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author: Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> 2025-10-14 19:03:31 -0700
committer: Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> 2025-10-14 19:03:31 -0700
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+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Fishers: and Their Nets, by Pansy (Isabella Alden).
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+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45536 ***</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 506px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="506" height="800" alt="cover" />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>THE PANSY BOOKS.</div>
+
+
+<div class='center'><b>Each volume 12mo, cloth, $1.50</b></div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>Chautauqua Girls at Home.</li>
+<li>Christie's Christmas.</li>
+<li>Divers Women.</li>
+<li>Echoing and Re-Echoing.</li>
+<li>Eighty-Seven.</li>
+<li>Endless Chain (An).</li>
+<li>Ester Ried.</li>
+<li>Ester Ried Yet Speaking.</li>
+<li>Four Girls at Chautauqua.</li>
+<li>From Different Standpoints.</li>
+<li>Hall in the Grove (The).</li>
+<li>Household Puzzles.</li>
+<li>Interrupted.</li>
+<li>Judge Burnham's Daughters.</li>
+<li>Julia Ried.</li>
+<li>King's Daughter (The).</li>
+<li>Little Fishers and Their Nets.</li>
+<li>Links in Rebecca's Life.</li>
+<li>Mrs. Solomon Smith Looking On.</li>
+<li>Modern Prophets.</li>
+<li>Man of the house.</li>
+<li>New Graft on the Family Tree (A).</li>
+<li>One Commonplace Day.</li>
+<li>Pocket Measure (The).</li>
+<li>Profiles.</li>
+<li>Ruth Erskine's Crosses.</li>
+<li>Randolphs (The).</li>
+<li>Sevenfold Trouble (A).</li>
+<li>Sidney Martin's Christmas.</li>
+<li>Spun from Fact.</li>
+<li>Those Boys.</li>
+<li>Three People.</li>
+<li>Tip Lewis and His Lamp.</li>
+<li>Wise and Otherwise.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br /><b>Each volume 12mo, cloth. $1.25.</b></div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>Cunning Workmen.</li>
+<li>Dr. Deane's Way.</li>
+<li>Grandpa's Darlings.</li>
+<li>Miss Priscilla Hunter.</li>
+<li>Mrs. Deane's Way.</li>
+<li>What She Said.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br /><b>Each volume 12mo, cloth, $1.00.</b></div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>At Home and Abroad.</li>
+<li>Bobby's Wolf and other Stories.</li>
+<li>Five Friends.</li>
+<li>In the Woods and Out.</li>
+<li>Young Folks Worth Knowing.</li>
+<li>Mrs. Harry Harper's Awakening.</li>
+<li>New Years Tangles.</li>
+<li>Next Things.</li>
+<li>Pansy Scrap Book.</li>
+<li>Some Young Heroines.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br /><b>Each volume 12mo, cloth, 75 cts.</b></div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>Couldn't be Bought.</li>
+<li>Getting Ahead.</li>
+<li>Mary Burton Abroad.</li>
+<li>Pansies.</li>
+<li>Six Little Girls.</li>
+<li>Stories from the life of Jesus.</li>
+<li>That Boy Bob.</li>
+<li>Two Boys.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br /><b>Each volume 16mo, cloth, 75 cts.</b></div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>Bernie's White Chicken.</li>
+<li>Docia's Journal.</li>
+<li>Helen Lester.</li>
+<li>Jessie Wells.</li>
+<li>Monteagle.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<div class='center'><br /><b>Each volume 16mo, cloth, 60 cts.</b></div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>Browning Boys.</li>
+<li>Dozen of Them (A).</li>
+<li>Gertrude's Diary.</li>
+<li>Hedge Fence (A).</li>
+<li>Side by Side.</li>
+<li>Six O'Clock in the Evening.</li>
+<li>Stories of Remarkable Women.</li>
+<li>Stories of Great Men.</li>
+<li>Story of Puff.</li>
+<li>"We Twelve girls."</li>
+<li>World of Little People (A).</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;">
+<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="347" height="500" alt="older man seated looking at young boy" />
+<div class="caption">NORMAN WAS A HANDSOME BOY WHEN SHE MARRIED MR. DECKER.</div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h1>Little Fishers: and Their Nets</h1>
+
+<div class='center'>
+BY<br />
+<span class='author'>PANSY</span><br />
+<span class='authorof'>AUTHOR OF "CHRISTIE'S CHRISTMAS," "A HEDGE FENCE," "GERTRUDE'S<br />
+DIARY," "THE MAN OF THE HOUSE," "INTERRUPTED,"<br />
+"THE HALL IN THE GROVE," "AN ENDLESS<br />
+CHAIN," "MRS. SOLOMON SMITH LOOKING<br />
+ON," "FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA,"<br />
+"RUTH ERSKINE'S CROSSES,"<br />
+"SPUN FROM FACT,"<br />
+ETC., ETC.</span><br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br />
+<br /><br /><br />
+<small>BOSTON</small><br />
+D LOTHROP COMPANY<br />
+<small>FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS</small><br />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='copyright'>
+<span class="smcap">Copyright 1887<br />
+by<br />
+D Lothrop Company</span><br />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="contents">
+<tr><td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
+<td align="right"><small>PAGE.</small></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'>CHAPTER I.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Deckers' Home</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER II.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Beginning her Life</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER III.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Truth is told</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER IV.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">New Friends</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER V.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A great Undertaking</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VI.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">How it succeeded</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Long Stories to tell</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER VIII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span><span class="smcap">A Sabbath to remember</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER IX.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Bargain and a Promise</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER X.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Pleasure and Disappointment</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XI.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A complete Success</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">An unexpected Helper</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XIII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The little Picture Makers</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XIV.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Concert</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XV.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Will and a Way</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XVI.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">An Ordeal</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_288">288</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XVII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Flower Party</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XVIII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A satisfactory Evening</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XIX.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span><span class="smcap">Ready to try</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_334">334</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XX.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Way made plain</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXI.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The New Enterprise</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_365">365</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Too good to be True</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_382">382</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXIII.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The crowning Wonder</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan='2'><br />CHAPTER XXIV.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Past and Present</span></td>
+<td align='right'><a href="#Page_418">418</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a><br /><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='maintitle'>Little Fishers: and Their Nets.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2>CHAPTER I.<br />
+
+<small>THE DECKERS' HOME.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>JOE DECKER gave his chair a noisy shove
+backward from the table, over the uneven
+floor, shambled across the space between it and
+the kitchen door, a look of intense disgust on his
+face, then stopped for his good-morning speech:</div>
+
+<p>"You may as well know, first as last, that
+I've sent for Nan. I've stood this kind of
+thing just exactly as long as I'm going to.
+There ain't many men, I can tell you, who would
+have stood it so long. Such a meal as that!
+Ain't fit for a decent dog!</p>
+
+<p>"Nan is coming in the afternoon stage.
+There must be some place fixed up for her to
+sleep in. Understand, now, that has <i>got</i> to be
+done, and I won't have no words about it."</p>
+
+<p>Then he slammed the door, and went away.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Yes, he was talking to his wife! She could
+remember the time when he used to linger in
+the door, talking to her, so many last words to
+say, and when at last he would turn away with
+a kind "Well, good-by, Mary! Don't work too
+hard."</p>
+
+<p>But that seemed ages ago to the poor woman
+who was left this morning in the wretched little
+room with the door slammed between her
+and her husband. She did not look as though
+she had life enough left to make words about
+anything. She sat in a limp heap in one of the
+broken chairs, her bared arms lying between
+the folds of a soiled and ragged apron.</p>
+
+<p>Not an old woman, yet her hair was gray, and
+her cheeks were faded, and her eyes looked as
+though they had not closed in quiet restful
+sleep for months. She had not combed her hair
+that morning; and thin and faded as it was, it
+hung in straggling locks about her face.</p>
+
+<p>I don't suppose you ever saw a kitchen just like
+that one! It was heated, not only by the fierce
+sun which streamed in at the two uncurtained
+eastern windows, but by the big old stove,
+which could smoke, not only, and throw out an
+almost unendurable heat on a warm morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>
+like this, when heat was not wanted, but had a
+way at all times of refusing to heat the oven,
+and indeed had fits of sullenness when it would
+not "draw" at all.</p>
+
+<p>This was one of the mornings when the fire
+had chosen to burn; it had swallowed the legs
+and back of a rickety chair which the mistress
+in desperation had stuffed in, when she was
+waiting for the teakettle to boil, and now that
+there was nothing to boil, or fry, and no need
+for heat, the stump of wood, wet by yesterday's
+rain, had dried itself and chosen to burn.</p>
+
+<p>The west windows opened into a side yard,
+and the sound of children's voices in angry dispute,
+and the smell of a pigsty, came in together,
+and seemed equally discouraging to the
+wilted woman in the chair.</p>
+
+<p>The sun was already pretty high in the sky,
+yet the breakfast-table still stood in the middle
+of the room.</p>
+
+<p>I don't know as I can describe that table to
+you. It was a square one, unpainted, and
+stained with something red, and something
+green, and spotted with grease, and spotted with
+black, rubbed from endless hot kettles set on
+it, or else from one kettle set on it endless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>
+times; it must have been that way, for now that
+I think of it, there was but one kettle in that
+house. No tablecloth covered the stains; there
+was a cracked plate which held a few crusts of
+very stale bread, and a teacup about a third full
+of molasses, in which several flies were struggling.
+More flies covered the bread crusts, and
+swam in a little mess of what had been butter,
+but was now oil, and these were the only signs
+of food.</p>
+
+<p>It was from this breakfast-table that the man
+had risen in disgust. You don't wonder? You
+think it was enough to disgust anybody? That
+is certainly true, but if the man had only stopped
+to think that the reason it presented such an
+appearance was because he had steadily drank
+up all that ought to have gone on it during the
+months past, perhaps he would have turned his
+disgust where it belonged&mdash;on himself.</p>
+
+<p>The woman had not tried to eat anything.
+She had given the best she had to the husband
+and son, and had left it for them. She was very
+willing to do so. It seemed to her as though
+she never could eat another mouthful of anything.</p>
+
+<p>Can you think of her, sitting in that broken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+chair midway between the table and the stove,
+the heat from the stove puffing into her face;
+the heat from the sun pouring full on her back,
+her straggling hair silvery in the sunlight, her
+short, faded calico dress frayed about the ankles,
+her feet showing plainly from the holes of the
+slippers into which they were thrust, her hands
+folded about the soiled apron, and such a look
+of utter hopeless sorrow on her face as cannot
+be described?</p>
+
+<p>No, I hope you cannot imagine a woman like
+her, and will never see one to help you paint the
+picture. And yet I don't know; since there
+are such women&mdash;scores of them, thousands of
+them&mdash;why should you not know about them,
+and begin now to plan ways of helping them out
+of these kitchens, and out of these sorrows?</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker rose up presently, and staggered
+toward the table; a dim idea of trying to clear
+it off, and put things in something like order,
+struggled with the faintness she felt. She
+picked up two plates, sticky with molasses, and
+having a piece of pork rind on one, and set
+them into each other. She poured a slop of
+weak tea from one cracked cup into another
+cracked cup, her face growing paler the while.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+Suddenly she clutched at the table, and but for
+its help, would have fallen. There was just
+strength enough left to help her back to the
+rickety chair. Once there, she dropped into
+the same utterly hopeless position, and though
+there was no one to listen, spoke her sorrowful
+thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use; I must just give up. I'm done
+for, and that's the truth! I've been expecting
+it all along, and now it's come. I couldn't clear
+up here and get them any dinner, not if he
+should kill me, and I don't know but that will
+be the next thing. I've slaved and slaved; if
+anybody ever tried to do something with nothing,
+I'm the one; and now I'm done. I've just
+got to lie down, and stay there, till I die. I
+wish I <i>could</i> die. If I could do it quick, and be
+done with it, I wouldn't care how soon; but it
+would be awful to lie there and see things go
+on; oh, dear!"</p>
+
+<p>She lifted up her poor bony hands and covered
+her face with them and shook as though she
+was crying. But she shed no tears. The truth
+is, her poor eyes were tired of crying. It was
+a good while since any tears had come. After
+a few minutes she went on with her story.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It isn't enough that we are naked, and half-starved,
+and things growing worse every day,
+but now that Nan mast come and make one
+more torment. 'Fix a place for her to sleep!'
+Where, I wonder, and what with? It is too
+much! Flesh and blood can't bear any more.
+If ever a woman did her best I have, and done
+it with nothing, and got no thanks for it; now
+I've got to the end of my rope. If I have
+strength enough to crawl back into bed, it is all
+there is left of me."</p>
+
+<p>But for all that, she tried to do something
+else. Three times she made an effort to clear
+away the few dirty things on that dirty table,
+and each time felt the deadly faintness creeping
+over her, which sent her back frightened to the
+chair. The children came in, crying, and she
+tried to untie a string for one, and find a pin
+for the other; but her fingers trembled so that
+the knot grew harder, and not even a pin was
+left for her to give them, and she finally lost all
+patience with their cross little ways and gave
+each a slap and an order not to come in the
+house again that forenoon.</p>
+
+<p>The door was ajar into the most discouraged
+looking bedroom that you can think of. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>
+not simply that the bed was unmade; the
+truth is, the clothes were so ragged that you
+would have thought they could not be touched
+without falling to pieces; and they were badly
+stained and soiled, the print of grimy little
+hands being all over them. Partly pushed under,
+out of sight, was a trundle-bed, that, if anything,
+looked more repulsive than the large one.
+There was an old barrel in the corner, with a
+rough board over it, and a chair more rickety
+than either of those in the kitchen, and this was
+the only furniture there was in that room.</p>
+
+<p>The only bright thing there was in it was the
+sunshine, for there was an east window in this
+room, and the curtain was stretched as high as
+it could be. To the eyes of the poor tired
+woman who presently dragged herself into this
+room, the light and the heat from the sun seemed
+more than she could bear, and she tugged at the
+brown paper curtain so fiercely that it tore half
+across, but she got it down, and then she fell
+forward among the rags of the bed with a
+groan.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Mrs. Decker! I wonder if you have not
+imagined all her sorrowful story without another
+word from me!</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It is such an old story; and it has been told
+over so many times, that all the children in
+America know it by heart.</p>
+
+<p>Yes; she was the wife of a drunkard. Not
+that Joe Decker called himself a drunkard; the
+most that he ever admitted was that he sometimes
+took a drop too much! I don't think he
+had the least idea how many times in a month
+he reeled home, unable to talk straight, unable
+to help himself to his wretched bed.</p>
+
+<p>I don't suppose he knew that his brain was
+never free from the effects of alcohol; but his
+wife knew it only too well. She knew that he
+was always cross and sullen now, when he was
+not fierce, and she knew that this was not his
+natural disposition. No one need explain to her
+how alcohol would effect a man's nature; she
+had watched her husband change from month to
+month, and she knew that he was growing worse
+every day.</p>
+
+<p>There was another sorrow in this sad woman's
+heart. She had one boy who was nearly ten
+years old, when she married Mr. Decker; and
+people had said to her often and often, "What
+a handsome boy you have, Mrs. Lloyd; he ought
+to have been a girl." And the first time she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>
+had felt any particular interest in Joe Decker
+was when he made her boy a kite, and showed
+him how to fly it, and gave him one bright evening,
+such as fathers give their boys. This boy's
+father had died when he was a baby, and the
+Widow Lloyd had struggled on alone; caring for
+him, keeping him neatly dressed, sending him
+to school as soon as he was old enough, bringing
+him up in such a way that it was often and
+often said in the village, "What a nice boy that
+Norman Lloyd is! A credit to his mother!"
+And the mother had sat and sewed, in the evenings
+when Norman was in bed, and thought
+over the things that fathers could do for boys
+which mothers could not; and then thought that
+there were things which mothers could do for
+girls that fathers could not, and Mr. Joseph
+Decker, the carpenter, had a little girl, she had
+been told, only a few years younger than her
+Norman. And so, when Mr. Decker had made
+kites, not only, but little sail boats, and once, a
+little table for Norman to put his school books
+on, with a drawer in it for his writing-book and
+pencil, and when he had in many kind and manly
+ways won her heart, this respectable widow who
+had for ten years earned her own and her boy's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+living, married him, and went to keep his home
+for him, and planned as to the kind and motherly
+things which she would do for his little girl
+when she came home.</p>
+
+<p>Alas for plans! She knew, this foolish woman,
+that Mr. Decker sometimes took a drink of
+beer with his noon meal, and again at night, perhaps;
+but she said to herself, "No wonder, poor
+man; always having to eat his dinner out of a
+pail! No home, and no woman to see that he
+had things nice and comfortable. She would
+risk but what he would stay at home, when he
+had one to stay in, and like a bit of beefsteak
+better than the beer, any day."</p>
+
+<p>She had not calculated as to the place which
+the beer held in his heart. Neither had he. He
+was astonished to find that it was not easy to
+give it up, even when Mary wanted him to. He
+was astonished at first to discover how often he
+was thirsty with a thirst that nothing but beer
+would satisfy. I have not time for all the story.
+The beer was not given up, the habit grew
+stronger and stronger, and steadily, though at
+first slowly, the Deckers went down. From
+being one of the best workmen in town, Mr.
+Decker dropped down to the level of "Old Joe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+Decker," whom people would not employ if they
+could get anybody else. The little girl had
+never come home save for a short visit; at first
+the new mother was sorry, then she was glad.</p>
+
+<p>As the days passed, her heart grew heavier
+and heavier; a horrible fear which was almost
+a certainty, had now gotten hold of her&mdash;that
+her handsome, manly Norman was going to copy
+the father she had given him! Poor mother!</p>
+
+<p>I would not, if I could, describe to you all the
+miseries of that long day! How the mother lay
+and tossed on that miserable bed, and burned
+with fever and groaned with pain. How the
+children quarreled and cried, and ran into
+mother, and cried again because she could give
+them no attention, and made up, and ran out
+again to play, and quarreled again. How the
+father came home at noon, more under the influence
+of liquor than he had been in the morning;
+and swore at the table still standing as he
+had left it at breakfast time, and swore at his
+wife for "lying in bed and sulking, instead of
+doing her work like a decent woman," and swore
+at his children for crying with hunger; and
+finally divided what remained of the bread between
+them, and went off himself to a saloon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>
+where he spent twenty-five cents for his dinner,
+and fifty cents for liquor. How Norman came
+home, and looked about the deserted kitchen and
+empty cupboard, and looked in at his mother,
+and said he was sorry she had a headache, and
+sighed, and wished that he had a decent home
+like other fellows, and wished that a doctor
+could be found, who didn't want more money
+than he was worth, to pay him for coming to see
+a sick woman, and then went to a bakery and
+bought a loaf of bread, and a piece of cheese,
+and having munched these, washed them down
+with several glasses of beer, went back to his
+work. Meantime, the playing and the quarreling,
+and the crying, went on outside, and Mrs.
+Decker continued to sleep her heavy, feverish
+sleep.</p>
+
+<p>Several times she wakened in a bewilderment
+of fever and pain, and groaned, and tried to get
+up, and fell back and groaned again, and lost her
+misery in another unnaturally heavy sleep, and
+the day wore away until it was three o'clock in
+the afternoon. The stages would be due in a few
+minutes&mdash;the one that brought passengers over
+from the railroad junction a mile away. The children
+in the yard did not know that one of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+was expected to stop at their house; and the
+father when he came home at noon had been
+drinking too much liquor to remember it; and
+Norman had not heard of it, and for his mother's
+sake would have been too angry to have met it if
+he had; so Nan was coming home with nobody
+to welcome her.</p>
+
+<p>If you had seen her sitting at that moment, a
+trim little maiden in the stage, her face all
+flushed over the prospect of seeing father, and
+the rest, in a few minutes, you would not have
+thought it possible that she could belong to the
+Decker family.</p>
+
+<p>She had not seen her home in seven years.
+She had been a little thing of six when she went
+away with the Marshall family.</p>
+
+<p>It had all come about naturally. Mrs. Marshall
+was their neighbor, and had known her
+mother from childhood; and when she died had
+carried the motherless little girl home with her
+to stay until Mr. Decker decided what to do;
+and he was slow in deciding, and Mrs. Marshall
+had a family of boys, but no little girl, and held
+the motherless one tenderly for her mother's
+sake; and when the Marshalls suddenly had an
+offer of business which made it necessary for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>
+them to move to the city, they clung to the little
+girl, and proposed to Mr. Decker that she
+should go with them and stay until he had a
+place for her again.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently he had not found a place for her
+in all these seven years, for she had never been
+sent for to come home.</p>
+
+<p>The new wife had wanted her at first, to be
+mother to her, as she fancied Mr. Decker was
+going to be father to her boy. But it did not
+take her very many months to get her eyes
+open to the thought that perhaps the girl would
+be better off away from her father; and of late
+years she had looked on the possible home-coming
+with positive terror. Her own little ones
+had nothing to eat, sometimes, save what Norman
+provided; and if "he"&mdash;and by this Mrs.
+Decker meant her husband; he had ceased to
+be "Mr. Decker" to her, or "Joseph," or even
+Joe&mdash;if "he" should take a notion to turn
+against the girl, life would be more terrible to
+them in every way; and on the other hand, if
+he should fancy her, and because of her, turn
+more against the wife, or Norman, what would
+become of them then?</p>
+
+<p>So the years had passed, and beyond an occasional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+threat when Joe Decker was at his worst,
+to "send for Nan right straight off," nothing
+had been said of her home-coming. The threat
+had come oftener of late, for Joe Decker had
+discovered that there was just now nothing that
+his wife dreaded more than the presence of this
+step-daughter; and his present manly mood was
+to do all he could for the discomfort of his wife!
+That was one of the elevating thoughts which
+liquor had given him!</p>
+
+<p>Three o'clock. The stages came rattling
+down the stony road. Few people who lived on
+this street had much to do with the stage; they
+could not afford to ride, and they did not belong
+to the class who had much company.</p>
+
+<p>So when the heavy carriages kept straight on,
+instead of turning the corner below, it brought
+a swarm of children from the various dooryards
+to see who was coming, and where.</p>
+
+<p>"It's stopped at Decker's, as true as I live!"
+said Mrs. Job Smith, peeping out of her clean
+pantry window to get a view. "I heard that
+Joe had sent for little Nan, but I hoped it wasn't
+true. Poor Nan! if the Marshalls have treated
+her with any kind of decency, it'll be a dreadful
+change, and I'm sorry enough for her. Yes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+that must be Nan getting out. She's got the
+very same bright eyes, but she has grown a sight,
+to be sure!" Which need not have seemed
+strange to Mrs. Smith, if she had stopped to
+remember that seven years had passed since Nan
+went away.</p>
+
+<p>The little woman got down with a brisk step
+from the stage, and watched her trunk set in the
+doorway, and got out her red pocket-book, and
+paid the fare, and then looked about her doubtfully.
+Could this be home!</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER II.<br />
+
+<small>BEGINNING HER LIFE.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>SHE did not remember anything, but the
+yard was very dirty, and the fence was
+tumbling down, and there were lights of glass
+out of the windows, and a general air of discomfort
+prevailed. It did not look like a home.
+Besides, where were father and mother? There
+must be some mistake.</div>
+
+<p>The two little Deckers who had played and
+quarreled together all day had left their work
+to come and stare at the new comer out of astonished
+eyes. Certainly they did not seem to
+have been expecting her.</p>
+
+<p>The new comer turned to the elder of the two
+children, and spoke in a gentle winning voice:
+"Little girl, do you live here&mdash;in this house?"</p>
+
+<p>The child with her forefinger placed meditatively
+on her lip, and her bright eyes staring intensely,
+decided to nod that she did.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And can you tell me what your name is?"</p>
+
+<p>To this question there was no answer for several
+seconds, then she thought better of it and
+gravely said: "I could."</p>
+
+<p>This seemed so funny, that poor Nan, though
+by this time carrying a very sad heart, could not
+help smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, will you?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>But at this the tangled yellow head was
+shaken violently. No, she wouldn't.</p>
+
+<p>"It can't be," said Nan, talking to herself,
+since there was no one who would talk with her,
+looking with troubled eyes at the two uncombed,
+unwashed children, with their dresses half torn
+from them, and dirtier than any dresses that
+this trim little maiden had ever seen before,
+"this really cannot be the place! and yet father
+said this street and number; and the driver said
+this was right." Then she stooped to the little
+one. "Won't you tell me if your name is Satie
+Decker?"</p>
+
+<p>But this one was shy, and hid her dirty face
+in her dirty hands, and stepped back behind her
+sister who at once came to the rescue.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, 'tis," she said, "and you let her alone."</p>
+
+<p>A shadow fell over Nan's face, but she said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+quickly, "Then you must be Susie Decker, and
+this place is really home!"</p>
+
+<p>But you cannot think how strangely it sounded
+to her to call such a looking spot as this home.
+There was no use in standing on the doorstep.
+She could feel that curious eyes were peeping
+at her from neighbors' windows. She stepped
+quickly inside the half-open door, into the kitchen
+where that breakfast-table still stood, with the
+flies so thick around the molasses cup, from
+which the children had long since drained the
+molasses, that it was difficult to tell whether
+there was a cup behind it, or whether this really
+was a pyramid of flies.</p>
+
+<p>The children followed her in. Susie had a
+dark frown on her face, and a determined air,
+as one who meant to stand up for her rights and
+protect the little sister who still tried to hide
+behind her. I think it was well they were there;
+had they not been, I feel almost sure that the
+stranger would have sat down in the first chair
+and cried.</p>
+
+<p>Poor little woman! It was such a sorrowful
+home-coming to her. So different from what
+she had been planning all day.</p>
+
+<p>I wish I could give you a real true picture of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+her as she stood in the middle of that dreadful
+room, trying to choke back the tears while she
+convinced herself that she was really Nettie
+Decker. A trim little figure in a brown and
+white gingham dress, a brown straw hat trimmed
+with broad bands and ends of satin ribbon, with
+brown gloves on her hands, and a ruffle in her
+neck. This was Nettie Decker; neat and orderly,
+from ruffle to buttoned boots. I wonder if
+you can think what a strange contrast she was
+to everything around her?</p>
+
+<p>What was to be done? she could not stand
+there, gazing about her; and there seemed no
+place to sit down, and nowhere to go. Where
+could father be? Why had he not stayed at
+home to welcome his little girl? or if too busy
+for that, surely the mother could have stayed,
+and he must have left a message for her.</p>
+
+<p>If the little girls would only be good and try
+to tell her what all this strangeness meant! She
+made another effort to get into their confidence.
+She bent toward Susie, smiling as brightly as
+she could, and said: "Didn't you know, little
+girlie, that I was your sister Nettie? I have
+come home to play with you and help you have
+a nice time."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Even while she said it, she felt ten years older
+than she ever had before, and she wondered if
+she should ever play anything again; and if it
+could be possible for people to have nice times
+who lived in such a house as this. But Susie
+was in no sense won, and scowled harder than
+ever, as she said in a suspicious tone: "I ain't
+got no sister Nettie, only Sate, and Nan."</p>
+
+<p>Hot as the room was, the neat little girl shivered.
+There was something dreadful to her in
+the sound of that name. She had forgotten that
+she ever used to hear it; she remembered her
+father as having called her 'Nannie'; that would
+do very well, though it was not so pleasant to
+her as the 'Nettie' to which she had been answering
+for seven years.</p>
+
+<p>But how strange and sad it was that these
+little sisters should have been taught to call her
+Nan! could there be a more hateful name than
+that, she wondered. Did it mean that her step-mother
+hated her, and had taught the children
+to do so? She swallowed at the lump in her
+throat. What if she should cry! what would
+those children say or do, and what would happen
+next? she must try to explain.</p>
+
+<p>"I am Nannie," she couldn't make her lips say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>
+the word Nan. "I have come home to live, and
+to help you!" She did not feel like saying
+"play with you," now. "Will you be a good
+girl, and let me love you?"</p>
+
+<p>How Susie scowled at her then! "No," she
+said, firmly, "I won't."</p>
+
+<p>There seemed to be no truthful answer to
+make to this, for in the bottom of her heart, Nannie
+did not believe that she could. Still, she
+must make the best of it, and she began slowly
+to draw off her gloves. Clearly she must do
+something towards getting herself settled.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't you tell me where father is? or
+mother?" her voice faltered a little over that
+word; "maybe you can show me where to put
+my trunk; do you know which is to be my
+room?"</p>
+
+<p>There were pauses made between each of
+these questions. The poor little stranger seemed
+to be trying first one form and then another, to
+see if it was possible to get any help.</p>
+
+<p>Susie decided at last to do something besides
+scowl.</p>
+
+<p>"Mother's sick. She lies in bed and groans
+all the time. She ain't got us no dinner to-day;
+Sate and me called her, and called her, and she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+wouldn't say anything to us. There ain't no
+room only this and that," nodding her head
+toward the bedroom door, "and the room over
+the shed where Norm sleeps. Norm is hateful.
+He didn't bring home no bread this noon for
+Sate and me; and he said maybe he would;
+we're awful hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps he couldn't," said poor startled Nettie.
+She hardly knew what she said, only it
+seemed natural to try to excuse Norm. But
+what dreadful story was this! If there was
+really a sick mother, why was not the father
+bending over her, and the house hushed and
+darkened, and somebody tiptoeing about, planning
+comforts for the night? She had seen
+something of sickness, and this was the way it
+was managed.</p>
+
+<p>Then what was this about there being no room
+for her? Then what in the world was she to do?
+Oh, what did it all mean! She felt as though
+she must run right back to the depot, and get on
+the cars and go to her own dear home. To be
+sure she knew that her father was poor; what
+of that? so were the Marshalls; she had heard
+Mrs. Marshall say many a time that "poor folks
+can't have such things," in answer to some of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+the children's coaxings. But poverty such as
+this which seemed to surround this home was
+utterly strange to Nettie.</p>
+
+<p>Still, though she felt such a child, she was
+also a woman; in some things at least. She
+knew there was no going home for her to-night.
+If she had the money to go with, and if there
+had been a train to go on, she would still have
+been stayed, because it would be wrong to
+go. Her father had sent for her, had said that
+they wanted her, needed her, and her father certainly
+had a right to her; and she had come
+away with a full heart, and a firm resolve to be
+as good and as helpful and as happy in her old
+home as she possibly could. And now that
+nothing anywhere was as she had expected it,
+was no reason why she should not still do right.
+Only, what was there for her to do, and how
+should she begin?</p>
+
+<p>She stood there still in the middle of the
+room, the children staring. Presently she crossed
+on tiptoe to the bedroom door which was partly
+open and peeped in, catching her first glimpse of
+the woman whom she must call "mother."</p>
+
+<p>Also she caught a glimpse of that dreadful
+bed; and the horrors of that sight almost took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>
+away the thought of the woman lying on it.
+How could she help being sick if she had to sleep
+in such a place as that? Poor Nettie Decker!
+She stood and looked, and looked. Then seeing
+that the woman did not stir, but seemed to be
+in a heavy sleep, she shut the door softly and
+came away.</p>
+
+<p>I don't suppose that Nettie Decker will ever
+forget the next three hours of her life, even if
+she lives to be an old woman. Not that anything
+wonderful happened; only that, for years
+and years afterwards, it seemed to her that she
+grew suddenly, that afternoon, from a happy-hearted
+little girl of thirteen, into a care-taking,
+sorrowful woman. While she stood in that bedroom
+door, a perfect whirl of thoughts rushed
+through her brain, and when she shut the door,
+she had come to this conclusion:</p>
+
+<p>"I can't help it; I am Nettie Decker; he is
+my father, and I belong to him, and I ought to
+be here if he wants me; and she is my mother;
+and if it is dreadful, I can't help it; there is
+everything to do; and I must do it."</p>
+
+<p>It was then that she shut the door softly and
+went back and began her life.</p>
+
+<p>There was that trunk out on the stoop. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>
+ought to go somewhere. At least she could drag
+it into the kitchen so that the troops of children
+gathering about the door need not have it to
+wonder at any longer. Putting all her strength
+to it she drew it in and shut the door. By this
+time, Sate, who was getting used to her as she
+had gotten used to many a new thing in her little
+life, began to wail that she was hungry, and
+wanted some bread and some molasses.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor little girlie!" Nettie said, "don't cry;
+I'll see if I can find you something to eat. Did
+she really have no dinner, Susie? Oh, darling,
+don't cry so; you will trouble poor mother."</p>
+
+<p>But Susie had gone back to the scowling mood.
+"She <i>shall</i> cry, if she wants to; you can't stop
+her; and you needn't try; I'll cry too, just as
+loud as I can."</p>
+
+<p>And Susie Decker who had strong lungs and
+always did as she said she would, immediately
+set up such a howl as put Sate's milder crying
+quite in the shade.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie looked over at the bedroom door in
+dismay; but no sound came from there. Yet
+this roaring was fearful. How could it be stopped?
+Suddenly she plunged her hand into the depths
+of a small travelling bag which still hung on her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+arm, and brought forth a lovely red-cheeked
+peach. She held it before the eyes of the naughty
+couple and spoke in a determined tone: "This
+is for the one who stops crying this instant."</p>
+
+<p>Both children stopped as suddenly as though
+they had been wound up, and the machinery had
+run down.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie smiled, and went back into the travelling
+bag. "There must be two of them, it
+seems," she said, and brought out another peach.
+"Now you are to sit down on the steps and eat
+them, while I see what can be found for our
+supper."</p>
+
+<p>Down sat the children. There had been
+quiet determination in this new-comer's tone,
+and peaches were not to be trifled with. Their
+mouths had watered for a taste ever since the
+dear woolly things began to appear in the grocery
+windows, and not one had they had!</p>
+
+<p>Now began work indeed. Nettie opened her
+trunk and drew out a work apron which covered
+her dress from throat to shoes, and made her
+look if anything, prettier than before. Where
+was the broom? The children busy with their
+peaches, neither knew nor cared; however, a
+vigorous search among the rubbish in the shed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+brought one to light. And then there was such
+a cloud of dust as the Decker kitchen had not
+seen in a long time. Then came a visit to the
+back yard in search of chips; both children following
+close at her heels, saying nothing, but
+watching every movement with wide-open wondering
+eyes. Back again to the kitchen and the
+fire was made up. Then an old kettle was
+dragged out from a hole in the corner, which
+poor Mrs. Decker called a closet. It was to hold
+water, while the fire heated it, but first it must
+be washed; everything must be washed that
+was touched. Where was the dishcloth?</p>
+
+<p>The children being asked, stared and shook
+their heads. Nettie searched. She found at
+last a rag so black and ill-smelling that without
+giving the matter much thought she opened the
+stove door and thrust it in. This brought a rebuke
+from the fierce Susie.</p>
+
+<p>"You better look out how you burn up my
+mother's things. My mother will take your
+head right off."</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't good for anything, dear," Nettie
+said soothingly, "it was too dirty." And she
+stooped down and turned over the contents of
+the trunk. Neat little piles of clothing, carefully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+marked with her full name; a pretty green box
+which Susie dived for, and pushing off the cover
+disclosed little white ruffles, some of lace, and
+some of fine lawn, lying cosily together; but
+Nettie was not searching for such as these.
+Quite at the bottom of the trunk was a pile of
+towels, all neatly hemmed and marked. Two
+of these she selected; looked thoughtfully at
+one of them for a moment, and then with a
+grave shake of her head, got out her scissors and
+snipped it in two. Now she had a dishcloth, and
+a towel for drying. But what a pity to soil the
+nice white cloth by washing out that iron kettle!
+Nettie had grave suspicions that after such a
+proceeding it would not be fit for the dishes.
+Still, the kettle must be washed, and to have
+used the black rag which she had burned, was
+out of the question.</p>
+
+<p>There was no help for it, the other neat dishcloth
+must be sacrificed. So taking the precaution
+to wipe out the iron kettle with a piece of
+paper, and then to heat it quite hot, and apply
+soap freely, the cloth escaped without very serious
+injury; and in less time than it takes me to
+tell it, the water was getting itself into bubbles
+over the stove, and a tin pan was being cleaned,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+ready for the dishes. Then they were gathered,
+and placed in the hot and soapy water, and
+washed and rinsed and polished with the white
+towel until they shone; and the little girls
+looked on, growing more amazed each moment.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take long to wash every dish there
+was in that house. I suppose you would have
+been very much astonished if you could have
+seen how few there were! Nettie was very
+much astonished. She wondered how people
+could get supper with so few dishes, to say nothing
+of breakfasts and dinner. But you see she
+did not know how little there was to put on
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The next question was, Where to put them?
+One glance at the upper part of the closet where
+she had found some of them, convinced Nettie
+that her clean dishes could not be happy resting
+on those shelves. There was no help for it;
+they must be scrubbed, though she had not intended
+to begin housecleaning the first afternoon.
+More water and more soap, and the few
+shelves were soon cleared of rubbish, and washed.
+Nettie piled all the rubbish on a lower shelf and
+left it for a future day. She did not dare to
+burn any more property.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't they look pretty?" she said to the
+children, when at last the dishes were neatly arranged
+on the shelf. One held them all, nicely.</p>
+
+<p>Susie nodded with a grave face that said she
+had not yet decided whether to be pleased or
+indignant.</p>
+
+<p>"What did you do it for?" she asked, after a
+moment's silent survey.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, to make them clean and shining.
+You and I are going to clear up the house and
+make it look ever so nice for mother when she
+wakes up."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you come home to help mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed. And you two little sisters
+must show me how to help her; poor sick
+mother! I am afraid she has too much to do."</p>
+
+<p>"She cries," said Susie gravely, as though
+she were stating not a surprising but simply a
+settled fact; "she cried every day: not out loud
+like Sate and me, but softly. Father says she
+is always sniveling."</p>
+
+<p>If you had been watching Nettie Decker just
+then you would have noticed that the blood
+flamed into her cheeks, and her eyes had a flash
+of wonder, and terror, and anger in them. What
+did it all mean? Where had the children learned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+such words? Was it possible that her father
+talked in this way to his wife?</p>
+
+<p>"Hush!" she said unguardedly, "you must
+not talk so." But this made the fierce little
+Susie stamp her foot.</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>shall</i> talk so!" she said angrily; "I shall
+talk just what I please, and you sha'n't stop me."
+And then the queer little mimic beside her
+stamped her foot, and said, "You sha'n't stop
+me."</p>
+
+<p>Said Nettie, "There was a little girl on the
+cars to-day that I knew. She had a little gray
+kitty with three white feet, and a white spot
+on one ear, and it had a blue ribbon around its
+neck. What if you had such a kitty. Would
+you be real good to it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will have a <i>black</i> kitty," said Susie, "all
+black; as black as that stove." Nettie glancing
+at the stove, could not help thinking that it was
+more gray than black; but she kept her thoughts
+to herself, and Susie went on. "And it should
+have a red ribbon around its neck; as red as
+Janie Martin's dress; her dress is as red as fire,
+and has ruffles on, and ribbons. But what would
+it eat?"</p>
+
+<p>She did not mean the dress but the kitten.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Nettie laughed, but hastened to explain that
+the kitten would need a saucer of milk quite
+often, and bits of various things. This made
+wise Susie gravely shake her head.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't have no milk," she said, "only
+once in awhile when Norm buys it; Sate, she
+often cries for milk, but she don't get none. It
+don't do no good to cry for milk; I ain't cried
+for any in a long time."</p>
+
+<p>Poor little philosopher! Poor, pitiful childhood
+without any milk! Hardly anything could
+have told the story of poverty to Nettie's young
+ears more surely than this. Why, she was a
+big girl thirteen years old, and had lived in a
+city where milk was scarce, and yet her glass
+had been filled every evening. Nettie did not
+know what to make of it. How came her father
+to be so poor? She was sure that the house
+did not look like this when she went away; and
+her clothes had been neat and good. She had
+the little red dress now which she wore away.
+She thought of it when Susie was talking, and
+wondered if with a little fixing it could not be
+made to fit the black-eyed child who seemed to
+admire red so much. Finding the kitty a troublesome
+subject, at least so far as the finding of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>
+milk for it was concerned, she turned the conversation
+to the little girls who had been on the
+cars; the one with the kitty, and her little sister,
+whom she called "Pet." "She was about as
+old as you, Susie, and Pet was about Satie's age.
+And she was very kind to Pet; she always spoke
+to her so gently, and took such care of her everybody
+seemed to love her for her kindness."</p>
+
+<p>"I take care of Sate," said Susie. "I never
+let anybody hurt her. I would scratch their
+eyes out if they did; and they know it."</p>
+
+<p>"You slap me sometimes," little Sate said,
+her voice slightly reproachful.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Susie loftily, "but that is when
+you are bad and need it; I don't let anybody
+else slap you."</p>
+
+<p>"The oldest little girl had curly hair," said
+Nettie, "but it wasn't so long as yours, and did
+not curl so nicely as I think yours would. And
+Pet's hair was a pretty brown, like Sate's, and
+looked very pretty. It was combed so neatly.
+One wore a blue dress, and one a white dress;
+but I think they would have looked prettier if
+they had been dressed both alike."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like white dresses," said Susie; "I
+like fiery red ones."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>So Nettie resolved that the red dress should
+be made to fit her.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the scrubbing had gone on rapidly;
+the table was as clean as soap and water could
+make it. Now if those children would only let
+her wash their faces and put their hair in order,
+how different they would look. Should she
+venture to suggest it?</p>
+
+<p>It all depended on how the idea happened to
+strike Susie.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER III.<br />
+
+<small>THE TRUTH IS TOLD.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>IN the bottom of that wonderful little trunk
+lay side by side two little blue and white
+plaid dresses, made gabrielle fashion, with ruffles
+around the bottom and around the neck.
+Never were dresses made with more patient
+care. All the stitches were small and very neat.</div>
+
+<p>And they represented hours and hours of
+steady work. Every stitch in them had been
+taken by Nettie Decker. Long before she had
+thought of such a thing as coming home, they
+had been commenced. Birthday presents they
+were to be to the little sisters whom she had
+never seen. She had earned the money to buy
+them. She had borrowed two little neighbors
+of the same age, to fit them to, and with much
+advice and now and then a little skilful handling
+from Mrs. Marshall, they were finally finished to
+Nettie's great satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was the day the last stitch was set in them
+that she learned she was to come herself and
+bring them.</p>
+
+<p>She thought of them this afternoon. If the
+little girls would only let her comb their hair
+and wash their faces and hands, she would put
+on the new dresses. She had not intended to
+present them in that way, but dresses as soiled
+and faded and worn as those the little sisters
+had on, Nettie Decker had never worn.</p>
+
+<p>She opened the trunk, with both children beside
+her, watching, and drew out the dresses.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't these almost as pretty as red ones?"
+she asked, as she unfolded them, and displayed
+the dainty ruffles.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Susie, "not near so pretty as red
+ones. But then they are pretty. They aren't
+dresses at all; they are aprons. Are they for
+you to wear?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Nettie, "they are for two little
+girls to wear, who have their hair combed beautifully,
+and their hands and faces very clean."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean us?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do if the description fits. I can think just
+how nice you would look if your faces were clean
+and your hair was combed."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We will put on the aprons," said Susie firmly,
+"but we won't have our hair combed, nor our
+faces washed, and you need not try it."</p>
+
+<p>But Miss Susie found that this new sister had
+as strong a will as she. The trunk lid went
+down with a click, and Nettie rose up.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," she said, "then we will not waste
+time over them. I brought them for you, and
+meant to put them on you this afternoon to surprise
+mamma, but if you don't want them, they
+can lie in the trunk."</p>
+
+<p>"I told you we did want them," said Susie,
+looking horribly cross. "I said we would put
+them on."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but you said some more which spoiled
+it. <i>I</i> say that they cannot go on until your
+faces and hands are so clean that they shine, and
+your hair is combed beautifully."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't make us have our hair combed."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall not try," said Nettie, as though it
+was a matter of very small importance to her.
+"I was willing to dress you all up prettily, but
+if you don't choose to look like the little girls I
+saw on the cars, why you can go dirty, of course.
+But you can't have the clean new dresses."</p>
+
+<p>"Till when?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Not ever. Unless you are clean and neat."</p>
+
+<p>"It hurts to have hair combed."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it. Yours would hurt a good deal,
+because you don't have it combed every day; if
+you kept it smooth and nice it would hardly
+hurt at all. But I didn't suppose you were a
+cowardly little girl who was afraid of a few
+pulls. If the dresses are not worth those, we
+had better let them lie in the trunk."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie was already beginning to understand
+her queer fierce little sister. She had no idea of
+being thought a coward.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she said, after a thoughtful pause,
+"comb my hair if you like; I don't care. Sate,
+you are going to have your hair combed, and
+you needn't cry; because it won't do any good."</p>
+
+<p>It was certainly a trial to all parties; and poor
+little Sate in spite of this warning, did shed several
+tears; but Susie, though she frowned, and
+choked, and once jerked the comb away and
+threw it across the floor, did not let a single
+tear appear on her cheeks. And at last the terrible
+tangles slipped out, and left silky folds of
+beautiful hair that was willing to do whatever
+Nettie's skilful fingers told it. When the faces
+and hands were clean, and the lovely blue dresses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+had been arranged, Nettie stood back to look at
+them in genuine delight. What pretty little girls
+they were! She sighed in two minutes after
+she thought this. What did it mean that they
+looked so neglected and dirty?</p>
+
+<p>"These must go in the wash," she said, as she
+gathered up the rags which had been kicked off.</p>
+
+<p>"Will we put these on in the morning?"
+asked Susie, in quite a mild tone. She was
+looking down at herself and was very much
+pleased with her changed appearance.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," Nettie said, "they are too light to
+play in. They are dress-up clothes. You must
+have dark dresses on in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"We ain't got no dresses only them," and
+Susie pointed contemptuously at the rags in
+Nettie's hand. This made poor Nettie sigh
+again. What did it all mean?</p>
+
+<p>However, there was no time for sighing.
+There was still a great deal to be done.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we must get tea," she said, bustling
+about. "Where does mother keep the bread,
+and other things?"</p>
+
+<p>"She don't keep them nowhere. We don't
+have no things. I go to the bakery sometimes
+for bread, and for potatoes, and sometimes for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+milk. I would go now; I just want to show
+that hateful little girl in there my new dress,
+and my curls, but it isn't a bit of use to go. He
+won't let us have another single thing without
+the money. He said so yesterday, and he looked
+so cross he scared Sate; but I made faces at
+him."</p>
+
+<p>This called forth several questions as to where
+the bakery was, and Nettie, finding that it was
+but a few steps away, and that the little girls
+really bought most of the things which came
+from there, counted out the required number of
+pennies from her poor little purse for a loaf of
+bread and a pint of milk. In the cupboard was
+what had once been butter, set on the upper
+shelf in a teacup. It was almost oil, now.</p>
+
+<p>"If I had a lump of ice for this," Nettie murmured,
+"it might do. Butter costs so much."</p>
+
+<p>"They keep ice at the bakery," said that wise
+young woman, Susie, "but we never buy it."</p>
+
+<p>This brought two more pennies from the
+pocketbook; for to Nettie it seemed quite impossible
+that butter in such a condition could be
+eaten. So the ice was ordered, and two very
+neat, and very vain little bits of girls started on
+their mission.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Tablecloths? Where would the new housekeeper
+find them? Where indeed! Hunt through
+the room as she would, no trace of one was to
+be found. She did not know that the Deckers
+had not used such an article in months. She
+thought of the cupboard drawer at home, and of
+the neat pile which was always waiting there,
+and at about this hour it had been her duty to
+set the table and make everything ready for tea.
+It would not do to think about it. There were
+sharper contrasts than these. Her proposed
+present to her mother had been a tablecloth, not
+very large nor very fine, but beautifully smooth
+and clean, and hemmed by her own patient fingers.
+She must get it out to-night, as no other
+appeared; and of course she could not set the
+table without one. So it was spread on the clean
+table, and the few dishes arranged as well as she
+could. There was a drawing of tea set up in
+another teacup, and there was a sticky little tin
+teapot. Nettie, as she washed it, told it that
+to-morrow she would scour it until it shone;
+then she made tea. Meantime the little errand
+girls had returned with their purchases, the
+butter was resting on a generous lump of ice,
+the bread which was found to be stale, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+toasted, a plate of cookies from the wonderful
+trunk was added, and at last there was ready
+such a supper as had not been eaten in that
+house for weeks. To be sure it looked to Nettie
+as though there was very little to eat; but then
+she had not been used to living at the Deckers.
+She began to be very nervous about the people
+who were going to sit down at this neat table.
+Why did not some of them come?</p>
+
+<p>The wise housekeeper knew that neither tea
+nor toast improved greatly by standing, but she
+drew the teapot to the very edge of the stove,
+covered the toast, and set it in the oven. Then
+she went softly to the bedroom door and opened
+it. This time a pair of heavy eyes turned, as
+the door creaked, and were fixed on her with a
+kind of bewildered stare. She went softly in.</p>
+
+<p>"How do you feel now?" she asked gently.
+"I have made a cup of tea and a bit of toast
+for you. Shall I bring them now? The children
+said you did not eat any dinner."</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you?" asked the astonished woman,
+still regarding her with that bewildered stare.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie swallowed at the lump in her throat.
+It would be dreadful if she should burst out crying
+and run away, as she felt exactly like doing.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I am Nettie Decker," she said, and her lips
+quivered a little. "Father sent for me, you
+know. Didn't you think I would be here to-day,
+ma'am?"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't be Nan!"</p>
+
+<p>I cannot begin to describe to you the astonishment
+there was in Mrs. Decker's voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm, I am. At least that is what father
+used to call me once in a while, just for fun.
+My name is Nanette; but Auntie Marshall where
+I live, or where I used to live"&mdash;she corrected
+herself, "always called me Nettie. May I bring
+you the tea, ma'am? I think it will make you
+feel better."</p>
+
+<p>But the two children had stayed in the background
+as long as they intended. They pushed
+forward, Susie eager-voiced:</p>
+
+<p>"Look at us! See my curls, and see my new
+apron, only she says it is a dress, but it ain't; it
+is made just like Jennie Brown's apron, ain't it?
+But we ain't got no dresses on. She's got a
+white cloth on the table, and cookies, and a
+lump of ice, and everything; and we had two
+peaches. Old Jock gave us the bread. She
+sent the money, and I told him to take his old
+money and give me some bread right straight."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>How fast Susie could talk!</p>
+
+<p>There was scarcely room for the slow sweet
+Satie to get in her gentle, "and me too." Meaning
+look at my dress and hair. The bewildered
+mother raised herself on her elbow and stared&mdash;from
+Nan to the little girls, and then back to
+Nan. She was sufficiently astonished to satisfy
+even Susie.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" she said at last. "I didn't
+know, I mean I didn't think"&mdash;then she stopped
+and pressed her hand to her head, and pushed
+back the straggling hair behind her ears. "I
+took dizzy this morning," she said at last, addressing
+Nettie as though she were a grown-up
+neighbor who had stepped in to see her, "and
+I staggered to the bed, and didn't know nothing
+for a long while. I had a dreadful pain in my
+head, and then I must have dropped to sleep.
+Here I've been all day, if the day is gone. It
+must be after three o'clock if you've got here.
+I meant to try to do something towards making
+things a little more decent; though the land
+knows what it would have been; I don't.
+There's nothing to do with. I didn't know till
+this morning that he had the least notion of
+sending for you&mdash;though he's threatened it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+times enough. I've been ailing all the spring,
+and this morning I just give out. I don't know
+what is the matter with me. The bed goes
+round now, and things get into a kind of a
+blur."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me bring you a cup of tea and something
+to eat," said Nettie; "I think you are faint."
+Then she vanished, the children following.
+She was back in a few minutes, under her arm
+a white towel from her trunk; this she spread
+on the barrel head which you will remember did
+duty as a table. She spread it with one hand,
+little Sate carefully smoothing out the other
+end. In her left hand she carried a cup of tea
+smoking hot, and poor Mrs. Decker noticed that
+the cup shone. Susie followed behind, an air of
+grave importance on her face, and in her hands
+a plate, covered by a smaller one, which being
+taken off disclosed a delicately browned slice of
+bread with a bit of butter spread carefully
+over it.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" said Mrs. Decker again,
+but she drank the tea with feverish haste, stopping
+long enough to feel of the cup with a curious
+look on her face. It was so smooth. There
+was a sound of heavy feet outside, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+children appeared at the door and announced
+that father and Norm had come. Nettie took
+the emptied cup, promising to fill it again, urged
+the eating of the toast while it was hot, and
+went with trembling heart to meet the father
+whom she had not seen in so many years that
+she remembered very little about him.</p>
+
+<p>A great rough-faced, unshaven man, with uncombed
+hair, ragged and dirty shirt sleeves,
+ragged and dirty pants, a red face and eyes that
+seemed but half open, and watery. Nothing
+less like what Nettie had imagined a father,
+could well be described. However, if she had
+but known it, this was a great improvement on
+the man who often came home to supper. He
+was nearly sober, and greeted her with a rough
+sort of kindness, giving her a kiss, which made
+her shrink and tremble. It was perfumed with
+odors which she did not like.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Nan, my girl, you have grown into a
+fine young lady, have you? Tall for your years,
+too. And smart, I'll be bound; you wouldn't
+be your mother's girl if you wasn't. Is it you
+that has fixed up things so? It is a good thing
+you have come to take care of us. We haven't
+had anything decent here in so long, we've most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+forgot how to treat it. Come on, Norm. This
+table looks something like living again."</p>
+
+<p>And "Norm" shambled in. Rough, and uncombed,
+and unwashed, except a dab at his
+hands which left long streaks of brown at the
+wrists. A hard-looking boy, harder than Nettie
+had ever spoken to before. She could not help
+thinking of Jim Daker who lived in a saloon not
+far from her old home, and whom she had
+always passed with a hurried step, and with
+eyes on the ground, and of whom she thought
+as of one who lived in a different world from
+hers, and wondered how it felt to be down there
+in the slum. Now here was a boy whom it was
+her duty to think of as a brother; and he reminded
+her of Jim Daker!</p>
+
+<p>Still there was something about Norm that
+she could not help half liking. He had great
+brown, wistful-looking eyes, and an honest face.
+She had not much chance, it is true, to observe
+the eyes; for he did not look at her, nor speak,
+until his father said:</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you shake hands with Nan?
+You ought to be glad to see her. You ain't
+used to such a looking supper as this."</p>
+
+<p>The boy laughed, in an embarrassed way, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+said he was sure he did not know whether he
+was glad to see her or not: depended on what
+she had come for. He gave her just a gleam
+then from the brown eyes, and she smiled and
+held out her hand. He took it awkwardly
+enough, and dropped it as suddenly as though it
+had been hot; then sat down in haste at the
+table, where his step-father was already making
+havoc with the toast. It was not a very substantial
+meal for people who had dined on bread
+and cheese, and were hungering at that moment
+for beer; but the man had spoken the truth, it
+was better than they generally found. There
+was one part of the story, however, that he failed
+to tell: which was, that he did not furnish money
+to get anything better. As for Susie and Sate,
+they had become suddenly silent. They sat
+close together and devoured their toast, like
+hungry children indeed, but also like scared
+children. They gave occasional frightened
+glances at their father which puzzled and pained
+Nettie. No suspicion of the truth had yet come
+to her. Oh, yes, she had smelled the liquor
+when her father kissed her; but she thought it
+was something which had to do with the machinery
+around which he worked.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Where is the old woman?" he asked suddenly,
+setting down his empty cup which Nettie
+had filled for the third time. She looked up at
+him with a startled air. To whom was he speaking
+and what old woman could he mean? Her
+look seemed to make him cross. "What are
+you staring at?" he said sharply. "Can't you
+answer a question? Where's your mother?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie hurried to answer; she was sick, had
+been real sick all day, but was better now, and
+was trying to get up.</p>
+
+<p>"She is everlastingly sick," the father said
+with a sneer; "you will get used to that story
+if you live here long. I hope you ain't one of
+the sickly kind, because we have heard enough
+of that."</p>
+
+<p>This sentence and the tone in which it was
+spoken, brought the blood in great waves to
+Nettie's face. It was the first time she had
+ever heard a man speak of his wife in such a
+way. Norm looked up from his cookie, and
+flashed angry eyes on his step-father for a moment,
+and said "he didn't know as that was
+any wonder. She had enough to make any
+woman sick."</p>
+
+<p>"You shut up," said the father in increasing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+irritability; and the children slipped out of their
+seats and moved toward the door, keeping careful
+eyes on the father until they were fairly outside.
+Nettie felt her limbs trembling so that
+her knees knocked together under the table.
+But at last every crumb of toast was eaten, and
+every drop of tea swallowed, and Mr. Decker
+pushed himself back from the table, and spoke
+in a somewhat gentler tone: "Well, my girl,
+make yourself as comfortable as you can. I'm
+glad to see you. We need your help, you'll
+find, in more ways than one. You've been working
+for other folks long enough. It is a poor
+place you've come to, and that's a fact. I ain't
+what I used to be; I've been unfortunate. No
+fellow ever had worse luck. Everything has
+gone wrong with me ever since your mother
+died. A sick wife, and young ones to look
+after, and nobody to do a thing. It is a hard
+life, but you might as well rough it with the
+rest of us. You'll get along somehow, I s'pose.
+The rest of us always have. I've got to go out
+for awhile. You tell the old woman to fix up
+some place for you to sleep, and we'll do the
+best we can."</p>
+
+<p>And he lounged away; Norm having left the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>
+table and the room some minutes before. And
+this was the father to whom Nettie Decker had
+come home!</p>
+
+<p>She swallowed at the lump which seemed
+growing larger every minute in her throat. She
+had choked back a great many tears that afternoon.
+There was no time to cry. Some place
+must be fixed for her to sleep.</p>
+
+<p>In the home that she had left, there was a little
+room with matting on the floor, and a little
+white bed in the corner, and a pretty toilet set
+that the carpenter's son had made her at odd
+times, and a wash bowl and pitcher that had been
+her present on her eleventh birthday, and a green
+rocking-chair that aunt Kate had sent her: not
+her own aunt Kate, but Mrs. Marshall's sister
+who had adopted her as a niece, and these things
+and many another little knickknack were all her
+own. The room was empty to-night; but then
+Nettie must not cry!</p>
+
+<p>She began to gather the dishes and get them
+ready for washing. Just as she plunged her
+hands into the dishwater, the bedroom door
+opened, and her mother came out, stepping
+feebly, like one just recovering from severe illness.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm dreadful weak," she said in answer to
+Nettie's inquiries, "but I guess I'm better than
+I have been in a good while. I've had a rest to-day;
+the first one I have had in three years. I
+don't know what made me give out so, all of a
+sudden. I tried to keep on my feet, but I couldn't
+do it no more than I could fly. You oughtn't
+to have to wash them dishes, child, with your
+pretty hands and your pretty dress. Oh, dear!
+I don't know what is to become of any of us."</p>
+
+<p>"This is my work apron," said Nettie, trying
+to speak cheerily, "and I am used to this work:
+I always helped with the tea dishes at home."
+Then she plunged into the midst of the subject
+which was troubling her. "Father said I was to
+ask you where I was to sleep."</p>
+
+<p>"He better ask himself!" said the wilted
+woman, rousing to sudden energy and indignation.
+"How does he think I know? There isn't
+the first rag to make a bed of, nor a spot to put
+it, if there was. I say it was a sin and a shame
+for him to send for you, and that's the truth!
+If he had one decent child who had a place to
+stay, where she would be took care of, he ought
+to have let you alone. You have come to an awful
+home, child. You have got to know the truth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>
+and you might as well know it first as last. It
+is enough sight worse than you have seen to-night,
+though I dare say you think this is bad enough.
+You don't look nor act like what I was afraid of,
+and you must have had good friends who took
+care of you; and he ought to have let you alone.
+This is no place for a decent girl. It is bad
+enough for an old woman who has given up, and
+never expects to have anything decent any more.
+He won't provide any place for you, nor any
+clothes, and what we are to do with one more
+mouth to feed is more than I can see. I wouldn't
+grudge it to you, child, if we had it; but we are
+starved, half the time, and that's the living
+truth."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't eat much," said poor Nettie, trembling
+and quivering, "and I will try very hard
+to help; but if you please, what makes things so?
+Can't father get work?"</p>
+
+<p>"Work! of course he can; as much as he can
+do. He is as good a machinist to-day as there is
+in the shops; when they have a particular job
+they want him to do it. He works hard enough
+by spells; why, child, it's the drink. You didn't
+know it, did you? Well, you may as well know
+it first as last. He was nearer sober to-night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+than he has been in a week; but he wasn't so
+very sober or he wouldn't have been cross. He
+used to be good and kind as the best of them,
+and we had things decent. I never thought it
+would come to this, but it has, and it grows
+worse every day. Yes, you may well turn pale,
+and cry out. Turning pale won't do any good.
+And you may cry tears of blood, and them that
+sells the rum to poor foolish men will go right on
+selling it as long as they have money to pay,
+and kick them out when they haven't. That is
+the way it is done, and it keeps going on here
+year after year, homes ruined, and children made
+beggars, and them that have the making of the
+laws, go right on and let it be done. I've watched
+it. And I've tried, too. You needn't think I gave
+up and sat down to it without trying as hard as
+ever woman could to struggle against the curse;
+but I've give up now. Nothing is of any use.
+And the worst of it is my Norm is going the
+same road."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.<br />
+
+<small>NEW FRIENDS.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>AND then the poor woman who thought
+she had no more tears to shed, buried
+her face in her hands and shed some of the bitterest
+ones she ever did in her life.</div>
+
+<p>Poor Nettie! she tried to turn comforter;
+tried to think of one cheering word to say; but
+what was there to cheer the wife of a drunkard?
+Or the daughter of a drunkard? Could
+it be possible that she, Nettie Decker, was that!
+Oh, dear! how often she had stood in the door,
+and with a kind of terrified fascination watched
+Jane Daker stealing home in the darkness, afraid
+to go in at the front door, lest her drunken
+father should see her and vent his wrath on her.
+Could she ever creep around in the dark and
+hide away from her own <i>father</i>? Wouldn't it
+be possible for her to go back home? She had
+not money enough to get there, but couldn't she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>
+work somehow, and earn money? She could
+write a letter to the folks at home and tell them
+the dreadful story, and they would surely find
+a way of sending for her. But then, money was
+not plenty in that home, and she began to understand
+that they had done a great deal for her,
+and that it had cost a good deal to pay her fare
+to this place. She had wondered, at the time,
+that her father did not send the money for her
+to come home, but she said to herself: "I suppose
+he did not know how much it would cost,
+and he will give it to me to send in my first letter.
+Perhaps he will give me a little bit more
+than it costs, too, for a little present for Jamie."</p>
+
+<p>Oh, poor little girl! building hopes on a father
+like hers. She had not been at home half a day,
+but she knew now that no money would ever go
+back to the Marshalls in return for all they had
+done for her. Worse than that, she might not
+be able to get back to them herself. Would her
+father be likely to let her go? He had sent for
+her, and had told her during this first hour of
+their meeting, that she had worked for other
+people long enough. This made her heart swell
+with indignation.</p>
+
+<p>Done enough for others, indeed! What had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+they not done for her? She never realized it
+half so plainly as she did to-night. "I will go
+back!" she muttered, setting the little bowl she
+was drying on the table with a determined
+thump. "I can't stay in such a place as this. I
+will write to Auntie Marshall this very night if
+I can get a chance, and she will contrive some
+way."</p>
+
+<p>Certainly, Nettie in that mood could have no
+comfort for a weeping mother, and attempted
+none, after the first murmured word of pity.
+But meantime she knew very well that she could
+not go back home that night, and the present
+terror was, where was she to sleep?</p>
+
+<p>Her mother went back into the bedroom after
+a few minutes of bitter weeping, and Nettie finished
+the work, then stood drearily in the doorway,
+wondering what she could do next, when a
+good, homely, motherly face looked out of the
+side window of the small house next their own,
+and a cheery voice spoke:</p>
+
+<p>"Are you Joe Decker's little Nannie?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm," said Nettie, sadly, wondering drearily,
+even then, if it could be possible that this
+was so.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the voice, "I calculated that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>
+must be; though I never should have known
+you in the world, if I hadn't heard you was
+coming, you was such a mite of a thing when
+you went away. What a tall nice girl you've
+got to be. Your ma is sick, the children said.
+I've been away ironing all day, or I would have
+been in to see if I could help the poor thing any.
+I don't know her very much, but she is sickly,
+and has hard times now and then, and I'm sorry
+for her. Now what I was wondering is, where
+are they going to put you to sleep? The upper
+part of that house ain't finished off, is it? It is
+one big attic, ain't it, where Norm sleeps? I
+thought so. I suppose there could be quite a
+nice room made up there with a little work and
+a few dollars laid out, but your pa ain't done it,
+I'll be bound. And I knew there wasn't but
+one bedroom down-stairs, and I couldn't think
+how they would manage it."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't managed at all, ma'am," said Nettie,
+seeing that she seemed to wait for an answer,
+and there was nothing to say but the simple
+truth. "There is no place for me to sleep."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't say! Now that's a shame. Well,
+now, what I was thinking was, that maybe you
+would like to sleep in the woodhouse chamber;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+it is a nice little room as ever was, and it opens
+right out of my Sarah Ann's room; so you
+wouldn't be lonesome. I haven't any manner of
+use for it, now my boy's gone away, and I just
+as soon you would sleep there as not until your
+folks get things fixed. You're a dreadful clean-looking
+little girl, and I like that. I'm a master
+hand to have clean things around me; Job says
+he believes I catch the flies and dust their wings
+before I let them go into my front room. Job
+is my husband, and that is his little joke at me,
+you know." And she laughed such a jolly little
+roly-poly sort of laugh that poor Nettie could
+not keep a smile from her troubled face. A
+refuge in the woodhouse chamber of this neat,
+good-natured-looking woman seemed like a bit
+of heaven to the homesick child.</p>
+
+<p>"I am very much obliged to you, ma'am,"
+she said respectfully; "I will tell my mother how
+kind you are, and I think she will be glad to
+accept the kindness for a few days. I&mdash;" and
+then Nettie suddenly stopped. It might not be
+well to say to this new friend that she would not
+need to trouble the woodhouse chamber long,
+for she meant to start for home as soon as a letter
+could travel there, and another travel back.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>
+Something might come in the way of this resolve,
+though it made her feel hot all over to
+think of such a possibility.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless my heart!" said Mrs. Job Smith as
+Nettie vanished to consult her mother. "If that
+ain't as polite and pretty-spoken a child as ever
+I see in my life. She makes me think of our
+Jerry. To think of that child being Joe Decker's
+girl and coming back to such a home as he
+keeps! It is too bad! I am sure I hope they
+will let her sleep in the woodhouse chamber.
+It is the only spot where she will get any
+peace."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker was only too glad to avail herself
+of her neighbor's kind offer. "It is good of
+her," she said gratefully to Nettie. "I wish to
+the land you could have such a comfortable room
+all the time; they are real clean-looking folks.
+You wouldn't suppose from the looks of this
+house that I cared for clean things, but I do, and
+I used to have them about me, too. I was as
+neat once as the best of them; but it takes
+clothes and soap and strength to be clean, and
+I have had none of 'em in so long that I have
+most forgot how to do anything decent."</p>
+
+<p>"Soap?" said Nettie, wonderingly. She was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+beating up the poor rags which composed the
+bed in her mother's room, trying to get a little
+freshness into them.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, soap; I don't suppose you can imagine
+how it would seem not to have all the soap you
+wanted; I couldn't, either, once, but I tell you
+I save the pennies nowadays for bread, so that
+I need not see my children starve before my
+eyes. I would rather do without soap than
+bread; especially when our clothes are so worn
+out that there is nothing much to change with.
+Oh, I tell you when you get into a house where
+the men folks spend all they can get on beer or
+whiskey, there are not many pennies left. Mrs.
+Smith has been real kind; she sent the children
+in a bowl of soup one day when their father had
+gone off and not left a thing in the house, nor a
+cent to get anything with.</p>
+
+<p>"And she has done two or three things like
+that lately; I'm grateful to her, but I'm ashamed
+to say so. I never expected to sink so low that
+I should be glad of the scraps which a poor
+neighbor like her could send in. Oh, no; they
+are not very poor. Why, they are rich as kings,
+come to compare them with us; but they are
+not grand folks at all; he is a teamster, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>
+works hard every day; so does she; but he
+doesn't drink a drop, and they have a good
+many comfortable things. Their boy is away
+at school, and their girl, Sarah Ann, is learning
+a dressmaker's trade. You will have a comfortable
+bed in there, and I'm glad of it."</p>
+
+<p>And now it was eight o'clock. Susie and
+Sate were asleep in their trundle bed, the tired
+Nettie having coaxed them to let her give them
+a splendid bath first, making the idea pleasant
+to them by producing from her trunk a cunning
+little cake of perfumed soap. They looked
+"as pretty as pictures," the sad-eyed mother
+said, as she bent over them when they were
+asleep, with their moist hair in loose waves, and
+their clean faces flushed with health. "They are
+real pretty little girls," she added earnestly, as
+she turned away. "He might be proud of
+them. And he used to be, too. When Sate
+was a baby, he said she had eyes like you, and
+he used to kiss her and tell her she was pretty,
+until I was afraid he would spoil her; but there
+isn't the least danger of that now. He never
+notices either of them except to slap them or
+growl at them."</p>
+
+<p>"How came father to begin to drink?" Nettie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+asked the question timidly, hesitating over
+the last word; it seemed such a dreadful word
+to add to a father's name.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't ask me, child; I don't know. They
+say he always drank a little; a glass of beer
+now and then. I knew he did when I married
+him, but I thought it was no more than all hard-working
+men did. I never thought much about
+it. I know it never entered my head that he
+could be a drunkard. I'd have been too afraid
+for Norm if I had dreamed of such a thing as
+that.</p>
+
+<p>"He kept increasing the drinks, little by little&mdash;it
+grows on them, it seems, the habit does; they
+say that is the way with all the drinks; I didn't
+know it. I never was taught about these things.
+If I had been, I think sometimes my life would
+have been very different. I know I wouldn't
+have walked right into the fire with my one boy,
+anyhow. I'm talking to you, child, as though
+you were a woman grown, and you seem most
+like a woman to me, you are so handy, and
+quiet, and nice-looking. I was sorry you were
+coming, because I thought you would just be
+an added plague; and now I am sorry for your
+own sake."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Nettie hesitated greatly over the next question.
+It was a very hard one to ask this sick
+and discouraged mother, but she must know the
+whole of the misery by which she was surrounded.
+"Does Norman drink too?"</p>
+
+<p>"Norm," said Mrs. Decker, dropping into the
+one chair, and putting her hand to her heart as
+though there was something stabbing her there,
+"Norm has been led away by your father. He
+was a bright little fellow, and your father took
+to him amazingly. I used to tell him his own
+little girls would have reason to be jealous of
+his step-son. He took Norm with him everywhere,
+from the first. And taught him to do
+odd things, for a little fellow, and was proud of
+his singing, and his speaking, and all that. And
+when Susie there, was a baby, and I was kept close
+at home with her, and Norm would tear around
+in the evening and wake her up, I slipped into
+the way of letting him go out with your father
+to spend the evenings; I didn't know they
+spent them in bar-rooms, or groceries where they
+sold beer. I never <i>dreamed</i> of such a thing.
+Your father talked about meeting the men, and
+I thought they met at some of the houses where
+there wasn't a baby to cry, and talked their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>
+work over, or the news, you know. And there
+he was teaching Norm to drink. He was a
+pretty little fellow, and he would sing comic
+songs, and then they would treat him to the sugar
+in their glasses! When I found it out, he
+had got to liking the stuff, and I don't suppose
+a day goes by without his taking more or less of
+it now. He never gets as bad as your father;
+but he will. He is never cross and ugly to me,
+nor to the children, but he will be. It grows
+on him. It grows on them all. And to think
+that I led him into the trap! If I had stayed
+in the country where I was brought up, or if I
+had left him with his grandfather, as he wanted
+me to, he might have been saved. The grandfather
+is gone now, and so is the farm. Your
+father got hold of my share of that, and lost it
+somehow. He didn't mean to, and that soured
+him, and he drank the harder and we are going
+down to the very bottom of everything as fast
+as we can."</p>
+
+<p>It seemed to poor Nettie that they must have
+reached the bottom now. She could not imagine
+any lower depths than these.</p>
+
+<p>She made up the poor bed as well as she could,
+and then went back to the kitchen to see what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>
+could be done about breakfast. Her new mother
+was evidently too weak and sick to be troubled
+with the thought of it, and while she stayed,
+Nettie resolved that she would help the poor
+woman all she could. She went out into the
+yard to examine, and discovered to her satisfaction
+that there must be a cooper's shop just
+around the corner, for the chips lay thick. She
+gathered some for the morning fire, determined
+in her mind that she would buy a few potatoes at
+the grocery in the morning! In the cupboard she
+had found a cup of sour milk; this she had carefully
+treasured with an eye to breakfast, and she
+now looked into her purse to see if she could
+spare pennies for a quart of flour. If she could,
+then some excellent cakes would be the result.
+And now everything that she knew how to do
+towards the next day's needs was attended to,
+and she went out in the moonlight, and sat down
+on the lowest step of the back stoop, and did
+what she had been longing to do all the afternoon&mdash;cried
+as though her poor young heart
+was breaking.</p>
+
+<p>Astride a saw-horse in the yard which belonged
+to Job Smith, and which was separated
+from the stoop where she sat only by a low<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>
+fence, was a curly-headed boy, who had come
+there apparently to whittle and whistle and
+watch her. He was not there when she sat
+down and buried her head in her apron. She did
+not notice his whistling, though he made it loud
+and shrill on purpose to attract her attention,
+He knew quite a little about her by this time.
+He had come upon the boys of the Grammar
+School in the midst of their afternoon recess and
+heard Harry Stuart interrupt little Ted Barrows
+who was the youngest one in the class and wrote
+the best compositions. They were gathered
+under a tree listening to Ted, while he read them
+"The Story of An Hour," which was especially
+interesting because it had some of their own experiences
+skilfully woven in.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on," Harry was saying, just as the
+whistling boy appeared within hearing. "You
+didn't make that thing up; you got it from the
+Deckers; that is what is just going to happen
+there. Old Joe's Nan is coming home this very
+day, and she is about as old as the girl you've
+got in your story, and is freckled, I dare say;
+most girls are."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't even know old Joe Decker had a
+girl to come home!" said little Ted, looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>
+injured. "I made every word of it out of my
+own mind."</p>
+
+<p>But the boys did not hear him; their interest
+had been called in another direction. "Is that
+so? Is Nan Decker coming home? My! What
+a house to come to. Mother said only yesterday
+that she hoped the folks who had her would keep
+her forever. What is she coming for? Who
+told you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, she is coming because Joe thinks that
+will be another way to plague the old lady. At
+least that is what my mother thinks. Mrs.
+Decker told her once that when Joe had been
+drinking more than usual he always threatened
+to send for Nan; but she didn't think he would.
+And now it seems he has. I heard it from the
+old fellow himself. He was telling Norm about
+it, while I stood waiting for father's saw. He
+said she was coming in the stage this afternoon;
+that she had worked for other folks long enough
+and it was time he had some good of her himself.
+I pity her, I tell you."</p>
+
+<p>Then the whistler had come out from behind
+the trees, and said good-afternoon, and asked a
+few questions. The boys had answered him
+civilly enough, but in a way which showed that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>
+they did not count him as one of them. The
+fact was, he was a good deal of a stranger. He
+had been in town only a few weeks, and he did
+not go to school, and he boarded with or lived
+with, the Smiths, who lived next door to the
+Deckers, and were nice enough people, but did
+not have much to do with the fathers and
+mothers of these boys, and&mdash;well, the fact was,
+the boys did not know whether to take this new
+comer in, and make him welcome, or not. They
+sort of liked him; he was good-natured, and accommodating
+so far as they knew, but they knew
+very little about him. He asked a good many
+questions about the expected Nan Decker. He
+had never heard of her before. Since he was to
+live next door to her, it might be pleasant to
+know what sort of a person she was. But the
+boys could tell him very little. Seven years, at
+their time of life, blots out a good many memories.
+They only knew that she was Nan Decker
+who went away when her mother died, and who
+had lived with the Marshalls ever since; and all
+agreed in being sorry for her that she was obliged
+at last to come home.</p>
+
+<p>The whistling boy walked away, after having
+cross-questioned first one, and then another, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>
+learned that they knew nothing. He was on his
+way to the woods for one of his long summer
+rambles. He felt a trifle lonely, and wished that
+the boys had asked him to sit down under the
+trees and have a good time with them.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 346px;">
+<img src="images/facing078.jpg" width="346" height="500" alt="boy with sun behind him" />
+<div class="caption">JERRY ON ONE OF HIS SUMMER RAMBLES.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>He would have liked to hear Ted's composition,
+he said to himself; the boy had a sweet
+face, and a head that looked as though he might
+be going to make a smart man, one of these days.
+What was the matter with those fellows, he wondered,
+that they were not more cordial?</p>
+
+<p>He thought about it quite awhile, then plunged
+into the mosses and ferns and gathered some
+lovely specimens, which he arranged in the box
+he carried slung over his shoulder, and forgot all
+about the boys, and poor little Nan Decker. On
+the way home, in the glow of the setting sun, he
+thought of her again, and wondered if she had
+come, and if she would be a sorrowful and homesick
+little girl. It seemed queer to think of being
+homesick when one came home! But then, it
+was only a home in name; he had not lived next
+door to it for five weeks without discovering
+that, and the little girl's mother was dead!
+Poor Nan Decker! A shadow came over his
+bright face for a moment as he thought of this.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>
+His mother was dead. He resolved to speak a
+kind word to the little girl the very first time
+that he had a chance. And here in the moonlight
+was his chance.</p>
+
+<p>He stopped whistling at last and spoke: "If
+it is anything about which I can help, I shall be
+very glad to do it." A kind, cheerful voice.
+Nettie looked up quickly and choked back her
+tears. She was not one to cry, if there were to
+be any lookers-on.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you are homesick," said the boy from,
+his horse's back; "and that isn't any wonder. I'm
+homesick myself, nearly every night, especially
+if it is moonlight. I don't know what there is
+about the moon that chokes a fellow up so, but
+I've noticed it often; but then I feel all right in
+the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you away from your home?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should say I was! Or rather home has
+gone away from me. I haven't any home in particular,
+only my father, and he is away out in
+California. I couldn't go there with him, and
+since my school closed I am waiting here for him
+to come back. It is home, you know, wherever
+he is. He doesn't expect to be back yet for
+months. So you and I ought to be pretty good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>
+friends, we are such near neighbors. I live right
+next door to you. We ought to be introduced.
+You are Nannie Decker, I suppose, and I am
+Jerry Mack at your service. I don't wonder you
+are homesick; folks always are, the first night."</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Nanette," said Nettie, gently,
+"but people who like me most always say Nettie:
+and it isn't being homesick that makes me feel
+so badly&mdash;though I am homesick; but it is
+being scared, and astonished, and, oh! everything.
+Nothing is as I thought it would be; and
+there are things about it that I did not understand
+at all, or maybe I wouldn't have come;
+and now I am here, I don't know what to do."
+She was very near crying again, in spite of a
+watcher.</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he said, nodding his head, and
+speaking in a grave, sympathetic voice. "Job
+Smith&mdash;that is the man I am staying with&mdash;has
+told me how it used to be with your father.
+He says he was a very nice father indeed. I am
+as sorry for you as I can be. But after all, I
+wouldn't give up if I were you; and I should be
+real glad that I had come home to help him.
+He needs a great deal of help. Folks reform,
+you know. Why, people who are a great deal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>
+worse than your father has ever been yet, have
+turned right around and become splendid men.
+If I were you I would go right to work to have
+him reform. Then there's Norm&mdash;he needs
+help, too; and he ought to have it before he gets
+any older, because it would be so much easier
+for him to get started right now."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know the least thing to do," said
+Nettie; but she dried her eyes on her neat little
+handkerchief as she spoke, and sat up straight,
+and looked with earnest eyes at the boy on the
+other side the fence. This sort of talk interested
+and helped her.</p>
+
+<p>"No; of course you don't. You haven't
+studied these things up, I suppose. But there
+is a great deal to do. My father is a temperance
+man, and I have heard him talk. I know a hundred
+things I would like to do, and a few that I
+can do. I'll tell you what it is, Nettie, say we
+start a society, you and I, and fight this whole
+thing?</p>
+
+<p>"We can begin with little bits of plans which
+we can carry out now, and let them grow
+as fast as we can follow them and see what we
+can do. Is it a bargain?"</p>
+
+<p>"There is nothing I would like so well, if you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>
+will only show me how," said Nettie, and her
+eyes were shining.</p>
+
+<p>It was wonderful what a weight these few
+words seemed to lift from her troubled heart.
+The boy's face had grown more thoughtful.
+He seemed in doubt just how to express what he
+wanted to say next.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how you feel about it," he said
+as last, "but I know somebody who would be
+sure to help in anything of this kind that we
+tried to do&mdash;show us how, you know, and make
+ways for us to get money, and all that."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is it?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie spoke quickly now, for her heart
+was beating loud and fast. Was there somebody
+in this town who could be asked to come
+to the rescue, and who was willing to give
+such hearty help as that? If such were the case,
+she could see that a great deal might be accomplished.
+She waited for her new friend's answer,
+but he looked down on the stick he was whittling
+and gravely sharpened the end to a very
+fine point, before he spoke again.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what you think about such
+things, but I mean&mdash;God. I <i>know</i> he is on our
+side in this business, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Nettie, thoughtfully, and her
+manner changed.</p>
+
+<p>Her voice which had been only eager before,
+became soft and gentle, and she looked over at
+the boy in the moonlight and smiled. "I know
+Him," she said, "and I am His servant. It is
+strange I forgot for a little while that He knew
+all about this home, and father, and everything!
+Maybe He wants me to help father. I mean to
+begin right away. I will do every single thing
+I can think of, to keep father, and Norm, and
+everybody else from drinking liquor any more
+forever."</p>
+
+<p>There was a sudden spring from the saw-horse,
+a long step taken over the low fence, and the boy
+stood beside her.</p>
+
+<p>"There are two of us," he said gravely.
+"There is my hand on it. I am a Christian, too.
+And father gave me a verse once, which always
+helps me when I think of the rumsellers: 'If God
+be for us, who <i>can</i> be against us!' I know he is
+for us, and so, though the rumsellers are against
+us, and think they are going to beat, one of these
+days he will show them! What you and I want
+to do is to keep working at it all we can, so as to
+show that we believe in him."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now we are partners&mdash;Nettie Decker and
+Jerry Mack, who knows what we can do? Anyhow,
+we are friends, and will stand by each other
+through thick and thin, won't we?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Nettie, "we will." And she rose
+up from the doorstep, and they shook hands.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER V.<br />
+
+<small>A GREAT UNDERTAKING.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>JERRY turned away whistling. Did you
+ever notice how apt boys are to whistle
+when something has stirred their feelings very
+much, and they don't intend that anybody but
+themselves shall know it?</div>
+
+<p>Nettie went back into the little brown house to
+see if her mother was comfortable for the night.
+Her heart was lighter than she had thought it
+ever would be again.</p>
+
+<p>Everything was quiet within the house. The
+children with their arms tossed about one another,
+and their cheeks flushed with sleep, looked
+sweeter than they often did awake. The heartsick
+mother had forgotten her sorrow again for
+a little while, in sleep. Where father and Norm
+were, Nettie did not know. It seemed strange
+to go away and leave the light burning, and the
+door unfastened. At home, they always gathered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>
+at about this hour, in the neat sitting-room,
+and sang a hymn and repeated each a Bible
+verse, and then Mr. Marshall prayed, and after
+that she kissed Auntie Marshall and the others,
+and tripped away to her pretty room. The contrast
+was very sharp. If it had not been for that
+new friend whose voice she heard at this moment
+softly singing a cheery tune, I think the tears
+would have come again.</p>
+
+<p>As it was, she slipped into Mrs. Job Smith's
+neat kitchen. What a contrast that was to the
+kitchen next door! The first thing she saw was
+the tall old clock in the corner. "Tick-tock,
+tick-tock." She had never seen so large a clock
+before; she had never heard one speak in such a
+slow and patronizing tone, as though it were
+managing all the world. She looked up into its
+face and smiled. It seemed like a great strong
+friend.</p>
+
+<p>There was nothing very remarkable about that
+kitchen. At least I suppose you would not have
+thought so, unless you had just spent an afternoon
+in the Decker kitchen. Then you might
+have felt the difference. The floor was painted
+a bright yellow, and had gay rugs spread here
+and there. The stove shone brilliantly, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+two chairs under the window were painted green,
+with dazzling white seats. A high, old-fashioned,
+wooden-backed rocker occupied a cosey corner
+near the clock. A table set against the wall had
+a bright spread on it, and newspapers, and a
+book or two, and a pair of spectacles lay on it.
+The lamp was in the centre, and was clear and
+beautifully trimmed.</p>
+
+<p>Simple enough things, all of them, but they
+spoke to Nettie's heart of home.</p>
+
+<p>There was a brisk step on the stair; the door
+opened, and Mrs. Smith's strong, homely face
+appeared in sight. "Here you are," she said
+cheerily, "tired enough to go to sleep, I dare say.
+Well, the room is all ready for you. I guess you
+won't be lonesome, for it is right out of Sarah
+Ann's room, and my boy Jerry is across the hall.
+You've got acquainted with Jerry, I guess? I
+saw you and him talking, out in the moonlight.
+I'm glad of it. Jerry is good at chirking a body
+up; and there never was a better boy made than
+he is.</p>
+
+<p>"Now you get right to sleep as goon as you can,
+and dream of all the nice things you can think
+of. It is good luck to have nice dreams in a new
+room, you know."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Poor little soul!" she said to herself as the
+door closed after Nettie. "I hope she will be so
+sound asleep that she won't hear her father and
+Norm come stumbling home. Isn't it a mean
+thing, now, that the father of such a little girl as
+that should go and disgrace her?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Smith was talking to nobody, and so of
+course nobody answered her; and in a little while
+that house was still for the night. Nettie, in the
+clean, sweet-smelling woodhouse chamber, was
+soon on her knees; not sobbing out a homesick
+cry, as she thought she would, as soon as ever
+she had a chance, but actually thanking God for
+these new friends; and asking Him to be One in
+this new society, and show them just what and
+how to do. Then she went into sound sleep; and
+heard no stumbling, nor grumbling, though both
+father and brother did much of it when at last
+they shambled home.</p>
+
+<p>The new plans came up for consideration early
+the next morning. Before Nettie had opened her
+eyes to the neatly whitewashed walls in the woodhouse
+chamber, she heard the sound of merry
+whistling, keeping time to the swift blows of an
+axe. Jerry was preparing kindlings. In a very
+short time after that, he looked up to say good-morning,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>
+as Nettie was making her way across
+the yard to the other house.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you want some of these nice chips?
+They will make your kettle boil in a jiffy."</p>
+
+<p>This was his good-morning; he held out both
+hands to her, full of broad smooth chips. "Aunt
+Jerusha likes them better than any other kind;
+I keep her supplied. Wait, I'll carry them in."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you needn't," Nettie said in haste, and
+blushing. What would he think of the Decker
+kitchen after being used to Mrs. Smith's! But
+he took long springs across the walk, vaulted the
+fence and stood at the kitchen door waiting for
+her. It looked even more desolate, in contrast
+with the sunny morning, than it had the night
+before. Nettie resolved to blacken the stove that
+very day. "Do you know how to make a fire?"
+Jerry asked. "I do. I made aunt Jerusha's for
+her, two mornings, but it is hard work to get
+ahead of her."</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Nettie knew how. She had made the fire
+for the supper, in Mrs. Marshall's boarding house,
+many a time. She proceeded to show her skill
+at once; Jerry, looking on admiringly, admitted
+that she knew more about it than he did.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, father and I board," he said apologetically,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>
+"and there isn't much chance to learn
+things. I'll tell you what I can do&mdash;get you a
+fresh pail of water."</p>
+
+<p>Before she could speak, he darted away.
+There was a sound of feet coming down the unfinished
+stairs, and Norm lounged into the room,
+rubbing sleepy eyes, and looking as though he had
+not combed his hair in a week. He stared at
+Nettie as though he had never seen her before,
+and answered her good-morning, with:</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be bound if I didn't forget you! Where
+have you been all night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Asleep," said Nettie, brightly. "Now I
+want to have breakfast ready by the time mother
+comes out, to surprise her. Will you tell me
+whether you have tea or coffee?"</p>
+
+<p>Norm laughed slightly. "We have what we
+can get, as a rule. I heard mother say there
+wasn't any tea in the house. And I don't believe
+we have had any coffee for a month. I'd like
+some, though; I know that. I've got a quarter;
+I'll go and get some, if you will make us a first-rate
+cup of coffee."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Nettie, "I'll do my best."</p>
+
+<p>She spoke a little doubtfully, having a shrewd
+suspicion that the quarter ought to be saved for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>
+more important things than coffee; but she did
+not like to object to Norm's first expressed idea
+of partnership; so he went away, and when the
+fresh water came, the teakettle was filled, the
+table set, the potatoes washed and put in the
+oven; by the time Mrs. Decker appeared, Nettie,
+with a very flushed face, was bending over her
+hot griddle, testing the cake she had baked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I do say!" said Mrs. Decker, and the
+tone expressed not only surprise, but gratitude.
+There was a pleasant odor of coffee in the room,
+and the potatoes were already beginning to hint
+that they would soon be done. The cake that
+Nettie had baked was as puffy and sweet as her
+heart could desire.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe you're a witch," said Mrs. Decker.
+"I couldn't think of a thing for breakfast. Where
+did you get them cakes?"</p>
+
+<p>"Made them," said Nettie; "I found a cup of
+sour milk; Auntie Marshall used to let me make
+them often for breakfast. Norm went after the
+coffee; and I guess it is good. I saved my egg
+shell from the cakes to settle it."</p>
+
+<p>"You're a regular little housekeeper," said
+Mrs. Decker. "And so Norm went after coffee!
+Did you ask him to? Went of his own accord!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+That's something wonderful for Norm. He used
+to think of things for me but he don't any more."</p>
+
+<p>Altogether, it was really almost a comfortable
+breakfast, though it seemed to Nettie that she
+would never get it ready. She was not used to
+managing with so few dishes. Her father drank
+three cups of coffee, said it was something like
+living, and gave Nettie twenty-five cents, with the
+direction that he hoped there would be something
+decent to eat when they came home at noon.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie's cheeks were red with more than the
+baking of cakes, then. She was ashamed of her
+father. How could he speak in a way to insult
+his wife! They went off hurriedly at last, Norm
+and the father; and the children who had been
+silent, began to chatter the moment the door
+closed after them. Mrs. Decker, too, began to
+talk.</p>
+
+<p>"He thinks twenty-five cents will buy a dinner
+for us all, and keep us in clothes, and get new
+furniture, and dishes! He will have it that it is
+because things are wasted that we have such
+poor meals. As if I had anything to waste! I
+don't know what to do, nor which way to turn.
+We need everything."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think we had better clean house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+to-day?" Nettie asked a little timidly, as they
+rose from the table and she began to gather the
+dishes.</p>
+
+<p>"Clean house!" repeated the dazed mother.
+"Why, yes, child, I suppose so. It needs it
+badly enough. Oh, we can wash up the floor,
+and the shelf. It doesn't take long; there are
+not many things in the way. No furniture to
+move. But it doesn't stay clean long, I can tell
+you. Just one room in which to do everything!
+I might have kept it looking better, though, if
+I had not been sick. I have just had to let
+everything go, child. Lying awake nights, and
+worrying, have used me up."</p>
+
+<p>She took the broom as she spoke and began to
+sweep vigorously, scurrying the children out of
+her way.</p>
+
+<p>It was a long day, and a busy one. And at
+night, the room certainly looked better. The
+floor had been scrubbed with hot lye to get off
+the grease, and the stove had been blackened
+until the children shouted that it would do for
+a looking-glass. Several other improvements
+had been made. But after all, to Nettie's eyes
+it was dreadfully bare and comfortless. Not a
+cushioned chair, nor a rocker, nor anything that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>
+to her seemed like home. All day she had been
+casting glances at a closed door which opened
+from the kitchen, and thinking her thoughts
+about the room in there. A large square room,
+perfectly empty. Why wasn't it used? If for
+nothing else, why didn't Norm sleep in it, instead
+of in that dreadful unfinished attic where the
+rats must certainly have full sweep? Or why
+did not her mother move in there with the
+trundle bed, instead of being cooped up in that
+small bedroom? Or why had they not prepared
+it for her to sleep in, if they really did not want
+it for anything else? She gathered courage at
+last, to ask questions.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that room," her mother said with bitterness,
+"when I first came here to live, we pleased
+ourselves nights, after the children were in bed,
+telling what we would have in it. We meant
+to furnish it for a parlor. We were going to
+have it carpeted; he wanted a red carpet, and I
+wanted a brown one with a little bit of pink in,
+but land! I would have taken one that was all
+yellow, just to please him. And we were going
+to have a lounge, and two rocking chairs, and I
+don't know what not. And there it is, shut up.
+I might have had it for a bedroom at first, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>
+I wouldn't. I wanted to save it. And then,
+when I gave that all up, there was nothing to
+fix it with. Norm couldn't sleep there without
+curtains to the windows; no more could we; it
+is right on the street, almost.</p>
+
+<p>"And things keep getting worse and worse, so
+I just shut the door and locked it and let it go.
+If I had had a spare chair to put in, I might
+have gone in there and cried, now and then, but
+I hadn't even that. I tried to rent it; but the
+woman who was hunting rooms heard that your
+father drank, and was afraid to come. Oh, we
+have a splendid name in the place, you'll find.
+We are just going to ruin as fast as a family
+can; that's the whole story."</p>
+
+<p>In the middle of the afternoon, when Nettie had
+done everything she could think of, unless some
+money could be raised, and some clothes made,
+so that the children could have the ones washed
+which they were wearing, she stood in the back
+door, wondering how that could be brought
+about, when Jerry appeared in his favorite seat
+on the sawhorse.</p>
+
+<p>"Everything done up for the day?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Everything has stopped for the want of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+things to do with," she said. "I don't see but
+that will be the trouble with what we want to
+do. Why, you can't do a single thing without
+money; and where is it to come from?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is one of the things we must think up,"
+Jerry said gravely. "I have thought about it
+some. This temperance business needs money.
+One of the troubles with boys like Norm is that
+they have no nice places to go to. Boys like to
+meet together and talk things over, you know,
+and have a good time, and how are some of them
+going to do it? The church isn't the place, nor
+the schoolhouse, and those fellows haven't pleasant
+homes; the only spot for them is the saloons.
+I don't much wonder that they get in the habit
+of going there. I have heard my father say that
+saloons were the only places that were fixed up,
+and lighted, where folks without any pleasant
+homes were made welcome. Why, just look at
+it in this town. There's your Norm. There are
+two fellows who go with him a great deal. If
+you meet one, you may be sure that the other
+two are not far away. Their names are Alf
+Barnes and Rick Walker. Neither of them
+have as decent a home as Norm's, oh! not by a
+good deal. And he doesn't feel like inviting them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+into your kitchen to spend the evening. Should
+you think he would?"</p>
+
+<p>Warm as the day was, Nettie shivered. "I
+should think they would rather stay out in the
+street than to come there," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now you see how it is. They don't
+stay in the streets, such fellows don't. Not all
+the time. They get tired, and sometimes it rains,
+and in winter it is cold, and they look about
+them for somewhere to go. There's a saloon,
+bright and clean; comfortable chairs, and good-natured
+people. It is the only place that says
+Come in! to such fellows. Why shouldn't they
+go in?</p>
+
+<p>"I've heard my father talk about this by the
+hour. In big cities they have rooms warmed
+and lighted, and nicely furnished, on purpose for
+such young men; only father is always saying
+that they don't begin to have enough of them;
+but in such a town as this, I would like to know
+what the boys who haven't nice homes to stay
+in, are expected to do with themselves evenings?
+One of these days, when I am a man, that is the
+way I am going to use all my extra money. I'll
+hunt out towns where the fellows have just been
+left to stay in the streets, or else go to the rum-holes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+and I'll fit up the nicest kind of a room
+for them. Bright as gas can make it, and elegant,
+you know, like a parlor; and I'll have
+cakes, and coffee, and lemonades, and all those
+things, cheaper than beer, and serve them in fine
+style. Wouldn't that be a fine thing to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then the first thing," said Nettie, "is a
+room."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry turned round on his horse and looked
+full at her and laughed. "You talk as though
+it was to be done now," he said. "I was telling
+what I would do in that dim future, when I become
+a man."</p>
+
+<p>"We might begin pieces of it now. Norm
+will be too old when you are a man; and so will
+those others. There is our front room. If we
+only had some furniture to put in it. My Auntie
+Marshall made some real pretty seats once, out
+of old boxes; she padded them with cotton, and
+covered them with pretty calico, and you can't
+think how nice they were. I could make some,
+if I had the boxes and the calico."</p>
+
+<p>"I could get the boxes," said Jerry. "I know
+a man in the blacksmith shop who has a brother
+in the grocery down at the corner, and he could
+get boxes for us of him, I'm pretty sure. He is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+a nice man, that blacksmith. I like him better
+than any man in town, I believe. I could fix
+covers on the boxes myself, and do several other
+things. I have a box of tools, and I often make
+little things. I say, Nettie, let's fix up the front
+room. I've often wondered what there was in
+there. Would your mother let us have it?"</p>
+
+<p>"She would let us have most everything, I
+guess," Nettie said thoughtfully, "if she thought
+it would do any good."</p>
+
+<p>"All right. We'll make it do some good.
+Let's set to work right away. The first thing as
+you say, is a room. No, we have the room; the
+first thing is furniture. I'll go and see Mr.
+Collins this very evening. He is the blacksmith."</p>
+
+<p>In less than half an hour from that time
+Jerry stood beside Mr. Collins.</p>
+
+<p>That gentleman had on his big leather apron,
+and was busy about his work as usual.</p>
+
+<p>"Boxes?" he said to Jerry. "Why, yes,
+there are piles of them in his cellar, and out by
+his back door. I should think he would be glad
+to get rid of some. But what do you want of
+them? Furniture? How are you going to make
+furniture out of boxes? What put such a notion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+as that into your head, and what do you want of
+furniture, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>So Jerry sat down on a box and told the
+whole story. Mr. Collins listened, and nodded,
+and shook his head, and smiled grimly, occasionally,
+and sighed, and in every possible way
+showed his interest and appreciation.</p>
+
+<p>"And so you two are going to take hold and
+reform the town?" he said at last. "Humph!
+Well, it needs it bad enough! if old boxes will
+help, it stands to reason that you ought to have
+as many as you want. I'll engage to see that you
+get them."</p>
+
+<p>When Mr. Collins told his brother-in-law, the
+grocer, the two laughed a good deal, but the
+blacksmith finished his story with, "Well, now
+I tell you what it is&mdash;something is better than
+nothing, any day; there's been nothing done
+here for so long that I think it is kind of wonderful
+that those two young things should start up
+and try to do something."</p>
+
+<p>"So do I, so do I," assented the grocer,
+heartily, "and if old boxes will help 'em, why,
+land, they're welcome to as many as they can
+use. Tell the chap to step around here and
+select his lumber, and I'll have it delivered."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This message Jerry was not slow to obey; so
+it happened that the very next afternoon Mrs.
+Job Smith stood in her back door and watched
+with curious eyes the unloading of the grocer's
+wagon. Six, seven, eight empty boxes! "For
+the land's sake, what be you going to do with
+them?" she asked Jerry.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Job Smith had a great warm heart, but
+no education to speak of; and no mother had, in
+her childhood, begged her a dozen times a day
+not to use such expressions as "for the land's
+sake!" she knew no better than to suppose they
+added emphasis to her words; Jerry laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"It is for the room's sake, auntie," he said.
+"We are going to have a cabinet shop in the
+barn loft. Mr. Smith said I might. I shall make
+some nice things, auntie, see if I don't. Come
+up in the loft, will you, and see my tool chest?"</p>
+
+<p>This last sentence was addressed to Nettie
+who had appeared in her back door to admire
+the boxes. So the two climbed the ladder stairs,
+Nettie a little timidly as one unused to ladders,
+and Jerry with quick springs, holding out his
+hand to her at the top, to help her in making the
+final leap. Then he took from his pocket a curious
+little key which he explained to Nettie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+would open that tool chest provided you knew
+how to use it; but he supposed that a man who
+had stolen it might try for a week, and yet not
+get into the chest.</p>
+
+<p>A skilful touch, and the handsome chest was
+open before her, displaying its wonders to her
+pleased eyes. It was a well-stocked chest. Chisels,
+and saws, and hammers, and augers, and
+sharp, wicked-looking little things for which Nettie
+had no name, gleamed before her.</p>
+
+<p>"How nice!" she said at last. "How splendid!
+It looks as though somebody who knew
+how, could make splendid things with them."</p>
+
+<p>"And I know how," said Jerry. "At least, I
+know some things. I spent a summer down in
+a little country town where father had some business;
+and the man we boarded with kept a small
+shop, where all sorts of things were made. Not
+a great factory, you know, where they make a
+thousand chairs of one kind, and a thousand of
+another, and never make anything but chairs.
+This was just a little country shop, where they
+made a table one day, and a chair the next, and
+a bedstead the next; and you could watch the
+men at work, and ask questions and learn ever so
+much. I got so I could use tools, as well as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>
+next one, Mr. Braisted said, whatever he meant
+by that. Father liked to have me learn. He
+said tools were the cleanest sharp things that he
+knew anything about. I can make ever so many
+things. I like to do it. I wonder I have not
+been about it since I came here. Now what shall
+we go at first? What does your mother say about
+the room?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is willing," said Nettie, "only she doesn't
+see how much of anything can be done. She is
+most discouraged, you see, and nothing looks
+possible to her, I suppose."</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right. She can't be expected to
+know we can do things until we show her. If
+she will let us try, that is all we need ask."</p>
+
+<p>"She says the room ought to have some kind
+of a carpet; they always have carpets in home-like
+rooms, she says; and I guess that is so.
+Except in kitchens, of course."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie hastened to say this, apologetically,
+thinking of Mrs. Job Smith's bright yellow
+floor.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry whistled.</p>
+
+<p>"That is so, I suppose," he said thoughtfully;
+"and they don't make carpets out of boxes,
+nor with saws and hammers, do they? I don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>
+know how we would manage that. There must
+be a way to do it, though. Let's put that one
+side among the things that have got to be thought
+about."</p>
+
+<p>"And prayed about," said Nettie.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, flashing a very bright look at
+her, "I thought that, but somehow I did not like
+to say it out, in so many words."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder why?" said Nettie thoughtfully;
+"I mean, I wonder why it is so much harder to
+say things of that kind than it is to speak about
+anything else?"</p>
+
+<p>"Father used to say it was because people
+didn't get in the habit of talking about religion
+in a common sense way. They don't, you know;
+hardly anybody. At least hardly anybody that
+I know; around here, anyway. Now my father
+speaks of those things just as easy as he does
+of anything."</p>
+
+<p>"So does Auntie Marshall; but I used to notice
+that not many people did. Your father
+must be a good man."</p>
+
+<p>"There never was a better one!"</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding Jerry said all this with tremendous
+energy, his voice trembled a little, and
+there came one of those dashes of feeling over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>
+him which made him think that he must drop
+everything and go to that dear father right
+away.</p>
+
+<p>"When he comes after you and takes you
+away, what will I do?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie's mournful tone restored the boy's courage.</p>
+
+<p>He laughed a little. "No use in borrowing
+trouble about that. He is afraid he cannot
+come back before winter, if he does then. I'm
+going to get him to let me stay here until he does
+come, though. And now we must attend to business.
+What will you have first in my line?
+Chairs, tables, sofas&mdash;why, anything you say,
+ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>And both faces were sunny again.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VI.<br />
+
+<small>HOW IT SUCCEEDED.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>MRS. JOB SMITH leaned against the table
+in her bright kitchen, caught up the
+edge of her apron in one hand, then leaned both
+hands on her sides, and thought. Jerry had been
+consulting her. Was there any way of planning
+so that the front room in the Decker house could
+have a carpet? He repeated all Mrs. Decker said
+about a room not being home-like without one,
+and Mrs. Smith, at first inclined to combat the
+idea, finally admitted that in winter a room where
+you sat down to visit, did look kind of desolate
+without a carpet, unless it was a kitchen, and had
+a good-sized cook stove to brighten it up. There
+was no denying that that square front room
+would be the better for a carpet. At the same
+time there was no denying that the Deckers
+needed a hundred other things worse than they
+did a carpet. But the hearts of the boy and girl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>
+were bent on having one; and what the boy was
+bent on, Mrs. Job Smith liked to have accomplished,
+and believed sooner or later that it would
+be. The question was, How could she help to
+bring it about?</div>
+
+<p>"There's that roll of rag carpeting, bran-new,"
+she said aloud; Mrs. Smith had spent a good
+deal of her time alone and had learned to hold
+long conversations with herself, arguing out
+questions as well, sometimes she thought better,
+than a second party could have done. At this
+point she put her hands on her sides. "There's
+enough of it, and more than enough. I had it
+made for the front room the year poor Hannah
+died, and sent me that boughten carpet which
+just exactly fitted, and is good for ten years'
+wear. That rag carpeting has been rolled up
+and done up in tobacco and things ever since&mdash;most
+two years. Sarah Jane doesn't need it,
+and I don't know as I shall ever put it on the
+kitchen. I don't like a great heavy carpet in a
+kitchen, much, anyway; rugs, and square pieces
+that a body can take up and shake, are enough
+sight neater, to my way of thinking. But I can't
+afford to give away bran-new carpeting. To be
+sure it only cost me the warp and the weaving;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+and I got the warp at a bargain, and old Mother
+Turner never did ask me as much for weaving
+as she did other folks. The rags was every one
+of them saved up. Poor Hannah used to send
+me a lot of rags, and Sarah Jane and I sewed
+them at odd spells when we wouldn't have been
+doing anything. It is a good deal of bother to
+take care of it, and I'm always afraid the moths
+will get ahead of me, and eat it up. I might sell
+it to her for what the warp and the weaving cost
+me. But land! what would she pay with? I
+might give her a chance to do ironing. I have
+to turn away fine ironing every week of my life
+because I can't do more than accommodate my
+old customers. Who knows but she is a pretty
+good ironer? I might give her the coarse parts
+to iron, and watch her, and find out. Job is always
+at me to have somebody help with the big
+ironings, and I have always said I wouldn't have
+a girl bothering around, I would rather take less
+to do. But then, she is a decent quiet body, and
+that Nettie is just a little woman. She will have
+to do something to help along if they ever get
+started in being decent; perhaps ironing is the
+thing for her, and I can start her if she knows
+how to do it. For the matter of that, I might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>
+teach her how, if she wanted to learn. To be sure
+they need other things more than carpets, but
+it wouldn't take her long to pay for this, if I just
+charge for the weaving. I might throw in the
+warp, maybe, seeing I got it at a bargain. The
+two are so bent on having a carpet for that
+room; and Jerry, he said he had prayed about
+it, and while he was on his knees, it kind of
+seemed to him as though I was the one to get to
+think it out. That's queer now! Jerry don't
+know anything about the carpet rolled up in tobacco
+in the box in the garret; why should he
+think that I could help? I feel almost bound to,
+somehow, after that. I don't like to have Jerry
+disappointed, nor the little girl either, now that's
+a fact. I take to that little Nettie amazingly.
+Well, I know what I'll do. I'll talk with Job
+about it, and if he is agreed, maybe we will see
+what she says to it."</p>
+
+<p>This last was a kind of "make believe," and
+the good woman knew it; Job Smith thought that
+his wife was the wisest, most prudent, most capable
+woman in the world, and besides being sure to
+agree to whatever she had to propose, he was
+himself of such a nature that he would have given
+away unhesitatingly the very clothes he wore, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>
+he thought somebody else needed them more
+than he. There was little need to fear that Job
+Smith would ever put a stumbling-block in the
+way of any benevolence.</p>
+
+<p>But who shall undertake to tell you how astonished
+Mrs. Decker was when Mrs. Smith, having
+duly considered, and talked with Sarah Jane,
+and talked with Job, and unrolled the tobacco-smelling
+carpet, and examined it carefully, did
+finally come over to the Decker home with her
+startling proposition. It is true that a carpet
+had taken perhaps undue proportions in this
+poor woman's eyes. Her best room during all
+the years of her past life had never been without
+a neat bright carpet; it had been the pleasant
+dream of her second married-life, so long as any
+pleasantness had been left to allow of dreaming;
+and she could not get away from the feeling that
+people who had not a scrap of carpeting for their
+best room, were very low down. She opened
+her eyes very wide while listening to Mrs.
+Smith's rapidly told story. What kind of a carpet
+could it be that was offered to her for simply
+the price of the weaving? for Job and his wife
+after some figuring with pencil and paper, had
+agreed together heartily to throw in the warp.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+She went over to the neat kitchen and examined
+the carpet. It was bright and pretty. There
+was a good deal of red in it, and there was a
+good deal of brown; a blending of the two colors
+which had been the subject of much discussion
+between herself and husband in the days
+when Mr. Decker talked anything about the comforts
+of his home. How well it would look in
+the square room which had two windows, and
+was really the only pleasant room in the house.
+Surely she could iron enough to pay for that.</p>
+
+<p>"I am not very strong," she said with a sigh.
+"I used to be, but of late I've been failing. But
+Nannie is so handy, and so willing, that she
+saves me a great deal, and she has a notion that
+she would like to fix up the front room and try
+to get hold of my Norm. It would be worth
+trying, maybe, but I don't know. We are very
+low down, Mrs. Smith."</p>
+
+<p>And then Mrs. Decker sank into one of the
+green painted chairs and cried.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course it is worth trying," Mrs. Smith
+said, bustling about, as though she must find
+some more windows to raise; tears always made
+her feel as though she was choking. "If I were
+you I would have a carpet, and curtains to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>
+windows, and lots of nice things, and make a
+home fit for that boy of yours to have a good
+time in. There is nothing like a nice pleasant
+home to keep a boy from going wrong."</p>
+
+<p>Before Mrs. Decker went home, she had promised
+to try the ironing the very next week, and
+if she could do it well enough to suit Mrs. Smith,
+the carpet should be bought.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor thing!" said Mrs. Smith, looking after
+her, and rubbing her eyes with the corner of her
+apron. "The ironing shall suit; if she irons
+wrinkles into the collars and creases in the cuffs,
+I won't say a word; only I guess maybe I won't
+give her collars and cuffs to iron; not till she
+learns how. I ought to have done something to
+kind of help her along before; only I don't know
+what it would have been. It takes that boy of
+mine to set folks to work."</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, "that boy" sat in the kitchen door,
+studying. Not from a book, but from his own
+puzzled thoughts. He did not see his way clear.
+Under Nettie's direction he had planned a very
+satisfactory sofa with a back to it, and two chairs,
+but how to get the material needed to finish
+them, and also for curtains for the new room, had
+sent Nettie home in bewilderment, and stranded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+him on the doorstep in the middle of the afternoon
+to think it out.</p>
+
+<p>"How much stuff does it take for curtains,
+anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"For curtains?" said Mrs. Smith, coming
+back with a start from her ironing table and the
+plan she had for teaching Mrs. Decker to iron
+shirts. "Why, that depends on what kind of
+stuff it is, and how many curtains you want, and
+how big the windows are."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what do they use for curtains?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Smith still looked bewildered.</p>
+
+<p>"A great many things, Jerry. They have lace
+curtains, and linen ones, and muslin ones, and in
+some of the rooms up at Mrs. Barlow's, on the hill,
+you know, when I helped her do up curtains that
+time, they had great heavy silk things, or maybe
+velvet, though the stuff didn't look much like
+either. I don't rightly know what it was, but it
+was heavy, and soft, and satiny, and shone like
+gold, in some places."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry turned around on the doorstep and
+looked full at Mrs. Smith, and laughed.
+"I know," he said, "I have seen such curtains.
+They are damask. I am not thinking about lace,
+and damask, and all that sort of thing. I mean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+for Mrs. Decker's front room. What could be
+used that would do, and how much would they
+cost?"</p>
+
+<p>"Surely!" said Mrs. Smith, coming down to
+everyday life. "What a goose I was. I might
+have known what you were thinking about.
+Why, let me see. Cheese cloth makes real pretty
+curtains; if you have a bit of bright calico to put
+over the top, and a nice hem in, or maybe some
+bright calico at the bottom to help them hang
+straight, I don't know as there is anything much
+prettier. Though to be sure they aren't good
+for much to keep people from looking in; and
+they aren't quite suitable for winter. I suppose
+you want to plan for winter, too? I'll tell you
+what it is, I believe that unbleached muslin makes
+about as pretty a curtain as a body could have;
+put bright red at the top and bottom, and they
+look real nice."</p>
+
+<p>"What is unbleached muslin? I mean, how
+much does it cost?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why," said Mrs. Smith, dropping into her
+rocking-chair, and folding her hands on her lap
+to give her mind fully to the important question,
+"as to that, I should have to think; I'm not
+very good at figures. Unbleached muslin costs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+about eight cents a yard, or maybe ten; we'll
+say ten, because I've always noticed that was
+easier to calculate. Ten cents a yard, and two
+windows, say two yards to each, and no, two
+yards to each half, four yards to each, and twice
+four is eight, eight yards at ten cents a yard.
+How much would that be, Jerry? You can tell
+in a minute, I dare say."</p>
+
+<p>"Eighty cents," said Jerry with a sigh. "I
+am afraid she will think that is a great deal.
+And then there's the red to put on them. What
+does that cost?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, that ought to be oil calico, because the
+other kind ain't fast colors. I don't much believe
+you could get those curtains up short of
+fifty cents apiece; and that is a good deal for
+curtains, that's a fact. Paper ones don't cost so
+much, but then there's the rollers and the fastenings,
+I don't know but they do cost just as much.
+And then they tear."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want her to have paper ones," said
+Jerry decisively. "A dollar for the curtains,
+and I don't know how much more for the furniture.
+She can't imagine where the money is to
+come from."</p>
+
+<p>"I could tell where it ought to come from,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+said Mrs. Smith, nodding her head and looking
+severe. "It ought to come out of Joe Decker's
+pocket. He makes his dollar a day, even now,
+when he doesn't half work; Job said so only last
+night. But furniture is dreadful dear stuff,
+Jerry, worse than curtains. And they need
+about everything. I never did see such a desolate
+house! And those little girls need clothes."</p>
+
+<p>"Nettie is going to make them some clothes,"
+said Jerry; "she has some that she has outgrown;
+a great roll in her trunk; she is going to make
+them over to fit the little girls. She is at work
+at some of them to-day. And you know, auntie,
+I am making the furniture."</p>
+
+<p>"Making it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, making its skeleton. If we had some
+clothes to put on it, I guess it would be furniture.
+I've made a sofa, and two chairs, and I'm at
+work at a table. Only I would like to see how
+the things were going to look, before I went any
+farther."</p>
+
+<p>"Making furniture!" repeated dazed Mrs.
+Smith; and she shook her head. "I don't see
+how you can! You can do a great many things
+that no other boy ever thought of; but I'm
+afraid that's beyond you."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Why, you see, auntie, she has seen some
+made, and she showed me what to do with hammer
+and nails. You make a frame, just the
+size you want for a sofa, and put a back to it,
+then it is padded with cotton, and covered with
+something bright, cretonne, I think she said
+they called it, only it wasn't real cretonne, but
+a cheap imitation, and they tack a skirt to the
+thing in puckers, so," and he caught up a bit of
+Mrs. Smith's apron to illustrate.</p>
+
+<p>"I see," she said, nodding her head and speaking
+in an admiring tone. "What a contriving
+little thing she is! And what about the
+chairs?"</p>
+
+<p>"The chairs are served in very much the
+same way. The table is just two flat boards and
+a post between them, nailed firmly, then they
+tack red calico, or blue, or whatever they want,
+around it, and cover it with thin white cheese
+cloth or some lacey stuff, she had the name of
+it, but I've forgotten; it doesn't cost much, she
+said, and tie a sash around it, and it looks like
+an hour glass. The question is, where are the
+cotton and calico to come from?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Mrs. Smith, "you two do beat
+all! It can't take much stuff for a little table;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>
+and I can see that they might be real pretty. I
+want a table myself, to stand under the glass in
+my front room. What if you was to make two,
+and I'd get cloth enough for two, and she would
+do mine and hers, to pay for the cloth?"</p>
+
+<p>Jerry sprang up from his doorstep, and came
+over and put both arms around Mrs. Smith's
+trim waist.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah!" he said; "you are the contriver.
+That will do splendidly. I'll go this minute and
+set up the skeleton of another table. I have
+two boards there which will just do it. Then
+we'll think out a way to get the rest of the
+stuff."</p>
+
+<p>Now Nettie, busy with her fingers in the
+house next door, had not left the others to do
+all the thinking. She knew the price of "oil
+calico," and imitation cretonne, and unbleached
+muslin; she knew to a fraction how many yards
+of each would be needed, and the sum total appalled
+her. Yet she too knew that her father
+earned at least a dollar a day, and did not give
+them two a week to live on. This her mother
+had told her.</p>
+
+<p>Also she knew that on this Saturday evening
+at about six o'clock, he would probably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>
+be paid for his week's work. Couldn't she contrive
+to coax some of the money from his keeping
+into hers? She had hinted the possibility of
+her mother's getting hold of it, and Mrs. Decker
+had said that the bare thought of trying made
+her feel faint and sick; that if she had ever
+seen her father in a passion such as he could get
+into when things did not go just to suit him,
+she would know what it was to ask him for anything.
+Nettie, who had not yet been at home a
+week, had some faint idea of what her father
+might do and say if he were very angry. Nevertheless,
+she was trying to plan a way to meet
+him before he left the shop, and secure some of
+that money if she could.</p>
+
+<p>With this thought in view, she presently laid
+aside the neat little petticoat on which she had
+been sewing, brushed her hair, put on her brown
+ribboned hat, and her brown gloves, watched
+her chance while the children were quarreling
+over an apple that Jerry had given them, and
+stole out in the direction of the shop where her
+father worked. She would not ask Jerry to go
+with her, though he looked after her from the
+barn window and wished she had; if her father
+was to grow angry and swear, and possibly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+strike, no one should know it but herself, if she
+could help it.</p>
+
+<p>I must not forget to tell you of one thing that
+she did before starting. She went into her
+mother's little tucked-up bedroom, put a nail
+over the door, which she had herself arranged
+for a fastening, and knelt there so long by the
+barrel which did duty as a table, that her mother,
+had she seen her, would have been frightened.
+But Nettie felt that she needed courage for this
+undertaking; and she knew where to get it.</p>
+
+<p>Then she had to walk pretty fast; it was
+later than she thought, for just as she turned the
+corner by the shop where her father worked, the
+six o'clock bell began to ring.</p>
+
+<p>"Halloo!" said one of the men, standing in
+the door while he untied his leather apron.
+"What party is this coming down the street?
+The neatest little woman I've seen for many a
+day. A stranger in this part of the world, I
+reckon. Doesn't fit in, somehow. Do you know
+who it is, Decker?"</p>
+
+<p>And Mr. Decker, thus appealed to, came to
+the door in time to receive Nettie's bow and
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>"That's my girl," he said, and a look of pride<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>
+stole into his face. She was a trim little creature;
+it was rather pleasant to own her as his
+daughter.</p>
+
+<p>"Your girl!" and the astonishment which the
+man felt was expressed by a slight whistle. "I
+want to know now if that is the little one who
+went away six, seven years ago, was it? She's
+as pretty a girl as I've seen in a year. Looks
+smart, too. I say, Decker, you better take good
+care of her. She is a girl to be proud of."</p>
+
+<p>At just that moment Nettie sprang up the
+steps.</p>
+
+<p>"May I come in, father?" she said; "I
+wanted to see where you worked." Her voice
+was clear and sweet. All the men in the shop
+turned to look. The foreman who was paying
+Mr. Decker, and who had begun severely with
+the sentence: "Two half-days off again, Decker;
+that sort of thing won't"&mdash;stopped short at the
+sound of Nettie's voice, and gave him the two two
+dollar bills, and two ones, without further words.
+Six dollars! If only she could get part of it!
+How should the delicate matter be managed?
+Suddenly Nettie acted on the thought which
+came to her. What more natural than for a child
+to ask for money just then and there? She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+needed it, and why not say it? Perhaps he
+would not like to refuse her entirely before all
+the men. And poor Nettie had a very disagreeable
+fear that he would certainly refuse her
+if she waited until the men were gone; even if
+she found a chance to ask him before he reached
+the saloon just next door, where he spent so
+much of his money. Or at least where his wife
+thought he spent it.</p>
+
+<p>"May I have some of that, father? I want
+some money. That was one of the things I
+came after."</p>
+
+<p>This was certainly the truth. Why not treat
+it as a matter of course? "Why should I take
+it for granted that he is going to waste all his
+money?" said poor Nettie to herself. All the
+same she knew she had good reason for supposing
+that he would.</p>
+
+<p>"Money!" he said, as he seized the bills.
+"What do you know about money, or want with
+it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I want things. The little girls must
+have some shoes. I promised to see about it as
+soon as I could. And then I want to buy your
+Sunday dinner; a real nice one."</p>
+
+<p>The tone was a winning, coaxing one. Nettie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>
+did not know how to coax; was not very well
+acquainted with her father; did not know how
+he would endure coaxing of any sort, but some
+way must be tried, and this was the best one
+she knew of.</p>
+
+<p>"Divide with her, Decker," said the man who
+had first called his attention to Nettie. "She
+looks as though she could buy a dinner, and
+cook it too. If I had a trim little girl like that
+to look out for my comfort, hang me if I wouldn't
+take pleasure in keeping her well supplied." He
+sighed as he spoke, and nobody laughed; for
+most of them remembered that the man's home
+was desolate. Wife and daughter both buried
+only a few months before. This man sometimes
+spent his earnings on beer, but he was accustomed
+to say that there was nobody left to care;
+and that while he had them, he took care of
+them; which was true. Nettie looked up at the
+man with a curious pitiful interest. His tone
+was very sad. She was grateful to him for his
+words. Was there possibly something sometime
+that she could do for him? She would remember
+his face.</p>
+
+<p>All the men were looking now, and there was
+Nettie's outstretched hand. Her face a good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>
+deal flushed; but it wore an expectant look.
+She was going to believe in her father as long as
+she could.</p>
+
+<p>"Go ahead, Joe, divide with the girl. Such a
+handsome one as that. You ought to be proud
+of the chance."</p>
+
+<p>"You have something worth taking care of,
+it seems, Decker." It was the foreman who
+said this, as he passed on his way to the other
+side of the room where the men were waiting.</p>
+
+<p>Whether it was a father's pride, or a father's
+shame, or both these motives which moved Mr.
+Decker, I cannot say, but he actually took a two
+and a one and placed them in her hands as he
+said hastily, "There, my girl, I've given you
+half; you can't complain of that."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VII.<br />
+
+<small>LONG STORIES TO TELL.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>IF only I had a good picture of Nettie, so that
+you might see the radiant look in her eyes
+just then!</div>
+
+<p>She had hoped for the money, she had tried
+to trust her father, but she was, nevertheless,
+wonderfully surprised when her hand closed
+over three dollars.</p>
+
+<p>"O father!" she said, "how nice." And then
+her courage rose. "Will you go with me, father,
+to buy the shoes? The little girls are so eager
+for them. I promised to take them with me to
+Sunday-school to-morrow, if I could get shoes,
+but I don't know how to buy them very well.
+Could you go?"</p>
+
+<p>The shoe shop was farther down the street, in
+an opposite direction from the one where Mr.
+Decker generally got his liquor, and wily Nettie
+remembered that there was a street leading from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>
+it which would take them home without passing
+the saloon. Of course it was true that she needed
+his help to select the shoes, but it was also true
+that she was very glad she did. Mr. Decker was
+untying his apron, and rolling down his sleeves;
+he felt very thirsty&mdash;the sight of the money
+seemed to make him thirsty. He had meant to go
+directly to the saloon, give them one dollar on the
+old bill, and spend what he needed, only a very
+little, on beer. With the rest of the money he
+honestly meant to pay his rent. Yet no one
+ought to have understood better than he that he
+would not be likely to get away from that saloon
+with a cent of money in his pocket. For all that,
+he wanted to go. He wished Nettie would go
+away and let him alone. But the men were
+watching.</p>
+
+<p>"You can't fit the children to shoes without
+having them along," he said gruffly.
+But Nettie was ready for him: "Oh!" she said,
+swiftly unrolling a newspaper, "I brought their
+feet along." And with a bright little laugh she
+plumped down two badly worn shoes on the work
+table.</p>
+
+<p>"That left-footed one is Satie's. The other
+was so dreadfully worn out, I was afraid the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>
+shoemaker couldn't measure it. This is the best
+one of Susie's."</p>
+
+<p>It was plain to any reasonable eyes that two
+pairs of shoes were badly needed.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess they need other things besides
+shoes."</p>
+
+<p>It was the father who said this, and they were
+out on the street, and he was actually being
+drawn by Nettie's eager hand in the opposite
+direction from the saloon.</p>
+
+<p>"O no," she said; "I had some clothes which
+I had outgrown; I have been at work at them
+all day, and they make nice little suits. Auntie
+Marshall sent them each a cunning little white sunbonnet.
+When we get the shoes, they will look
+just as nice as can be. You don't know how
+pleased they are about going to Sunday-school.
+I am so glad they will not be disappointed to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>The shoes were bought, good, strong-looking
+little ones, and wonderfully cheap, perhaps because
+Nettie did the bargaining, and the man
+who knew how scarce her money must be, was
+sorry for the little woman. It did seem a great
+deal to pay out&mdash;two whole dollars&mdash;for shoes
+when everything was needed. It was warm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>
+weather, perhaps she ought to have let the little
+girls go barefoot for awhile, but then she could
+not take them to Sunday-school very well; at
+least, it seemed to her that she couldn't; and
+father was willing to have them bought now.
+Who could tell when he would be willing again?</p>
+
+<p>He stood in the door and waited for her, wondering
+why he did so, why he could not leave
+her and go back to that saloon and get his drink.
+One reason was, that she gave him no chance.
+She appealed to him every minute for advice.</p>
+
+<p>"Father, can we go to market now? I want
+to get just a splendid piece of meat for your
+Sunday dinner. I know just how to cook it in
+a way that you will like."</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you can do that without me; I have
+an errand in another direction." They were on
+the street again. She caught his hand eagerly.
+"O, father, do please come with me to the market,
+there are so many men there I don't like to
+go alone; and it is so nice to take a walk with
+you. I haven't had one since I came. Won't
+you please come, father?"</p>
+
+<p>Joe Decker hardly knew what to think of himself.
+There was something in her soft coaxing
+voice which seemed to take him back a dozen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>
+years into the past, and which led him along in
+spite of himself.</p>
+
+<p>The meat was bought, Nettie looking wise
+over the different pieces, and insisting on a neck
+piece, which the boy told her was not fit to eat.
+"I know how to make it fit," she said, with a
+little nod of her head.</p>
+
+<p>"I want three pounds of it. And then, father,
+I want two carrots and two onions; I'm going to
+make something nice."</p>
+
+<p>Only sixty-eight cents of her precious money
+left!</p>
+
+<p>"I did need some butter," she said mournfully,
+"and that in the tub looks nice, but I guess
+I can't afford it this time."</p>
+
+<p>"How much is butter?" asked Mr. Decker,
+suddenly rising to the needs of the moment.
+"Twenty-five," said the grocer, shortly. He
+did not know the trim little woman who had paid
+for her carrots and onions, and held them in a
+paper bag at this moment, but he did know Joe
+Decker and had an account against him. He had
+no desire to sell him any butter.</p>
+
+<p>"Then give me two pounds, and be quick
+about it." And Mr. Decker put down a dollar
+bill on the counter.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The man seized it promptly and began to arrange
+the butter in a neat wooden dish, while he
+said, "By the way, Mr. Decker, when will it be
+convenient to settle that little account?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do it as soon as I can," said Mr. Decker,
+speaking low, for Nettie turned toward him
+startled; this was worse than she thought. She
+had not known of any accounts. Mr. Decker
+himself had forgotten it until he stood in the
+very door. It was months since he had bought
+groceries.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it much, father?" Nettie asked, and he
+replied pettishly:</p>
+
+<p>"Much? no. It is only a miserable little
+three dollars. I mean to pay it; he needn't be
+scared." Yet why he shouldn't be "scared,"
+when he had asked for those three dollars perhaps
+fifty times, Mr. Decker did not say.</p>
+
+<p>"Father," said Nettie, in a very low voice,
+"couldn't you let the man keep the fifty cents,
+on the account, and that would be a beginning?"</p>
+
+<p>But this was too much.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Mr. Decker; "I will pay my bills
+when I get ready and not before; and it is none
+of your business when I do it. You must not
+meddle with what does not belong to you."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, sir;" said Nettie, though it was hard
+work to speak just then; there was a queer little
+lump in her throat. She was not in the habit of
+being spoken to in this way. The butter was
+ready, and the man handed back the change.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Decker pocketed it, saying as he did so,
+"I'll have some money for you next week, I
+guess." And then they went away.</p>
+
+<p>"If it hadn't been for the girl I'd have kept
+the fifty cents and got so much out of the old
+drunkard; but someway I couldn't bring myself
+to doing it with her looking on." This was
+what the grocer muttered as they walked away.
+But they did not hear him. Nettie was bent
+now on tolling her father down the cross street
+to go home.</p>
+
+<p>"Father," she said, "we are going to have
+milk toast for supper. Mother said she would
+have it ready, and toast spoils, you know, if it
+stands long. Couldn't we go home this way and
+make it shorter?"</p>
+
+<p>He was a good deal astonished that he did it.
+He was still very thirsty, but there really came
+to him no decent excuse for deserting his little
+girl and going back to the saloon. And they
+walked into the house together, so astonishing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>
+Mrs. Decker that she almost dropped the teapot
+which she was filling with hot water. Whatever
+other night, Mr. Decker contrived to get
+home to supper, he was always late on Saturday,
+and in a worse condition than at any other time.</p>
+
+<p>That was really a nice little suppertime. Mrs.
+Decker had done her part well, not for the husband
+whom she did not expect, but in gratitude
+to the little girl who had worked so hard all the
+week for herself and her neglected babies. The
+toast was well made, and the tea was good.
+Besides, there was a treat; not ten minutes before,
+Mrs. Job Smith had sent in a plate of ginger
+cookies; "for the children," she said, and
+the children each had one. So did the father
+and mother.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Decker washed his hands before he sat
+down to the table, for the tablecloth had been
+freshly washed and ironed that day, and his
+wife had on a clean calico apron and a strip of
+white cloth about her neck, and her hair was
+smooth.</p>
+
+<p>"There!" said Nettie, displaying her meat,
+"now, mother, we can have that stew for to-morrow,
+just as we planned. Father got the
+meat, and the carrots, and everything. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>
+what do you think, little girlies, father bought
+you each a pair of shoes!"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker set down the teapot again. She
+was just in the act of giving her husband a cup
+of tea, and the color came and went on her face
+so queerly that Nettie for a moment was frightened.
+As for the father, he felt very queer.
+Scared and silent as his little girls generally were
+in his presence, they could not keep back a little
+squeal of delight over this wonderful piece of
+news. Altogether, Mr. Decker could not help
+feeling that it really was a nice thing to be able
+to buy shoes and meat for his family.</p>
+
+<p>"Come," he said, "give us your tea if you're
+going to; I'm as dry as a fish."</p>
+
+<p>And the tea was poured.</p>
+
+<p>The toast was good, and there was plenty of
+it, and someway it took longer to eat it than this
+family usually spent at the supper-table; and
+then, after supper, the shoes had to be tried on,
+and Nettie called the little girls to their father
+to see if the shoes fitted, and he took Sate up on
+his lap to examine them, which was a thing that
+had not happened to Sate in so long that Susie
+scowled and expected that she would be frightened,
+but Sate seemed to like it, and actually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>
+stole an arm around her father's neck and patted
+his cheek, while he was feeling of the shoe.
+Then Mrs. Decker had a happy thought.</p>
+
+<p>She winked and motioned Nettie into the bedroom
+and whispered: "Don't you believe he
+might like to see the children in their nice
+clothes? I ain't seen him notice them so much
+in a year; and he hasn't been drinking a mite,
+has he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a drop," said Nettie; "I'll dress Susie."
+And she flew out to the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"Father, just you wait until Susie is ready to
+show you something. Come here, Susie, quick."
+And almost in less time than it takes me to tell
+it, Susie was whisked into the pretty petticoats
+and dress which had been shortened and tightened
+for her that day. The dress was a plain,
+not over-fine white one; but it was beautifully
+ironed, and the white sunbonnet perched on the
+trim head completed the picture and made a
+pretty creature of Susie. I am sure I don't
+wonder that the child felt a trifle vain as she
+squeaked out in her new shoes to show herself
+to her father. She had not been neatly dressed
+long enough to consider it as a matter of course.</p>
+
+<p>"Upon my word!" said Mr. Decker, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>
+there he stopped. This was certainly a wonderful
+change. He looked at his little daughter
+from head to foot, and could hardly believe his
+eyes. What a pretty child she was. And to
+think that she was his! Certainly she ought to
+have new shoes, and new clothes. Sate's arm
+was still about his neck, and Sate's sweet full
+lips were suddenly touched to his rough cheek.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got new clothes too," she said sweetly,
+"only I doesn't want to get down from here to
+put them on."</p>
+
+<p>The father turned at that and kissed her. Then
+he sat her down hastily and got up. Something
+made his eyes dim. He really did not know what
+was the matter with him, only it all seemed to
+come to him suddenly that he had some very
+nice children, and that they ought to have
+clothes and food and chances like others, and
+that it was his own fault they hadn't.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie hated tobacco, but she went herself in
+haste and lighted her father's pipe and brought
+it to him; if he must smoke, it would be so much
+better to have him sit in the door and do it
+rather than to go off down to that saloon. She
+hated the saloon worse than the tobacco. As
+she brought the pipe, she said within her hopeful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>
+little heart: "Maybe sometime he won't
+want either to drink or smoke. I most know we
+can coax him to give them both up; and then
+won't that be nice?"</p>
+
+<p>One thing was troubling her; as soon as she
+could, she followed her mother into the yard and
+questioned, "Do you know where Norm is?"</p>
+
+<p>Yes, Mrs. Decker knew. He came home just
+after Nettie had gone out, and said he had an
+hour's holiday; their room had closed early for
+Saturday, and he was going to wash up and go
+down street before supper.</p>
+
+<p>"My heart was in my mouth," said the poor
+mother; "because when there is a holiday he
+gets into worse scrapes than he does any other
+time; he goes with a set that don't do anything
+but have holidays, and they always have some
+mischief hatched up to get Norm into. I never
+see the like of the boys in this town for getting
+others into scrapes; but I didn't dare to say a
+word, because Norm thinks he is getting too big
+for me to give him any words, and just as he was
+going out, that boy next door&mdash;Jerry, you said
+his name was, didn't you?&mdash;he came out and
+called Norm, real friendly, and they stood talking
+together; he appeared to be arguing something,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+and Norm holding off, and at last Norm
+came in and wanted the tin pail and said he had
+changed his mind and was going fishing; and
+they went off together, them two." And Mrs.
+Decker finished the sentence with a rare smile.
+She was grateful to Jerry for carrying off her
+boy, and grateful to Nettie for thinking about
+him and being anxious.</p>
+
+<p>"Good!" said Nettie with a happy little
+laugh, "then we will have some fried fish to-morrow
+for breakfast. What a nice day to-morrow
+is going to be."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Decker was a good deal surprised at himself,
+but he did not go down town again that
+night. After he had smoked, he felt thirsty, it
+is true, and at that very minute Nettie came in
+with the one glass which they had in the house,
+and it was full of lemonade.</p>
+
+<p>"Did he want a nice cool drink?" she had
+two lemons which she bought with her own
+money, and she knew how to make good lemonade,
+Auntie Marshall used to say.</p>
+
+<p>The father drank the cool liquid off almost at
+a swallow, said it was good, and that he guessed
+she knew how to do most things. By this time
+the little girls had been tucked away to bed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+and just as Mr. Decker rose up to say he guessed
+he would go down street awhile, Norm appeared
+with a string of fish. They were beauties; he
+declared that he never had such luck in his life;
+that fellow just bewitched the fish, he believed,
+so they would rather be caught than not. Then
+came a talk about dressing them. Norm said
+he was sure he did not know how; and Mr.
+Decker said, a great fellow like him ought to
+know how. When he was a boy of fourteen he
+used to catch fish for his mother almost every
+day of his life, and dress them too; his mother
+never had to touch them until they were ready to
+cook. Then Nettie, flushed and eager, said:</p>
+
+<p>"O father, then you can show me how to do
+it, can't you? I would like to learn just the
+right way." And the father laughed, and looked
+at his wife with something like the old look on
+his face, and said he seemed to be fairly caught.
+And together they went to the box outside, and
+in the soft summer night, with the moon looking
+down on them, Nettie took her lesson in fish
+dressing.</p>
+
+<p>When the work was all done, Norm having
+hovered around through it all, and watched, and
+helped a little, Mr. Decker went back to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>
+kitchen and yawned, and wondered how late it
+was. No clock in this house to give any idea of
+time. There used to be, but one day it got out
+of order and Mr. Decker carried it down street to
+be fixed, and never brought it back. Mrs. Decker
+asked about it a good many times, then went
+herself in search of it, and found it in the saloon
+at the corner.</p>
+
+<p>"He took it for debt," the owner told her,
+and a poor bargain it was; it never came to time,
+any better than her husband did. However,
+just as Mr. Decker made his wonderment, the
+old clock over at Mrs. Smith's rose up to its
+duty, and dignifiedly struck nine.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare," said Mr. Decker, "I did
+not think it was as late as that. There ain't any
+evenings now days. Well, I guess, after all, I'll
+go to bed. I'm most uncommon tired to-night
+somehow."</p>
+
+<p>Norm had already gone up to his room; and
+Mrs. Decker when she heard her husband's
+words, hurried into the bedroom to hide two
+happy tears.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare for it, I believe you have bewitched
+him," she said to Nettie, who followed her to
+ask about the breakfast; "I ain't known him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+do such a thing not in two years, as to go to bed
+at nine o'clock without ever going down street
+again. He don't act like himself; not a mite.
+I was most scared when I saw him take Sate in
+his arms; that child don't remember his doing it
+before, I don't believe. Did he really buy the
+things, child, and pay for them? Well, now, it
+does beat all! And Saturday night, too; that
+has always been his worst night. Child, if you
+get hold of your father, and of my Norm, there
+ain't anything in this world too good for you.
+I'd work my fingers to the bone any time to help
+along, and be glad to."</p>
+
+<p>It was all very sweet. Nettie ran away before
+the sentence was fairly finished, waiting
+only to say, "Good-night, mother!" She had
+done this every night since she came, but to-night
+she reached up and touched her lips to the
+tall woman's thin cheek. Poor Nettie had been
+used to kissing somebody every night when she
+went to bed. It had made her homesick not to
+do it. But she had not wanted to kiss anybody in
+this house, except the little girls. To-night, she
+wanted to kiss this mother. She reached the
+back door, then stopped and looked back; her
+father sat in his shirt sleeves, in the act of pulling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+off one boot. Should she tell him good-night?
+He had not been there for her to do it
+a single evening since she came home. Should
+she kiss him? Why not? Wasn't he her father?
+Yet he might not like it. She could not be sure.
+He was not like the fathers she had known. However,
+she came back on tiptoe and stooped over
+him, her voice low and sweet:</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, father! I am going now." And
+then she put a kiss on the rough cheek, just
+where little Sate had left her velvet touch.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Decker started almost as though somebody
+had struck him. But it was not anger
+which filled his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, my girl," he said, but his voice
+was husky; and Nettie ran as fast as she could
+across the yard to the next house.</p>
+
+<p>"I did not get the things," she said to Jerry,
+who stood in the doorway waiting for her; "I
+couldn't; but, Jerry, I had such a wonderful
+time! Father gave me money, and we went to
+market, and bought shoes and he bought butter;
+and since we came home almost everything has
+happened. I can't begin to tell you. I can get
+some of the things on Monday. Father gave
+me money."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Jerry; "I didn't get the
+skeletons ready, either; I meant to work after
+tea, but instead of that I went fishing." And he
+gave her a bright smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I know it," said Nettie, breathless
+almost with eagerness. "That is part of my nice
+time. Jerry, I am so glad you went fishing to-night,
+and I am so glad you caught your fish;
+not the ones which we are to eat for our Sunday
+breakfast, you know, but the other one. Do you
+understand?"</p>
+
+<p>And Jerry laughed. "I understand," he said,
+"I had a nice time, too. We shall have some
+long stories to tell each other, I guess. We
+must go in now."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII.<br />
+
+<small>A SABBATH TO REMEMBER.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>SUNDAY was a successful day at the Deckers.
+The sun shone brilliantly; a trifle too
+warm, you might have thought it, for comfort;
+but the little Deckers did not notice it. The
+fish was beautifully browned and the coffee was
+delicious. Mr. Decker had a clean shirt which
+his wife had contrived to wash and mend, the
+day before, and all things were harmonious.
+Some time before nine o'clock. Sate and Susie
+were arrayed in their new white suits, and with
+their trim new shoes, and hair beautifully neat,
+they were as pretty little girls as one need want
+to see. Nettie surveyed them with unqualified
+satisfaction, and then seated them, each with a
+picture primer, while she made her own toilet.
+She put on the dress which had been her best
+for Sunday, all summer. It was a gingham, a
+trifle finer and a good deal lighter than the brown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>
+one in which she had travelled. It was neatly
+made, and fitted her well; and the brown hat
+and ribbons looked well with it.</div>
+
+<p>On the whole, when they set off for Sabbath-school,
+Jerry accompanying them, arrayed in a
+fresh brown linen suit, Mrs. Decker watching
+them from the side window, admitted that she
+never saw a nicer-looking set in her life! She
+even had the courage to call Mr. Decker to see
+how nice the two little girls looked, and he came
+and watched them out of sight. And when he
+said that his Nan was about as nice a looking
+girl as he wanted to see, she answered heartily
+that Nannie was the very best girl she ever saw
+in her life.</p>
+
+<p>Fairly in the Sabbath-school, a fit of extreme
+shyness came over the two little Deckers. With
+Susie, as usual, it took the form of fierceness;
+she planted her two stout feet in the doorway
+and resolutely shook her head to all coaxings to
+go any farther; keeping firm hold of Sate's
+hand, and giving her arm a jerk now and then,
+to indicate to her that she was not to stir from
+her protector's side. The situation was becoming
+embarrassing. Nettie could not leave them,
+and Jerry would not; though some of the boys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>
+were giggling, those of his class were motioning
+him to leave the group and join them. The superintendent
+came forward and cordially invited
+the children in, but Susie scowled at him and
+shook her head. Then Jerry went around to
+Sate's side and held out his hand. "Sate," he
+said in a winning tone, "come with me over
+where all those pretty little girls sit, and I will
+get you a picture paper with a bird on it."</p>
+
+<p>To Susie's utter dismay, Sate who had meekly
+obeyed her slightest whim during all her little
+life, suddenly dropped the hand that held hers,
+and gave the other to Jerry, with a firm: "I'm
+going in, Susie; we came to go in, and Nettie
+wants us to." Poor, astonished, deserted Susie!</p>
+
+<p>She had been so sure of Sate that she had neglected
+to keep firm hold, and now she had slid
+away. There was nothing left for Susie but to
+follow her with what grace she could.</p>
+
+<p>They were seated at last. Seven little girls
+of nearly Nettie's size and age. As she took a
+seat among them, I wish I could give you an
+idea of how she felt. Up to this hour, it had
+not occurred to her that she was not as well
+dressed as others of her age. Not quite that,
+either; being a wise little woman of business, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>
+was well aware that her clothes were plain, and
+cheap, and that some girls wore clothes which
+cost a great deal of money. But I mean that
+this was the first time she had taken in the
+thought of the difference, so that it gave her a
+sting. The Sabbath-school which she had been
+attending, was a mission, in the lower part of
+the city; the scholars, nearly all of them, coming
+from homes where there was not much to
+spare on dress; and the girls of her class had
+all of them dressed like herself, neatly and
+plainly. It was very different with these seven
+girls. She felt at once, as she seated herself, as
+though she had come into the midst of a flower
+garden where choice blossoms were glowing on
+every side, and she might be a poor little weed.
+Summer silk dresses, broad-brimmed hats aglow
+with flowers, kid gloves, dainty lace-trimmed
+parasols&mdash;what a beautiful world it was into
+which this poor little weed had moved?</p>
+
+<p>Nettie knew that her hat was coarse, and the
+ribbon narrow and cheap, and her gloves cotton,
+but these things had never troubled her before.
+Why should they now?</p>
+
+<p>The truth is, it was not the pretty things, but
+the curious glances that their owners gave at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>
+small brown thrush which had come in among
+them. They seemed to poor Nettie to be making
+a memoranda of everything she had on,
+from the narrow blue ribbon on her hair to the
+strong neat boots in which her plump feet were
+encased. The look in their eyes said, "How
+queerly she is dressed!" It was impossible to
+get away from the thought of their thoughts,
+and from the fact that the girl next to her drew
+her blue silk dress closer about her, and placed
+her pink-lined parasol on the other side, even
+though the pretty lady who sat before them in
+the teacher's seat, welcomed her kindly, and
+hoped she would be happy among them. Nettie
+hoped so, too; but she could hardly believe that
+it could be possible.</p>
+
+<p>She looked over at Jerry. He seemed to be
+having a good time; there was not so much difference
+in boys' clothes as in girls. She did not
+see but he looked as well as any of them. She
+looked forward at the little girls. Susie had
+allowed herself to be led in search of Sate, and
+the two were at this moment side by side in a
+seat full of bobbing heads; they had taken off
+their sunbonnets, and their pretty heads bobbed
+about with the rest, and the white dresses of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>
+two looked as well at a distance as the others,
+though Nettie could see that there were ruffles,
+and tucks, and embroidery and lace. But some
+were plain; and none of the wee ones seemed to
+notice or to care. It was only Nettie who had
+gotten among those who made her care, by the
+glance of their eyes, and the rustle of their
+finery. She tried to get away from it all; tried
+hard. She listened to the words read, and
+joined as well as she could, in the hymn sung,
+and answered quietly and correctly, the questions
+put to her; but all the while there was a
+queer lump in her throat, which kept her swallowing,
+and swallowing, and a wish in her heart
+that she could go back to Auntie Marshall's.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 344px;">
+<img src="images/facing148.jpg" width="344" height="450" alt="girl with ringlets in coned hat" />
+<div class="caption">LORENA BARSTOW.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>When the service was over, she stood waiting,
+feeling shy and alone. Jerry was talking with
+the boys in his class, and the little girls were
+being kissed by their pretty teacher. Her classmates
+stood and looked at her. At last the
+teacher who had been talking with one of the
+secretaries turned to her with a pleasant voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Nettie, we are glad to have you with
+us. Can you come every Sabbath, do you think?
+Are you acquainted with these girls? No?
+Then you must be introduced. This is Irene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+Lewis, and this is Cecelia Lester," and in this
+way she named the seven girls, each one making
+in turn what seemed to poor Nettie the stiffest
+little bow she had ever seen. At last, Irene
+Lewis, who stood next to her, and wore an elegant
+fawn-colored silk dress trimmed with lace,
+tried to think of something to say.</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't begun school yet, have you?
+I haven't seen anything of you. What grade
+are you in?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie explained that she had not been in a
+regular school; that she went afternoons to a
+private school which had no grades, and that
+now she did not expect to go at all; because
+mother could not spare her.</p>
+
+<p>"A private school!" said Miss Irene, "and
+held only in the afternoon! What a queer
+idea! I should think morning was the time to
+study. What was it for?"</p>
+
+<p>Then it became necessary to further explain
+that the girls who attended this afternoon school,
+had all of them work to do in the mornings, and
+could not be spared.</p>
+
+<p>"I have heard of them," said Lorena Barstow.
+"They are sort of charity schools, are
+they not?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Lorena was dressed in white, and looked almost
+weighed down with rich embroidery; but
+she had a disagreeable smile on her face, and a
+look in her eyes that made Nettie's face crimson.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," she said, quietly, "I never
+heard it called by that name. My auntie thought
+very well of it, and was glad to have me go."
+Then she turned away, and hoped that none of
+the girls would ask her any more questions, or
+try to be friendly with her. Just now, she
+could be glad of only one thing, and that was,
+that she need not go to school with these disagreeable
+people. She stepped quite out of
+sight behind the screen which shielded the next
+class, and waited impatiently for the little girls.
+They seemed to be having a very nice time, and
+were in no haste to come to her. Standing
+there, waiting, she had the pleasure of hearing
+herself talked about.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't she a queer little object?" said Lorena
+Barstow. And when one of the others was kind
+enough to say that she did not see anything very
+queer about her, Lorena proceeded to explain.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't! Well, I should think you might.
+Did you ever see a girl in our class before, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>
+a gingham dress on? Of course she wore her
+very best for the first Sunday; and her hat is
+of very coarse straw, just the commonest kind,
+and last year's shape at that; then look at her
+cotton gloves! I'm sure I think she is as funny
+a little object as ever came into this room."</p>
+
+<p>"What of it? I am sure she looks neat and
+clean, and she spoke very prettily, and knew her
+lesson better than any of us."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't say she didn't. I was only talking
+about her clothes."</p>
+
+<p>"Clothes are not of much consequence."</p>
+
+<p>"O Miss Ermina! When you dress better
+than any of us. Why don't you wear gingham
+dresses, and cheap ribbons, and cotton gloves, if
+you think they look as well as nice ones?"</p>
+
+<p>"I did not say that; I wear the clothes my
+mother gets for me; but I truly don't think
+they are the most important things in the
+world."</p>
+
+<p>"Neither do I. You needn't take a person
+up in that way, as though you were better than
+anybody else. I am sure I am willing she should
+wear what she likes."</p>
+
+<p>Then Cecelia Lester took up the conversation:</p>
+
+<p>"She could not be expected to dress very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>
+well, of course. Don't you know she is old
+Joe Decker's daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who is Joe Decker? I never heard of
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he is just a drunkard; they live over
+on Hamlin street. Mrs. Decker washes for my
+auntie once in awhile, when they have extra
+company, and I have seen her there, with both
+the little girls. I heard that Joe's daughter
+who has been living out, for years, was coming
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"Living out! that little thing! No wonder
+she hasn't better clothes. She has a pretty face,
+I think. But it seems sort of queer to have her
+come into our class, doesn't it? We sha'n't know
+what to do with her! She can't go in our set,
+of course."</p>
+
+<p>"O, I don't know. Perhaps Ermina Farley
+will invite her to her party." At this point, all
+the others laughed, as though a funny thing had
+been said, but Ermina spoke quietly: "So far
+as her gingham dress is concerned, I am sure I
+would just as soon. I don't choose my friends
+on account of the clothes they wear; and I suppose
+the poor thing cannot help her father being
+a drunkard; but then, I shouldn't like to invite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>
+her, for fear you girls would not treat her well."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie could see the toss of Lorena Barstow's
+yellow curls as she answered: "Well, I must say
+I like to be careful with whom I associate; and
+mother likes to have me careful. I am sorry for
+the girl; but I don't know that I need make her
+my most intimate friend on that account. Say,
+girls, did you ever notice what fine eyes that
+boy has who came in with her? Some think he
+is a real handsome fellow."</p>
+
+<p>"He seems to be a particular friend of this
+girl; I saw them on the street together yesterday,
+and they were talking and laughing, as
+though they enjoyed each other ever so much.
+Who is that boy?"</p>
+
+<p>Lorena seemed to be prepared to answer all
+questions.</p>
+
+<p>"He isn't much," she said, with another toss
+of her yellow curls. "His name is Jerry Mack;
+a regular Irish name, and he is Irish in face; I
+think he is coarse-looking; dreadful red cheeks!
+The girls over on the West Side say he is smart,
+and handsome, and all that. I don't see where
+they find it."</p>
+
+<p>"O, he is smart," said Cecelia Lester. "My
+brother knows him, and he says there isn't a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>
+more intelligent boy in town. I used to think
+he was splendid; I have talked with him some,
+and he is real pleasant; but I must say I don't
+understand why he goes with that Decker girl
+all the time."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see why he shouldn't," declared
+Lorena. "For my part, I think they are well
+matched; he works for his board at Job Smith's
+the carman's, and she is a drunkard's daughter;
+they ought to be able to have nice times together."</p>
+
+<p>"Does he work for his board?" chimed in
+two or three voices at once.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I suppose so, or gets it without working
+for it. He lives there, anyway. They say his
+father has deserted him, run away to California,
+or somewhere; Jerry will have to learn the carman's
+trade, and support himself, and Nettie,
+too, maybe." Whereupon there was a chorus
+of giggles. Something about this seemed to be
+thought funny.</p>
+
+<p>Ermina seemed to have left the group, so
+they took her up next. "Ermina Farley meant
+to invite him to her party, but I hardly think
+she will, when she finds out how all we girls
+feel about it. She tries to do things different<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>
+from everybody else, though; so perhaps that
+will be the very reason why she will ask them
+both. I'll tell you what it is, girls, we must
+stand up for our rights, and not let her have
+everything her own way. Let's say squarely
+that we will not go to her party if she invites
+out of our set. I could endure the boy if I had
+to, because he is very polite, and merry; and so
+few of the boys around here know how to behave
+themselves; but if he has chosen that
+Decker girl for his friend, we must just let them
+both alone. This class isn't the place for that
+girl; I wonder who invited her in? I think it
+was real mean in Miss Wheeler to ask her to
+come again, without knowing how we felt about
+it."</p>
+
+<p>All this time was poor Nettie behind that
+screen. Not daring to stir, because there was no
+place for her to go. The little girls were still engaged
+with their teacher, who had Sate on her
+lap, and Susie by her side, and was showing
+them some picture cards, and apparently telling
+them a story about the pictures. Jerry had sat
+down beside a boy who was copying something
+which Jerry seemed to be reading to him, and
+various groups stood about, chatting. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+were waiting for the bell to toll before they went
+into church. Nettie could not go without the
+little girls, and she could not stir without being
+brought into full view. And just then she felt
+as though it would not be possible for her to
+meet the eyes of anybody. If only she could
+run away and hide, where she need never see
+any of those dreadful girls again! or, for that
+matter, see anybody. It was true, she was a
+drunkard's daughter, and would go down lower
+and lower, until her neat dress would be in rags,
+and her hat, coarse as it was, would grow frayed,
+and be many years behind the fashion. What
+a cruel, wicked world it was! Who could have
+imagined that those pretty, beautifully dressed
+girls could have such cruel tongues, and say such
+hateful words! Didn't they know she was
+within hearing? Couldn't they have waited
+until she got out of the way, so that she need
+not have known how dreadful they were?</p>
+
+<p>So far as that was concerned, they did not
+know it. To do them justice, I think none of
+them would have wounded her so, quite to her
+face. They might have been cold, but they
+would not have been cruel in her presence. They
+thought she went out of the room, instead of behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>
+the screen. The bell tolled, at last, and
+Jerry finished his reading, and came over to her,
+his face bright. The girls in their beautiful
+plumage fluttered away like gay birds, the
+teacher of the little girls came toward her holding
+a hand of each, and saying brightly: "Are
+these your little sisters? What dear little treasures
+they are! We have had such a pleasant
+time together. I hope you have enjoyed your
+first day at Sabbath-school?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, ma'am," said Nettie. She was
+in great doubt as to whether this was a correct
+answer, for the sentence had the tone of a question
+in it, but truthful Nettie could not say that
+she enjoyed it very much, and did not want to
+say that she had never had a more miserable
+time in her life.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry was harder to answer. "Was it nice?"
+he asked her, as soon as they were fairly outside.
+"Did you have a good time? Those girls looked
+a trifle like peacocks, didn't they? I thought
+you were the best dressed one among them."</p>
+
+<p>O, ignorant boy! If there hadn't been such
+a lump in Nettie's throat, she would have laughed
+at this bit of folly. As it was, she contrived to
+give him a very little shadow of a smile, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+glad that the church door was near at hand, and
+that there was no more time for closer questions.</p>
+
+<p>All through the morning service she was trying
+to forget. It was not easy to do, for
+there sat three of the girls in a seat on which
+she could look down all the time; and try as
+she would, it seemed impossible to keep eyes
+or thoughts from turning that way. The girls
+did not behave very well. They whispered
+a good deal, during the Bible reading, and
+giggled over a book that fell while the hymn
+was being sung; and though Nettie covered her
+eyes during prayer, she could not help hearing a
+soft little buzz of whispering voices, even then.
+Jerry looked straight before him, with bright,
+untroubled face, and seemed to be having a good
+time. Susie and Sate, who had never been in
+church before in their lives, behaved remarkably
+well. In the course of the morning Sate leaned
+her little brown head trustingly against Nettie
+and dropped asleep, and Nettie put her arm
+around her, arranged her pretty head comfortably,
+and looked lovingly down upon her, and
+was glad that she had a little sister to love.
+Two of them, indeed, for Susie sat bolt upright
+and looked straight before her, and took in everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+with wide-open eyes, and looked so handsome
+with her glowing cheeks and her lovely
+curls, that it was almost impossible not to feel
+proud of the womanly little face.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie contrived to keep herself occupied with
+the prattle of the children during the walk
+home. She was not yet ready for Jerry's questions.
+She did not know what to say. Of one
+thing she felt sure; that was, that she never
+meant to go to that Sabbath-school again.</p>
+
+<p>Dinner was nearly ready when they reached
+home; such an appetizing smell of soup as had
+never filled the Decker kitchen before. Mrs.
+Decker had followed the directions of her young
+daughter with great care; and presently a very
+comfortable family sat down to the table. There
+were no soup plates, but there were two bowls
+for the father and mother, and a deep saucer for
+Norm; and the little girls were made happy
+with tin cups, two of which Nettie had found
+and scoured, the day before. It was certainly a
+very pleasant time. After dinner, as Nettie was
+preparing to wash the dishes, her mother came
+out with a troubled face, and whispered:</p>
+
+<p>"Norm says he guesses he will go out for a
+walk; and I know what that means; he gets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+with a mean set every Sunday, and they carouse
+dreadful; it is the worst day in the week for
+boys. I was thinking, what if you could get
+that boy next door to go a-fishing again; Norm
+enjoyed it last night first-rate; and he said that
+boy was as jolly company as he should ever
+want. If he could keep him away from that
+set, he would be doing a good deed."</p>
+
+<p>"But, mother," she said, "it is Sunday."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Decker, "that's just what
+I've been saying; Sunday is the day when he
+gets into the worst kind of scrapes. Do you
+think Jerry would help us?"</p>
+
+<p>"I know he would if he could; but he could
+not go fishing on Sunday, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not? I should think it was enough
+sight better than for Norm to go off with a set
+of loafers, who do all sorts of wicked things."</p>
+
+<p>Poor Nettie was not skilled in argument; she
+did not know how to explain to her mother that
+Jerry must not do one wrong thing, to keep
+Norm from doing another wrong thing, even
+though the thing he chose might be the worse of
+the two. There was only a simple statement
+which she could make. "This is God's day,
+mother, and he says we must not do our own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>
+work, or our own pleasure on his day; and I
+know Jerry will try to obey him, because he is
+his soldier."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker looked at the red-cheeked young
+girl a moment, then drew a long sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she said, "I know that is the way
+good folks talk; I used to hear plenty of it when
+I was young; and I was brought up to keep the
+Sabbath as strict as anybody; I would do it now
+if I could; but I'm free to confess that I would
+rather have Norm go a-fishing, ten times over,
+than to go with those fellows and get drunk."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm," said Nettie, respectfully. "But
+then, God says we must obey him; and he has
+told us just how to keep the Sabbath day.
+He couldn't help us to do things for other people,
+if we begin by disobeying Him."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker went away, the trouble still on
+her face, and Nettie began to wash the dishes.
+Suddenly, she dropped her dish towel and rushed
+after Norman as he lounged out of the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Norman," she called, just as he was moving
+down the street, "won't you take the little girls
+and me over to that green place, that I see, the
+other side of the pond? There is such a pretty
+tree there, and it looks so pleasant on the bank.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>
+I have some story papers that I promised to
+read to the little girls, and that would be such a
+nice place for reading. Won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>Norm stopped and looked down at her in
+astonishment, and some embarrassment. "You
+can go over there without me," he said, at
+last; "it isn't such a dreadful ways off; there's
+a plank across the stream down there a ways,
+where it is narrow. Lots of girls go there."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie looked over at it timidly. She was
+honestly afraid of the water, and nothing short
+of keeping Norm out of harm's way would have
+tempted her to cross a plank, with the little
+girls for companions. She spoke in genuine
+timidity.</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't like to go over there alone, with
+just the children. I am not used to going about
+alone. Couldn't you go with us, for just a little
+while? It will seem so nice to have a big
+brother to take care of me."</p>
+
+<p>Something about it all seemed suddenly rather
+nice to Norm. He had never been asked to
+take care of anybody before. He stood irresolutely
+for a moment, then said lazily, "Well, I
+don't know as I care; bring on your babies,
+then, and we'll go."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Nettie sped back to the kitchen, dashed after
+the little girls and their sunbonnets, saying to
+Mrs. Decker as she went: "Mother, would you
+mind finishing the dishes? Norman is going to
+take the little girls and me over to the big tree,
+and we are going to stay there awhile, and read."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll finish,'em," said Mrs. Decker, comfort in
+her tone, and she murmured, as she watched
+them away, Sate with her hand slipped inside of
+Norm's, "I declare, I never see the beat of that
+girl in all my life."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IX.<br />
+
+<small>A BARGAIN AND A PROMISE.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>DURING the next few days work went on
+rapidly in the Decker home: or, more
+properly speaking, in the room over Job Smith's
+barn. Jerry developed such taste in the manufacture
+of furniture, or of "skeletons," that
+Nettie grew alarmed lest there should never
+be found clothing enough to cover them. However,
+matters in that respect began to look
+brighter. Mrs. Job Smith, as she grew into an
+understanding of the plan, dragged out certain
+old trunks from her woodhouse chamber and
+looked them over. There were treasures in
+those trunks, which even Mrs. Job herself had
+forgotten. A gay chintz dress of Job's mother's,
+which had been saved by her daughter-in-law
+"she couldn't rightly tell for what, only Job
+set store by it because it was his old mother's."
+Nettie fairly clapped her hands in delight over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>
+it, and then blushed crimson when she remembered
+it was not hers.</div>
+
+<p>"Well, now," said Mrs. Job, "I'll just tell
+you what it is. If you see anything in life to do
+with these rolls of things, here is a bundle of old
+muslin curtains, embroidered, you know, and
+dreadful pretty once, I suppose, but they are all
+to pieces now. Mrs. Percival, a lady I used to
+clear starch and iron for, gave them to me; paid
+me in that kind of trash, you know, though
+what in the world she thought I could ever do
+with them is more than I could imagine. But
+I was younger then than I am now, and was
+kind of meek, and I lugged home the great roll
+and said nothing; only I remember when I got
+home I just sat down on a corner of the table
+and cried, I was so disappointed. I had expected
+to be paid in money, and I had planned two or
+three things to surprise Job, and they had to be
+given up. Well, as I was saying," she added,
+in a brisker tone, having roused from her little
+dream of the past to watch Nettie's fingers linger
+lovingly and wistfully among the rolls of
+soft muslin, "they have never been the least
+mite of good to me. I have just kept them because
+it didn't seem quite the thing to throw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>
+such pretty soft stuff into the rag-bag, and they
+were dreadful poor trash to give away; and
+Sarah Jane, she is tired of having them in the
+attic taking up room, and if there is anything in
+life can be done with these things in this trunk,
+I wish you would just go shares, and make some
+things for me too. Sarah Jane would like it,
+first-rate."</p>
+
+<p>This sentence fairly made Nettie catch her
+breath. The treasures in that trunk were so
+wonderful to her. "I could make such lovely
+things!" she said, almost gasping out the
+words; "but, O Mrs. Smith, you can't mean it!
+I'm afraid I oughtn't to."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, bless your heart, child, I tell you I
+don't know of a single useful thing in that
+trunk; not one; it is just a pack of rubbish,
+now, that's the truth; and if Sarah Jane has
+begged me once to let her sell it to the rag pedlers,
+I believe she has twenty times."</p>
+
+<p>The bare thought of such a sacrifice as this
+almost made Nettie pale. Also it settled her
+resolution and her conscience. She reached forward
+and plunged into the delights of the despised
+trunk with a satisfied air. "I will make
+you some of the prettiest things you ever saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>
+in your life," she said, with the air of one who
+knew she could do it. And Mrs. Smith laughed,
+and watched her with admiring eyes, and told
+Sarah Jane that she believed the child could do
+some things that other folks couldn't.</p>
+
+<p>It was after the day's work was done, and the
+little girls were asleep, and Nettie sat in the
+back door waiting for father and Norm, and
+wishing that they had not gone down town
+again, that she had a chance to say the few little
+words which she had made up her mind to say
+to Jerry. While her hands had been busy over
+long seams of rag carpeting, and over the wonderful
+trunk full of treasures, her thoughts had,
+much of the time, been busy with other matters.
+Yesterday at noon she had been sure that she
+should never go to that Sabbath-school again.
+By night, after the quiet talk under the trees
+with Norm and the little girls, she had not been
+so sure of it. The little girls could not go without
+her, and they had learned sweet lessons that
+very day, which had filled their young heads
+full of wondering thoughts, and they had asked
+questions which had at least amused Norm, and
+which might set him to thinking. In any case,
+ought she, because she had not been happy in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>
+her class, to deprive the little girls of the help
+which the Sabbath-school might be to them?
+Then how badly it would look to Norm, and to
+her mother, if she went no more. And what
+would Jerry think? On the whole, the longer
+she thought about it, the more she felt inclined
+to believe that her decision might have been a
+hasty one, and it was her duty to continue in
+that Sabbath-school, and even in that class, at
+least until the superintendent placed her in some
+other. It was a good deal of a trial to her to
+decide the question in this way, but she could
+not make any other seem right.</p>
+
+<p>There had also been another question to decide,
+which had been harder, and cost her more
+tears than the other. She was a very lonely little
+girl, and it seemed hard to give up a friend.
+But this, too, seemed to be the only right thing
+to do, so she made it known to Jerry in the
+moonlight.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know, Jerry, I have been thinking
+all day of something that I ought to say to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Jerry, whittling away at the
+stick which he was fashioning into a proper shape
+to do duty as a towel rack for Mrs. Job Smith's
+kitchen towel. "Go ahead, this is a good time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>
+to say it." And he held the stick up and took a
+scientific squint at it in the moonlight. "This
+thing would work better if the wood were a little
+softer. I am going to make one for your
+mother if it is a success, and it will be. Now
+what is your news?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't news," said Nettie, "it is only something
+that I have made up my mind I ought to
+say. Jerry, I think, that is, I don't think, I
+mean"&mdash; And there she stopped.</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," said Jerry, nodding his head
+gravely, "that is plain, I am sure, and interesting;
+I agree with you entirely." After that,
+both of them had to laugh a little, and the story
+did not get on.</p>
+
+<p>"But I truly mean it," Nettie said at last, her
+face growing grave again, "and I ought to say
+it. What I want to tell you is, that I have
+made up my mind that you and I must not be
+friends any more."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry did not laugh now, he did not even
+whistle. His knife suddenly stopped, and he
+squared around to get a full view of her face.</p>
+
+<p>"What!" he said at last, as though he did
+not think it possible that he could have understood
+her.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she said firmly, "I mean it, Jerry, and
+it is real hard to say; you and I ought not to be
+friends, or, I mean we must not let folks know
+that we are friends. We mustn't take walks together,
+nor work together. I don't mean that I
+shall not like you all the same; but we mustn't
+have anything to do with each other."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not, pray? Have I done anything to
+make you ashamed of me? I'll try to behave
+myself, I'm sure."</p>
+
+<p>This was so ridiculous that Nettie could not
+help smiling a little.</p>
+
+<p>"O, Jerry!" she said, "you know better than
+to talk in that way. It sounds strange, I know,
+and it is real hard to do, but I am sure it is
+right, and we must do it."</p>
+
+<p>"But what in the world is the trouble? Can't
+you give a fellow a reason for things? Is it
+your brother who doesn't like it?"</p>
+
+<p>"O no! Norm likes you; and mother is as
+much obliged to you as she can be, for getting
+him to go a-fishing. But, you see, it is bad for
+you to be my friend."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh-ho! I don't believe your influence is
+very hard on me; I don't feel as though you
+had led me very far astray!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It isn't fun, Jerry, it is sober earnest. I
+have heard things said that set me to thinking.
+I overheard the girls talk! those girls in the
+class, you know, yesterday. I guess they did
+not know I was there. They talked about me a
+good deal. They said I had a last year's hat on,
+and that is true, and my dress was only gingham,
+and washed at that."</p>
+
+<p>"Washed!" interrupted Jerry in bewilderment;
+"well, what of that? Would they have
+had you wear it dirty?"</p>
+
+<p>But Nettie hastened on; she did not feel
+equal to explaining to him the subtle distinction
+between a brand-new dress and one that had
+been "done up."</p>
+
+<p>"They said a good deal more than that,
+Jerry, and it was all true. They said I was
+nothing but a drunkard's daughter," and here
+Nettie found it hard work to control the sob in
+her throat.</p>
+
+<p>"That is not true," said Jerry, indignantly.
+"Your father has not drank a drop in three
+days."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! but, Jerry, you know he does drink;
+and he has gone down town to-night, and mother
+is sure that he will not come home sober. It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>
+all true, Jerry. I don't mean that I am going
+to give up. I shall try for father all the time;
+and I think maybe he will reform, after a while.
+And I won't forget our promise, and I know
+you won't; but it is best for us not to act like
+friends. They talked about you, too; they said
+you were handsome, and they used to like you;
+they thought you were smart. But now you
+had begun to go with me, so you couldn't be
+much. One of them said you were an Irish
+boy, that you had a real Irish name. Are you
+Irish, Jerry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not much! Or, hold on, I don't know but
+I am. Why, yes, my great-grandmother came
+from the North of Ireland. Father is proud of
+it, I remember."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't care where you came from,
+you know. Nor whether you are Irish, or Dutch,
+or what; I am only telling you what they said.
+They told how you worked at Job Smith's for
+your board; and one of them said your father
+had run away and left you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he has; run three thousand miles
+away, and left me, as sure as time. But he
+means to run back again, when he gets ready."</p>
+
+<p>"I knew that wasn't true, Jerry; and I only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>
+tell you because I thought you might want to
+speak about your father in a way that would
+show them it wasn't so. But what I want to
+say is, that I know they will get all over those
+feelings when they come to know you; and they
+will like you, and invite you to places, if you
+don't go with me; but they won't any of them
+have anything to do with me, on account of my
+father. And, Jerry, I want you not to go with
+me, or talk with me any more."</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," said Jerry, in an unconcerned
+voice. "Do you think I am making this stick
+too long for the frame? Our kitchen towels are
+pretty wide. Well, now, see here, Miss Nettie
+Decker, you would not make a very honest business
+woman if you went back on a square bargain
+in that fashion. You and I settled it to be
+partners in a very important business; and partners
+can't get along very well without speaking
+to each other. There is no use in talking. You
+are several days too late. The mischief is done.
+I'm your friend and fellow-laborer and partner
+in the cabinet business, and the upholstery line,
+and all the other lines. You will find me the
+hardest fellow to get rid of that ever was. I
+don't shake off worth a cent. I shall take walks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>
+with you every chance I can get; and shout to
+you from the woodshed window when you are
+over home, and wait for you to come out when
+I think it is about time you should appear, and
+be on hand in all imaginable places. Now I
+hope you understand what sort of a fellow I
+am."</p>
+
+<p>If the boy had looked in Nettie's face just
+then, he would have seen a sudden light flash
+over it which carried away a good deal of the
+look of patient endurance which it had worn for
+the last few hours. Still her voice was full of
+earnestness.</p>
+
+<p>"But, Jerry, they will not have anything to
+do with you if you act so. By and by they will
+not even speak to you. And they won't invite
+you to their parties, nor anywhere. There is
+going to be a party next week, and I think you
+would have been invited if you hadn't gone with
+me Sunday; now I am afraid you won't be."
+And now Jerry whistled a few rollicking
+notes.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," he said in a cheery tone. "If
+there is any one thing more than another that I
+don't like to go to, it is a girls' party where they
+make believe act like silly, grown-up men and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>
+women. I know just about what kind of a party
+those girls in that class would get up. If you
+have been the means of saving me from an invitation,
+it is just another thing to thank you for.
+Look here, Nettie, let us make another bargain,
+sober earnest, not to be broken. I don't care a
+red cent for the girls, nor their invitations, nor
+their bows; I would just as soon they did not
+know me when they met me as not. If that is
+their game, I shall like nothing better than to
+meet them half-way; girls who would know
+no better than to talk the way they did about you,
+are not to my liking. If because you wear clothes
+that are neat and nice and the best you can afford,
+and because I am an Irish boy and work for my
+board, are good reasons for not having anything
+to do with us, why, we will return the favor
+and not have anything to do with them, for better
+reasons than they have shown. Let's drop
+them. I thought some of them would be good
+friends to you, maybe, and help you to have a
+nice time; but they are not of the right sort, it
+seems. You and I will have just as good times
+as we can get up. And we will bow to them if
+they bow to us; if they don't we will let them
+pass. What is settled is, that we are bound<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>
+to work out this thing together. Understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Nettie, with a little soft laugh,
+"I understand, and I don't believe I ought to
+let you do it. But you don't know how nice it
+is; and I can't tell you how lonesome I felt when
+I thought I ought not to talk with you any
+more."</p>
+
+<p>"I should like to see you help yourself," said
+Jerry, in a complacent tone. "You would find
+it the hardest work you ever did in your life not
+to talk to me, when I should keep up a regular
+fire of questions of all sorts and sizes."</p>
+
+<p>Then Nettie laughed outright, but added,
+after a moment of silence, "But, Jerry, I think
+the worst of it is about father; and that is true,
+you know. They might not think so much about
+the clothes, if it were not for him."</p>
+
+<p>"That has nothing to do with it," said Jerry
+sturdily. "You are not to blame for your father's
+drinking liquor. Wouldn't you stop it
+quick enough if you could? It is only another
+reason why they ought to be friends to you. Besides,
+there wouldn't be so much of the stuff for
+folks to drink, if Lorena Barstow's father did
+not make it."</p>
+
+<p>"O Jerry! does he?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he does. Owns one of the largest distilleries
+in the country."</p>
+
+<p>"Jerry, I think I would rather have my
+father drink liquor than make it for other folks.
+At least he doesn't make money out of other
+people's troubles."</p>
+
+<p>"So would I, enough sight," said Jerry with
+emphasis. Then he lifted up his voice in answer
+to Mrs. Job Smith who appeared in the adjoining
+door. "All right, auntie, we are coming."
+And he carefully gathered the chips he
+had whittled, into his handkerchief, and rose up.</p>
+
+<p>"Going over now, Nettie? I guess auntie
+thinks it is time to lock up."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie darted within for a few minutes, then
+appeared, and they crossed the yard together.
+As they stepped on the lower step of Mrs.
+Smith's porch, Jerry said: "Remember this is
+a bargain forever and aye, Nettie; there is to
+be no backing out, and no caring for what folks
+say, or for what happens, either now or afterwards.
+Do you promise?"</p>
+
+<p>"I promise," said Nettie with a smile. And
+they went into the clean kitchen.
+Before Jerry went to bed that night he took
+out of the fly leaf of his Bible the picture of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>
+a tall man, and kissed it, as he said aloud:
+"So you have run away and left your poor little
+Irish boy, have you? But when you run
+back again, won't they all be glad to see you,
+though!"</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER X.<br />
+
+<small>PLEASURE AND DISAPPOINTMENT.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>THE day came at last when the front room
+at the Deckers was put in order. I don't
+suppose you have any idea how pretty that room
+looked when the last tack was driven, and the
+last fold in the curtain twitched into place!
+The rag carpet was very bright. "I put a good
+many red and yellows in it," said Mrs. Smith,
+"and now I know why I did it. It is just
+bright enough for this room. I don't see how
+you two could have got it down as firm as you
+have."</div>
+
+<p>"Nettie managed it," said Mrs. Decker, "she
+is a master hand at putting down carpets."</p>
+
+<p>The furniture was done and in place, and certainly
+did justice to the manufacturers. There
+were two "sofas" with backs which were so
+nicely padded that they were very comfortable
+things to lean against, and the gay-flowered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>
+goods that had looked "so horrid" in a dress
+that Mrs. Smith could never bring herself to
+wear it, proved to be just the thing for a sofa-cover.
+Between the windows was a very marvel
+of a table. Nobody certainly to look at it,
+draped in the whitest of muslin, with a pink
+cambric band around its waist, covered with
+the muslin, and looking as much like pink ribbon
+as possible, would have imagined that a
+square post, about six inches in diameter, and
+two feet long, with a barrel head securely nailed
+to each end, was the "skeleton" out of which
+all this prettiness was evolved. "And mine is
+as like it as two peas," said Mrs. Smith,
+"only mine is tied with blue ribbon. Who
+would have thought such things could be made
+out of what they had to work with! I declare
+them two young things beat all!" This time
+she meant Nettie and Jerry, not the two tables.</p>
+
+<p>The curtains for which, after much consideration,
+cheap unbleached muslin had been chosen,
+when their pinkish lambrequins of the same gay-flowered
+goods as the sofas, had been cut and
+scalloped, and put in place, were almost pretty
+enough to justify the extravagant admiration
+which they called forth. But the crowning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>
+glory was, after all, a chair which occupied the
+broad space between the window and the door.
+It was cushioned, back, and sides, and arms; it
+was dressed in a robe which had belonged to
+Job Smith's grandmother. It was delightful to
+look at, and delightful to sit in. Mrs. Decker
+declared that the first time she sat down in it,
+she felt more rested than she had in three years.</p>
+
+<p>Those two barrel chairs were triumphs of art.
+Jerry had been a week over the first one, planning,
+trying, failing, trying again; Nettie had
+seen one once, in the room of a house where she
+used to go sometimes to carry flowers to a sick
+woman. She had admired it very much, and
+the lady herself had told her how it was made,
+and that her nephew, a boy of sixteen, made it
+for her. Now, although Jerry was not a boy of
+sixteen, he had no idea there lived one of that
+age who could accomplish anything which he
+could not; so he persevered, and I must say his
+success was complete. Mrs. Smith believed there
+never was such a wonderful chair made, before.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry who had been missing for the last half-hour,
+now appeared, and with long strides
+reached the nice little mantel and set thereon a
+lamp, not very large, but new and bright.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That belongs to the firm," he said, in answer
+to Nettie's look. "I saw a lamp the other day
+that I knew would just fit nicely on that mantel,
+and I couldn't rest until I had tried it."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie's cheeks were red. She glanced over
+at her mother to see how she would like this.
+Nettie did not know whether a poor boy's
+money ought to be taken to provide a lamp for
+the new room; she much doubted the propriety
+of it. "The first money I earn, or father gives
+me, I can pay him back," she thought, then gave
+herself up to the enjoyment of her new treasure.</p>
+
+<p>None of them had planned to give a reception
+that evening, yet I do not know but such
+an unusual state of things as was found at the
+Deckers about eight o'clock, is worthy of so
+dignified a name. Mr. Decker and Norm came
+in to supper together, and both a little late.
+Nettie had trembled over what kept them, and
+her heart gave a great bound of relief and
+thanksgiving, when they appeared at last, none
+the worse for liquor. Indeed, she did not think
+either of them had taken even a glass of beer.
+They were in good humor; a bit of what Mr.
+Decker called "extra good luck" had fallen to
+him in the shape of a piece of work which it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+was found he could manage better than any
+other hand in the shop, and for which extra
+wages were to be paid. And Norm had been
+told that he was quite a success in a certain line
+of work. "He kept me after hours to give the
+new boy a lift," said Norm, good-naturedly;
+"he said I knew how to do the work, and how
+to tell others better than the other fellows."</p>
+
+<p>It was a good time for Mrs. Decker to tell
+what had been going on in the square room, or
+rather to hint at it, and tell them when supper
+was over, they should go in and see. "Nannie
+and I haven't been folding our hands while you
+have been working," she said with a complacent
+air, and a smile for Nettie as warmed that little
+girl's heart, making her feel it would not be a
+hard thing to love this new mother a great deal.</p>
+
+<p>So after supper they went in. I suppose you
+can hardly understand or imagine their surprise;
+because, you see, you have been used all
+your life to nicely arranged rooms. For Mr.
+Decker it stirred old memories. There had
+been a time when his best room if not so fine as
+this, was neat and clean, with many comforts in
+it. "Well, I never," he began, and then his
+voice choked, and he stopped.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>However, Norm could talk, and expressed his
+surprise and pleasure in eager words. "Where
+did you get the table, and the gimcracks around
+that chair? <i>Is</i> that a chair, or a sofa, or what?
+Halloo! here's a new lamp. Let's have it
+lighted and see how it works. I tell you what
+it is, Nannie Decker, I guess you're a brick and
+no mistake."</p>
+
+<p>Then father was coaxed to sit down in the
+barrel chair, and try its strength and its softness,
+and guess what it was made of. And the
+little girls stood at his knee and put in eager
+words as to the effect that they helped, and
+altogether, there was such a time as that family
+had not known before.</p>
+
+<p>Just as Nettie was explaining that it was
+dark enough to try the lamp, and Norm went
+for a match, Mrs. Smith made her way across
+the yard, and who should march solemnly behind
+her but Job Smith himself!</p>
+
+<p>"Come right along," said Mrs. Decker heartily,
+as the new lamp threw a silvery light across
+the room. "Come and try the new sofa. Here,
+Mr. Smith, is a chair for you, if that is too low.
+Decker, he's got the seat of honor; Nettie said
+her pa must have the first chance in it."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The name "Nettie" seemed to slip naturally
+from Mrs. Decker's tongue; she had heard
+Jerry use it so often during the past few days,
+that it was beginning to seem like the proper
+name of that young woman. Mr. Smith sat
+down, slowly, solemnly, in much doubt what to
+do or say next.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Neighbor Decker, these young folks
+of ours are busy people, ain't they, and seem to
+be getting the upper hand of us?" Then he
+laughed, a slow, pleasant laugh. Mrs. Smith
+laughed a round, admiring satisfied laugh; she
+was <i>very</i> proud of Job for saying that. Then
+they fell into conversation, the two men, about
+the signs of the times as regarded business, and
+prices, and various interests. Mr. Decker was
+a good talker, and here lay some of his temptations;
+there was always somebody in the saloons
+to talk with; there was never anybody in his
+home. Jerry came, presently, to admire the
+room and the lamp, and to have a little aside
+talk with Nettie. Norm was trying one of the
+lounges near them.</p>
+
+<p>"How did you make this thing?" he asked
+Jerry, and Jerry explained, and Norm listened
+and asked a question now and then, until presently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>
+he said, "I know a thing that would improve
+it; the next time you make one, try it
+and see."</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?" asked Jerry.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, look here, in this corner where you
+put the crossbar, if you should take a narrower
+piece, so, and fit it in here so," and the sofa was
+unceremoniously turned upside down and inside
+out, and planned over, Jerry in his turn becoming
+listener until at last he said: "I understand;
+I mean to fix this one, some day."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie nodded, her eyes bright; it was not
+about the sofa that they shone; it gave her such
+intense pleasure as perhaps you cannot understand,
+to see her father sitting beside Mr.
+Smith, talking eagerly, and her mother and Mrs.
+Smith having a good time together, and Jerry
+and Norm interested in each other. "It is exactly
+like other folks!" she said to Jerry, later,
+"and I don't believe either father or Norm will
+go down street to-night." And they didn't.</p>
+
+<p>It was a very happy girl who went over to
+Mrs. Smith's woodhouse chamber to sleep that
+night. She sang softly, while she was getting
+ready for rest; and as often as she looked out
+of the window towards the square room in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>
+next house, she smiled. It looked so much better
+than she had ever hoped to make it; and
+father and Norm had seemed so pleased, and
+they had all spent such a pleasant evening.</p>
+
+<p>Alas for Nettie! All the next day her happiness
+lasted. She sang over her work; she
+charmed the little girls with stories. She made
+an apple pudding for dinner, she baked some
+choice potatoes for supper; but they were not
+eaten, at least only by the little girls. They
+waited until seven o'clock, and half-past seven,
+and eight o'clock for the father and brother who
+did not come. Jerry, who stopped at the door
+and learned of the anxiety, slipped away to try
+to find out what kept them; but he came back
+in a little while with a grave face and shook his
+head. Both had left their shops at the usual
+time; nobody knew what had become of them.
+Jerry could guess, so also could Mrs. Decker.
+The poor woman was too used to it to be very
+much astonished; but Nettie was overwhelmed.
+She ate no supper; she did not sing at all over
+the dishwashing. She watched every step on
+the street, and turned pale at the sound of passing
+voices. She put the little girls to bed, and
+cried over their gay chatter. She coaxed her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>
+sad-faced mother to go to bed at last, and drew
+a long sigh of relief when she went into her bedroom
+and shut the door. It had been so dreadful
+to hear her say: "I told you so; I knew
+just how it would be. They will both come
+staggering home. It's of no use."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie did not believe it. She believed that
+work somewhere was holding them; people
+often had extra work to do, or were sent on
+errands, but she went at last over to the woodhouse
+chamber; it would not do to keep the
+Smiths up longer. Instead of making ready for
+bed, she kneeled down before the little window
+which gave her a view of the next house, and
+watched and waited. They came at last; father
+and son; not together. Norm came first, and
+stumbled, and shuffled, and growled; his voice
+was thick, and the few words she could catch
+had no connection or sense. He had too surely
+been drinking. But he was not so far gone as
+the father. <i>He</i> had to be helped along the
+street by some of his companions; he could not
+hold himself upright while they opened the
+door. And when the gentle wind blew it shut
+again, he swore a succession of oaths which
+made Nettie shudder and bury her face in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>
+hands. But she did not cry. It was the first
+time in her young life that her heart was too
+heavy for tears. She drew great deep sighs as
+she went about, at last, preparing for bed; she
+wished that the tears would come, for the choking
+feeling might be relieved by them; but the
+tears seemed dried. She tossed about on her
+neat little bed, in a sorrow very unlike childhood.
+Poor, disappointed Nettie!</p>
+
+<p>The sun shone brightly the next morning, but
+there was no brightness in the little girl's heart.
+She was early down stairs, and stole away to
+the next house without seeing anybody. Mrs.
+Decker was up, with a face as wan as Nettie's.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she said, in a hopeless tone, "it's all
+over. Did you hear them come in last night?
+Both of 'em. If it had been one at a time, we
+could have stood it better; but both of 'em! I
+<i>did</i> have a little hope, as sure as you live.
+Your pa seemed so different by spells, and
+Norm, he seemed to like you, and to stay at
+home more, and I kind of chirked up and thought
+may be, after all, good times was coming to me;
+but it's all of no use; I've give up; and it seems
+to me it would have been easier to have stayed
+down, than to have crept up, to tumble back.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Not that I'm blaming you, child," she said,
+"you did your best, and you did wonders; and
+I think sometimes, maybe if I had made such
+a brave shift as that in the beginning, things
+wouldn't have got where they have. But I
+didn't, and it's too late now."</p>
+
+<p>Not a word had Nettie to say. It was a sad
+breakfast-time. Mr. Decker shambled down
+late, and had barely time to swallow his coffee
+very hot, and take a piece of bread in his hand,
+for the seven o'clock bells were ringing, and
+punctuality was something that was insisted on
+by his foreman. Norm came later, and ate very
+little breakfast, and looked miserable enough to
+be sent back to bed again. Nettie only saw
+him through a crack in the door; she stayed out
+in the little back yard, pretending to put it
+in order. He made his stay very short, and
+went away without a word to mother or sister;
+and the heavy burden of life went on. Mrs.
+Decker prepared to do the big ironing which
+yesterday she had been glad over, because it
+would give them a chance to have an extra comfort
+added to the table; but which to-day
+seemed of very little importance.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie washed the dishes, and wished she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>
+was at Auntie Marshall's, and tried to plan a
+way for getting there. What was the use of
+staying here? Hadn't she tried her very best
+and failed? didn't the mother say it was harder
+for her than though they hadn't tried at all?</p>
+
+<p>In the course of the morning, Mrs. Smith sent
+in a basket of corn. Sarah Jane brought it.
+"Some folks on a farm that mother ironed for,
+when they lived in town, sent her a great basket
+full; heaps more than we can use, and mother
+said it would be just the thing for your men
+folks; they always like corn, you know."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker took the basket without a smile
+on her face. "Your mother is a very kind
+woman," she said, "the kindest one I ever
+knew; in fact, I haven't known many kind
+people, and that's the truth. She has done all
+she could to help us, but I don't know as we
+can be helped; it seems as though some people
+couldn't."</p>
+
+<p>Sarah Jane went back and told her mother
+that Mrs. Decker seemed dreadful downhearted
+and discouraged; and Mrs. Smith replied with
+a sigh that she didn't know as she wondered at
+it; poor thing! Nettie made the dinner as nice
+as she could. Mr. Decker ate with a relish, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>
+said the corn was good, and he had sometimes
+thought that the bit of ground back of the
+house might be made to raise corn; and Nettie
+brightened a little, and looked over at Norm
+and was just going to say, "Let's have a garden
+next summer," when he spoiled it by
+declaring that he wouldn't slave in a garden for
+anybody. It was hard enough to work ten
+hours a day. Then his father told him that he
+guessed he did not hurt himself with work; and
+he retorted that he guessed they neither of them
+would die with over-work; and his father told
+him to hold his tongue. In short, nothing was
+plainer than that these two were ashamed of
+themselves, and of each other, and were much
+move irritable than they had been for several
+days.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon work was all done, and Nettie
+had just hung up her apron, and wondered
+whether she should offer to iron for awhile, or
+run away to the woodhouse chamber, and write
+to Auntie Marshall, when Jerry appeared in the
+door. She had not seen him since the sorrow
+of the night before had come upon them; Nettie
+thought he avoided coming in, because he
+too was discouraged. Her face flushed when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>
+she heard his step, and she wished something
+would happen so that she need not turn around
+to him. She felt so ashamed of her own people,
+and of his efforts to help them. His voice,
+however, sounded just as usual.</p>
+
+<p>"Through, Nettie? Then come out on the
+back step; I want to talk with you."</p>
+
+<p>"There is no use in talking," she said, sadly.
+But she followed him out, and sat down listlessly
+on the broad low step, which the jog in
+Mr. Smith's house shaded from the afternoon
+sun.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry took no notice of the words if indeed
+he heard them.</p>
+
+<p>"I heard some news this morning," he began.
+"Two of the older boys at the corner, that one
+in Peck's store, you know, and the one next
+door told me that a lot of fellows were going
+off to-night on what he called a lark. They
+have hired a boat, and are going to row across
+to Duck Island, and catch some fish and have a
+supper in that mean little hole which is kept on
+the island; they mean to make an all-night of
+it. I don't know what is to be done next; play
+cards, I suppose; they do, whenever they get
+together, and lots of drinking. It is a dreadful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>
+place. Well, I heard, by a kind of accident,
+that they thought of asking Norm to join 'em.
+At first they said they wouldn't, because he
+wouldn't be likely to have any money to help
+pay the bills; but then they remembered that
+he was a good rower, and thought they would
+get his share out of him in that way; and I
+say, Nettie, let's spoil their plans for them."</p>
+
+<p>"How?" asked Nettie, drearily.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry talked on eagerly. "I have a plan; I
+rented a boat for this afternoon, and was going
+to ask Mrs. Decker to let me take you and the
+chicks for a ride, and I meant to catch some
+fish for our supper; but this will be better. I
+propose to invite Norm and two fellows that he
+goes with some, to go out with me, fishing. I
+have a splendid fishing rig, you know, and I'll
+lend it to them, and help them to have a good
+time, and then if you will plan a kind of treat
+when we get back&mdash;coffee, you know, and fish,
+and bread and butter, we could have a picnic of
+our own and as much fun as they would get
+with that set on the island. I believe Norm
+would go; he is just after a good time, you see,
+and if he gets it in this way, he will like it as
+well, maybe better, than though he spent the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>
+night at it and got the worst of his bargain.
+Anyhow, it is worth trying; if we can save him
+from this night's work it will be worth a good
+deal. Don't you think so?"</p>
+
+<p>Instead of the hearty, "yes, indeed," which
+he expected, Nettie said not a word; and when
+he turned and looked at her, to learn what was
+the matter, her face was red and the tears were
+gathering in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know what has happened?" she
+asked at last. "I thought I heard you in your
+room last night when he came home."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Jerry, speaking gravely, "I was
+up. What of it?"</p>
+
+<p>"What of it? O Jerry!" and here the tears
+which had been choking poor Nettie all day
+had it their own way for a few minutes. She
+had not meant to cry; but she felt at once how
+quickly the tears relieved the lump in her
+throat.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't mean that, exactly," Jerry said, after
+waiting a minute for the sobs to grow less deep,
+"of course it was a great trouble, and I have
+been so sorry for Mrs. Decker all day that I
+wanted to stay away, because I could not think
+of the right thing to say; but it's only another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>
+reason why we should work and plan in all ways
+to get ahead of them and save Norm."</p>
+
+<p>"O Jerry! don't you think it is too late?"</p>
+
+<p>"Too late! What in the world can you
+mean? Has anything happened to-day that I
+haven't heard of? Where is Norm? Has he
+gone away anywhere?"</p>
+
+<p>"O, no," said Nettie, "he has gone to work;
+but I mean&mdash;I meant&mdash;doesn't it all seem to
+you of no use at all? After we worked so hard
+and got everything nice, and he seemed so
+pleased, and stayed at home all the evening and
+talked with us, and then the very next night to
+come home like that!"</p>
+
+<p>Jerry stared in blank astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I understand," he said at last.
+"You did not think that Norm was going to reform
+the very minute you did anything pleasant
+for him, did you?"</p>
+
+<p>"N-no," said Nettie slowly, "I don't suppose
+I did; but it all seemed so dreadful! I expected
+something, I hardly know what, and I
+could not help feeling disappointed and miserable."
+Nettie's face was growing red; she began
+to suspect she might be a very foolish girl.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, that is queer," said Jerry. "Now I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>
+am not disappointed a bit. I am sorry, of
+course, but I expected just that thing. Why,
+Nettie, they go after men sometimes for months
+and years before they get real hold and are
+sure of them. There is a lawyer in New York
+that father says kept three men busy for five
+years trying to save him. They didn't succeed,
+either, but they got him to go to the One who
+could save him. He is a grand man now. Suppose
+they had given up during those five years!"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think it may take five years to get
+hold of Norm?" There were tears in Nettie's
+eyes, but there was a little suggestion of a
+smile on her face, and she waited eagerly for
+Jerry's answer.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I hope not," he said, "but if it
+does, we are not to give him up at the end of
+five years; nor <i>before</i> five years, that is certain."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie wiped the tears away, and smiled outright;
+then sat still in deep thought for several
+minutes. Then she arose, decision and energy
+on her face.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Jerry; I wish you had come in
+this morning. I have been a goose, I guess,
+and I almost spoiled what we tried to do. We'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>
+get up a nice supper if you can get Norm and
+the others to come. I don't believe they will,
+but we can try. We have coffee enough to
+make a nice pot of it, and Mrs. Smith sent us
+some milk out of that pail from the country that
+is almost cream. I will make some baked potato
+balls, they are beautiful with fish; all
+brown, you know; and I was going to make a
+johnny-cake if I could get up interest enough in
+it. I'm interested now, and I shouldn't wonder
+if I staid so," and she blushed and laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," said Jerry, "you must not expect
+things to be done in a minute. Why, even God
+doesn't do things quickly, when he could, as well
+as not. And he doesn't get tired of people,
+either; and that I think is queer. Have you
+ever thought that if you were God, you would
+wipe most all the people out of this world in a
+second, and make some new ones who could behave
+better?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, no," said Nettie, wonderment and bewilderment
+struggling together in her face, this
+strange thought sounded almost wicked to her.
+"Well, I do," said Jerry sturdily; "I have
+often thought of it; I believe almost any <i>man</i>
+would get out of patience with this old world,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>
+full of rum saloons, and gambling saloons and
+tobacco. I think it is such a good thing that
+men don't have the management of it.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what it is, Nettie, we shall have
+a pretty busy afternoon if we carry out our
+plans, won't we? Suppose you go and talk the
+thing up with your mother, and I will go and
+see what Norm says. Or, hold on, suppose we
+go together and call on him; I'll ask him to go
+fishing, and you ask him to bring his friends
+home to eat the fish. How would that do?"</p>
+
+<p>It was finally agreed that that would do
+beautifully, and Jerry went to see whether his
+long flat stick fitted, while Nettie ran to her
+mother. Mrs. Decker was ironing, her worn
+face looking older and more worn, Nettie
+thought, than she had ever seen it before.
+Poor mother! Why had not she helped her to
+bear her heavy burden, instead of almost sulking
+over failure?</p>
+
+<p>"O, mother," she began, "Jerry has a plan,
+and we want to know what you think of it; he
+has heard of things that are to be done this
+evening." And she hurried through the story
+of the intended frolic on the island, and the fishing
+party that was, if possible, to be pushed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>
+ahead. Mrs. Decker listened in silence, and at
+first with an uninterested face; presently, when
+she took in the largeness of the plan, she stayed
+her iron long enough to look up and say:</p>
+
+<p>"What's the use, child? I thought you and
+Jerry had given up."</p>
+
+<p>"O, mother," and the cheeks were rosy red
+now, "I'm ashamed that I felt so discouraged;
+Jerry isn't at all; and he thinks it is the strangest
+thing that I should have been! He says they
+have to work for years, sometimes, to get hold
+of people. He knew a man that they kept working
+after for five years, and now he is a grand
+man. He says we must hold on to Norm if it
+is five years, though I don't believe it will be.
+I'm going to begin over again, mother, and not
+get discouraged at anything. It is true, as Jerry
+says, that we can't expect Norm to reform all
+in a minute. He says the boys that Norm goes
+with the most are not bad fellows, only they
+haven't any homes, and they keep getting into
+mischief, because they have nowhere to go to
+have any pleasant times. Don't you think Norm
+would like it to have them asked home with him
+to supper, and show them how to have a real
+good time? Jerry says the two boys that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>
+means board at a horrid place, where they have
+old bread and weak tea for supper, and where
+people are smoking and drinking in the back end
+of the room while they are eating. I am sure I
+don't know as it is any wonder that they go to
+the saloons sometimes."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker still held her iron poised in air,
+on her face a look that was worth studying.
+"Norm hasn't ever had a decent place to ask
+anybody to, nor a decent time of any kind since
+he was old enough to care much about it," she
+said slowly. "I thought I had done about my
+best, but it may be I'll find myself mistaken.
+Well, child, let's try it, for mercy's sake, or anything
+else that that boy thinks of. You and him
+together are the only ones that's done any thinking
+for Norm in years; and if I don't go half-way
+and more too for anybody that wants to do
+anything, it will be a wonder."</p>
+
+<p>In a very few minutes Nettie was in her neat
+street dress, and the two were walking down the
+shady side of the main street, toward Norm's
+shop. They passed Lorena Barstow, and though
+Jerry, without thinking, took off his cap to her,
+she tossed her head and looked the other way.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry laughed. "I did not know she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>
+so nearsighted as all that, did you?" he asked,
+and then continued the sentence which the sight
+of her had interrupted. Nettie could not laugh;
+she was sore over the thought that she had so
+spoiled Jerry's life for him that his old acquaintances
+would not bow to him on the street.</p>
+
+<p>Norm was at work, and worked with energy;
+they stood and looked at him through the window
+for a few minutes. "He works fast," said
+Jerry, "and he works as though he would rather
+do it than not; Mr. Smith says there isn't a lazy
+streak in him. He ought to make a smart man,
+Nettie; and I shouldn't wonder if he would."</p>
+
+<p>Then they went in. To say that Norm was
+astonished at sight of them, would be to tell only
+half the story. He stood in doubt what to say,
+but Jerry was equal to the occasion; nothing
+could have been more matter-of-course than the
+way in which he told about his plans for going
+fishing, declaring that the afternoon was prime
+for such work, and that he was tired of going
+alone. "Wouldn't Norm and his two friends go
+too?" Now a ride in a boat was something that
+Norm rarely had. In the first place, boats cost
+money, and in the second place they took time.
+To be sure, after working hours, there was time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>
+enough for rowing, but boats were sure to be
+scarce then, even if money had been plenty.</p>
+
+<p>Norm wiped his face with a corner of his work-apron,
+and admitted that he would like to go,
+first-rate, but did not know as he could get away.
+They were not over busy it was true, neither
+was the foreman troubled with good nature; he
+would be next to certain to say no, if Norm
+asked to be let off at five o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's try him," said Jerry, and he walked
+boldly to the other side of the room where the
+foreman stood.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XI.<br />
+
+<small>A COMPLETE SUCCESS.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>THIS man was a friend of Jerry's; it was
+only two weeks ago that he had done him
+a good turn, in finding and bringing home his
+stray cow. He was perfectly good-natured, and
+found no fault at all with Norm's leaving the
+shop at five; in fact he said he was glad to
+have the boy leave in such good company.</div>
+
+<p>"Would the others go?" Nettie questioned
+eagerly, and Norm, laughing, said he reckoned
+they would go quick enough if they got a
+chance; invitations to take boat rides were not
+so plenty that they could afford to lose them.</p>
+
+<p>Then was time for Nettie's great surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"And, Norm, will you bring them all home
+to supper with you? I'll have everything ready
+to cook the fish in a hurry as soon as you get
+into the house, and you can visit in the new
+room until they are ready."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Now indeed, I wish you could have seen
+Norm! It never happened to him before to have
+a chance to invite anybody home to supper with
+him. He looked at Nettie in silent bewilderment
+for a minute; he even rubbed his eyes as
+though possibly he might be dreaming; but she
+looked so real and so trim, and so sure of herself
+standing there quietly waiting his answer, that
+at last he stammered out:</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean, Nannie? You aren't in
+dead earnest?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course," said Nettie, deciding in a
+flash upon her plan of action; she would do as
+Jerry had, and take all this as a matter of course.
+"I'm going to make a lovely johnny-cake for
+supper, and some new-fashioned potatoes, and we
+have cream for the coffee. You shall have an
+elegant supper; only be sure you catch lots of
+fish."</p>
+
+<p>It was all arranged at last to their satisfaction,
+and the two conspirators turned away to
+get ready for their part of the business.</p>
+
+<p>"Norm liked it," said Jerry. "Couldn't you
+see by his face that he did? I believe we can
+get hold of him after awhile, by doing things of
+this kind; things that make him remember he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>
+has a home, and pleasant times, like other boys."</p>
+
+<p>If Jerry had waited fifteen minutes he might
+have been surer of that even than he was.
+Norm's second invitation followed hard on the
+first; and Norm, who felt a little sore over certain
+meannesses of the night before, and who
+knew his foreman was within hearing and would
+be sure to object to this young fellow who had
+come to ask him to go to the island, answered
+loftily: "Can't do it; I've promised to go out
+fishing with a party; and besides, our folks are
+going to have company to tea."</p>
+
+<p>Company to tea! He almost laughed when
+he said it. How very strange the sentence
+sounded.</p>
+
+<p>"O, indeed," said Jim Noxen from the saloon.
+"Seems to me you are getting big."</p>
+
+<p>"It sounds like it," said Norman. "I wonder
+if I am?" But this he said to himself; for
+answer to the remark, he only laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"If I had a chance to keep company with a
+young fellow like Jerry, and a trim little woman
+like that sister of yours, I guess I wouldn't often
+be found with the other set."</p>
+
+<p>This the foreman said, with a significant nod
+of his head toward the young fellow who represented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>
+the other set. And this, too, had its
+influence.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry and Nettie had a glimpse of one of
+Norm's friends as they passed his shop on their
+homeward way.</p>
+
+<p>"He has a good face," said Nettie. "Poor
+fellow! Hasn't he any home at all? Don't
+you wish we could get hold of him so close that
+he would help us? He looks as though he might."</p>
+
+<p>Then she stepped into the boat and floated
+idly around, while Jerry ran for the oars; and
+while she floated, she thought and planned.
+There was a great deal to be done, both then
+and afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you could go with us and catch a fish,"
+said Jerry, as he saw how she enjoyed the water,
+"but maybe it wouldn't be just the thing."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it wouldn't," said Nettie; "besides,
+who would make the johnny-cake, and the potato
+balls? There is a great deal to be done to
+make things match, when you are catching fish."</p>
+
+<p>The fishing party was a complete success.
+Jerry said afterwards that the very fish acted as
+though they were in the secret and were bound
+to help. He had never seen them bite so readily.
+By seven o'clock, the boat was headed homeward,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>
+with more fish than even four hungry boys
+could possibly eat.</p>
+
+<p>"Now for supper," said Norm, who with secret
+delight had thought constantly of the surprise
+in store for Alf and Rick. "Boys, I'm
+going to take you home with me and show you
+what a prime cook my little sister is. We'll
+have these fish sizzling in a pan quicker than
+you have any notion of; and she knows how to
+sizzle them just right; doesn't she, Jerry?"</p>
+
+<p>But Jerry was spared the trouble of a reply,
+for Alf with incredulous stare said, "You're
+gassing now."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'm not gassing. You can come home
+with me, honor bright, and you shall have such
+a supper as would make old Ma'am Turner
+wild."</p>
+
+<p>Old Ma'am Turner, poor soul, was the woman
+who kept the wretched boarding house where
+these homeless boys boarded, and she really did
+know how to make things taste a little worse,
+probably, than any one you know of.</p>
+
+<p>"What'll your mother say to your bringing
+folks home to supper?" questioned Rick, looking
+as incredulous as his friend. "She'll give
+us a hint of broomstick, I reckon, if we try it."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Norm, unconcernedly, dipping
+the oar into the water, "try it and see, if you
+are a mind to, that's all I've got to say. I ain't
+going to force you to eat fish; but I promise
+you a first-class meal of them if you choose to
+come."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! we'll go," said Alf, with a giggle; "if
+we are broomed out the next second, we'll try
+it, just to see what will come of it. Things is
+queerer in this world than folks think, often;
+now I didn't believe a word of it, when you said
+we was going out in a boat to-night; I thought
+it was some of your nonsense; and here the little
+fellow has treated us prime."</p>
+
+<p>The "little fellow" was Jerry, who smiled
+and nodded in honor of his compliment, but
+said nothing; he resolved to let Norm do the
+honors alone.</p>
+
+<p>They went with long strides to the Decker
+home, Jerry waiting to fasten the boat and pay
+his bill. Each boy carried a fine string of fish
+of his own catching; and appeared at the back
+door just as Nettie came out to look.</p>
+
+<p>"O, what beauties!" she said, gleefully;
+"and such a nice lot of them! I'm all ready
+and waiting. You go in, Norm, with your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>
+friends, and we'll have them cooking as soon as
+we can."</p>
+
+<p>"Not much," said Norm, coming around to
+the board which she had evidently gotten ready
+for cleaning the fish, and diving his hand in his
+pocket in search of his jack-knife. "Let's fall
+to, boys, and clean these fellows. I know how,
+and I think likely you do, and they'll taste the
+better, like enough."</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," said Rick Walker, who owned the
+face that Nettie had decided was a good one.
+"I'm agreeable; I know how to clean fish as
+well as the next one; used to do it for mother,
+when I was a little shaver."</p>
+
+<p>Did the sentence end in a sigh, or did Nettie
+imagine it? All three went to work with strong
+skilful hands, and Nettie hopped back and forth
+bringing fresh water, and fresh plates, and feeling
+in her secret heart very grateful to the boys
+for doing this, which she had dreaded.</p>
+
+<p>They were all done in a very short time, and
+each boy in turn had washed his hands in the
+basin which shone, and then, the shining, or the
+smoothness and beautiful cleanness of the great
+brown towel, or something, prompted Rick to
+take fresh water and dip his brown face into it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>
+and toss the water about like a great Newfoundland
+dog.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare, that feels good!" he said. "Try
+it, Alf." And Alf tried it.</p>
+
+<p>Then Norm led the way to the new room. It
+would have done Nettie's heart good if she had
+known how many times he had thought of that
+room during the last hour. He knew it would
+be a surprise to the boys. They had never seen
+anything but the Decker kitchen, and not much
+of that, standing at the door to wait a minute
+for Norm, but the few glimpses they had had of
+it, had not led them to suppose that there was
+any such place in the house as this in which he
+was now going to usher them. Their surprise
+was equal to the occasion. They stopped in the
+doorway, and looked around upon the prettiness,
+the bright carpet, the delicate curtains, the gay
+chairs! nothing like this was to be found at
+Ma'am Turner's, nor in any other room with
+which they were familiar.</p>
+
+<p>"Whew!" said Rick, closing the word with
+a shrill whistle; "I think as much!" said Alf.
+"Who'd have dreamed it. I say, Norm, you're
+a sly one; why didn't you ever let on that you
+had this kind of thing?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>How they entertained one another during
+that next hour, Nettie did not know. Eyes and
+brain were occupied in the kitchen. Jerry
+came, presently, but reported that they were
+getting on all right in the front room, and he
+believed he could do better service in the kitchen;
+so he set the table with a delicate regard for
+nicety which Nettie had been taught at Auntie
+Marshall's, and which she knew he had not
+learned at Mrs. Job Smith's. Sarah Jane was
+rigidly clean, but never what Nettie called
+"nice."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll take the table in the front room," decreed
+Nettie as she surveyed it thoughtfully for
+a few minutes. "It is very warm out here, and
+they will like it better to be quite alone; we can
+put all the dishes on, with the leaves down, and
+set them in their places in a twinkling, after we
+have lifted it in there. Won't that be the way,
+mother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Land!" said Mrs. Decker, withdrawing her
+head from the oven, whither it had gone to see
+after the new-fashioned potato balls, "I should
+think they could eat out here; you may depend
+they never saw so clean a kitchen at old Ma'am
+Turner's. But it is hot here, and no mistake;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>
+and I should not know what to do with myself
+while they was eating. Please yourself, child,
+and then I'll be pleased. I'm going to save one
+of these potatoes for your pa; I never see
+anything in my life look prettier than they do."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker's tones told much plainer than
+her words, that she liked Nettie's idea of putting
+the table in the front room for Norm's company.
+She would not have owned it, but her
+mother-heart was glad over a "fuss" being
+made for her Norm.</p>
+
+<p>So the table went in; Jerry at one end, and
+Nettie at the other. They hushed a loud laugh
+by their entrance, but Jerry went immediately
+over to Rick Walker to show a new-fashioned
+knife, and Nettie's fingers flew over the table,
+so by the time the knife had been exhausted, she
+was ready to vanish.</p>
+
+<p>Confess now that you would like to have had
+a seat at that table when it was ready. A platter
+of smoking fish, done to the nicest brown,
+without drying or burning; a bowl of lovely
+little brown balls, each of them about the size of
+an egg, a plate of very light and puffy-looking
+Johnny-cake, and to crown all, coffee that filled
+the room with such an aroma as Ma'am Turner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>
+perhaps dreamed of, but never certainly in these
+days smelled. Mrs. Job Smith at the last minute
+had sent in a pat of genuine country butter,
+and Sate had flown to the grocery for a piece
+of ice with which to keep it in countenance.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry set the chairs, and Nettie poured the
+coffee, and creamed and sugared it, and then
+slipped away.</p>
+
+<p>She knew by the looks on the faces of the
+guests, that they were astonished beyond words,
+and she knew that Norm was both astonished
+and pleased. There was another supper being
+made ready in the kitchen. Mrs. Decker had
+herself tugged in the box which had been lately
+set up as a washbench, and spread the largest
+towel over it, and was serving three lovely fish,
+and a bowl of potato balls for "Decker" and herself.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I'm going to have company too," she
+said to Nettie, her face beaming. "Your pa has
+gone to wash up, and I thought seeing there was
+only two chairs, and two plates left, you wouldn't
+mind having him and me sit down together, for
+a meal, first."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I do mind," said Nettie; "I think it is
+a lovely plan; I'm so glad you thought of it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>
+and Jerry and I will keep watch that they have
+everything in the other room, while you eat."
+If you are wondering in your hearts where those
+important beings, Sate and Susie, were at this
+moment, I should have told you before, that
+Sarah Jane had a brilliant thought, but an hour
+before, and carried them out to tea. So all the
+Decker family were visiting that evening, save
+Nettie, and I think perhaps she was the happiest
+among them all. Every time she heard a
+burst of fresh fun from the front room, she
+laughed, too; it was so nice to think that Norm
+was having a good time in his own home, and
+nothing to worry over.</p>
+
+<p>It is almost a pity that, for her encouragement,
+she could not have heard some of the conversation
+in that room.</p>
+
+<p>"I say, Norm," said his friend Alf, his tones
+muffled by reason of a large piece of johnny-cake,
+"what an awful sly fellow you are! You
+never let on that you had these kind of doings
+in your house. Who'd have thought that you
+had a stunning room like this for folks, and potatoes
+done up in brown satin, to eat, and coffee
+such as they get up at the hotels! It beats all
+creation!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's so," said Rick, taking in a quarter of
+a fish at one mouthful, "I never dreamed of such
+a thing; what beats me, is, why a fellow who
+has such nice doings at home, wants to loaf
+around, and spend evenings at Beck's, or at
+Steen's. Hang me if I don't think the contrast
+a little too great. 'Pears to me if I had this
+kind of thing, I should like to enjoy it oftener
+than Norm seems to."</p>
+
+<p>Norman smiled loftily on them. Do you
+think he was going to own that "this kind of
+thing" had never been enjoyed in his home before,
+during all the years of his recollection?
+Not he; he only said that folks liked a change
+once in awhile, of course, and he only laughed
+when Rick and Alf both declared that if they
+knew themselves, and they thought they did,
+they would be content never to change back
+from this kind of thing to Ma'am Turner's supper
+table so long as they lived.</p>
+
+<p>How those boys did eat! Nettie owned to
+herself that she was astonished; and privately
+rejoiced that she had made four johnny-cakes
+instead of three, though it had seemed almost
+extravagant until she remembered that it would
+warm up nicely for breakfast. Not a crumb<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>
+would there be for breakfast. She had one regret
+and she told it to Jerry as she went out to
+him on the back stoop, having poured the third
+cup of coffee around, for the three in the front
+room.</p>
+
+<p>"Jerry, I am just afraid there won't be a
+speck of johnny-cake left for you to taste.
+Those boys do eat so!"</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," laughed Jerry. "We will eat
+the tail of a fish, if any of them have a tail left,
+and rejoice over our success; this thing is going
+to work, I believe, if we can keep it going."</p>
+
+<p>"That's the trouble," said Nettie, an anxious
+look in her eyes. "How can we? Fish won't do
+every time; and there are no other things that
+you can catch. Besides, even this has cost a
+great deal. I paid eight cents for lard to fry
+the fish, and the butter and milk and things
+would have cost as much as fifteen cents certainly.
+Mrs. Smith furnished them this time,
+but of course such things won't happen again."</p>
+
+<p>"A great many things happen," said Jerry,
+wisely. "More than you can calculate on.
+'Never cross a bridge until you come to it, my
+boy.' Didn't I tell you that was what my father
+was always saying to me? I have found it a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>
+good plan, too, to follow his advice. Many a
+time I've worried over troubles that never came.
+Look here, don't you believe that if we are to do
+this thing and good is to come from it, we shall
+be able to manage it somehow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, y-e-s," said Nettie, slowly, as though
+she were waiting to see whether her faith could
+climb so high; "I suppose that is so."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if good isn't going to come of it, do
+we want to do it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then," with a little laugh. "What
+are we talking about?" And Nettie laughed,
+and ran in to give her father his last cup of coffee,
+and to hear him say that he hadn't had so
+good a meal in six years.</p>
+
+<p>It was a curious fact that Susie and Sate were
+the chief movers in the next thing that these
+young Fishers did to interest the particular
+fish whom they were after.</p>
+
+<p>It began the next Sabbath morning in Sabbath-school.
+There, the little girls heard with
+deep interest that on the following Sabbath
+there was to be a service especially for the children.
+A special feature of the day was to be
+the decoration of the church with flowers, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>
+the children were to bring on the previous Saturday.
+Susie and Sate promised with the rest,
+that they would bring flowers. Promised in the
+confident expectation of childhood that some
+way they could join the others and do as they
+did; though both little girls knew that not a
+flower grew in or about them. During the
+early part of the week they forgot it, but on
+Saturday morning they stood in the little front
+yard and saw a sight which recalled all the delights
+of the coming Sunday in which they
+seemed to be having no share. The little girls
+from the Orphanage on the hill were bringing
+their treasures. Even fat little Karl who was
+only five, had a potted plant in full bloom, which
+he was proudly carrying. Little Dutch Maggie,
+in her queer long apron, carried a plant with
+lovely satiny leaves which were prettier than
+any bloom, and behind her was Robert the
+Scotch gardener with his arms full; then young
+Rob Severn, Miss Wheeler's nephew, had a lovely
+fuchsia just aglow with blossoms, and Miss
+Wheeler herself, who was the matron at the Orphanage,
+was carrying a choice plant. All these
+the hungry eyes of Sate and Susie took in, as
+the procession passed the house, then they ran<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>
+wailing to Nettie who had already become the
+long suffering person to whom they must pour
+out their woes.</p>
+
+<p>"We promised, we did," explained Sate, her
+earnest eyes fixed on Nettie, while her arms
+clasped that young lady just as she was in the
+act of throwing out her dishwater. "We did
+promise, and they will 'spect them, and they
+won't be there."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but, darling, what made you promise,
+when you knew we had no flowers? Mrs. Smith
+would give you some in a minute if hers were in
+bloom. Why didn't they wait a little later, I
+wonder? Then Mrs. Smith could have given
+us such lovely china-asters."</p>
+
+<p>"We must have some to-morrow," said the
+emphatic Susie, and she fastened her black eyes
+on Nettie in a way that said: "Now you understand
+what must be, I hope you will at once set
+about bringing it to pass."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie could not help laughing. "If you were
+a fairy queen," she said, "and could wave your
+wand and say, 'Flowers, bloom,' and they would
+obey you, we should certainly have some; as it
+is, I don't quite see how they are to be had. We
+have no friends to ask."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I can't help it," said Susie, positively, "we
+<i>promised</i> to bring some, and of course we must.
+You said, Nettie Decker, that we must always
+keep our promises."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Miss Nettie Decker, you are condemned!"
+said Jerry, with grave face but laughing
+eyes; "something must evidently be done
+about this business. Dandelions are gone, except
+the whiteheads, and they would blow away
+before they got themselves settled in church, I
+am afraid. Hold on, I have a thought, just a
+splendid one if can manage it; wait a bit,
+Susie, and we will see what we can do."</p>
+
+<p>Susie, who was beginning to have full faith in
+this wise friend of theirs, told Sate in confidence
+that they were going to have some flowers to
+take to church, as well as the rest of them; she
+did not know what Jerry was going to make
+them out of, but she knew he would <i>make</i> some.</p>
+
+<p>After that, Jerry was not seen again for several
+hours. In fact it was just as the dinner
+dishes were washed, that he appeared with a
+triumphant face. "Have you made some?"
+asked Sate, springing up from her dolly and going
+toward him expectantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Made some what, Curly?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Flowers," said Sate, gravely. "Susie said
+she knew you would."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry laughed. "Susie has boundless faith in
+impossibilities," he said. "No, I haven't made
+the flowers, but I have the boat. That old
+thing that leaked so, you know, Nettie; well,
+I've put it in prime order, and got permission
+to use it, and if you and the chicks will come,
+we will sail away to where they make flowers,
+and pick all we want; unless some wicked fairy
+has whispered my bright thought to somebody
+else, and I don't believe it, for I have seen no
+one out on the pond to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Then Sate, her eyes very large, went in search
+of Susie to tell her that this wonderful boy had
+come to take them where flowers were made,
+and to let them gather for themselves.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose it is heaven," said Sate, gravely,
+"because the real truly flowers, you know, God
+makes, and he has his things all up in heaven to
+work with, I guess."</p>
+
+<p>"What a little goosie you are!" said Susie,
+curling her wise lip; "as if Jerry Mack could
+take us to heaven!"</p>
+
+<p>However, she went at once to see about it,
+and was almost as much astonished to think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>
+that they were really going out in a boat, as she
+would have been if they were going to heaven.
+"I s'pose it's safe?" said Mrs. Decker doubtfully,
+watching the light in the little girls' eyes, and
+remembering how few pleasures had been offered
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"O, yes'm," said Jerry, "as safe as the road.
+I could row a boat, ma'am, very well indeed,
+father said, when I was six years old; and you
+couldn't coax that clumsy old thing to tip over,
+if you wanted it to; and if it should, the water
+isn't up to my waist anywhere in the pond."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker laughed, and said it sounded
+safe enough; and went back to her ironing, and
+the four happy people sailed away. If not to
+where the pond lilies were made, at least to where
+they grew in all their wild sweet beauty.</p>
+
+<p>"How very strange," said Nettie, as they
+leaned over the great rude, flat-bottomed boat
+and pulled the beauties in; "how very strange
+that no one has gathered these for to-morrow.
+Why, nothing could be more lovely!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Jerry, "only a few people row
+this way, because it isn't the pleasantest part of
+the pond, you know, for rowing; and I guess
+no one has remembered that the lilies were out;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>
+there don't many people, only fishermen, go out
+on this pond, you know, because the boats are
+so ugly; and fishermen don't care for flowers, I
+guess. Anyhow, they haven't been here, for
+the buds are all on hand, just as I thought they
+would be by this time, when I was here on Tuesday.
+But I never thought of the church; so
+you see how little thinking is done."</p>
+
+<p>Well, they gathered great loads of the beauties,
+and rowed home in triumph, and put the
+lilies in a tub of water, and sat down to consider
+how best to arrange them. It was curious that
+Mrs. Job Smith should have been the next one
+with an idea.</p>
+
+<p>"I should think," she said, standing in the
+doorway of her kitchen, her hands on her sides,
+"I should think a great big salver of them laid
+around in their own leaves, would be the prettiest
+thing in the world."</p>
+
+<p>"So it would," said Nettie, "the very thing,
+if we only had the salver."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I've got that. Mrs. Sims, she gave
+me an old battered and bruised one, when they
+were moving. It is big enough to put all the
+cups and saucers on in town, almost; when I
+lugged it home, Job, he wanted to know what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>
+on <i>earth</i> I wanted of that, and says I, I don't
+know, but she give it to me, and most everything
+in this world comes good, if you keep it
+long enough. Sarah Ann, you run up to the
+corner in the back garret and get that thing, and
+see what they'll make of it."</p>
+
+<p>So Sarah Ann ran.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XII.<br />
+
+<small>AN UNEXPECTED HELPER.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>PERHAPS you do not see how the pond
+lilies, lovely as they were, arranged on
+that salver, helped Jerry and Nettie in their
+plans for Norm and his friends. But there is
+another part to that story.</div>
+
+<p>After the salver had been filled with sand,
+and covered with moss, and soaked until it
+would absorb no more water, and the lilies
+had been laid in so thickly that they looked
+like a great white bank of bloom, the whole
+was lovely, as I said, but heavy. The walk to
+the church was long, and Nettie, thinking of it,
+surveyed her finished work with a grave face.
+How was it ever to be gotten to the church?
+She tried to lift one end of it, and shook her
+head. There was no hope that she could even
+<i>help</i> carry it for so long a distance. Mrs. Smith
+saw the trouble in her eyes, and guessed at its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>
+cause. "It is an awful heavy thing, that's a
+fact," she said, "hefting" it in her strong arms;
+"I don't know how you are going to manage it;
+Sarah Jane would help in a minute, but there's
+her back; she ain't got no back to speak of, Sarah
+Jane hasn't. And there's Job, he ain't at home;
+he went this morning before it was light, away
+over the other side of the clip hill with a load,
+and the last words he says to me was: 'Don't
+you be scairt if I don't get round very early;
+them roads over there is dreadful heavy, and I
+shall have to rest the team in the heat of the
+day,' and like enough he won't get back till nigh
+ten o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>Certainly no help could be expected from the
+Smith family. "We shall have to take some
+of the sand out," said Nettie, surveying the
+mound regretfully; "I'm real sorry; it does
+look so pretty heaped up! but Jerry can never
+carry it away down there alone."</p>
+
+<p>Then came Jerry's bright idea. "I'll get
+Norman to help me."</p>
+
+<p>"Norm!" said Nettie, stopping astonished in
+the very act of picking out some of the lilies. It
+had not once occurred to her that Norm could be
+asked to go to the church on an errand. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>
+couldn't have told why, but Norm and the
+church seemed too far apart to have anything
+in common.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Jerry, positively. "Why not?
+I know he'll help; and he and I can carry it
+like a daisy. Don't take out one of them,
+Nettie. I know you will spoil it if you touch
+it again; it is just perfect. Halloo, Norm,
+come this way."</p>
+
+<p>Sure enough at that moment Norm appeared
+from the attic where he slept; he had washed
+his face and combed his hair, and made himself
+as decent looking as he could, and was starting
+for somewhere; and Nettie remembered with a
+sinking heart that it was Saturday night;
+Norm's worst night except Sunday.</p>
+
+<p>He stopped at Jerry's call, and stood waiting.</p>
+
+<p>"You are just the individual I wanted to see
+at this moment," said Jerry with a confident
+air. "This meadow here has got to be dug up
+and carried bodily down to the church; and it is
+as heavy as though its roots were struck deep in
+the soil. Will you shoulder an end with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"To the church!" repeated Norm with an
+incredulous stare. "What do they want of that
+thing at the church?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They are our flowers," said Sate with a positive
+little nod of her head. "We promised to
+bring them, and they are so big and heavy we
+can't. Will you help?"</p>
+
+<p>Now Norm had really a very warm feeling in
+his heart for this small sister; Susie he considered
+a nuisance, and a vixen, but Sate with her
+slow sweet voice, and shy ways, had several
+times slipped behind his chair to escape a slap
+from her angry father, thus appealing to his
+protection, and once when he lifted her over the
+fence, she kissed him; he was rather willing to
+please Sate. Then there was Jerry who was a
+good fellow as ever lived, and Nettie who was
+a prime girl; why shouldn't he help tote the
+thing down to the church if that was what they
+wanted? To be sure he wanted to go in the
+other direction, and the fellows would be waiting,
+he supposed; but he could go there, afterwards,
+let them wait until he came.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he said at last, "come on, I'll help;
+though what they want of all this rubbish at
+the church is more than I can imagine." And
+Nettie and the little girls stood with satisfied
+faces watching the two move off under their
+heavy burden. It was something to have Norm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>
+go to church if it was only to carry flowers.</p>
+
+<p>Arrived at the door, Norm was seized with a
+fit of shyness; the doors were thrown wide
+open, and ladies and children were flitting about,
+and many tongues were going, and flowers and
+vines were being festooned around the gas
+lights, and the pillars, and wherever there was
+a spot for them.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on," said Norm, jerking back, thus
+putting the great salver in eminent peril, "I
+ain't going in there; all the village is there; you
+better pitch this rubbish out, they've got flowers
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>"There isn't a lily among them," said Jerry.
+"And besides they have to go in, anyhow, we
+can't afford to disappoint Sate. Come on, Norm,
+I can't carry the thing alone, any more than I
+could the stove; it is unaccountably heavy."</p>
+
+<p>This was true, but Jerry was very glad that
+it was. He had his reasons for wanting to get
+Norm down the aisle to the front of the pulpit.
+With very reluctant feet Norm followed, bearing
+his share of the burden, his face flushing
+over the exclamations with which they were at
+last greeted.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, oh! pond lilies! I did not know there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>
+were any this year. Where did you get them?
+Girls, look! Did you ever see anything more
+lovely?" And a group of faces were gathered
+about the tray, and one brown head went down
+among the lilies and caressed them.</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you get them?" she repeated; "I
+asked my cousin if there were any about here,
+and she said she thought not; and last night
+when I was out on the pond I looked and could
+not find any."</p>
+
+<p>"They hide," said Jerry. "The only place
+on the pond where they can be found is down
+behind the old mill; and most people don't go
+there at all, because the channel is so narrow,
+and the water so shallow."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we are so glad you brought them!
+Girls, aren't they too lovely for anything? Who
+arranged them?"</p>
+
+<p>"My sister," said Norm, to whom Jerry
+promptly turned with an air which said as
+plainly as words could have done: "You are
+the one to answer; she belongs to you."</p>
+
+<p>"And who is that?" asked the owner of the
+pretty brown head, as she made way for them
+to pass to the table with their burden. "I am
+sure I would like to know her; for she certainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>
+knows how to put flowers into lovely shapes."</p>
+
+<p>Then came from behind the desk a man
+whom Jerry knew and whom he had seen while
+he stood at the door. "Good evening, Jerry,"
+he said, holding out his hand in a cordial way.
+"What a wonderful bank of beauty you have
+brought! Introduce me to your helper, please."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Sherrill, Mr. Norman Decker," said
+Jerry, exactly as though he had been used to
+introducing people all his life; and Norm, his
+face very red, knew that he was shaking hands
+with the new minister. A very cordial hand-shake,
+certainly, and then the minister turning
+to her of the brown head, said, "Eva, come here;
+let me introduce you to Mr. Norman Decker.
+My sister, Mr. Decker."</p>
+
+<p>Norm, hardly knowing what he was about,
+contrived another bow, and then Miss Eva said,
+"Decker, why, that is the name of my two little
+darlings about whom I have been telling you
+for two Sabbaths. Are they your little sisters,
+Mr. Decker? Little Sate and Susie?" And as
+Norm managed to nod an answer, she continued:
+"They have stolen my heart utterly; that little
+Sate is the dearest little thing. By the way, I
+wonder if these are her flowers? She promised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>
+me she would certainly get some; she said they
+had none in their garden, but God would make
+some grow for her somewhere she guessed."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm," said Jerry, seeing that Norm would
+not speak, "they are her flowers, hers and
+Susie's, they coaxed us to go for them."</p>
+
+<p>"Decker," said the minister, suddenly, "you
+are pretty tall, I wonder if you are not just the
+one to help me get this wreath fastened back of
+the pulpit? I have been working at it for some
+time, and failed for the want of an arm long
+enough and strong enough to help me." And
+the two disappeared behind the desk up the
+pulpit stairs to the immense satisfaction of Jerry.
+The ladies went on with their work; Miss
+Eva calling to him to help her move the table,
+and then to help arrange the salver on it, and
+then to bring more vines from the lecture room
+to cover the base of the floral cross; and indeed,
+before they knew it, both Jerry and Norm were
+in the thick of the engagement; Jerry flitting
+hither and thither at the call of the girls, and
+Norm following the minister from point to
+point, and using his long limbs to good advantage.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he said, wiping his face with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>
+coat sleeve, as, more than an hour after their
+entrance, he and Jerry made their way down
+the churchyard walk, "that is the greatest snarl
+I ever got into. How that fellow can work!
+But he would never have got them things up in
+the world, if I had not been there to help him."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Jerry "I don't believe he would.
+How glad they were to get the lilies! They do
+look prettier than anything there. I did not
+know who that lady was who taught the little
+folks. She has only been there a few weeks.
+She is pretty, isn't she?"</p>
+
+<p>"I s'pose so," said Norm, "her voice is, anyhow.
+They say she's a singer. I heard the
+fellows down at the corner talking about her
+one night; Dick Welsh says she can mimic a
+bird so you couldn't tell which was which. I
+wouldn't mind hearing her sing. I like good
+singing."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose they will have her sing in the
+church," said Jerry in a significant tone. But
+to this, Norm made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"What was it Mr. Sherrill wanted of you
+just as we were coming out?" asked Jerry,
+after reflecting whether he had better ask the
+question or not.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Wanted me to come and see how the things
+looked in the daytime," said Norm with an
+awkward laugh that ended in a half sneer;
+"I'll be likely to I think!"</p>
+
+<p>"Going up home, I s'pose?" said Jerry, trying
+to speak indifferently, and slipping his hand
+through Norm's arm as they reached the corner,
+and Norm half halted.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I suppose I might as well," Norm
+said, allowing himself to be drawn on by never
+so slight a pressure from Jerry's arm. "I was
+going down street, and the boys were to wait
+for me; but they have never waited all this
+while; it must be considerable after nine
+o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Jerry, "it is." And they went
+home.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie, sitting on the doorstep, waiting, will
+never forget that night, nor the sinking of
+heart with which she waited. Her father had
+been kept at home, first by his employer who
+came to give directions about work to be attended
+to the first thing on Monday morning,
+and then by Job Smith getting home before he
+was expected and asking a little friendly help
+with the load he brought; and he had at last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>
+decided that it was too late to go out again, and
+had gone to bed. Mrs. Decker in her kitchen,
+hovered between the door and the window,
+peering out into the lovely night, saying nothing,
+but her heart throbbing so with anxiety
+about her boy that she could not lay her tired
+body away. Mrs. Job Smith in her kitchen,
+looked from her door and then her window,
+many misgivings in her heart; if that bad boy
+Norm should lead her good boy Jerry into mischief
+what should she say to his father? How
+could she ever forgive herself for having encouraged
+the intimacy between him and the
+Deckers?</p>
+
+<p>Presently, far down the quiet street came the
+sound of cheery whistling; Nettie knew the
+voice: nothing so very bad could have happened
+when Jerry was whistling like that; or was he
+perhaps doing it to keep his courage up? The
+whistle turned the corner, and in the dim starlight
+she could distinguish two figures; they
+came on briskly, Jerry and Norm. "A nice job
+you set us at," began Jerry, gayly, "we have
+just this minute got through; and here it is
+toward morning somewhere, isn't it?" Then
+all that happy company went to their beds.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After dinner the next day, Nettie studied if
+there were not ways in which she might coax
+Norm to go to church that evening. Jerry had
+told her of the minister's invitation. Norm had
+slept later than usual that morning, and lounged
+at home until after dinner; now he was preparing
+to go out. How could she keep him? How
+could she coax him to go with her?</p>
+
+<p>Before she could decide what to do to try to
+hold him, Susie took matters into her own
+hands by pitching head foremost out of the
+kitchen window, hitting her head on the stones.
+Then there was hurry and confusion in the
+Decker kitchen! Then did Mrs. Smith, and
+Job Smith, and Sarah Jane fly to the rescue.
+Though after all, Norm was the one who stooped
+over poor silent Susie and brought her limp and
+apparently lifeless into the kitchen. Jerry ran
+with all speed for the doctor. It was hours
+before they settled down again, having discovered
+that Susie was not dead, but had fainted;
+was not even badly hurt, save for a bump or two.
+But it took the little lady only a short time,
+after recovering from her fright, to discover
+that she was a person of importance, and to
+like the situation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It happened that Norm had, by the doctor's
+directions, carried her from her mother's bed to
+the cooler atmosphere of the front room. Susie
+had enjoyed the ride, and now announced with
+the air of a conqueror, "I want Norm to carry
+me." So Norm, frightened into love and tenderness,
+lifted the little girl in his strong arms, laid
+the pretty head on his shoulder, and willingly
+tramped up and down the room. Was Susie a
+witch, or a selfish little girl? Certain it was
+that during that walk she took an unaccountable
+and ever increasing fancy for Norm. He
+must wet the brown paper on her head as often
+is the vinegar with which it was saturated dried
+away; he must hold the cup while she took a
+drink of water; he must push the marvel of a
+barrel chair in which she for a time sat in state,
+closer to the window; he must carry her from
+the chair to the table when supper was finally
+ready, and carry her back again when it was
+eaten. Nettie looked on amused and puzzled.
+Certainly Susie had kept Norm at home all the
+afternoon; but was she also likely to accomplish
+it for the evening? For Norm, to her great
+surprise, seemed to like the new order of
+things.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He blushed awkwardly when Susie gently
+pushed her mother aside and demanded Norm,
+but he came at once, with a good-natured laugh,
+and held her in his arms with as much gentleness
+and more strength than the mother could
+have given; and seemed to like the touch of the
+curly head on his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>But while Nettie was putting away the dishes
+and puzzling over all the strange events of the
+afternoon, Susie was undressed, partly by Norm,
+according to her decree, and fell asleep in his
+arms and was laid on her mother's bed, and
+Norm slipped away!</p>
+
+<p>Poor Nettie! She ran to the door to try to
+call him, but he was out of sight. "I tried to
+think of something to keep him till you came
+in," explained the disappointed mother, "but I
+couldn't do it; he laid Susie down as quick as
+he could, and shot away as though he was afraid
+you would get hold of him."</p>
+
+<p>So Nettie, her face sad, prepared to go with
+Jerry and the Smiths down to evening meeting,
+and told Jerry on the way, that it did seem
+strange to her, so long as Susie had kept Norm
+busy all the afternoon, that they must let him
+slip away from them at last.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII.<br />
+
+<small>THE LITTLE PICTURE MAKERS.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>AFTER Susie Decker pitched out of the
+window that Sabbath afternoon she became
+such an object of importance that you
+would hardly have supposed anything else could
+have happened worth mentioning; but after the
+excitement was quite over, and Susie had been
+cuddled and petted and cared for more than it
+seemed to her she had ever been in her life before,
+Mr. Decker, finding nothing better to do,
+went out and sat down on the doorstep.</div>
+
+<p>Little Sate dried her eyes and slipped away
+very soon after she discovered that Susie could
+move, and speak, and was therefore not dead.
+She had wandered in search of entertainment
+to the yard just around the corner, where had
+come but a few days before, a small boy on a
+visit.</p>
+
+<p>This boy, Bobby by name, finding Sunday a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>
+hard day, had finally, after getting into all sorts
+of mischief within doors, been established by an
+indulgent auntie in the back yard, with her
+apron tied around his chubby neck, to protect
+his new suit, with a few pieces of charcoal, and
+permission to draw some nice Sunday pictures
+on the white boards of the house.</p>
+
+<p>This business interested Sate, and in spite of
+her shyness, drew her the other side of the high
+board fence which separated the neighbor's back
+yard from Mr. Decker's side one.</p>
+
+<p>Just as that gentleman took his seat on the
+doorstep, he heard the voices of the two children;
+first, Bobby's confident one, the words he
+used conveying all assurance of unlimited power
+at his command&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what shall I make?"</p>
+
+<p>"Make," said Sate, her sweet face thrown upward
+in earnest thought, "make the angel who
+would have come for Susie if she had died just
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know any angel would have
+come for her?" asked sturdy Bobby.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, 'cause I <i>know</i> there would. Miss
+Sherrill said so to-day; she told us about that
+little baby that died last night; she said an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span>
+angel came after it and took it right straight up
+to heaven."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe she don't know," said skeptical
+Bobby.</p>
+
+<p>Then did Sate's eyes flash.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess she does know, Bobby Burns, and
+you will be real mean, and bad if you say so any
+more. She knows all about heaven, and angels,
+and everything."</p>
+
+<p>"Does angels come after all folks that dies?"</p>
+
+<p>"I dunno; I guess so; no, I guess not. Only
+good folks."</p>
+
+<p>"Is Susie good?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sometimes she is," said truthful Sate, in
+slow, thoughtful tones, a touch of mournfulness
+in them that might have gone to Susie's heart
+had she heard and understood; "she gave me
+the biggest half of a cookie the other night. It
+was a <i>good deal</i> the biggest; and she takes care
+of me most always; one day she took off her
+shoes and put them on me, because the stones
+and the rough ground hurt my feet. They hurt
+her feet too; they bleeded, oh! just awful, but
+she wouldn't let <i>me</i> be hurt."</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you wear your own shoes?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't have any; mine all went to holes;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>
+just great big holes that wouldn't stay on; it
+was before my papa got good, and he didn't buy
+me any shoes at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Has your papa got good?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Sate confidently, "I guess he has.
+My sister Nettie thinks so; and Susie does too.
+He don't drink bad stuff any more. It was
+some kind of stuff he drank that made him cross;
+mamma said so; and the stuff made him feel so
+bad that he couldn't buy shoes, nor nothing;
+why, sometimes, before Nettie came home, we
+didn't have any bread! He isn't cross to-day,
+and he wasn't last night; and he bought me
+some new shoes&mdash;real pretty ones, and he kissed
+me. I love my papa when he is good. Do you
+love your papa when he is good?"</p>
+
+<p>"My papa is always good," said Bobby, with
+that air of immense superiority.</p>
+
+<p>"Is he?" asked Sate, wonder and admiration
+in her tone. Happy Bobby, to possess a father
+who was always good! "Doesn't he ever drink
+any of that bad stuff?"</p>
+
+<p>"I guess he doesn't!" said indignant Bobby.
+"You wouldn't catch him taking a drop of it
+for anything. If he was sick and was going to
+die if he didn't, he says he wouldn't take it. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>
+know all about that; the name of it is whiskey,
+and things; it has lots of names, but that is one
+of them. My father is a temperance."</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is a man who promises that he won't ever
+taste it nor touch it, nor nothing, forever and
+ever. And he won't."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh my!" said Sate. "Then of course you
+love him all the time. I mean to love my papa,
+all the time too. I'm most sure I can. What
+makes you make such a big angel? Susie isn't
+big; a little angel could carry her."</p>
+
+<p>"This angel isn't the one who was coming for
+Susie; it is the one who is going to come for
+my papa when he dies."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! then will you make the one who will
+come for my papa? Make him very big and
+strong, for my papa is a strong man, and I don't
+want the angel to drop him."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Decker arose suddenly and went round to
+the back part of the house, and cleared his
+throat, and coughed, two or three times, and
+rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes.
+Had he peeped through the fence and caught a
+glimpse of the angel whom Bobby made, he
+might not have been so strangely touched; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>
+the words of his little girl seemed to choke him,
+and his eyes, just then, were too dim to see
+angels.</p>
+
+<p>He was very still all the rest of the afternoon.
+At the tea table he scarcely spoke, and afterwards,
+while Mrs. Decker and Nettie were
+mourning over Norm's escape, he too put on
+his coat, and went away down the street.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker came to the door when she discovered
+it, and looked after him. He was still
+in sight, but she did not dare to call. As she
+looked, she gathered up a corner of her apron
+and wiped her eyes. Presently she sat down on
+the step where he had been sitting so short a
+time before, leaned her elbows on her knees, and
+her cheeks on her hands, and thought sad
+thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>She felt very much discouraged. On this
+first Sunday, after the new room had been made,
+and new hopes excited, they had slipped away,
+both Norm and her husband, to lounge in the
+saloon as usual, and to come home, late at night,
+the worse for liquor. She knew all about it!
+Hadn't she been through it many times?</p>
+
+<p>The little gleam of hope which had started
+again, under Nettie and Jerry's encouraging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>
+words and ways, died quite out. Sitting there,
+Mrs. Decker made up her mind once more, that
+there was no kind of use in working, and struggling,
+and trying to be somebody. She was the
+wife of a drunkard; and the mother of a drunkard;
+Norm would be that, before long. And
+her little girls would grow up beggars. It was
+almost a pity that Susie had not been killed
+when she fell. Why should she want to live to
+be a drunkard's daughter, and a drunkard's sister?
+If the Heaven she used to hear about
+when she was a little girl, was all so, why should
+she not long for Susie and Sate to go there?
+Then if she could go away herself and leave all
+this misery!</p>
+
+<p>She had hurried with her dishes, she had
+hoped that when she was ready to sit down in
+the neat room with the new lamp burning
+brightly, he would sit with her as he used to do
+on Sunday evenings long ago. But here she
+was alone, as usual. More than once that big
+apron which she had not cared to take off after
+she found herself deserted, was made to do
+duty as a handkerchief and wipe away bitter
+tears.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Nettie sat in the pretty church and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>
+looked at the lovely flowers, and listened to the
+wonderful singing. Miss Sherrill sang the solo
+of something more beautiful than Nettie had
+ever even imagined. "Consider the lilies how
+they grow." What wonderful words were these
+to be sung while looking down at a great bank
+of lilies! It is possible that the singing may
+have been more beautiful to Nettie because her
+own fingers had arranged the lilies, but it was
+in itself enough for any reasonable mortal's ear,
+and as it rolled through the church, there was
+more than one listener who thought of the
+angels, and wondered if their voices could be
+sweeter. Nettie's small handkerchief went to
+her eyes several times during the anthem; she
+could not have told why she cried, but the
+music moved her strangely. Before the anthem
+was fairly concluded there was something else
+to take her attention. Mrs. Job Smith in whose
+seat she sat, gave her arm a vigorous poke with
+a sharp elbow, and whispered in a voice which
+seemed to Nettie must have been heard all over
+the church, "For the land's sake, if there ain't
+your pa sitting down there under the gallery!"</p>
+
+<p>As soon as she dared do so, Nettie turned her
+head for one swift look. Mrs. Smith <i>must</i> be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>
+mistaken, but she would take one glance to
+assure herself. Certainly that was her father,
+sitting in almost the last seat, leaning his head
+against one of the pillars, the shabbiness of his
+coat showing plainly in the bright gaslight.
+But Nettie did not think of his coat. Her
+cheeks grew red, and her eyes filled again with
+tears. It was not the music, now; it was a
+strange thrill of satisfaction, and of hope. How
+pleasant she had thought it would be to go to
+church with her father. It was one of the
+things she had planned at Auntie Marshall's;
+how she would perhaps take her father's arm,
+being tall for her years, and Auntie Marshall
+said he was not a tall man, and walk to church
+by his side, and find the hymns for him, and receive
+his fatherly smile, and when she handed
+him his hat after service, perhaps he would say,
+"Thank you, my daughter," as she had heard
+Doctor Porter say to his little girl in the seat
+just ahead of theirs. Nettie's hungry little heart
+had wanted to hear that word applied to herself.
+Now all these sweet dreams of hers seemed to
+have been ages ago; actually it felt like years
+since she had hoped for such a thing, or dreamed
+of seeing her father in church, so swiftly had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>
+the reality crowded out her pretty dreams. Yet
+there he sat, listening to the reading.</p>
+
+<p>What Nettie would have done or thought
+had she known that Norm and two friends were
+at that moment seated in the gallery just over
+her father's head, I cannot say. On the whole,
+I am glad she did not know it until church was
+out. Especially I am glad she did not know
+that Norm giggled a good deal, and whispered
+more or less, and in various ways so annoyed
+the minister that he found it difficult to keep
+from speaking to the young men in the gallery.
+The fact is, he would have done so, had he not
+recognized in one of them his helper of the evening
+before, and resolved to bear his troubles patiently,
+in the hope that something good would
+grow out of this unusual appearance at church.</p>
+
+<p>It would perhaps be hard work to explain
+what had brought Norm to church. A fancy
+perhaps for seeing how the flowers looked by
+this time. A queer feeling that he was slightly
+connected with the church service for once in
+his life; a lingering desire to know whether in
+the hanging of that tallest wreath, he or the
+minister had been right; they had differed as
+to the distance from one arch to the other;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>
+from the gallery he was sure he could tell which
+had possessed the truer eye. All these motives
+pressed him a little. Then they were singing
+when he reached the door, and Rick had said,
+"Hallo! that voice sounds as though it lived
+up in the sky. Who is that, do you s'pose?"</p>
+
+<p>Then Norm proud of his knowledge in the
+matter, explained that she was the minister's
+sister, and they said she could mimic a bird so
+you couldn't tell which was which.</p>
+
+<p>"Poh!" Alf had said; he didn't believe a
+word of that; he should like to see a woman
+who could fool him into thinking that she was a
+bird! but he had added, "Let's go in and hear
+her." And as this was what Norm had been
+half intending to do ever since he started from
+the house, he agreed to do it at once. In they
+slipped and half-hid themselves behind the
+posts in the gallery, and behaved disreputably
+all the evening, more because they felt shamefaced
+about being there at all, and wanted to
+keep each other in countenance, than because
+they really desired to disturb the service. However,
+they heard a great deal.</p>
+
+<p>What do you think was the minister's text
+on that evening? "No drunkard shall inherit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>
+the kingdom of heaven." I shall have to tell
+you that when he caught sight of Mr. Decker
+half-hidden behind his post and recognized him
+as the man who was so fast growing into a drunkard,
+and as the man who had never been inside
+the church since he had been the pastor, he was
+sorry that his text and subject were what they
+were that evening. He told himself that it was
+very unfortunate. That if he had dreamed of
+such a thing as having that man for a listener,
+he would have told him the story of Jesus as
+simply and as earnestly as he could; and not
+have preached a sermon that would seem to the
+man as a fling at himself. However, there was
+no help for it now; he did not recognize Mr.
+Decker until he had announced his text, and
+fairly commenced his sermon.</p>
+
+<p>It was a sermon for young people; it was intended
+to warn them against the first beginnings
+of this great sin which shut heaven away from
+the sinner. He need not have been troubled
+about not telling the story of Jesus; there was
+a great deal about Jesus in the sermon, as well
+as a great deal about the heaven prepared for
+those who were willing to go. I do not know
+that anywhere in the church you could have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>
+found a more attentive listener than Mr. Decker.
+At least one who seemed to listen more earnestly;
+from the moment that the text was repeated
+until the great Bible was closed, he did
+not take his eyes from the minister's face. Yet
+some of his words he did not hear. Some of the
+time Mr. Decker was hearing a little voice, very
+sweet, saying: "Make a very big strong angel
+to come for my papa when he dies; my papa is
+a strong man and I don't want the angel to
+drop him." Poor papa! as he thought of it, he
+had to look straight before him and wink hard
+and fast to keep the tears from dropping; he
+had no handkerchief to wipe them away. Think
+of an angel coming for him! "I love my papa
+when he is good!" the sweet voice had said.
+Was he ever good? Then he listened awhile
+to the sermon; heard the vivid description of
+some of the possible glories and joys of Heaven.
+Would he be likely ever to go there? Little
+Sate thought so; she had planned for it that
+very afternoon. Dear little Sate who did not
+want the angel to drop him.</p>
+
+<p>Now it is possible that if the sermon had
+been about drunkards, Mr. Decker would have
+been vexed and would not have listened. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>
+did not call himself a drunkard; it is a sad and
+at the same time a curious fact that he did not
+realize how nearly he had reached the point
+where the name would apply to him. That he
+drank beer, much, and often, and that he was
+growing more and more fond of it, and that it
+kept him miserably poor, was certainly true,
+and there were times when he realized it; but
+that he was ever going to be a common drunkard
+and roll in the gutter, and kick his wife,
+and seize his children by the hair, he did not
+for a moment believe. But the sermon was by
+no means addressed to people who were even so
+far on this road as he. It was addressed to boys,
+who were just beginning to like the taste of hard
+cider, and spruce beer, and hop bitters, and all
+those harmless (?) drinks which so many boys
+were using. It was a plain story of the rapid,
+certain, downward journey of those who began
+in these simple ways. It was illustrated by
+certain facts which Mr. Sherrill had personally
+known. And Mr. Decker, as he listened, owned
+to himself that he knew facts which would have
+proved the same truth.</p>
+
+<p>Then he gave a little start and shrank farther
+into the shadow of the pillar. The moment he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>
+admitted that, he also admitted that he was himself
+in danger. What nonsense that was!
+Couldn't he stop drinking the stuff whenever he
+liked? "There is a time," said the minister,
+"when this matter is in your own hands. You
+have no very great taste for the dangerous
+liquors, you are only using them because those
+with whom you associate do so. You could give
+them up without much effort; but I tell you,
+my friends, the time comes, and to many it
+comes very early in life, when they are like
+slaves bound hand and foot in a habit that they
+cannot break, and cannot control." Mr. Decker
+heard this, and something, what was it? pressed
+the thought home to him just then, that, if he
+did not belong to this last-mentioned class,
+neither did he to the former. He knew it would
+take a good deal of effort for him to give up his
+beer; of course it would; else he should not be
+such a fool as to keep himself and his family in
+poverty for the sake of indulging it. What if
+he were already a slave, bound hand and foot!
+What if the "stuff" which Sate said made him
+"cross" had already made him a drunkard!
+Perhaps the boys on the street called him so;
+though they rarely saw him stagger; his staggering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>
+was nearly always done under cover of the
+night. Still, now that he was dealing honestly
+with himself, he must own that it was less easy
+to go without his beer than it used to be.
+Since Nettie had come home he had drank less
+of it than usual, and by that very means he had
+discovered how much it meant to him. "No
+drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven!"
+The minister's earnest voice repeated his text
+just then. Was he a drunkard? Then what
+about the strong angel? Little Sate was to be
+disappointed, after all!</p>
+
+<p>Oh! I am not going to try to tell you all the
+thoughts which passed through Joe Decker's
+mind that evening. I don't think he could tell
+you himself, though he remembers the evening
+vividly. He stood up, during the closing hymn,
+and waited until the benediction was pronounced,
+and then he slipped away, swiftly;
+Nettie tried to get to him, but she did not succeed,
+and she sorrowed over it. He stumbled
+along in the darkness, moving almost as unsteadily
+as though he had been drinking. The
+sky was thick with clouds, and he jostled against
+a lady and gentleman as he crossed the street;
+the lady shrank away. "Who is that?" he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span>
+heard her ask; and the answer came to him
+distinctly: "Oh! it is old Joe Decker; he is
+drunk, I suppose. He generally is at this time
+of night."</p>
+
+<p>Yes, there it was! he was already counted on
+the streets as a drunkard. "No drunkard shall
+inherit the kingdom of heaven." It was not the
+minister's voice this time; yet it seemed to the
+poor man's excited brain that some one repeated
+those words in his ears. Then he heard again
+the sweet soft voice: "Make him very big and
+strong, for I don't want the angel to drop him."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV.<br />
+
+<small>THE CONCERT.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>WITHIN the church wonderful things were
+going on. Jerry had caught sight of
+Norm as he slipped up the gallery stairs, and
+laid his plans accordingly. He whispered to
+Nettie during the singing of the closing hymn,
+thereby shocking her a little. Jerry did not often
+whisper in church.</div>
+
+<p>This was what he said: "Don't you need
+those lilies to help trim the room to-morrow
+night? Let's take them home."</p>
+
+<p>The moment the "amen" was spoken, he
+dashed out, and was at the stair door as Norm
+came down.</p>
+
+<p>"Norm," he said, "won't you help me carry
+home that tray? We want the flowers for something
+special to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>Said Norm, "O bother! I can't help tote
+that heavy thing through the streets."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" asked Rick; and when the
+explanation was briefly made, he added the little
+word of advice which so often turns the scales.</p>
+
+<p>"Ho! that isn't much to do when you are
+going that very road. I'd do as much as that,
+any day, for the little chap who gave us such a
+tall row." This last was in undertone.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Norm, "I don't care; I'll help;
+but how are we going to get the things out
+here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Come inside," answered Jerry; "we can
+wait in the back seat. They will all be gone in
+a few minutes, then we can step up and get the
+salver."</p>
+
+<p>Once inside the church, the rest followed
+easily. Mr. Sherrill who had eyes for all that
+was going on, came forward swiftly and held a
+cordial hand to Norm.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening," he said; "I am glad to see
+you accepted my invitation. How did our work
+look by gaslight?"</p>
+
+<p>"It looked," said Norm, a roguish twinkle in
+his eye, "it looked just as I expected it would;
+crooked. That there arch at the left of the pulpit
+wants to be hung as much as two inches lower
+to match the other."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You don't say so!" said the minister, in
+good-humored surprise. "Does it appear so
+from the gallery? Are my eyes as crooked as
+that? Let us go up gallery and see if I can discover
+it."</p>
+
+<p>So to the gallery they went, Norm clearing
+the space with a few bounds, and taking a triumphant
+station where he could point out the
+defect to the minister.</p>
+
+<p>"That is true," Mr. Sherrill said, with hearty
+frankness. "You are right and I was wrong.
+If I had taken your word last night the wreaths
+would have looked better, wouldn't they? Well,
+perhaps wreaths are not the only things which
+show crooked when we get higher up and look
+down on them. Eh, my friend?"</p>
+
+<p>Norm laughed a good-humored, rather embarrassed
+laugh. It was remarkable that he should
+be up here holding a chatty, almost gay, conversation
+with the minister. There came over him
+the wish that he had behaved himself better
+during the service. That he had not whispered
+so much, nor nudged Rick's elbow to make him
+laugh, just at the moment that the minister's eye
+was fixed on them. He had a half-fancy that if
+the evening were to be lived over again, he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span>
+go down below and sit up straight and show this
+man that he could behave as well as anybody
+if he were a mind to.</p>
+
+<p>Not a word about the laughing and whispering
+said the minister. But he said a thing which
+startled Norm.</p>
+
+<p>"My sister has a fancy for having the church
+adorned with wreaths or strings of asters in contrasting
+colors for next Sabbath; will you make
+an appointment with me to help hang them on
+Saturday evening? I'll promise to follow your
+eye to the half-inch."</p>
+
+<p>Norm started, flushed, looked into the frank
+face and laughed a little, then seeing that the
+answer was waited for said: "Why, I don't
+care if I do, if you honestly want it."</p>
+
+<p>"I honestly want it," said the minister in
+great satisfaction. Then they went downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>Job Smith and his wife were gone.</p>
+
+<p>"I will wait for my brother," said Nettie, and
+her heart swelled with pride as she said it.</p>
+
+<p>How nice to have a brother to wait for, just
+as Miss Sherrill was doing. At that moment
+the "beautiful lady" as Sate and Susie called
+her, came to Nettie's side.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening," she said pleasantly. "I hope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span>
+the little girls are well; I met your brother last
+night; he helped my brother to hang the flowers.
+I see they are upstairs together now, admiring
+their work. My brother said he was a
+very intelligent helper. You do not know how
+much I thank you for those flowers. They
+helped me to sing to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"I thought," said Nettie, raising her great
+truthful eyes to the lady's face and speaking with
+an earnestness that showed she felt what she
+said, "I thought you sang as though the angels
+were helping you. I don't think they can sing
+any sweeter."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Miss Sherrill; she smiled
+as she spoke, yet there were tears in her eyes;
+the honest, earnest tribute seemed very unlike a
+little girl, and very unlike the usual way of complimenting
+her wonderful voice. "I saw that
+you liked music," she said, "I noticed you while
+I was singing. Will you let me give you a
+couple of tickets for the concert to-morrow evening;
+and will you and your brother come to hear
+me sing? I am going to sing something that I
+think you will like."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie went home behind the lilies and the
+boys, her heart all in a flutter of delight. What<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>
+a wonderful thing had come to her! The concert
+for which the best singers in town had been
+so long practising, and for which the tickets
+were fifty cents apiece, and which she had no
+more expected to attend than she had expected
+to hear the real angels sing that week, was to
+take place to-morrow evening, and she had two
+tickets in her pocket!</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker was waiting for them, her nose
+pressed against the glass; she started forward to
+open the door for the boys, before Nettie could
+reach it. There was such a look of relief on her
+face when she saw Norm as ought to have gone
+to his very heart; but he did not see it; he was
+busy settling the salver in a safe place.</p>
+
+<p>"Has father come in?" Nettie asked, as she
+followed her mother to the back step, where she
+went for the dipper at Norm's call.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, child, he has, and went straight to bed.
+He didn't say two words; but he wasn't cross;
+and he hadn't drank a drop, I believe."</p>
+
+<p>"Mother," said Nettie, standing on tiptoe to
+reach the tall woman's ear, and speaking in an
+awe-stricken whisper, "father was in church!"</p>
+
+<p>"For the land of pity!" said Mrs. Decker,
+speaking low and solemnly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And all through the next morning's meal,
+which was an unusually quiet one, she waited on
+her husband with a kind of respectful reverence,
+which if he had noticed, might have bewildered
+him. It seemed to her that the event of the
+evening before had lifted him into a higher world
+than hers, and that she could not tell now, what
+might happen.</p>
+
+<p>The event of the day was the concert; all
+other plans were set aside for that. At first
+Norm scoffed and declared that his ticket might
+be used to light the fire with, for all he cared;
+he didn't want to go to one of their "swell"
+concerts. But this talk Nettie laughed over
+good-naturedly, as though it were intended for
+a joke, and continued her planning as to when
+to have supper, and just when she and Norm
+must start.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of the day, that young man discovered
+it to be a fine thing to own tickets for
+this special concert. Before noon tickets were
+at a premium, and several of Norm's fellow-workmen
+gayly advised him to make an honest
+penny by selling his. During the early morning
+it had been delicately hinted by one young fellow
+that Norm Decker's tickets were made of tissue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span>
+paper, which was his way of saying, that he did
+not believe that Norm had any; but, thanks to
+Nettie's thoughtful tact, the tickets were at that
+very moment reposing in her brother's pocket,
+and he drew them forth in triumph, wanting to
+know if anybody saw any tissue paper about
+those. Good stiff green pasteboard with the
+magic words on them which would admit two
+people to what was considered on all sides the
+finest entertainment of the sort the town had
+ever enjoyed.</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you get 'em, Norm? Come, tell
+us, that's a good fellow. You was never so
+green as to go and pay a dollar for two pieces of
+pasteboard."</p>
+
+<p>"They are complimentaries," said Norm, tossing
+off a shaving with a careless air, as though
+complimentary tickets to first-class concerts were
+every-day affairs with him.</p>
+
+<p>"Complimentary? My eyes, aren't we big!"
+(I am very sorry that the boys in Norm's shop
+used these slang phrases; but I want to say this
+for them: it was because they had never been
+taught better. Not one of them had mother or
+father who were grieved by such words; some
+of them were so truly good-hearted that I believe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>
+if such had been the case, they would never
+have used them again; and I wish the same
+might be said of all boys with cultured and careful
+mothers.)</p>
+
+<p>"How did you get 'em? Been selling tickets
+for the show, or piling chairs, or what?"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't done a living thing for one of
+them," said Norm composedly; and Ben Halleck
+came to his rescue.</p>
+
+<p>"That's so, boys; or, at least if he had, it
+wouldn't done him no good. They don't pay
+for this show in any such way. The fellows that
+carried around bills were paid in money because
+they said they expected seats would be scarce;
+and they didn't sell no tickets around the streets.
+Them that wanted them had to go to the book-store
+and buy them. Oh, I tell you, it's a big
+thing. I wouldn't mind going myself if I could
+be complimented through. You see that Sherrill
+girl who lives at the new minister's is a most
+amazing singer, and they say everybody wants to
+hear her."</p>
+
+<p>By this time Norm's mind was fully made up
+that he would go to the concert. It is a pity
+Nettie could not have known it. For despite
+the cheerful courage with which she received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>
+Norm's disagreeable statements in the morning,
+she was secretly very much afraid that he would
+not go. This would have been a great trial to
+her, for her little soul was as full of music as
+possible; and the thought of hearing that wonderful
+voice so soon again filled her with delight;
+but she was a timid little girl so far as appearing
+among strangers was concerned, and the idea
+of going alone to a concert was not to be thought
+of. Her mother proposed Jerry for company,
+but he had gone with Job Smith into the country
+and was not likely to return until too late. So
+Nettie made her little preparations with a
+troubled heart. There was something more to
+it than simply hearing fine music; it would be
+so like other girls whom she knew, so like the
+dreams of home she had indulged in while at
+Auntie Marshall's&mdash;this going out in the evening
+attended and cared for by her brother.</p>
+
+<p>Norm ate his dinner in haste, and was silent
+and almost gruff; nobody knows why. I have
+often wondered why even well brought up boys,
+seem sometimes to like to appear more disagreeable
+than at heart they are.</p>
+
+<p>But by six o'clock the much-thought-about
+brother appeared, his face pleasant enough.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Nannie," he said, "got your fusses
+and fixings all ready?"</p>
+
+<p>And Nettie with beating heart and laughing
+eyes assured him that she would be all ready
+in good time, and that she had laid his clean
+shirt on his bed, and a clean handkerchief, and
+brushed his coat.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and she ironed your shirt with her own
+hands," explained his mother, "and the bosom
+shines like a glass bottle."</p>
+
+<p>"O bother!" said Norm. "I don't want a
+clean shirt."</p>
+
+<p>But he went to his attic directly after supper
+and put on the shirt, and combed his hair, and
+rubbed his boots with Jerry's brush which he
+went around the back way and borrowed of
+Mrs. Job Smith before he came in to supper.</p>
+
+<p>He had noticed how very neat and pretty
+Nettie looked as she walked down the church isle
+beside him the night before; and he had also
+noticed Jerry's shining boots.</p>
+
+<p>His mother noticed his the moment he came
+down stairs. "How nice you two do look!"
+she said admiringly; and then the two walked
+away well pleased. It was a wonderful concert.
+Norm had not known that he was particularly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>
+fond of music, but he owned to Rick the next
+day, that there was something in that Sherrill
+girl's voice which almost lifted a fellow out of
+his boots.</p>
+
+<p>They had excellent seats! Nettie learned to
+her intense surprise that their tickets called for
+reserved seats. She had studied over certain
+mysterious numbers on the tickets, but had not
+understood them. It appeared also that the
+usher was surprised.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't give you any seats," was his greeting
+as they presented their tickets. "Everything
+is full now except the reserves; you'll have to
+stand in the aisle; there's a good place under
+the gallery. Halloo! What's this? Reserved!
+Why, bless us, I didn't see these numbers.
+Come down this way; you have as nice seats
+as there are in the hall."</p>
+
+<p>It was all delightful. Lorena Barstow and
+two others of the Sabbath-school class were a
+few seats behind them; Nettie could hear
+them whispering and giggling, and for a few
+minutes she had an uncomfortable feeling that
+they were laughing at her; as I am sorry to say
+they were.</p>
+
+<p>But neither this nor anything else troubled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>
+her long, for Norm's unusual toilet having taken
+much longer than was planned for, they were
+really among the late comers; and in a very little
+while the music began. Oh! how wonderful
+it was. Neither Nettie nor Norm had ever
+heard really fine concert music before, and even
+Norm who did not know that he cared for music,
+felt his nerves thrill to his fingers' ends. Then,
+when after the first two or three pieces Miss
+Sherrill appeared, she was so beautiful and her
+voice was so wonderful that Nettie, try as hard
+as she did, could not keep the tears from her
+foolish happy eyes. I will not venture to say
+how much the beautiful silk dress with its long
+train, and the mass of soft white lace at her
+throat had to do with Miss Sherrill's loveliness,
+though I daresay if she had appeared in a twelve-cent
+gingham like Nettie's, she might have sang
+just as sweetly. Norm, however, did not believe
+that.</p>
+
+<p>"Half of it is the fuss and feathers," he declared
+to Rick, next day, looking wise. And
+Rick made a wise answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, when you add the handsome voice to
+the fuss and feathers, I s'pose they help, but I
+don't believe folks would go and rave so much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>
+just over a blue silk dress, and some gloves, and
+things. They all had to match, you see." So
+Rick, without knowing it, became a philosopher.</p>
+
+<p>As for Nettie, she told her mother that the
+dress was just lovely, and her voice was as sweet
+as any angel's could possibly be; but there was
+a look in her eyes which was better than all the
+rest; and that when she sang, "Oh that I had
+wings, had wings like a dove!" she, Nettie,
+could not help feeling that they were hidden
+about her somewhere, and that before the song
+was over, she might unfold them and soar away.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XV.<br />
+
+<small>A WILL AND A WAY.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>"THE next thing we want to do is to earn
+some money."</div>
+
+<p>This, Jerry said, as he sat on the side step
+with Nettie, after sunset. They had been having
+a long talk, planning the campaign against
+the enemy, which they had made up their minds
+should be carried on with vigor. At least, they
+had been trying to plan; but that obstacle
+which seems to delight to step into the midst of
+so many plans and overturn them, viz. money,
+met them at every point. So when Jerry made
+that emphatic announcement, Nettie was prepared
+to agree with him fully; but none the
+less did she turn anxious eyes on him as she
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"How can we?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know yet," Jerry said, whistling a
+few bars of</p>
+
+<div class='center'>
+Oh, do not be discouraged,<br />
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class='unindent'>and stopping in the middle of the line to answer,
+"But of course there is a way. There was an
+old man who worked for my father, who used to
+say so often: 'Where there's a will there's a
+way,' that after awhile we boys got to calling
+him 'Will and Way' for short, you know; his
+name was John," and here Jerry stopped to laugh
+a little over that method of shortening a name;
+"but it was wonderful to see how true it proved;
+he would make out to do the most surprising
+things that even my father thought sometimes
+could not be done. We must <i>make</i> a way to
+earn some money."</div>
+
+<p>Nettie laughed a little. "Well, I am sure,"
+she said, "there is a will in this case; in fact,
+there are two wills; for you seem to have a large
+one, and I know if ever I was determined to do
+a thing I am now; but for all that I can't think
+of a possible way to earn a cent."</p>
+
+<p>Now Sarah Ann Smith was at this moment
+standing by the kitchen window, looking out on
+the two schemers. Her sleeves were rolled
+above her elbow, for she was about to set the
+sponge for bread; she had her large neat work
+apron tied over her neat dress-up calico; and on
+her head was perched the frame out of which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>
+with Nettie's skilful help, and some pieces of
+lace from her mother's old treasure bag, she
+meant to make herself a bonnet every bit as
+pretty as the one worn by Miss Sherrill the Sabbath
+before.</p>
+
+<p>"Talk of keeping things seven years and
+they'll come good," said Mrs. Smith, watching
+with satisfaction while Nettie tumbled over the
+contents of the bag in eager haste and exclaimed
+over this and that piece which would be "just
+lovely." "I've kept the rubbish in that bag going
+on to twenty years, just because the pretty
+girls where I used to do clear-starching, gave
+them to me. I had no kind of notion what I
+should ever do with them; but they looked
+bright and pretty, and I always was a master
+hand for bright colors, and so whenever they
+would hand out a bit of ribbon or lace, and say,
+'Cerinthy, do you want that?' I was sure to say
+I did; and chuck it into this bag; and now to
+think after keeping of them for more than twenty
+years, my girl should be planning to make a bonnet
+out of them! Things is queer! I don't
+ever mean to throw away <i>anything</i>. I never
+was much at throwing away; now that's a
+fact."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Now the truth was that Sarah Ann, left to
+herself, would as soon have thought of making
+a <i>house</i> out of the contents of that bag, as a bonnet;
+but Nettie Decker's deft fingers had a natural
+tact for all cunning contrivances in lace and
+silk, and her skill in copying what she saw, was
+something before which Sarah Ann stood in silent
+admiration; when, therefore, she offered to construct
+for Sarah Ann, out of the treasures of
+that bag, a bonnet which should be both becoming
+and economical, Sarah Ann's gratitude knew
+no bounds. She went that very afternoon to the
+milliner's to select her frame, and had it perched
+at that moment as I said, on her head, while she
+listened to the clear young voices under the window.
+She had a great desire to be helpful; but
+money was far from plenty at Job Smith's.</p>
+
+<p>What was it which made her at that moment
+think of a bit of news which she had heard while
+at the milliner's? Why, nothing more remarkable
+than that the color of Nettie Decker's hair
+in the fading light was just the same as Mantie
+Horton's. But what made her suddenly speak
+her bit of news, interrupting the young planners?
+Ah, that Sarah Ann does not know; she only
+knows she felt just like saying it, so she said it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Mantie Horton's folks are all going to move
+to the city; they are selling off lots of things; I
+saw her this afternoon when I was at the milliner's,
+and she says about the only thing now
+that they don't know what to do with is her old
+hen and chickens; a nice lot of chicks as ever
+she saw, but of course they can't take them to
+the city. My! I should think they would feel
+dreadful lonesome without chickens, nor pigs,
+nor nothing! <i>We</i> might have some chickens as
+well as not, if we only had a place to keep 'em;
+enough scrapings come from the table every day,
+to feed 'em, most."</p>
+
+<p>Before this sentence was concluded, Jerry had
+turned and given Nettie a sudden look as if to
+ask if she saw what he did; then he whistled a
+low strain which had in it a note of triumph;
+and the moment Sarah Ann paused for breath
+he asked: "Where do the Hortons live?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, out on the pike about a mile; that
+nice white house set back from the road a piece;
+don't you know? It is just a pleasant walk out
+there."</p>
+
+<p>Then Sarah Ann turned away to attend to her
+bread, and as she did so her somewhat homely
+face was lighted by a smile; for an idea had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>
+just dawned upon her, and she chuckled over it:
+"I shouldn't wonder if those young things would
+go into business; he's got contrivance enough to
+make a coop, any day, and mother would let
+them have the scrapings, and welcome."</p>
+
+<p>Sarah Ann was right; though Nettie, unused
+to country ways and plans, did not think of such
+a thing, Jerry did. The next morning he was
+up, even before the sun; in fact that luminary
+peeped at him just as he was turning into the
+long carriage drive which led finally to the Horton
+barnyard. There a beautiful sight met his
+eyes; a white and yellow topknot mother, and
+eight or ten fluffy chickens scampering about her.
+"They are nice and plump," said Jerry to himself;
+"I'm afraid I haven't money enough to buy
+them; but then, there is a great deal of risk in
+raising a brood of chickens like these; perhaps
+he will sell them cheap."</p>
+
+<p>Farmer Horton was an early riser, and was
+busy about his stables when Jerry reached there.
+He was anxious to get rid of all his live stock,
+and be away as soon as possible, and here was a
+customer anxious to buy; so in much less time
+than Jerry had supposed it would take, the hen
+and chickens changed owners and much whistling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span>
+was done by the new owner as he walked
+rapidly back to town to build a house for his
+family.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Smith had been taken into confidence;
+so indeed had Job, before the purchase was made;
+but the whole thing was to be a profound surprise
+to Nettie. Therefore, she saw little of him
+that day, and I will not deny was a trifle hurt
+because he kept himself so busy about something
+which he did not share with her. But I want
+you to imagine, if you can, her surprise the next
+morning when just as she was ready to set the
+potatoes to frying, she heard Jerry's eager voice
+calling her to come and see his house.</p>
+
+<p>"See what?" asked Nettie, appearing in the
+doorway, coffee pot in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"A new house. I built it yesterday, and
+rented it; the family moved in last night. That
+is the reason I was so busy. I had to go
+out and help move them; and I must say they
+were as ill-behaved a set as I ever had anything
+to do with. The mother is the crossest party I
+ever saw; and she has no government whatever;
+her children scurry around just where they
+please."</p>
+
+<p>"What are you talking about?" said astonished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>
+Nettie, her face growing more and more
+bewildered as he continued his merry description.</p>
+
+<p>"Come out and see. It is a new house, I tell
+you; I built it yesterday; that is the reason I
+did not come to help you about the bonnet.
+Didn't you miss me? Sarah Ann thinks it is
+actually nicer than the one Miss Sherrill wore."
+And he broke into a merry laugh, checking himself
+to urge Nettie once more to come out and
+see his treasures.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Nettie, "wait until I cover the
+potatoes, and set the teakettle off." This done
+she went in haste and eagerness to discover what
+was taking place behind Job Smith's barn. A
+hen and chickens! Beautiful little yellow darlings,
+racing about as though they were crazy;
+and a speckled mother clucking after them in a
+dignified way, pretending to have authority over
+them, when one could see at a glance that they
+did exactly as they pleased.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a storm of questions. "Where?
+and When? and Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is a stock company concern," exclaimed
+Jerry, his merry eyes dancing with pleasure.
+Nettie was fully as astonished and pleased as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>
+had hoped. "Don't you know I told you yesterday
+we must plan a way to earn money? This
+is one way, planned for us. <i>We</i> own Mrs.
+Biddy; every feather on her knot, of which she
+is so proud, belongs to us, and she must not only
+earn her own living and that of her children, but
+bring us in a nice profit besides. Those are
+plump little fellows; I can imagine them making
+lovely pot pies for some one who is willing to
+pay a good price for them. Cannot you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Poor little chickens," said Nettie in such a
+mournful tone that Jerry went off into shouts of
+laughter. He was a humane boy, but he could
+not help thinking it very funny that anybody
+should sigh over the thought of a chicken pot
+pie.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know they are to eat," Nettie said,
+smiling in answer to his laughter, "and I know
+how to make nice crust for pot pie; but for all
+that, I cannot help feeling sort of sorry for the
+pretty fluffy chickens. Are you going to fat
+them all, to eat; or raise some of them to lay
+eggs?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what <i>we</i> are going to do, yet,"
+Jerry said with pointed emphasis on the we.
+"You see, we have not had time to consult; this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>
+is a company concern, I told you. What do you
+think about it?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie's cheeks began to grow a deep pink;
+she looked down at the hurrying chickens with
+a grave face for a moment, then said gently:
+"You know, Jerry, I haven't any money to help
+buy the chickens, and I cannot help own what I
+do not help buy; they are your chickens, but I
+shall like to watch them and help you plan about
+them."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry sat down on an old nail keg, crossed
+one foot over the other, and clasped his hands
+over his knees, as Job Smith was fond of doing,
+and prepared for argument:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, see here, Nettie Decker, let us understand
+each other once for all; I thought we had
+gone into partnership in this whole business;
+that we were to fight that old fiend Rum, in
+every possible way we could; and were to help
+each other plan, and work all the time, and in all
+ways we possibly could. Now if you are tired
+of me and want to work alone, why, I mustn't
+force myself upon you."</p>
+
+<p>"O, Jerry!" came in a reproachful murmur
+from Nettie, whose cheeks were now flaming.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what is a fellow to do? You see you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>
+hurt my feelings worse than old Mother Topknot
+did this morning when she pecked me; I want
+to belong, and I mean to; but all that kind of
+talk about helping to buy these half-dozen little
+puff-balls is all nonsense, and a girl of your
+sense ought to be ashamed of it."</p>
+
+<p>Said Nettie, "O, Jerry, I smell the potatoes;
+they are scorching!" and she ran away. Jerry
+looked after her a moment, as though astonished
+at the sudden change of subject, then laughed,
+and rising slowly from the nail-keg addressed
+himself to the hen.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Mother Topknot, I want you to understand
+that you belong to the firm; that little
+woman who was just here is your mistress, and
+if you peck her and scratch her as you did me,
+this morning, it will be the worse for you. You
+are just like some people I have seen; haven't
+sense enough to know who is your best friend;
+why, there is no end to the nice little bits she
+will contrive for you and your children, if you
+behave yourself; for that matter, I suspect she
+would do it whether you behaved yourself or
+not; but that part it is quite as well you should
+not understand. I want you to bring these children
+up to take care of themselves, just as soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>
+as you can; and then you are to give your attention
+to laying a nice fresh egg every morning;
+and the sooner you begin, the better we
+shall like it." Then he went in to breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>There was no need to say anything more
+about the partnership. Nettie seemed to come
+to the conclusion that she must be ashamed
+of herself or her pride in the matter; and after
+a very short time grew accustomed to hearing
+Jerry talk about "Our chicks," and dropped
+into the fashion of caring for and planning about
+them. None the less was she resolved to find
+some way of earning a little money for her share
+of the stock company. Curiously enough it was
+Susie and little Sate who helped again. They
+came in one morning, with their hands full of the
+lovely field daisies. The moment Nettie looked
+at the two little faces, she knew that a dispute
+of some sort was in progress. Susie's lips were
+curved with that air of superior wisdom, not to
+say scorn, which she knew how to assume; and
+little Sate's eyes were full of the half-grieved but
+wholly positive look which they could wear on
+occasion.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" Nettie asked, stopping on her
+way to the cellar with a nice little pat of batter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>
+which she was saving for her father's supper.
+Butter was a luxury which she had decided the
+children at least, herself included, must not expect
+every day.</p>
+
+<p>"Why," said Susie, her eyes flashing her contempt
+of the whole thing, "she says these are
+folks; old women with caps, and eyes, and
+noses, and everything; she says they look at
+her, and some of them are pleasant, and some
+are cross. She is too silly for anything. They
+don't look the least bit in the word like old
+women. I told her so, fifty-eleven times, and
+she keeps saying it!"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie held out her hand for the bunch of
+daisies, looked at them carefully, and laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you see them?" was little Sate's eager
+question. "They are just as plain! Don't you
+see them a little bit of a speck, Nannie?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course she doesn't!" said scornful Susie.
+"Nobody but a silly baby like you would think
+of such a thing."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Nettie, still smiling, "I
+don't think I see them as plain as Sate does, but
+maybe we can, after awhile; wait till I get my
+butter put away, and I'll put on my spectacles
+and see what I can find."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>So the two waited, Susie incredulous and disgusted,
+Sate with a hopeful light in her eyes,
+which made Nettie very anxious to find the old
+ladies. On her way up stairs she felt in her
+pocket for the pencil Jerry had sharpened with
+such care the evening before; yes, it was there,
+and the point was safe. Jerry had made a neat
+little tube of soft wood for it to slip into, and
+so protect itself.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, let us look for the old lady," she said,
+taking a daisy in hand and retiring to the closet
+window for inspection; it was the work of a
+moment for her fingers which often ached for
+such work, to fashion a pair of eyes, a nose, and
+a mouth; and then to turn down the white
+petals for a cap border, leaving two under the
+chin for strings!</p>
+
+<p>"Does your old lady look anything like that?"
+she questioned, as she came out from her hiding
+place. Little Sate looked, and clasped her
+hands in an ecstacy of delight: "Look, Susie,
+look, quick! there she is, just as plain! O
+Nannie! I'm <i>so</i> glad you found her."</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" said Susie, "she made her with a
+pencil; she wasn't there at all; and there
+couldn't nobody have found her. So!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And to this day, I suppose it would not be
+possible to make Susie Decker believe that the
+spirits of beautiful old ladies hid in the daisies!
+Some people cannot see things, you know, show
+them as much as you may.</p>
+
+<p>But Nettie was charmed with the little old
+woman. She left the potatoes waiting to be
+washed, and sat down on the steps with eager
+little Sate, and made old lady after old lady.
+Some with spectacles, and some without. Some
+with smooth hair drawn quietly back from quiet
+foreheads, some with the old-fashioned puffs and
+curls which she had seen in old, old pictures of
+"truly" grandmothers. What fun they had!
+The potatoes came near being forgotten entirely.
+It was the faithful old clock in Mrs. Smith's
+kitchen which finally clanged out the hour and
+made Nettie rise in haste, scattering old ladies
+right and left. But little Sate gathered them,
+every one, holding them with as careful hand as
+though she feared a rough touch would really
+hurt their feelings, and went out to hunt Susie
+and soothe her ruffled dignity. She did not find
+Susie; that young woman was helping Jerry nail
+laths on the chicken coop; but she found her
+sweet-faced Sabbath-school teacher, who was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>
+sure to stop and kiss the child, whenever she
+passed. To her, Sate at once showed the sweet
+old women. "Nannie found them," she explained;
+"Susie could not see them at all, and
+she kept saying they were not there; but Nannie
+said she would make them look plainer so
+Susie could see, and now Susie thinks she made
+them out of a pencil; but they were there, before,
+I saw them."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you quaint little darling!" said Miss
+Sherrill, kissing her again. "And so your sister
+Nettie made them plainer for you. I must
+say she has done it with a skilful hand. Sate
+dear, would you give one little old woman to
+me? Just one; this dear old face with puffs, I
+want her very much."</p>
+
+<p>So Sate gazed at her with wistful, tender eyes,
+kissed her tenderly, and let Miss Sherrill carry
+her away.</p>
+
+<p>She carried her straight to the minister's
+study, and laid her on the open page of a great
+black commentary which he was studying.
+"Did you ever see anything so cunning? That
+little darling of a Sate says Nannie 'found' her;
+she doesn't seem to think it was made, but simply
+developed, you know, so that commoner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span>
+eyes than hers could see it; that child was born
+for a poet, or an artist, I don't know which.
+Tremayne, I'm going to take this down to the
+flower committee, and get them to invite Nettie
+to make some bouquets of dear old grandmothers,
+and let little Sate come to the flower
+party and sell them. Won't that be lovely?
+Every gentleman there will want a bouquet of
+the nice old ladies in caps, and spectacles; we
+will make it the fashion; then they will sell
+beautifully, and the little merchant shall go
+shares on the proceeds, for the sake of her artist
+sister."</p>
+
+<p>"It is a good idea," said the minister. "I infer
+from what that handsome boy Jerry has
+told me, that they have some scheme on hand
+which requires money. I am very much interested
+in those young people, my dear. I wish
+you would keep a watch on them, and lend a
+helping hand when you can."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI.<br />
+
+<small>AN ORDEAL.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>THAT was the way it came about that little
+Sate not only, but Susie and Nettie, went
+to the flower party.</div>
+
+<p>They had not expected to do any such thing.
+The little girls, who were not used to going any
+where, had paid no attention to the announcements
+on Sunday, and Nettie had heard as one
+with whom such things had nothing in common.
+Her treatment in the Sabbath-school was
+not such as to make her long for the companionship
+of the girls of her age, and by this time
+she knew that her dress at the flower party
+would be sure to command more attention than
+was pleasant; so she had planned as a matter of
+course to stay away.</p>
+
+<p>But the little old ladies in their caps and spectacles
+springing into active life, put a new face
+on the matter. Certainly no more astonished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span>
+young person can be imagined than Nettie
+Decker was, the morning Miss Sherrill called on
+her, the one daisy she had begged still carefully
+preserved, and proposed her plan of partnership
+in the flower party.</p>
+
+<p>"It will add ever so much to the fun," she
+explained, "besides bringing you a nice little
+sum for your spending money."</p>
+
+<p>Did Miss Sherrill have any idea how far that
+argument would reach just now, Nettie wondered.</p>
+
+<p>"We can dress the little girls in daisies," continued
+their teacher. "Little Sate will look like
+a flower herself, with daisies wreathed about her
+dress and hair."</p>
+
+<p>"Little Sate will be afraid, I think," Nettie
+objected. "She is very timid, and not used to
+seeing many people."</p>
+
+<p>"But with Susie she will not mind, will she?
+Susie has assurance enough to take her through
+anything. Oh, I wonder if little Sate would not
+recite a verse about the daisy grandmothers?
+I have such a cunning one for her. May I teach
+her, Mrs. Decker, and see if I can get her to
+learn it?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker's consent was very easy to gain;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span>
+indeed it had been freely given in Mrs. Decker's
+heart before it was asked. For Miss Sherrill had
+not been in the room five minutes before she
+had said: "Your son, Norman, I believe his
+name is, has promised to help my brother with
+the church flowers this evening. My brother
+says he is an excellent helper; his eye is so true;
+they had quite a laugh together, last week. It
+seems one of the wreaths was not hung plumb;
+your son and my brother had an argument about
+it, and it was finally left as my brother had
+placed it, but was out of line several inches. He
+was obliged to admit that if he had followed
+Norman's direction it would have looked much
+better." After that, it would have been hard
+for Miss Sherrill to have asked a favor which
+Mrs. Decker would not grant if she could. <i>She</i>
+saw through it all; these people were in league
+with Nettie, to try to save her boy. What
+wasn't she ready to do at their bidding!</p>
+
+<p>There was but one thing about which she was
+positive. The little girls could not go without
+Nettie; they talked it over in the evening, after
+Miss Sherrill was gone. Nettie looked distressed.
+She liked to please Miss Sherrill; she
+was willing to make many grandmothers; she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span>
+would help to put the little girls in as dainty
+attire as possible, but she did <i>not</i> want to go to
+the flower festival. She planned various ways;
+Jerry would take them down, or Norm; perhaps
+even <i>he</i> would go with them; surely
+mother would be willing to have them go with
+Norm. Miss Sherrill would look after them
+carefully, and they would come home at eight
+o'clock; before they began to grow very sleepy.</p>
+
+<p>But no, Mrs. Decker was resolved; she could
+not let them go unless Nettie would go with
+them and bring them home. "I let one child
+run the streets," she said with a heavy sigh,
+"and I have lived to most wish he had died
+when he was a baby, before I did it; and I said
+then I would never let another one go out of my
+sight as long as I had control; I can't go; but
+I would just as soon they would be with you as
+with me; and unless you go, they can't stir a
+step, and that's the whole of it." Mrs. Decker
+was a very determined woman when she set out
+to be; and Nettie looked the picture of dismay.
+It did not seem possible to her to go to a flower
+party; and on the other hand it seemed really
+dreadful to thwart Miss Sherrill. Jerry sat listening,
+saying little, but the word he put in now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span>
+and then, was on Mrs. Decker's side; he owned
+to himself that he never so entirely approved of
+her as at that moment. He wanted Nettie to
+go to the flower party.</p>
+
+<p>"But I have nothing to wear?" said Nettie,
+blushing, and almost weeping.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing to wear!" repeated Mrs. Decker
+in honest astonishment. "Why, what do you
+wear on Sundays, I should like to know? I'm
+sure you look as neat and nice as any girl I ever
+saw, in your gingham. I was watching you last
+Sunday and thinking how pretty it was."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; but, mother, they all wear white at
+such places; and I cut up my white dress, you
+know, for the little girls; it was rather short for
+me anyway; but I should feel queer in any other
+color."</p>
+
+<p>"O, well," said Mrs. Decker in some irritation,
+"if they go to such places to show their
+clothes, why, I suppose you must stay at home,
+if you have none that you want to show. I
+thought, being it was a church, it didn't matter,
+so you were neat and clean; but churches are
+like everything else, it seems, places for show."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry looked grave disapproval at Nettie, but
+she felt injured and could have cried. Was it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span>
+fair to accuse her of going to church to show her
+clothes, or of being over-particular, when she
+went every Sunday in a blue and white gingham
+such as no other girl in her class would wear
+even to school? This was not church, it was a
+party. It was hard that she must be blamed
+for pride, when she was only too glad to stay at
+home from it.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't go in my blue dress, and that is the
+whole of it," she said at last, a good deal of
+decision in her voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," said Mrs Decker. "Then we'll
+say no more about it; as for the little girls
+going without you, they sha'n't do it. When I
+set my foot down, it's <i>down</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry instinctively looked down at her foot
+as she spoke. It was a good-sized one, and
+looked as though it could set firmly on any question
+on which it was put. His heart began to
+fail him; the flower party and certain things
+which he hoped to accomplish thereby, were
+fading. He took refuge with Mrs. Smith to
+hide his disappointment, and also to learn wisdom
+about this matter of dress.</p>
+
+<p>"Do clothes make such a very great difference
+to girls?" was his first question.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Difference?" said Mrs. Smith rubbing a little
+more flour on her hands, and plunging them
+again into the sticky mass she was kneading.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm. They seem to think of clothes the
+first thing, when there is any place to go to;
+boys aren't that way. I don't believe a boy
+knows whether his coat ought to be brown or
+green. What makes the difference?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Smith laughed a little. "Well," she
+said reflectively, "there is a difference, now
+that's a fact. I noticed it time and again when
+I was living with Mrs. Jennison. Dick would
+go off with whatever he happened to have on;
+and Florence was always in a flutter as to
+whether she looked as well as the rest. I've
+heard folks say that it is the fault of the
+mothers, because they make such a fuss over the
+girls' clothes, and keep rigging them up in something
+bright, just to make 'em look pretty, till
+they succeed in making them think there isn't
+anything quite so important in life as what they
+wear on their backs. It's all wrong, I believe.
+But then, Nettie ain't one of that kind. She
+hasn't had any mother to perk her up and make
+her vain. I shouldn't think she would be one
+to care about clothes much."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"She doesn't," said Jerry firmly. "I don't
+think she would care if other folks didn't. The
+girls in her class act hatefully to her; they don't
+speak, if they can help it. I suppose it's clothes;
+I don't know what else; they are always rigged
+out like hollyhocks or tulips; they make fun of
+her, I guess; and that isn't very pleasant."</p>
+
+<p>"Is that the reason she won't go to the flower
+show next week?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm, that's the reason. All the girls are
+going to dress in white; I suppose she thinks
+she will look queerly, and be talked about. But
+I don't understand it. Seems to me if all the
+boys were going to wear blue coats, and I knew
+it, I'd just as soon wear my gray one if gray was
+respectable."</p>
+
+<p>"She ought to have a white dress, now that's
+a fact," said Mrs. Smith with energy, patting
+her brown loaf, and tucking it down into the tin
+in a skilful way. "It isn't much for a girl like
+her to want; if her father was the kind of man
+he ought to be, she might have a white dress for
+best, as well as not; I've no patience with him."</p>
+
+<p>"Her father hasn't drank a drop this week,"
+said Jerry.</p>
+
+<p>"Hasn't; well, I'm glad of it; but I'm thinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>
+of what he has done, and what he will go
+and do, as likely as not, next week; they might
+be as forehanded as any folks I know of, if he
+was what he ought to be; there isn't a better
+workman in the town. Well, you don't care
+much about the flower party, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't now," said Jerry, wearily. "When
+I thought the little girls were going, I had a plan.
+Sate is such a little thing, she would be sure to
+be half-asleep by eight o'clock; and I was going
+to coax Norm to come for her, and we carry her
+home between us. Norm won't go to a flower
+party, out and out; but he is good-natured, and
+was beginning to think a great deal of Sate;
+then I thought Mr. Sherrill would speak to him.
+The more we can get Norm to feeling he belongs
+in such places, the less he will feel like belonging
+to the corner groceries, and the streets."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," said Mrs. Smith admiringly. "Well,
+I do say I didn't think Nettie was the kind of
+girl to put a white dress between her chances
+of helping folks. Sarah Ann thinks she's a real
+true Christian; but Satan does seem to be into
+the clothes business from beginning to end."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose it is any easier for a Christian
+to be laughed at and slighted, than it is for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span>
+other people," said Jerry, inclined to resent the
+idea that Nettie was not showing the right spirit;
+although in his heart he was disappointed in her
+for caring so much about the color of her dress.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't know about that," said Mrs.
+Smith, stopping in the act of tucking her bread
+under the blankets, to look full at Jerry, "why,
+they even made fun of the Lord Jesus Christ;
+dressed him up in purple, like a king, and
+mocked at him! When it comes to remembering
+that, it would seem as if any common Christian
+might be almost glad of a chance to be made
+fun of, just to stand in the same lot with him."</p>
+
+<p>This was a new thought to Jerry. He studied
+it for awhile in silence. Now it so happened
+that neither Mrs. Smith nor Jerry remembered
+certain facts; one was that Mrs. Smith's kitchen
+window was in a line with Mrs. Decker's bedroom
+window, where Nettie had gone to sit
+while she mended Norm's shirt; the other was
+that a gentle breeze was blowing, which brought
+their words distinctly to Nettie's ears. At first
+she had not noticed the talk, busy with her own
+thoughts, then she heard her name, and paused
+needle in hand, to wonder what was being said
+about her. Then, coming to her senses, she determined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span>
+to leave the room; but her mother,
+for convenience, had pushed her ironing table
+against the bedroom door, and then had gone to
+the yard in search of chips; Nettie was a prisoner;
+she tried to push the table by pushing
+against the door, but the floor was uneven, and
+the table would not move; meantime the conversation
+going on across the alleyway, came
+distinctly to her. No use to cough, they were
+too much interested to hear her. By and by she
+grew so interested as to forget that the words
+were not intended for her to hear. There were
+more questions involved in this matter of dress
+than she had thought about. Her cheeks began to
+burn a little with the thought that her neighbor
+had been planning help for Norm, which she
+was blocking because she had no white dress!
+This was an astonishment! She had not known
+she was proud. In fact, she had thought herself
+very humble, and worthy of commendation because
+she went Sabbath after Sabbath to the
+school in the same blue and white dress, not so
+fresh now by a great deal as when she first
+came home.</p>
+
+<p>When Mrs. Smith reached the sentence which
+told of the Lord Jesus being robed in purple,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>
+and crowned with thorns, and mocked, two great
+tears fell on Norm's shirt sleeve.</p>
+
+<p>It was a very gentle little girl who moved
+about the kitchen getting early tea; Mrs. Decker
+glanced at her from time to time in a bewildered
+way. The sort of girl with whom she was best
+acquainted would have slammed things about a
+little; both because she had not clothes to wear
+like other children, and because she had been
+blamed for not wanting to do what was expected
+of her. But Nettie's face had no trace of anger,
+her movements were gentleness itself; her voice
+when she spoke was low and sweet: "Mother, I
+will take the little girls, if you will let them go."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker drew a relieved sigh. "I'd like
+them to go because <i>she</i> asked to have them; and
+I can see plain enough she is trying to get hold
+of Norm; so is <i>he</i>; that's what helping with the
+flowers means; and there ain't anything I ain't
+willing to do to help, only I couldn't let the little
+girls go without you; they'd be scared to death,
+and it wouldn't look right. I'm sorry enough
+you ain't got suitable clothes; if I could help it,
+you should have as good as the best of them."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," said Nettie, "I don't think I
+care anything about the dress now." She was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span>
+thinking of that crown of thorns. So when Miss
+Sherrill called the way was plain and little Sate
+ready to be taught anything she would teach
+her.</p>
+
+<p>They went away down to the pond under the
+clump of trees which formed such a pretty shade;
+and there Sate's slow sweet voice said over the
+lines as they were told to her, putting in many
+questions which the words suggested. "He makes
+the flowers blow," she repeated with thoughtful
+face, then: "What did He make them for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think it was because He loved them; and
+He likes to give you and me sweet and pleasant
+things to look at."</p>
+
+<p>"Does He love flowers?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think so, darling."</p>
+
+<p>"And birds? See the birds!" For at that
+moment two beauties standing on the edge of
+their nest, looked down into the clear water, and
+seeing themselves reflected in its smoothness began
+to talk in low sweet chirps to their shadows.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, He loves the birds, I am sure; think
+how many different kinds He has made, and how
+beautiful they are. Then He has given them
+sweet voices, and they are thanking Him as well
+as they know how, for all his goodness. Listen."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Sure enough, one of the little birds hopped
+back a trifle, balanced himself well on the nest,
+and, putting up his little throat, trilled a lovely
+song.</p>
+
+<p>"What does he say?" asked Sate, watching
+him intently.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't know," said Miss Sherrill, with
+a little laugh. Sate was taxing her powers
+rather too much. "But God understands, you
+know; and I am sure the words are very sweet
+to him."</p>
+
+<p>Sate reflected over this for a minute, then
+went back to the flowers.</p>
+
+<p>"What made Him put the colors on them?
+Does He like to see pretty colors, do you sink?
+Which color does He like just the very bestest
+of all?"</p>
+
+<p>"O you darling! I don't know that, either.
+Perhaps, crimson; or, no, I think He must like
+pure white ones a little the best. But He likes
+little human flowers the best of all. Little white
+flowers with souls. Do you know what I mean,
+darling? White hearts are given to the little
+children who try all the time to do right, because
+they love Jesus, and want to please him."</p>
+
+<p>"Sate wants to," said the little girl earnestly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span>
+"Sate loves Jesus; and she would like to kiss
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"I do not know but you shall, some day.
+Now shall we take another line of the hymn?"
+continued her teacher.</p>
+
+<p>"I tried to teach her," explained Miss Sherrill
+to her brother. "But I think, after all, she
+taught me the most. She is the dearest little
+thing, and asks the strangest questions! When
+I look at her grave, sweet face, and hear her slow,
+sweet voice making wise answers, and asking
+wise questions, a sort of baby wisdom, you
+know, I can only repeat over and over the
+words:</p>
+
+<p>"'Of such is the kingdom of heaven.'</p>
+
+<p>"To-day I told her the story of Jesus taking
+the little children up in his arms and blessing
+them. She listened with that thoughtful look in
+her eyes which is so wonderful, then suddenly
+she held up her pretty arms and said in the
+most coaxing tones:</p>
+
+<p>"'Take little Sate to Him, and let Him bless
+her, yight away.'</p>
+
+<p>"Tremaine, I could hardly keep back the
+tears. Do you think He can be going to call
+her soon?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Not necessarily at all. There is no reason
+why a little child should not live very close to
+Him on earth. I hope that little girl has a great
+work to do for Christ in this world. She has a
+very sweet face."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII.<br />
+
+<small>THE FLOWER PARTY.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>I&nbsp;&nbsp; DARE say some of you think Nettie
+Decker was a very silly girl to care so
+much because her dress was a blue and white
+gingham instead of being all white.</div>
+
+<p>You have told your friend Katie about the
+story and asked her if she didn't think it was
+real silly to make such an ado over <i>clothes</i>; you
+have said you were sure you would just as soon
+wear a blue gingham as not if it was clean and
+neat. But now let me venture a hint. I
+shouldn't be surprised if that was because you
+never do have to go to places differently dressed
+from all the others. Because if you did, you
+would know that it was something of a trial.
+Oh! I don't say it is the hardest thing in the
+world; or that one is all ready to die as a martyr
+who does it; but what I <i>do</i> say is, that it
+takes a little moral courage; and, for one, I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span>
+not surprised that Nettie looked very sober
+about it when the afternoon came.</p>
+
+<p>It took her a good while to dress; not that
+there was so much to be done, but she stopped
+to think. With her hair in her neck, still unbraided,
+she pinned a lovely pink rose at her
+breast just to see how pretty it would look for a
+minute. Miss Sherrill had left it for her to
+wear; but she did not intend to wear it, because
+she thought it would not match well with
+her gingham dress. Just here, I don't mind
+owning that I think her silly; because I believe
+that sweet flowers go with sweet pure
+young faces, whether the dress is of gingham
+or silk.</p>
+
+<p>But Nettie looked grave, as I said, and wished
+it was over; and tried to plan for the hundredth
+time, how it would all be. The girls, Cecelia
+Lester and Lorena Barstow and the rest of
+them, would be out in their elegant toilets, and
+would look at her so! That Ermina Farley
+would be there; she had seen her but once, on
+the first Sunday, and liked her face and her ways
+a little better than the others; but she had been
+away since then. Jerry said she was back, however,
+and Mrs. Smith said they were the richest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span>
+folks in town; and of course Ermina would be
+elegantly dressed at the flower party.</p>
+
+<p>Well, she did not care. She was willing to
+have them all dressed beautifully; she was not
+mean enough to want them to wear gingham
+dresses, if only they would not make fun of hers.
+Oh! if she could <i>only</i> stay at home, and help
+iron, and get supper, and fry some potatoes
+nicely for father, how happy she would be. Then
+she sighed again, and set about braiding her
+hair. She meant to go, but she could not help
+being sorry for herself to think it must be done;
+and she spent a great deal of trouble in trying
+to plan just how hateful it would all be; how
+the girls would look, and whisper, and giggle;
+and how her cheeks would burn. Oh dear!</p>
+
+<p>Then she found it was late, and had to make
+her fingers fly, and to rush about the little woodhouse
+chamber which was still her room, in a
+way which made Sarah Ann say to her mother
+with a significant nod, "I guess she's woke up
+and gone at it, poor thing!" Yes, she had;
+and was down in fifteen minutes more.</p>
+
+<p>Oh! but didn't the little girls look pretty!
+Nettie forgot her trouble for a few minutes, in
+admiring them when she had put the last touches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span>
+to their toilet. Susie was to be in a tableau
+where she would need a dolly, and Miss Sherrill
+had furnished one for the occasion. A lovely
+dolly with real hair, and blue eyes, and a bright
+blue sash to match them; and when Susie got it
+in her arms, there came such a sweet, softened
+look over her face that Nettie hardly knew her.
+The sturdy voice, too, which was so apt to be
+fierce, softened and took a motherly tone; the
+dolly was certainly educating Susie. Little Sate
+looked on, interested, pleased, but without the
+slightest shade of envy. She wanted no dolly;
+or, if she did, there was a little black-faced,
+worn, rag one reposing at this moment in the
+trundle bed where little Sate's own head would
+rest at night; kissed, and caressed, and petted,
+and told to be good until mamma came back;
+this dolly had all of Sate's warm heart. For
+the rest, the grave little old women in caps and
+spectacles, which wound about her dress, crept
+up in bunches on her shoulders, lay in nestling
+heaps at her breast, filled all Sate's thoughts.
+She seemed to have become a little old woman
+herself, so serious and womanly was her face.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie took a hand of each, and they went to
+the flower festival. There was to be a five<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span>
+o'clock tea for all the elderly people of the
+church, and the tables, some of them, were set
+in Mr. Eastman's grounds, which adjoined the
+church. When Nettie entered these grounds
+she found a company of girls several years
+younger than herself, helping to decorate the
+tables with flowers; at least that was their work,
+but as Nettie appeared at the south gate, a queer
+little object pushed in at the west side. A child
+not more than six years old, with a clean face,
+and carefully combed hair, but dressed in a plain
+dark calico; and her pretty pink toes were without
+shoes or stockings.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/facing308.jpg" width="600" height="444" alt="garden party" />
+<div class="caption">AT THE FLOWER PARTY.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>I am not sure that if a little wolf had suddenly
+appeared before them, it could have caused
+more exclamations of astonishment and dismay.</p>
+
+<p>"Only look at that child!" "The idea!"
+"Just to think of such a thing!" were a few of
+the exclamations with which the air was thick.
+At last, one bolder than the rest, stepped towards
+her: "Little girl, where did you come
+from? What in the world do you want here?"</p>
+
+<p>Startled by the many eyes and the sharp
+tones, the small new-comer hid her face behind
+an immense bunch of glowing hollyhocks, which
+she held in her hand, and said not a word.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span>
+Then the chorus of voices became more eager:</p>
+
+<p>"Do look at her hollyhocks! Did ever anybody
+see such a queer little fright! Girls, I do
+believe she has come to the party." Then the
+one who had spoken before, tried again: "See
+here, child, whoever you are, you must go right
+straight home; this is no place for you. I wonder
+what your mother was about&mdash;if you have
+one&mdash;to let you run away barefooted, and
+looking like a fright."</p>
+
+<p>Now the barefooted maiden was thoroughly
+frightened, and sobbed outright. It was precisely
+what Nettie Decker needed to give her
+courage. When she came in at the gate, she
+had felt like shrinking away from all eyes;
+now she darted an indignant glance at the
+speaker, and moved quickly toward the crying
+child, Susie and Sate following close behind.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't cry, little girl," she said in the gentlest
+tones, stooping and putting an arm tenderly
+around the trembling form; "you haven't
+done anything wrong; Miss Sherrill will be
+here soon, and she will make it all right."</p>
+
+<p>Thus comforted, the tears ceased, and the
+small new-comer allowed her hand to be taken;
+while Susie came around to her other side, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span>
+scowled fiercely, as though to say: "I'll protect
+this girl myself; let's see you touch her now!"</p>
+
+<p>A burst of laughter greeted Nettie as soon
+as she had time to give heed to it. Others had
+joined the groups, among them Lorena Barstow
+and Irene Lewis. "What's all this?"
+asked Irene.</p>
+
+<p>"O, nothing," said one; "only that Decker
+girl's sister, or cousin, or something has just
+arrived from Cork, and come in search of her.
+Lorena Barstow, did you ever see such a queer-looking
+fright?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see but they look a good deal alike,"
+said Lorena, tossing her curls; "I'm sure their
+dresses correspond; is she a sister?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, no," answered one of the smaller
+girls; "those two cunning little things in white
+are Nettie Decker's sisters; I think they are
+real sweet."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Lorena, giving them a disagreeable
+stare, "in white, are they? The unselfish
+older sister has evidently cut up her nightgowns
+to make them white dresses for this occasion."</p>
+
+<p>"Lorena," said the younger girl, "if I were
+you I would be ashamed; mother would not
+like you to talk in that way."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see Miss Nanie, you are not me,
+therefore you cannot tell what you would be,
+or do; and I want to inform you it is not
+your business to tell me what mother would
+like."</p>
+
+<p>Imagine Nettie Decker standing quietly, with
+the barefooted child's small hand closely
+clasped in hers, listening to all this! There was
+a pretense of lowered voices, yet every word
+was distinct to her ears. Her heart beat fast
+and she began to feel as though she really was
+paying quite a high price for the possibility of
+getting Norm into the church parlor for a few
+minutes that evening.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment, through the main gateway,
+came Ermina Parley, a colored man with her,
+bearing a basket full of such wonderful roses,
+that for a minute the group could only exclaim
+over them. Ermina was in white, but her dress
+was simply made, and looked as though she
+might not be afraid to tumble about on the
+grass in it; her shoes were thick, and the blue
+sash she wore, though broad and handsome, had
+some way a quiet air of fitness for the occasion,
+which did not seem to belong to most of the
+others. She watched the disposal of her roses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span>
+then gave an inquiring glance about the grounds
+as she said, "What are you all doing here?"</p>
+
+<p>"We are having a tableau," said Lorena Barstow.
+"Look behind you, and you will see
+the Misses Bridget and Margaret Mulrooney,
+who have just arrived from ould Ireland shure."</p>
+
+<p>Most of the thoughtless girls laughed, mistaking
+this rudeness for wit, but Ermina turned
+quickly and caught her first glimpse of Nettie's
+burning face; then she hastened toward her.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, here is little Prudy, after all," she
+said eagerly; "I coaxed her mother to let her
+come, but I didn't think she would. Has Miss
+Sherrill seen her? I think she will make such a
+cunning Roman flower-girl, in that tableau, you
+know. Her face is precisely the shape and
+style of the little girls we saw in Rome last winter.
+Poor little girlie, was she frightened?
+How kind you were to take care of her. She
+is a real bright little thing. I want to coax her
+into Sunday-school if I can. Let us go and ask
+Miss Sherrill what she thinks about the flower-girl."</p>
+
+<p>How fast Ermina Farley could talk! She
+did not wait for replies. The truth was, Nettie's
+glowing cheeks, and Susie's fierce looks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span>
+told her the story of trial for somebody else
+besides the Roman flower-girl; she could guess
+at things which might have been said before she
+came. She wound her arm familiarly about
+Nettie's waist as she spoke, and drew her, almost
+against her will, across the lawn. "My!"
+said Irene Lewis. "How good we are!"</p>
+
+<p>"Birds of a feather flock together," quoted
+Lorena Barstow. "I think that barefooted
+child and her protector look alike."</p>
+
+<p>"Still," said Irene, "you must remember
+that Ermina Farley has joined that flock; and
+her feathers are very different."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! that is only for effect," was the naughty
+reply, with another toss of the rich curls.</p>
+
+<p>Now what was the matter with all these disagreeable
+young people? Did they really attach
+so much importance to the clothes they wore
+as to think no one was respectable who was
+not dressed like them? Had they really no
+hearts, so that it made no difference to them
+how deeply they wounded poor Nettie Decker?</p>
+
+<p>I do not think it was quite either of these
+things. They had been, so far in their lives,
+unfortunate, in that they had heard a great deal
+about dress, and style, until they had done what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span>
+young people and a few older ones are apt to
+do, attached too much importance to these
+things. They were neither old enough, nor
+wise enough, to know that it is a mark of a shallow
+nature to judge of people by the clothes
+they wear; then, in regard to the ill-natured
+things said, I tell you truly, that even Lorena
+Barstow was ashamed of herself. When her
+younger sister reproved her, the flush which
+came on her cheek was not all anger, much of it
+was shame. But she had taught her tongue to
+say so many disagreeable words, and to pride
+itself on its independence in saying what
+she pleased, that the habit asserted itself,
+and she could not seem to control it. The contrast
+between her own conduct and Ermina
+Farley's struck her so sharply and disagreeably
+it served only to make her worse than before;
+precisely the effect which follows when people
+of uncontrolled tempers find themselves rebuked.</p>
+
+<p>Half-way down the lawn the party in search
+of Miss Sherrill met her face to face. Her
+greeting was warm. "Oh! here is my dear
+little grandmother. Thank you, Nettie, for
+coming; I look to you for a great deal of help.
+Why, Ermina, what wee mousie have you here?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"She is a little Roman flower-girl, Miss Sherrill;
+they live on Parker street. Her mother
+is a nice woman; my mother has her to run the
+machine. I coaxed her to let Trudie wear her
+red dress and come barefoot, until you would
+see if she would do for the Roman flower-girl.
+Papa says her face is very Roman in style, and
+she always makes us think of the flower-girls
+we saw there. I brought my Roman sash to
+dress her in, if you thought well of it; she is
+real bright, and will do just as she is told."</p>
+
+<p>"It is the very thing," said Miss Sherrill with
+a pleased face; "I am so glad you thought of
+it. And the hollyhocks are just red enough to
+go in the basket. Did you think of them too?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, ma'am; mamma did. She said the
+more red flowers we could mass about her, the
+better for a Roman peasant."</p>
+
+<p>"It will be a lovely thing," said Miss Sherrill.
+Then she stooped and kissed the small brown
+face, which was now smiling through its tears.
+"You have found good friends, little one. She
+is very small to be here alone. Ermina, will you
+and Nettie take care of her this afternoon, and
+see that she is happy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm," said Ermina promptly. "Nettie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span>
+was taking care of her when I came. She was
+afraid at first, I think."</p>
+
+<p>"They were ugly to her," volunteered Susie,
+"they were just as ugly to her as they could be;
+they made her cry. If they'd done it to Sate I
+would have scratched them and bit them."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," said Miss Sherrill sorrowfully. "How
+sorry I am to hear it; then Susie would have
+been naughty too, and it wouldn't have made
+the others any better; in fact, it would have
+made them worse."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care," said Susie, but she did care.
+She said that, just as you do sometimes, when
+you mean you care a great deal, and don't want
+to let anybody know it. For the first time,
+Susie reflected whether it was a good plan to
+scratch and bite people who did not, in her
+judgment, behave well. It had not been a
+perfect success in her experience, she was
+willing to admit that; and if it made Miss
+Sherrill sorry, it was worth thinking about.</p>
+
+<p>Well, that afternoon which began so dismally,
+blossomed out into a better time than Nettie
+had imagined it possible for her to have. To
+be sure those particular girls who had been the
+cause of her sorrow, would have nothing to do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span>
+with her; and whispered, and sent disdainful
+glances her way when they had an opportunity;
+but Nettie went in their direction as little as
+possible, and when she did was in such a hurry
+that she sometimes forgot all about them. Miss
+Sherrill, who was chairman of the committee
+of entertainment, kept her as busy as a bee the
+entire afternoon; running hither and thither,
+carrying messages to this one, and pins to that
+one, setting this vase of flowers at one end, and
+that lovely basket at another, and, a great deal
+of the time, standing right beside Miss Sherrill
+herself, handing her, at call, just what she
+needed when she dressed the girls with their
+special flowers. She could hear the bright
+pleasant talk which passed between Miss Sherrill
+and the other young ladies. She was often
+appealed too with a pleasant word. Her own
+teacher smiled on her more than once, and said
+she was the handiest little body who had ever
+helped them; and all the time that lovely Ermina
+Farley with her beautiful hair, and her
+pretty ways, and her sweet low voice, was near
+at hand, joining in everything which she had
+to do. To be sure she heard, in one of her rapid
+scampers across the lawn, this question asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span>
+in a loud tone by Lorena Barstow: "I wonder
+how much they pay that girl for running
+errands? Maybe she will earn enough to get
+herself a new white nightgown to wear to parties;"
+but at that particular minute, Ermina
+Farley running from another direction on an
+errand precisely like her own, bumped up
+against her with such force that their noses
+ached; then both stopped to laugh merrily, and
+some way, what with the bump, and the laughter,
+Nettie forgot to cry, when she had a chance,
+over the unkind words. Then, later in the
+afternoon, came Jerry; and in less than five
+minutes he joined their group, and made himself
+so useful that when Mr. Sherrill came presently
+for boys to go with him to the chapel to
+arrange the tables, Miss Sherrill said in low
+tones, "Don't take Jerry please, we need him
+here." Nettie heard it, and beamed her satisfaction.
+Also she heard Irene Lewis say,
+"Now they've taken that Irish boy into their
+crowd&mdash;shouldn't you think Ermina Farley
+would be ashamed!"</p>
+
+<p>Then Nettie's face fairly paled. It is one
+thing to be insulted yourself; it is another to
+stand quietly by and see your friends insulted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span>
+She was almost ready to appeal to Miss Sherrill
+for protection from tongues. But Jerry heard
+the same remark, and laughed; not in a forced
+way, but actually as though it was very amusing
+to him. And almost immediately he called out
+something to Ermina, using an unmistakable
+Irish brogue. What was the use in trying to
+protect a boy who was so indifferent as that?</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.<br />
+
+<small>A SATISFACTORY EVENING.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>THE little old grandmothers with their queer
+caps were perhaps the feature of the evening.
+Everybody wanted a bouquet of them. In
+fact, long before eight o'clock, Jerry had been
+hurried away for a fresh supply, and Nettie had
+been established behind a curtain to "make
+more grandmothers." In her excitement she
+made them even prettier than before; and sweet,
+grave little Sate had no trouble in selling every
+one. The pretty Roman flower girl was so much
+admired, that her father, a fine-looking young
+mechanic who came after her bringing red stockings
+and neat shoes, carried her off at last in triumph
+on his shoulder, saying he was afraid her
+head would be turned with so much praise, but
+thanking everybody with bright smiling eyes for
+giving his little girl such a pleasant afternoon.</div>
+
+<p>"She isn't Irish, after all," said Irene Lewis,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span>
+watching them. "And Mr. Sherrill shook hands
+with him as familiarly as though he was an old
+friend; I wish we hadn't made such simpletons
+of ourselves. Lorena Barstow, what did you
+want to go and say she was an Irish girl for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't say any such thing," said Lorena in
+a shrill voice; and then these two who had been
+friends in ill humor all the afternoon quarreled,
+and went home more unhappy than before.
+And still I tell you they were not the worst girls
+in the world; and were very much ashamed of
+themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Before eight o'clock, Norm came. To be sure
+he stoutly refused, at first, to step beyond the
+doorway, and ordered Nettie in a somewhat
+surly tone to "bring that young one out," if she
+wanted her carried home. That, of course, was
+the little grandmother; but her eyes looked as
+though they had not thought of being sleepy,
+and the ladies were not ready to let her go.
+Then the minister, who seemed to understand
+things without having them explained, said,
+"Where is Decker? we'll make it all right;
+come, little grandmother, let us go and see about
+it." So he took Sate on his shoulder and made
+his way through the crowd; and Nettie who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span>
+watched anxiously, presently saw Norm coming
+back with them, not looking surly at all; his
+clothes had been brushed, and he had on a clean
+collar, and his hair was combed, quite as though
+he had meant to come in, after all.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after Norm's coming, something happened
+which gave Nettie a glimpse of her
+brother in a new light. Young Ernest Belmont
+was there with his violin. During the afternoon,
+Nettie had heard whispers of what a
+lovely player he was, and at last saw with delight
+that a space was being cleared for him to
+play. Crowds of people gathered about the
+platform to listen, but among them all Norm's
+face was marked; at least it was to Nettie.
+She had never seen him look like that. He
+seemed to forget the crowds, and the lights, and
+everything but the sounds which came from that
+violin. He stood perfectly still, his eyes never
+once turning from their earnest gaze of the fingers
+which were producing such wonderful tones.
+Nettie, looking, and wondering, almost forgot
+the music in her astonishment that her brother
+should be so absorbed. Jerry with some difficulty
+elbowed his way towards her, his face
+beaming, and said, "Isn't it splendid?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>For answer she said, "Look at Norm." And
+Jerry looked.</p>
+
+<p>"That's so," he said at last, heartily, speaking
+as though he was answering a remark from
+somebody; "Norm is a musician. Did you
+know he liked it so much?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know anything about it," Nettie
+said, hardly able to keep back the tears, though
+she did not understand why her eyes should fill;
+but there was such a look of intense enjoyment
+in Norm's face, mingled with such a wistful
+longing for something, as made the tears start
+in spite of her. "I didn't know he liked <i>anything</i>
+so much as that."</p>
+
+<p>"He likes <i>that</i>," said Jerry heartily, "and I
+am glad."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. What makes you glad? I
+am almost sorry; because he may never have a
+chance to hear it again."</p>
+
+<p>"He must make his chances; he is going to be
+a man. I'm glad, because it gives us a hint as
+to what his tastes are; don't you see?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes," said Nettie, "I see he likes it;
+but what is the use in knowing people's tastes if
+you cannot possibly do anything for them?"</p>
+
+<p>"There's no such thing as it not being possible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span>
+to do most anything," Jerry said good humoredly.
+"Maybe we will some of us own a violin
+some day, and Norm will play it for us. Who
+knows? Stranger things than that have happened."</p>
+
+<p>But this thing looked to Nettie so improbable
+that she merely laughed. The music suddenly
+ceased, and Norm came back from dreamland
+and looked about him, and blushed, and felt
+awkward. He saw the people now, and the
+lights, and the flowers; he remembered his
+hands and did not know what to do with them;
+and his feet felt too large for the space they must
+occupy.</p>
+
+<p>Jerry plunged through the crowd and stood
+beside him.</p>
+
+<p>"How did you like it?" he asked, and Norm
+cleared his voice before replying; he could not
+understand why his throat should feel so husky.</p>
+
+<p>"I like a fiddle," he said. "There is a fellow
+comes into the corner grocery down there by
+Crossman's and plays, sometimes; I always go
+down there, when I hear of it."</p>
+
+<p>If Jerry could have caught Nettie's eye just
+then he would have made a significant gesture;
+the store by Crossman's made tobacco and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span>
+liquor its chief trade. So a fiddle was one of
+the things used to draw the boys into it!</p>
+
+<p>"Is a fiddle the only kind of music you like?"
+Jerry had been accustomed to calling it a violin,
+but the instinct of true politeness which was
+marked in him, made him say fiddle just now as
+Norm had done.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I like anything that whistles a tune!"
+said Norm. "I've gone a rod out of my way to
+hear a jew's-harp many a time; even an old hand-organ
+sounds nice to me. I don't know why,
+but I never hear one without stopping and listening
+as long as I can." He laughed a little, as
+though ashamed of the taste, and looked at Jerry
+suspiciously. But there was not the slightest
+hint of a smile on the boy's face, only hearty interest
+and approval.</p>
+
+<p>"I like music, too, almost any sort; but I
+don't believe I like it as well as you. Your face
+looked while you were listening as though you
+could make some yourself if you tried."</p>
+
+<p>The smile went out quickly from Norm's face,
+and Jerry thought he heard a little sigh with the
+reply:</p>
+
+<p>"I never had a chance to try; and never expect
+to have."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, now, I should like to know why not?
+I never could understand why a boy with brains,
+and hands, and feet, shouldn't have a try at
+almost anything which was worth trying, sometime
+in his life." It was not Jerry who said
+this, but the minister who had come up in time
+to hear the last words from both sides. He
+stopped before Norm, smiling as he spoke.
+"Try the music, my friend, by all means, if you
+like it. It is a noble taste, worth cultivating."</p>
+
+<p>Norm looked sullen. "It's easy to talk," he
+said severely, "but when a fellow has to work
+like a dog to get enough to eat and wear, to
+keep him from starving or freezing, I'd like to
+see him get a chance to try at music, or anything
+else of that kind!"</p>
+
+<p>"So should I. He is the very fellow who ought
+to have the chance; and more than that, in nine
+cases out of ten he is the fellow who gets it. A
+boy who is willing and able to work, is pretty
+sure, in this country, to have opportunity to
+gratify his tastes in the end. He may have to
+wait awhile, but that only sharpens the appetite
+of a genuine taste; if it is a worthy taste, as
+music certainly is, it will grow with his growth,
+and will help him to plan, and save, and contrive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>
+until one of these days he will show you! By
+the way, you would like organ music, I fancy;
+the sort which is sometimes played on parlor
+organs. If you will come to the parsonage to-morrow
+night at eight o'clock, I think I can
+promise you something which you will enjoy.
+My sister is going to try some new music for a
+few friends, at that time; suppose you come and
+pick out your favorite?"</p>
+
+<p>All Jerry's satisfaction and interest shone in
+his face; to-morrow night at eight o'clock! All
+day he had been trying to arrange something
+which would keep Norm at that hour away from
+the aforesaid corner grocery, where he happened
+to know some doubtful plans were to be arranged
+for future mischief, by the set who gathered there.
+If only Norm would go to the parsonage it would
+be the very thing. But Norm flushed and hesitated.
+"Bring a friend with you," said the
+minister. "Bring Jerry, here; you like music,
+don't you, Jerry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," said Jerry promptly; "I like
+music very much, and I would like to go if
+Norm is willing."</p>
+
+<p>"Bring Jerry with you." That sentence had a
+pleasant sound. Up to this moment it was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span>
+younger boy who had patronized the elder.
+Norm called him the "little chap," but for all
+that looked up to him with a curious sort of respect
+such as he felt for none of the "fellows"
+who were his daily companions; the idea of
+bringing him to a place of entertainment had its
+charms.</p>
+
+<p>"May I expect you?" asked the minister,
+reading his thoughts almost as plainly as though
+they had been printed on his face, and judging
+that this was the time to press an acceptance.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes," said Norm, "I suppose so."</p>
+
+<p>One of these days Norman Decker will not
+think of accepting an invitation with such words,
+but his intentions are good, now, and the minister
+thanks him as though he had received a
+favor, and departs well pleased.</p>
+
+<p>And now it is really growing late and little
+Sate must be carried home. It was an evening
+to remember.</p>
+
+<p>They talked it over by inches the next morning.
+Nettie finishing the breakfast dishes, and
+Jerry sitting on the doorstep fashioning a bracket
+for the kitchen lamp.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie talked much about Ermina Farley.
+"She is just as lovely and sweet as she can be.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>
+It was beautiful in her to come over to me as
+she did when she came into that yard; part of
+it was for little Trudie's sake, and a great deal
+of it was for my sake. I saw that at the time;
+and I saw it plainer all the afternoon. She
+didn't give me a chance to feel alone once; and
+she didn't stay near me as though she felt she
+ought to, but didn't want to, either; she just
+took hold and helped do everything Miss Sherrill
+gave me to do, and was as bright and sweet
+as she could be. I shall never forget it of her.
+But for all that," she added as she wrung out
+her dishcloth with an energy which the small
+white rag hardly needed, "I know it was pretty
+hard for her to do it, and I shall not give her a
+chance to do it again."</p>
+
+<p>"I want to know what there was hard
+about it?" said Jerry, looking up in astonishment.
+"I thought Ermina Farley seemed to be
+having as good a time as anybody there."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well now, I know, you are not a girl;
+boys are different from girls. They are not so
+kind-of-mean! At least, some of them are not,"
+she added quickly, having at that moment a
+vivid recollection of some mean things which
+she had endured from boys. "Really I don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span>
+think they are," she said, after a moment's
+thoughtful pause, and replying to the quizzical
+look on his face. "They don't think about
+dresses, and hats, and gloves, and all those
+sorts of things as girls do, and they don't say
+such hateful things. Oh! I <i>know</i> there is a
+great difference; and I know just how Ermina
+Farley will be talked about because she went
+with me, and stood up for me so; and I think
+it will be very hard for her. I used to think so
+about you, but you&mdash;are real different from
+girls!"</p>
+
+<p>"It amounts to about this," said Jerry, whittling
+gravely. "Good boys are different from
+bad girls, and bad boys are different from good
+girls."</p>
+
+<p>Nettie laughed merrily. "No," she said, "I
+do know what I am talking about, though you
+don't think so; I know real splendid girls who
+couldn't have done as Ermina Farley did yesterday,
+and as you do all the time; and what I say
+is, I don't mean to put myself where she will
+<i>have</i> to do it, much. I don't want to go to their
+parties; I don't expect a chance to go, but if I
+had it, I wouldn't go; and just for her sake, I
+don't mean to be always around for her to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span>
+to take care of me as she did yesterday. I have
+something else to do." Said Jerry, "Where do
+you think Norm is to take me this evening?"</p>
+
+<p>"Norm going to take you!" great wonderment
+in the tone. "Why, where could he take
+you? I don't know, I am sure."</p>
+
+<p>"He is to take me to the parsonage at eight
+o'clock to hear some wonderful music on the
+organ. He has been invited, and has had permission
+to bring me with him if he wants to.
+Don't you talk about not putting yourself where
+other people will have to take care of you! I
+advise you to cultivate the acquaintance of your
+brother. It isn't everybody who gets invited to
+the parsonage to hear such music as Miss Sherrill
+can make."</p>
+
+<p>The dishcloth was hung away now, and every
+bit of work was done. Nettie stood looking at
+the whittling boy in the doorway for a minute
+in blank astonishment, then she clasped her
+hands and said: "O Jerry! Did they do it?
+Aren't they the very splendidest people you ever
+knew in your life?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are pretty good," said Jerry, "that's a
+fact; they are most as good as my father. I'll
+tell you what it is, if you knew my father you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span>
+would know a man who would be worth remembering.
+I had a letter from him last night, and
+he sent a message to my friend Nettie."</p>
+
+<p>"What?" asked Nettie, her eyes very bright.</p>
+
+<p>"It was that you were to take good care of
+his boy; for in his opinion the boy was worth
+taking care of. On the strength of that I want
+you to come out and look at Mother Speckle;
+she is in a very important frame of mind, and
+has been scolding her children all the morning.
+I don't know what is the trouble; there are two
+of her daughters who seem to have gone astray
+in some way; at least she is very much displeased
+with them. Twice she has boxed Fluffie's
+ears, and once she pulled a feather out
+of poor Buff. See how forlorn she seems!"</p>
+
+<p>By this time they were making their way to
+the little house where the hen lived, Nettie
+agreeing to go for a very few minutes, declaring
+that if Norm was going out every evening there
+was work to do. He would need a clean collar
+and she must do it up; for mother had gone
+out to iron for the day. "Mother is so grateful
+to Mrs. Smith for getting her a chance to work,"
+she said, as they paused before the two disgraced
+chickens; "she says she would never have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span>
+thought of it if it had not been for her; you
+know she always used to sew. Why, how funny
+those chickens look! Only see, Jerry, they are
+studying that eggshell as though they thought
+they could make one. Now don't they look exactly
+as though they were planning something?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are," said Jerry. "They are planning
+going to housekeeping, I believe; you see they
+have quarreled with their mother. They consider
+that they have been unjustly punished, and
+I am in sympathy with them; and they believe
+they could make a house to live in out of that
+eggshell if they could only think of a way to
+stick it together again. I wish <i>we</i> could build a
+house out of eggshells; or even one room, and
+we'd have one before the month was over."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" said Nettie, stooping down to see
+why Buff kept her foot under her. "Do you
+want a room, Jerry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Somewhat," said Jerry. "At least I see a
+number of things we could do if we had a room,
+that I don't know how to do without one. Come
+over here, Nettie, and sit down; leave those
+chickens to sulk it out, and let us talk a little. I
+have a plan so large that there is no place to
+put it."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX.<br />
+
+<small>READY TO TRY.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>"YOU see," said Jerry, as Nettie came, protesting
+as she walked that she could stay
+but a few minutes, because there was Norm's
+collar, and she had four nice apples out of
+which she was going to make some splendid
+apple dumplings for dinner, "you see we must
+contrive something to keep a young fellow like
+Norm busy, if we are going to hold him after he
+is caught. It doesn't do to catch a fish and leave
+him on the edge of the bank near enough to
+flounce back into the water. Norm ought to be
+set to work to help along the plans, and kept so
+busy he wouldn't have time to get tired of them."</div>
+
+<p>"But how could that be done?" Nettie said
+in wondering tones, which nevertheless had a
+note of admiration in them. Jerry went so
+deeply into things, it almost took her breath
+away to follow him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Just so; that's the problem which ought to
+be thought out. I can think of things enough;
+but the room, and the tools to begin with, are
+the trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"What have you thought of? What would
+you do if you could?"</p>
+
+<p>"O my!" said Jerry, with a little laugh;
+"don't ask me that question, or your folks will
+have no apple dumplings to-day. I don't believe
+there is any end to the things which I would do
+if I could. But the first beginnings of them are
+like this: suppose we had a few dollars capital,
+and a room."</p>
+
+<p>"You might as well suppose we had a palace,
+and a million dollars," said Nettie, with a long-drawn
+sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"No, because I don't expect either of those
+things; but I do mean to have a room and a few
+dollars in capital for this thing some day; only,
+you see, I don't want to wait for them."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go on; what then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, then we would start an eating-house,
+you and I, on a little bit of a scale, you know.
+We would have bread with some kind of meat
+between, and coffee, in cold weather, and lemonade
+in hot, and a few apples, and now and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span>
+some nuts, and a good deal of gingerbread&mdash;soft,
+like what auntie Smith makes&mdash;and some
+ginger-snaps like those Mrs. Dix sent us from
+the country, and, well, you know the names of
+things better than I do. Real good things, I
+mean, but which don't cost much. Such as you,
+and Sarah Ann, and a good many bright girls
+learn how to make, without using a great deal
+of money. Those things are all rather cheap,
+which I have mentioned, because we have them
+at our house quite often, and the Smiths are
+poor, you know. But they are made so nice
+that they are just capital. Well, I would have
+them for sale, just as cheap as could possibly be
+afforded; a great deal cheaper than beer, or
+cigars, and I would have the room bright and
+cheery; warm in winter, and as cool as I could
+make it in summer; then I would have slips of
+paper scattered about the town, inviting young
+folks to come in and get a lunch; then when
+they came, I would have picture papers if I
+could, for them to look at, and games to play,
+real nice jolly games, and some kind of music
+going on now and then. I'd run opposition to
+that old grocery around the corner from Crossman's,
+with its fiddle and its whiskey. That's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span>
+the beginning of what I would do. Just what
+I told you about, that first night we talked it
+over. The fellows, lots of them, have nowhere
+to go; it keeps growing in my mind, the need
+for doing something of the sort. I never pass
+that mean grocery without thinking of it."</p>
+
+<p>You should have seen Nettie's eyes! The little
+touch of discouragement was gone out of
+them, and they were full of intense thought.</p>
+
+<p>"I can see," she said at last, "just how splendid
+it might grow to be. But what did you
+mean about Norm? there isn't any work for
+him in such a plan. At least, I mean, not until
+he was interested to help for the sake of others."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, there is, plenty of business for him.
+Don't you see? I would have this room, open
+evenings, after the work was done, and I would
+have Norm head manager. He should wait
+on customers, and keep accounts. When the
+thing got going he would be as busy as a bee;
+and he is just the sort of fellow to do that kind
+of thing well, and like it too," he added.</p>
+
+<p>"O Jerry," said Nettie, and her hands were
+clasped so closely that the blood flowed back
+into her wrists, "was there ever a nicer thought
+than that in the world! I know it would succeed;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span>
+and Norm would like it so much. Norm
+likes to do things for others, if he only had the
+chance."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it; and he likes to do things in a
+business way, and keep everything straight.
+Oh! he would be just the one. If we only had
+a room, there is nothing to hinder our beginning
+in a very small way. Those chickens are growing
+as fast as they can, and by Thanksgiving
+there will be a couple of them ready to broil;
+then the little old grandmothers did so well."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it; who would have supposed that
+almost four dollars could be made out of some
+daisy grandmothers! Miss Sherrill gave me
+one dollar and ninety-five cents which she said
+was just half of what they had earned. I do
+think it was so nice in her to give us that
+chance! She couldn't have known how much
+we wanted the money. Jerry, why couldn't we
+begin, just with that? It would start us, and
+then if the things sold, why, the money from
+them would keep us started until we found a
+way to earn more. Why can't we?"</p>
+
+<p>"Room," said Jerry, with commendable
+brevity. "Why, we have a room; there's the
+front one that we just put in such nice order.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span>
+Why not? It is large enough for now, and
+maybe when our business grew we could get
+another one somehow."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry stopped fitting the toe of his boot to a
+hole which he had made in the ground, and
+looked at the eager young woman of business
+before him. "Do you mean your mother would
+let us have the room, and the chance in the
+kitchen, to go into such business?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother would do <i>anything</i>," said Nettie
+emphatically, "anything in the world which
+might possibly keep Norm in the house evenings;
+you don't know how dreadfully she feels
+about Norm. She thinks father," and there
+Nettie stopped. How could a daughter put it
+into words that her mother was afraid her father
+would lead his son astray?</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said Jerry. "See here, Nettie,
+what is the matter with your father? I never
+saw him look so still, and&mdash;well, queer, in some
+way. Mr. Smith says he doesn't think he is
+drinking a drop; but he looks unlike himself,
+somehow, and I can't decide how."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Nettie, in a low voice.
+"We don't know what to think of him. He
+hasn't been so long without drinking, mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span>
+says, in four years. But he doesn't act right;
+or, I mean, natural. He isn't cross, as drinking
+beer makes him, but he isn't pleasant, as he was
+for a day or two. He is real sober; hardly
+speaks at all, nor notices the things I make; and
+I try just as hard to please him! He eats
+everything, but he does it as though he didn't
+know he was eating. Mother thinks he is in
+some trouble, but she can't tell what. He can't
+be afraid of losing his place&mdash;because mother
+says he was threatened that two or three times
+when he was drinking so hard, and he didn't
+seem to mind it at all; and why should he be
+discharged now, when he works hard every day?
+Last Saturday night he brought home more
+money than he has in years. Mother cried when
+she saw what there was, but she had debts to
+pay, so we didn't get much start out of it after
+all. Then we spend a good deal in coffee; we
+have it three times a day, hot and strong; I can
+see father seems to need it; and I have heard
+that it helped men who were trying not to drink.
+When I told mother that, she said he should
+have it if she had to beg for it on her knees.
+But I don't know what is the matter with father
+now. Sometimes mother is afraid there is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span>
+disease coming on him such as men have who
+drink; she says he doesn't sleep very well nights,
+and he groans some, when he is asleep. Mother
+tries hard," said Nettie, in a closing burst of
+confidence, "and she <i>does</i> have such a hard time!
+If we could only save Norm for her."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you who your mother looks like, or
+would look like if she were dressed up, you
+know. Did you ever see Mrs. Burt?"</p>
+
+<p>"The woman who lives in the cottage where
+the vines climb all around the front, and who
+has birds, and a baby? I saw her yesterday.
+You don't think mother looks like her!"</p>
+
+<p>"She would," said Jerry, positively, "if she
+had on a pink and white dress and a white fold
+about her neck. I passed there last night, while
+Mrs. Burt was sitting out by that window
+garden of hers, with her baby in her arms; Mr.
+Burt sat on one of the steps, and they were talking
+and laughing together. I could not help
+noticing how much like your mother she looked
+when she turned her side face. Oh! she is
+younger, of course; she looks almost as though
+she might be your mother's daughter. I was
+thinking what fun it would be if she were, and
+we could go and visit her, and get her to help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span>
+us about all sorts of things. Mr. Burt knows
+how to do every kind of work about building a
+house, or fixing up a room."</p>
+
+<p>"He is a nice man, isn't he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes, nice enough; he is steady and
+works hard. Mr. Smith thinks he is quite a
+pattern; he has bought that little house where
+he lives, and fixed it all up with vines and things;
+but I should like him better if he didn't puff
+tobacco smoke into his wife's face when he talked
+with her. He doesn't begin to be so good a
+workman as your father, nor to know so much
+in a hundred ways. I think your father is a very
+nice-looking man when he is dressed up. He looks
+smart, and he is smart. Mr. Smith says there
+isn't a man in town who can do the sort of work
+that he can at the shop, and that he could get
+very high wages and be promoted and all that,
+if"&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Jerry stopped suddenly, and Nettie finished
+the sentence with a sigh. She too had passed
+the Burt cottage and admired its beauty and
+neatness. To think that Mr. Burt owned it, and
+was a younger man by fifteen years at least than
+her father&mdash;and was not so good a workman!
+then see how well he dressed his wife; and little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span>
+Bobby Burt looked as neat and pretty in
+Sunday-school as the best of them. It was very
+hard that there must be such a difference in
+homes. If she could only live in a house like
+the Burt cottage, and have things nice about
+her as they did, and have her father and mother
+sit together and talk, as Mr. and Mrs. Burt did,
+she should be perfectly happy, Nettie told herself.
+Then she sprang up from the log and declared
+that she must not waste another minute
+of time; but that Jerry's plan was the best one
+she had ever heard, and she believed they could
+begin it.</p>
+
+<p>With this thought still in mind, after the dinner
+dishes were carefully cleared away, and her
+mother, returned from the day's ironing, had
+been treated to a piece of the apple dumpling
+warmed over for her, and had said it was as nice
+a bit as she ever tasted, Nettie began on the
+subject which had been in her thoughts all day:</p>
+
+<p>"What would you think of us young folks going
+into business?"</p>
+
+<p>"Going into business!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm. Jerry and Norm and me. Jerry
+has a plan; he has been telling me about it this
+morning. It is nice if we can only carry it out;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span>
+and I shouldn't wonder if we could. That is, if
+you think well of it."</p>
+
+<p>"I begin to think there isn't much that you
+and Jerry can't do, with Norm, or with anybody
+else, if you try; and you both appear to be ready
+to try to do all you can for everybody."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker's tone was so hearty and pleased,
+that you would not have known her for the same
+woman who looked forward dismally but a few
+weeks ago to Nettie's home-coming. Her heart
+had so warmed to the girl in her efforts for
+father and brother, that she was almost ready to
+agree to anything which she could have to propose.
+So Nettie, well pleased with this beginning,
+unfolded with great clearness and detail,
+Jerry's wonderful plan for not only catching
+Norm, but setting him up in business.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker listened, and questioned and
+cross-questioned, sewing swiftly the while on
+Norm's jacket which had been torn, and which
+was being skilfully darned in view of the evening
+to be spent at the parsonage.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she said at last, "it looks wild to me,
+I own; I should as soon try to fly as of making
+anything like that work in this town; but then,
+you've made things work, you two, that I'd no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span>
+notion could be done, and between you, you
+seem to kind of bewitch Norm. He's done
+things for you that I would no sooner have
+thought of asking of him than I would have asked
+him to fly up to the moon; and this may be
+another of them. Anyhow, if you've a mind to
+try it, I won't be the one to stop you. I've been
+that scared for Norm, that I'm ready for anything.
+Oh! the <i>room</i>, of course you may use it.
+If you wanted to have a circus in there, I think
+I'd agree, wild animals and all; I've had worse
+than wild animals in my day. No, your father
+won't object; he thinks what you do is about
+right, I guess. And for the matter of that, he
+doesn't object to anything nowadays; I don't
+know what to make of him."</p>
+
+<p>The sentence ended with a long-drawn,
+troubled sigh.</p>
+
+<p>Just what this strange change in her husband
+meant, Mrs. Decker could not decide; and each
+theory which she started in her mind about it,
+looked worse than the last.</p>
+
+<p>Norm's collar was ready for him, so was his
+jacket. He was somewhat surly; the truth was,
+he had received what he called a "bid" to the
+merry-making which was to take place in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span>
+back room of the grocery, around the corner
+from Crossman's, and he was a good deal tried
+to think he had cut himself off by what he
+called a "spooney" promise, from enjoying the
+evening there. At the same time there was a
+certain sense of largeness in saying he could not
+come because he had received an invitation
+elsewhere, which gave him a momentary pleasure.
+To be sure the boys coaxed until they had
+discovered the place of his engagement, and
+joked him the rest of the time, until he was half-inclined
+to wish he had never heard of the parsonage;
+but for all that, a certain something in
+Norman which marked him as different from
+some boys, held him to his word when it was
+passed; and he had no thought of breaking from
+his engagement. It was an evening such as
+Norman had reason to remember. For the first
+time in his life he sat in a pleasantly furnished
+home, among ladies and gentlemen, and heard
+himself spoken to as one who "belonged."</p>
+
+<p>Three ladies were there from the city, and two
+gentlemen whom Norman had never seen before;
+all friends of the Sherrills come out to
+spend a day with them. They were not only
+unlike any people whom he had ever seen before,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span>
+but, if he had known it, unlike a great many
+ladies and gentlemen, in that their chief aim in
+life was to be found in their Master's service;
+and a boy about whom they knew nothing, save
+that he was poor, and surrounded by temptations,
+and Satan desired to have him, was in
+their eyes so much stray material which they
+were bound to bring back to the rightful owner
+if they could.</p>
+
+<p>To this end they talked to Norman. Not in
+the form of a lecture, but with bright, winning
+words, on topics which he could understand,
+not only, but actually on certain topics about
+which he knew more than they. For instance,
+there was a cave about two miles from the town,
+of which they had heard, but had never seen
+and Norm had explored every crevice in it many
+a time. He knew on which side of the river it
+was located, whether the entrance was from the
+east or the south; just how far one could walk
+through it, just how far one could creep in it,
+after walking had become impossible, and a
+dozen other things which it had not occurred to
+him were of interest to anybody else. In fact,
+Norm discovered in the course of the hour that
+there was such a thing as conversation. Not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span>
+that he made use of that word, in thinking it
+over; his thoughts, if they could have been seen,
+would have been something like this: "These
+are swell folks, but I can understand what they
+say, and they seem to understand what I say,
+and don't stare as though I was a wild animal
+escaped from the woods. I wonder what makes
+the difference between them and other folks?"</p>
+
+<p>But when the music began! I have no words
+to describe to you what it was to Norm to sit
+close to an organ and hear its softest notes, and
+feel the thrill of its heavy bass tones, and be appealed
+to occasionally as to whether he liked
+this or that the best, and to have a piece sung
+because the player thought it would please him;
+she selected it that morning, she told him, with
+this thought in view.</p>
+
+<p>"Decker, you ought to learn to play," said one
+of the guests who had watched him through the
+last piece. "You <i>look</i> music, right out of your
+eyes. Miss Sherrill, here is a pupil for you who
+might do you credit. Have you ever had any
+instrument, Decker?"</p>
+
+<p>Then Norm came back to every-day life, and
+flushed and stammered. "No, he hadn't, and
+was not likely to;" and wondered what they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span>
+would think if they were to see the corner
+grocery where he spent most of his leisure
+time.</p>
+
+<p>The questioner laughed pleasantly. "Oh, I'm
+not so sure of that. I have a friend who plays
+the violin in a way to bring tears to people's
+eyes, and he never touched one until he was
+thirty years old; hadn't time until then. He
+was an apprentice, and had his trade to master,
+and himself to get well started in it before he
+had time for music; but when he came to leisure,
+he made music a delight to himself and
+to others."</p>
+
+<p>"A great deal can be done with leisure time,"
+said another of the guests. "Mr. Sherrill, you
+remember Myers, your college classmate? He
+did not learn to read, you know, until he was
+seventeen."</p>
+
+<p>"What?" said Norm, astonished out of his
+diffidence; "didn't know how to read!"</p>
+
+<p>"No," repeated the gentleman, "not until he
+was seventeen. He had a hard childhood&mdash;was
+kicked about in the world, with no leisure and
+no help, had to work evenings as well as days,
+but when he was seventeen he fell into kinder
+hands, and had a couple of hours each evening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span>
+all to himself, and he mastered reading, not
+only, but all the common studies, and graduated
+from college with honor when he was twenty-six."</p>
+
+<p>Now Norm had all his evenings to lounge
+about in, and had not known what to do with
+them; and he could read quite well.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XX.<br />
+
+<small>THE WAY MADE PLAIN.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>IT was a beautiful Sabbath afternoon; just
+warm enough to make people feel still
+and pleasant. The soft summer sunshine lay
+smiling on all the world, and the soft summer
+breeze rustled the leaves of the trees,
+and stole gently in at open windows. In the
+front room of the Deckers, the family was
+gathered, all save Mr. Decker. He could be
+heard in his bedroom stepping about occasionally,
+and great was his wife's fear lest he was
+preparing to go down town and put himself in
+the place of temptation at his old lounging place.
+Sunday could not be said to be a day of rest to
+Mrs. Decker. It had been the day of her greatest
+trials, so far. Norm was in his clean shirt
+and collar, which had been done up again by
+Nettie's careful hands and which shone beautifully.
+He was also in his shirt sleeves; that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span>
+mother was glad to see; <i>he</i> was not going out
+just yet, anyway. Mrs. Decker had honored
+the day with a clean calico dress, and had shyly
+and with an almost shamefaced air, pinned into
+it a little cambric ruffle which Nettie had presented
+her, with the remark that it was just like
+the one Mrs. Burt wore, and that Jerry said she
+looked like Mrs. Burt a little, only he thought
+she was the best-looking of the two. Mrs.
+Decker had laughed, and then sighed; and said
+it made dreadful little difference to her how she
+looked. But the sigh meant that the days were
+not so very far distant when Mr. Decker used
+to tell her she was a handsome woman; and she
+used to smile over it, and call him a foolish man
+without any taste; but nevertheless used to like
+it very much, and make herself look as well as
+she could for his sake.</div>
+
+<p>She hadn't done it lately, but whose fault was
+that, she should like to know? However, she
+pinned the ruffle in, and whether Mr. Decker
+noticed it or not, she certainly looked wonderfully
+better. Norm noticed it, but of course he
+would not have said so for the world. Nettie
+in her blue and white gingham which had been
+washed and ironed since the flower party, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span>
+which had faded a little and shrunken a little,
+still looked neat and trim, and had the little girls
+one on either side of her, telling them a story in
+low tones; not so low but that the words floated
+over to the window where Norm was pretending
+not to listen: "And so," said the voice, "Daniel
+let himself be put into a den of dreadful fierce
+lions, rather than give up praying."</p>
+
+<p>"Did they frow him in?" this question from
+little Sate, horror in every letter of the words.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they did; and shut the door tight."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't have been," said fierce Susie;
+"I would have bitten, and scratched and kicked
+just awful!"</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't Daniel shut up the window just
+as <i>tight</i>, and not let anybody know it when he
+said his prayers?"</p>
+
+<p>Oh little Sate! how many older and wiser
+ones than you have tried to slip around conscience
+corners in some such way.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know all the reasons," said Nettie,
+after a thoughtful pause, "but I suppose one
+was, because he wouldn't act in a way to make
+people believe he had given up praying. He
+wanted to show them that he meant to pray,
+whether they forbade it or not."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Go on," said Susie, sharply, "I want to know
+how he felt when the lions bit him."</p>
+
+<p>"They didn't bite him; God wouldn't let
+them touch him. They crouched down and
+kept as <i>still</i>, all night; and in the morning when
+the king came to look, there was Daniel, safe!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh my!" said Sate, drawing a long, quivering
+sigh of relief; "wasn't that just splendid!"</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know it is true?" said skeptical
+Susie, looking as though she was prepared not
+to believe anything.</p>
+
+<p>"I know it because God said it, Susie; he put
+it in the Bible."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't ever hear him say it," said Susie
+with a frown. A laugh from Norm at that moment
+gave Nettie her first knowledge of him as
+a listener. Her cheeks grew red, and she would
+have liked to slip away into a more quiet corner
+but Sate was in haste to hear just what the king
+said, and what Daniel said, and all about it, and
+the story went on steadily, Daniel's character
+for true bravery shining out all the more
+strongly, perhaps, because Nettie suspected herself
+of being a coward, and not liking Norm to
+laugh at her Bible stories. As for Norm, he
+knew he was a coward; he knew he had done in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span>
+his life dozens of things to make his mother
+cry; not because he was so anxious to do them,
+nor because he feared a den of lions if he refused,
+but simply because some of the fellows
+would laugh at him if he did.</p>
+
+<p>That Sabbath day had been a memorable one
+to the Decker family in some respects; at least
+to part of it. Nettie had taken the little girls
+with her to Sabbath-school, and then to church.
+Mrs. Smith had given her a cordial invitation to
+sit in their seat, but it was not a very large seat,
+and when Job and his wife, and Sarah Ann and
+Jerry were all there, as they were apt to be, there
+was just room for Nettie without the little girls;
+so she went with them to the seat directly under
+the choir gallery where very few sat. It was
+comfortable enough; she could see the minister
+distinctly, and though she had to stretch out her
+neck to see the choir, she could hear their sweet
+voices; and surely that was enough. All went
+smoothly until the sermon was concluded. Sate
+sat quite still, and if she did not listen to the
+sermon, listened to her own thoughts and
+troubled no one.</p>
+
+<p>But when the anthem began, Sate roused herself.
+That wonderful voice which seemed to fill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span>
+every corner of the church! She knew the
+voice; it belonged to her dear teacher. She
+stretched out her little neck, and could catch a
+glimpse of her, standing alone, the rest of the choir
+sitting back, out of sight. And what was that
+she was saying, over and over? "Come unto Me,
+unto Me, unto Me"&mdash;the words were repeated
+in the softest of cadences&mdash;"all ye who are
+weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."
+Sate did not understand those words, certainly
+her little feet were not weary, but there was a
+sweetness about the word "rest" as it floated
+out on the still air, which made her seem to want
+to go, she knew not whither. Then came the
+refrain: "Come unto Me, unto Me," swelling
+and rolling until it filled all the aisles, and dying
+away at last in the tenderest of pleading sounds.
+Sate's heart beat fast, and the color came and
+went on her baby face in a way which would have
+startled Nettie had she not been too intent on her
+own exquisite delight in the music, to remember
+the motionless little girl at her left.</p>
+
+<p>"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me,
+learn of Me," called the sweet voice, and Sate,
+understanding the last of it felt that she wanted
+to learn, and of that One above all others. "For<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span>
+I am meek and lowly of heart"&mdash;she did not
+know what the words meant, but she was drawn,
+drawn. Then, listening, breathless, half resolved,
+came again that wondrous pleading, "Come
+unto Me, unto Me, unto Me." Softly the little
+feet slid down to the carpeted floor, softly they
+stepped on the green and gray mosses which
+gave back no sound; softly they moved down
+the aisle as though they carried a spirit with
+them, and when Nettie, hearing no sound, yet
+turned suddenly as people will, to look after her
+charge, little Sate was gone! Where? Nettie
+did not know, could not conjecture. No sight
+of her in the aisle, not under the seat, not in the
+great church anywhere. The door was open
+into the hall, and poor little tired Sate must
+have slipped away into the sunshine outside.
+Well, no harm could come to her there; she
+would surely wait for them, or, failing in that,
+the road home was direct enough, and nothing
+to trouble her; but how strange in little Sate to
+do it! If it had been Susie, resolute, independent
+Susie always sufficient to herself and a little
+more ready to do as she pleased than any other
+way! But Susie sat up prim and dignified on
+Nettie's right; not very conscious of the music,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span>
+and willing enough to have the service over, but
+conscious that she had on her new shoes, and a
+white dress, and a white bonnet, and looked very
+well indeed. Meantime, little Sate was not out
+in the sunshine. She had not thought of sunshine;
+she had been called; it was not possible
+for her sweet little heart to get away from the
+feeling that some one was calling her, and that
+she wanted to go. What better was there to
+do than follow the voice? So she followed it,
+out into the hall, up the gallery stairs, still softly&mdash;the
+new shoes made no sound on the carpet&mdash;through
+the door which stood ajar, quite to
+the singer's side, there slipped this quiet little
+woman who had left her white bonnet by Nettie,
+and stood with her golden head rippling with
+the sunlight which fell upon it. There was a
+rustle in the choir gallery, a soft stir over the
+church, the sort of sound which people make
+when they are moved by some deep feeling which
+they hardly understand; there was a smile on
+some faces, but it was the kind of smile which
+might be given to a baby angel if it had strayed
+away from heaven to look at something bright
+down here. The tenor singer would have
+drawn away the small form from the soloist, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span>
+she put forth a protecting hand and circled the
+child, and sang on, her voice taking sweeter tone,
+if possible, and dying away in such tenderness
+as made the smiles on some faces turn to tears,
+and made the echo linger with them of that last
+tremulous "Come unto Me."</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 343px;">
+<img src="images/facing358.jpg" width="343" height="500" alt="woman and little girl in choir loft" />
+<div class="caption">LITTLE SATE IN THE CHOIR GALLERY.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>But little Sate, when she reached the choir
+gallery, saw something which startled her out of
+her sweet resolute calm. Away on the side, up
+there, where few people were, sat her own
+father; and rolling down his cheeks were tears.
+Sate had never seen her father cry before.
+What was the matter? Had she been naughty,
+and was it making him feel bad? She stole a
+startled glance at the face of her teacher, whose
+arm was still around her and had drawn her toward
+the seat into which she dropped, when the
+song was over. No, <i>her</i> face was quiet and
+sweet; not grieved, as Sate was sure it would
+be, if she had been naughty. Neither did the
+people look cross at her; many of them had
+bowed their heads in prayer, but some were sitting
+erect, looking at her and smiling; surely
+she had made no noise. Why should her
+father cry? She looked at him; he had shaded
+his face with his hand. Was he crying still?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span>
+Little Sate thought it over, all in a moment of
+time, then suddenly she slipped away from the
+encircling arm, moved softly across the intervening
+space, into the side gallery, and was at her
+father's side, with her small hand on his sleeve.
+He stooped and took her in his arms, and the
+tears were still in his eyes; but he kissed her,
+and <i>kissed</i> her, as little Sate had never been
+kissed before; she nestled in his arms and felt
+safe and comforted.</p>
+
+<p>The prayer was over, the benediction given,
+and the worshipers moved down the aisles.
+Sate rode comfortably in her father's arms, down
+stairs, out into the hall, outside, in the sunshine,
+waiting for Nettie and for her white sunbonnet.
+Presently Nettie came, hurried, flushed, despite
+her judgment, anxious as to where the bonnetless
+little girl could have vanished. "Why,
+Sate," she began, but the rest of the sentence
+died in astonished silence on her lips, for Sate
+held her father's hand and looked content.</p>
+
+<p>They walked home together, the father and his
+youngest baby, saying nothing, for Sate was one
+of those wise-eyed little children who have spells
+of sweet silence come over them, and Nettie,
+with Susie, walked behind, the elder sister speculating:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span>
+"Where did little Sate find father?
+Did he pick her up on the street somewhere, and
+would he be angry, and not let Nettie take her
+to church any more? Or did he, passing, spy
+her in the churchyard and come in for her?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie did not know, and Sate did not tell;
+principally because she did not understand that
+there was anything to tell. So while the people
+in their homes talked and laughed about the
+small white waif who had slipped into the choir,
+the people in this home were entirely silent
+about it, and the mother did not know that anything
+strange had happened. It is true, Susie
+began to inquire reprovingly, but was hushed by
+Nettie's warning whisper; certainly Nettie was
+gaining a wonderful control over the self-sufficient
+Susie. The child respected her almost
+enough to follow her lead unquestioningly, which
+was a great deal for Susie to do.</p>
+
+<p>So they sat together that sweet Sabbath afternoon,
+Nettie telling her Bible stories, and wondering
+how she should plan. What did Norm
+intend to do a little later in the day? What
+was there she could do to keep him from lounging
+down street? Why was her father staying
+so long in the choked-up bedroom? What was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span>
+matter with her father these days, and how long
+was anything going to last? Why did she feel,
+someway, as though she stood on the very edge
+of something which startled and almost frightened
+her? Was it because she was afraid her
+father would not let her take Sate and Susie to
+church any more?</p>
+
+<p>With all these thoughts floating through her
+mind, it was rather hard to keep herself closely
+confined to Daniel and his experiences. Suddenly
+the bedroom door opened and her father
+came out. Everybody glanced up, though perhaps
+nobody could have told why. There was
+a peculiar look on his face. Mrs. Decker noticed
+it and did not understand it, and felt her heart
+beat in great thuds against the back of her chair.
+Little Sate noticed it, and went over to him and
+slipped her hand inside his. He sat down in the
+state chair which Nettie and her mother had
+both contrived to have left vacant, and took Sate
+in his arms. This of itself was unusual, but after
+that, there was silence, Sate nestling safely in
+the protective arms and seeming satisfied with
+all the world. Nettie felt her face flush, and her
+bosom heave as if the tears were coming, but
+she could not have told why she wanted to cry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span>
+Norm seemed oppressed with the stillness, and
+broke it by whistling softly; also he had a small
+stick and was whittling; it was the only thing
+he could think of to do just now. It was too
+early to go out; the boys would not be through
+with their boarding-house dinners yet. Suddenly
+Mr. Decker broke in on the almost silence.
+"Hannah," he said, then he cleared his voice, and
+was still again, "and you children," he added,
+after a moment, "I've got something to tell you
+if I knew how. Something that I guess you will
+be glad to hear. I've turned over a new leaf at
+last. I've turned it, off and on, in my mind a good
+many times lately, though I don't know as any
+of you knew it. I've been thinking about this
+thing, well, as soon as Nannie there came home,
+at least; but I haven't understood it very well,
+and I s'pose I don't now; but I understand it
+enough to have made up my mind; and that's
+more than half the battle. The long and short
+of it is, I have given myself to the Lord, or he
+has got hold of me, somehow; it isn't much of
+a gift, that's a fact, but the queer thing about it
+is, he seems to think it worth taking. I told
+him last night that if he would show a poor
+stick like me how to do it, why, I'd do my part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span>
+without fail; and this morning he not only
+showed the way plain enough, but he sent my
+little girl to help me along."</p>
+
+<p>The father's voice broke then, and a tear
+trembled in his eye. Sate had held her little
+head erect and looked steadily at him as soon as
+he began to talk, wonder and interest, and some
+sort of still excitement in her face as she listened.
+At his first pause she broke forth:</p>
+
+<p>"Did He mean you, papa, when He said
+'Come unto Me'? Was He calling you, all the
+time? and did you tell Him you would?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, bending and kissing the
+earnest face, "He meant me, and He's been calling
+me loud, this good while; but I never got
+started till to-day. Now I'm going along with
+Him the rest of the way."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad," said little Sate, nestling contentedly
+back, "I'm so glad, papa; I'm going
+too."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI.<br />
+
+<small>THE NEW ENTERPRISE.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>ONE bright and never-to-be-forgotten day,
+Nettie and Jerry stood together in the
+"new" room and surveyed with intense satisfaction
+all its appointments. They were ready
+to begin business. On that very evening the
+room was to be "open to the public!" They
+looked at each other as they repeated that
+large-sounding phrase, and laughed gleefully.</div>
+
+<p>There had been a great deal to do to get
+ready. Hours and even days had been spent in
+planning. It astonished both these young people
+to discover how many things there were to
+think of, and get ready for, and guard against,
+before one could go into business. There was
+a time when with each new day, new perplexities
+arose. During those days Jerry had spent
+a good deal of his leisure in fishing; both because
+at the Smiths, and also at the Deckers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span>
+fish were highly prized, and also because, as he
+confided to Nettie, "a fellow could somehow
+think a great deal better when his fingers were
+at work, and when it was still everywhere about
+him."</p>
+
+<p>There were times, however, when his solitude
+was disturbed. There had been one day in
+particular when something happened about
+which he did not tell Nettie. He was in his
+fishing suit, which though clean and whole was
+not exactly the style of dress which a boy would
+wear to a party, and he stood leaning against a
+rail fence, rod in hand, trying to decide whether
+he should try his luck on that side, or jump
+across the logs to a shadier spot; trying also to
+decide just how they could manage to get another
+lamp to stand on the reading table, when
+he heard voices under the trees just back of
+him.</p>
+
+<p>They were whispering in that sort of penetrating
+whisper that floats so far in the open
+air, and which some, girls, particularly, do not
+seem to know can be heard a few feet away.
+Jerry could hear distinctly; in fact unless he
+stopped his ears with his hands he could not
+help hearing.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And the old rule, that listeners never hear any
+good of themselves, applied here.</p>
+
+<p>"There's that Jerry who lives at the Smiths',"
+said whisperer number one, "do look what a
+fright; I guess he has borrowed a pair of Job
+Smith's overalls! Isn't it a shame that such a
+nice-looking boy is deserted in that way, and
+left to run with all sorts of people?"</p>
+
+<p>"I heard that he wasn't deserted; that his
+father was only staying out West, or down
+South, or somewhere for awhile."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! that's a likely story," said whisperer
+number one, her voice unconsciously growing
+louder. "Just as if any father who was anybody,
+would leave a boy at Job Smith's for months,
+and never come near him. I think it is real
+mean; they say the Smiths keep him at work
+all the while, fishing; he about supports them,
+and the Deckers too, with fish and things."</p>
+
+<p>At this point the amused listener nearly forgot
+himself and whistled.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh well, that's as good a way as any to
+spend his time; he knows enough to catch fish
+and do such things, and when he is old enough, I
+suppose he will learn a trade; but I must say I
+think he is a nice-looking fellow."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He would be, if he dressed decently. The
+boys like him real well; they say he is smart;
+and I shouldn't wonder if he was; big eyes
+twinkle as though he might be. If he wouldn't
+keep running with that Decker girl all the time,
+he might be noticed now and then."</p>
+
+<p>At this point came up a third young miss who
+spoke louder. Jerry recognized her voice at once
+as belonging to Lorena Barstow. "Girls, what
+are you doing here? Why, there is that Irish
+boy; I wonder if he wouldn't sell us some fish?
+They say he is very anxious to earn money; I
+should think he would be, to get himself some
+decent clothes. Or maybe he wants to make
+his dear Nan a present."</p>
+
+<p>Then followed a laugh which was quickly
+hushed, lest the victim might hear. But the
+victim had heard, and looked more than amused;
+his eyes flashed with a new idea.</p>
+
+<p>"Much obliged, Miss Lorena," he said softly,
+nodding his head. "If I don't act on your hint,
+it will be because I am not so bright as you give
+me credit for being."</p>
+
+<p>Then the first whisperer took up the story:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, girls, I heard that Ermina did really
+mean to invite him to her candy pull, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span>
+Decker girl too; she says they both belong to
+the Sunday-school, and she is going to invite all
+the boys and girls of that age in the school, and
+her mother thinks it would not be nice to leave
+them out. You know the Farleys are real
+queer about some things."</p>
+
+<p>Lorena Barstow flamed into a voice which
+was almost loud. "Then I say let's just not
+speak a word to either of them the whole evening.
+Ermina Farley need not think that because
+she lives in a grand house, and her father
+has so much money, she can rule us all. I for
+one, don't mean to associate with a drunkard's
+daughter, and I won't be made to, by the Farleys
+or anybody else."</p>
+
+<p>"Her father isn't a drunkard now. Why,
+don't you know he has joined the church? And
+last Wednesday night they say he was in prayer
+meeting."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, and what does that amount to? My
+father says it won't last six weeks; he says
+drunkards are not to be trusted; they never
+reform. And what if he does? That doesn't
+make Nan Decker anything but a dowdy, not
+fit for us girls to go with; and as for that Irish
+boy! Why doesn't Ermina go down on Paddy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span>
+Lane and invite the whole tribe of Irish if she
+is so fond of them?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hush, Lora, Ermina will hear you."</p>
+
+<p>Sure enough at that moment came Ermina,
+springing briskly over logs and underbrush.
+"Have I kept you waiting?" she asked gayly.
+"The moss was so lovely back there; I wanted
+to carry the whole of it home to mother. Why,
+girls, there is that boy who sits across from us
+in Sabbath-school.</p>
+
+<p>"How do you do?" she said pleasantly, for
+at that moment Jerry turned and came toward
+them, lifting his hat as politely as though it was
+in the latest shape and style.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you had good luck in fishing?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very good for this side; the fish are not so
+plenty here generally as they are further up.
+I heard you speaking of fish, Miss Barstow,
+and wondering whether I would not supply
+your people? I should be very glad to do so,
+occasionally; I am a pretty successful fellow so
+far as fishing goes."</p>
+
+<p>You should have seen the cheeks of the whisperers
+then! Ermina looked at them, perplexed
+for a moment, then seeing they answered only
+with blushes and silence <i>she</i> spoke: "Mamma<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span>
+would be very glad to get some; she was saying
+yesterday she wished she knew some one of
+whom she could get fish as soon as they were
+caught. Have you some to-day for sale?"</p>
+
+<p>"Three beauties which I would like nothing
+better than to sell, for I am in special need of
+the money just now."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," said Ermina promptly, "I am
+sure mamma will like them; could you carry
+them down now? I am on my way home and
+could show you where to go."</p>
+
+<p>"Ermina Farley!" remonstrated Lorena Barstow
+in a low shocked tone, but Ermina only
+said: "Good-by, girls, I shall expect you early
+on Thursday evening," and walked briskly down
+the path toward the road, with Jerry beside
+her, swinging his fish. If the girls could have
+seen his eyes just then, they would have been
+sure that they twinkled.</p>
+
+<p>They had a pleasant walk, and Ermina did
+actually invite him to her candy-pull on Thursday
+evening; not only that, but she asked if he
+would take an invitation from her to Nettie
+Decker. "She lives next door to you, I think,"
+said Ermina, "I would like very much to have
+her come; I think she is so pleasant and unselfish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span>
+It is just a few boys and girls of our age,
+in the Sunday-school."</p>
+
+<p>How glad Jerry was that she had invited
+them! He had been so afraid that her courage
+would not be equal to it. Glad was he also to
+be able to say, frankly, that both he and Nettie
+had an engagement for Thursday evening; he
+would be sure to give Nettie the invitation, but
+he knew she could not come. Of course she
+could not, he said to himself; "Isn't that our
+opening evening?" But all the same it was
+very nice in Ermina Farley to have invited
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"Here is another lamp for the table," said
+Jerry gayly, as he rushed into the new room an
+hour later and tossed down a shining silver
+dollar. He had exchanged the fish for it.
+Then he sat down and told part of their story
+to Nettie. About the whisperers, however, he
+kept silent. What was the use in telling that?</p>
+
+<p>But from them he had gotten another idea.
+"Look here, Nettie, some evening we'll have a
+candy-pull, early, with just a few to help, and
+sell it cheap to customers."</p>
+
+<p>So now they stood together in the room to
+see if there was another thing to be done before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span>
+the opening. A row of shelves planed and
+fitted by Norm were ranged two thirds of the
+way up the room and on them were displayed
+tempting pans of ginger cookies, doughnuts,
+molasses cookies, and soft gingerbread. Sandwiches
+made of good bread, and nice slices of
+ham, were shut into the corner cupboard to
+keep from drying; there was also a plate of
+cheese which was a present from Mrs. Smith.
+She had sent it in with the explanation that it
+would be a blessing to her if that cheese could
+get eaten by somebody; she bought it once, a
+purpose, as a treat for Job, and it seemed it
+wasn't the kind he liked, and none of the rest
+of them liked any kind, so there it had stood
+on the shelf eying her for days. There was to
+be coffee; Nettie had planned for that. "Because,"
+she explained, "they <i>all</i> drink beer;
+and things to eat, can never take the place of
+things to drink."</p>
+
+<p>It had been a difficult matter to get the
+materials together for this beginning. All the
+money which came in from the "little old
+grandmothers," as well as that which Jerry contributed,
+had been spent in flour, and sugar,
+and eggs and milk. Nettie was amazed and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span>
+dismayed to find how much even soft gingerbread
+cost, when every pan of it had to be
+counted in money. A good deal of arithmetic
+had been spent on the question: How low can
+we possibly sell this, and not actually lose
+money by it? Of course some allowance had
+to be made for waste. "We'll have to name it
+waste," explained Nettie with an anxious face,
+"because it won't bring in any money; but of
+course not a scrap of it will be wasted; but
+what is left over and gets too dry to sell, we
+shall have to eat."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry shook his head. "We must sell it," he
+said with the air of a financier. Then he went
+away thoughtfully to consult Mrs. Job, and
+came back triumphant. She would take for a
+week at half price, all the stale cake they might
+have left. "That means gingercake," he explained,
+"she says the cookies and things will
+keep for weeks, without getting too old."</p>
+
+<p>"Sure enough!" said radiant Nettie, "I did
+not think of that."</p>
+
+<p>There were other things to think of; some of
+them greatly perplexed Jerry; he had to catch
+many fish before they were thought out. Then
+he came with his views to Nettie.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"See here, do you understand about this firm
+business; it must be you and me, you know?"</p>
+
+<p>Nettie's bright face clouded. "Why, I
+thought," she said, speaking slowly, "I thought
+you said, or you meant&mdash;I mean I thought it
+was to help Norm; and that he would be a
+partner."</p>
+
+<p>Jerry shook his head. "Can't do it," he
+said decidedly. "Look here, Nettie, we'll get
+into trouble right away if we take in a partner.
+He believes in drinking beer, and smoking
+cigarettes, and doing things of that sort; now
+if he as a partner introduces anything of the
+kind, what are we to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure enough!" the tone expressed conviction,
+but not relief. "Then what are we to do,
+Jerry? I don't see how we are going to help
+Norm any."</p>
+
+<p>"I do; quite as well as though he was a partner.
+Norm is a good-natured fellow; he likes
+to help people. I think he likes to do things
+for others better than for himself. If we explain
+to him that we want to go into this business,
+and that you can't wait on customers, because
+you are a girl, and it wouldn't be the thing, and
+I can't, because it is in your house, and I promised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span>
+my father I would spend my evenings at
+home, and write a piece of a letter to him every
+evening; and ask him to come to the rescue
+and keep the room open, and sell the things for
+us, don't you believe he will be twice as likely
+to do it as though we made him as young as
+ourselves, and tried to be his equals?"</p>
+
+<p>Then Nettie's face was bright. "What a contriver
+you are!" she said admiringly. "I think
+that will do just splendidly."</p>
+
+<p>She was right, it did. Norm might have
+curled his lip and said "pooh" to the scheme,
+had he been placed on an equality; for he was
+getting to the age when to be considered young,
+or childish, is a crime in a boy's eyes. But to
+be appealed to as one who could help the
+"young fry" out of their dilemma, and at the
+same time provide himself with a very pleasant
+place to stay, and very congenial employment
+while he stayed, was quite to Norm's mind.</p>
+
+<p>And as it was an affair of the children's, he
+made no suggestions about beer or cigars; it is
+true he thought of them, but he thought at
+once that neither Nettie or Jerry would probably
+have anything to do with them, and as he
+had no dignity to sustain, he decided to not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span>
+even mention the matter. These two planned
+really better than they knew in appealing to
+Norm for help. His curious pride would never
+have allowed him to say to a boy, "We keep
+cakes and coffee for sale at our house; come in
+and try them." But it was entirely within the
+line of his ideas of respectability to say: "What
+do you think those two young ones over at our
+house have thought up next? They have opened
+an eating-house, cakes and things such as my
+sister can make, and coffee, dirt cheap. I've
+promised to run the thing for them in the evening
+awhile; I suppose you'll patronize them?"</p>
+
+<p>And the boys, who would have sneered at <i>his</i>
+setting himself up in business, answered:
+"What, the little chap who lives at Smith's?
+And your little sister! Ho! what a notion!
+I don't know but it is a bright one, though, as
+sure as you live. There isn't a spot in this
+town where a fellow can get a decent bite unless
+he pays his week's wages for it; boys, let's
+go around and see what the little chaps are
+about."</p>
+
+<p>The very first evening was a success.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie had assured herself that she must not
+be disappointed if no one came, at first.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You see, it is a new thing," she explained
+to her mother, "of course it will take them a
+little while to get acquainted with it; if nobody
+at all comes to-night, I shall not be disappointed.
+Shall you, Jerry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes," said Jerry, "I should; because I
+know of one boy who is coming, and is going
+to have a ginger-snap and a glass of milk. And
+that is little Ted Locker who lives down the
+lane; they about starve that boy. I shall like
+to see him get something good. He has three
+cents and I assured him he could get a brimming
+glass of milk and a ginger-snap for that.
+He was as delighted as possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor fellow!" said Nettie, "I mean to tell
+Norm to let him have two snaps, wouldn't
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>And Jerry agreed, not stopping to explain
+that he had furnished the three cents with which
+Ted was to treat his poor little stomach. So
+the work began in benevolence.</p>
+
+<p>Still Nettie was anxious, not to say nervous.</p>
+
+<p>"You will have to eat soft gingerbread at
+your house, for breakfast, dinner and supper, I
+am afraid," she said to Jerry with a half laugh,
+as they stood looking at it. "I don't know why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span>
+I made four tins of it; I seemed to get in a
+gale when I was making it."</p>
+
+<p>"Never you fear," said Jerry, cheerily. "I'll
+be willing to eat such gingerbread as that three
+times a day for a week. Between you and me,"
+lowering his voice, "Sarah Ann can't make very
+good gingerbread; when we get such a run of
+custom that we have none left over to sell, I
+wish you'd teach her how."</p>
+
+<p>I do not know that any member of the two
+households could be said to be more interested
+in the new enterprise than Mr. Decker. He
+helped set up the shelves, and he made a little
+corner shelf on purpose for the lamp, and he
+watched the entire preparations with an interest
+which warmed Nettie's heart. I haven't said
+anything about Mr. Decker during these days,
+because I found it hard to say. You are acquainted
+with him as a sour-faced, unreasonable,
+beer-drinking man; when suddenly he became
+a man who said "Good morning" when he came
+into the room, and who sat down smooth shaven,
+and with quiet eyes and smile to his breakfast,
+and spoke gently to Susie when she tipped her
+cup of water over, and kissed little Sate when
+he lifted her to her seat, and waited for Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span>
+Decker to bring the coffee pot, then bowed his
+head and in clear tones asked a blessing on the
+food, how am I to describe him to you? The
+change was something which even Mrs. Decker
+who watched him every minute he was in the
+house and thought of him all day long, could
+not get accustomed to. It astonished her so
+to think that she, Mrs. Decker, lived in a house
+where there was a prayer made every night and
+morning, and where each evening after supper
+Nettie read a few verses in the Bible, and her
+father prayed; that every time she passed her
+own mother's Bible which had been brought out
+of its hiding-place in an old trunk, she said,
+under her breath, "Thank the Lord." No, she
+did not understand it, the marvelous change
+which had come over her husband. She had
+known him as a kind man; he had been that
+when she married him, and for a few months
+afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>She had heard him speak pleasantly to Norm,
+and show him much attention; he had done
+it before they were married, and for awhile
+afterwards; but there was a look in his face,
+and a sound in his voice now, such as she had
+never seen nor heard before.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It isn't Decker," she said in a burst of confidence
+to Nettie. "He is just as good as he
+can be; and I don't know anything in the world
+he ain't willing to do for me, or for any of us;
+and it is beautiful, the whole of it; but it is all
+new. I used to think if the man I married
+could only come back to me I should be perfectly
+happy; but I don't know this man at all;
+he seems to me sometimes most like an angel."</p>
+
+<p>Probably you would have laughed at this.
+Joe Decker did not look in the least like the
+picture you have in your mind of an angel;
+but perhaps if you had known him only a few
+weeks before, as Mrs. Decker did, and could
+have seen the wonderful change in him which
+she saw, the contrast might even have suggested
+angels.</p>
+
+<p>Nettie understood it. She struggled with
+her timidity and her ignorance of just what
+ought to be said; then she made her earnest
+reply:</p>
+
+<p>"Mother, I'll tell you the difference. Father
+prays, and when people pray, you know, and
+mean it, as he does, they get to looking very
+different."</p>
+
+<p>But Mrs. Decker did not pray.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII.<br />
+
+<small>TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>AS a matter of fact there wasn't a cake
+left. Neither doughnut nor gingersnap;
+hardly a crumb to tell the successful tale.
+Nettie surveyed the empty shelves the next
+morning in astonishment. She had been too
+busy the night before to realize how fast things
+were going. Naturally the number and variety
+of dishes in the Decker household was limited
+and the evening to Nettie was a confused
+murmur of, "Hand us some more cups."
+"Can't you raise a few more teaspoons somewhere?"
+"Give us another plate," or, "More
+doughnuts needed;" and Nettie flew hither and
+thither, washed cups, rinsed spoons, said, "What
+did I do with that towel?" or, "Where in the
+world is the bread knife?" or, "Oh! I smell
+the coffee! maybe it is boiling over," and was
+conscious of nothing but weariness and relief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span>
+when the last cup of coffee was drank, and the
+last teaspoon washed.</div>
+
+<p>But with the next morning's sunshine she
+knew the opening was a success. She counted
+the gains with eager joy, assuring Jerry that
+they could have twice as much gingerbread next
+time.</p>
+
+<p>"And you'll need it," said Norm. "I had to
+tell half a dozen boys that there wasn't a crumb
+left. I felt sorry for 'em, too; they were boarding-house
+fellows who never get anything decent
+to eat."</p>
+
+<p>Already Norm had apparently forgotten that
+he was one who used frequently to make a similar
+complaint.</p>
+
+<p>There was a rarely sweet smile on Nettie's
+face, not born of the chink in the factory bag
+which she had made for the money; it grew
+from the thought that she need not hide the bag
+now, and tremble lest it should be taken to the
+saloon to pay for whiskey. What a little time
+ago it was that she had feared that! What a
+changed world it was!</p>
+
+<p>"But there won't be such a crowd again,"
+she said as they were putting the room in order,
+"that was the first night."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" said that wise woman Susie with
+a significant toss of her head; "last night you
+said we mustn't expect anybody because it was
+the first night."</p>
+
+<p>Then "the firm" had a hearty laugh at Nettie's
+expense and set to work preparing for evening.</p>
+
+<p>I am not going to tell you the story of that
+summer and fall. It was beautiful; as any of
+the Deckers will tell you with eager eyes and
+voluble voice if you call on them, and start the
+subject.</p>
+
+<p>The business grew and grew, and exceeded
+their most sanguine expectations. Mr. Decker
+interested himself in it most heartily, and
+brought often an old acquaintance to get a cup
+of coffee. "Make it good and strong," he
+would say to Nettie in an earnest whisper.
+"He's thirsty, and I brought him here instead
+of going for beer. I wish the room was larger,
+and I'd get others to come."</p>
+
+<p>In time, and indeed in a very short space of
+time, this grew to be the crying need of the
+firm: "If we only had more room, and more
+dishes!" There was a certain long, low building
+which had once been used as a boarding-house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span>
+for the factory hands, before that institution
+grew large and moved into new quarters, and
+which was not now in use. At this building
+Jerry and Nettie, and for that matter, Norm,
+looked with longing eyes. They named it "Our
+Rooms," and hardly ever passed that they did
+not suggest some improvement in it which could
+be easily made, and which would make it just
+the thing for their business. They knew just
+what sort of curtains they would have at the
+windows, just what furnishings in front and
+back rooms, just how many lamps would be
+needed. "We will have a hanging lamp over
+the centre table," said Jerry. "One of those
+new-fashioned things which shine and give a
+bright light, almost like gas; and lots of books
+and papers for the boys to read."</p>
+
+<p>"But where would we get the books and
+papers?" would Nettie say, with an anxious
+business face, as though the room, and the
+table, and the hanging lamp, were arranged for,
+and the last-mentioned articles all that were
+needed to complete the list.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! they would gather, little by little. I
+know some people who would donate great
+piles of them if we had a place to put them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span>
+For that matter, as it is, father is going to send
+us some picture-papers, a great bundle of them;
+send them by express, and we must have a table
+to put them on."</p>
+
+<p>So the plans grew, but constantly they looked
+at the long, low building and said what a nice
+place it would be.</p>
+
+<p>One morning Jerry came across the yard with
+a grave face. "What do you think?" he said,
+the moment he caught sight of Nettie. "They
+have gone and rented our rooms for a horrid
+old saloon; whiskey in front, and gambling in
+the back part! Isn't it a shame that they have
+got ahead of us in that kind of way?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh dear me!" said Nettie, drawing out each
+word to twice its usual length, and sitting down
+on a corner of the woodbox with hands clasped
+over the dish towel, and for the moment a look
+on her face as though all was lost.</p>
+
+<p>But it was the very same day that Jerry
+appeared again, his face beaming. This time it
+was hard to make Nettie hear, for Mrs. Decker
+was washing, and mingling with the rapid rub-a-dub
+of the clothes was the sizzle of ham in
+the spider, and the bubble of a kettle which
+was bent on boiling over, and making the half-distracted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span>
+housekeeper all the trouble it could.
+Yet his news was too good to keep; and he
+shouted above the din: "I say, Nettie, the man
+has backed out! Our rooms are not rented,
+after all."</p>
+
+<p>"Goody!" said Nettie, and she smiled on the
+kettle in a way to make it think she did not
+care if everything in it boiled over on the floor;
+whereupon it calmed down, of course, and behaved
+itself.</p>
+
+<p>So the weeks passed, and the enterprise grew
+and flourished. I hope you remember Mrs.
+Speckle? Very early in the autumn she sent
+every one of her chicks out into the world to
+toil for themselves and began business. Each
+morning a good-sized, yellow-tinted, warm, beautiful
+egg lay in the nest waiting for Jerry; and
+when he came, Mrs. Speckle cackled the news
+to him in the most interested way.</p>
+
+<p>"She couldn't do better if she were a regularly
+constituted member of the firm with a
+share in the profits," said Jerry.</p>
+
+<p>The egg was daily carried to Mrs. Farley's,
+where there was an invalid daughter, who had
+a fancy for that warm, plump egg which came
+to her each morning, done up daintily in pink<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span>
+cotton, and laid in a box just large enough for
+it. But there came a morning which was a
+proud one to Nettie. Jerry had returned from
+Mrs. Farley's with news. "The sick daughter
+is going South; she has an auntie who is to
+spend the winter in Florida, so they have decided
+to send her. They start to-morrow morning.
+Mrs. Farley said they would take our
+eggs all the same, and she wished Miss Helen
+could have them; but somebody else would
+have to eat them for her."</p>
+
+<p>Then Nettie, beaming with pleasure, "Jerry,
+I wish you would tell Mrs. Farley that we can't
+spare them any more at present; I would have
+told you before, but I didn't want to take the
+egg from Miss Helen; I want to buy them
+now, every other morning, for mother and
+father; mother thinks there is nothing nicer
+than a fresh egg, and I know father will be
+pleased."</p>
+
+<p>What satisfaction was in Nettie's voice,
+what joy in her heart! Oh! they were poor,
+very poor, "miserably poor" Lorena Barstow
+called them, but they had already reached the
+point where Nettie felt justified in planning for
+a fresh egg apiece for father and mother, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span>
+knew that it could be paid for. So Mrs. Speckle
+began from that day to keep the results of her
+industry in the home circle, and grew more
+important because of that.</p>
+
+<p>Almost every day now brought surprises. One
+of the largest of them was connected with Susie
+Decker. That young woman from the very first
+had shown a commendable interest in everything
+pertaining to the business. She patiently did
+errands for it, in all sorts of weather, and was
+always ready to dust shelves, arrange cookies
+without eating so much as a bite, and even wipe
+teaspoons, a task which she used to think beneath
+her. "If you can't trust me with things
+that would smash," she used to say with scornful
+gravity, to Nettie, "then you can't expect
+me to be willing to wipe those tough spoons."</p>
+
+<p>But in these days, spoons were taken uncomplainingly.
+Susie had a business head, and was
+already learning to count pennies and add them
+to the five and ten cent pieces; and when Jerry
+said approvingly: "One of these days, she will
+be our treasurer," the faintest shadow of a
+blush would appear on Susie's face, but she
+always went on counting gravely, with an air
+of one who had not heard a word.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On a certain stormy, windy day, one of
+November's worst, it was discovered late in the
+afternoon that the molasses jug was empty, and
+the boys had been promised some molasses candy
+that very evening.</p>
+
+<p>"What shall we do?" asked Nettie, looking
+perplexed, and standing jug in hand in the middle
+of the room. "Jerry won't be home in
+time to get it, and I can't leave those cakes to
+bake themselves; mother, you don't think you
+could see to them a little while till I run to the
+grocery, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Decker shook her head, but spoke sympathetically:
+"I'd do it in a minute, child, or I'd
+go for the molasses, but these shirts are very
+particular; I never had such fine ones to iron
+before, and the irons are just right, and if I
+should have to leave the bosoms at the wrong
+minute to look at the cakes, why, it would spoil
+the bosoms; and on the other hand, if I left
+the cakes and saved the bosoms, why, they would
+be spoiled."</p>
+
+<p>This seemed logical reasoning. Susie, perched
+on a high chair in front of the table, was counting
+a large pile of pennies, putting them in
+heaps of twenty-five cents each. She waited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span>
+until her fourth heap was complete, then looked
+up. "Why don't you ask me to go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure enough!" said Nettie, laughing, "I'd
+'ask' you in a minute if it didn't rain so hard;
+but it seems a pretty stormy day to send out a
+little chicken like you."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not a chicken, and I'm not the leastest
+bit afraid of rain; I can go as well as not if
+you only think so."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe it will hurt her!" said Mrs.
+Decker, glancing doubtfully out at the sullen
+sky. "It doesn't rain so hard as it did, and she
+has such a nice thick sack now."</p>
+
+<p>It was nice, made of heavy waterproof cloth,
+with a lovely woolly trimming going all around
+it. Susie liked that sack almost better than
+anything else in the world. Her mother had
+bought it second-hand of a woman whose little
+girl had outgrown it; the mother had washed
+all day and ironed another day to pay for it, and
+felt the liveliest delight in seeing Susie in the
+pretty garment.</p>
+
+<p>The rain seemed to be quieting a little, so
+presently the young woman was robed in sack
+and waterproof bonnet with a cape, and started
+on her way.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Half-way to the grocery she met Jerry hastening
+home from school with a bag of books
+slung across his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it so late as that?" asked Susie in dismay.
+"Nettie thought you wouldn't be at
+home in a good while; the candy won't get
+done."</p>
+
+<p>"No, it is as early as this," he answered laughing;
+"we were dismissed an hour earlier than
+usual this afternoon. Where are you going?
+after molasses? See here, suppose you give me
+the jug and you take my books and scud home.
+There is a big storm coming on; I think the
+wind is going to blow, and I'm afraid it will
+twist you all up and pour the molasses over
+you. Then you'd be ever so sticky!"</p>
+
+<p>Susie laughed and exchanged not unwillingly
+the heavy jug for the books. There had been
+quite wind enough since she started, and if
+there was to be more, she had no mind to brave
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"If you hurry," called Jerry, "I think you'll
+get home before the next squall comes." So
+she hurried; but Jerry was mistaken. The
+squall came with all its force, and poor small
+Susie was twisted and whirled and lost her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span>
+breath almost, and panted and struggled on, and
+was only too thankful that she hadn't the molasses
+jug.</p>
+
+<p>Nearly opposite the Farley home, their side
+door suddenly opened and a pleasant voice
+called: "Little girl, come in here, and wait
+until the shower is over; you will be wet to the
+skin."</p>
+
+<p>It is true Susie did not believe that her waterproof
+sack <i>could</i> be wet through, but that
+dreadful wind so frightened her, twisting the
+trees as it did, that she was glad to obey the
+kind voice and rush into shelter.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, it is Nettie's sister, I do believe!"
+said Ermina Farley, helping her off with the
+dripping hood.</p>
+
+<p>"You dear little mouse, what sent you out in
+such a storm?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Susie not liking the idea of being a
+mouse much more than she did being a chicken,
+answered with dignity, and becoming brevity.</p>
+
+<p>"Molasses candy!" said Mrs. Farley, laughing,
+yet with an undertone of disapproval in
+her voice which keen-minded Susie heard and
+felt, "I shouldn't think that was a necessity of
+life on such a day as this."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It is if you have promised it to some boys
+who don't ever have anything nice only what
+they get at our house; and who save their pennies
+that they spend on beer, and cider, and
+cigars to get it."</p>
+
+<p>Wise Susie, indignation in every word, yet
+well controlled, and aware before she finished
+her sentence that she was deeply interesting her
+audience! How they questioned her! What
+was this? Who did it? Who thought of it?
+When did they begin it? Who came? How
+did they get the money to buy their things?
+Susie, thoroughly posted, thoroughly in sympathy
+with the entire movement, calm, collected,
+keen far beyond her years, answered clearly
+and well. Plainly she saw that this lady in a
+silken gown was interested.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if this isn't a revelation!" said Mrs.
+Farley at last. "A young men's Christian
+association not only, but an eating-house flourishing
+right in our midst and we knowing nothing
+about it. Did you know anything of it,
+daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, ma'am," said Ermina. "But I knew
+that splendid Nettie was trying to do something
+for her brother; and that nice boy who used to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span>
+bring eggs was helping her; it is just like them
+both. I don't believe there is a nicer girl in
+town than Nettie Decker."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Farley seemed unable to give up the
+subject. She asked many questions as to how
+long the boys stayed, and what they did all the
+time.</p>
+
+<p>Susie explained: "Well, they eat, you know;
+and Norm doesn't hurry them; he says they
+have to pitch the things down fast where they
+board, to keep them from freezing; and our
+room is warm, because we keep the kitchen
+door open, and the heat goes in; but we don't
+know what we shall do when the weather gets
+real cold; and after they have eaten all the
+things they can pay for, they look at the pictures.
+Jerry's father sends him picture papers,
+and Mr. Sherrill brings some, most every day.
+Miss Sherrill is coming Thanksgiving night to
+sing for them; and Nettie says if we only had
+an organ she would play beautiful music. We
+want to give them a treat for Thanksgiving;
+we mean to do it without any pay at all if we
+can; and father thinks we can, because he is
+working nights this week, and getting extra
+pay; and Jerry thinks there will be two chickens<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span>
+ready; and Nettie wishes we could have an
+organ for a little while, just for Norm, because
+he loves music so, but of course we can't."</p>
+
+<p>Long before this sentence was finished,
+Ermina and her mother had exchanged glances
+which Susie, being intent on her story, did not
+see.</p>
+
+<p>She was a wise little woman of business;
+what if Mrs. Farley should say: "Well, I will
+give you a chicken myself for the Thanksgiving
+time, and a whole peck of apples!" then indeed,
+Susie believed that their joy would be
+complete; for Nettie had said, if they could
+only afford three chickens she believed that
+with a lot of crust she could make chicken pie
+enough for them each to have a large piece, hot;
+not all the boys, of course, but the seven or
+eight who worked in Norm's shop and boarded
+at the dreary boarding-house; they would so
+like to give Norm a surprise for his birthday,
+and have a treat say at six o'clock for all of
+these; for this year Thanksgiving fell on Norm's
+birthday. The storm held up after a little, and
+Susie, trudging home, a trifle disgusted with
+Mrs. Farley because she said not a word about
+the peck of apples or the other chicken, was met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span>
+by Jerry coming in search of her. The molasses
+was boiling over, he told her, and so was her
+mother, with anxiety lest the wind had taken
+her, Susie, up in a tree, and had forgotten to
+bring her down again. He hurried her home
+between the squalls, and Susie quietly resolved
+to say not a word about all the things she had
+told at the Farley home. What if Nettie should
+think she hadn't been womanly to talk so much
+about what they were doing! If there was one
+thing that this young woman had a horror of
+during these days, it was that Nettie would
+think she was not womanly. The desire, nay,
+the determination to be so, at all costs had well
+nigh cured her of her fits of rage and screaming,
+because in one of her calm moments Nettie
+had pointed out to her the fact that she never
+in her life heard a <i>woman</i> scream like that.
+Susie being a logical person, argued the rest of
+the matter out for herself, and resolved to
+scream and stamp her foot no more.</p>
+
+<p>Great was the astonishment of the Decker
+family, next morning. Mrs. Farley herself came
+to call on them. She wanted some plain ironing
+done that afternoon. Yes, Mrs. Decker
+would do it and be glad to; it was a leisure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span>
+afternoon with her. Mrs. Farley wanted something
+more! she wanted to know about the
+business in which Nettie and her young friend
+next door were engaged; and Susie listened
+breathlessly, for fear it would appear that she
+had told more than she ought. But Mrs. Farley
+kept her own counsel, only questioning Nettie
+closely, and at last she made a proposition
+that had well nigh been the ruin of the tin of
+cookies which Nettie was taking from the oven.
+She dropped the tin!</p>
+
+<p>"Did you burn you, child?" asked Mrs.
+Decker, rushing forward.</p>
+
+<p>"No, ma'am," said Nettie, laughing, and trying
+not to laugh, and wanting to cry, and being
+too amazed to do so. "But I was so surprised
+and so almost scared, that they dropped.</p>
+
+<p>"O Mrs. Farley, we have wanted that more
+than anything else in the world; ever since
+Mr. Sherrill saw how my brother Norman
+loved music, and said it might be the saving of
+him; Jerry and I have planned and planned,
+but we never thought of being able to do it for
+a long, long time."</p>
+
+<p>Yet all this joy was over an old, somewhat
+wheezy little house organ which stood in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span>
+second-story unused room of Mrs. Farley's
+house, and which she had threatened to send
+to the city auction rooms to get out of the
+way.</p>
+
+<p>She offered to lend it to Nettie for her
+"Rooms," and Nettie's gratitude was so great
+that the blood seemed inclined to leave her
+face entirely for a minute, then thought better
+of it and rolled over it in waves.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.<br />
+
+<small>THE CROWNING WONDER.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>AND they did have the Thanksgiving supper!</div>
+
+<p>It seemed wonderful to Nettie, even then,
+and long afterwards the wonder grew, that
+so many things occurred about that time to
+help the scheme along. At first it was to be
+a very simple little affair; two of the boys,
+Rick for instance, and Alf, invited to come in
+an hour or so before the room was open for
+the evening, and have a little supper by themselves&mdash;a
+chicken, and possibly some cranberry
+sauce if she could compass it, though
+cranberries were very expensive at that season,
+and besides, they ate sugar in a way which was
+perfectly alarming! A pie of some sort she had
+quite set her heart on, but whether it would be
+pumpkin or not, depended on how they succeeded
+in saving up for extra milk. The circumstances<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span>
+of the Deckers were changing steadily, but when
+a man has tumbled to the foot of a hill, and
+lain there quite awhile, it is generally a slow
+process to get up and climb back to where he
+was before.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Decker's wages were good, and in time
+he expected to be able to support his family in
+at least ordinary comfort; but when he came
+fully to his senses, he stood for awhile appalled
+before the number of things which had been
+sold to pay his bill at the saloon, and the number
+of things which in the meantime had worn
+out, and not been replaced by new ones; then
+the rent was two months back, and Job Smith
+had been all that stood between him and a home.
+There was a great deal to do if the Deckers
+were to get back to the place from which they
+began to roll down hill; so extra expenses for
+cranberries, or even milk, were not to be thought
+of, if they must be drawn from the family funds.</p>
+
+<p>The business of the firm was flourishing; but
+you must remember that the central feature of
+the enterprise was to keep prices very low, lower
+than beer and bad cigars, and the enterprise of
+the dealers in these things is so great, that if
+you are willing to put up with the meanest sorts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span>
+you can always get them very low indeed. To
+compete with them, Jerry and Nettie had to
+study the most rigid economy to keep their
+shelves supplied, and even to sometimes "shut
+their eyes and make a reckless dash at apples or
+peanuts, regardless of expense." This was the
+way in which Jerry occasionally apologized for
+an extra quantity of these luxuries.</p>
+
+<p>Still, in the most interesting ways the Thanksgiving
+supper grew. Mrs. Decker secured within
+a week of the time, an unexpected ironing
+which she could do in two evenings, and she
+it was who proposed the wild scheme of having
+two chickens and having them hot, and stuffing
+them with bread crumbs as she used to do years
+ago, and having gravy and some baked potatoes.
+She agreed to furnish the extra potatoes, and a
+few turnips, just to make it feel like Thanksgiving.
+Nettie was astonished, but pleased. It
+would be more work, but what of that? Think
+of being able to make a real supper for Norm's
+birthday! Then Mrs. Smith at just the right
+moment had a present of two pumpkins from
+her country friends; as they could never make
+away with two pumpkins before they would
+spoil, of course the Deckers must take part of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span>
+one, at least. About that time the minister
+bought a cow, and what did he do but come
+himself one night to know if Mrs. Decker had
+any use for skimmed milk; they were very fond
+of cream at their house, and skimmed milk gathered
+faster than they knew what to do with it.</p>
+
+<p>"Any use for skim milk!" Mrs. Decker
+could only repeat the words in a kind of ecstasy
+at her good luck, and she almost wondered that
+the yellow pumpkin standing behind the door
+in the closet did not laugh outright.</p>
+
+<p>But the crowning wonder came, after all, on
+the morning before the eventful day. Jake, the
+Farleys' man of all work, brought it in a basket
+which was large and closely covered, and very
+heavy looking. It was left at the door with
+Susie, who went to answer the knock, "For
+Miss Nettie." Susie repeated the name with a
+lingering tone as though she liked the sound
+of the unusual prefix. Then they gathered
+about the basket. A great solemn-looking turkey
+with a note in his mouth, which said: "A
+Thanksgiving token for Nettie, from her friend
+<span class="smcap">Ermina Farley</span>."</p>
+
+<p>A turkey in the Decker oven! Mr. Decker
+surveyed the great fellow in silence for a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span>
+minutes, then said impressively, "If we don't
+have a new cook stove before another Thanksgiving
+day comes around, my name is not
+Decker."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Job Smith left her pies half-made, and
+ran in, in a friendly way, to see the wonder;
+and at once remarked that he would exactly fit
+into their oven, and she wasn't going to cook
+their turkey till the day afterwards, because
+they had got to go to Job's uncle's for Thanksgiving;
+so that matter was settled. It was
+then that the Deckers decided to make a reckless
+plunge into society and invite every boy in
+Norm's shop to a three o'clock dinner, with turkey
+and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie and
+turnip, and all the rest.</p>
+
+<p>What a day it was! They grew nearly wild
+in their efforts to keep all the secrets from
+Norm, and act as though nothing unusual was
+happening. Especially was this the case after
+the morning express brought a package for Nettie
+from her dear old home, with two mince
+pies, and a box of Auntie Marshall's doughnuts,
+and a bag of nuts, and as much as two pounds
+of the loveliest candy she ever saw; sent by the
+young man of the home who was clerk in a wholesale<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span>
+confectioner's. It took Mrs. Decker and
+Nettie not five minutes to resolve, looking curiously
+into each other's faces the while to see if
+they really had become insane, that they would
+have a regular dessert following the dinner!</p>
+
+<p>"It is only once a year," said Nettie apologetically.</p>
+
+<p>"It is only once in five years!" said Mrs.
+Decker solemnly. "I haven't had a Thanksgiving
+in five years, child; and I never expected
+to have another."</p>
+
+<p>Everybody was busy all day long. Mrs.
+Smith was in and out, helping as faithfully as
+though Norm was her boy, and Sarah Ann just
+gave herself up to the importance of the occasion,
+and did not go to her uncle's at all. "I can go
+there any time," she said good naturedly, "or
+no time; they always forget that we are alive till
+Thanksgiving Day, and then they ask us because
+they kind of think they've got to. Uncle Jed is
+a clerk, and his wife makes dresses for the folks
+on Belmont street, and they feel stuck up four
+feet above us; I'd rather eat cold pork and potatoes
+at home than to go there any day. I'm
+dreadful glad of an excuse that father thinks is
+worth giving."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Susie was a young woman of importance that
+day. Nettie, who had discovered exactly how
+to manage her, gave her work to do which suited
+her ideas of what a grown person like herself
+ought to be about; and when she wanted the
+table cleared from the picture papers of the
+night before, instead of telling Miss Susie to fold
+them away, said, "What do you think, Susie,
+would it be best for us to fold these papers away
+in the closet for to-day, and have this table left
+clear for the nuts and the candies?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Susie, with her grown-up air, "I
+think it would; I'll attend to it." And she did
+it beautifully.</p>
+
+<p>"It is well we have no little bits of folks
+around," said Nettie, when the nuts were being
+cracked, "they would be tempted to eat some,
+and then I'm afraid we would not have enough
+to go around." And Susie, gravely assenting to
+this theory, arranged the nuts in Mrs. Smith's
+blue saucers, an equal number in each, and ate
+not one!</p>
+
+<p>Little Sate went with Jerry to give the invitations
+to the boys, and to charge them to keep
+the whole thing a profound secret from Norm;
+they came home by way of the Farley woods,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span>
+and little Sate appeared at the door with her
+arms laden with such lovely branches of autumn
+leaves, that Nettie exclaimed in wild delight,
+and left her turnips half-peeled to help adorn
+the walls of the front room. This suggested
+the idea, and by three o'clock that room was a
+bower of beauty. Red and golden and lovely
+brown leaves mixed in with the evergreen tassels
+of the pines, with here and there pine cones,
+and red berries peeping out from everywhere.
+"You little darling," said Nettie, kissing Sate,
+"you have made a picture of it, like what they
+paint on canvas, only a thousand times lovelier."</p>
+
+<p>And Sate, looking on, with her wide sweet
+eyes aglow with feeling, fitted the picture well.</p>
+
+<p>So the feast was spread, and the astonished
+and hungry boys came, and feasted. And
+Norm, too astonished at first to take it in, began
+presently to understand that all this preparation
+and delight were in honor of his birthday!
+And though he said not a word, aloud, he kept
+up in his soul a steady line of thought; the centre
+of which was this:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't deserve it, that's a fact; there's
+mother doing everything for me, and Nettie
+working like a slave, and the children going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span>
+without things to give me a treat. I'll be in a
+better fix to keep a birthday before it gets
+around again, see if I'm not!"</p>
+
+<p>His was not the only thinking which was done
+that day. Rick, merry enough all the afternoon,
+and enjoying his dinner as well as it was possible
+for a hungry fellow to do, nevertheless had
+a sober look on his face more than once, and
+said as he shook hands with Norm at night:
+"I'll tell you what it is, my boy, if I had your
+kind of a home, and folks, I'd be worth something
+in the world; I would, so. I ain't sure,
+between you and me, but I shall, anyhow; just
+for the sake of getting into such Thanksgiving
+houses once in awhile. By and by a fellow will
+have to carry himself pretty straight, or that
+sister of yours won't have nothing to do with
+him; I can see that in her eyes."</p>
+
+<p>Then he went home. And cold though his
+room was he sat down, even after he had pulled
+off his coat, as a memory of some thoughtful
+word of Nettie's came over him, and went all
+over it again; then he brought his hard hand
+down with a thud on the rickety table, on
+which he leaned and said: "As sure as you live,
+and breathe the breath of life, old fellow, you've<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span>
+got to turn over a new leaf; and you've got to
+begin to-night."</p>
+
+<p>It was less than a week after the Thanksgiving
+excitements that the town got itself roused
+over something which reached even to the children.
+Jerry came home from school with it,
+and came directly to Nettie, his cheeks aglow
+with the news. "There's to be the biggest
+kind of a time here next Thursday, Nettie;
+don't you think General McClintock is coming,
+to give a lecture, and they are going to give him
+a reception at Judge Bentley's and I don't know
+what all, and the schools are all going to dismiss
+and go down to the train in procession to meet
+him, and they are going to sing, <i>Hail to the
+Chief</i>, and the band is to play, <i>See, the conquering
+Hero comes</i>, and I don't know what isn't
+going to be done."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is General McClintock?" said ignorant
+Nettie, composedly drying her plate as though
+all the generals in the world were nothing to
+her. Then did Jerry come the nearest impatience
+that Nettie had ever seen in him; and he
+launched forth in such a wild praise of General
+McClintock and such an excited account of the
+things which he had done and said, and prevented,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span>
+and pushed, that Nettie was half bewildered
+and delightfully excited when he
+paused for breath. Henceforth the talk of the
+town was General McClintock.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a wonder they asked him to speak on
+temperance," said Nettie, disdain in her voice;
+she had not a high opinion of the temperance
+enthusiasm of the town in which she lived.</p>
+
+<p>"They didn't," said Jerry. "He asked himself;
+they wanted him to talk about the war, or
+the tariff, or the great West, or some other
+stupid thing, but he said, 'No, sir! the great
+question of the day is temperance, and I shall
+speak on that, or nothing!'"</p>
+
+<p>"How do you happen to know so much about
+him?" Nettie questioned one day when Jerry
+was at his highest pitch of excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"Ho!" he said, almost in scorn, "I have
+known about him ever since I was born; everybody
+knows General McClintock." Then Nettie
+felt meek and ignorant.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing had ever so excited Jerry as the
+coming of the hero; and indeed the town generally
+seemed to have caught fire. General
+McClintock seemed to be the theme of every
+tongue. Connected with these days, Nettie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span>
+had her perplexities and her sorrows. In the
+first place, Jerry was obstinately determined
+that she should join the procession with him to
+meet General McClintock. In vain she protested
+that she did not belong to the public schools.
+He did, he said, and that was enough.</p>
+
+<p>Then when Nettie urged and almost cried, he
+had another plan: "Well, then, we won't go as
+scholars. We'll go ahead, as private individuals;
+I'm only a kind of a scholar, anyhow, just
+holding on for a few weeks till my father comes;
+we'll go up there early and get a good place before
+the procession forms and see the whole of
+it. I know the marshal real well; he's a good
+friend of mine, and I know he will give us a
+place."</p>
+
+<p>It was of no use for Nettie to protest; to
+remind him that the girls would think she was
+putting herself forward, to say that she had
+nothing to wear to such a gathering. She might
+as well have talked to a stone for all the impression
+she made. She had never seen him so resolute
+to have his own way. He did not care
+what she wore, it made not the slightest difference
+to him what the girls said, and he <i>did</i> ask
+it of her as a kindness to him, and he should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span>
+hurt so that he could never get over it if she refused
+to go; he had never wanted anything so
+much in his life, and he <i>could</i> not give it up. So
+Nettie, reluctant, sorrowful, promised, and cried
+over it in her room that night. She wanted to
+please Jerry, for his father was coming now in a
+few weeks perhaps, and Jerry would go away
+with him, and she should never see him again;
+and what in the world would she do without
+him? And here she cried harder than ever.</p>
+
+<p>Then came up that dreadful question of
+clothes; her one winter dress was too short and
+too narrow and a good deal worn. Auntie Marshall
+had thought last winter that it would
+hardly do for a church dress, and here it was
+still her best. There was no such thing as a
+new one for the present; for mother had not
+had anything in so long, she must be clothed,
+and Nettie was willing to wait; but she was
+not willing to take a conspicuous place on a
+public day and be stared at and talked about.</p>
+
+<p>However, Jerry continued merciless to the
+very last; nothing else would satisfy him. He
+hurried her in a breathless state down the hill
+to the platform, smiled and nodded to his
+friend the marshal, who nodded back in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span>
+most confidential manner, and perched them on
+the corner of the temporary platform, right behind
+the reception committee! It was every
+whit as disagreeable as Nettie had planned that
+it should be. Of course Lorena Barstow was
+among the leaders in the young people's procession,
+and of course she contrived to get enough
+to be heard, and to say in a most unnecessarily
+loud voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Do look at that Decker girl perched up
+there on the platform. If she doesn't contrive
+to make herself a laughing stock everywhere!
+Girls, look at her hat; she must have worn it
+ever since they came out of the ark. What business
+is she here, anyway? She doesn't belong
+to the schools?"</p>
+
+<p>There was much more in the same vein; much
+pushing and crowding, and laughing and hateful
+speeches about folks who crowded in where
+they didn't belong, and poor Nettie, the tears
+only kept back by force of will, looked in vain
+for sympathy into Jerry's fairly dancing eyes.
+What ailed the boy? She had never seen him
+so almost wild with eager excitement before.
+Judge Barstow and Dr. Lewis were both on the
+reception committee, of course, and under cover<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span>
+of this, their daughters wedged their way to the
+front, and whispered to the fathers. Loud
+whispers:</p>
+
+<p>"Papa, that ridiculous Decker girl and the
+little Irish boy with her ought not to be
+perched up there in that conspicuous place.
+She doesn't belong here, anyway; she isn't a
+scholar."</p>
+
+<p>Then Judge Barstow in good-humored tones
+to Jerry: "My boy, don't you think you would
+find it quite as pleasant down there among the
+others? This little girl doesn't want to be up
+here, I am sure; suppose you both go down
+and fall behind the procession? You can see
+the General when the carriage passes; it is to be
+thrown open so every one can see."</p>
+
+<p>Then the marshal: "If you please, Judge
+Barstow, it won't do for them to try to get
+through now. The crowd is so great they might
+be hurt; there is plenty of room where they
+stand. They will do no harm."</p>
+
+<p><i>Now</i> the tears must come from the indignant
+eyes. No, they shall not. Jerry doesn't even
+wink. He only laughs, in the highest good
+humor. Has Jerry gone wild with excitement?
+"It will all be over in two minutes," explains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span>
+Judge Barstow. "He wished to drive directly
+to his hotel, and have perfect quiet for two
+hours. He declined to be entertained at a private
+house, or to say a word at the depot. I
+suppose he is fatigued, and doesn't like to trust
+his voice to speak in the open air; so the committee
+are to shake hands with him as rapidly
+as possible, and show him to his carriage, and
+not wait on him for two hours. He has ordered
+a private dinner at the Keppler House."</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly there is the whistle of the train, the
+band plays <i>See, the conquering Hero comes!</i>
+With the second strain the train comes to a halt,
+and a tall, broad-shouldered man with iron gray
+hair and a military air all about him steps from
+the platform amid the cheers of thousands.
+Now indeed there was some excuse for Lorena
+Barstow's loud exclamations of disapproval!
+There was Jerry, pushing his way among the
+throng, holding so firmly all the while to Nettie's
+hand that escape was impossible&mdash;pushing
+even past the reception committee, notwithstanding
+the detaining hand of Judge Barstow, who
+says,</p>
+
+<p>"See here, my boy, you are impudent, did
+you know it?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I beg pardon," says Jerry respectfully,
+but he slips past him, just as General McClintock
+with courteous words is thanking the committee
+of reception, declining their pressing personal
+invitations, his eyes meantime roving over
+the crowd in search of something or somebody.
+Suddenly they melt with a tenderness which
+does not belong to the soldier, and the firm lips
+quiver as his voice says: "O my boy!" and
+Jerry the Irish boy flings himself into General
+McClintock's arms, and the world stands agape!</p>
+
+<p>Just a second, and his hand holds firmly to
+the sack which covers Nettie's startled frightened
+form, then he releases himself and turns to her:
+"Father, this is Nettie!"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure enough!" said the General, and his tall
+head bends and the mustached lips of the old
+soldier touch Nettie's cheek, and the cheering,
+hushed for a second, breaks forth afresh! It is a
+moment of the wildest excitement. Even then
+Nettie tries to break away and is held fast. And
+an officer of the day advances with the military
+salute and assures the General that his carriage
+is in waiting. And the General himself hands
+the bewildered Nettie in, with a friendly smile
+and an assuring: "Of course you must go. My<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span>
+boy planned this whole thing three months ago;
+and you and I must carry out his programme to
+the letter." Then Jerry springs like a cat into
+the carriage, and the scholars sing, <i>Hail to the
+Chief</i>, and the carriage, drawn by four horses,
+rolls down the road made wide for it by the
+homeguard in full uniform, and the General
+lifts his hat and bows right and left, and smiles
+on Nettie Decker sitting by his side, and almost
+devours with his hungry, fatherly eyes, her
+friend the Irish boy on the opposite seat. And
+the scholars almost forget to sing, in their great
+and ever-increasing amazement.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.<br />
+
+<small>THE PAST AND PRESENT.</small></h2>
+
+
+<div class='drop-cap'>NETTIE DECKER sat by the window of
+her father's house, looking out into the
+beautiful world; taking one last look at the
+flowers, and the trees, and the lawn, and all the
+beautiful and familiar things. Saying good-by
+to them, for in a brief two hours she was to
+leave them, and the old home.</div>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 337px;">
+<img src="images/facing418.jpg" width="337" height="500" alt="woman at window" />
+<div class="caption">NETTIE DECKER HAS A SUITABLE DRESS AT LAST.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>She is Nettie Decker still, but you will not
+be able to say that of her in another hour. She
+has changed somewhat since you last saw her in
+her blue gingham dress a trifle faded, or in her
+brown merino much the worse for time.</p>
+
+<p>To-day she is twenty years old. A lovely
+summer day, and her birthday is to be celebrated
+by making it her wedding day. The blue gingham
+has been long gone; so has the brown
+merino. The dress she wears to-day looks unlike
+either of them. It is white, all white; she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span>
+has a suitable dress at last for a gala day. Soft,
+rich, quiet white silk. Long and full and pure;
+not a touch of trimming about it anywhere.
+Not even a flower yet, though she holds one in
+her hand in doubt whether she will add it to the
+whiteness.</p>
+
+<p>I think it will probably be pushed among the
+folds of soft lace which lie across her bosom;
+for that would please little Sate's artist eye, and
+Nettie likes to please Sate.</p>
+
+<p>While she sits there, watching the birds, and
+the flowers, and thinking of the strange sweet
+past, and the strange sweet present, there pass
+by almost underneath the window two young
+ladies; moving slowly, glancing up curiously at
+the open casement, from which Nettie draws a
+little back, that she may not be seen.</p>
+
+<p>"That is Nettie's room where the window is
+open," says one of the ladies. "It is a lovely
+room; I was in it once when the circle met
+there; it is furnished in blue, with creamy tints
+on the walls and furniture. I don't think I
+ever saw a prettier room. Nettie has excellent
+taste."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you say her brother is to be at the wedding?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"O, yes indeed! He came day before yesterday;
+he is a splendid-looking fellow, and smart;
+they say he is the finest student Yale has had
+for years. He graduated with the very highest
+honors, and now he is studying medicine. I
+heard Dr. Hobart say that he would be an honor
+to the profession. You ought to hear him play;
+I thought he would be a musician, he is so fond
+of music, and really he plays exquisitely on the
+organ. Last spring when he was home he played
+in church all day, and I heard ever so many people
+say they had never heard anything finer in
+any church."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember him. Was he in our set?"</p>
+
+<p>"O no! he wasn't in any set when you were
+here. Why, Irene Lewis, you must remember
+the Deckers! They weren't in any set."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I remember them, of course; don't you
+know what fun we used to make of Nettie?
+Didn't we call her Nan? I remember she always
+wore an old blue and white gingham to
+Sunday-school."</p>
+
+<p>"That was years ago; she dresses beautifully
+now, and in exquisite taste. She must make a
+lovely bride. I should like to get a glimpse of
+her."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The McClintocks are very rich, I have been
+told."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! immensely so; and they say General
+McClintock just idolizes Nettie. I don't wonder
+at that; she is a perfectly lovely girl."</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to me, Lorena, my dear, about the
+time I left this part of the world you did not
+think so much of her as you do now. I remember
+you used to make all sorts of fun of her,
+and real hateful speeches, as schoolgirls will, you
+know. I have a distinct recollection of a flower
+party where she was, and my conscience, I remember,
+troubled me at the time for saying so
+many disagreeable things about her that afternoon;
+but I recollect I comforted myself with
+the thought that you were much worse than I.
+You used to lead off, in those days, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I remember; I was a perfect little idiot
+in those days. Yes, I was disagreeable enough
+to Nettie Decker; if she hadn't been a real
+sweet girl she would never have forgotten it;
+but I don't believe she ever thinks of it, and
+really she is so utterly changed, and all the
+family are, that I hardly ever remember her as
+the same girl."</p>
+
+<p>"What became of that little Irish boy she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span>
+used to be so fond of&mdash;Jerry, his name was?"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Irene Lewis! you don't mean to tell
+me you have never heard about him! Well,
+you have been out of the world, sure enough."</p>
+
+<p>"I have never heard a word of him from the
+time I went with Uncle Lawrence out West.
+Father moved in the spring, you know, so instead
+of my coming back early in the spring as I
+expected, I never came until now? What about
+Jerry? Did he distinguish himself in any way?
+I always thought him a fine-looking boy."</p>
+
+<p>"That is too funny that you shouldn't know!
+Why, the Irish boy, Jerry, as you call him, is
+the Gerald McClintock whom Nettie Decker is
+to marry at twelve o'clock to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Gerald McClintock! How can that be?
+That boy's name was Jerry Mack."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed it wasn't. We were all deceived in
+that boy. It does seem so strange that you
+have never heard the story! Why, you see, he
+was General McClintock's son all the time."</p>
+
+<p>"Why did he pretend he was somebody else?"</p>
+
+<p>"He didn't pretend; or at least I heard he
+said he didn't begin it. It seems that Mrs.
+Smith, the car-man's wife, you know, used to
+live in General McClintock's family before his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span>
+wife died; and Job Smith lived there as coachman.
+When they married, General McClintock
+broke up housekeeping, and went South with
+his family. Then Mrs. McClintock died, and
+the General and this one boy boarded in New
+York, and Gerald attended school. In the
+spring the General was called to California on
+some important law business&mdash;you know he is a
+celebrated lawyer, and they say his son is going
+to be even more brilliant than his father&mdash;well,
+the father had to go, and the boy made him
+promise that he might spend the summer vacation
+with Mrs. Smith out here. The McClintocks
+had been very fond of her and her husband
+and trusted them both; so the General agreed
+to it, thinking he would be back long before the
+vacation closed.</p>
+
+<p>"But he was delayed by one thing and another,
+and the boy coaxed to stay on, and study in the
+public school here; he was a pupil in Whately
+Institute at home. Imagine him taking up with
+our common schools! so he stayed until the first
+of December, and then his father came.</p>
+
+<p>"Such a time as that was! You see we all
+knew of General McClintock, of course, and
+when it was found we could get him to lecture,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span>
+the people nearly went wild over it. We
+couldn't understand why we should have such
+good fortune, when we knew ever so many
+places&mdash;large cities&mdash;had been refused; but it
+was all explained after he came.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a beautiful day when he came; all
+the schools were closed, and we formed a procession
+and marched to the depot, and the band
+was there, and great crowds. I remember as
+though it were yesterday how astonished we
+were to see Nettie Decker and that boy in a conspicuous
+place on the corner of the platform.
+Nettie had on her old brown merino, and looked
+so queer and seemed so out of place, that I went
+and spoke to father about it, and he advised them
+to go down and join the procession; but it
+seems the marshal knew what he was about, and
+objected to their moving. Then the train came,
+and there was a great excitement, and in the
+midst of it, the General almost took that boy
+Jerry in his arms, and kissed and kissed him!
+Then he kissed Nettie Decker, and while we
+stood wondering what on earth it all meant,
+they all three entered an elegant carriage drawn
+by four horses, and were carried to the Keppler
+House.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They had an elegant private dinner, they
+three; and in fact all the time the General was
+here, he kept Nettie Decker with them; he
+treated her more like a daughter than a stranger.
+I don't think there was ever such an excitement
+in this town about anything as we had at that
+time; the circumstances were so peculiar, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't understand it, yet. Why did
+he call himself Jerry Mack? What was his object
+in deceiving us all?"</p>
+
+<p>"He hadn't the slightest intention of doing
+so. I heard he said such a thought never entered
+his mind until we began it. It seems
+when he was a little bit of a fellow he tried to
+speak his name, Gerald McClintock, and the
+nearest he could approach to it, was, Jerry
+Mack. Of course they thought that was cunning,
+and it grew to be his pet name; so before
+they knew it, the servants and all his boy friends
+called him so, all the time. When he came here
+Mrs. Smith and her husband naturally used the
+old name; then somebody, I'm sure I don't
+know who, started the story that he was an
+Irish boy working at the Smiths for his board;
+and it seems he heard of it, and it amused him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span>
+so much he decided to let people think so if
+they wanted to; he coaxed the Smiths not to
+tell who he was, or why he was here; and they
+so nearly worshipped him, that if he had asked
+them to say he was a North American Indian I
+believe they would have done it. It seems he
+liked Nettie Decker from the first, and was annoyed
+because she wasn't invited in our set.
+But I am sure I don't know how we were to
+blame; she had nothing to wear, and how were
+we to know that she was a very smart girl, and
+real sweet and good? The Deckers were very
+poor, and Mr. Decker drank, you know, and
+Norm was sort of a loafer, and we thought they
+were real low people."</p>
+
+<p>"I remember Ermina Farley was friendly
+with Nettie, and with the boy, too."</p>
+
+<p>"O yes, Ermina was always peculiar; she is
+yet. I have always thought that perhaps
+Ermina knew something about the McClintocks,
+but she says she didn't. I heard her say the
+other day that somebody told her he was an Irish
+boy, whose father had run away and left him;
+and the Smiths gave him a home out of pity;
+and she supposed of course it was so, and was
+sorry for him. Then she always thought he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span>
+handsome, and smart; well, so did I, I must
+say."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder who started that absurd story
+about his father deserting him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know, I'm sure; somebody imagined
+it was so, I suppose, and spoke of it; such
+things spread, you know, nobody seems to understand
+quite how."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, as I remember things, Jerry&mdash;I shall
+always call him that name, I don't believe I
+could remember to say Mr. McClintock if I
+should meet him now&mdash;as I remember him, he
+seemed to be as poor as Nettie; he dressed very well,
+but not as a gentleman's son, and he
+seemed to be contriving ways to earn little bits
+of money. Don't you remember that old hen
+and chickens he bought? And he used to go to
+the Farleys every morning with a fresh egg for
+Helen; sold it, you know, for I was there one
+morning when Mrs. Farley paid him."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it; he was always contriving ways
+to earn money; why, Irene, don't you remember
+his selling fish to Ermina Farley that day
+when we were talking down by the pond? I
+have always thought he heard more than we
+imagined he did, that day; I don't clearly remember<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span>
+what we said, but I know we were running
+on about Nettie Decker and about Jerry;
+I used to sort of dislike them both, because
+Ermina Farley was always trying to push them
+forward.</p>
+
+<p>"I would give something to know exactly
+what we did say that day. For awhile I did not
+like to meet any of the McClintocks; it always
+seemed to me as though they were thinking
+about that time. But they have been perfectly
+polite and cordial to me, always; and Nettie
+Decker is a perfect lady. But I know all about
+the poverty. It seems the boy Jerry had been
+very fond of giving away money, and books, and
+all sorts of things to people whom he thought
+needed them; and his father began to be afraid
+he would have no knowledge of the value of
+money, and would give carelessly, you know,
+just because he felt like it. So the General had
+a long talk with him, and made an arrangement
+that while he was gone West, Jerry should have
+nothing to give away but what he earned. He
+might earn as much as he liked, or could, and
+give it all away if he chose; but not a penny
+besides, and he was not to appeal to his father
+to help anybody in any way whatever. Of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span>
+course the father was to pay all his bills for
+necessary things&mdash;they say he paid a splendid
+price to the Smiths for taking care of him. Poor
+Mrs. Smith cried when he went away, as though
+he had been her own child. Well, of course
+that crippled him, in his pocket money, but they
+say his father was very much pleased to find
+how many schemes he had started for earning
+money. That plan about the business was his
+from beginning to end, and just see what it has
+grown to!"</p>
+
+<p>"What? I don't know; remember, I only
+came night before last, and haven't heard anything
+about the town since the day I left it."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the Norman House, the most elegant
+hotel in town, is the outgrowth of that enterprise
+begun in the Decker's front room! Mr.
+Decker owns the whole thing, now, and manages
+it splendidly. His wife is a perfect genius, they
+say, about managing. She oversees the housekeeping
+herself, and the cooking is perfect they
+say. General McClintock was so pleased with
+the beginning, that he bought that long low
+building on Smith street that first time he was
+here, and fitted it up for Norman and Nettie to
+run. He carried his son away with him, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span>
+course, but they stayed long enough to see
+that matter fairly under way. The Norman
+House is managed on the same general principles;
+strictly temperance, of course. The
+General is as great a fanatic about that as the
+Deckers are, and the prices are very low&mdash;lower
+than other first-class houses, while the
+table is better, and the rooms are beautifully
+furnished. They say it is because Mrs. Decker
+is such an excellent manager that they can
+afford things at such low prices. Then, besides,
+there is a lunch room for young men, where
+they can get excellent things for just what they
+cost; that is a sort of benevolence. General
+McClintock devotes a certain amount to it
+each year; and there is a splendid young man in
+charge of the room; you saw him once, Rick
+Walker, his name is. He used to be considered
+a sort of hard boy, but there isn't a more respected
+young man in town than he. He is
+book-keeper at the Norman House, and has
+the oversight of this Home Dining Room. You
+ought to go in there; it is very nicely furnished,
+and they have flowers, plants, you know, and
+birds, and a fountain, and pictures on the walls,
+and for fifteen cents you can get an excellent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span>
+dinner. Everybody likes Rick Walker; they
+say he has a great influence over the boys in
+town, almost as great as Norman Decker; <i>he</i>
+used to be in charge of it all, before he went
+to college."</p>
+
+<p>"Still, I shouldn't think the McClintocks
+would have liked Nettie Decker to be in quite
+so public a place," interrupted her listener.
+"Oh! she wasn't public; why, she went to
+New York to a private school the very next winter
+after the General came home. She boarded
+with them; the General's sister came East with
+him, and was the lady of the house; then he sent
+her to Wellesley, you know. Didn't you know
+that? She graduated at Wellesley a year ago.
+Yes, the McClintocks educated her, or began it;
+her father has done so well that I suppose he
+hasn't needed their help lately. He is a master
+builder, you know, and keeps at his business,
+and owns and manages this hotel, besides. Oh!
+they are well off; you ought to see Mrs. Decker.
+She is a very pretty woman, and a real lady;
+they say Nettie and Norman are so proud of
+her! What was I telling you? Oh! about the
+room; they have a library connected with it,
+and a reading room, and everything complete;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span>
+it is such a nice thing for our young men. A
+great many wealthy gentlemen contribute to
+the library. There is a little alcove at the
+further end of the reading room, where they
+keep cake and lemonade, and nuts and little
+things of all sorts. They are very cheap, but the
+boys can't get any cigars there; I'm so glad of
+that. The Norman House is in very great
+favor&mdash;quite the fashion, and it makes such a
+difference with the boys who are just beginning
+to imagine themselves young men, and who want
+to be manly, to have an elegant place like that
+frown on all such things. My brother Dick,
+you remember him? He was a little fellow
+when you lived here&mdash;he went into the Norman
+House one day and called for a cigar; he was
+just beginning to smoke, and I suppose he did
+it because he thought it would sound manly. It
+was in the spring when Norman was at home on
+vacation, and it seems he expressed so much astonishment
+that Dick was quite ashamed; I
+don't think he has smoked a cigar since."</p>
+
+<p>"The Deckers seem to be quite a centre of
+interest in town."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, they are. They are a sort of exceptional
+family someway; their experience has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span>
+been so romantic. Mr. Decker has become such a
+nice man; Deacon Decker, he is, a prominent
+man in the church, and everywhere. Oh! do
+you remember those two cunning little girls? I
+always thought they were sweet. Susie is a perfect
+lady; she is going with Nettie and her husband
+to Washington; but little Sate is a beauty.
+They say she is going to be a poet and an artist,
+and she looks almost like an angel. General
+McClintock admires her very much; he says she
+shall have the finest art teachers in Europe. I
+never saw a family come up as they did, from
+nothing, you may say. But then it was all owing
+to that fortunate accident of being friends
+with Gerald McClintock, and having the Farleys
+interested in them. Did I tell you Norman was
+engaged to Ermina Farley? O yes! they will
+marry as soon as he graduates from the medical
+college, and then he will take her abroad and
+take a post graduate course in medicine there.
+I suppose they will take Sate with them then.
+They say that is the plan. No, I certainly never
+saw anything like their success in life. Mrs.
+Smith doesn't believe in luck, you know, nor
+much in money, though since her Job has a position
+in the Norman House that pays better than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span>
+carting, they have built an addition to their
+house, and, Sarah Ann says, "live like folks."
+She is housekeeper at the Norman House&mdash;Mrs.
+Decker's right-hand woman. Mrs. Smith says
+the Lord had a great deal to do with the Decker
+family; that Nettie came home resolved to be
+faithful to Him, and to trust Him to save her
+father and brother, and so He did it, of course.
+It seems she and Jerry promised each other to
+work for Norman and the father in every possible
+way until they were converted; and they
+did. I must say I think they are real wonderful
+Christians, all of them. I like to hear Mr.
+Decker pray better than almost any other man
+in our meeting; and as for Norman, he leads a
+meeting beautifully. They say Mr. Sherrill
+thought at first that he ought to preach; but
+now he says he is reconciled; there is greater
+need for Christian physicians than for ministers.
+Mr. Sherrill has always been great friends with
+all the Deckers; you remember he was, from the
+first. Norman studied with him all the time he
+was managing that first little bit of a restaurant
+in the square room of the old Decker house.
+They tore down that house last month, to make
+room for a carriage drive around the back of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span>
+their new house, and they say Nettie cried when
+the square room was torn up.</p>
+
+<p>"She has some of the quaintest furniture!
+Sofas, she calls them, made out of boxes; and a
+queer old-fashioned hour-glass stand, and a barrel
+chair, which have been sent on with all her
+elegant things, to New York; she is going to
+furnish a room for Gerald and her with them;
+he made them, it seems, when they began that
+queer scheme. Who would have supposed it
+could grow as it did? It really seems as though
+the Lord must have had a good deal to do with
+it, doesn't it? I tell you, Irene, it is wonderful
+how many young men they have helped save,
+those two. It seems a pity sometimes that they
+could not have told us girls what they were
+about and let us help; but then, I don't know as
+we would have helped if we had understood; I
+used to be such a perfect little idiot then! Well,
+it was Nettie Decker got hold of me at last.
+Norman signed the pledge that night when General
+McClintock lectured here, and during the
+winter he was converted; but it was two years
+after that before I made up my mind. I was
+miserable all that time, too; because I knew I
+was doing wrong. And I didn't treat Nettie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span>
+wonderfully well any of the time; but when she
+came to me with her eyes shining with tears,
+and said she had been praying for me ever since
+that day of the flower party, I just broke down.</p>
+
+<p>"O Irene, there's the carriage with the bride
+and groom and Norman and Ermina. Doesn't
+the bride look lovely! I wish they had had a
+public wedding and let us all see her! But they
+say General McClintock thinks weddings ought
+to be very private. Never mind, we will see
+her at the reception next week; but then, she
+won't be Nettie Decker; we shall have to say
+good-by to her."</p>
+
+<p>And Miss Lorena Barstow stood still in the
+street, and shaded her eyes from the sunlight to
+watch the bridal party as the carriage wound
+around the square, looking her last with tender,
+loving eyes, upon Nettie Decker.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle1'>CHOICE BOOKS<br />
+
+<small>FOR READERS OF ALL AGES</small></div>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>Pansy Books.</div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'>
+<p><b>The Pansy</b> for 1888. With colored frontispiece. Edited by
+Pansy.</p>
+
+<p>More than 400 pages of reading and pictures for children of
+eight to fifteen years in various lines of interest. Quarto, boards,
+1.25.<br /></p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Pansy Sunday Book</b> for 1889. With colored frontispiece.
+Edited by Pansy. Quarto, boards, 1.25.</p>
+
+<p>Just the thing for children on Sunday afternoon, when the whole
+family are gathered in the home to exchange helpful thought and
+gain new courage for future work and study which the tone and
+excellence of these tales impart.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Pansy's Story Book.</b> By Pansy. Quarto, boards,
+1.25.</p>
+
+<p>Made up largely of Pansy's charming stories with an occasional
+sketch or poem by some other well-known children's author to
+give variety.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Mother's Boys and Girls.</b> By Pansy. Quarto, boards,
+1.25.</p>
+
+<p>A book full of stories for boys and girls, most of them short, so
+all the more of them. Easy words and plenty of pictures.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Pansy Token</b> (A); or An Hour with Miss Streator. For
+Sunday School teachers. 24mo, paper, 15 cts.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Young Folks Stories of American History and
+Home Life.</b> Edited by Pansy. Quarto, cover in colors, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Sketches, tales and pictures on New-World subjects.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Young Folks Stories of Foreign Lands.</b> Edited
+by Pansy. First Series, quarto, cover in colors, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Sketches, tales and pictures on Old-World subjects.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Stories and Pictures from the Life of Jesus.</b>
+By Pansy. 12mo, boards, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>The life of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels simplified and
+unified for children.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>A Christmas Time.</b> By Pansy, 12mo, boards, 15 cts.</p>
+
+<p>A Christmas story full of Christmas trees and sleigh-rides. Its
+lesson is the joy to be got in helping others.</p></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>Travel and History for Young
+Folks.</div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Story of the American Indian (The).</b> By Elbridge
+S. Brooks. 8vo, cloth, 2.50.</p>
+
+<p>"A thorough compendium of the archæology, history, present
+standing and outlook of our nation's wards.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. We commend
+it as the best and most comprehensive book on the Indian for general
+reading known to us."&mdash;<i>Literary World.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Story of the American Sailor (The).</b> By Elbridge
+S. Brooks. Octavo, cloth, 2.50.</p>
+
+<p>The first consecutive narrative yet attempted, sketching the rise
+and development of the American seaman on board merchant vessel
+and man-of-war.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Ned Harwood's Visit to Jerusalem.</b> By Mrs. S.
+G. Knight. Quarto, 1.25.</p>
+
+<p>Travel in the Holy Land. The manuscript was approved by
+Rev. Selah Merrill, for many years U. S. Consul at Jerusalem.
+The strictest accuracy has thus been secured without impairing
+the interest of the story.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Out and About.</b> By Kate Tannatt Woods. Quarto,
+boards, 1.25.</p>
+
+<p>Cape Cod to the Golden Gate with a lot of young folks along,
+and plenty of yarns by the way.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Sights Worth Seeing.</b> By those who saw them.
+Quarto, cloth, 1.50.</p>
+
+<p>Eleven descriptive articles by such writers as Margaret Sidney,
+Amanda B. Harris, Annie Sawyer Downs, Frank T. Merrill and
+Rose Kingsley. Copiously and beautifully illustrated.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Adventures of the Early Discoverers.</b> By
+Frances A. Humphrey. 4to, cloth, 1.00.</p>
+
+<p>Real history written and pictured for readers both sides of ten
+years old. It begins with the mythology of discovery and comes
+down to the sixteenth and seventeenth century.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>The Golden West</b>: as Seen by the Ridgway Club. By
+Margaret Sidney. Quarto, boards, 1.75.</p>
+
+<p>Description of a trip through Southern California taken by Mr.
+and Mrs. Ridgway and their children. The careful observations
+and the fine illustrations make it a treasure for boys and girls.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Days and Nights in the Tropics.</b> By Felix L.
+Oswald. Quarto, boards, 1.25.</p>
+
+<p>The collector of curiosities for the Brazilian museum goes on
+his quest with his eyes open. A book of adventures and hunters'
+yarns.</p></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>Illustrated Stories for Young
+Folks.</div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Young Folks' Cyclopedia of Stories.</b> Quarto,
+cloth, 3.00.</p>
+
+<p>Contains in one large book the following stories with many illustrations:
+Five Little Peppers, Two Young Homesteaders, Royal
+Lowrie's Last Year at St. Olaves, The Dogberry Bunch, Young
+Rick, Nan the New-Fashioned Girl, Good-for-Nothing Polly and
+The Cooking Club of Tu-Whit Hollow.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>What the Seven Did</b>; or, the Doings of the Wordsworth
+Club. By Margaret Sidney. Quarto, boards, 1.75.</p>
+
+<p>The Seven are little girl neighbors who meet once a week at
+their several homes. They helped others and improved themselves.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Me and My Dolls.</b> By L. T. Meade. Quarto, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>A family history. Some of the dolls have had queer adventures.
+Twelve full-page illustrations by Margaret Johnson.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Little Wanderers in Bo-Peep's World.</b> Quarto,
+boards, double lithograph covers, 50 cts.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Polly and the Children.</b> By Margaret Sidney. Boards,
+quarto, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>The story of a funny parrot and two charming children. The
+parrot has surprising adventures at the children's party and wears
+a medal after the fire.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Five Little Peppers.</b> By Margaret Sidney. 12mo, 1.50.</p>
+
+<p>Story of five little children of a fond, faithful and capable
+"mamsie." Full of young life and family talk.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Seal Series.</b> 10 vols., boards, double lithographed covers,
+quarto.</p>
+
+<p>Rocky Fork, Old Caravan Days, The Dogberry Bunch, by
+Mary H. Catherwood; The Story of Honor Bright and Royal
+Lowrie's Last Year at St. Olaves, by Charles R. Talbot; Their
+Club and Ours, by John Preston True; From the Hudson to the
+Neva, by David Ker; The Silver City, by Fred A. Ober; Two
+Young Homesteaders, by Theodora Jenness; The Cooking Club
+of Tu-Whit Hollow, by Ella Farman.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Cats' Arabian Nights.</b> By Abby Morton Diaz. Quarto,
+cloth, 1.75; boards, 1.25.</p>
+
+<p>The wonderful cat story of cat stories told by Pussyanita that
+saved the lives of all the cats.</p></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>Natural History.</div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Stories and Pictures of Wild Animals.</b> By Anna
+F. Burnham. Quarto, boards, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Big letters, big pictures and easy stories of elephants, lions,
+tigers, lynxes, jaguars, bears and many others.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Life and Habits of Wild Animals.</b> Quarto, cloth,
+1.50.</p>
+
+<p>The very best book young folks can have if they are at all interested
+in Natural History. If they are not yet interested it will
+make them so. Illustrated from designs by Joseph Wolf.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Children's Out-Door Neighbors.</b> By Mrs. A. E.
+Andersen-Maskell. 3 volumes, 12mo, cloth, each 1.00.</p>
+
+<p>Three instructive and interesting books: Children with Animals,
+Children with Birds, Children with Fishes. The author has the
+happy faculty of interesting boys and girls in the wonderful neighbors
+around them and that without introducing anything which is
+not borne out by the knowledge of learned men.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Some Animal Pets.</b> By Mrs. Oliver Howard. Quarto,
+boards, 35 cts.</p>
+
+<p>The experiences of a Colorado family with young, wild and
+tame animals. It is one of the pleasantest animal books we have
+met in many a day. Well thought, well written, well pictured,
+the book itself, apart from its contents, is attractive. Full page
+pictures.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Tiny Folk In Red and Black.</b> Quarto, boards, 35 cts.</p>
+
+<p>The tiny folk are ants and they make as interesting a study as
+human folk&mdash;perhaps more interesting in the opinion of some.
+The book gives a full and graphic description of their many wise
+and curious ways&mdash;how they work, how they harvest their grain,
+how they milk their cows, etc. It will teach the children to keep
+eyes and ears open.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>My Land and Water Friends.</b> By Mary E. Bamford.
+Seventy illustrations by Bridgman. Quarto, cloth, 1.50.</p>
+
+<p>The frog opens the book with a "talk" about himself, in the
+course of which he tells us all about the changes through which
+he passes before he arrives at perfect froghood. Then the grasshopper
+talks and is followed by others, each giving his view of
+life from his own individual standpoint.</p></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>Young Folks' Illustrated
+Quartos.</div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Wide Awake Volume Z.</b> Quarto, boards, 1.75.</p>
+
+<p>Good literature and art have been put into this volume. Henry
+Bacon's paper about Rosa Bonheur, the great painter of horses
+and lions, and Steffeck's painting of Queen Louise with Kaiser
+William would do credit to any Art publication.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Chit Chat for Boys and Girls.</b> Quarto, boards, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>A volume of selected pieces upon every conceivable subject.
+As a distinctive feature it devotes considerable space to Home
+Life and Sports and Pastimes.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Good Cheer for Boys and Girls.</b></p>
+
+<p>Short stories, sketches, poems, bits of history, biography and
+natural history.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Our Little Men and Women for 1888.</b> Quarto,
+boards, 1.50.</p>
+
+<p>No boys and girls who have this book can be ignorant beyond
+their years of history, natural history, foreign sights or the good
+times of other boys and girls.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Babyland for 1888.</b> Quarto, boards, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Finger-plays, cricket stories, Tales told by a Cat and scores of
+jingles and pictures. Large print and easy words. Colored
+frontispiece.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Kings and Queens at Home.</b> By Frances A. Humphrey.
+Quarto, boards, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Short-story accounts of living royal personages.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Queen Victoria at Home.</b> By Frances A. Humphrey.
+Quarto, boards, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Pen picture of a noble woman. It will aid in educating the
+heart by presenting the domestic side of the queen's character.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Stories about Favorite Authors.</b> By Frances A.
+Humphrey. Quarto boards, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Little literature lessons for little boys and girls.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Child Lore.</b> Edited by Clara Doty Bates. Quarto, cloth,
+tinted edges, 2.25; boards, 1.50.</p>
+
+<p>More than 50,000 copies sold. The most successful quarto for
+children.</p></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='adtitle2'>Helpful Books for Young Folks.</div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Danger Signals.</b> By Rev. F. E. Clark, President of
+the United Society of Christian Endeavor. 12mo, cloth, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>The enemies of youth from the business man's standpoint.
+The substance of a series of addresses delivered two or three
+years ago in one of the Boston churches.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Marion Harland's Cookery for Beginners.</b> 12mo,
+vellum cloth, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>The untrained housekeeper needs such directions as will not
+confuse and discourage her. Marion Harland makes her book
+simple and practical enough to meet this demand.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Bible Stories.</b> By Laurie Loring. 4to, boards, 35 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Very short stories with pictures. The Creation, Noah and the
+Dove, Samuel, Joseph, Elijah, the Christ Child, the Good Shepherd,
+Peter, etc.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>The Magic Pear.</b> Oblong, 8vo, boards, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Twelve outline drawing lessons with directions for the amusement
+of little folks. They are genuine pencil puzzles for untaught
+fingers. A pear gives shape to a dozen animal pictures.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>What O'Clock Jingles.</b> By Margaret Johnson. Oblong,
+8vo, boards, 75 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Twelve little counting lessons. Pretty rhymes for small children.
+Twenty-seven artistic illustrations by the author.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Ways for Boys to Make and Do Things.</b> 60 cts.</p>
+
+<p>Eight papers by as many different authors, on subjects that interest
+boys. A book to delight active boys and to inspire lazy
+ones.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Our Young Folks at Home.</b> 4to, boards, 1.00.</p>
+
+<p>A collection of illustrated prose stories by American authors and
+artists. It is sure to make friends among children of all ages.
+Colored frontispiece.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Peep of Day Series.</b> 3 vols., 1.20 each.</p>
+
+<p>Peep of Day, Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept. Sermonettes
+for the children, so cleverly preached that the children
+will not grow sleepy.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><b>Home Primer.</b> Boards, square, 8vo, 50 cts.</p>
+
+<p>A book for the little ones to learn to read in before they are old
+enough to be sent off to school. 100 illustrations.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">Monteagle.</span> By Pansy. Boston: D. Lothrop
+Company. Price 75 cents. Both girls and boys
+will find this story of Pansy's pleasant and profitable
+reading. Dilly West is a character whom the
+first will find it an excellent thing to intimate, and
+boys will find in Hart Hammond a noble, manly,
+fellow who walks for a time dangerously near
+temptation, but escapes through providential influences,
+not the least of which is the steady
+devotion to duty of the young girl, who becomes
+an unconscious power of good.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">A Dozen of Them.</span> By Pansy. Boston: D.
+Lothrop Company. Price 60 cents. A Sunday-school
+story, written in Pansy's best vein, and
+having for its hero a twelve-year-old boy who has
+been thrown upon the world by the death of his
+parents, and who has no one left to look after
+him but a sister a little older, whose time is fully
+occupied in the milliner's shop where she is employed.
+Joe, for that is the boy's name, finds a
+place to work at a farmhouse where there is a small
+private school. His sister makes him promise to
+learn by heart a verse of Scripture every month.
+It is a task at first, but he is a boy of his word,
+and he fulfills his promise, with what results the
+reader of the story will find out. It is an excellent
+book for the Sunday-school.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">At Home and Abroad.</span> Stories from <i>The Pansy</i>
+Boston: D. Lothrop Company. Price, $1.00. A
+score of short stories which originally appeared
+in the delightful magazine, <i>The Pansy</i>, have been
+here brought together in collected form with the
+illustrations which originally accompanied them.
+They are from the pens of various authors, and
+are bright, instructive and entertaining.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">About Giants.</span> By Isabel Smithson. Boston:
+D. Lothrop Company. Price 60 cents. In this
+little volume Miss Smithson has gathered together
+many curious and interesting facts relating to
+real giants, or people who have grown to an extraordinary
+size. She does not believe that there
+was ever a race of giants, but that those who are
+so-called are exceptional cases, due to some freak
+of nature. Among those described are Cutter,
+the Irish giant, who was eight feet tall, Tony
+Payne, whose height exceeded seven feet, and
+Chang, the Chinese giant, who was on exhibition
+in this country a few years ago. The volume
+contains not only accounts of giants, but also of
+dwarfs, and is illustrated.</p></div>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">American Authors.</span> By Amanda B. Harris.
+Boston: D. Lothrop Company. Price $1.00. This
+is one of the books we can heartily commend to
+young readers, not only for its interest, but for
+the information it contains. All lovers of books
+have a natural curiosity to know something about
+their writers, and the better the books, the keener
+the curiosity. Miss Harris has written the various
+chapters of the volume with a full appreciation of
+this fact. She tells us about the earlier group of
+American writers, Irving, Cooper, Prescott, Emerson,
+and Hawthorne, all of whom are gone, and
+also of some of those who came later, among
+them the Cary sisters, Thoreau, Lowell, Helen
+Hunt, Donald G. Mitchell and others. Miss Harris
+has a happy way of imparting information, and
+the boys and girls into whose hands this little
+book may fall will find it pleasant reading.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">Tilting at Windmills:</span> A Story of the Blue
+Grass Country. By Emma M. Connelly. Boston:
+D. Lothrop Company. 12mo, $1.50.</p>
+
+<p>Not since the days of "A Fool's Errand" has so
+strong and so characteristic a "border novel" been
+brought to the attention of the public as is now
+presented by Miss Connelly in this book which she
+so aptly terms "Tilting at Windmills." Indeed, it
+is questionable whether Judge Tourgee's famous
+book touched so deftly and yet so practically the
+real phases of the reconstruction period and the
+interminable antagonisms of race and section.</p>
+
+<p>The self-sufficient Boston man, a capital fellow
+at heart, but tinged with the traditions and environments
+of his Puritan ancestry and conditions,
+coming into his strange heritage in Kentucky at
+the close of the civil war, seeks to change by instant
+manipulation all the equally strong and deep-rooted
+traditions and environments of Blue Grass
+society.</p>
+
+<p>His ruthless conscience will allow of no compromise,
+and the people whom he seeks to proselyte
+alike misunderstand his motives and spurn his
+proffered assistance.</p>
+
+<p>Presumed errors are materialized and partial
+evils are magnified. Allerton tilts at windmills
+and with the customary Quixotic results. He is,
+seemingly, unhorsed in every encounter.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Connelly's work in this, her first novel, will
+make readers anxious to hear from her again and
+it will certainly create, both in her own and other
+States, a strong desire to see her next forthcoming
+work announced by the same publishers in one of
+their new series&mdash;her "Story of the State of Kentucky."</p></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class='adspacing'><p><span class="smcap">The Art of Living.</span> From the Writings of
+Samuel Smiles. With Introduction by the venerable
+Dr. Peabody of Harvard University, and
+Biographical Sketch by the editor, Carrie Adelaide
+Cooke. Boston: D. Lothrop Company. Price
+$1.00.</p>
+
+<p>Samuel Smiles is the Benjamin Franklin of England.
+His sayings have a similar terseness, aptness
+and force; they are directed to practical ends,
+like Franklin's; they have the advantage of being
+nearer our time and therefore more directly related
+to subjects upon which practical wisdom is of
+practical use.</p>
+
+<p>Success in life is his subject all through, The Art
+of Living; and he confesses on the very first page
+that "happiness consists in the enjoyment of little
+pleasures scattered along the common path of life,
+which in the eager search for some great and exciting
+joy we are apt to overlook. It finds delight
+in the performance of common duties faithfully
+and honorably fulfilled."</p>
+
+<p>Let the reader go back to that quotation again and
+consider how contrary it is to the spirit that underlies
+the businesses that are nowadays tempting men
+to sudden fortune, torturing with disappointments
+nearly all who yield, and burdening the successful
+beyond their endurance, shortening lives and making
+them weary and most of them empty.</p>
+
+<p>Is it worth while to join the mad rush for the
+lottery; or to take the old road to slow success?</p>
+
+<p>This book of the chosen thoughts of a rare philosopher
+leads to contentment as well as wisdom;
+for, when we choose the less brilliant course because
+we are sure it is the best one, we have the
+most complete and lasting repose from anxiety.</p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class='tnote'><div class='center'><b>Transcriber's Notes:</b></div>
+
+<p>Punctuation errors repaired.</p>
+
+<p>First book list page, "Eaoh" changed to "Each" (Each volume 16mo)</p>
+
+<p>Page 4, "208" changed to "226" to reflect actual first page of Chapter XII.</p>
+
+<p>Page 4, "230" changed to "304" to reflect actual first page of Chapter XVII.</p>
+
+<p>Page 4 and 5, each page number reference increased by two to match actual location
+of remaining chapters. (<i>i.e.</i> 318 is now 320 to reflect location of Chapter
+XVIII)</p>
+
+
+<p>Page 29, "botton" changed to "bottom" (for in the bottom of)</p>
+
+<p>Page 69, "nowdays" changed to "nowadays" (the pennies nowadays)</p>
+
+<p>Page 88, "keees" changed to "knees" (soon on her knees)</p>
+
+<p>Page 200, "think" changed to "thing" (thing that I should)</p>
+
+<p>Page 202, "interruped" changed to "interrupted" (of her had interrupted)</p>
+
+<p>Page 212, "sat" changed to "set" (he set the table)</p>
+
+<p>Page 269, "unsual" changed to "unusual" (unusual toilet having)</p>
+
+<p>Page 385, extra word "the" removed from text. Original read (have at the
+the windows)</p>
+
+<p>Page 407, "pealed" changed to "peeled" (turnips half-peeled)</p>
+
+<p>Page 437, "esson" changed to "lesson" (lesson is the joy)</p>
+</div>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45536 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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author	Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>	2025-10-14 19:03:31 -0700
committer	Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>	2025-10-14 19:03:31 -0700
commit	acd655e1e4e8fd7bf4206f1ce56a7e565f4c2b4d (patch)
tree	970b737ddf800588d72c484f115de418fa1e4799 /45536-h