +of a candy pulling they had both attended the year before. + +Others of "the boys" came flocking in, the work was speedily finished, +there was some tossing back and forth of the balls, amid rather +uproarious laughter; but some of them unwound and became entangled; and +so that sport was given up; the girls washed their hands as before +supper; Blindman's Buff, Puss in the Corner and other games were played +with as much zest as if the players had been a parcel of children; then +refreshments followed, served up in the kitchen; huckleberries with +cream and sugar, watermelons, and muskmelons, doughnuts and cup cake. + +At eleven o'clock the party broke up and the young men saw the girls +safely home, Gotobed being so fortunate as to secure the privilege of +waiting upon Mildred to her father's door. + +She would, perhaps, have slightly preferred the attentions of Yorke +Mocker, or Wallace Ormsby; both of whom she had met before and who were +young men of much better education and much more polish and refinement +than poor Gotobed. + +It was Mrs. Keith who admitted her daughter; every one else in the house +having retired. + +"Had you a pleasant time?" she asked, with a motherly smile. + +"I heard some of the others, as they went away, saying it had been +perfectly splendid," Mildred answered with an amused little laugh, "but +the fun was of rather too rough a sort for me." + +"Games?" + +"Yes, ma'am; and I took part until they began kissing; when I retired to +the ranks of the spectators." + +"That was right," Mrs. Keith said emphatically. + +"And what do you think, mother?" laughed Mildred. "Viny Apple was one of +the guests. The idea of being invited out to meet your ci-devant +housemaid and cook! isn't it too funny?" + +"Well, dear, let us be thankful that Celestine Ann was not invited also; +leaving me to get tea to-night," Mrs. Keith said, joining in the laugh. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Fifteenth. + + "The knight, perusing this epistle, + Believ'd h' had brought her to his whistle. + And read it like a jocund lover, + With great applause t' himself twice over." + --BUTLER'S HUDIBRAS. + + +RHODA JANE had set the ball in motion and for several weeks similar +festivities were much in vogue among the young people of Pleasant +Plains. There were other rag carpet bees, some quilting, berrying and +nutting parties, boatings on the river, "buggy rides," and rides on +horseback. + +Then as the days grew short and the evenings long, a singing school was +started. It met once a week at Damaris Drybread's schoolroom, was +largely attended by the youth of both sexes, quite as much for the sport +to be got out of it as for the improvement of their vocal powers. + +Each carried thither a note book and a tallow candle, and at the end of +the term paid his or her proportion of the salary of the teacher--one +Timothy Buzzard, from a neighboring town. + +Not the fittest name in the world for a singing teacher, people said; +but then he couldn't help that, and soon proved himself competent for +what he had undertaken; for imparting instruction at least;--as to +keeping order among his pupils, some of whom were years older than +himself--that he found was quite another thing. Of course there was +often a good deal of misbehavior on the part of silly, giggling girls +and tittering lads which tried his patience, occasionally even beyond +endurance. + +Mildred, Claudina and their friend Lucilla Grange were not of these; but +invariably conducted themselves in a ladylike manner which won the +admiration and gratitude of the sometimes sorely tried teacher, and gave +him a powerful motive to self-control, in the natural desire to win +their respect and esteem. + +These three girls were the belles of the town; Timothy was an unmarried +man, and when he seemed to pay court in a manner, to one or another of +them, several of the young men were inclined to grow wrathy over it, and +to feel that their rights were invaded. + +Will Chetwood, Yorke Mocker, and Wallace Ormsby had become frequent +visitors at Mr. Keith's; though, perhaps not more so in the case of the +latter two, than at the homes of Mildred's two intimate girl friends; +the six formed a coterie of their own and were generally seen together +at the merry-makings; pairing off now in one way now in another. + +Gotobed Lightcap would now and then pluck up courage to step in upon +Mildred of an evening, and was invariably treated politely and kindly, +though not in a way to give undue encouragement. + +He had an instinctive understanding of that, attributed it in a great +measure, to his own awkward, ungainly ways, and looked with envy upon +those whose better education and more polished manners made them more +acceptable companions. + +Nicholas Ransquattle was not one of that number, yet esteemed himself +such, and annoyed our heroine not a little by his unwelcome attentions. + +They were declined whenever it could be done without positive rudeness, +but vanity and self-conceit are often very blind. + +Nicholas was quite a reader for a man of his station and limited +opportunities; his family were proud of his attainments; he even more +so; he was given to displaying them on all possible occasions; often +wasting a great deal of breath in the charitable effort to enlighten the +ignorance of his whilom associates. + +He would call at Mr. Keith's early in the evening, and if occasion +offered, talk to Mildred by the hour of his "abstruse studies" and the +lighter literature with which he found it necessary to "unbend his mind +from them," till she voted him an intolerable bore, and he became the +laughing stock of her younger brothers and sisters, who found his +clumsy, lumbering movements, self-conceit, and egotistical discourse so +mirth-provoking that they learned to be on the lookout for him and to +find excuses for remaining in the room while he staid; in which last +endeavor they received every encouragement from Mildred. + +Meanwhile so blinded by egotism was the man, that he supposed himself an +object of great admiration to them, and had little, if any doubt, that +the whole family were ready to receive him with open arms whenever he +should make formal proposals for Mildred's hand. + +He was a shoemaker by trade; had a little shop in the principal business +street of the town, just opposite the store of Chetwood and +Mocker,--Claudina's brother and cousin. + +Mr. Keith had opened an office next door to them and Wallace Ormsby was +diligently studying law with him. + +Nicholas with a soul above his last, sometimes envied Wallace the +prospective distinction of being a member of one of the learned +professions, and while busied with his waxed ends and awl, considered +the propriety of offering himself to Mr. Keith as a student and +son-in-law both in one. + +He finally decided that the proposal to Mildred should be made first, +the other to follow immediately upon her joyful acceptance. + +Winter had come in earnest; the ground had frozen hard and a heavy fall +of snow upon this good foundation had made excellent sleighing; the +young folk were jubilant over it, and more than one plan for its +enjoyment had been set afloat. + +"Mornin', Nick, see here, I want you to make me a pair o' new boots; put +your very best work on to 'em," said Gotobed Lightcap, entering +Ransquattle's shop after a moment's vigorous kicking and stamping of the +snow from his feet upon the doorstep. + +"All right, Gote. Sit down and off with your boot," returned Nicholas, +putting down his last and taking up his measures. + +"Let me have 'em as soon as you can," said Gotobed. "And be sure to make +'em a neat fit," he added, laughing, "else they'll, maybe be throwed +back on your hands." + +"They'll give satisfaction, you may depend," returned Ransquattle, +straightening himself and throwing his head back on his shoulders in his +accustomed fashion; "whatever I undertake is always done in the best +style." + +"Eh! I hadn't noticed that," said Gotobed, innocently. "You're goin' to +the sleighin' to-morrow night, I s'pose?" + +"Yes; and I calculate to take Mildred Keith." + +"You do!" Lightcap ejaculated in tones of mingled anger and inquiry, his +brows knitting wrathfully, a hot flush dyeing his swarthy cheek. "Have +you asked her? got her consent?" + +"Her? what her? may I ask?" queried Yorke Mocker, coming in as Gotobed's +question was propounded, Wallace Ormsby close at his heels. + +"No, I haven't asked her yet, but I shall in the course of the day; and +now I warn you fellows that she's my choice and you may each pick out +some other girl to take to the sleighing." + +"Indeed! and may I ask how you came by the right to the first pick?" + +"I've as much right to Mildred Keith as anybody else, Mr. Mocker; more, +I should say; for I'm going to marry her." + +There was a simultaneous explosion of astonishment and indignation at +his presumption, from Mocker and Ormsby, while Lightcap, thinking no one +would dare speak with such confident boasting who had not received great +encouragement, turned pale, then flushed again as he picked up and drew +on the boot he had just taken off. + +"I admire the modesty of the man," remarked Ormsby with cutting sarcasm. +"I presume you will find the young lady ready to drop into your arms at +the first hint of your intentions." + +"Of course, since it must be evident to her that she couldn't possibly +do any better," sneered Yorke. "Pray, when did you learn that you were +such a favorite?" + +"I flatter myself that I do not lack discernment," returned Ransquattle, +with unmoved self-complaisance, as he entered his measurements in his +book, then used his coat-tail as a pen-wiper. "Anything I can do for you +this morning, gentlemen?" + +"No," growled Ormsby, "but there's something I can do for you; namely, +save you the trouble of asking Miss Keith to go with you to-morrow night +by informing you that she has already consented to allow me to be her +escort." + +"Is that so?" exclaimed Ransquattle, reddening with anger and +disappointment. "Well, I must say I think it's very unfair; the way you +fellows always get ahead of the rest of us." + +"So do I," said Gotobed, leaving the shop and walking away in moody +discontent; too much chagrined at learning that he had no chance, to +enjoy the discomfiture of Nicholas. + +"There has been no unfair dealing about it," retorted Ormsby, shortly, +as he and Mocker followed Gotobed into the street; in their anger and +excitement quite forgetting the errand that had brought them to +Ransquattle's shop, viz., to borrow his horse and sleigh for the +proposed expedition, in case he were not going to make use of them +himself. + +They crossed the street, joined Will Chetwood in the store, and roused +his ire also by a recital of what had just occurred. + +Ransquattle was angry too. "No unfair dealing about it, eh!" he +muttered, looking after them. "Well, I say there has been; they've +managed to keep other fellows at a distance from the girl without any +regard to her wishes. But I'll soon put a stop to that game, my lads. +See if I don't." + +He took a letter from his pocket as he spoke, unfolded it, handling it +tenderly, and glanced over the contents with a smile of +self-congratulation. + +"Ah, ha! we'll see if she'll be able to resist this!" he said, half +aloud, as he refolded and returned it to its place in the breast-pocket +of his coat. + +A sleigh was at that moment standing at the front door of the yellow +house on the corner and into it Mr. Keith was assisting his wife and +aunt. Then followed the babe and the three next in age. They were going +to the country, to spend the day with their Lansdale acquaintances, the +Wards. + +Mildred, Rupert, Zillah and Ada stood in the doorway to see them off. + +"You won't be back to tea?" Mildred said inquiringly. + +"No; but by bedtime," her father answered as he turned the horses' +heads. "Now go in, all of you, out of the cold before you catch the +ague." + +"What did Claudina say?" asked Mildred, addressing Rupert as they +obeyed the order. + +"Yes, of course; isn't she always glad of a chance to come here?" + +"That's good. How soon?" + +"In about half an hour, I believe she said. So you'd better hear Ada's +lessons and have them out of the way." + +It was some weeks now since Ada's heart had been rejoiced by a final +deliverance from Miss Drybread's control and a return to the instruction +of her sister. Mr. Lord still kept up his class and Mildred's zeal for +study had not abated, but the minister had a funeral to attend at a +distant point that afternoon; so there would be no recitations to +interfere with the pleasure of a day with Claudina. Celestia Ann still +kept her position in the family, and though only ten o'clock, the house +was in order, and dinner and tea would require no supervision by the +eldest daughter of the house. + +Claudina brought her sewing, and the two passed an uneventful, but +pleasant day together, chatting over their work or reading aloud in +turn; for Claudina was nearly as great a lover of books as was Mildred. + +Their talk was not largely of their neighbors, but some jests passed +between them at Ransquattle's expense. They were quite severe in their +criticisms, as young things are too apt to be; but if the ears of the +victim burned it was not enough to prevent the act of folly he had in +contemplation. + +Tea was over, Miss Hunsinger had removed the dishes to the kitchen; +Mildred spread a bright colored cover over the table, placed the candles +on it, and she and Claudina settled themselves to their sewing again; +Zillah and Ada were the only other occupants of the room, Rupert having +gone out. + +Presently there came a knock at the outer door. + +"I'll go," said Ada, running to open it. + +A man, Nicholas Ransquattle, stood on the threshold. Stepping past the +child without speaking, he made directly for Mildred, and silently +extended his right hand, between the thumb and forefinger of which he +held a letter. + +In a sort of maze the girl took it, and with one of his profound +obeisances, of one of which Cyril had remarked, "I thought he was going +to squattle on the stove when he put his head down so low," he withdrew +without having spoken a word. + +They could hear the crackling of the snow under his heavy tread as he +walked away. + +"O Milly, what is it? what is it? what did he bring it for? had he been +to the post-office?" the little girls were asking with eager curiosity. + +Mildred turned to Claudina. They looked into each other's eyes for a +moment, then burst into a simultaneous hearty laugh. + +"Did ever you see such a comical performance?" + +"Never! It's addressed to you of course?" + +"Yes." + +Seizing a candle, laughing and blushing, "Come, help me to read it," +Mildred said. "We'll go up stairs where we won't be disturbed." + +"Mayn't we go too? mayn't we know what your letter's about?" pleaded the +little girls as the older ones were hurrying away. + +"No, no! tisn't the sort for children like you to know about," laughed +the sister. "Be good and stay here. We won't be gone long; and some day, +perhaps, I'll tell you what it says." + +They hurried through the kitchen where Miss Hunsinger was vigorously +setting things to rights, up the crooked stairway and on into Aunt +Wealthy's room, fastened the door and proceeded to examine the missive. + +It was an offer to Miss Mildred Keith, of the heart, hand and fortune of +the writer, Nicholas Ransquattle, who denominated himself her devoted +worshiper and slave, and addressed her as an angel and the loveliest and +sweetest of created beings. The girls giggled over it at first, but at +length Mildred threw it down in supreme disgust. + +"Such stuff and nonsense! it's perfectly sickening! I'm anything but an +angel; especially when I lose my temper. And I believe I'm losing it +now; for I feel insulted by an offer from such a conceited booby!" + +"Somebody's coming!" exclaimed Claudina. + +"Yes; Rupert. I know his step. Well, Ru, what is it?" as the boy rapped +lightly on the door. + +"Why before you answer that letter and accept the fellow, let me tell +you something." + +Mildred threw open the door. + +"Who told you I had one?" + +"The children told me about old Nick bringing you a letter," he answered +laughing, but looking angry too, "and it's easy enough to guess the +subject; particularly since I heard a bit of news over yonder at the +smithy. Gote Lightcap says he heard him--old Nick--boasting this +morning, before several young men, that he was going to marry Mildred +Keith." + +For a minute or more Mildred did not speak; she had probably never felt +so angry in all her life. + +"The conceited puppy!" she cried at last, "wouldn't I like to take some +of it out of him!" + +"Good for you!" cried Rupert clapping his hands. "I knew you'd be mad. +And wouldn't I like to horsewhip him for his impudence?" + +"But it isn't right," said Mildred, already cooling down a little and +ashamed of her outburst. "You couldn't thrash him, Ru, but instead you +shall, if you will, have the pleasure of carrying him my answer." + +"Tell me what it is first." + +Mildred took the letter and wrote, in pencil, beneath the signature, +"The above offer is positively declined; all future visits on the part +of the writer also," and signed her name. "There, return it," she said, +"with the information that it is my final reply." + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Sixteenth. + + "Oh jealousy! thou bane of pleasing friendship, + Thou worst invader of our tender bosoms: + How does thy rancour poison all our softness, + And turn our gentle natures into bitterness!" + --ROWE. + + +THE news was too good to keep, and Rupert could not forbear stopping at +the smithy on his return and giving Gotobed a hint of how matters stood. + +To say that the certainty of a decided rejection of Ransquattle's suit +lifted a burden of anxiety from young Lightcap's mind, is not an +over-estimate of the relief the boy's communication afforded him. + +He had been moody and depressed since his visit of the morning to +Ransquattle's shop, and had refused to give Rhoda Jane any satisfaction +as to his intentions in regard to making one of the sleighing party of +the following evening. She was therefore agreeably surprised when toward +bed-time he came, in quite a merry mood, into the kitchen where she sat +sewing alone, their mother having stepped out to see a neighbor, to tell +her that he had decided to go. + +"Well, I'm glad of it," she said, "and who are you going to take?" + +He colored at the question and answered almost doggedly, "I'm going +after Sarah Miller." + +"Why don't you ask Mildred Keith?" + +"'Cause there ain't no use; Ormsby's headed me off there." + +"Yes; an' if you don't look out, with yer pokin' ways, he'll head you +off altogether, and marry her afore you know it." + +"She ain't goin' off in such a hurry," he muttered, drumming on the +table with his fingers; then jumping up from his chair and going over to +the stove, making a pretense of warming himself that he might avoid the +keen scrutiny of his sister's sharp eyes; "but what's the use o' me a +tryin' with all them fellers round?" + +"Gote Lightcap, I'm ashamed of you!" exclaimed Rhoda Jane. "If I was a +man I'd have more pluck by a long shot. 'Twouldn't be me that would let +any feller get ahead where I was amind to go in and win." + +"You don't know nothin' about it," he retorted, lighting a candle and +stalking off to bed. + +"Dear me, if he only had half my spunk!" said Rhoda Jane, looking after +him with scornful eyes and a curling lip. + +The wish was echoed more than once in his heart as he lay awake far into +the night revolving the subject in his mind, and filled with longings, +doubts and fears. + +He had been so greatly rejoiced over the downfall of Ransquattle's +hopes; yet after all what did it avail him while the other three, whose +superiority he could not help acknowledging to himself, remained in the +way? Alas, there was no great cause for exultation that one rival out of +four had been removed from his path. + +Still was it quite certain that they were all rivals? might it not be +that Miss Chetwood or Miss Grange was the more attractive girl to one or +all of them? The six were so constantly seen together, the attentions of +the three young men were so equally divided between the three girls, +that who could tell how they were going to pair off, if at all? + +Besides there was no accounting for tastes and a lady didn't always +select that one from among her admirers whom other people in general +considered the most desirable match. There was yet a spark of hope for +him, but--ah if he only had Rhoda Jane's pluck and energy of +determination! + +Near sunset of the next day a large omnibus sleigh drawn by four horses +with jingling bells, and well supplied with buffalo robes and other +appliances for keeping the cold at bay, went from house to house in +Pleasant Plains, picking up the girls and "boys" to the number of a +dozen or more--a very merry company--then glided swiftly on over the +snow for some six or eight miles. + +The sleighing was fine, the weather not severe; the moon rose soon after +the setting of the sun, and the girls being well muffled up in hoods, +cloaks and other wraps, were warm and cosy, and vastly enjoyed the ride. + +Of course the lads did the same. They laughed, jested and sang, and +found time fly as swiftly as the horses; who seemed to make nothing of +their load. + +The destination of the party was a hotel in a neighboring village, where +a supper had been ordered for them some days before. It was served up, +hot and savory, shortly after their arrival. + +A couple of hours were afterward spent in the parlor of the hotel, in +social chat and playing games; and here they were joined by Mr. Timothy +Buzzard, who taught a singing school in this town also. + +"There's another rival," thought Gotobed, jealously watching him +carrying on a lively conversation with Mildred; "'pears like every +body's after her; and I can't get no chance at all." + +Rhoda Jane was equally jealous--partly for her brother, but still more +for herself; because last year Mr. Buzzard had waited upon her more than +on any other girl in Pleasant Plains, and she considered him her +property and "didn't fancy bein' cut out by no newcomer nor by anybody +else, for that matter." + +Influenced by the desire to separate the two, she was the first to +suggest that it was time to start for home. She was agreeably surprised +that Mildred promptly seconded the motion. + +Some objected, saying there was no hurry, but as it was now eleven +o'clock, these were overruled by the majority, and the sleigh was +presently announced as in readiness. + +"Can't we make room for another passenger?" some one asked, as amid +laughter and jesting, they were crowding into the vehicle. + +"Who is it?" queried another. + +"Why, Buzzard would--" + +"No, we hain't room for no more?" interrupted Gotobed. "We're not agoin' +to have the ladies crowded." + +"Speak fur yerself, Gote Lightcap," spoke up Rhoda Jane with spirit. +"There ain't none of us so disobligin' as not to be willin' to scrouge a +little for the sake of accommodatin' a fellow critter in distress. Set +up a little closer, girls, and there'll be lots o' room." + +"Yes; the more the merrier, and the closer the warmer," assented Sarah +Miller, Gote Lightcap's partner for the expedition, who had noticed with +vexation and chagrin his evident interest in Mildred Keith. "Come on, +Buzzard," making room for the singing teacher between Rhoda Jane and +herself. + +"Thank you, ladies. I shall be a thorn between two roses," he said, +taking the offered seat with a laugh at his own stale jest. + +"Now we've got the singing master along, let's have some music," said +Rhoda Jane, when they were fairly on their way. + +"Yes, you'll be expected to pay your way Buzzard," remarked Ormsby. + +"I hope I'll always be found willing to do that," he responded. "Miss +Lightcap, what shall I sing?" + +Highly pleased that the choice was given her, Rhoda Jane promptly named +a love song she had heard him sing as a solo. + +He gave it, then another, selected by Miss Miller, then turning to +Mildred, + +"I think it is your turn now, Miss Keith," he said. + +She proposed a round he had taught them that winter, saying all could +join in it. + +All did so with right good will. Other rounds, glees, choruses and solos +followed. They sang on even after reaching Pleasant Plains; sang on till +but two or three were left as one after another was set down at his or +her own door. + +A light burned in the parlor at Mr. Keith's and the front door was +opened before the sleigh had quite drawn up to it. + +"Poor, dear mother! what a shame to have kept you up so long!" Mildred +exclaimed as she came in. + +"Never mind," was the cheerful reply. "Here's a good warm fire; take +this arm-chair close to it, and don't remove any of your wraps till you +cease to feel chilly. I should have prepared you some hot lemonade but +for one little difficulty in the way; no lemons to be had. Coffee would +keep you awake; but you shall have a glass of good rich milk; either +hot or cold, as you prefer. Now tell me what sort of a time you had." + +"I wish every girl had such a mother as mine," Mildred said, smiling +fondly up into the face she loved so well. "I verily believe I take as +much pleasure in recounting my adventures to you as in going through +them. And it is so nice to have so safe and wise and loving a +confidante. + +"Mother, I have a great deal to tell you, not so much about what has +occurred to-night as of something that happened last night. I have been +looking for an opportunity all day, but without finding it; for you know +we were unusually busy all the morning and had company all the afternoon +till it was time for me to get ready for the sleigh-ride." + +Mrs. Keith glanced at the face of a tall old-fashioned clock ticking in +a corner of the room. + +"I want very much to hear your story, daughter; but if you can sleep +without having told it I think we will reserve it till to-morrow; for +see! it is now half-past twelve." + +The girl would have been glad to unburden her mind and to learn if her +mother approved--not her rejection of Ransquattle--of that there could +be no doubt--but her manner of doing it; but that dear mother's face +cheerful though it was, told of physical exhaustion and need of sleep. + +Mildred rose hastily. "High time then that we wore both in bed. My story +will keep perfectly well till to-morrow." + +"Sit down and finish warming yourself," Mrs. Keith said, with a smile. +"I want to hear about to-night. We will keep the longer story for +to-morrow." + +The Lightcaps found their house all dark the family had retired to bed +hours ago, but leaving the kitchen door unlocked and a good fire in the +stove. + +"Good and warm in here," remarked Gotobed, feeling for the candle and +matches his mother was sure to have left on the table ready for them. + +"Yes; feels comfortable. I shall set down and warm a bit 'fore I crawl +up to that there cold bed-room." + +"Me too; don't expect to sleep none when I do get to bed," growled Gote, +as he succeeded in lighting the candle, after two or three ineffectual +attempts, and set it on the table again. + +"Kind o' eggzited are ye?" + +"Some. I say, what did you make room for that--" + +"Don't swear;" she sneered, as he paused for a suitable cognomen to +bestow upon Buzzard. + +"I wa'n't agoin' to!" he said angrily; "not but what I've sufficient +cause in your letting that unclean bird in amongst us decent folks." + +"There now; that'll do fur to-night," she snapped. "Tim. Buzzard ain't +no more an unclean bird than you are; he's twicet as good lookin' and +sings like a nightingale. + +"But now see here; don't let's quarrel, but go to work together to bring +things round right. You don't want him to cut you out with Mildred +Keith, and I don't want her to cut me out with him. So now you just +spunk up and pop the question right off. If you don't, one or other o' +them fellers'll get ahead o' you; you may just take my word for that." + +Gotobed dropped his head into his hands and sighed deeply, then rose and +walked the floor. + +Rhoda Jane watched him with an eager, half-contemptuous look. + +"Well!" he said at length, "I wisht I knowed how!" + +"Knowed how! you needn't make many words about it; 'tain't like makin' +up a sermon or a president's message." + +"It's a heap more important; the happiness of a feller's whole life a +dependin' onto it." + +Silence for some minutes, Rhoda Jane sitting meditatively before the +stove, her feet on its hearth, her hands clasped round her knees, while +her brother continued his restless walk. + +She was the first to speak. "I'd write it out if I was you." + +"I ain't used to writin' much." + +"Well, you can get used to it; you can try and try till you've writ +somethin' that'll do." + +"I couldn't write anything good enough for her to see." + +"Then take t'other way." + +"I don't never git no chance; and if I did I'd be tongue-tied, sure as +the world." + +"Then you'll have to write it, and I'll help you!" concluded Rhoda Jane +with energy. + +She arose as she spoke, picked up the candle, stepped quickly to a +corner shelf in the next room, whence she brought an inkstand and a +quill pen. + +Setting these down on the kitchen table, she went back, and opening a +bureau drawer where miscellaneous articles were kept, fished out from +its depths a sheet of foolscap, which she spread out beside the +inkstand. + +"That ain't nice enough," said Gotobed, eyeing it disapprovingly. + +"Make it up on that and get better at the store to-morrow to copy it +onto," returned his sister. "Now you set down and go at it like a man; +or maybe I'd better say like a woman," she added sarcastically. + +"If I'd only had an edication!" groaned Gotobed, taking up the pen; "but +it's mighty hard on a feller--such things as this is--when he hasn't." + +"Well, do the best you kin, and mebbe it'll come out right for all. +You're good-lookin' and got a good trade and can make a good livin' for +her. Just tell her that; and tell her you think she's as purty as a +picter, and good-tempered, and knows a lot; and that you worship the +ground she walks on, and won't never let the wind blow rough on her, +won't never say no cross words to her, and--and a lot more o' such +stuff; that's what girls like." + +"Well, I s'pose you'd ought to know, seeing you belong to the sect; but +it's a heap easier for you to say it than for me to git it writ down in +black and white," he sighed. + +"I declare I'm clear beat out with you a'most," said Rhoda Jane, +snuffing the candle impatiently; "and I've a great mind to leave you to +make it up by yourself." + +But she went on coaxing, suggesting and prompting, till between them +they had composed an epistle which was satisfactory to her though not to +her brother. + +"It's nigh onto three o'clock, and I'm awful tired and sleepy," she +remarked, as at last they separated and sought their beds. + +The next day Gotobed searched the town for letter paper and bought half +a quire of the best he could find. + +During the next week all his leisure moments were spent in making +revised and improved copies of his and Rhoda Jane's joint composition. + +He had used his last sheet, and seized with a fit of desperation, he +selected the one which seemed to him the least faulty and sent it by his +sister. + +Mrs. Keith, opening the door in answer to Rhoda Jane's knock, was struck +with the peculiar expression of the girl's face--a mixture of pride, +condescension and exultation. + +"Good evenin' Mis' Keith. Where's Mildred?" she said, stepping in and +glancing about the room with an air of importance, "I want to see her +pertickler; got somethin' fur her," and a conscious glance at the +missive in her hand enlightened the quick-witted lady as to its nature. + +"Mildred is not at home," she said; "will not be until bedtime; but +anything you choose to leave with me will be given her on her return." + +Rhoda Jane considered a moment. She felt a strong desire to deliver the +note into Mildred's own hand, and to watch her while reading it; but +should she carry it back Gote might change his mind and put off +indefinitely this business which she was so desirous to have carried +through at once. + +She left it, though with evident reluctance. + +She presently congratulated herself that she had done so. Gotobed, +eagerly awaiting her return, peering anxiously every other minute +through the smithy door, hailed her in breathless excitement. + +"Well, what--what did she--" + +"She wasn't there. She's gone out somewheres and won't be back till +bedtime." + +"Give it to me then; quick!" and he held out his hand with a peremptory +gesture. + +"I ain't got it," Rhoda Jane answered with a sardonic grin. + +"Where is it? you ain't gone and left it," he cried aghast. + +"Yes, I have; I give it to Mis' Keith." + +Gotobed groaned. "I'd thought better of it; I'd throw it in the fire +this minute if I had it here. She'll think me a fool. I know she will!" + +"If she does she's one," returned Rhoda Jane shortly, and left him to +his unavailing regrets. + +How they tortured him! how could he bear the suspense. + +Mildred was merciful and did not keep him in doubt any longer than +necessary. He found a letter next morning, in the post-office, with his +address upon it, written in a lady's delicate graceful hand. + +His heart seemed to jump into his mouth at the sight. He almost snatched +it from the postmaster's hand, and without stopping to answer the +jesting remark of that functionary on his sudden accession of color, +hurried away, never stopping till he reached the privacy of his own +room, thankful that he succeeded in doing so without being seen by any +of the family. + +But now it was a full minute ere he could summon courage to open the +missive and learn his fate. And even when it lay open before him he +passed his hand several times across his eyes as if to clear his sight. + +Yet it was very plainly written;--also plainly expressed; a distinct, +decided, though very kindly rejection of his suit; the only reason given +that she could not love him and a loveless marriage could be fruitful of +nothing but misery to both parties. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Seventeenth. + + "The rose that all are praising + Is not the rose for me." + --BAYLIE. + + +"GOTOBED LIGHTCAP, you're the biggest fool that ever was born!" +exclaimed the young blacksmith, between his clenched teeth, throwing +Mildred's dainty note upon the floor and grinding it with his heel, +while the hot blood surged over his swarthy face, which expressed in +every lineament intense mortification and chagrin. "You might 'a knowed +the likes o' her couldn't never fancy sech a ungainly, know nothin' +varmint as you be." + +He dropped his face into his hands for a moment, groaning in spirit--for +the wound in his heart was deep as well as that to his pride. + +"It does seem as if there warn't nothin' left in this world worth livin' +fur!" he sighed. "But then I'm not the feller to give up and die! I'll +fight it out an' get over it yet." + +He picked up the letter and thrust it into his bosom, straightened +himself, went down into the smithy, and fell to work at his anvil, +dealing vigorous blows as if thus he would drive away the demon of +despair. + +He ate little at dinner, and conscious that Rhoda Jane's sharp eyes were +upon him, scarcely lifted his from his plate. + +He hurried back to his work. She followed him the next minute. + +"So she's give you the mitten?" + +"Who told you so?" he asked defiantly, standing before her with arms +folded and head erect, but reddening to his very hair. + +"Humph! I ain't blind, and anybody could see it with half an eye. Well, +never you mind! you're a sight too good fur her, the--" + +"Don't you call her no names now! I ain't agoin' to have it. It's me +that isn't fit to hold a candle to the like o' her, and had ought to had +sense enough to know it. + +"Well, I didn't boast like Ransquattle; that's one small bit o' comfort +as things has turned out," he concluded moodily, picking up his hammer. + +"How'd he take his mitten?" laughed Rhoda Jane. "Wouldn't I ha' liked to +seen him puttin' it on!" + +"Take it! you never see anybody look so cheap as Nick when Mocker asked +him 'tother day when the weddin' was to come off. Then the fellers run +him ('twas at Chetwood and Mocker's store; I'd run in on a arrant fur +mother) and he growed thunderin' mad, and begun callin' her names till +Ormsby was ready to put him out--if he hadn't walked off hisself--and I +could 'a horse-whipped him with a right good will." + +"Well, don't you go and break your heart fur her." + +"I ain't a goin' to. There now, you'd better leave; fur I've a job on +hand." + +The building lot selected by the Keiths was bought and fenced in almost +immediately, and men set to work at digging the cellar, and then putting +up the walls of the new house. + +By dint of energetic oversight and urging on of the workmen, Mr. Keith +succeeded in having it roofed in before the first heavy fall of snow; so +that some advance could be made with the laying of floors, lathing, +etc., during the winter. + +When spring came things took a fresh start; more men were employed and +every effort put forth by the owner, to have the building hurried on to +completion. + +Each member of the family was deeply interested; the children made daily +journeys to the spot and all Rupert's leisure time was devoted to +digging, planting and other improvements of the grounds. + +The boy was full of energy and fond of life in the open air. His garden +did him credit, supplying nearly all the vegetables wanted for family +use. + +With some assistance from older heads and hands, he terraced the bank +overlooking the river, made steps down to the water's edge, where was a +fine spring, and built a small arbor and a spring-house. + +The new dwelling would be hardly so large as the one they were to leave +for it, until an addition should be built, but of more sightly +appearance and far more conveniently arranged. Besides it was their own, +and who does not know the charm that ownership gives? + +They were very impatient to get into it; and there was great rejoicing +among the children when at last the announcement was made that it was +fit for occupancy. + +It was their father who brought the news into their reading and sewing +circle, one bright warm afternoon early in July. + +"When shall we move, wife?" he asked. + +"Oh to-night, to-night! please, mother say to-night," cried several +little voices. + +Mrs. Keith laughed. "It is no such quick work, children." + +"But we might bedin," said Don. "I'll take dis tat and tum back aden for +other tings," hugging up a large white and yellow cat that had been a +petted member of the household for some months past. + +"H'm!" said Cyril, "Toy can take his own self; he's got more feet to run +with than any of the rest." + +"And he always runs alongside wherever we goes," put in Fan. "Mother can +we help move?" + +The question was unheard and remained unanswered; for the reason that +the older people were talking busily among themselves. + +"I think we may begin to-morrow," Mrs. Keith was saying; "Celestia Ann +is through with her week's washing and ironing, and I'll set her and +Mrs. Rood both to cleaning the new house, while we pack up things here." + +"Oh, goodie, goodie! mother, mayn't we all help!" chorused the children. + +"We will see, dears; perhaps there may be some little things that you +can carry; your own toys you shall carry at any-rate, if you wish. Yes, +Stuart, I have had the parlor and one bedroom of the new house cleaned +already." + +"O mother, can't we have this carpet taken up immediately--I mean go to +work and take it up--and have it shaken and carried right over there? +and perhaps we could get it down this afternoon, you and auntie and I; +and have the furniture of that room carried right into it to-morrow +morning, the first thing." + +"A capital idea," her father said; "then we will have one room +comfortable there before all are torn up here. Come, children, scamper +out of the way! Wife; where's the tack hammer?" + +"Oh, can't we help?" pleaded the children, "Where shall we go?" + +"No, not with this. Go anywhere out of the way." + +The order was obeyed somewhat reluctantly, all going out to the +adjoining room. Zillah and Ada stopped there and each took a book; the +younger three went up stairs. + +"Let's pack up our things," said Cyril. + +"What'll we pack 'em in?" queried Don. + +"We'll see." + +The boys got out their stores of marbles, balls, bits of twine, a broken +knife or two, a few fish hooks and a set of Jackstraws their father had +made for them. + +Fan brought out her treasures also, which consisted of several dolls +and their wardrobes, a picture book and some badly battered and bruised +dishes; the remains of a once highly prized metal toy tea set. + +A packing box in one corner of the large second story room was where the +playthings of the little ones were always kept when not in use. "A place +for everything and everything in its place," being one of the cardinal +rules of the household. + +"Can we take 'em over there now?" asked Fan, as she gathered hers pell +mell into her apron. + +"No, of course not," said Cyril. "Didn't you hear mother say we couldn't +begin moving till to-morrow?" + +"Then what did we get 'em out for?" + +"To pack 'em up and have 'em ready to take over in the morning." + +"What'll we pack 'em in?" reiterated Don. + +"Let's look round for a box 'bout the right size," said Cyril. "Course +we can't carry them in the big board one. It's too heavy." + +A good deal of rummaging followed upon that; first in the outer room, +then in the other, occupied by Aunt Wealthy and Mildred. + +Finally they came upon a pasteboard box standing on Mildred's writing +table, which Cyril pronounced just the thing. + +"But maybe Milly won't like us to take it," objected Fan, as he +unceremoniously emptied the contents upon the table. + +"Oh, she won't care; there's nothing in it but old papers and things +writed all over. She's done with them and she'll be puttin' them in the +fire next thing. You know she always likes to burn up old rubbish." + +That last statement was certainly according to fact, and Fan made no +further objection. + +Don suggested asking leave, but Cyril overruled that also. + +"No; they're all too busy down there; we mustn't bother," he said, +walking off with his prize. + +One paper had fallen on the floor. Fan stooped, picked it up and looked +at it curiously, as the boys hurried off into the other room with their +prize. + +"Milly didn't do that," she remarked; "tain't pretty writin' like hers. +Guess she wouldn't want to keep such an ugly old thing." + +"Come Fan," Cyril called, "do you want to put your things in too?" + +"Yes;" she said, coming out with the letter still in her hand. + +Fan's dolls were put in last and the box was too full to allow the lid +to go on. + +"I'll take Bertha and carry her in my arms," she said, lifting out her +largest and favorite child. "I want her to play wis now and I'd raser +not trust her in dere wis dose marbles and balls rollin' round." + +"Now the lid fits on all right," said Cyril, adjusting it. + +"We're all packed up," observed Don, with satisfaction. "Now let's go +play in the grove." + +The others were agreed and Fan decided that she must take with her two +small rag dolls in addition to Bertha. + +Puss had come up stairs with the children and was walking round and +round them, as they sat on the carpet, rubbing affectionately against +them and purring loudly. + +"Let's give 'em a ride on Toy's back," said Cyril. "Here's a string to +tie 'em on with, and this old letter shall be the saddle," picking up +the one Fan had brought from the other room, and which she had laid down +beside the box. + +The others were pleased with the idea; Cyril twisted the letter into +some slight resemblance to a saddle, and in spite of a vigorous +resistance from the cat, tied it and the dolls pretty securely to her +back. + +She was of course expected to go with or follow them as usual; but the +instant they released her she flew down the stairs, darted out of the +open kitchen door, tore across the yard and scaled the fence in a +twinkling. + +The children pursued at their utmost speed, but Toy was out of sight +before they could descend the stairs. + +"Well, I never! that 'ar cat must a gone mad," Celestia Ann was saying, +standing in the doorway, her hands on her hips, her gaze turned +wonderingly in the direction Toy had taken. + +"Where? which way did she go?" asked the children breathlessly. + +"Over the fence yonder, tearing like mad. She went like a streak o' +lightnin' through the kitching here, and I didn't see no more of her +after she clum the fence. She's got the hydrophoby bad, you may depend; +and I only hope she won't bite nobody, 'fore somebody knocks her in the +head." + +"No, it's my dolls she's got," said Fan, who had not the slightest idea +what "hydrophoby" might be. "O, boys, hurry and catch her 'fore she +loses 'em," she called after her brothers as they renewed the pursuit, +hurrying across the yard and climbing the fence with a speed that did +credit to their ability in that line. + +Fan stood beside it, gazing out anxiously through a crack between the +high, rough boards till the boys returned all breathless with running, +to report, "No Toy and no dolls to be seen anywhere." + +"But don't cry," added Cyril, seeing Fan's lips tremble ominously; +"she'll come back when she wants her supper; you bet." + +"It's wicked to bet," remarked Don virtuously. + +"I didn't," said Cyril, "come let's go play in the grove. I'll bend down +a tree and give you a nice ride, Fan." + +Gotobed Lightcap had just finished a job, and pausing a moment to rest, +was wiping the perspiration from his brow with a rather dilapidated +specimen of pocket-handkerchief, when a cat darted in at the open door, +ran round the smithy in a frightened way, then lay down on the floor and +rolled and squirmed kicking its feet in the air in the evident effort to +rid itself of something tied to its back. + +With a single stride Gotobed was at the side of the struggling animal. + +He took it up and in a few seconds had relieved it of its hated +incumbrance. + +"It's them Keith children's pet cat," he said half aloud, "and they've +been a tyin' some of their doll babies onto it. There you kin go, puss; +don't take up yer lodgin' here; for we've cats enough o' our own. + +"Eh! what's this?" as his eye fell on the letter and he recognized his +own awkward, ill-shaped hieroglyphics. + +He felt his face grow very red and hot as he straightened it out upon +his knees, his heart fluttering with the thought of the possibility that +it might have been some little liking for the writer that had prevented +its immediate destruction. + +There were some words in pencil along the margin; he held it up to the +light and slowly deciphered them. + +He was not much accustomed to reading writing and this had become +slightly blurred: but he made it out clearly at last; a jesting remark +about his mistakes in spelling and grammar, which were many and glaring. + +"I wouldn't ha' believed it of her!" he exclaimed, crimsoning with anger +and shame as he flung the torn and crumpled sheet into the fire of his +forge, the dolls after it. + +He caught up his hammer and fell to work again, muttering to himself, +"It's her writin'; there can't be no mistake; fur it's just like what +she writ me afore. And I wouldn't a' believed it of her, I wouldn't; I +thought she'd a kind heart and would make allowance fur them that hasn't +had the same chance as her." + +He had not been wrong in his estimate of Mildred. She would never have +wounded his feelings intentionally. She had a habit of writing her +thoughts on the margin of what she was reading, and the words had been +carelessly traced there with no expectation that they would ever be seen +by any eye but her own. Nor would they but for the mischievous meddling +of the children. + +She set no value upon the letter; did not miss it till months +afterwards, and then supposed she had destroyed it, though she could not +distinctly remember having done so. + +In the meantime Gotobed kept his own counsel, concealing his hurt as +well as he could and trying not to hate the hand that had inflicted it. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Eighteenth. + + "Farewell, a long farewell." + + +THE Keiths were scarcely more than well settled in their new home when +Miss Stanhope announced her intention of returning to Ohio almost +immediately. + +This news was received by the family with something akin to +consternation. "How could they do without her?" they asked; "didn't +everybody need her every day of their lives, from father and mother down +to Annis?" + +"Ah," she answered smiling, though her eyes were dim with unshed tears, +"you'll have each other and will soon find that you can get on very well +indeed without your blundering old auntie. But the question is how shall +she do without you? The old Lansdale home will be very lonely with no +little feet pit-patting about it." + +"Then what makes you go, Aunt Wealthy?" chorused the children, clinging +to her with many a loving caress. + +"I must, my darlings; there's business I have to attend to; and I feel +that the ague is breaking me down." + +"I fear that is too true," Mrs. Keith said, with a strong effort to +speak cheerfully, "and therefore I will not entreat you to stay, dear +auntie; but rather urge your departure before the sickly season sets in. + +"Though it just breaks my heart to think of the parting!" she added, +hurrying from the room to conceal her emotion. + +"But you'll come back soon, won't you, auntie?" pleaded the children. + +"Not very, I'm afraid, dears, it's a long and expensive journey." + +"Too long for you to take alone, Aunt Wealthy," Mildred said. "I dread +it for you. I don't see how we can let you go without a protector." + +"I shall not, child. Is not the promise to me, 'Behold, I am with thee, +and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest?' Yes; to me and to +each one of His children. So I am not afraid, and you need not fear for +me." + +"Dear auntie, if the Saviour were here, I think he would say to you, 'O +woman, great is thy faith!'" + +"My dear, I deserve no such commendation; my faith is often very weak. +But I want you to remember and try to realize that this almighty Friend +not only goes with me when I leave you, but stays with you also; +according to His gracious promise, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake +thee.' + +"Troubles and trials will come and there are dark and stormy days in +every life--but 'as thy days so shall thy strength be.' + +"I can not tell you, Mildred, how hard it is for me to leave you all," +she continued, her voice trembling with emotion, "but it would be ten +times harder were it not that I know 'this God is our God forever and +ever;' and that 'he will be our guide even unto death.'" + +"Aunt Wealthy," said Mrs. Keith coming in again, "Stuart and I have been +talking this over--this resolve of yours to return to Ohio--and he says +it will never do for you to attempt it without an escort." + +"I shall be very glad of an escort, if there is one to be had," Miss +Stanhope answered; "but if not, I must even go without--trusting in +Providence." + +"But you would wait a few weeks rather than go alone?" + +"Certainly; God works by means, and we are to use them, while at the +same time we trust only in him." + +"Stuart says the merchants will be going on East to buy their fall +goods. He will inquire among them and let you know." + +"Ah yes; I think I heard Mr---- what's his name? Mimicker? Sneerer?" + +"Mocker?" suggested Mildred with a smile. + +"Yes, yes, Mr. Mocker, I heard him say something about it being his turn +this fall to lay in a new supply of goods." + +"Ah, I hope it will turn out that you will have him for your escort, +Aunt Wealthy," said Mildred, "for I know that he will take the best +possible care of you. But do try, auntie, to get his name fixed in your +memory." + +"That I will," Miss Stanhope answered with a good humored smile; "for he +might not fancy the synonyms of it; the meaning not being the most +complimentary in the world." + +Mr. Keith brought home word that Mr. Mocker would leave for the East in +a fortnight and would be happy to take charge of Miss Stanhope. + +Aunt Wealthy had always been very dear to these nieces and nephews, but +now that they were about to lose her, it seemed to them that they had +never realized half her worth. + +They lingered near her, they hung upon her words and looks, and when the +time for parting came, clung about her with sobs and tears, loading her +with caresses, till she was forced to tear herself from their embraces +and hurry away. + +The stage had drawn up before the gate; she hastened down the garden +path, the weeping children running after; Mr. Keith and Mr. Mocker +assisted her into the vehicle, the latter took his place by her side, +and in another moment she was whirled away out of sight, all drowned in +tears, and leaving the others in like condition. + +"It seems just like a funeral!" sobbed Ada, "oh, will she never, never +come back any more!" + +"Perhaps she may, dear," said the mother, wiping away her own tears, "we +will try to think so at least, and be cheerful and happy in looking +forward to that time. And in the meanwhile we may hope for a letter now +and then." + +"Oh," cried Rupert, "that reminds me that there's a letter in the office +for you now, mother! I saw it there, but had no money with me to pay +the postage. If you'll give me the two shillings, I'll run and get it +now." + +"Do so, my son," Mrs. Keith said, giving him the money. "I'm sorry you +forgot it and did not get it out in time for Aunt Wealthy to see it." + +Letters were rarities in those days, and the older members of the family +awaited Rupert's return from the post-office with a good deal of +eagerness, not unmixed with anxiety. + +He was not long gone for he too was curious in regard to it, desirous to +learn its contents and who was the writer. + +"It's post marked Detroit," he said, delivering it to his mother. "I +can't think who'd be likely to write to any of us from there. + +"Unless it might be Captain or Edward Wells," he added with a quizzical +glance at Mildred. + +"The hand looks familiar," remarked Mrs. Keith carefully breaking the +seal; then opening out the sheet, "Horace Dinsmore!" she exclaimed, "And +he is coming to see us! Oh, what a pity that Aunt Wealthy has just +missed him!" + +"A pity indeed!" echoed her husband. "But he may stay with us some +weeks, and perhaps take Lansdale on his way home." + +"I hope he won't; won't stay here long, I mean," muttered Rupert in an +aside to Mildred. "I didn't like him the other time." + +"Nor I, very much, but perhaps he has improved." + +"Mother, who is he?" the younger ones were asking. + +"My cousin; his mother and mine were sisters." + +"Were? Aren't they now?" queried Zillah. + +"Yes, dear, but they both went home to heaven many years ago. My mother +first--before Aunt Eva married Mr. Dinsmore and went away down south to +live. + +"But wait till I have read the letter and then you may ask all the +questions you wish." + +It was not a lengthy epistle. Mrs. Keith glanced over it, then read it +aloud. Its tone was cousinly and affectionate. + +The writer stated that he had lately graduated from college and was now +taking a tour to rest and refresh himself after many months of hard +study; that he had arrived in Detroit, would tarry there a week and then +journey on into Indiana to visit his relatives in Pleasant Plains. + +"This letter has been some time on the way," Mrs. Keith remarked, +examining the date, "and really I think he may walk in upon us day +after to-morrow." + +"Then we'd better be getting ready for him!" exclaimed Mildred, starting +up in her energetic way. + +"Wait a little. Mother promised to tell us about him," cried the +children. + +"Yes, and will. There's time enough, Milly." + +Mildred resumed her seat; for she, too, wanted to hear all her mother +had to tell. + +"My mother," Mrs. Keith began, "was two years younger than Aunt Wealthy, +who was the daughter of my grandfather by his first wife; therefore only +half sister to my mother and Aunt Eva, who were the children of the +second. + +"Aunt Eva was five years younger than my mother and was still single +when mother died; which, as you have all heard, was when I, her only +child, was but little more than two years old. + +"Cousin Horace, too, was the only child of his mother, and quite a +little fellow when she died. I was there, on a visit, at the time and +did what I could to comfort him. + +"We grew quite fond of each other then and have always been so ever +since, though we have lived far apart and met very seldom." + +"Has he got a father?" asked Cyril, "and does he live with him?" + +"Yes; he has a father, and lives with him when he is at home; but for +years past most of his time has been spent at school and college." + +"I thought Cousin Horace had brothers and sisters?" Rupert said, +inquiringly. + +"Yes; his father soon married again and has a large family by the second +wife." + +"What is Cousin Horace like, mother?" asked Ada. + +"Wait until he comes and see for yourself," was the smiling rejoinder. + +"How glad you look, mother!" said Mildred, "are you really so much +pleased that he is coming?" + +"Why, certainly, my child! he is my near kinsman, and, as I have just +told you, I am very fond of him; he's like a dear younger brother to me. +And particularly welcome just now as his coming will take from the +dreadfully lonely feeling Aunt Wealthy's departure has given the house." + +"But, mother, we can't entertain him suitably, we're so cramped for room +and our house only half-furnished; and he is used to living in such +grand style. You know you have often told me about it--what a beautiful +place Roselands is, and how many carriages and horses, and what a +retinue of servants they keep." + +Mrs. Keith smiled kindly at the anxious face turned toward hers. "Well, +daughter dear, we'll just do the best we can for him and it won't hurt +him to try roughing it in the backwoods--or prairies rather--for a +little while." + +"Well, it's a little better than if he had come while we were in the old +yellow house. We've a nice porch here, and a front yard shaded with +grand old oaks; and no neighbors near enough to watch every movement." + +"A good many conveniences, too," added her mother, cheerily, "and a +beautiful view of river and town. I think, too, that we can manage to +give him a room to himself, and to feed him well, with the help of +Rupert's garden, the cow and the chickens." + +The expectation of this visit was a real blessing to the family; to Mrs. +Keith and Mildred in especial--just at this time; giving occupation to +their thoughts as well as hands, in the necessary preparation for the +proper accommodation and entertainment of the coming guest; thus +preventing much of the sadness the loss of Miss Stanhope's loved society +would have caused them. + +The next arrival of the semi-weekly stage brought Horace Dinsmore, his +servant and luggage to their door. + +Mr. Dinsmore was a dark-eyed, handsome youth of distinguished appearance +and with the air of a prince of the blood royal; yet evidently a kind +master; for his man John, a spruce young negro, seemed to take the +greatest pride and pleasure in waiting upon "Massa Horace" and +anticipating his every wish. + +While warmly welcoming her young relative, Mrs. Keith was somewhat +dismayed at the unexpected sight of the servant--house room being so +scarce; but the difficulty was obviated by placing a cot-bed in the +empty loft of the newly erected stable at the foot of the garden. + +"How very thoughtless and selfish in Cousin Horace to bring that fellow +along," Mildred said to her mother. + +"No, my dear, not when we consider that they have always been together +and neither would know very well how to do without the other. I was the +thoughtless one not to remember that and expect John." + +"Always together, mother?" + +"Yes; they are nearly the same age--John a few months older than his +young master--and were playfellows in infancy. + +"John's mother was Horace's 'mammy' as the children down south call +their nurses; and I think loved her white nursling even better than her +own children. + +"John's affection for Horace is probably as great, and it would come +near breaking his heart to be separated from him." + +Horace Dinsmore had paid a visit to Lansdale the year before the removal +of the Keiths to Indiana. The impression he had then made upon his young +cousins was not at all favorable; he was silent, morose and seemed to +take little or no interest in anybody or anything. + +"He is not like himself," Mrs. Keith had said to Aunt Wealthy again and +again; "he is in trouble, some great sorrow has come to him." + +But they did not succeed in winning his confidence; he rejected their +sympathy, locked up his secret in his own bosom, and left them as sad +and moody as when he came. + +He was changed for the better now; was cheerful, at times even gay, and +showed much interest in them and their affairs, making them valuable +presents; for he had large means and a generous nature. + +Some gifts--of dress-goods, jewelry and children's toys, he had brought +with him, and in addition he presented Mildred and Rupert each with a +town lot in the immediate neighborhood of their new home. + +Mr. Keith, in his sturdy pride of independence, was inclined to reject +these last; but his wife said, + +"No, Stuart, do not; you will hurt Horace's feelings; the land is very +cheap, the price of it nothing to him with his large wealth; I know it +is a real pleasure to him to give it to the children." + +Mr. Keith yielded the point and said nothing. + +Mr. Dinsmore, not being a religious man, and belonging to a very proud +and aristocratic family, was not one to mingle with those he denominated +"the common herd," as his cousin well knew. Therefore only a few of +their acquaintances--the educated and refined--were invited to meet him +and accompany them on some little excursions--riding, boating, and +fishing--gotten up for his entertainment. + +He made himself agreeable on these occasions;--an easy thing for him to +do with his handsome person, polished manners and good conversational +powers--but soon let it be known to his relatives that he decidedly +preferred exclusively family parties. After that they had only such +while he staid, which was for several weeks. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Nineteenth. + + "Seldom shall she hear a tale + So sad, so tender, and so true." + + +HORACE DINSMORE showed much interest in Mildred, seemed to like to watch +her, let her employment be what it might, and to have her company in +long solitary walks and drives. + +Several times he remarked to her mother that she was growing very lovely +in person and was a girl of fine mind; adding that he sincerely hoped +she would not throw herself away upon some country boor. + +The two--Mrs. Keith and Mr. Dinsmore--were alone in the sitting-room, +one pleasant afternoon early in September, when this remark was made for +the third or fourth time; alone except that little Annis was playing +about the floor, apparently absorbed with Toy and her doll. + +Mrs. Keith was sewing, her cousin who had been pacing to and fro, now +standing before her. + +She lifted her head with a startled look. + +"Horace, don't forget that you and Mildred are cousins." + +He colored slightly, then laughingly answered to her thought rather than +her words, + +"Don't be alarmed, Marcia; I'm not thinking of her in that way at all." + +His face suddenly clouded as with some gloomy recollection. + +"Marcia," he said, taking a chair near her side, "my visit is drawing to +a close and there is something I must tell you before I go; I came with +the purpose of doing so, but hitherto my heart has failed me. We seem to +be alone in the house and perhaps there will be no better time than +this." + +"I think not," she said, "we can secure ourselves from intrusion by +locking the door." + +He rose, turned the key, and came back. + +He did not speak again for a moment, but sat watching Annis with a +peculiar expression which excited his cousin's surprise and curiosity +and not for the first time either; she had noted it before; the child +seemed to both attract and repel him. + +More than once Mrs. Keith had seen him snatch her up suddenly with a +gesture of strong affection, only to set her down the next minute and +turn away as if from something painful to look upon. + +"What is it you see in my baby, Horace?" she asked, laying her hand +affectionately upon his arm. + +"She is a sweet, pretty little thing, yet it gives me more pain than +pleasure to look at her," he said sighing and passing his hand across +his brow. + +"You cannot imagine why it should," he went on, smiling sadly into his +cousin's wondering face, "because there is a page in my past life that +you have never read." + +His features worked with emotion. He rose and paced the floor back and +forth several times; then coming to her side again, + +"Marcia, I have been a husband; I am a father; my little girl--whom I +have never seen--must be just about the age of Annis." + +"You, Horace? you are but twenty years old!" dropping her work to look +up at him in utter amazement. + +"I knew you would be astonished--that you could hardly credit it--but it +is true." + +Then resuming his seat he poured out in impassioned language, the story +already so well known to the readers of the Elsie books--of his visit +to New Orleans three years before this, his hasty and clandestine +marriage to the beautiful heiress, Elsie Grayson, their speedy +separation by her guardian and big father, the subsequent birth of their +little daughter and the death of the young mother, following so soon +thereafter. + +Her work forgotten, her hands lying idly in her lap, her eyes gazing +intently into his, Mrs. Keith listened in almost breathless silence, the +tears coursing down her cheeks during the saddest passages. + +"My poor Horace! my poor, dear cousin!" she said when he had finished. +"Oh, it was hard, very hard! Why did you never tell me before." + +"I could not, Marcia," he answered in tremulous tones, "it is the first +time I have spoken my darling's name since--since I knew that she was +lost to me forever." + +"Forever! oh do not say that! You have told me she was a sweet Christian +girl, and none who trust in Jesus can ever be lost." + +"But to me; I am no Christian," he sighed. + +"But you may become one. The invitation is to you, 'Come unto me;' and +the blessed assurance, 'Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast +out.'" + +He sat silent, his face averted, his head bowed upon his hands. + +She waited a moment, then spoke again. + +"Your child, Horace?" + +"She is at Viamede with the guardian." + +"And you have never seen her?" + +"No." + +"Oh how can you bear it? doesn't your heart yearn over her? don't you +long to have her in your arms?" + +"No; why should I? she robbed me of her--my darling wife." + +"But you do not know that? and certainly it was innocently, if at all." + +"That has always been my feeling." + +"You ought not to allow yourself to feel so," she said almost +indignantly. "Poor little motherless darling! must she be worse than +fatherless too?" + +"What would you have, Marcia?" he asked coldly, his face still turned +from her, "what could I do with a child? And she is well off where she +is; better than she could be anywhere else;--under the care of a pious +old Scotch woman who has been house-keeper in the Grayson family for +many years, and that of her mammy who nursed her mother before her: a +faithful old creature so proud and fond of her young mistress that I +doubt if she would have hesitated to lay down her life for her." + +"That is well so far as it goes, Horace, but do you wish your child to +grow up a stranger to you? would you have no hand in the moulding of her +character, the training of her mind?" + +"I had not thought of that," he said sighing, "but I do not feel +competent to the task." + +"But it is your work; a work God himself has appointed you in giving you +the child; a work for which he will give wisdom if you seek it of him. + +"'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men +liberally and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.' + +"And if you neglect it, my dear cousin,--bear with me, while I say +it--it will be at your peril." + +"How do you mean, Marcia?" + +"The day may come when you will want that child's love and obedience: +when you will covet them more than any other earthly good, and perhaps, +find that they are denied you." + +"It is possible you may be right in regard to the first," he said +haughtily, his dark eyes flashing, as he turned his face towards her +again, "but as to the other--her obedience--it will be strange indeed if +I cannot compel it. She may have a strong will, but she will find that +mine is yet stronger." + +"Horace," said his cousin earnestly, "if you refuse or neglect to do a +father's duty by her, what right can you have to claim a child's duty +from her?" + +"I am not conscious of having neglected my duty toward her thus far," he +said, still haughtily. "As I have already explained, she is where, in my +judgment, she is better off for the present, than she could be anywhere +else. What changes may come in the future I do not know." + +"Forgive me if I have seemed to blame you undeservedly," Mrs. Keith said +with tears in her eyes; "but ah, my heart yearns over that poor baby!" + +She caught up her own and kissed it passionately as she spoke. + +"Ah!" she sighed, pressing the little creature to her bosom, "whatever +would my darlings do without a father's and a mother's love!" + +He walked to the window and stood there for several minutes. Then coming +back, + +"Marcia," he said, "will you do me the favor to write about this to +Aunt Wealthy and tell her I have always felt ashamed of my behavior +during my visit to you both, two years ago. I could not bring myself to +explain then the cause of my--what shall I call it? sullenness? It must +have looked like it to you and her and to all who saw me. + +"But you will understand it now and perhaps have some charity for me." + +"We had then, Horace," she said, "we were sure it was some secret grief +that made you so unlike your former self. Yes, I will write to Aunt +Wealthy. May I tell your story to Mildred also?" + +"Not now, please. When I am gone she may hear it." + +"Excuse another question. Do you know anything of your little one's +looks?" + +"I have heard nothing; but if she at all resembles her mother, she must +be very pretty." + +"And you have never even asked! O Horace!" + +"I'm afraid you think me very heartless," he said, coloring. "But you +must make some allowance for my being a man. Women, I think, feel more +interest in such things than we of the sterner sex do." + +"Then I think my husband must be an exceptional man, for he loves his +children very dearly, and takes great pride in their beauty and +intelligence." + +"I daresay; it might have been the same with me under happier +circumstances," he answered in a bitter tone. + +Little feet came pitpatting through the hall, little voices were asking +for mother. + +Mr. Dinsmore opened the door and admitted the inseparable three. + +"Mother, I'm cold," said Fan shivering, and her teeth chattering as she +spoke. + +"Cold, darling? Come here." + +"She's got a chill," remarked Cyril sagely. "I'm as warm as toast. It's +real hot in the sun where we've been playing." + +"I'm afraid she has; her nails are quite blue," Mrs. Keith said, taking +one small hand in hers. "Come, dear; mother will put you to bed and +cover you up nice and warm, and give you something hot to drink." + +"Me too, mother," said Don, creeping to her side and laying his head on +her shoulder, "I'm so tired and my head aches so bad." + +His cheeks were flushed, his hands hot and dry. + +"You, too, mother's little man?" she exclaimed. "Mother is so sorry for +you both. Have you been cold, Don?" + +"Yes, ma'am, and it creeps down my back now." + +"Take care of Annis, Cyril," said Mrs. Keith, and excusing herself to +her cousin, she led the sick ones away. + +Coming back after some little time, "I found Ada down, too," she sighed. +"She had crept away by herself, without a word to any one--poor, dear +child! 'not wanting to trouble mother,' and there she lay shaking till +the very bed shook under her." + +"It's dreadful!" cried Mr. Dinsmore, "positively dreadful, Marcia! How +can you stand it! I believe there has hardly been a week since I came +when you were all well." + +"Ah, that's because there are so many of us!" she answered, laughing, +though tears sprang to her eyes. + +"Why do you stay here! I'd pack up everything and be off instanter." + +"Necessity knows no law," she said. "Cyril, son, can you go down to the +spring and get some fresh water for the sick ones?" + +"Yes, ma'am; I'll take the biggest bucket; cause folks always want to +drink so much water when the chill's on 'em." + +"Cyril knows that by experience," his mother remarked as the boy left +the room. + +"Why do you speak of staying here as a necessity, Marcia?" asked her +cousin. "You had as large a fortune from your mother as I from mine." + +"Riches take wings, Horace, and a large family and unfortunate +investments supplied them to mine." + +She spoke cheerfully, jestingly, as though it were but occasion for +mirth, but his tone was full of concern as he answered, + +"Indeed I never knew that. It is a thousand pities! I wonder you can be +so content and light-hearted as you seem." + +"Ah, I have so much left! All my chiefest treasures,--husband, children, +many great and precious promises for both this life and the next." + +"Ah, but if you stay here, how long are you likely to keep husband and +children? not to speak of the danger to your own life and health." + +"Sickness and death find entrance everywhere in this sad world," she +said; her voice trembling slightly, "and in all places we are under the +same loving care. It seems our duty to stay here, and the path of duty +is the safest. It is thought that in a few years this will become a +healthy country." + +"I hope so, indeed, for your sake, but it is a hard one for you in other +ways. I am not so unobservant as not to have discovered that you do a +great deal of your own work. And I don't like that it should be so, +Marcia." + +"You are very kind," she answered, smiling up brightly into his face as +he stood looking down upon her with a vexed and anxious expression, "It +is very nice to have you care so much for me, Horace." + +"There's nobody in the world I care more for, Marcia," he said, "and +going over some of our late talk, in my mind, I have thought there is +nobody to whom I should so much like to commit the care and training of +my child. I mean, of course, if your hands were not already full and +more than full with your own." + +"They are not so full that I would not gladly do a mother's part by +her," she answered with emotion, "were it not for the danger of bringing +her to this climate." + +"Yes, that is the difficulty. It would never do, so miasmatic and so +cold and bleak during a great part of the year; especially for one born +so far south. But I thank you, cousin, all the same." + +"We have not much sickness here except ague," she remarked presently, +"but there are several varieties of that--chills and fever occurring at +regular intervals--generally every other day at about the same hour; +dumb ague, shaking ague, and sinking or congestive chills; which last +are the only very alarming kind, sometimes proving fatal in a few +hours." + +"Indeed! you almost frighten me away," he said half seriously, half in +jest. "That is not a very common form, I hope?" + +"No, rather rare." + +"Don't you send for the doctor?" + +"Not often now; we did at first, but it is so frequent a visitor that we +have learned to manage it ourselves." + +The sickly season had fairly set in, and more afraid of it than he liked +to acknowledge, Mr. Dinsmore hastened his departure, leaving for the +East by the next stage. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twentieth. + + "I marked the Spring as she pass'd along, + With her eye of light and her lip of song; + While she stole in peace o'er the green earth's breast, + While the streams sprang out from their icy rest. + The buds bent low to the breeze's sigh, + And their breath went forth in the scented sky; + When the fields look'd fresh in their sweet repose, + And the young dews slept on the new-born rose." + --WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK. + + +"WELL, I'm both glad and sorry Horace is gone," Mrs. Keith remarked with +a smile, a sigh and a dewy look about her eyes, as the stage passed out +of sight. "I'm fond of the lad, but was troubled lest the ague should +get hold of him. Besides, the dearest of guests is something of a burden +with sickness in the house and a scarcity of help." + +"Yes, that is very true, mother," Mildred answered, "and so thoroughly +do I realize it that I am wholly and heartily glad he's gone; albeit I +liked him much better this time than I did before." + +Celestia Ann had left months ago, and they had had very indifferent +help during Mr. Dinsmore's visit, though fortunately such as they could +keep away from the table when their guest was present at it. + +Mildred went on now to express her satisfaction that such had been the +case, adding, "What would he have done if Miss Hunsinger had been here, +and in her usual fashion asserted her right to show that she felt +herself as good as he or anybody else?" + +"He'd have annihilated her with a look," laughed Rupert. + +"He would have acted like the perfect gentleman he is," said Mrs. Keith, +"but it would have been exceedingly mortifying to me to have him so +insulted at my table; for as he has been brought up, he could not avoid +feeling it an insult to be put on a social equality with one so rude and +vulgar." + +"The house feels lonely," said Zillah, "it seems 'most as if Aunt +Wealthy had just gone away." + +"We'll get our sewing and a book," said her mother, "Come all into the +sitting-room. Rupert may be the reader this time. + +"Mildred, you and I will have to be very busy now with the fall sewing." + +"Yes mother dear; it's a blessing to have plenty of employment. But do +you think I shall need to give up my studies for a time?" + +"No, daughter, I hope not. I want you to go on with them; Mr. Lord says +you are doing so nicely. Your cousin, too, told me he thought you were +getting a better--more thorough--education with him, than you would be +likely to in any school for girls that he knows of." + +Mildred's eyes sparkled, and cousin Horace took a warmer place in her +affections than he had held before. It was well, for it needed all that +to keep her from disliking him for his indifference toward his +motherless little one, when, a few days later, she heard his story from +her mother's lips. + +They had a very busy fall and winter, missing sorely Miss Stanhope's +loved companionship and her help in the family sewing, the putting up of +fruit--the pickling and preserving, indeed in every department of +household work; and in nothing more than in the care of the sick. + +Letters came from her at rare intervals--for mails were infrequent in +those days and postage was very high--were read and re-read, then put +carefully by to be enjoyed again when time and opportunity could be +found for another perusal. They were not the brief statements of facts +that letters of the present day generally are, but long chatty epistles, +giving in pleasing detail, her own doings and those of old friends and +acquaintances, and all that had happened in Lansdale since they left; +telling of her pets, of the books she read and what she thought of them. + +Then there were kind inquiries, conjectures as to what they were doing +and thinking; answers to their questions, and words of counsel and of +tender sympathy in their joys and sorrows. + +Many a laugh did they give their readers, and many a tear was dropped +upon their pages. They so loved the dear old lady and could almost hear +the sweet tones of her voice as they read or repeated to each other, her +quaint sayings. + +Fall and winter passed, bringing with them no marked changes in the +family, but very much the same round of work, study and diversion as in +the former year. + +The children grew, mentally and physically, now mother, and now sister +Mildred, "teaching the young ideas how to shoot;" for they could not +endure the thought of resigning the precious darlings to the tender +mercies of Damaris Drybread, whose school was still the only one in +town. + +The old intimacy was kept up in just the old way among the coterie of +six, and the gossips vainly puzzled their brains with the question which +girl was the admired and admirer of which young man. + +Mildred was happily freed from the visits of Ransquattle--of which Lu +Grange had become the impatient and disgusted recipient--and saw little +of Gotobed Lightcap, who, upon one excuse, or another, absented himself +from most of the merry-makings of the young people. + +Indeed there had been scarcely any intercourse between the two families +since the removal of the Keiths from the immediate neighborhood of the +Lightcaps; for there was no similarity of taste, no common bond of +interest to draw them together; nothing in truth, save a kind and +friendly feeling toward each other; and as regarded Rhoda Jane, even +this was lacking. + +She had never yet forgiven Mildred's rejection of her brother and almost +hated her for it, though she knew naught of her added offense in the +matter of the criticism on his letter. That was a secret which Gotobed +kept faithfully locked in his own breast. + +The spring opened early for that climate; with warm rains that brought +vegetation forward rapidly. + +The Keith children revelled in out door work and play; each of the +younger ones had a little garden to dig and plant as he or she pleased, +and a pet hen or two in the chicken yard, and there was much +good-natured rivalry as to who should have the earliest vegetables, the +greatest variety of flowers, the largest broods of young chicks, or the +most newly laid eggs to present to father and mother, or the invalid of +the hour; for the old enemy--ague--still visited them occasionally; now +one, now another, or it might be several at once, succumbing to its +attacks. + +However, the lion's share of both gardening and poultry-raising fell to +Rupert; who busied himself out of study hours, with these and many +little odd jobs of repairing and adorning--such as mending fences, +putting up trellises, training vines and trimming shrubbery and trees. + +The mother and Mildred found so much to do within doors, that some +oversight and direction of these younger workers, and the partial care +of a few flower-beds near the house, were all they could undertake +outside. + +They had been without a domestic for some weeks, had passed through the +trying ordeal of the regular spring house-cleaning with only Mrs. Rood's +assistance, when one pleasant May morning, while dishing up breakfast, +their hearts were gladdened by the sight of the sinewy form and +energetic countenance of Celestia Ann Hunsinger as she stepped in at the +kitchen door with a characteristic salutation. + +"How d'ye, Mis' Keith? You don't want no help round here, do ye?" + +"We want just the sort of help we'll be sure of if you'll take off your +bonnet and stay," Mrs. Keith answered, giving her a hearty grip of the +hand. + +"Then that's what I'll do and no mistake," returned the girl, setting +down a bundle on a chair, with the remark, "You see I've brought some o' +my duds along," pulling off her sunbonnet and hanging it on a nail. +"Here, Miss Mildred, let me smash them 'taters." + +"So Mis' Keith, you've been buildin' since I was here last." + +"Yes; a new kitchen; so we could take the old for a dining-room and be +less crowded." + +"It's awful nice; I always did like a good big kitching;--room to turn +round and keep things straight." + +"It's going to be nicer still, Celestia Ann," said Rupert who had just +come in from his work in the garden, and was washing his hands +preparatory to taking a seat at the table, "it wants a coat of paint on +the outside and I'm going to put it on myself, to-day." + +"Well, I never!" she ejaculated, "do ye think you're up to that?" + +"Of course I do; and so, I suppose, do father and mother; or they +wouldn't have consented to let me try." + +"Well, there's nothin' like tryin'; as I've found out in my own +experience," returned Miss Hunsinger, using her potato masher +vigorously, "and I allers enjoy meetin' with folks that's willin' fur +it. But do you know, Mis' Keith, 'pears to me like 'I can't' comes the +easiest to most human critters' tongues of any two words in the American +language; and with more'n half on 'em they're lyin' words; yes, there's +more lies told in them two words than in any other ten. So there!" as +she laid down her masher to stir in the milk, butter and salt. + +"I'm afraid there is only too much truth in your remark," said Mrs. +Keith, "but certainly no one can accuse you of a fondness for that +favorite phrase of the indolent and ease-loving." + +"Thank you, Mis' Keith. I've lots of faults and failin's as well's the +rest o' the human family, but I'm certain sure there ain't no lazy bone +in my body. + +"Here these taters is ready to set on the table, and I see you've got +your steak and biscuits dished up. But I hain't inquired after the +fam'ly. Anybody got the agur?" + +"No, I believe we are all well this morning thanks to a kind Providence. +Rupert, call your father and the rest to breakfast." + +No frowns greeted Celestia Ann as she, with her accustomed nonchalance, +took her place with the others. Everybody was glad to see her, because +her arrival meant comparative rest for mother and Mildred, and more time +to be devoted by them to the loving care and entertainment of father and +the younger children. + +After breakfast, family worship. Then Mr. Keith went to his office and +the others scattered to their work or play. Sunbonnets and hats were in +request among the little ones; for mother had given permission to go out +if they would be careful to keep on the gravel walks till the dew was +off the grass. + +Sister Mildred gave kind assistance, and away they ran, while she and +Zillah and Ada, old enough now to begin to be useful about the house, +made beds, dusted and set things to rights in sleeping and dwelling +rooms, and Rupert donned a suit of overalls and went to his chosen +task. + +Celestia Ann needed but little direction or oversight, and in half an +hour Mrs. Keith repaired to the sitting-room. + +What a pleasant place it seemed as she came in!--fresh and bright from +its recent cleaning, neat as a new pin, the open windows looking out +upon the grassy side yard, with its shrubbery and trees clothed in vivid +green, and giving a charming view of the clear waters of the swiftly +flowing river sparkling in the sunlight. + +"Isn't it a lovely morning, mother?" cried Mildred, whose graceful +figure was flitting about here and there, putting a few finishing +touches to the adornments of the room. "I think the sunshine was never +brighter, the air never sweeter. It is a luxury just to live! Hark to +that robin's song and the sweet prattling of the little voices you and I +love so well! And I feel as blithe and gay as a bird." + +"Yes, dear child," said the mother, happy tears springing to her eyes, +"Oh, how great is His goodness to us unworthy creatures! so much of +mercy and blessing here and the certainty of endless joy and bliss +beyond! Life has its dark and dreary days, but after all there is more +of brightness, to those who look for it, than of gloom." + +"I believe that is true, mother," responded Mildred, "though when the +dark and dreary days are upon us, it is sometimes very difficult to hold +fast to one's faith. + +"I do love this time of year," she added, leaning from the window to +watch the ferryboat slowly crossing, + + "'Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, + A box where sweets compacted lie.'" + +"Come, let us go out; I think we may spare an hour to the garden this +morning," Mrs. Keith said gayly, leading the way. "What a blessing, +among others, it is to have a good reliable girl in the kitchen!" + +"Yes," laughed Mildred, "I could almost have hugged Celestia Ann; I was +so glad to see her. What do you suppose brought her just at this time, +mother?" + +"Need of money for summer finery, I presume. See, our morning glories +are coming up nicely." + +"Mother, mother, and Milly," cried Fan running to them in an ecstasy of +delight, "my speckled hen has thirteen little chicks, the prettiest bits +of fuzzy things you ever saw. Do come and look!" + +She turned and sped back again toward the chicken yard, mother and +sister following. + +The other three little ones were there watching "Speckle" and her brood +with intense interest. + +"See! see! mamma, Milly! see! see!" cried Baby Annis in a flutter of +delight, holding her little skirts close to her chubby legs, as the +"bits of fuzzy things" ran hither and thither about her feet, "pitty +'ittle chickies, dust tum out of eggs." + +"Yes, dears, they are very pretty," Mrs. Keith said; "but they are very +tender little things; so be careful not to hurt them. No, Cyril, don't +pick them up, and be sure you don't step on them. You may go to the +house for some bread crumbs, Fan, and you and Annis may feed them." + +This permission gave great pleasure, and Fan's small feet went skipping +and dancing through the garden in the direction of the kitchen door. + +Then mother must look at Annis's hen sitting on her nest, and notice how +the older broods, belonging to Cyril and Don, were growing in size and +strength; Zillah's and Ada's also; and hear how many eggs the other +nests had furnished this morning. + +After that the gardens were submitted to her inspection, Mildred still +bearing her company, both making suggestions and giving assistance. + +And so a full hour had slipped by before they returned to the house, and +Rupert, they found, had made great progress with his work. + +"I've painted the whole end, mother; do you see?" he called to her; "and +now I'm beginning this side. I think I'll have the whole job done +to-day." + +"You have been very industrious," she said, "but don't make haste so +fast that it will not be done well." + +"Oh, no, ma'am, I don't intend to." + +He was at the top of his ladder and near the roof of the new one-story +addition to their house. + +"Take care, my son," said Mrs. Keith; "it seems to me your ladder +doesn't stand very securely. Is there no danger of its slipping?" + +"Never a bit, mother," laughed the boy "why what should make it slip?" + +She and Mildred turned and walked on toward the front of the house, had +just set foot upon the porch there, when a shout from Rupert startled +them and made them pause and look back at him. + +They saw the ladder slip, slip then slide rapidly to the ground, while +with a cry of alarm they rushed toward him. + +But they were much too far off to reach him in time to be of the least +assistance. Down he came to the ground, falling with considerable +impetus and alighting upon his feet, his brush in one hand, his paint +pot in the other, striking with a force that sent the paint all over his +person. + +He reeled and dropped. + +"Are you hurt? oh, my boy, are you much hurt?" asked his mother +tremulously, as she hurried to him, looking very pale and frightened. + +"My clothes have got the worst of it, I believe, mother," he said, +laughing and staggering to his feet. "I'm afraid they've robbed the +house of half its new coat." + +The others came running from chicken-yard and garden; Celestia Ann poked +her head out of the kitchen window, and a peal of laughter met him from +all sides. + +"I dare say I cut quite a comical figure," he said, taking it in good +part, "but since I've broken no bones, I wouldn't care a red cent, if it +wasn't for the loss of the paint and the damage to my illegant attire. + +"'O what a fall was there, my countrymen.'" + +"Since you are unhurt, no matter for the clothes; even if they were an +elegant suit," said his mother, with a sigh of relief. + +"But half the paint's gone, mother--or at least put upon my person where +it's worse than useless," cried the lad, surveying himself with an +expression so comically lugubrious that there was a fresh explosion of +mirth. + +"Never mind; it will not cost a great deal to replace it," said Mrs. +Keith. "But I think the job may wait now till we can get a regular +house-painter to finish it up." + +"What! would you have me give up so easily, mother, and own myself +beaten? I don't like to do it. Please let me try again, and I'll place +the ladder more carefully." + +"I don't know; we'll ask your father first. There's no special haste +and--how would you all like to go with me for a walk? a nice long stroll +down to the bridge, and over the river, to look for wild flowers." + +The proposal was greeted with loud acclamations and clapping of hands. +"Oh, delightful!" "Oh goodie! goodie!" "May we mother?" + +"Yes; we've all been working hard this long time, and I think really +deserve a holiday. Rupert, make yourself decent and we'll set out at +once, taking a lunch with us, so that we need not hurry home." + +"Tan I do, mamma? tan Annis do?" asked the baby girl eagerly, the rosy +face all aglow with delight. + +"Yes, indeed, mother's darling; you shall go in your little coach; +because your dear little feet couldn't travel fast enough to keep up +with the rest, and would get so tired." + +"Do we need to be dressed up, mother?" asked Fan, "me and Don and all +the children?" + +"No, dear; we don't go through town and are dressed quite enough for the +woods." + +They were soon on the way, strolling leisurely along, drinking in with +keen enjoyment the sweet sights and sounds. + +The sky over their heads was of a dark celestial blue with here and +there a floating cloud of snowy whiteness, whose shadow flitted over the +landscape, giving to it a charming variety of light and shade. + +Their road lay along the bank of the river and its soft murmur mingled +with the hum of insects and the song of birds. The grass beneath their +feet was emerald green thickly studded with wild flowers of every hue, +and the groves of saplings through which they passed were fast donning +their summer robes. + +The bridge was a rough wooden structure half a mile below the town; +quite out of danger of crowding the houses of the citizens or doing much +injury to the custom of the ferry. + +The walk was a longer one than the younger children were accustomed to +take, but there was no occasion for haste--they were in search of rest +and pleasure, and when little feet grew weary, mother let them stop and +amuse themselves with making wreaths and bouquets of the flowers they +had gathered, or by throwing stones into the river, till they were ready +to go on again. + +They did not go far beyond the bridge; only climbed the bank, on the +other side, picked a few flowers there, and were ready to return. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twenty-first. + + "You are meek and humble mouth'd; + You sign your place and calling, in full seeming, + With meekness and humility; but your heart + Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride." + --SHAKS. HENRY VIIITH. + + +"OH, what's that? what's that?" cried a chorus of young voices, as Mrs. +Keith and her little troop, returning from their morning stroll, stepped +into the front porch at home. + +"What indeed!" echoed the mother, as much surprised as any one of the +others. "It looks very like a box of goods; but where could it come +from?" + +"Aunt Wealthy," suggested Mildred, examining it with a curious eye. + +"Ah, so you have come back at last, eh?" said Mr. Keith coming out with +a smiling face. "That's been waiting for you for over an hour," +consulting his watch. "Come let's have dinner and then we'll see what's +inside." + +"Is it ready?" asked Mrs. Keith, taking off her bonnet. + +"Yes; barely time for the washing of small hands and faces," he said, +picking up Annis and racing off to the nursery with her; for so they +called the room where the little ones slept and were dressed and +undressed, though but a small part of the day was ordinarily spent +there. + +There was no lingering over the dinner table, though the meal was a good +one, and the children's appetites had been sufficiently keen until they +saw the box. + +They ate and drank with dispatch, taking time for but little talk beyond +a few conjectures as to its probable contents. + +Father and mother certainly shared their curiosity and eagerness to some +extent, and did not keep them waiting long. + +A few minutes' work with the hatchet and the lid was off. + +"Just newspapers!" cried Don, in a tone of bitter disappointment. + +"Wait a bit, laddie," laughed Rupert. + +"Something else under, I guess," said Cyril, while father, mother and +Mildred made haste to lift and lay aside the papers for further perusal, +for newspapers were too rare in those days to be despised, even though +some weeks old. + +"Books! oh delightful!" + +"How good and kind in her!" + +"Now we'll have a feast!" exclaimed one and another in varying tones of +gladness. + +"What are they? let us see," said Mr. Keith proceeding to lift them out +one or two at a time, and with a glance at the titles on the backs, +handing them to wife, son or daughter. + +"Cooper's Naval History of the United States! There, that will +particularly interest you, Rupert. + +"And here are his novels, which mother and Mildred will enjoy. Scott's +works also: those for older folks and his 'Tales of a Grandfather' for +the children. Two more little books--'Anna Ross,' and 'Ruth Lee.'" + +"Oh, they look pretty!" cried Zillah and Ada, peeping into these last. + +"'Dunallan' for me! oh how glad I am!" exclaimed Mildred the next +instant. + +"Here's a bundle," said Mr. Keith, handing it out. + +"Remnants, I presume," his wife said laughingly, and opening it found +her surmise correct. + +Groceries, candies and toys for the children, and some few other +miscellaneous articles filled up the rest of this most welcome box. + +"Dear old auntie! She shouldn't have wasted so much of her money on us," +Mrs. Keith said with tears in her eyes, as she glanced over a note +pinned to a dress pattern for herself. "But she says she has enjoyed it +intensely, and I know that is so; for giving, especially to us, is her +greatest delight." + +"Yes, there never was a more generous soul," assented her husband. + +"Ah, if we could only do something for her in return!" exclaimed +Mildred. + +"Yes, indeed! what a feast she has provided us!" cried Rupert, taking a +peep here and there into the history. "Mother, can't we begin on them +this afternoon?" + +"I'm not ready for Mr. Lord," objected Mildred, "and in an hour it will +be time to go to him." + +That reminded the lad that he, too, had a lesson to prepare, and he left +the room to attend to it. + +"Wife," said Mr. Keith, "do you know that little Mary Chetwood is +seriously ill?" + +"No, I did not, I'll put on my bonnet and go over there at once." + +"Mother," said Mildred, "I've been thinking it would be nice to lend one +of these books to Effie Prescott. I do not know her at all intimately, +but Claudina says she is very intelligent and fond of reading, and in +such poor health that she is often too miserably weak and ill to do +anything but read." + +"Certainly! she must have the reading of every book in the house, if she +wishes, and will not abuse them." + +"Claudina says she is always very careful of those she lends her, and +very glad to get them. She's a lovely Christian, too, and very patient +under her trials." + +"Yes; I have been pleased with the little I have seen of her. I believe +I owe Mrs. Prescott a call; so I shall take their house on my way to the +squire's and carry a book with me." + +Mrs. Keith found Mrs. Prescott out, the invalid girl lying back in a +large rocking chair, and Damaris Drybread seated, in her accustomed bolt +upright fashion, directly opposite. + +At sight of Mrs. Keith, Effie started up in nervous haste and +trepidation, to offer her hand and then a chair. + +"Never mind, dear child, I will help myself," said the lady, pressing +the trembling hand tenderly in hers. "How are you to-day?" + +"About as usual, thank you; which is neither very sick nor very well," +the girl answered with a faint smile, sinking back again, breathing +short and hard. + +"Now don't talk so; you look very well," remarked Miss Drybread in a +cold, hard tone. "Just make up your mind that there's nothing much the +matter, and you're not going to give up to the hypo, and ten to one it +won't be long till you find yourself well enough." + +Tears sprang to Effie's eyes, for she was both nervous and sensitive to +the last degree. + +"I know I look well," she said. "I'm not thin, and I have a good color; +but it's often brightest when I feel the worst. And I've tried to +believe my sickness was all imagination, but I can't; it's too real." + +"No, Effie, you do not look well," said Mrs. Keith; "that brilliant +bloom hardly belongs to health, and your eyes are heavy, your +countenance is distressed." + +"Of course she'll wear a distressed countenance as long as she imagines +she's sick," observed the schoolma'am severely. "And you, Mrs. Keith, +are only making matters worse by talking in that way." + +"Not so," said the sick girl, "such kind sympathy does me good. Oh, +thank you a thousand times!" as Mrs. Keith put "Dunallan" into her +hands. "I shall enjoy it so much, and will be very careful of it, and +return it soon. I read it years ago and liked it exceedingly, and it +will be new to me now. Grace Kennedy is such a sweet writer; what a pity +she died so early!" + +"A novel!" sniffed Damaris. "If you are really sick you oughtn't to read +anything but the Bible." + +"The teachings of this book are so fully in accord with those of the +Scriptures, that I can not think it will hurt her," said Mrs. Keith. + +"I love the Bible," said Effie, "I never could do without it; its words +often come to me when I am sad and suffering and are 'sweeter than honey +and the honeycomb,' but reading other good books seems like talking with +a Christian friend, and refreshes me in the same way." + +At this moment Mrs. Prescott came in and greeting the two callers with a +pleasant "Good afternoon," sat down to chat with them. + +The talk presently turned upon their gardens, and Mrs. Prescott invited +the visitors to walk out and look at hers. + +Mrs. Keith accepted the invitation, but Miss Drybread said she would +just sit with Effie till they came back. + +"Aren't you teaching now, Miss Damaris?" asked the girl, as the others +left the room. + +"No, I've closed my school for a couple of weeks to do my spring +sewing." + +"It was kind in you to take time to call to see me when you are always +so busy." + +"I try to attend to every duty," returned the schoolma'am, with a +sanctimonious air "and I felt that I had a duty to perform here. I've +been thinking a good deal about you, Effie; trying to find out why your +afflictions are sent; and I've concluded that it's as a punishment for +your sins, and that when you repent and reform, your health will be +better. + +"You know Christians (and I really hope you're one; I know you belong to +the church) won't have any punishment in the other world; so they have +to take it in this, and so, as I said, I've been considering about you, +and I think if you thought better of Brother Smith and enjoyed his +sermons and prayers and talks in the meetin's, 'twould be better for +you. + +"He's a good Christian and so you'd ought to like what he says, and be +his friend with other folks that isn't inclined to listen to him." + +"He may be a Christian; I hope he is," returned Effie, "though it is +very difficult for me to realize that a man has much true love to Christ +and for souls, when his tone and manner are utterly indifferent and +business like (or perhaps that isn't quite the right word; for men +generally show some interest in their business). + +"Besides it requires other things in addition to conversion to fit a +man for teaching; he must have knowledge and the ability to impart it. + +"I have nothing against Mr. Smith personally, but he does not instruct +me, does not give me any food for thought, or help me on my way to +heaven. So I felt it my duty to object to having him become my pastor. +But I haven't been going about slandering him, and don't know why you +come and talk to me in this way. + +"It strikes me, too, that you are the last person to do it--as I have +heard you say far harder things of other ministers than ever I've said +of him." + +An angry flush rose in the sallow cheek of the spinster at that. + +"I've tried to do my duty always," she said, bridling. "I've never +indulged in any vanities of dress; but that's been one of your sins, +Effie Prescott; bows and even flowers and feathers on your bonnets, and +knots of bright ribbon at your throat and in your hair. It's sinful and +you may depend you'll be afflicted till you'll give up and be consistent +in all things." + +"I know better than you can tell me, that I deserve all I suffer and a +great deal more," said the girl humbly, tears gathering in her eyes; +"but for all that I don't believe you are right. You are a Job's +comforter, and God reproved those men for talking so to him. + +"And don't you remember what Jesus said about trying to take the mote +out of your brother's eye while there is a beam in your own?" + +"I see its time for me to go," said Damaris, rising. + +She stood a moment looking at Effie, her lips compressed, her face white +and her eyes ablaze with rage. + +"There's no Christian spirit about you," she hissed, "you don't like +faithful dealing; you don't want to be told of your sins. Very well, +Miss, I wash my hands of you; I shake off the dust of my feet against +you." + +And with arms folded on her breast and head erect, she stalked out of +the house, leaving the invalid girl quivering from head to foot with +nervous excitement and distress, crying and laughing hysterically. + +"Oh dear! oh dear!" she sighed to herself. "I haven't behaved in a +Christian manner; I was angry at what she said." + +Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Keith were strolling in from the garden, chatting +pleasantly of their domestic affairs, when an infant's screams were +heard coming from a back room. + +"There, my baby is awake and calling for his mother," said Mrs. +Prescott. "Please excuse me a minute. Just step into the parlor again +and talk with Effie." + +Mrs. Keith complied and found Effie alone, lying back in her chair, +trembling, flushed and tearful. + +"My poor child! are you suffering very much?" she asked, bending over +her and smoothing her hair with a caressing motion. + +"No, ma'am, I'm not worse--only--it was something that Damaris said; and +that I didn't take it quite as I ought. + +"Oh, Mrs. Keith, do you think God sends sickness to punish us for our +sins? and that my health is poor because I'm more wicked than anybody +who is well?" + +"Certainly not. I have excellent health as a general thing, while many +an eminent saint has been a great sufferer. + +"We know that sin brought disease and death into the world and that God +sometimes sends afflictions as chastisements; but to his own people it +is in love and for their growth in grace. + +"'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and +repent.' 'Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son +whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with +sons.' + +"Remembering that, would you wish to escape it?" + +"Oh no, no! But oh, it makes the burden so much heavier to think that it +is because He is angry with me!" + +"It is because he loves you. Do not look at it as punishment, but as +discipline; as the cutting and carving which are necessary to bring out +the beautiful statue from the shapeless block of marble, or to change +the diamond in the rough to the brilliant sparkling gem. + +"As to the idea that the Christian bears any part of the penalty of his +sins--atoning for them by his own suffering, or his works, or in any +other way, either in this life or the next,--it is totally unscriptural. +'For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that +believeth.'" + +"O, thank you, so much, so very much!" she exclaimed, looking up +gratefully. "What wonderful love His was, and who would not be willing +to bear any suffering to be made like unto Him?" + +"That is unquestionably a Christian spirit," said Mrs. Keith; "none but +those who have felt the burden of sin and learned to hunger and thirst +after righteousness know that ardent desire for conformity to His +image." + +"You make my heart glad!" cried the girl. "Damaris just told me there +was no Christian spirit about me; and I'm often afraid there isn't; yet +I do love Jesus and desire His love more than anything else. I want to +do and suffer all His holy will!" + +Little Mary Chetwood, a sweet child of six, was the only daughter except +Claudina, and coming after some half dozen boys, naturally became, from +the first, a great pet and darling, made much of by parents, sister and +brothers. + +Yet she was not a spoiled child; she had been taught obedience, +religiously trained, and not indulged to her hurt. + +Love and wise indulgence do no harm, but quite the contrary; while +harshness, a dearth of affection, and undue severity have ruined many a +one for time and eternity. + +Mrs. Keith found the Chetwoods a distressed household; for though the +little girl had been but two days ill, such was the violence of the +attack that it was already apparent that there was small hope of +recovery. + +"This is kind," whispered Mrs. Chetwood, pressing her friend's hand, +while tears coursed down her cheeks. "The darling won't be tended by +any body but mother, father or sister, but your very presence is a +comfort." + +"I should have been here sooner, but did not know of her illness till +this afternoon," Mrs. Keith responded in the same subdued key. "If I can +be of any use, I will take off my bonnet and stay; it is perfectly +convenient." + +The offer was gratefully accepted, a note dispatched to Mildred, +entrusting the children at home to her care till such time as her mother +could be of no more service at the squire's, and Mrs. Keith's gentle +ministries in the sick room began. + +Her quiet movements, her thoughtfulness, quick comprehension and +fertility of resource, made her invaluable at such a time. + +The end came sooner than was expected; day was just breaking when, with +her head on the bosom of her who gave her birth, the little one gently +breathed her last. + +In all the trying scenes that followed, Mr. and Mrs. Keith and Mildred +were most kind, helpful and sympathizing, and the ties of Christian +friendship were thus more closely drawn than ever between the two +families. + +The bereaved family found their home sadly desolated, but there was no +murmuring against the Hand that dealt the blow; the language of their +hearts was, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the +name of the Lord." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twenty-second. + + "Hail! independence, hail! heaven's next best gift, + To that of life, and an immortal soul." + --THOMSON. + + "There is strength, + Deep bedded in our hearts, of which we reck + But little till the shafts of heaven have pierc'd + Its fragile dwelling. Must not earth be rent + Before her gems are found?" + --MRS. HEMANS. + + +"BOOM!" + +The loud voice of the cannon rent the air with sudden shock just as +eager waiting eyes caught the first glimpse of the sun's bright disc +peeping above the eastern horizon. + +The sound broke suddenly in upon many a dream, woke many a sleeper. + +"Independence day! the glorious Fourth, the nation's birthday," shouted +Cyril, giving Don a kick, then springing out of bed and hurrying on his +clothes. + +"Oh! oh! Fourth of July!" echoed Don, following suit. "I'm so glad, +'cause now we can fire our crackers." + +Their clatter and another shot roused Fan and Annis who joined in the +rejoicing, the latter calling loudly for mother or Milly to come and +dress her. + +"No more hope of sleep," yawned Mr. Keith, in the next room; "so we may +as well get up." + +"Yes," returned his wife, "I wish you would, and watch over the +children;--see that they don't burn their fingers or set things on fire. + +"Yes, Annis, mother's coming." + +Breakfast was prepared amid the almost constant firing of crackers and +childish shouts of exultation, near at hand, and the occasional booming +of the more distant cannon. + +The young folks were full of gayety and excitement, hurrahing, singing +"Hail Columbia!" "Yankee Doodle," and "Star-spangled Banner." + +Rupert came in a little late to breakfast, from a stroll down town, and +reported that a wonderfully large flag-staff had been planted in front +of the court-house, and that the stars and stripes were floating from +its top. + +The Sunday schools were to unite and march in procession through the +streets of the town, then separate, and each school betake itself to +its own church, there to enjoy a little feast prepared by the parents +and friends of the scholars. + +There had been a good deal of baking going on in Mrs. Keith's kitchen +the day before, and shortly after breakfast a large basket was packed +with delicacies and sent to the church. + +Then mother and Mildred had their hands full for an hour or so in +dressing the children and themselves for the grand occasion. + +They made a goodly show as they issued from the gate and took their way +toward the place of rendezvous; the girls all in white muslin and blue +ribbons, the boys in their neat Sunday suits, and each with a flower or +tiny nosegay in his button-hole. + +The house had to be shut up, as Celestia Ann claimed the holiday, but +was left in its usual neat and orderly condition, by means of early +rising and extra exertion on the part of the three older girls. +Otherwise Mildred could not have been content to go, and delay was +dangerous, as on account of the heat of the weather the procession was +to move by nine o'clock. + +The whole town was in holiday attire, and everywhere smiling faces were +seen. + +A shower in the night had laid the dust without turning it to mud, and +the Sunday school celebration proved quite a success. + +The children enjoyed their treat of cakes, candies and lemonade, then +the little Keiths went home, tired enough to be glad to sit down and +rest while father, mother and Milly told them stories of other Fourths +that they could remember. + +After dinner Mildred went to call on her friend Claudina, carrying with +her another book for Effie Prescott. + +"Dunallan," had been returned in perfect condition and with a little +note of thanks. + +Effie met Mildred with a pleased look, a cheerful greeting, and warm +thanks for the book. + +"I am so glad to see you!" she said, "and it was very kind in you to +come; for I am owing you a call. I thought I should have paid it long +ago, but there are so many days when I don't feel quite equal to the +walk." + +"You do walk out then?" + +"Oh yes! every day when the weather is good. That is part of the cure. +But I cannot walk fast or far." + +"I hope you are improving." + +"Yes, I believe so, but very slowly. I'm never confined to bed, but +never able to do much, and the books are such a blessing." + +From that they fell into talk about books and authors and were mutually +pleased to find their tastes were similar as regarded literature, and +that their religious views accorded. + +It was the beginning of a friendship which became a source of great +enjoyment to both. + +Effie had learned to love Mrs. Keith. That drew Mildred toward her; and +their common faith in Christ and love to Him, was a yet stronger bond of +union. + +They regretted that they had been so long comparative strangers, and +Mildred felt well rewarded for the kind thoughtfulness on her part, +which had at length brought them together. + +But leaving Effie to the perusal of the book, she walked on to Squire +Chetwood's. + +Mrs. Chetwood and Claudina, in their deep mourning dress, sat quietly at +home, with no heart to join in the mirth and jollity going on about +them; yet calm and resigned. + +"Ah," sighed the mother, tears springing to her eyes, as the joyous +shouts of children penetrated to their silent room, "our little darling +would have been so gay and happy to-day! But why do I say that! I know +she is far, far happier in that blessed land than she could ever +possibly have been here." + +"I know that," said Claudina, weeping, "and I do rejoice in the thought +of her blessedness; but oh, the house is so dreary and desolate without +her! O Mildred, how rich you are with four sisters!" + +There was a knock at the street door, answered by the girl, and the next +moment Miss Drybread walked into the parlor where the ladies were +sitting. + +She was courteously received and invited to take a seat; which she did, +drawing a deep sigh. + +"Are you well, Miss Damaris?" asked Mrs. Chetwood. + +"Yes; I'm always well; I try and do right, and have no sick fancies; am +never troubled with the vapors. I hope you're well?" + +"As usual, thank you." + +"You've had a great affliction." + +No response, for the torn hearts could scarce endure the rude touch; her +tone was so cold and hard. + +"I hope you're resigned," she went on. "You know we ought to be; +especially considering that we deserve all our troubles and trials." + +"I trust we are," said Mrs. Chetwood, "we can rejoice in her happiness +while we weep for ourselves." + +"Don't you think you made an idol of that child? I think you did, and +that that is the reason why she was taken; for God won't allow idols." + +"We loved her very dearly," sobbed the bereaved mother, "but I do not +think we made an idol of her, or ever indulged her to her hurt." + +"The heart is deceitful," observed the schoolma'am with emphasis, "and +putting on mourning, and shedding so many tears, doesn't look like +submission and resignation. I don't see how a Christian can act so." + +"Wait till you are bereaved," replied the mother, sobs almost choking +her utterance. + +"And remember how Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and that he never +reproved the Jews for putting on sackcloth and ashes when mourning for +their dead," said Mildred, adding, in her uncontrollable indignation, "I +think you might be at better work, Miss Drybread, than wrenching the +hearts of these bereaved ones whom Jesus loves, and in all whose +afflictions He is afflicted." + +"I'm only doing my duty," retorted the spinster; "the Bible says we must +reprove our brethren and not suffer sin upon them." + +"It says 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' They are the words of Jesus +in the Sermon on the Mount, and if you turn to the passage and read on +a little further, you will see that people who try to pull the mote out +of a brother's eye while there is a beam in their own, He calls +hypocrites." + +"I can understand an insinuation as well as the next one," said Miss +Drybread, rising in wrath, "and let me tell you, Miss, that I consider +you the most impertinent young person I ever met. + +"Good afternoon, Mrs. and Miss Chetwood; I wish you joy of your friend," +and she swept from the room and the house, before the astonished ladies +could utter a word. + +"What a disagreeable, self-righteous old hypocrite!" cried Mildred, her +cheeks flushed, her eyes flashing. "To think of her talking to you in +that cold-hearted, cruel manner, Mrs. Chetwood and Claudina. But there! +I am judging her. Oh dear! oh dear!" + +She finished with a burst of sobs, clasping her arms about her friend, +who was weeping bitterly. + +Mrs. Chetwood, too, was shedding tears; but presently wiped them away, +saying, "We will try to forgive and forget her harsh words. I trust she +is a well-meaning, and perhaps, truly good woman; though mistaken as to +her duty and sadly wanting in tact." + +On her way home Mildred passed Mr. Lightcap's. She usually avoided doing +so by taking the other street; but to-day was too full of grief for her +bereaved friends, to care which way her steps were tending till they +were arrested by Mrs. Lightcap's voice, speaking from her open door. + +"Why, if it ain't Miss Keith! I hain't seen a sight o' you this long +time. Walk in, won't you? and sit a bit. They've all run off somewheres +and left me settin' here without a soul to speak to, and I'm dreadful +lonesome." + +Mildred could not well refuse the invitation, so stepped in and took a +seat. + +Her first feeling on becoming aware that Mrs. Lightcap was addressing +her was one of embarrassment at the idea of facing the mother of her +rejected suitor; but the next instant she concluded from the cordial +manner of her neighbor, that she must be entirely ignorant of the +affair, which was really the case; Gotobed having insisted upon Rhoda +Jane keeping his secret. + +Mildred was not in a talking mood, but Mrs. Lightcap grew garrulous over +the day's celebration, the heat of the weather,--prophesying that if it +lasted long, coming as it did after a very rainy spring, there would be +a great deal of sickness--branching off finally to her housework and +garden; two inexhaustible themes with her. + +An occasional yes, or no, or nod of acquiescence, was all that was +necessary on the part of her listener; and these Mildred could supply +without giving her undivided attention to the steady flow of empty talk. + +The firing of the cannon at short intervals had been kept up all day. +"Boom!" it came now, causing Mrs. Lightcap to give a sudden start and +break off in the middle of a sentence. + +"Well, I declare!" she exclaimed, "I can't git used to that there +firin'; and I jest wisht they'd stop it; 'fore some on 'em gits hurt. +It's a dreadful dangerous thing--gunpowder is, and I guess there ain't +never a Fourth when there don't somebody git about half killed." + +"Or quite," said Mildred; "people will be so careless; and I suppose +that even with the greatest care there must be some danger, from the +bursting of guns and other accidents that it is, perhaps, impossible to +guard against." + +Mildred sat very near the open door, Mrs. Lightcap farther within the +room. + +"Well as I was a sayin'," began the latter, resuming the thread of her +discourse. + +Some one came running without, his heavy footsteps resounding upon the +sidewalk. It was a man. He paused before the door, looking pale and +frightened, and beckoning to Mildred, said in a low, hurried tone, "Just +step this way a minute, Miss, I want to speak to you." + +Hardly comprehending, too much taken by surprise even to wonder what he +could want, she hastily complied. + +"She ought to be prepared, you know," he went on in the same breathless, +agitated manner, drawing her further away from the door as he spoke; +"he's awfully hurt, a'most killed, I believe, and they're bringin' him +up the street now." + +"Who?" gasped Mildred. + +"Her son Gote; gun went off while he was ramming in the wadding and shot +the ramrod right through his hands; I guess they'll both have to come +off." + +Mildred staggered back, sick and faint, and with a dazed sort of feeling +that she was somehow to blame. + +"They're comin'," repeated the man hurriedly, pointing to a little crowd +of men and boys moving slowly up the street, scarcely a square away, +"can't you say something to her! kind o' break the shock a little, you +know." + +Mrs. Lightcap had stepped into the door way and was looking this way +and that, curious to learn the cause of Mildred's sudden exit. + +"Why, Jim Foote, is that you?" she exclaimed. "What on airth are you a +wantin' with Miss Keith?" then catching sight of the approaching crowd, +"What's goin' on?" she asked, "anything the matter?" + +Mildred sprang to her side, and fairly pushing her back into the house, +threw her arms about her sobbing, "Oh, I'm so sorry for you! so sorry! +Don't look! not yet. He--he's living but--" + +"Who? who's a livin'? who's hurt? Girl, tell me quick! 'Tain't none o' +mine, sure? 'Taint my old man? Oh, what'll I do? what'll I do?" + +The trampling of many feet drew near, her husband rushed in, pale, +breathless, trembling, and at sight of her burst out crying like a +child. Then the wounded man was supported into the house, men and boys, +and even women and girls crowding in after, till in a moment the room +was full. + +Rhoda Jane and the younger brothers and sisters were there, screaming +and crying. Gotobed was silent, bearing his agony with the heroism of a +soldier, but as his mother caught sight of his ghastly face, his mangled +hands, the blood upon his person, and the surgeon with his instruments, +she uttered a wild shriek and fell back fainting. + +Her husband carried her into the kitchen, and some of the neighbor women +gathered round with restoratives and whispered words of pity and +condolence, while others hurried back and forth in quest of such +articles as the surgeon called for. + +Rhoda Jane rushed out of the kitchen door, and ran to the foot of the +garden, screaming and wringing her hands, the younger ones following +her. + +Mildred could not go away and leave the family in their dire distress. +She caught Gotobed's eye, and there was in it a dumb entreaty which she +had neither power nor heart to resist. + +Silently she made her way to his side. The doctors were clearing the +room of all who were not needed. + +"They're a goin' to take off my right hand," he said hoarsely. "It's an +awful thing, but if--if you'll stand by me and let me look in your eyes, +I can bear it." + +She turned hers on the surgeon--Lucilla Grange's father. + +"May I?" + +"If you have the nerve, my dear child; it would be a great kindness to +the poor fellow. There ought to be a woman near him, and it seems +neither mother nor sister is equal to it." + +"I will stay," she said, a great compassion filling her heart. "I shall +not look at what you are doing; but I will stand by and fan him." + +She kept her word; forgetting herself entirely, thinking of him only as +one suffering terrible agony and in need of her support, she stood +gazing into his eyes, her heart going up in silent, fervent prayer on +his behalf. + +Chloroform and ether were not known in those days, and the knife's cruel +work must be borne without the blessed insensibility to pain that they +can give. Had the magnetism of Mildred's gaze a like effect? I know not; +but something enabled Gotobed to pass through the terrible ordeal +without a groan or moan; almost without flinching. + +The right hand had to be taken off at the wrist; the left, though much +mangled, the surgeon hoped to save; and did so ultimately. + +The amputation and the dressing of the wounds was over at last and +Mildred was turning away when a cup of tea was put into her hand with +the words, spoken in a half whisper, "Give him this; he will take it +from you." + +She held it to his lips and he drank; a plate was silently substituted +for the cup and she fed him like a child. + +Poor fellow! it would be long before he could feed himself again. + +Mildred set down the plate and stole quickly from the house. Her long +pent up emotion must find vent. + +She went weeping home, her heart breaking with pity for the man she +could not love, could not have married for the wealth of the world. Oh, +why did he love her so? + +She had read it in his eyes;--that she was more to him than all the +world beside, and that he knew his was a hopeless passion. + +She was glad to see that the sun was setting; because she knew from the +lateness of the hour that tea must be over at home, and the little ones +in bed; for she dreaded their questionings and curious looks, and +loathed the thought of food. + +Her mother, that best earthly friend, who always understood her as by +intuition, met her at the door and clasped her in a tender, loving +embrace; and on that dear bosom the whole sad story was sobbed out. + +"Poor, poor fellow! my heart aches for him," Mrs. Keith said, mingling +her tears with Mildred's. "And, my dear child I am very glad you had +the courage and firmness to give him the help you did. I pity him, too, +for his unfortunate attachment, at the same time that I, of course, +could never, never be willing to see it returned. + +"But your courage surprises me, I doubt if I should be capable of the +like myself," she added, smiling through her tears. + +"I know you would, mother dear," returned the girl, gazing with loving +admiration into her mother's eyes; "for you are far braver and firmer +than I. I should not have expected to be able to do it myself, but we +never know what we can do till we are tried. + +"I am sure our Father helped me in answer to prayer, and according to +his gracious promise, 'As thy days, so shall thy strength be,'" she +added in subdued, tremulous tones. + +"I do not doubt it," said Mrs. Keith; "for 'our sufficiency is of God.'" + +Throughout the whole town great sympathy was felt for the wounded young +man. People showed it in various ways; by inquiries made of the doctor +or at the door, by calling in for a little friendly chat and sending +delicacies to tempt his appetite; which for a time failed under the +pressure of pain, enforced idleness (a great change for one who had +been all his life a hard worker) and depression of spirits; for there +were seasons when he was well-nigh overwhelmed at the thought of his +maimed and helpless condition. + +Mrs. Keith went frequently to see and comfort him and his distressed +mother, and was more successful in so doing than almost any one else; +except Mildred, who occasionally accompanied her. + +They carried to Gotobed food for the mind as well as the body; books +which they read to him; as he could not hold them himself, and the other +members of the family had little time or ability to entertain him in +that way. + +Also they said many a kind, encouraging word concerning the +possibilities of future usefulness yet remaining to him. + +"I shall never be good for nothing no more," he sighed, mournfully, one +day, looking down at his maimed arm and wounded hand; "can never swing +my hammer, or shoe a horse again. I'll have to be a helpless burden on +other folks, 'stead o' takin' care o' father and mother when they git +old, as I used to think I should." + +"I don't know that, Gotobed," Mrs. Keith answered cheerily; "I think God +has given you a good mind, and that you will gradually learn to do a +great deal with that left hand; write, hold a book and turn the leaves, +and so be able to educate yourself for usefulness in some new line; +perhaps do more for your parents and friends than you ever could have +done with your hammer." + +A light broke over his face at her words, "Oh!" he said drawing a long +breath, "if I thought that I could bear it." + +"I think you are bearing it bravely," she said. + +"I'm tryin' my best," he sighed, "but the Lord only knows how hard it +is; 'specially when folks comes and tells you it's a judgment sent onto +you for your sins." + +"And who dares to tell you that?" she cried, flushing with indignation, +"who could be so heartlessly cruel?" + +"Well, Damaris was in t'other day. She means well enough, I guess;--she +fetched something she'd cooked up for me--but she don't seem to +understand a feller critter's feelin's. She give me a long lecture; said +I'd been dreadful proud o' my strength and what a neat job I could make +o' shoein' a horse and the like, and so that the Lord took away my hand +to punish me and fetch me down. Do you think 'twas that way, Mis' +Keith? I was thinkin' 'twas my own carelessness and not to be blamed on +Him at all." + +"It strikes me that you are very nearly right there," she replied, half +smiling at the earnest simplicity with which he spoke. "He is very +merciful and gracious, full of tender pity and compassion for the +creatures He has made; especially those who are peculiarly His own +because they have accepted of the salvation offered through Christ +Jesus; yet He does not always see fit to save them from the +consequences, as regards this life, of their own follies and sins." + +"Carelessness is a sin," he said with a heavy sigh. "I didn't use to +think so, but it's plain enough to me now. And do you think, Mis' Keith, +He feels kind o' sorry for me even though 'twas my own fault?" + +"I am sure of it; and that He will give you strength to bear your +trouble if you will ask Him; to bear it bravely and not let it spoil +your life by robbing you of cheerfulness and hope, and the usefulness +you may attain to by a determined, manly struggle with your +difficulties. + +"There is a pleasure in overcoming difficulties," she added with a +bright, winning smile, that was like a ray of sunlight to his saddened +heart, "a pleasure that the slothful know nothing of." + +"I'll try it!" he said with determination. "God helping me, I will. +Bless you, Mis' Keith, fur them words. I'll not forget 'em." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Third. + + "The sad vicissitudes of things." + --STERNE. + + +"MY poor, dear friend, would that I could comfort you!" Mrs. Keith said +in tones of deep heartfelt sympathy, folding her arms about Mrs. +Chetwood and weeping with her; "but only Jesus can do that in such +sorrow as yours." + +"And He does, else I should die; for oh my arms are so empty, my heart +and home so desolate!" sobbed the bereaved mother. + +"I know it, I know it by sad experience; for I too, have wept over the +grave of a darling little one." + +"You?" Mrs. Chetwood said with a look of surprise; "you have so many." + +"Yes; but then I had not all I have now. Eva was between Rupert and +Zillah and would be thirteen now. She was five when God took her to +himself." + +"Ah, you do know how to feel for me!" + +"Yes; and let me tell you how I was comforted. I fear I was not quite +submissive at first; but a dear old mother in Israel, who had several +times passed through the same deep waters, came to me and said 'My dear, +the Lord gave you quite a little flock and when He comes and asks you to +return him one, and you know He will keep it so safely in his kind arms +and on his tender bosom, will you refuse? can you not spare Him one?' + +"Then my heart was almost broken to think I had been so churlish toward +my beloved Master and I resigned her cheerfully into His care, and by +and by grew happy in thinking of her, so safe from all sin and sorrow +and pain, so full of joy, at His right hand; and of the time when my +work shall be done and I shall go to her." + +Mrs. Chetwood thought for a moment, then turning to her friend with eyes +brimful of tears, "Thank you," she said, "your words have done me good. +Surely I too, can spare Him one. Had He taken all, what right could I +have to complain? and oh, how sweet is the thought that He is caring so +tenderly for my precious lambkin!" + +The mothers mingled their tears again for a little, tears of blended +grief and joy; then Mrs. Chetwood said "What else dear friend? I seem +to read in your eyes that you have something more to say to me." + +"Only this, suggested to me by the same old Christian soldier and +confirmed by my own experience; that efforts to comfort others react +upon ourselves, so proving the best panacea for our own sorrow." + +"I believe it, am conscience-smitten that I have been so selfishly +wrapped up in my own grief, and shall set about the work at once. Will +you do me the favor to suggest where I shall begin?" + +Mrs. Keith spoke of Gotobed and the sort of comfort and assistance of +which he stood in need. + +Mrs. Chetwood shuddered. "Poor, poor fellow!" she said; "my heart aches +for him. I feel sick at the very thought of seeing any one in that +mutilated condition, but I will go to him and do what I can for his +comfort and relief." + +"Thank you," returned Mrs. Keith heartily "And speak comfortingly to the +poor mother. She is grieving very much for him, and does not look well. +One of the little girls, too, is quite ill with intermittent fever." + +It was well that Mrs. Keith had engaged her friend to take up the labor +of love, for it was long before she herself could resume it. On +reaching home she found Mildred sitting with Annis in her arms, the +little creature moaning with pain and in a high fever. + +"Mother, she is very sick," whispered Mildred tremulously, her eyes full +of tears; for she was thinking of how suddenly Mary Chetwood had been +snatched away by the grim destroyer Death. + +"I fear she is, poor darling! poor little pet!" the mother said, bending +over her and softly pressing her lips to the burning cheek. + +"O mother, mother, if we should lose her!" + +"We will do all we can to make her well, asking God's blessing on our +efforts," Mrs. Keith answered with determined cheerfulness, though a +sharp pang shot through her heart at the bare suggestion. + +Dr. Grange was sent for at once. He pronounced the child very ill, but +by no means hopelessly so. + +"The sickly season," he remarked, "is setting in unusually early and +with uncommon severity, both in town and country; people are taken down +with the fever every day. But it is what I have been expecting as the +result of the long heavy rains we had all through the spring, succeeded +by this intensely hot, dry weather. Why we haven't had a drop of rain +now, scarcely a cloud, for three weeks; the heavens above us are as +brass, and the marshes and pools of stagnant water on every side are +teeming with miasma. + +"Keep the children and yourselves out of the sun during the heat of the +day, and do not on any account allow them to be exposed to the night air +and dew." + +"Thank you for your suggestions," said Mr. Keith, "we will do our best +to follow them." + +He had just come home from his office; for it was near tea-time. The +children too had come in from their work or play, and the whole family +were gathered in the sitting-room, where the baby girl lay in her +cradle, mother and sister hanging over her in tender solicitude. + +Fan had climbed her father's knee and was lying very quiet in his arms +with her head on his shoulder. + +The doctor taking his hat to go, paused as his eye fell on her, and +stepping quickly to her side, took her hand in his. + +"This child is sick too," he said, and went on to question and prescribe +for her, directing that she should be put to bed at once. + +"Oh," sighed Mildred, "if we only had Aunt Wealthy here!" + +"I wish you had," the doctor said; "but the neighbors here are always +very kind in times of sickness." + +"Yes; we have had experience of that in the past," replied Mrs. Keith. + +The doctor called on Mrs. Chetwood and Mrs. Prior on his homeward way, +and within an hour both were at Mr. Keith's offering their services in +nursing or any thing else that was needed. + +"You are very kind," Mrs. Keith said, "but I think we can manage for a +while, and that you should save your strength for those who need it +more." + +The little ones objected to being waited upon by strangers, and Celestia +Ann insisted that she wanted no help with her housework or cooking; so +the ladies departed after exacting a promise that they should be sent +for if needed. + +That time came soon; before the crisis was passed with Annis and Fan, +three more of the children, Zillah, Cyril, and Don, were taken down; +then the father; and oh, what a weary burden of care, anxiety, toil and +grief fell upon the mother and sister! They had sore need now of all the +faith, patience and hope they had garnered up in happier days; of all +the great and precious promises they had learned to lean upon. + +Rupert was slowly dressing himself one August morning, feeling weak and +ill, when his mother's pale, sorrowful face looked in at his door. + +He tried to brighten up and seem strong and well as he turned to meet +her, asking, "How are you, mother dear? and the sick ones? I hope you +all slept." + +"Not much," she said, vainly striving after the accustomed cheery tone. +"Annis and Fan did pretty well (oh, I am thankful that the doctor +considers them out of danger now, if we can only give them the good +nursing they need,) but poor Cyril is quite delirious, very, very sick, +I fear, and Zillah not much better. Besides--" but here her voice broke, +and for a moment she was unable to go on. + +"O mother, not another one down?" he cried, "You and Mildred will be +killed with so much nursing." + +"Rupert, it is your father now," she sobbed. "He tries to makes us +believe it is not much; that he'll sleep it off in an hour or so, but +oh, I can see that he's very sick." + +"My father very sick," he echoed, aghast; "poor father! and you must +lose his help with the others, and have him to nurse, too!" + +"That is not the worst of it. He is suffering and perhaps in danger. +Celestia Ann has breakfast nearly ready. I want you to eat at once then +go for the doctor (he did not come last night) and call and tell Mrs. +Chetwood and Mrs. Prior what a sick household we are and that now if +they can give me help in nursing, I shall be very glad and thankful." + +Mrs. Keith passed on into the kitchen. + +"Breakfast's on table," said Celestia Ann. "You just sit down and eat, +Mis' Keith; fur you look ready to drop. I'll pour you out a cup o' +coffee, and then run in and look after the sick till you're done." + +"Thank you," Mrs. Keith said, "though I have no desire for food, I will +accept your offer, for I do feel faint and empty. Tell Mildred to come +too, as soon as she can be spared." + +Rupert and Ada came in together at that moment and took their places at +the table. + +"Only three of us this morning, 'stead of ten," Ada remarked sadly. + +"Well, we'll hope the others will all be back soon;" said Rupert, +longing to comfort and cheer his mother. + +His head ached and chills were creeping down his back, but he said +nothing about it, drank his coffee, forced himself to eat a little, and +presently declaring himself done, put on his hat and hurried away on his +errand. + +It was now a fortnight since Annis had been taken ill and not a drop of +rain had fallen yet. The nights and mornings were chilly and damp, then +the sun rose and shone all day with a fierce, burning heat that scorched +everything it touched; and day by day the fever had found new victims +till every physician's hands were full to overflowing. + +"How chilly it is!" thought Rupert, as he hastened down the path to the +gate, "but it'll be hot enough presently," he added, looking up at the +sky; "not a cloud to be seen, and the sun will be glaring down on us as +fiercely as ever. I think if there isn't some change soon we'll all +sicken and die." + +He walked on up the street. Doors and windows were closed; scarcely any +one seemed astir. + +"They're sleeping late," he thought "Well who can blame them? they're +either sick themselves or worn out taking care of the sick." + +He came first to the hotel. Mrs. Prior was very busy getting breakfast, +but stepped to the door to hear his message. + +"I'm dreadful sorry;" she said, "and I'll call round, tell your mother, +just as soon as I can; but I've half a dozen boarders down with the +fever, and only one girl; the rest's all gone off to 'tend to their own +folks; for the fever's bad all round in the country; and between them +and the town folks the doctors is goin' night and day." + +"I don't see how you can come at all then, Mrs. Prior," Rupert said, "I +should think your hands must be more than full here at home." + +"I'll come if I can, you may depend," she answered, "for I think a sight +of your mother." + +The boy sighed heavily as he turned and went on his way. How much of the +brightness seemed to have gone out of life just then. + +Dr. Grange's house was a few steps further on. An old lady, the doctor's +mother, answered his knock. + +"The doctor is in bed and asleep just now," she said. "He has had very +little rest for the last three weeks, was up all night out in the +country, and came home with a heavy chill. And the rest of the family +are all down with the fever except myself and little five year old +Ellen." + +"What are we coming to!" exclaimed the lad. + +"I don't know," she answered: "but God is our refuge and strength; a +very present help in trouble!'" + +"I do not know what to do," said Rupert, looking sadly perplexed and +anxious; "mother says my father and Cyril are both very ill." + +"I will tell the doctor when he wakes, and perhaps he will be able to go +down. It would hardly be worth while to send you for another, for +they're all equally busy." + +"Thank you," he said, "we would not like to have to try another," and +bidding her good morning, he went on his way to the Squire's. + +Mrs. Chetwood put on her bonnet at once and went with him. + +"Claudina would come too," she said, "but two of the boys are sick, and +I'm afraid she is taking the fever herself." + +"It seems as if everybody is taking it," said Rupert. "Mrs. Chetwood, is +it often so sickly here?" + +"Never was known to be quite so bad before," she answered; "they say the +oldest inhabitant doesn't remember such a time. Do you notice how quiet +and empty the streets are?" + +"Yes, ma'am; people seem to be very late in getting up. The stores are +all shut up still." + +"There's no business doing at all," she returned, "and people are not +up because they're ill; too ill, most of them, to leave their beds. + +"There are not many houses in town where more than one or two are able +to crawl about to help themselves or wait on the sick. + +"And Dr. Grange tells me it is just as bad in the country. The harvest +is uncommonly fine, but there's nobody to gather it in; there are loads +of wild berries ripe on the bushes, but nobody able to pick them. + +"Emmaretta Lightcap died yesterday; I was there last night and helped to +lay her out. All the rest of the family are in bed with the fever, +except poor Gotobed and his mother. + +"Oh, it's a sorrowful time! Effie and one or two of the little ones are +sick at Mr. Prescott's, and in the next house not one of the family is +able to be out of bed." + +Mr. Keith was quite as ill as his wife feared. + +She devoted herself principally to him, while Mrs. Chetwood and Mildred +together nursed the others. + +Rupert had had a chill and fever followed in due season; but he managed +to keep up and to conceal his illness from all but Celestia Ann, who did +the best she could for him. + +Mrs. Prior came in for an hour in the after noon, and taking Mildred's +place enabled her to lie down for a little greatly needed rest and +sleep. + +Mrs. Chetwood spent the day and night with them, but then went home to +return no more, her own family being no longer able to dispense with her +care and nursing. + +Zillah was slightly better that morning, but Mr. Keith, Cyril and Don +were all delirious and so evidently in danger that the hearts of mother +and sister were very heavy. + +Mrs. Keith scarcely left her husband's bed side except occasionally to +pass into the next room and bend for a moment over her little boys, to +take Annis or Fan in her arms to caress, and reluctantly put them down +again, and to whisper a word of hope and encouragement to Mildred, the +other little girls and Rupert. + +Celestia Ann had full sway in the kitchen, and with genuine kindness of +heart took charge of the rest of the house, so far as she could, and +prepared delicacies for the sick. + +She was a great help in looking after the convalescing, had always a +cheery word ready for the weary, anxious nurses, and in short proved +herself invaluable in this great emergency. + +What then was their distress and despair when they found they must lose +her. + +Glancing from the window on the morning of the second day after that +which Mrs. Chetwood had spent with them, Mildred saw a countryman +passing round toward the kitchen, and in a moment after his voice and +Celestia Ann's could be heard in earnest colloquy, the latter +interrupted by heavy sobs. + +Then she appeared at the door of the nursery with her apron to her eyes +and silently beckoned to Mildred. + +"What is it?" the latter asked going to her. + +"Why my brother's come to fetch me home, and I'll have to go, bad as I +hate to leave you; for if I do say it that shouldn't, I don't see how +you're agoin' to git along without me." + +"Nor I," said Mildred, aghast. "O, Celestia Ann, must you go?" + +"Yes; can't help it; for they're all down with the fever, 'cept mother +(and she's poorly) and this brother that's come after me; and he's got a +chill on him now. So I'll have to pick up my duds and be off right +away." + +"Yes, of course you must go to your own when they need you," said +Mildred; "unless they could get some one else. O, Celestia Ann, don't +you think it possible they could?" + +"No; I know they can't, Miss Mildred; there's no help to be got these +days for love or money; and the Lord only knows what's to become of us +all! + +"Sam says there's several died in our neighborhood a'ready, just for +want o' good nussin and proper victuals; so the doctor says." + +"And just so it will be with us," sobbed Mildred sinking into a chair +and covering her face with her hands. "I cannot nurse them all properly, +and cook what they need to eat; and oh, it is so terrible to think they +must die for want of it." + +"It's awful, and I'm dreadful sorry for you and everybody," sighed +Celestia Ann, wiping away the tears that were streaming over her cheeks. +"Maybe you might git Mis' Rood to come in for a few days. I'll git Sam +to go and see while I'm a pickin' up my things. + +"She ain't much for cookin' I don't suppose, but she could clean up and +do that big washin', and help a liftin' the sick ones. That is if she'll +come; but I dunno but she may be down sick herself." + +Sam kindly undertook the errand, but alas, Mrs. Rood was "down sick +herself," and no help could be had from that quarter, nor apparently, +from any other; and with many tears Celestia Ann took her departure, +saying, "I'll come back as soon as I kin, if I keep well, and my folks +gits able to do without me." + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Fourth. + + "Calamity is man's true touch stone." + + +IT was to Mildred Celestia Ann's parting words were spoken, Mildred +sitting in dumb despair beside the bed, where Cyril and Don lay tossing +and moaning in a burning fever. Her heart sank like lead in her bosom, +as she listened to the rumbling of the wheels of the wagon that was +bearing away her late efficient helper. "What could they do without +her?" + +A quiet step crossed the room, a soft hand was laid caressingly on +Mildred's bowed head, and looking up she saw her mother's sweet, pale +face bending over her; a worn and weary face, but with a strange +peacefulness shining through its care and sorrow. + +"O mother, mother, whatever shall we do?" cried the girl in a broken +whisper, and with a burst of tears. + +Mrs. Keith had a small Bible in her hand, her finger between the leaves. +She laid it open before Mildred, pointed to a passage in the +sixty-second psalm, and just touching her lips to her daughter's +forehead, turned away to the little sufferers on the bed. + +"Mother's darlings! mother's poor little men! Try to be very patient and +good like the dear Lord Jesus when he was in pain, and mother hopes you +will soon be well again. She is asking Jesus to make you well." + +"I wish he would," moaned Cyril, while; Don uttered some incoherent +words, showing that his mind wandered. + +"I'se better, mamma," piped the baby voice of Annis from another bed. +"Fan and me's better. I dess Dod will make us well, 'tause we asked him +to." + +"Yes, mother, don't fret about us," joined in Fan and Zillah patiently. + +She went over and kissed all three, calling them "dear good children," +then passed on into the kitchen. + +Rupert was there trying to make a custard; Ada washing dishes. + +"You see you're not entirely without help in this department yet, +mother," the lad said laughingly. + +"No," she answered with a smile that he felt was ample reward for his +efforts, "how are you succeeding?" + +"Bravely; at least it looks nice. Please come and tell me if 'tis ready +to be taken off." + +"It will be in a moment. Run out and get me a handful of leaves from +that young peach tree, to flavor it with." + +He obeyed, she stirring the custard and commending Ada's industry, while +he was gone. + +"Here they are, mother; is this enough?" he asked, coming back. + +"Quite," she said taking them from him; then as her hand touched his, +"Rupert," she cried with anguish in her tones, "you are sick! burning up +with fever!" + +"Heated over the stove, mother," he said, trying to laugh it off, as he +lifted the kettle from the fire and poured its contents into a bowl. + +"No, I am not to be deceived," she answered in a choking voice, "you +ought to be in bed now." + +He shook his head. "Somebody must keep up; several somebodies to take +anything like proper care of the sick ones. And, mother, I'm as able as +you are; you look dreadfully worn and ill." + +She was all that; she felt the chills creeping over her at that moment, +and her head seemed ready to burst; her heart also. + +Oh, she had need of all the comfort and support of the words she had +pointed out to Mildred, and of the exhortation contained therein. + +"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He +only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense, I shall not be +moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength and +my refuge is in God." + +She whispered them to herself, as with clasped hands and closed eyes, +she sank heavily into a chair, half unconscious of what she was doing. + +Rupert sprang to her side, thinking she was about to faint, and Ada, +with the same thought in her mind, set down the plate she was wiping and +hurried to her also. + +They caught the last words. "'The rock of my strength and my refuge is +in God.'" + +"Yes, mother, dear," sobbed the lad, putting his arms around her, "and +oh, you know it's a refuge that will never fail. 'Therefore will we not +fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried +into the midst of the sea.' 'Man's extremity is God's opportunity,' and +He will help us through this strait somehow." + +"Yes," she whispered, "and though it should be by death, what is that +but going, home? To those of us who love the Lord and trust in His +imputed righteousness," she added, looking earnestly, questioningly into +his face. + +"Mother, I believe I do," he said, "though I have never told you so +before." + +"Now I can bear it," she whispered, closing her eyes again, while a +sweet smile played about her lips. + +Her head dropped heavily on her son's shoulder. + +"Oh," shrieked Ada, "she's dying! mother's dying!" + +"Hush!" cried Rupert sternly, thinking of the mischief her cry might +work should it reach the ears of the sick ones, "she has only fainted. A +tumbler of water; quick, quick, Ada!" + +As the terrified child hastened to do his bidding, Mildred came flying +from the inner room, her face pale, her whole frame trembling with +affright. + +"Mother!" the word came in tones of agony from her pale, quivering lips. + +"It's only a faint," said Rupert hoarsely. "Help me to lay her down and +loosen her clothes. And haven't you hartshorn or something! whatever +there is. + +"Yes, Ada, quick, quick! the bottle of smelling salts! it's on the stand +by father's bedside. O, mother, mother! you too! what's to become of us? +O, Rupert, she's just killed with nursing! and I couldn't help it." + +"Of course you couldn't; you are nearly killed yourself," he said, his +tears falling almost as fast as hers, while between them they half +carried, half dragged the insensible form into the adjoining room and +laid it tenderly down upon a lounge. + +Poor children! so utterly overwhelmed were they by their mother's +helpless condition, superadded to all the other causes for anxiety, +perplexity and distress, so taken up with efforts for her restoration to +consciousness, that they scarcely heard the cries of the sick little +ones, who could not understand why they were thus left alone, or the +calls of their father who had roused from sleep and missed his gentle +nurse; nor did they notice who it was that came in through the open +kitchen door and silently assisted them, raising the window blind and +sprinkling water on the still white face. + +At last Mrs. Keith's eyes unclosed and she started up asking faintly +"What is it? have I been ill?" then fell back again completely +exhausted. + +"You were faint, mother dear," said Mildred, vainly striving to steady +her voice, "but lie still for a while and I hope you will get over it. +You have been doing too much and must rest now." + +"Rest, child! how can I? There is your father calling me. And the +children are crying." + +She started up again but with the same result as before. + +"My poor sick husband! my little ailing children! what is to become of +you?" she sighed, tears stealing from beneath the closed eyelids and +trickling down the pale cheeks. + +"Mother, I will do my best," sobbed Mildred; "only lie and rest +yourself." + +"And I am here to assist, and able to do it," said a somewhat harsh, +discordant voice, though there was in it a tone of kindness too. + +Then they looked up and saw standing near, the stiff, angular figure of +Damaris Drybread. + +"You?" Mildred exclaimed in utter surprise. + +"Yes, I, Miss Keith. Did you think there was none of the milk of human +kindness in me? My school's broke up by this pestilence, and only one of +our family has took the fever yet; so when I heard that you were nearly +all down sick here, and your girl had gone off and left you, I said to +myself, 'There's a duty for you there, Damaris Drybread; go right away +and do it,' And I came." + +"And it was very, very kind in you," Mildred said, extending her hand. +"I have hardly deserved it from you, for I've judged you, harshly." + +"Well, I shouldn't wonder if I'd done the same to you," Damaris answered +coldly, taking the offered hand only to drop it again instantly. "But +that's neither here nor there; and I don't ask no thanks. I'm only +tryin' to be a good Samaritan to you, because we're told, 'Go, and do +thou likewise.'" + +The cries of the children had become so piteous and importunate that +Mildred rushed away to attend to them. + +Her father's calls had ceased and as the little ones quieted down she +could hear a manly voice speaking to him in gentle soothing tones. + +"It is the doctor," she thought, with an emotion somewhat akin to +pleasure; he was so sorely needed and had not called since the previous +night; but on going in she found Mr. Lord by the bedside. + +He turned, showing a face full of sympathy and concern, and held out his +hand. + +"This is kind," she said, putting hers into it. + +"My poor child!" he responded feelingly, raising the hand to his lips in +his absent way, "my heart aches for you. And there are many others in +like affliction; many others! all round the country people are sick, +dying; many of them simply for lack of suitable nourishment." + +The tears rolled down his manly cheeks as he spoke, and the sight of +them did not lower him in the girl's esteem. + +"And what can I do?" he went on. "I know nothing of cooking; I can only +carry them crackers to sustain their poor bodies, and try to feed their +souls with the bread of life. I feel for them all; but for you--O, +Mildred, dear girl, what can I do to help and comfort you in this +extremity?" + +"We have need of nurses. Mother--" + +But with that word she broke into uncontrollable weeping; suppressed, +for fear of disturbing her father, who had fallen into a doze--but +shaking her whole frame with its violence. + +It distressed her listener. He made a step toward her, a gesture as if +he would fold her in his arms, but drew hastily back, blushing and +confused as the door opened and Dr. Grange came in. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Fifth + + "All love is sweet, + Given or returned. Common as light is love, + And its familiar voice wearies not ever." + --SHELLEY. + + +"AH, good morning, my dear child! Good morning, sir," the doctor said in +an undertone, giving his hand to Mildred and the minister in turn. Then +with an anxious glance at the bed "How is he? sleeping now, I see. How +did he rest through the night?" + +"Not very well, and--" + +"Your mother? where is she? not down too?" with almost a groan, as he +read the truth in the young girl's face. + +Mildred led him to her. She lay on the lounge still, with closed eyes +and face of deathly pallor, her cheek resting against the dark curls of +Rupert, who had thrown himself on the floor by her side, and laid his +head on the same pillow, while he held one of her hands, caressing it +tenderly. + +His cheeks were burning, his eyes sparkling with fever. + +The doctor glanced from one to the other. "Ought to be in bed; both of +you. Go my boy, at once; you are not fit to be here." + +"I can't, sir, indeed; I'm needed to take care of the others." + +"You will help most by giving up at once," said the doctor; "otherwise +you will make yourself so sick as to need a great deal of attention." + +"Yes, go, my dear boy," whispered Mrs. Keith. + +"I will, since you bid me, darling mother," he answered, pressing his +hot lips to her cheek, then tottering from the room. + +She looked after him with sad, pitying eyes, "So sick, and your mother +not able to nurse you! Mildred, my poor dear child, how are you to stand +it?" she sighed, turning them upon her daughter's face as she bent over +her. + +"Try not to be troubled and anxious, my dear madam," said the doctor, +"the more quiet and free from care you can keep your mind, the better +for you. Trust the Lord that all will come out right." + +"I will; he is all my hope and trust for myself and for my dear ones," +she answered, with almost her accustomed cheerfulness. "Things look +very dark but 'behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot +save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear.'" + +"And he has sent us some help already," observed Mildred; "from a most +unexpected quarter." + +Damaris came in at that moment from the kitchen, saluted the doctor in +her usual formal way, and turning to Mrs. Keith, remarked, + +"I hope you're not going to be very sick; but you'd ought to go to bed +for to-day, anyhow. Don't you say so, doctor?" + +"I do most emphatically," answered the physician, who had seated himself +at the table and was busied in measuring out medicines; "and I'm very +glad, Miss Damaris, to see you here." + +"It appeared to be my duty to come," she said, looking not ill-pleased; +"I'm no great nurse, but I can do housework and cook for sick or well; +and them things is as necessary as the nursing." + +"Certainly," said Dr. Grange, and went on to give directions to her +concerning the proper food for his patients, and to Mildred in regard to +the administering of medicines and other remedies. + +He made his round among them, pronounced Zillah much better, Mr. Keith +slightly so. He was silent as to the little boys, and Mildred's heart +was full of anguish as she perceived from his countenance, or thought +she did, that their recovery was still very doubtful. + +Mr. Lord had remained at Mr. Keith's bedside while the doctor and +Mildred were absent from the room, and was still there when they +returned. He looked perplexed and ill at ease. + +"I have no skill in nursing," he said; "never have had any experience; +am in fact a very unsuitable person for the task; being very absent +minded, as you both know. But if I can be of any service, I--Miss +Mildred, I can sit here and hand anything he asks for, call you if he +needs your assistance, and give the medicines, if you will be good +enough to remind me when it is time to do so." + +The offer was gladly accepted and the new nurse entered upon his duties +immediately. + +Yet even with these new and unexpected helps it was clearly impossible +for the weary girl to give proper attention to five very sick persons, +and two who were barely convalescent. Her heart was overwhelmed; the +burden heavier than she could bear. + +But blessed be God, the God of Israel, his people need not bear their +griefs and anxieties alone; he bids them not. + +"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." "Call upon +me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify +me." + +These and other like great and precious promises were brought home with +power and sweetness to Mildred's mind in this time of deep distress and +anguish, and kept her from sinking beneath the load. + +"O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." "For thou, +Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with +a shield." + +There seemed no earthly friend left to come to Mildred's aid; she could +think of none. Claudina Chetwood and Lucilla Grange were both themselves +lying upon sick beds; so were all her lady acquaintances in Pleasant +Plains except such as, like herself, had their hands more than full with +the care of the sick in their own families; and Aunt Wealthy was so far, +far away that before a message could reach her, they might all be in +their graves. + +How long it seemed since she went away! how long since the beginning of +this dreadful sickly season that had, as it were, shut her (Mildred) +away from all pleasant social intercourse with her young companions into +her own little world of trial and trouble! + +It was a comfort that some one was attending to domestic affairs, some +one sitting with her sick father and Rupert, who now shared his bed; but +ah, she could not more than half attend to the pressing needs of the +others. + +The day was intensely hot, scarce a breath of air stirring though every +door and window stood wide open. The little boys feverish and restless, +wanted to be fanned every moment, and called almost incessantly for +"cold fresh water." + +The others craved it, too; and it could be had only from the spring at +the foot of the steep river bank. And ice being an unknown luxury in +Pleasant Plains at that period, it could not be kept cool for any length +of time. + +She did not feel at liberty to call upon either Miss Drybread or Mr. +Lord for this service, and as the one judged it unnecessary that the +water should be brought frequently and the other was too absent-minded +to think of offering to bring it, and she could not leave her charges to +go herself, even if her strength had been equal to the effort in +addition to all the other demands upon it, she could but endure the +pain of seeing the loved ones suffer from thirst. + +"Water, water, cold water, Milly," sobbed little Don. + +"This is cold water, dear," she said holding a cup to his lips. + +"No, 'tisn't right cold," he fretted, pushing it away; "it doesn't taste +good. Oh, send somebody to bring cold, _cold_ water!" + +She set down the cup and burst into tears. + +Absorbed in her grief and distress, she did not hear the gate gently +opened and shut again, or a step coming up the path, across the porch, +through the hall and into the room where she sat weeping such bitter +tears as she had never wept before. + +But it was a cautious tread; as of one who feared to disturb the sick, +as was the fact. With that fear before his eyes Wallace Ormsby had taken +thought even to come in slippered feet. + +He should have paused at the room door till invited to enter, but forgot +everything else at sight of Mildred's distress, and never stopped till +he was close at her side. + +"O, Mildred, dear Mildred, what is it? what can I do to help and comfort +you?" he said in tones tremulous with love and pity, as he bent over her +and took her hand in his. + +She started with surprise, but the hand was not withdrawn, and the lips +and eyes smiled faintly through the rain of tears as she looked up into +his noble face and read there ardent affection and deep sympathy in her +sorrow. + +"Surely you will let me help you in this dreadful time when there's no +more proper person to do it?" he said with earnest entreaty. "Why should +we care for conventionalities now? You are weak and worn out, in sore +need of assistance; I am well and strong, able and more than willing to +give it. Say, may I not stay here by your side and help with this +nursing?" + +"Water, cold water!" sobbed Don, "oh, go get cold water for me and +Cyril." + +"Yes, Wallace, Mr. Ormsby," Mildred said, the tears coursing down her +cheeks, "I cannot sacrifice them to conventionalities, and so gladly +accept your kind offer of help." + +"Oh, don't talk! go get water, quick!" fretted Don, "I can't wait, +Milly, what makes you so naughty to me?" + +Wallace seized a pitcher standing near, and hastened to the spring. He +was no stranger to the premises and knew the way. + +For the next fortnight he had what he considered the blessed privilege +of sharing Mildred's burdens, griefs and cares; watching with her over +each of those dear ones as they passed through the crisis of the +disease, and the first stages of the after convalescence; for they all +recovered; a fact which the parents and older children recognized with +deep heart-felt gratitude to Him to whom "belong the issues from death." + +Nor did they forget the thanks due their earthly helpers and friends. +The minister held a warmer place than before in the hearts of these +parishioners, and Damaris Drybread received a substantial reward for her +services; which, as she was dependent upon her own exertions for a +livelihood, was not declined. + +That fearful sickly season passed away; but not soon to be forgotten by +the survivors, and comparative health and prosperity again dawned upon +the town and surrounding country. + +The Keiths returned to their old busy cheerful life, and Wallace Ormsby, +beloved by the whole family, seemed as one of them. Years of ordinary +social intercourse could not have brought him into so close an intimacy +with them, and especially with Mildred, as those two weeks in which they +two shared the toils, the cares and anxieties of those who watch by beds +of sickness that may end in death. + +They had learned to know each other's faults and weaknesses, strong +points and virtues, and with the knowledge their mutual esteem and +admiration had but increased; they had been warm friends before, now +they were--not plighted lovers, Ormsby had not spoken yet--but + + "To his eye + There was but one beloved face on earth, + And that was shining on him." + + +[Illustration: _The End_] + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Numerous punctuation printing errors were corrrected. + +Page 22, words obscurred "the little" is presumed from context and +partial letters (interruptions from the little) + +Page 77, "th" changed to "the" (into her parlor, the) + +Page 93, "Rhode" changed to "Rhoda" (you neither, Rhoda Jane) + +Page 101, "you you" changed to "see you" (he wants to see you) + +Page 124, "the're" changed to "they're" (Jane? they're gimp) + +Page 159, "n" changed to "an" (has an old faded) + +Page 179, "Jan" changed to "Jane" ("slicked up," as Rhoda Jane) + +Page 180, "ooked" changed to "looked" (looked out upon the) + +Page 182, parts of text missing on left margin bottom of page. "mark" +and "ource" completed as "remark" and "resource" (remark upon the +weather) (resource when all other) + +Page 195, "a" changed to "at" (passed between them at) + +Page 196, "w d" presumed to be "walked" (as he walked away) + +Page 210, "eying" changed to "eyeing" (eyeing it disapprovingly) + +Page 216, the original of this text credits T. H. Baylie as the author +of the poetry couplet. The actual spelling is (Thomas Haines) Bayly. + +Page 246, "t" changed to "it" (it was innocently) + +Page 251, word "I" added to text to fill in space ("I found Ada down, +too,") + +Page 264, "ther" changed to "there" (but after all there) + +Page 315, word "and" added to text in space (street. Doors and) + +Page 315, "s d" changed to "seemed" (scarcely any one seemed) + +Page 326, "whatever the" changed to "whatever there is." (whatever there +is) + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42870 *** |