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diff --git a/76977-0.txt b/76977-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc51f0f --- /dev/null +++ b/76977-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1436 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76977 *** + +[Illustration: “Rosamond sat looking about the room.”--_Frontispiece._] + + + + + LITTLE BUTTON ROSE + + BY + + LOUISA M. ALCOTT + + AUTHOR OF + “LITTLE WOMEN,” “LITTLE MEN,” “JO’S BOYS,” ETC. + + + Illustrated + + + BOSTON + LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY + + + + + _Copyright, 1887_, + BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT. + + _Copyright, 1901_, + BY JOHN S. P. ALCOTT. + + + University Press + JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. + + + + + LITTLE BUTTON-ROSE + + +“If you please, I’ve come,” said a small girl, as she walked into a +large room where three ladies sat at work. + +One of the ladies was very thin, one very stout, and the youngest +very pretty. The eldest put on her glasses, the stout one dropped her +sewing, and the pretty one exclaimed,-- + +“Why, it must be little Rosamond!” + +“Yes, I’ve come; the man is taking my trunk upstairs, and I’ve got a +letter for Cousin Penelope,” said the child, with the sweet composure +of one always sure of a welcome. + +The stout lady held out her hand for the letter; but the little girl, +after a keen look at the three faces, went to the old lady, who +received her with a kiss, saying,-- + +“That’s right; but how did you know, dear?” + +“Oh, Papa said Cousin Penny is old, Cousin Henny fat, and Cousin Cicely +rather pretty; so I knew in one minute,” replied Rosamond, in a tone of +innocent satisfaction at her own cleverness, and quite unconscious of +the effect of her speech. + +Miss Penelope hastily retired behind the letter, Miss Henrietta frowned +so heavily that the gold-rimmed eye-glasses flew off her nose with a +clash, and Cicely laughed outright, as she exclaimed,-- + +“I’m afraid we have got an _enfant terrible_ among us, though I can’t +complain of my share of the compliments.” + +“I never expected to find Clara’s child well mannered, and I see I was +quite right. Take your hat off, Rosamond, and sit down. It tires Sister +to lean on her in that way,” said Miss Henny in a severe tone, with no +offer of any warmer welcome. + +Seeing that something was amiss, the child quietly obeyed, and perching +herself in an ancient arm-chair crossed her short legs, folded her +plump hands over the diminutive travelling-bag she carried, and sat +looking about the room with a pair of very large blue eyes, quite +unabashed, though rather pensive, as if the memory of some tender +parting were still fresh in her little heart. + +While Miss Penny slowly reads the letter, Miss Henny works daisies on +a bit of canvas with pettish jerks of her silk, and Miss Cicely leans +in the sofa-corner, staring at the newcomer, we will briefly introduce +our small heroine. Her father was cousin to the elder ladies, and being +called suddenly across the water on business, took his wife with him, +leaving the little girl to the care of these relatives, thinking her +too young for so long a journey. Cicely, an orphan niece who lived with +the old ladies, was to have the care of Rosy; and a summer in the quiet +country town would do her good, while change of scene would console +her for this first separation from her mother. How she fared remains +to be seen; and we need only add that the child had been well trained, +made the companion of a sweet and tender woman, and was very anxious to +please the parents whom she passionately loved, by keeping the promises +she had made them, and being “as brave as Papa, as patient and kind as +dear Mamma.” + +“Well, what do you think of it, Missy?” asked Cicely, as the blue eyes +came back to her, after roving round the spacious, old-fashioned, and +rather gloomy room. + +“It’s a pretty large, dark place for a little girl to be all alone +in;” and there was a suspicious quiver in the childish voice, as Rosy +opened her bag to produce a very small handkerchief, evidently feeling +that she might have sudden need of it if some one did not speak to her +very soon. + +“We keep it dark on account of Sister’s eyes. When _I_ was a little +girl, it wasn’t considered polite to say rude things about other +people’s houses, especially if they were very handsome ones,” said Miss +Henny, with a stern glance over the eye-glasses at the young offender, +whose second remark was even more unfortunate than her first. + +“I didn’t mean to be rude, but I _must_ tell the truth. Little girls +like bright places. I’m sorry about Cousin Penny’s eyes. I will read to +her; I do to Mamma, and she says it is very well for a child only eight +years old.” + +The gentle answer and the full eyes seemed to calm Miss Henny’s wrath, +for her size was her tender point, and the old house her especial +pride; so she dropped the awe-inspiring glasses, and said more kindly,-- + +“There is a nice little room ready for you upstairs, and a garden to +play in. Cicely will hear you read every day, and I will teach you to +sew, for of course that _most_ useful part of your education has been +neglected.” + +“No, ma’am, I sew my four patches every day, and make little wee +stitches, and I can hem Papa’s hank’chifs, and I was learning to darn +his socks with a big needle when--when they went away.” + +Rosy paused with a sudden choke; but too proud to break down, she only +wiped two drops off her cheek with the long ends of her little gray +silk glove, set her lips, and remained mistress of herself, privately +planning to cry all she liked when she was safely in the “nice little +room” promised her. + +Cicely, though a lazy, selfish young lady, was touched by the child’s +pathetic face, and said in a friendly tone, as she patted the couch +where she lay,-- + +“Come here, dear, and sit by me, and tell me what kind of a kitten +you’d like best. I know of a sweet yellow one, and two grays. Our Tabby +is too old to play with you; so you will want a kitty, I’m sure.” + +“Oh yes, if I may!” and Rosy skipped to the new seat with a smile which +plainly proved that this sort of welcome was just what she liked. + +“Now, Cicely, why will you put such an idea into Rosamond’s head when +you know we can’t have kittens round the house for Sister to stumble +over, not to mention the mischief the horrid things always do? Tabby +is all the child needs, with her doll. Of course you have a doll?” and +Miss Henny asked the question as solemnly as if she had said, “Have you +a soul?” + +“Oh yes, I have nine in my trunk, and two little ones in my bag, and +Mamma is going to send me a big, big one from London, as soon as she +gets there, to sleep with me and be my little comfort,” cried Rosy, +rapidly producing from her bag a tiny bride and groom, three seedcakes, +a smelling-bottle, and a purse out of which fell a shower of bright +cents, also crumbs all over the immaculate carpet. + +“Mercy on us, what a mess! Pick it all up, child, and don’t unpack any +more in the parlor. One doll is quite enough for me,” said Miss Henny, +with a sigh of resignation as if asking patience to bear this new +calamity. + +Rosy echoed the sigh as she crept about reclaiming her precious +pennies, and eating the crumbs as the only way of disposing of them. + +“Never mind, it’s only her way; the heat makes her a little cross, you +see,” whispered Cicely, bending down to hold the bag, into which Rosy +bundled her treasures in hot haste. + +“I thought fat people were always pleasant. I’m glad _you_ ain’t fat,” +answered the little girl, in a tone which was perfectly audible. + +What would have happened I tremble to think, if Miss Penny had not +finished the letter at that moment and handed it to her sister, saying +as she held out her arms to the child,-- + +“Now I know all about it, and you are to be my baby; so come and give +me some sweet kisses, darling.” + +Down dropped the bag, and with a little sob of joy the child nestled +close to the kind old heart that welcomed her so tenderly at last. + +“Papa calls me his button-rose, ’cause I’m so small and pink and sweet, +and thorny too sometimes,” she said, looking up brightly, after a few +moments of the fond and foolish cuddling all little creatures love +and need so much when they leave the nest, and miss the brooding of +motherly wings. + +“We’ll call you anything you like, darling; but Rosamond is a pretty +old name, and I’m fond of it, for it was your grandmamma’s, and a +sweeter woman never lived,” said Miss Penny, stroking the fresh +cheeks, where the tears shone like dew on pink rose-leaves. + +“I shall call you Chicken Little, because we have Henny and Penny; and +the girls and Tab downstairs can be Goosey-Loosey, Turkey-Lurkey, and +Cocky-Locky. I’ll be Ducky-Lucky, and I’m sure Foxy-Loxy lives next +door,” said Cicely, laughing at her own wit, while Miss Henny looked +up, saying, with the first smile Rosy had seen,-- + +“That’s true enough! and I hope Chicken Little will keep out of his +way, no matter if the sky does fall.” + +“Who is it? A truly fox? I never saw one. Could I peep at him some +time?” cried the child, much interested at once. + +“No, dear; it’s only a neighbor of ours who has treated us badly, +at least we think so, and we don’t speak, though we used to be good +friends some years ago. It’s sad to live so, but we don’t quite see how +to help it yet. We are ready to do our part; but Mr. Dover should take +the first step, as he was in the wrong.” + +“Please tell about it. I have horrid quarrels with Mamie Parsons +sometimes, but we always kiss and make up, and feel all happy again. +Can’t you, Cousin Penny?” asked the child, softly touching the little +white curls under the lace cap. + +“Well, no, dear; grown people cannot settle differences in that pretty +way. We must wait till he apologizes, and then we shall gladly be +friends again. You see Mr. Dover was a missionary in India for many +years, and we were very intimate with his mother. Our gardens join, and +a gate in our fence led across their field to the back street, and was +most convenient when we wanted to walk by the river or send the maids +on errands in a hurry. The old lady was very neighborly, and we were +quite comfortable till Thomas came home and made trouble. He’d lost his +wife and children, poor man, and his liver was out of order, and living +among the heathen so long had made him melancholy and queer; so he +tried to amuse himself with gardening and keeping hens.” + +“I’m glad! I love flowers and biddies,” murmured Rosy, listening with +deep interest to this delightful mixture of quarrels and heathen, +sorrow, poultry, mysterious diseases, and gardens. + +“He had no right to shut up our gate and forbid our crossing that +little field, and no _gentleman_ would have _dared_ to do it after all +our kindness to his mother,” exclaimed Miss Henny, so suddenly and +violently that Rosamond nearly fell off the old lady’s lap with the +start she gave. + +“No, sister, I don’t agree there. Mr. Thomas had a perfect _right_ to +do as he liked with his own land; but I think we should have had no +trouble if you had been willing to sell him the corner of our garden +where the old summer-house is, for his hens,” began Miss Penny in a +mild tone. + +“Sister! you know the tender memories connected with that bower, and +how terrible it would have been to _me_ to see it torn down, and +noisy fowls clucking and pecking where I and my poor Calvin once sat +together,” cried Miss Henny, trying to look sentimental, which was +an impossible feat for a stout lady in a flowery muslin gown, and a +fly-away cap full of blue ribbons, on a head once flaxen and now gray. + +“We won’t discuss the point, Henrietta,” said the elder lady with +dignity; whereupon the other returned to the letter, bridling and +tossing her head in a way which caused Rosy to stare, and resolve to +imitate it when she played be a proud princess with her dolls. + +“Well, dear, that was the beginning of the trouble,” continued Miss +Penny; “and now we don’t speak, and the old lady misses us, I’m sure, +and I often long to run in and see her, and I’m so sorry you can’t +enjoy the wonders of that house, for it’s full of beautiful and curious +things, most instructive for children to observe. Mr. Thomas has been +a great traveller, and has a tiger skin in the parlor so natural +it’s quite startling to behold; also spears, and bows and arrows, +and necklaces of shark’s teeth, from the Cannibal Islands, and the +loveliest stuffed birds, my dear, all over the place, and pretty shells +and baskets, and ivory toys, and odd dresses, and no end of wonderful +treasures. Such a sad pity you can’t see them!” and Miss Penny looked +quite distressed at the child’s loss. + +“Oh, but I guess I will see ’em! Every one is good to me, and old +gentlemen like little girls. Papa says so, and _he_ always does what I +want when I say ‘Please’ with my wheedulin smile, as he calls it,” said +Rosy, giving them a sample of the most engaging sort. + +“You funny little thing, do try it, and soften the heart of that +tiresome man! He has the finest roses in town and the most delicious +fruit, and we never get any, though he sends quantities everywhere +else. Such a fuss over an old earwiggy arbor! It is perfectly +provoking, when we might enjoy so much over there; and who knows what +might happen!” + +As Cicely spoke, she smoothed her brown curls and glanced at the +mirror, quite conscious that a very pretty young lady of twenty was +wasting her sweetness in the great gloomy house, with two elderly +spinsters. + +“I’ll get some for you,” answered Rosy, with a nod of such calm +conviction of her own power, that Cicely laughed again, and proposed +that she should go at once and view the battle-field. + +“Could I _run_ in the garden? I’d love to, after riding so long,” asked +Rosy, eager to be off; for her active legs ached for exercise, and the +close, shady room oppressed her. + +“Yes, dear; but don’t get into mischief, or worry Tabby, or pick the +flowers. Of course you wouldn’t touch green fruit, or climb trees, or +soil your little frock. I’ll ring the bell for you to come in and be +dressed for tea when it is time.” + +With these directions and a kiss, Miss Penny, as Cicely did not stir, +let the child out at the back door of the long hall, and watched her +walk demurely down the main path of the prim old garden, where no +child had played for years, and even the toads and fat robins behaved +in the most decorous manner. + +“It’s pretty dull, but it’s better than the parlor with all the staring +pictures,” said Rosy to herself, after a voyage of discovery had shown +her the few charms of the place. The sight of a large yellow cat +reposing in the sun cheered her eyes at that moment, and she hastened +to scrape acquaintance with the stately animal: for the snails were not +social, and the toads stared even more fixedly at her than the painted +eyes of her respected ancestors. + +But Tabby disliked children as much as her mistress, and after +submitting ungraciously to a few caresses from the eager little hands, +she rose and retired majestically to a safer perch on the top of the +high wall which enclosed the garden. Being too lazy to jump, she walked +up the shelves of an old flower-stand moulding in a corner, and by so +doing, gave Rosy a brilliant idea, which she at once put into action +by following Tabby’s example. Up this new sort of ladder she went, and +peeped over the wall, delighted at this unexpected chance to behold the +enemy’s territory. + +“Oh, what a pretty place!” she cried, clasping her grubby little hands +with rapture, as the beauties of the forbidden land burst upon her view. + +It was indeed a paradise to a child’s eyes,--for flowers bloomed along +the winding paths; ripening fruit lay rosy and tempting in the beds +below; behind the wire walls that confined them clucked and strutted +various sorts of poultry; cages of gay birds hung on the piazza; and +through the open windows of the house one caught glimpses of curious +curtains, bright weapons, and mysterious objects in the rooms beyond. + +A gray-headed gentleman in a queer nankeen coat lay asleep on a bamboo +lounge under the great cherry-tree, with a purple silk handkerchief +half over his face. + +“That’s the missionary man, I s’pose. He doesn’t look cross at all. If +I could only get down there, I’d go and wake him with a softly kiss, as +I do Papa, and ask to see his pretty things.” + +Being quite unconscious of fear, Rosy certainly would have carried out +her daring plan, had it been possible; but no way of descending on the +other side appeared, so she sighed and sat gazing wistfully, till +Cousin Henny appeared for a breath of fresh air, and ordered her down +at once. + +“Come and see if my balsam-seeds have started yet. I keep planting +them, but they _won’t_ come up,” she said, pointing out a mound of +earth newly dug and watered. + +Rosy obediently scrambled up, and was trying to decide whether some +green sprouts were chickweed or the dilatory balsams when a sudden +uproar in the next garden made her stop to listen, while Miss Henny +said in a tone of great satisfaction, as the cackle of hens arose,-- + +“Some trouble with those horrid fowls of his. I detest them, crowing +in the night, and waking us at dawn with their noise. I wish some +thief would steal every one of them. Nobody has a right to annoy their +neighbors with troublesome pets.” + +Before Rosy could describe the beauties of the white bantams or the +size of the big golden cock, a loud voice cried,-- + +“You rascal! I’ll hang you if I catch you here again. Go home quicker +than you came, and tell your mistress to teach you better manners if +she values your life.” + +“It’s that man! Such language! I wonder who he’s caught? That bad boy +who steals our plums, perhaps.” + +The words were hardly out of Miss Henny’s mouth when her question was +answered in a sudden and dreadful way; for over the wall, hurled by a +strong arm, flew Tabby, high in the air, to fall with a thump directly +in the middle of the bed where they stood. Miss Henny uttered a shrill +scream, caught up her stunned treasure, and rushed into the house as +fast as her size and flounces permitted, leaving Rosy breathless with +surprise and indignation. + +Burning to resent this terrible outrage, she climbed quickly up the +steps, and astonished the irate old gentleman on the other side by the +sudden apparition of a golden head, a red childish face, and a dirty +little finger pointed sternly at him, as this small avenging angel +demanded,-- + +“Missionary man, how _could_ you kill my cousin’s cat?” + +“Bless my soul! who are you?” said the old gentleman, staring at this +unexpected actor on the field of battle. + +“I’m Button-Rose, and I hate cruel people! Tabby’s dead, and now there +isn’t any one to play with over here.” + +This sad prospect made the blue eyes fill with sudden tears; and the +application of the dirty fingers added streaks of mud to the red +cheeks, which much damaged the appearance of the angel, though it added +pathos to the child’s reproach. + +“Cats have nine lives, and Tabby’s used to being chucked over the wall. +I’ve done it several times, and it seems to agree with her, for she +comes back to kill my chicks as bold as brass. See that!” and the old +gentleman held up a downy dead chicken, as proof of Tabby’s sin. + +“Poor little chicky!” groaned Rosy, yearning to mourn over the dear +departed and bury it with tender care. “It _was_ very naughty of Tab; +but, sir, you know cats are made to catch things, and they can’t help +it.” + +“They will have to help it, or I’ll drown the lot. This is a rare +breed, and I’ve but two left after all my trouble, thanks to that +rascal of yours! What are you going to do about it?” demanded Mr. +Dover, in a tone that made Rosy feel as if she had committed the murder +herself. + +“I’ll talk to Tabby and try to make her good, and I’ll shut her up in +the old rabbit-house over here; then I hope she will be sorry and +never do it any more,” she said, in such a remorseful tone that the old +gentleman relented at once, ashamed to afflict such a tender little +soul. + +“Try it,” he said, with a smile that made his yellow face pleasant all +at once. Then, as if ready to change the subject, he asked, looking +curiously at the little figure perched on the wall,-- + +“Where did you come from? Never saw any children over there before. +They don’t allow ’em.” + +Rosy introduced herself in a few words, and seeing that her new +acquaintance seemed interested, she added with the wheedling smile Papa +found so engaging,-- + +“It’s pretty lonely here, I guess; so p’r’aps you’ll let me peep at +your nice garden sometimes if it doesn’t trouble you, Sir?” + +“Poor little soul! it must be desperately dull with those three +tabbies,” he said to himself, as he stroked the dead chicken in his +hand, and watched the little face bent toward him. + +“Peep as much as you like, child; or, better still, come over and run +about. _I_ like little girls,” he added aloud, with a nod and a wave of +welcome. + +“I told ’em I was sure you did! I’d love to come, but they wouldn’t let +me, I know. I’m so sorry about the fight. Couldn’t you make it up, and +be pleasant again?” asked Rosy, clasping her hands with a beseeching +gesture as her bright face grew sad and serious remembering the feud. + +“So they’ve told you that nonsense already, have they? Nice neighbors +_they_ are,” said the old gentleman, frowning as if ill pleased at the +news. + +“I’m glad I know; p’r’aps I can be a peacemaker. Mamma says they are +good to have in families, and I’d like to be one if I could. Would you +mind if I tried to peace-make a little, so I could come over? I do want +to see the red birds and the tiger skin awfully, if you please.” + +“What do you know about ’em?” asked the old gentleman, sitting down on +a garden chair, as if he didn’t mind continuing the chat with this new +neighbor. + +Nearly tumbling off the wall in her earnestness, Rosy repeated all +that Cousin Penny had said; and something in the reasonable words, the +flattering description, of his treasures, and the sincere regret of +the old lady seemed to have a good effect upon Mr. Dover, for when +Rosy paused out of breath, he said in such an altered tone that it was +evident the peace-making had already begun,-- + +“Miss Carey is a gentlewoman! I always thought so. You tell her, with +my compliments, that I’d be glad to see you any time if she has no +objection. I’ll put my step-ladder there, and you can come over instead +of the cat. But mind you don’t meddle, or I might give you a toss like +Tabby.” + +“I’m not afraid,” laughed Rosy. “I’ll go and ask right away, and I +won’t touch a thing, and I know you’ll like me for a friend. Papa says +I’m a dear little one. Thank you very much, sir. Good-by till I come +again;” and with a kiss of the hand, the yellow head sunk out of sight +like the sun going down, leaving a sense of darkness behind when the +beaming little face disappeared, though fresh stains of green mould +from the wall made it rather like the tattooed countenances Mr. Dover +used to see among his cannibal friends in Africa. + +He sat musing with the dead chicken in his hand, forgetful of time, +till a ring of his own door-bell called him in to receive a note from +Miss Penelope, thanking him for his invitation to little Rosamond, but +declining it in the most polite and formal words. + +“I expected it! Bless the silly old souls! why can’t they be +reasonable, and accept the olive branch when I offer it? I’ll be hanged +if I do again! The fat one is at the bottom of this. Miss Pen would +give in if that absurd Henrietta didn’t hold her back. Well, I’m sorry +for the child, but that’s not my fault;” and throwing down the note, +Mr. Dover went out to water his roses. + +For a week or two, Button-Rose hardly dared glance toward the forbidden +spot from her window, as she was ordered to play in the front garden, +and sent to take sober walks with Cicely, who loved to stop and gossip +with her friends, while the poor child waited patiently till the long +tales were told. + +Nursing Tabby was her chief consolation; and so kind was she, that +the heart of the old cat softened to her, and she actually purred her +thanks at last, for all the saucers of cream, bits of chicken, soft +pats, and tender words bestowed upon her by the little girl. + +“Well, I declare! Tab won’t do that even for me,” said Miss Henny, one +day, when she came upon the child sitting alone in the hall with a +picture-book and the cat comfortably asleep in her lap. + +“Ammals always love me, if people don’t,” answered Button-Rose, +soberly; for she had not yet forgiven the stout lady for denying her +the delights offered by the “missionary man.” + +“That’s because _an-i-mals_ can’t see how naughty you are sometimes,” +said Miss Henny tartly, not having recovered her temper even after many +days. + +“I shall make _every_ one love me before I go away. Mamma told me to, +and I shall. I know how;” and Button smiled with a wise little nod that +was pretty to see, as she proudly cuddled her first conquest. + +“We shall see;” and Miss Henny ponderously departed, wondering what odd +fancy the little thing would take into her head next. + +It was soon evident; for when she came down from her long nap, later +in the afternoon, Miss Henny found Rosamond reading aloud to her +sister in the great dim parlor. They made a curious contrast,--the +pale, white-haired, feeble old lady, with her prim dress, high cap, +knitting, and shaded eyes; and the child, rosy and round, quaint and +sweet, a pretty little ornament for the old-fashioned room, as she sat +among the tea-poys and samplers, ancient china and furniture, with the +portraits of great grandfathers and grandmothers simpering and staring +at her, as if pleased and surprised to see such a charming little +descendant among them. + +“Bless the baby! what is she at now?” asked Miss Henny, feeling more +amiable after her sleep. + +“I’m reading to Cousin Penny, ’cause no one else does, and her poor +eyes hurt her, and she likes stories, and so do I,” answered Button, +with one chubby finger on the place in her book, and eyes full of pride +at the grown-up employment she had found for herself. + +“So kind of the little dear! She found me alone and wanted to amuse me; +so I proposed a story to suit us both, and she does very well with a +little help now and then. I haven’t read ‘Simple Susan’ for years, and +really enjoy it. Maria Edgeworth was always a favorite of mine, and I +still think her far superior to any modern writer for the young,” said +Miss Penny, looking quite animated and happy in the new entertainment +provided for her. + +“Go on, child; let me hear how well you can read;” and Miss Henny +settled herself in the sofa-corner with her embroidery. + +So Button started bravely off, and tried so hard that she was soon out +of breath. As she paused, she said with a gasp,-- + +“Isn’t Susan a dear girl? She gives _all_ the best things to other +people, and is kind to the old harper. She didn’t send him away, as you +did the music-man to-day, and tell him to be still.” + +“Organs are a nuisance, and I never allow them here. Go on, and don’t +criticise your elders, Rosamond.” + +“Mamma and I always talk over stories, and pick out the morals of ’em. +_She_ likes it;” with which remark, made sweetly not pertly, Button +went on to the end, with an occasional lift over a long word; and the +old ladies were interested, in spite of themselves, in the simple tale +read in that childish voice. + +“Thank you, dear, it is very nice, and we will have one every day. +Now, what can I do for you?” asked Miss Penny, as the little girl +pushed the curls off her forehead, with a sigh of mingled weariness and +satisfaction. + +“Let me go in the back garden and peep through the knot-hole at the +pretty roses. I do long to see if the moss ones are out, and the +cherries ripe,” said Rosy, clasping her hands imploringly. + +“It can do no harm, Henrietta. Yes, dear, run away and get some catnip +for Tabby, and see if the balsams are up yet.” + +That last suggestion won Miss Henny’s consent; and Button was off at +once, skipping like a young colt all over the garden, which now seemed +delightful to her. + +At the back of the summer-house was a narrow space between it and the +fence where certain plump toads lived; peeping in to watch them, Rosy +had spied a large knot-hole in the old boards, and through it found she +could get a fine view of several rose-bushes, a tree, and one window +of the “missionary man’s” house. She had longed for another peep since +the flower-stand was gone, and climbing trees forbidden; now with joy +she slipped into the damp nook, regardless of the speckled gentlemen +who stared at her with dismay, and took a good look at the forbidden +paradise beyond. + +Yes, the “moss ones” were in bloom, the cherries quite red, and at the +window was the gray head of Mr. Dover, as he sat reading in his queer +yellow dressing-gown. + +Button yearned to get in, and leaned so hard against the hateful fence +that the rotten board cracked, a long bit fell out, and she nearly +went after it, as it dropped upon the green bank below. Now the full +splendor of the roses burst upon her, and a delightful gooseberry bush +stood close by with purplish berries temptingly bobbing within reach. +This obliging bush hid the hole, but left fine openings to see through; +so the child popped her curly head out, and gazed delightedly at the +chickens, the flowers, the fruit, and the unconscious old gentleman not +far away. + +“I’ll have it for my secret; or maybe I’ll tell Cousin Penny, and beg +her to let me peep if I truly promise never to go in,” thought Button, +knowing well who her best friend was. + +At bedtime, when the dear old lady came to give the good-night kiss, +which the others forgot, Rosy, as Miss Penny called her, made her +request; and it was granted, for Miss Penny had a feeling that the +little peacemaker would sooner or later heal the breach with her pretty +magic, and so she was very ready to lend a hand in a quiet way. + +Next day at play-time, Button was hurrying down her last bit of +gingerbread, which she was obliged to eat properly in the dining-room, +instead of enjoying out-of-doors, when she heard a sudden flurry in the +garden, and running to the window saw Roxy the maid chasing a chicken +to and fro, while Miss Henny stood flapping her skirts on the steps, +and crying, “Shoo!” till she was red in the face. + +“It’s the white banty, and it must have come in my hole! Oh dear, I +hope they won’t catch it! Cousin Henny said she’d wring the neck of the +first one that flied over the wall.” + +Away went Rosy, to join in the hunt; for Miss Henny was too fat to run, +and Roxy found the lively fowl too much for her. It was a long and hard +chase; feathers flew, the maid lost her breath, Rosy tumbled down, and +Miss Henny screamed and scolded till she was forced to sit down and +watch in silence. + +At last poor, hunted Banty ran into the arbor, for its clipped wings +would not lift it over the wall. Button rushed after it, and dismal +squalls plainly proclaimed that the naughty chicken was caught. + +Miss Henny waddled down the path, declaring that she _would_ wring +its neck; and Roxy went puffing after her, glad to rest. But the old +summer-house was empty. No little girl, no ruffled bantam, appeared. +Both had vanished like magic; and mistress and maid stared at each +other in amazement, till they saw that the long-disused window was +open, and a gleam of light came in from the narrow opening behind. + +“My patience! if that child hasn’t crept out there, and bolted through +that hole in the fence! Did you ever, Miss?” exclaimed Roxy, trying not +to look pleased at being spared the distasteful task of killing the +poor chicken. + +“Naughty girl!” began Miss Henny, when the sound of voices made both +listen. “Slip in there, and see what is going on,” said the mistress, +well knowing that her stout person never could be squeezed into the +small space between house and fence. + +Roxy, being thin, easily obeyed, and in a whisper telephoned what went +on beyond the hole, causing Miss Henny much vexation, surprise, and +at last real pleasure, as the child performed her little part in the +mission she had undertaken. + +“Oh, please, it’s all my fault! I kept the hole open, Mr. Thomas, and +so Banty flied in. But it isn’t hurt a bit, and I’ve brought it home +all safe, ’cause I know you love your chickies, and Tabby ate lots of +’em,” said the childish voice in its most conciliatory tone. + +“Why didn’t you fling it over the wall, as I did the cat?” asked Mr. +Dover, smiling, as he shut up the truant fowl, and turned to look at +the rosy, breathless child, whose pink frock bore the marks of many a +tumble on grass and gravel. + +“It would hurt Banty’s feelings, and yours too, and not be polite. So +I came myself, to make some pollygies, and say it was my fault. But, +please, could I keep the hole to peep through, if I always put up a +board when I go away? It is so dull in there, and _so_ sweet in here!” + +“Don’t you think a little gate would be nicer,--one just big enough for +you, with a hook to fasten it? We’ll call it a button-hole,” laughed +Mr. Dover. “Then you could peep; or perhaps the ladies will think +better of it, and show that they pardon my ill-treatment of Tabby by +letting you come in and pick some cherries and roses now and then.” + +This charming proposal caused the little girl to clasp her hands and +cry aloud,-- + +“That would be perfully sp’endid! I know Cousin Penny would like it, +and let me. P’r’aps she’d come herself; she’s so thin, she could, and +she loves your mother and wants to see her. Only, Cousin Henny won’t +let us be nice and friendly. S’pose you send _her_ some cherries; she +loves good things to eat, and maybe she will say yes, if you send lots.” + +Mr. Dover laughed at this artless proposal, and Miss Henny smiled at +the prospect of a gift of the luscious black-heart cherries she had +been longing for. Roxy wisely repeated only the agreeable parts of the +conversation; so nothing ruffled the lady’s temper. Now, whether Mr. +Dover’s sharp eye caught a glimpse of the face among the gooseberry +bushes, and suspected eavesdroppers, or whether the child’s earnest +desire to make peace touched him, who shall say? Certain it is that +his eyes twinkled like a boy’s, as he said rather loudly, in his most +affable tone,-- + +“I shall be most happy to send Miss Henrietta a basket of fruit. She +used to be a charming young woman. It’s a pity she shuts herself up +so much; but that sad little romance of hers has darkened her life, I +suppose. Ah, well, I can sympathize with her!” + +Rosy stared at the sudden change in his manner, and was rather +bewildered by his grown-up way of talking to her. But being intent +on securing something nice to carry home, she stuck to the cherries, +which she _did_ understand, and pointing to the piazza said with a +business-like air,-- + +“There’s a basket; so we might pick ’em right away. I love to go up in +trees and throw ’em down; and I know Cousin Henny will like cherries +ever so much, and not scold a bit when I take some to her.” + +“Then come on,” cried Mr. Thomas, relapsing into the hearty manner she +liked so much; and away he went, quite briskly, down the path, with +his yellow skirts waving in the wind, and Button skipping after him in +great glee. + +“They actually _are_ a-picking cherries, Miss, up in the tree like a +couple of robins a-chirpin’ and laughin’ as gay as can be,” reported +Roxy, from her peep-hole. + +“Rip off the rest of that board, then I can see,” whispered Miss Henny, +quivering with interest now; for she had heard Mr. Dover’s words, and +her wrath was appeased by that flattering allusion to herself. + +Off came the rest of the board, and from the window, half hidden in +woodbine, she could now see over the bushes into the next garden. The +peep-hole commanded the tree, and she watched with eager eyes the +filling of the basket to be sent her, planning the while a charming +note of thanks. + +“Do look, Miss; they are resting now, and she’s on his knee. Ain’t it +a pretty picter?” whispered Roxy, unmindful of the earwigs, ants, and +daddy-long-legs promenading over her as she crouched in her mouldy +corner, intent on the view beyond. + +[Illustration: “‘Do look, Miss! they are resting now.’”--PAGE 32.] + +“Very pretty! He lost several children in India and I suppose Rosy +reminds him of them. Ah, poor man! I can sympathize with him, for _I_ +too have loved and lost,” sighed Miss Henny, pensively surveying the +group on the rustic seat. + +They were playing cherry-bob; and the child’s laughter made pleasant +music in the usually quiet place, while the man’s face lost its sad, +stern look, and was both gay and tender, as he held the little creature +close, and popped the ripe fruit into the red, laughing mouth. + +As the last sweet morsel disappeared Rosy said, with a long breath of +perfect content,-- + +“It’s _almost_ as good as having Papa to play with. I do hope the +cousins _will_ let me come again! If they don’t, I think my heart will +break, ’cause I get so homesick over there, and have so many trials, +and no one but Cousin Penny ever cuddles me.” + +“Bless her heart! We’ll send her some flowers for that. You tell her +that Mrs. Dover is poorly, and would like very much to see her; and +so would Mr. Thomas, who enjoys her little niece immensely. Can you +remember that?” + +“Every word! _She_ is very nice to me, and I love her, and I guess she +will be glad to come. She likes _moss_-roses, and so do I,” added the +unblushing little beggar, as Mr. Dover took out his knife and began to +make the bouquet which was to be Miss Penny’s bribe. He could not bear +to give up his little playmate, and was quite ready to try again, with +this persistent and charming ally to help him heal the breach. + +“Shall you send anything to Cis? You needn’t mind about it, ’cause +she can’t keep me at home, but it might please her, and make her stop +rapping my head with her thimble when I ask questions, and slapping my +fingers when I touch any of her pretty things,” suggested Button, as +the flowers were added to the fruit, making a fine display. + +“I never send presents to _young_ ladies,” said Mr. Thomas shortly, +adding, with both hands out, and his most inviting smile, “But I +_always_ kiss nice little girls if they will allow me?” + +Button threw both arms about his neck and gave him a shower of grateful +kisses, which were sweeter to the lonely old man than all the cherries +that ever grew, or the finest flowers in his garden. Then Miss Rosamond +proudly marched home, finding no trace of the watchers, for both +had fled while the “cuddling” went on. Roxy was soberly setting the +dinner-table, and Miss Henny in the parlor breathing hard behind a +newspaper. Miss Penny and Cicely were spending the day out, so the +roses had to wait; but the basket was most graciously received, also +the carefully delivered message, and the child’s heart was rejoiced +by free permission to go and see “our kind neighbor now and then, if +Sister does not object.” + +Rosy was in great spirits, and prattled away as they sat at dinner, +emboldened by the lady’s unusual amiability to ask all sorts of +questions, some of which proved rather embarrassing to Miss Henny, and +very amusing to Roxy, listening in the china-closet. + +“I wish _I_ had ’spepsia,” was the abrupt remark of the small person +as her plate of drumsticks was removed and the pudding appeared, +accompanied by the cherries. + +“Why, dear?” asked Miss Henny, busily arranging the small dish of +delicate tidbits, which left little but the skeleton of the roast fowl +for the kitchen. + +“Then I could have the nicest bits of chicken, and heaps of sauce on my +pudding, and the butteryest slices of toast, and _all_ the cream for my +tea, as you do. It isn’t a _very_ bad pain, is it?” asked Rosy, in such +perfect good faith that Miss Henny’s sudden flush and Roxy’s hasty dive +into the closet never suggested to her that this innocent speech was +bringing the old lady’s besetting sin to light in the most open manner. + +“Yes, child, it is _very_ bad, and you may thank your stars that I +try to keep you from it by feeding you on plain food. At my age, and +suffering as I do, the best of everything is needed to keep up my +strength,” said Miss Henny, tartly. But the largest plate of pudding, +with “heaps of sauce,” went to the child this day, and when the fruit +was served, an unusually small portion was put away for the invalid, +who was obliged to sustain nature with frequent lunches through the day +and evening. + +“I’m s’prised that you suffer much, Cousin Henny. How brave you must +be, not to cry about it, and go round in horrid pain, as you do, and +dress so nicely, and see people, and work ’broidering, and make calls! +I hope I shall be brave if I ever _do_ have ’spepsia; but I guess I +shan’t, you take such care to give me small pieces every time.” + +With which cheerful remark Rosy closed that part of the conversation +and returned to the delights of her new friend’s garden. But from that +day, among other changes which began about this time, the child’s +cup and plate were well filled, and the dread of adding to her own +sufferings seemed to curb the dyspeptic’s voracious appetite. “A cheild +was amang them takin’ notes,” and every one involuntarily dreaded +those clear eyes and that frank tongue, so innocently observing and +criticising all that went on. Cicely had already been reminded of +a neglected duty by Rosy’s reading to Miss Penny, and tried to be +more faithful in that, as in other services which she owed the old +lady. So the little missionary was evidently getting on, though quite +unconscious of her work at home, so absorbed was she in her foreign +mission; for, like many another missionary, the savage over the way +was more interesting than the selfish, slothful, or neglected souls at +home. + +Miss Penny was charmed with her flowers and the friendly message +sent her, and to Rosy’s great delight went next day, in best bonnet +and gown, to make a call upon the old lady “who was poorly,” for +that appeal could not be resisted. Rosy also, in honor of the great +occasion, wore _her_ best hat, and a white frock so stiff that she +looked like a little opera dancer as the long black legs skipped along +the street; for this was far too grand a visit to be paid through a +hole in the wall. + +In the basket were certain delicacies for the old lady, and a card had +been prepared, with the names of Miss Carey and Miss Rosamond Carey +beautifully written on it by Cis, who was dying to go, but dared not +after Rosy had told her Mr. Dover’s remark about young ladies. + +As the procession of two paused at the door, both the young and the old +heart fluttered a little, for this was the first decided step toward +reconciliation, and any check might spoil it all. The maid stared, but +civilly led these unexpected guests in and departed with the card. Miss +Penny settled herself in a large chair and looked about with pensive +interest at the familiar room. But Rosy made a bee-line for the great +tiger-skin, and regardless of her clean frock lay down on it to examine +the head, which glared at her with yellow eyes, showing all its sharp +teeth in the most delightfully natural manner. + +Mr. Dover came in with a formal bow, but Miss Penny put out both hands, +and said in her sweet old voice,-- + +“Let us be friends again for the sake of your mother.” + +That settled the matter at once, and Mr. Thomas was so eager to do his +part that he not only shook the hands heartily, but kept them in his as +he said like an honest man,-- + +“My dear neighbor, I beg your pardon! _I_ was wrong, but I’m not too +proud to own it and say I’m glad to let bygones be bygones for the sake +of all. Now come and see my mother; she is longing for you.” + +What went on in the next room Rosy never knew or cared, for Mr. Thomas +soon returned, and amused her so well, showing his treasures, that she +forgot where she was till the maid came to say tea was ready. + +“Are we going to stay?” cried the little girl, beaming from under a +Feejee crown of feathers, which produced as comical an effect upon her +curly head as did the collar of shark’s teeth round her plump neck or +the great Japanese war-fan in her hand. + +“Yes, we have tea at five; come and turn it out. I’ve ordered the +little cups especially for you,” said her host, as he changed the small +Amazon to a pretty child again and led her away to preside at the +table, where the quaint china and silver, and the dainty cake and bread +and butter proved much more attractive than the little old lady in a +big cap who patted her head and smiled at her. + +Never had Rosy enjoyed such a delicious meal; for the rapture of +pouring real tea out of a pot shaped like a silver melon, into cups as +thin as egg-shells, and putting in sugar with tongs like claws, not to +mention much thick cream, also spicy, plummy cakes that melted in one’s +mouth, was too great for words. + +The little maid was so absorbed in her new duties that she never +minded what the elders talked about, till the plates were empty, the +pot ran dry, and no one could be prevailed on to have any more tea. +Then she leaned back in her chair and remarked with an air of calm +satisfaction, as she looked from one to the other, and smiled that +engaging smile of hers,-- + +“Isn’t being friends a great deal nicer than fighting and throwing cats +over walls and calling bad names?” + +It was impossible not to laugh, and that cheerful sound seemed to tune +every one to the sweetest harmony, while the little peacemaker was +passed round as if a last course of kisses was absolutely necessary. + +Then the party broke up, and Mr. Dover escorted his guests to their +own gate, to the great amazement of the neighbors and the very visible +pride of Miss Button-Rose, who went up the walk with her head as high +as if the wreath of daisies on her little hat had been a conqueror’s +crown. + +Now that the first step had been taken, all would have gone smoothly +if Cicely, offended because Mr. Thomas took no notice of _her_, had +not put it into Miss Henny’s head that as the original quarrel began +between her and their neighbor, it would not be dignified to give in +till Mr. Dover had come and begged pardon of _her_ as well as of Miss +Penny. This suited the foolish old lady, who never could forget certain +plain words spoken in the heat of battle, though the kindly ones +lately heard had much softened her heart toward the offender. + +“No, I shall not forget my dignity nor humble myself by going over +there to apologize as Penelope has. _She_ can do as she likes; and now +that he has asked to be forgiven, there is perhaps no harm in _her_ +seeing the old lady. But with me it is different. _I_ was insulted, and +till Thomas Dover comes here and solemnly asks my pardon I will _not_ +cross his threshold, no matter what bribes he sends,” said Miss Henny, +with an air of heroic firmness. + +But it did cost her a pang when her sister went every now and then to +take tea with the old lady and came home full of pleasant news; while +Rosy prattled of the fine things she saw, the nice things she had to +eat, and never failed to bring some gift to share, or to display to the +exiles from Paradise. They ate the “bribes,” however, as they called +the fruit, admired the pretty trinkets and toys, and longed to share in +the mild festivities of the pleasant house over the way, but stood firm +in spite of all Rosy’s wiles, till something unexpected happened to +touch their hearts, conquer their foolish pride, and crown the little +peacemaker’s efforts with success. + +One August afternoon Cicely was discontentedly looking over her small +store of ornaments as she made ready for a party. She loved gayety, +and went about a great deal, leaving many duties undone, or asking the +little girl to attend to them for her, neglecting, however, to show any +gratitude for these small services so cheerfully done. + +As she sat tossing over her boxes, Button-Rose came in looking tired +and listless, for it was a hot day, and she had been out twice to do +errands for Cicely, besides trotting busily up and down to wait on +the old ladies while the young one put fresh ribbons on her dress and +curled her hair for the evening. + +“Could I lie on your sofa, please, Cis? My head aches, and my legs are +_so_ tired,” said little Button, when her tap had been answered by a +sharp “What do you want, child?” + +“No, I’m going to lie there myself and have a nap as soon as I’m done +here. It’s cooler than the bed, and I must be fresh for to-night,” said +Cicely, too intent on her own affairs to see how used up Rosy looked. + +“Then could I look at your pretty things if I don’t touch ’em?” asked +the child, longing to peep into the interesting boxes scattered on the +table. + +“No, you can’t! I’m busy, and don’t want you asking questions and +meddling. Go away and let me alone.” + +Cicely spoke crossly, and waved her hand with a warning gesture, +thereby upsetting the tray which held the beads of the necklace she had +decided to wear for want of something better. + +“There, now see what you’ve done! Pick up every one, and be quick, for +I’m in a hurry.” + +“But I didn’t touch ’em,” began poor Button, as she crept about hunting +for the black and white beads that looked like very ugly marbles. + +“Don’t talk; pick them up and then scamper; you are always in +mischief!” scolded Cis, vexed with herself, and the heat, and the +accident, and the whole world just then. + +Rosy said no more, but several great tears dropped on the carpet as +she groped in corners, under the bed, and behind the chairs for the +runaways; and when the last was found she put it in her tyrant’s hand, +saying, with a wistful look,-- + +“I’m very sorry I troubled you. Seems to me if _I_ had a little cousin, +I’d love to have her play with my things, and I wouldn’t be cross to +her. Now I’ll go and try to _amoose_ myself with Bella; _she_ is always +good to me.” + +“Run along then. Thank goodness that doll came when it did, for I’m +tired of ‘amoosing’ small girls as well as old ladies,” said Cis, busy +with her beads, yet sorry she had been so petulant with patient little +Button, who seldom reproached her, being a cheery child, and blessed +with a sweet temper. + +Rosy felt too languid to play; so when she had told Bella, the London +doll, her trials, and comforted herself with some kisses on the waxen +cheeks, she roamed away to the summer-house, which was cool and quiet, +longing for some one to caress her; for the little heart was homesick +and the little head ached badly. + +The “button-hole” had been made, the alley swept out, to the great +dismay of the spiders, earwigs, and toads, who had fled to quieter +quarters, and Rosy had leave to go and come when she liked if Mr. +Dover did not object. He never did; and it was her greatest delight to +walk in the pretty garden at her own sweet will, always with the hope +of meeting its kindly owner, for now they were firm friends. She had +been too busy for a run there that day; and now, as she peeped in, it +looked so shady and inviting, and it seemed so natural to turn to her +dear “missionary man” for entertainment, that she went straight up to +his study window and peeped in. + +He too seemed out of sorts that hot afternoon, for he sat leaning +his head on both hands at the desk strewn with piles of old letters. +Button-Rose’s tender heart yearned over him at once, and stepping +quietly in at the long open window she went to him, saying in her +tenderest tone,-- + +“Does your head ache, Sir? Let me soft it as I do Papa’s; he says that +always makes it more better. Please let me? I’d love to dearly.” + +“Ah, my darling, I wish you could. But the pain is in my heart, and +nothing will ever cure it,” sighed Mr. Thomas, as he drew her close and +put his wrinkled yellow cheek to her soft one, which looked more like a +damask rose than usual. + +“You have trials too, I s’pose. Mine trouble me to-day, so I came over +to see you. Shall I go away?” asked Rosy with a sigh and the wistful +look again. + +“No, stay, and we will comfort each other. Tell me your troubles, +Button, and perhaps I can help them,” the kind old gentleman said as he +took her on his knee and stroked the curly head with a paternal touch. + +So Rosy told her latest grief, and never saw the smile that crept about +the lips that asked in a tone of deep interest,-- + +“Well, what do you mean to do to that unkind Cicely?” + +“For a minute I wanted to slap her back when she tried to spat my +hands. Then I ’membered that Mamma said a kiss for a blow was a good +thing, so I picked up the beads and planned to do it; but Cis looked +_so_ cross I couldn’t. If I had a pretty necklace I’d go and give it to +her, and then maybe she’d love me better.” + +“My dear little missionary, you _shall_ have beads to win the heart of +_your_ heathen, if that is all you need. See here; take anything you +like, and give it with the kiss.” + +As he spoke, Mr. Dover pulled open a drawer in the desk and displayed a +delightful collection of pretty, quaint, and curious trinkets picked up +in foreign lands, and kept for keepsakes, since no little daughters of +his own lived to wear them. + +“How perf’ly dorgeous!” cried Rosy, who often fell into baby talk when +excited; and plunging in her hands, she revelled for some minutes +in sandal-wood cases, carved ivory fans, silver bangles, barbaric +brooches, and necklaces of coral, shells, amber, and golden coins, that +jingled musically. + +“What _shall_ I take for her?” cried the little maid, bewildered by +such a mine of wealth. “You pick out one, Mr. Thomas, that will please +her so much, ’cause you never send her anything, and she don’t like +it,” said Rosy, fearing that her own taste was not to be trusted, as +she liked the shells and shark’s teeth ornaments best. + +“No, I’ll give _you_ one, and you shall do as you like about giving it +to her. This, now, is really valuable and pretty, and any young lady +would like to wear it. It makes me think of you, my Button, for it is +like sunshine, and the word cut on the little heart means peace.” + +Mr. Dover held up a string of amber beads with its carved amulet, and +swung it to and fro where the light shone through it till each bead +looked like a drop of golden wine. + +“Yes, that is lovely, and it smells nice, too. She will be so s’prised +and pleased; I’ll go and take it to her right away,” cried Rosy, +forgetting to ask anything for herself, in her delight at this fine +gift for Cis. + +But as she lifted her head after he had fastened the clasp about her +neck, something in his face recalled the look it wore when she first +came in, and putting both hands upon his shoulders, she said in her +sweet little way,-- + +“You’ve made my troubles go away, can’t I make yours? You are _so_ kind +to me, I’d love to help you if I could.” + +“You do, my child, more than you know; for when I get you in my arms it +seems as if one of my poor babies had come back to me, and for a minute +I forget the three little graves far away in India.” + +“Three!” cried Button, like a sad, soft echo; and she clung to the poor +man as if trying to fill the empty arms with the love and pity that +overflowed the childish soul in her small body. + +This was the comfort Mr. Thomas wanted, and for a few moments he just +cradled her on his hungry heart, crooning a Hindostanee lullaby, while +a few slow tears came dropping down upon the yellow head, so like those +hidden for years under the Indian flowers. Presently he seemed to +come back from the happy past to which the old letters had carried +him. He wiped his eyes, and Rosy’s also, with the big purple silk +handkerchief, and pressing some very grateful kisses on the hot cheeks, +said cheerfully again,-- + +“God bless you, child, that’s done me good! But don’t let it sadden +you, dear; forget all about it, and tell no one what a sentimental old +fool I am.” + +“I never truly will! Only when you feel sorry about the poor little +babies, let me come and give you cuddlings. They always make people +feel more better, and I love ’em, and don’t get any now my dear people +are away.” + +So the two made a tender little plan to comfort each other when hearts +were heavy with longings for the absent, and parted at the small gate, +both much cheered, and faster friends than ever. + +Rosy hastened in with her peace-offering, forgetful now of headache or +loneliness as she sat patiently in the wide entry window-seat listening +till some sound in Cicely’s room should show that she was awake. Before +that happened, however, poor Button fell asleep herself, lulled by the +quiet of the house,--for every one was napping,--and dreamed that Mr. +Dover stood waving a rainbow over his head, while several Indian gods +and three little girls were dancing round him, hand in hand, to the +tune of “Ring around a rosy.” + +[Illustration: “Poor Button fell asleep.”--PAGE 49.] + +A loud yawn roused her, and there was Cis peeping out of her door to +see what time it was by the old-fashioned clock on the landing. Up +scrambled the child, feeling dizzy and heavy-eyed, but so eager to give +pleasure that she lost no time in saying, as she swung the necklace in +the sunshine,-- + +“See! this is for you, if you like it more better than the +thunder-and-lightning marbles, as Cousin Penny calls the one you were +going to wear.” + +“How lovely! Where _did_ you get it, child?” cried Cis, wide awake at +once, as she ran to the glass to try the effect of the new ornament on +her white neck. + +“My dear Mr. Thomas gave it to me; but he said I could give it away if +I liked, and I want you to have it, ’cause it’s ever so much prettier +than any you’ve got.” + +“That’s very kind of you, Chicken, but why not keep it yourself? You +like nice things as well as I do,” said Cicely, much impressed by the +value of the gift, for it was real amber, and the clasp of gold. + +“Well, I’ve talked with Mr. Thomas about missionarying a great deal, +and he told me how he made the _savinges_ good by giving them beads, +and things to eat, and being patient and kind to them. So I thought +I’d play be a missionary, and call this house Africa, and try to make +the people here behave more better,” answered Rosy, with such engaging +earnestness, as well as frankness, that Cis laughed, and exclaimed,-- + +“You impertinent monkey, to call us heathen and try to convert us! How +do you expect to do it?” + +“Oh, I’m getting on pretty well, only you don’t _convert_ as quick as +some of the _savinges_ did. I’ll tell you about it;” and Button went on +eagerly. “Cousin Penny is the good old one, but rather fussy and slow, +so I’m kind and patient, and now she loves me and lets me do things I +like. _She_ is my best one. Cousin Henny is my cannybel, ’cause she +eats so much, and I please _her_ by bringing nice things and getting +her cushions ready. You are my baddest one, who is cross to me, and +fights, and raps my head, and slaps my hands; so I thought some beads +would be nice for you, and I bringed these beauties. Mr. Thomas gave +’em to me when I told him my trials.” + +Cicely looked angry, amused, and ashamed, as she listened to the +funny yet rather pathetic little play with which the lonely child +had tried to cheer herself and win the hearts of those about her. +She had the grace to blush, and offer back the necklace, saying in a +self-reproachful tone,-- + +“Keep your beads, little missionary, I’ll be converted without them, +and try to be kinder to you. I _am_ a selfish wretch, but you shall +play be my little sister, and not have to go to strangers for comfort +in your trials any more. Come, kiss me, dear, and we’ll begin now.” + +Rosy was in her arms at once, and clung there, saying with a face all +smiles,-- + +“That’s what I wanted! I thought I’d make a good _savinge_ of you if I +tried _very_ hard. Please be kind to me just till Mamma comes back, and +I’ll be the best little sister that ever was.” + +“Why didn’t you tell me all about it before?” asked Cicely, smoothing +the tired head on her shoulder with a new gentleness; for this last +innocent confession had touched her heart as well as her conscience. + +“You never seemed to care about my plays, and always said, ‘Don’t +chatter, child; run away and take care of yourself.’ So I did; but it +was pretty dull, with only Tabby to tell secrets to and Bella to kiss. +Mr. Thomas said people over here didn’t like children very well, and I +found they didn’t. _He_ does, dearly, so I went to him; but I like you +now, you are so soft and kind to me.” + +“How hot your cheeks are! Come and let me cool them, and brush your +hair for tea,” said Cis, as she touched the child’s feverish skin, and +saw how heavy her eyes were. + +“I’m all burning up, and my head is _so_ funny. I don’t want any tea. +I want to lie on your sofa and go to sleep again. Can I?” asked Rosy, +with a dizzy look about the room, and a shiver at the idea of eating. + +“Yes, dear, I’ll put on your little wrapper, and make you all +comfortable, and bring you some ice-water, for your lips are very dry.” + +As she spoke, Cicely bustled about the room, and soon had Rosy nicely +settled with her best cologne-bottle and a fan; then she hastened down +to report that something was wrong, with a fear in her own heart that +if any harm did come to the child it would be her fault. Some days +before Cicely had sent Button-Rose with a note to a friend’s house +where she knew some of the younger children were ill. Since then she +had heard that it was scarlet fever; but though Rosy had waited some +time for an answer to the note, and seen one of the invalids, Cis had +never mentioned the fact, being ashamed to confess her carelessness, +hoping no harm was done. Now she felt that it _had_ come, and went to +tell gentle Cousin Penny with tears of vain regret. + +Great was the lamentation when the doctor, who was sent for in hot +haste, pronounced it scarlet fever; and deep was the self-reproach of +the two older women for their blindness in not before remarking the +languid air and want of appetite in the child. But Cicely was full of +remorse; for every quick word, every rap of the hateful thimble, every +service accepted without thanks, weighed heavily on her conscience +now, as such things have an inconvenient way of doing when it is too +late to undo them. Every one was devoted to the child, even lazy Miss +Henny gave up her naps to sit by her at all hours, Miss Penny hovered +over the little bed like a grandmother, and Cicely refused to think of +pleasure till the danger was over. + +For soon Button-Rose was very ill, and the old house haunted by the +dreadful fear that death would rob them of the little creature who +grew so precious when the thought of losing her made their hearts +stand still. How could they live without the sound of that sweet voice +chirping about the house, the busy feet tripping up and down, the +willing hands trying to help, the sunny face smiling at every one, and +going away into corners to hide the tears that sometimes came to dim +its brightness? What would comfort the absent mother for such a loss as +this, and how could they answer to the father for the carelessness that +risked the child’s life for a girl’s errand? No one dared to think, and +all prayed heartily for Rosy’s life, as they watched and waited by the +little bed where she lay so patiently, till the fever grew high and +she began to babble about many things. Her childish trials were all +told, her longings for Mamma, whose place no one could fill, her quaint +little criticisms upon those about her, and her plans for making peace. +These innocent revelations caused many tears, and wrought some changes +in those who heard; for Miss Penny quite forgot her infirmities to live +in the sick-room as the most experienced nurse and tenderest watcher. +Miss Henny cooked her daintiest gruel, brewed her coolest drinks, and +lost many pounds in weight by her indefatigable trotting up and down to +minister to the invalid’s least caprice. Cicely was kept away for fear +of infection, but _her_ penance was to wander about the great house, +more silent than ever now, to answer the inquiries and listen to the +sad forebodings of the neighbors, who came to offer help and sympathy; +for all loved little Button-Rose, and grieved to think of any blight +falling on the pretty blossom. To wile away the long hours, Cicely fell +to dusting the empty rooms, setting closets and drawers to rights, and +keeping all fresh and clean, to the great relief of the old cousins, +who felt that everything would go to destruction in their absence. She +read and sewed now, having no heart for jaunting about; and as she made +the long neglected white pinafores, for Rosy, she thought much of the +little girl who might never live to wear them. + +Meantime the fever took its course, and came at last to the fateful day +when a few hours would settle the question of life or death. The hot +flush died out of the cheeks that had lost their soft roundness now, +the lips were parched, the half-shut eyes looked like sick violets, and +all the pretty curls were tangled on the pillow. Rosy no longer sung +to Bella, talked of “three dear little girls” and Mr. Thomas, tigers +and bangles, Cis and necklaces, hens and gates. She ceased to call for +Mamma, asked no more why her “missionary man” never came, and took no +notice of the anxious old faces bending over her. She lay in a stupor, +and the doctor held the little wasted hand, and tried to see the face +of his watch with dim eyes as he counted the faint pulse, whispering +solemnly,-- + +“We can only hope and wait now. Sleep alone can save her.” + +As the sisters sat, one on either side the narrow bed that day, and +Cicely walked restlessly up and down the long hall below, where both +doors stood open to let in the cool evening air, as the sun went down, +a quick but quiet step came up the steps, and Mr. Dover walked in +without ringing. He had been away, and coming home an hour ago, heard +the sad news. Losing not a moment, he hurried to ask about his little +Button, and his face showed how great his love and fear were, as he +said in a broken whisper,-- + +“Will she live? My mother never told me how serious it was, or I should +have returned at once.” + +“We hope so, Sir, but--” And there Cicely’s voice failed, as she hid +her face and sobbed. + +“My dear girl, don’t give way. Keep up your heart, hope, pray, will +that the darling _shall_ live, and that may do some good. We can’t let +her go! we won’t let her go! Let me see her; I know much of fevers far +worse than this, and might be able to suggest something,” begged Mr. +Dover, throwing down his hat, and waving an immense fan with such an +air of resolution and cheery good-will that tired Cis felt comforted at +once, and led the way upstairs entirely forgetting the great feud, as +he did. + +At the threshold of the door he paused, till the girl had whispered his +name. Miss Penny, always a gentlewoman, rose at once and went to meet +him, but Miss Henny did not even seem to see him, for just then, as if +dimly feeling that her friend was near, Rosy stirred, and gave a long +sigh. + +Silently the three stood and looked at the beloved little creature +lying there in the mysterious shadow of death, and they so helpless to +keep her if the hour for departure had come. + +“God help us!” sighed pious Miss Penny, folding her old hands, as if +they did that often now. + +“Drifting away, I fear;” and Miss Henny’s plump face looked almost +beautiful, with the tears on it, as she leaned nearer to listen to the +faint breath at the child’s lips. + +“No; we will keep her, please the Lord! If we can make her sleep +quietly for the next few hours she is safe. Let me try. Fan slowly with +this, Miss Henrietta, and you, dear lady, pray that the precious little +life may be given us.” + +As he spoke, Mr. Dover gave the great fan to Miss Henny, took the small +cold hands in his, and sitting on the bedside held them close in his +large warm ones, as if trying to pour life and strength into the frail +body, as his eyes, fixed on the half-opened ones, seemed to call back +the innocent soul hovering on the threshold of its prison, like the +butterfly poised upon the chrysalis before it soars away. + +Miss Penny knelt down near by, and laying her white head on the other +pillow, again besought God to spare this treasure to the father and +mother over the sea. How long they remained so none of them ever knew, +silent and motionless but for the slow waving of the noiseless fan, +which went to and fro like the wing of a great white bird, as if Miss +Henny’s stout arm could never tire. Miss Penny was so still she seemed +to be asleep. Mr. Dover never stirred, but grew paler as the minutes +passed; and Cicely, creeping now and then to look in and steal away, +saw strange power in the black eyes that seemed to hold the fluttering +spirit of the little child by the love and longing that made them both +tender and commanding. + +A level ray of sunlight stole through the curtain at last and turned +the tangles of bright hair to pure gold. Miss Henny rose to shut it +out, and as if her movement broke the spell, Rosy took a long full +breath, turned on the pillow, and putting one hand under her cheek, +seemed to fall asleep as naturally as she used to do when well. Miss +Penny looked up, touched the child’s forehead, and whispered, with a +look of gratitude as bright as if the sunshine had touched her also,-- + +“It is moist! this is real sleep! Oh, my baby! oh, my baby!” And the +old head went down again with a stifled sob, for her experienced eye +told her that the danger was passing by and Rosy would live. + +“The prayers of the righteous avail much,” murmured Mr. Dover, turning +to the other lady, who stood beside her sister looking down at the +little figure now lying so restfully between them. + +“How can we thank you?” she whispered, offering her hand, with the +smile which had once made her pretty, and still touched the old face +with something better than beauty. + +Mr. Dover took the hand and answered, with an eloquent look at the +child,-- + +“Let not the sun go down upon our wrath. Forgive me and be friends +again, for her sake.” + +“I will!” And the plump hands gave the thin ones a hearty shake as the +great feud ended forever over the bed of the little peacemaker whose +childish play had turned to happy earnest. + + + + +Transcriber’s Note + +Words in italics are marked with _underscores_. + +Words in small capitals are shown in UPPER CASE. + +Plate illustrations (printed separately and bound without page numbers) +near pages 32 and 49 have captions quoting text from the story. The +illustrations have been moved to be immediately after the paragraph +being quoted. + +The image of the book cover was partially obscured in the top-left +corner by labels. The obscured portion has been restored with reference +to a scan of another copy of the same book. + +Inconsistent hyphenation and capitalisation have been retained. + +The name “Button-Rose” is hyphenated throughout the story and in the +header on every page, however in the book title on the cover and on the +title page it is “Button Rose” (no hyphen). These have also all been +left unchanged. + +There is use of deliberate mis-spelling to emphasize childish or other +pronunciation. This has been retained. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76977 *** |