The Adventures of Joel Pepper

  XXV

  JOEL SELLS SHOES FOR MR. BEEBE

  The little doctor kept a firm hold on Joel's jacket, and gazedkeenly into his face. "Um!" he said.

  "I wanted--to--to--help Polly," gasped Joel. "O dear me!" He wasa sight to behold, as the tears washed their way down the grimyface, which was still working fearfully, as he tried to hold inhis sobs.

  "So you thought you'd help Polly," said Dr. Fisher, kindly; "wasthat it, Joel?"

  "Yes," said Joel; "she'd put the putty in, and put it in----and----"

  "Put the putty in?" repeated the little doctor, aghast.

  "Yes, or Ben had."

  "I never in all my life heard of burning putty in a stove," saidDr. Fisher, helplessly, and setting his big spectacles again, asif that might possibly assist him to understand.

  "Oh, she didn't burn it," cried Joel, just as much astonished.

  "Well, what did she do with it, then?" demanded Dr. Fisher."Dear me, I always supposed a stove was meant to burn thingsin," and he waved his head helplessly, and regarded Joel with afixed stare.

  "She stuck the putty in the holes," said Joel, very distinctly;"don't you understand? Polly's stove is very old, and it'scracked, and she says the air comes in and then the fire goesdown, so she has to stuff up all the mean old cracks. O dear me,I wanted to help her," and off Joel went in another gust oftears.

  "I suppose Polly feels badly over her stove, sometimes,"reflected Dr. Fisher, casting a very sharp glance on Joel. "Ireally wonder if she does," he added carelessly.

  "Feels badly!" exploded Joel. Then he took a good long lookaround on all sides, and leaned over to whisper in the littledoctor's ear, "_She cries sometimes, Polly does_."

  "No!" exclaimed Dr. Fisher.

  "Yes, she does," declared Joel, shaking his stubby headdecidedly. "She cries dreadfully when Mamsie isn't looking. Andshe didn't know that I saw her, either, only I peeked behind thepantry door. And I wanted to--to--help her." He began to cry afreshat the recollection.

  "Joel," said Dr. Fisher, getting up suddenly, "you've got totell your mother how the little brown house got on fire."

  "I know it," said Joel, but his head drooped, and his eyes fell.

  "And the best way to right the wrong is to own up at once," saidthe little doctor. "I suppose she's taught you that, eh, Joel?"

  "Yes, sir," said Joel.

  "Well, when you've got such a mother as you have, Joel,"continued Dr. Fisher, "you better treat her as well as you knowhow. So run along, and be quick with you," and Dr. Fisher gavehim a resounding clap on the shoulder, that sent Joe flying offlike a shot from a gun, while the little doctor stole off theback way, and got into his gig, and drove off as fast as hecould, and thus escaped being thanked.

  And the Badgertown folks got together and held a meeting in Mr.Atkins' store that very evening, and said that it was a pitythat Mrs. Pepper, who was struggling so to bring up all thosefive children, should have such a hard time. So each man put hishand in his pocket and fished out some money; and the carpenterscame next day and mended up all the holes where the axe had cutthrough the roof; and the whole house was cleaned and dried wherethe water had run down, and then there was one dollar and forty-fivecents left over, for people had been so very generous.

  "Just keep it, Mrs. Pepper," said the spokesman, "'twill come inhandy, most likely;" and Mrs. Pepper couldn't speak, she wasso taken aback. But they didn't seem to feel as if they hadn'tbeen thanked enough, as they all went back again into thevillage.

  Ben had been working in a distant wood-lot for Deacon Blodgett,and so hadn't heard a word of the fire until he got into thevillage, on his way home. Then he said he wouldn't believe it,unless he should see for himself. So he ran every step of theway home, and rushed in all out of breath. "What's happened?" hedemanded of the first person he met. This happened to be Polly.

  "Oh, Ben!" she exclaimed, flinging her arms around him. And thenfollowed all the story.

  And Ben continued to blink every now and then up at the ceiling,varied by hurrying out to gaze at the roof, when he would rub hiseyes. "Dear me, Polly!" he would exclaim, "it seems just like anawful dream."

  "I wish it was," sighed Polly, "and I guess Joel wishes so,too."

  But the next day, when the Badgertown people came with theirgift, then the five little Peppers changed about to the veryhappiest children in the world! And as soon as the visitors hadgone, the whole bunch of Peppers just took hold of hands, anddanced like wild little things around the table where the pileof silver quarters and ten cent pieces lay.

  "Mamsie," said Polly, when at last they stopped to take breath,"did you ever know of such good people in the world as ourBadgertown folks?"

  "I'm sure I didn't," declared Mrs. Pepper, wiping her eyes. "Maythe Lord reward them, for I'm sure I can't."

  Polly suddenly left the ring of Peppers, and came close to hermother. "Perhaps you can, sometime, Mamsie," she said soberly.

  "I hope so," replied Mother Pepper. "Well, well look forward to it,and take the chance, if it ever comes, you may be sure, Polly."

  That night, when the little brown house was as still as a mouse,Polly heard a loud scream come pealing down from the room in theloft. Mrs. Pepper, strange to say, didn't hear it at all; poorwoman, she was very tired with her work, from which she had beenhurried so unceremoniously when the alarm of fire reached her,and she had lain awake all the first part of the night with aheart burdened with anxious care.

  "Joel's dreaming all about the fire, most likely," said Polly toherself. So she slipped on Mamsie's old wrapper, picking it upso that she would not trip and tumble on her nose, as she spedsoftly over the stairs.

  "Joel, hush!" she said reprovingly, "you'll wake Mamsie andPhronsie! Ben, do make him keep still!"

  "I can't," said Ben, only half awake. "Hush up there, Joe!" andhe turned over a very sleepy face, and tried to look at Polly.

  "'Tisn't me," said Joel, in high dudgeon; "I ain't a 'fraid-cat."And Polly stared to see David sitting on the edge of thebed he shared with Joel, and tucking up his feet well underhim, while he shook with terror as he cried shrilly, "They'rerunning all up my legs!"

  "Poor little thing!" exclaimed Polly, sitting down on the otheredge of the bed, at the risk of getting on Joel's toes. "He'sfrightened," to the others. "I s'pose you've been dreaming,Davie."

  "No, no!" cried Davie, huddling up worse than ever. "There goesone of 'em now!" he exclaimed suddenly, and pointed toward Polly;"he's just running under Mamsie's wrapper!"

  Polly hopped off the bed in her liveliest fashion, while fromunder Mamsie's wrapper scuttled a black object over the bedquiltin the opposite direction. "What is it?" she cried, beginning toshake violently herself; "O dear me! are there any more ofthem?"

  "Yes," said Davie, "there are lots and lots, Polly. O dear me!"He couldn't twist himself into a smaller knot than he was, sothere he sat, as miserable as possible, with the tears rollingdown his face.

  "Joel!" cried Polly, giving that individual a little poke in theback, as he appeared to be going off to sleep again, "you cantell about these black things! I must know; so what is it?"

  "Let me go to sleep," grunted Joel, twisting away from herfingers.

  "No," said Polly, firmly, "I shan't, Joey Pepper. What are thoseblack things that Davie--O dear me, there is another one!" andPolly hopped back upon the bed, for there was a second blackcreature steering straight for her in the dim light.

  Joel gave a long restful sigh. "Do let me alone," he saidcrossly. But Polly leaned over and shook his shoulder smartly.

  "See here, now," cried Ben, roused by all this, "you just sit upin bed, Mister Joel, and tell Polly all you know about thisbusiness. Do you hear?" And suddenly over came Ben's pillowflying through the air, to tumble over Joel's chubby nose.

  "Nothin' to tell," declared Joel, again; but he sat up in bed.

  "So you said before," said Polly; "but these black things got uphere somehow, and you know all about it, I'm sure. So you'vejust got to tell all about it, Joel
Pepper."

  "It's crickets!" blurted Joel, suddenly, "an' Dave an' me brought 'emto put in Ben's bed, an'--"

  "Thank you," interrupted Ben, and, "Oh, Davie," reprovingly saidPolly.

  "I'm sorry," said little Davie, wriggling up his toes; "I didn'tknow they hopped so bad. Oh, Polly, they're all running up mylegs," he cried with another burst.

  "Never mind," said Polly, quite reassured, "they're nothing butdear, nice little crickets. I don't care, now; but it's dreadfulto see black things in the middle of the night, when you don'tknow what they are."

  "I don't like 'em, Polly," wailed David. "I'd rather they'd beout of doors."

  "But you helped to bring 'em in," said Polly. "How could you,Davie?" she added reproachfully.

  "Dave didn't 'xactly help," said Joel, uneasily. "I told himhe'd got to, Polly," he added honestly.

  "Oh, I see," said Polly. "Well, now, Davie, you're goingdownstairs to get into Mamsie's bed."

  "Oh, goody!" cried Davie, smiling through his tears; andstepping gingerly out of bed on the tips of his toes, lest heshould meet a black cricket unawares, he skipped to the headof the stairs.

  "Shake your clothes," called Polly, in a smothered voice,fearful lest Mamsie and Phronsie should wake up. Thereupon shebegan to shake the old wrapper violently. "We mustn't carry anyof 'em downstairs," she said, while Joel set up a howl.

  "Oh, I don't want Dave to go downstairs and leave me," he whined.

  "Yes, you can stay up here with your crickets," said Polly,coolly, having shaken off any possibility of one remaining onMamsie's wrapper.

  "And to-morrow morning you just step around lively and pick 'emall up and carry 'em out doors," said Ben, before turning overfor another nap. "Good night, Polly."

  "Good night, Ben," said Polly, softly, going downstairs afterDavie, who was pattering ahead, "and good night, Joey."

  "Good night," snivelled Joel. "O dear me, I don't want Dave togo. Well, anyway, he ain't goin' away ever again, Polly Pepper--sothere!"

  The next morning, as soon as it was light enough to see them,Joel picked up all his crickets. It was no easy matter, for theymade him an awful piece of work, hopping and jumping into allthe corners; and, just as soon as his thumb and fingers were onthem--away they were off again. But Ben had said every one mustgo. So at it Joel kept, until the perspiration just rolled fromhis tired, hot face.

  "I don't like 'em, Polly," he confided, when the last one wasescorted out of doors, "and I ain't ever goin' to bring one inagain."

  "I wouldn't, Joe," said Polly, "and it isn't nice to scare folks,I think."

  "I think so, too," said Phronsie, with a wise nod of her yellowhead, as she sat on the floor, playing with David.

  "Think what, Phronsie?" cried Joel, suddenly.

  "What Polly said," replied Phronsie, patting Seraphina, who wasbeing shown the pictures in a bit of old newspaper that Davidwas pretending to read.

  "Hoh! Hoh!" cried Joel, bursting into a laugh. "You don't knowwhatever you're talking about, Phron. Does she, Polly?"

  "Don't tease her," said Polly; but Phronsie didn't hear, beingabsorbed in correcting Seraphina, who had wobbled over on herback instead of sitting up elegantly to view the pictures.

  Joel ran down the next day to see Mrs. Beebe, Mother Peppergiving the long-desired permission. Davie had a little sorethroat, and he much preferred to stay near Mamsie's chair.

  "Now, Joe, remember to be good," warned Mother Pepper, the lastthing, when he had been washed and dressed and brushed anddeclared quite prepared.

  "I'm going to be always good," declared Joel. "I ain't evergoing to be like Ab'm," he added in disgust.

  "Joel," reproved Mrs. Pepper, sternly, "don't judge other folks;it's enough for you to do to look out for yourself."

  Joel hung his head, abashed.

  "Well, good-by," said Mrs. Pepper, the stern lines on her facebreaking into a smile.

  "Good-by, Mamsie!" Joel flew back suddenly, to throw his armsaround her neck, then he rushed up to do the same thing to Polly,and then to Phronsie.

  "Don't kiss David," said his mother, "'cause you may take histhroat."

  "Then I want to kiss him," cried Joel. "Mayn't I, Mammy?" hewheedled. "I don't want Dave to have it."

  "Oh, he'd have it just as much," said Mrs. Pepper, sewing awayfor dear life.

  "How could he?" cried Joel, in great astonishment, and standingquite still. "Say, Mammy, how could he, if I took it?"

  "You'd find if you took it there'd be quite enough sore throatfor two," answered Mrs. Pepper. "Well, run along, Joe, youwouldn't understand, and 'tisn't necessary that you should; onlyyou are to do as I say, that's all."

  So Joel ran off, waving a good-by to David; and since he was notallowed to kiss him, he gave a rousing "Hooray," which delightedlittle Davie greatly, as he stood, his face pressed to thewindow, to see him go.

  Once within Mrs. Beebe's home, it was enchantment enough. It wasa good afternoon for the shoe business, Mr. Beebe having twocustomers. One of them was a very fussy woman who had a smallboy in charge. Joel was in high glee at being called upon tohelp lift down ever so many boxes, until pretty near every shoe inthe stock was tried on. Mrs. Beebe kept coming out of the littleparlor at the back of the shop, and saying, "Ain't you throughwith Joel yet, Pa?" all of which made Joel feel very important,indeed, and almost decided him to keep a shoe shop, when he grewup, instead of being a stage-coach driver.

  "No," said Mr. Beebe, shortly, "I ain't through with him, Ma.He's a master hand at getting them boxes down."

  "Hain't you got a pair a little mite broader across the toes?"asked the woman. "Stand up and stamp in 'em, Johnny." So Johnnystood up and stamped in the new shoes.

  "Real hard," said his mother. So he stamped real hard.

  "I'd druther have another pair a mite broader," said the woman,discontentedly.

  "I showed you some broader ones," said old Mr. Beebe. "Well,Joel, my boy, you'll have to climb up and hand down that box upin the corner. P'r'aps some of those will suit."

  So Joel, who wished he could be there every day in the year, andthat that woman would all the time bring in boys who wanted differentshoes from any that Mr. Beebe had, climbed up like a squirrel andbrought the box to Mr. Beebe.

  "Now, Marm," said the shoe-store keeper, deftly whipping a goodroomy pair, "I guess these are about what you want," and helaughed cheerily.

  "No, they ain't either," said Johnny's mother, snappishly takingthem, and viewing them critically, "they're big as all out doors,Mr. Beebe."

  "Well, he wants 'em to wear out o' doors, don't he?" said Mr.Beebe, "so I guess they'll suit, at last."

  "Well, they won't," said the woman, "an' you needn't try 'em on,Johnny. They're a sight bigger'n they orter be. I guess I cantell soon's I see a shoe."

  "Can't Joel come now, Pa?" asked old Mrs. Beebe, presenting hercap-border in the doorway again. It was quite fine, with newpink ribbons which she had put on because she had company.

  "Yes, pretty soon, Ma," replied her husband, quite worn out."Well, I'm sure I'm sorry I can't suit you, Marm," turning tothe woman, "but I honestly can't, for I've shown you everyshoe in my shop. Here, Joel, we'll begin and pack 'em up again,"he said, sorting the pairs out from the pile on the counter that ranacross the side of the shop, and slinging them by the string thattied them together, over his arm.

  "I'll see that pair," said the woman, suddenly, touching one asit dangled over Mr. Beebe's arm.

  "All right, Marm," said Mr. Beebe, most obligingly. So he kneltdown before Johnny again, and pulled on the shoes, and Johnny'smother told the boy to stand up and stamp in 'em, all of whichwas performed, and old Mr. Beebe got up and pulled out hisbandanna and wiped his hot face.

  "Now that's somethin' like," said the woman, with a bob of herhead, while her little eyes twinkled. "I guess I know the rightshoe, as well as the next one. Why didn't you show 'em to mebefore?" she snapped.

  "You've had them shoes on twice before," said Mr. Beebe, "or atleast the boy has, and first
they were too broad, and then theywere too narrer."

  "Well, I'll take 'em, anyway, now," said the woman, laying downthe money, "and I guess I know, as well as the next one, whethermy boy's tried on shoes or not."

  "Now, Joel," said old Mr. Beebe, when the little green door withits jangling bell had really closed on her and on Johnny, "assoon as we get these shoes back again in the boxes, you betterrun into th' parler, 'cause Ma's been a-waitin' considerable."

  Joel, much divided in his mind whether he would rather stay inthe shop altogether, with the delightful shoes, or go out andspend half of the time with Mrs. Beebe and the doughnuts andpink and white sticks he felt almost sure were waiting for him,came to the conclusion that he really couldn't decide which wasthe more delightful; and then the shop-door bell jangled again,and there was another customer.

  This time it was a little thin old man, and although he camefrom another town, he seemed to be a great friend of Mr. Beebe's,who now joyfully welcomed him.

  "Well, I declare, if 'tain't Obadiah Andrews!" exclaimed theshoe-shop keeper, radiantly, taking a good look at the newcomer."I haven't seen you for a week o' Sundays, Obadiah."

  "Nor I hain't seen you," declared the little man, just as wellpleased, and sitting down gladly. "I'm most beat out, a-gittin'here, so I want some new shoes, Jotham, and I cal'late I'll get'em about as nice as they make 'em here."

  "I cal'late so, too, Obadiah," said old Mr. Beebe, rubbing hishands together in a pleased way. "Now, Joel, we'll get down allthe shoes on this side," and he ambled across the shop, "an' youcan put up the boys' sizes, afterwards, if you want to."

  "Pa, ain't you most through with Joel? Oh, why, here's Mr.Andrews!" exclaimed Mrs. Beebe. Then she came into the littleshop and sat down, while Mr. Beebe and Joel got out the shoesthat were to be tried on. "It's so nice that I can pass the timeo' day with you, meanwhilst," she observed.

  But it didn't take very long to satisfy old Mr. Andrews. As soonas the first shoe was pulled on he declared it was just right,although the shoe-shop keeper offered to try on the others.

  "P'r'aps these'll pinch when you get home," suggested Mr. Beebe,anxiously, "or somethin' else as bad will be the matter with'em." But the little old man said, "No; do 'em up, Jotham."

  So the shoes were rolled in paper, and tied with a red string,and then Mr. Obadiah Andrews said, "Now I'm a-goin' to set an'visit, and pass the time o' day with you, Jotham."

  "So do," cried old Mr. Beebe, delightedly, counting out thechange. "Now, Joel, you can pile all them shoes back, and thenfinish the boys' sizes, if you want to; and after that, Ma, hecan go into the parlor, and be company to you."

  When Mrs. Beebe and Joel finally got into the parlor, leavingthe two old friends talking busily, there only remained tenminutes before it was time to go home.

  "O dear me!" exclaimed old Mrs. Beebe, quite aghast, as sheglanced at the clock. "Well, you must obey your Ma, and the onlything I see out of it is, you must come again." So she stuffedinto a paper bag all the pink and white sticks and doughnutsthat were piled so nicely, in a company fashion, on a blue plate."There," she said, smothering her disappointment as best shecould, "take these home with you, and tell your Ma I expect youagain, some day. We can't help it, 'cause Pa's been so busy,"as Joel ran off.

  "I've sold shoes all the afternoon," he screamed, rushing intothe little brown house, and for a moment forgetting the paperbag and its precious contents. Then it came ever him in a burst."Look at this!" swinging it over Polly's brown head. She bobbedit up suddenly. "Look out!" screamed Joel, but too late; Polly'sbrown head bumped into the bag, and away it spun, and thedoughnuts and pink and white sticks went flying all over thekitchen floor.

  "Now, that's too bad," cried Polly, jumping up to help pick themup. "Oh, Joel, what a perfectly splendid lot!"

  "Ain't it!" said Joel, his mouth watering to begin on them."Here's one more," spying a pink stick behind Mamsie's chair."Here 'tis. I've got it!" emerging in triumph, and holding itfast. "Where's Phronsie and Dave?"

  "Over at Grandma's," said Polly.

  "O dear!" began Joel, then he thought a minute. "I'm going totake Grandma a doughnut, Polly," he cried, dancing off, andswinging the bag, into which he had crammed all the "goodies."

  He heard Phronsie singing to Grandma, which she was very fond ofdoing, and perched up on the side of the bed, Grandma smilingaway, as well pleased as though she heard every word.

  "Dave," screamed Joel, bounding in, and swinging the bag, "youdon't know what I've got," and he hopped up on the bed betweenGrandma and Phronsie.

  When Davie saw that, he got out of his chair and speedily hoppedup on the bed, too. Grandma laughed till the tears rolled downher cheeks.

  "I guess you'll laugh more yet, Grandma," declared Joel,untwisting the top of his bag, and bringing a pair of brightblack eyes very close to it to peer within. "It's perfectlysplendid!" he cried, holding his hands so no one else could see.

  "Oh, Joey, do show us!" cried Phronsie, getting up to kneel onthe patched bedquilt, to look over his arm.

  "You may take one peek," decided Joel, suddenly, bringing hiseyes away from the mouth of the bag to gaze at them. "Grandmamust have the first one; then you must guess what it is."

  "I guess it's doughnuts," said little Davie, "'cause you've beento Mrs. Beebe's, and besides, I smell 'em." Grandma smiled allthe time, just as happily as if she had heard everything thathad been said.

  "There's something else," said Joel, emphatically, "but 'tisn'tyour guess. Now, Grandma," he held the bag close up to the oldlady's cap-border, "look!"

  "My!" exclaimed the old lady. "What you got, Joel?" as hetwitched away the bag.

  "Didn't you see?" cried Joel; "well, you may have one more peek,'cause you are Grandma," and he brought it up again before hereyes.

  "Doughnuts?" said Grandma. "My sakes! where'd you get 'em?"

  "You may have one," said Joel, peering into the depths of thebag to fish out a good-sized one, that was sugary all over,which he dropped in her hands.

  "Give me one," begged Phronsie, holding out both hands.

  "In a minute," said Joel. "Now, Grandma, what else is in here?"giving the bag a shake.

  "Hey?" asked Grandma; "speak louder, Joel."

  "O dear me! I can't speak so's she'll hear," said Joel, indespair, to the others. So he shook the bag again, when thebottom of it came out, and away the doughnuts and pink and whitesticks flew, and rolled all over the patched bed-quilt.

  "There, now," said Joel, in disgust; "there isn't any use inanybody's guessing anything. But we can eat 'em now," he added,brightening.