Ben Pepper

  XV

  THE MINISTER LOOKS AFTER HIS PARISHIONERS

  Matilda, clutching the precious letter in her greedy fingers, said quiteimportantly, "Now, children, you can come and look over me while I readit."

  "Children!" snorted Mark, in a fury. "I'm twice as big as you. Give thatletter here, Tilly Hansell," making a dash for it.

  "I ain't a-goin' to, ain't, ain't," screamed Matilda, in a fright, andcommencing a mad rush around the kitchen. Then, seeing Mark gaining onher, and Jane running to head her off and deliver her up to him, sheturned suddenly and flung the letter into the little widow's lap, whereshe still crouched on the floor.

  "It's Mammy's letter, anyway; 'tain't yours," she cried triumphantly.

  "Mammy, can't I read it?" cried Mark, throwing himself down by her side,and spreading his red, chapped hand over the letter.

  "Read what?" said Mrs. Hansell, lifting her dazed face.

  "Your letter. 'Twas in the box," said Mark, clapping his other hand onit, too, and keeping a sharp lookout for Matilda's next move.

  "Mayn't I? I had it before he did, Mammy." Matilda flung herself down bythe little woman's side. "Mark's awful mean--he's always pickin' andgrabbin'."

  "I don't know what you mean, children," said the little widow, turningperplexed eyes from one to the other.

  "Well, I'll tell you," cried Mark. "Now keep still, Matilda. You've gota letter, Mammy, in the box, and mayn't I read it?"

  "I've got a letter?" repeated little Mrs. Hansell, in a bewildered way.

  "Yes, yes," cried Matilda, impatiently. "Now, Mark Hansell, it's mine; Ihad it first." With that she slapped his red hands with her two littlefists. "Anyhow, I'll keep mine on top of yours," suiting the action tothe words.

  "You won't get the letter," said Mark, with a grin, flattening his handstightly over it. "Mammy, mayn't I read it? Do hurry an' say yes. Tilly'sactin' just awful."

  "I've got a letter?" repeated Mrs. Hansell, looking around the oldkitchen. When her glance reached the big box, and pile of bundlesscattered about, she clasped her hands and burst into tears. "It's toogood to be true," she cried; "I can't believe it."

  "Why, the box is there. See it," and Mark unguardedly hopped to hisfeet, ran up to it, and slapped it triumphantly with a resoundingthwack.

  "There--Mark Hansell, I've got it!" He turned to see Matilda, tooexcited to keep still, waving the letter, and hopping from one foot tothe other. When she saw Mark coming, she wisely took refuge under hermother's arm, within which she tucked the letter, gripped fast in herhand.

  Mrs. Hansell sat up suddenly. "Did you say there was a letter come inthat box?" she demanded, unwonted energy coming into her pale, tiredeyes.

  "Yes, I've been a-tellin' you so for ever so long," said Mark, in greatchagrin, "an' now Tilly's grabbed it away from me."

  "I didn't; I had it before," said Matilda, squirming up tightly to hermother.

  "Give me that letter," said her mother.

  Matilda, with anxious eyes on Mark, set the letter, now much wrinkled,in her mother's thin hand, and held her breath in suspense.

  "Well, as Matthew ain't here," casting a glance around the kitchen,"you're the next biggest, Mark, so you may read it," at last said Mrs.Hansell.

  "Ow!" grumbled Matilda, very much discomfited.

  Mark, too jubilant to get the letter, wasted no time in his triumph,but, sitting down on the floor in front of his mother, spread it out,and began his attempt to find out what it said. Jane came up and plantedherself by his side.

  "'Mrs. Hansell,'" read Mark, quite fluently.

  "Matthew read that," said Matilda, sourly.

  "You stop," said Mark, without looking at her; "I'm reading this toMammy. 'Mrs. Hansell, I remember you did my washing last summer.'"

  "Hoh! He ain't readin'; he's only sayin' what Matthew read, Mammy.Mammy, Matthew's read all that." Matilda got up to her knees and huggedher mother around the throat.

  "Sit down," said Mrs. Hansell. The conviction that she really had a boxhad been slow in growing, but now that she was sure of it, it was quitetime to set up authority equal to such magnificence.

  Matilda slid down meekly, her arms falling away in amazement to her lap.

  "'You a-p-p-e-a-r-e-d--'" Mark stuck fast on the word that had flooredMatthew, and helplessly shook his head.

  "What is it?" demanded his mother. Since she really had a letter, shewas going to have every word of it.

  So Mark began again, but it was no use. Flounder and guess as he might,it was impossible to say what that dreadful assortment of letters mightmean.

  "Oh, well, if you can't read it, Mark," said Mrs. Hansell, coolly, "Imust get some one who can."

  "Let me try, Mammy, let me," begged Matilda, with two eager little handsthrust out.

  "I can read the next words," declared Mark, hanging on to the letterlike grim death.

  "No, the next ones won't do. I must have the whole of the letter," saidMrs. Hansell, with great dignity. "Yes, you can try now, Matilda," andshe picked the sheet from Mark's hand, to be hungrily seized by Matilda.

  "She can't read any better'n a pig," said Mark in great scorn. "Now,what is it, Matilda Hansell?"

  Matilda turned her shoulders on him, and spelled backward and forward,up and down, with the greatest vigor, but all to no purpose. Her facewas red as fire, and she had all she could do to keep from crying, butstill she struggled on.

  "No, that won't do. You can't read it either," said Mrs. Hansell atlength, in the midst of Mark's "What did I tell you, Mammy? Ho! Ho!"

  "Now, children, it's just this way," she continued, "some one has got toread that letter, 'cause it explains th' whole thing,--th' box an'all,--so one of you may take it down to the minister an' ask him toplease read it for me."

  "Oh, let me, Mammy, let me," cried Matilda, seizing her mother's arm.

  "No, me; I'm goin'; I'm the biggest," said Mark, having no relish thatMatilda should see the inside of the parson's house before he did.Besides, on that important errand!

  "Yes, I'm not sure but you ought to go, seem' Matthew ain't here," saidMrs. Hansell.

  "O dear!" Matilda flung herself flat on the floor with such wails thatSusan crept up, her mouth full of chewed paper, to see what it was allabout.

  "Hush making such a noise! Well, you may go, too," said their mother."Oh, mercy me, what you been a-eatin', Susan? Spit it right out thisminute," as she gathered her up in her arms.

  "An' I'm a-goin' to carry th' letter," declared Matilda, racing up withher tattered old hood and the remnant of a black cloak, "so there!"bobbing her head at Mark.

  "No such thing. I shall carry it; I'm the biggest," said Mark,decidedly.

  "So you always say," cried Matilda, fretfully, and taking out a pin fromher mouth, she brought the two sides of the hood together in a fashionthat kept it on at least.

  "Well, an' I am," said Mark, "so I always shall say it."

  "Mammy, can't I carry the letter part way to the minister's?" beggedMatilda, running over to her mother.

  "You're not goin' to," declared Mark, stiffly, and marching off to thedoor.

  "What is it?" asked Mrs. Hansell, poking out with her finger the chewedwads of paper that appeared to be the last packed away in Susan's mouth."Dear me, it's a wonder you ain't choked to death. What'd you say? Oh,yes, you may carry it part way. There, there!" as she set the squirmingbaby straight on her lap.

  "There, Mammy says I can," Matilda shouted triumphantly, and spinningaround on one set of toes, till the old hood slipped away from the pinand fell to the floor.

  "Did you, Mammy?" cried Mark, running back to Mrs. Hansell.

  "Did I what?" asked his mother. "Dear me, I wonder how much this childhas swallowed."

  "Say Matilda could carry the letter part way?"

  "Yes, I did. Now hurry along an' behave, both of you. An' be quick, orI'll send Jane after all, and keep you to home."

  This would be so much worse than giving up the letter for half thedistance, that Mark took himself off
without delay. Matilda scuttledafter and slammed the old door as tight as it would shut.

  It was certainly an hour by the old clock that wheezed crazily in thecorner, and struck whatever time it chose, when steps were heard comingup the frozen path. The door burst open, and in rushed Matilda and Mark,and after them, at a slower pace, as befitted his calling, Mr. St. John,the minister of the mountain parish. The rest of the family sat ingloomy or impatient silence around the big box. All but Matthew; he wasradiant in an overcoat, that, had anybody attempted to fit to him,certainly couldn't have been more of a success. And all around his neckwas tied a thick, red woollen tippet that seemed to possess no end, somuch was left that was wound generously around his head. He wasstrutting up and down the old kitchen floor, patting his shaggy sleeves,and feeling the thickness of the overcoat skirts, and saying "Ah!" in atone of the greatest satisfaction.

  Luke, unable to take his eyes from him, followed every movementsilently, while Elvira, nearly bursting with impatience, sat on thefloor, alternately drumming on the side of the big box and bullyingJane, when unfortunate enough to get in her way.

  "There! Now let's open the bundles," screamed Elvira, hopping to herfeet. "Mark and Tilly have come!"

  "For shame, Elviry," reproved her mother, sharply, who now came in fromthe bedroom, after seeing that Susan was really asleep, and not inconvulsions over a diet of paper wads. "Can't you see the ministercomin'? Oh, good day, sir!" She dropped him what was meant for acourtesy, and, wiping off a chair with her blue checked apron, shelooked around on all her little group for their best behavior.

  "I thought it better to come myself, my good woman," said the minister.He was quite young, this being his first parish, and only regarded as asort of missionary effort to get his hand in after the theologicalseminary. "Ah--I quite forget your name, madam, as you are so seldom atchurch."

  "Hansell, sir," said the little widow, with another effort at acourtesy. "An' I live so far, sir, from the church, it's not easygettin' there, if you please." She did not add, "And how can I, withoutanything to wear?"

  "Ah, yes, no doubt," answered the Rev. Mr. St. John, reassuringly."Well, I considered it best to come and read the letter to you myself,as it contains important directions. I will do so now," and he spread itopen on one hand, all the family coming up, even Matthew, losing sightfor a moment of his new splendor.

  "'Mrs. Hansell,'" read the minister, clearing his throat, "'I rememberyou did my washing last summer. You appeared to have a great manychildren, so I thought I would send you a box. Some of the articles areselected with reference to the ages of the members of your family. Forinstance, the overcoat and the red tippet are for your biggest boy.'"

  "I know it," cried Matthew, unable to keep still, and beginning to strutagain. "I've got it on."

  The minister looked and nodded at him. This unloosed Matthew's tongue,who, before that, had been afraid of him. "I tell you what, it's bully!"he declared, peering out from the folds of the red tippet; "an' this,too," patting his head.

  "So 'tis," said the Rev. Mr. St. John, with a little laugh.

  "'There are some jackets and trousers for the other boys.'"

  "_Ow!_" Mark and Luke both gave a howl together and darted off towardthe pile of bundles.

  "Come back this minute," demanded the little widow, sharply. "And, oh,sir, would you mind reading real smart like," she said to the minister,"'cause we can't wait much longer to see what's in them bundles." Shewas twisting her apron-end now with nervous fingers, and a red spotmounted to either thin cheek.

  "Indeed, I will," said the young man, obligingly. "Well, let me see,where was I? Oh,--'The other things you will know quite well how todispose of.

  "'Now I wish you to allow me to have three of your children--your twooldest boys and one girl--to stay a few weeks at my house. This willhelp you, and I do not doubt that I shall get some amusement out of it.The girl will make the boys behave, I feel quite sure. You may choosewhich daughter; it makes no difference to me. Ask Mr. St. John, theminister, you know, to put them on the train under the care of theconductor, and then to telegraph me. I enclose a check for all expenses.And I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

  "'HENRIETTA VAN RUYPEN,'

  "Well, well, well." The Rev. Mr. St. John spread the letter on his knee,then fell to stroking his chin, where he was fondly expecting a beardsome fine day. "To think of that old money bags," he was going to say,but pulled himself up in time.

  "I did do her washing," the little widow was standing in front of him,still twitching her apron-end, "and she was awful cross, and--"

  "Well, something has happened to change her," said the minister,"there's no denying. As I remember last summer, she was not a pleasantperson to talk to."

  "An' that she wasn't," said Mrs. Hansell. "She was that partik'ler 'bouta cent in change. But that box--" she stopped and turned her eyes overtoward it.

  "Yes, the box, and the invitation for the children to visit her," saidthe minister. "You can't get around these facts without believing she'sentirely changed."

  "The what?" said the little widow.

  "Why, the invitation for the children, at least three of them, to visither," said the young man.

  "An' where'd she say that, if you please?"

  "Why, I just read it to you," he said, a trifle impatiently.

  "Oh, no, excuse me, sir." The poor woman's head was now turning fromside to side in bewilderment; the children, who had understood aslittle, beginning to clamor lustily for the bundles to be opened.

  Upon this the Rev. Mr. St. John said, "Stop, this moment!" bringing downhis foot, "Just as he slaps the Bible," whispered Elvira, who had beento church one eventful Sunday. "I will read it to you again," which hedid.

  "And now, what have you done with the check?"

  "Check? I don't know what you mean," said the little widow, utterlyincapable of understanding anything more after that invitation!

  "Why, the check,--dear me,--the money she sent."

  "She hasn't sent me no money. She paid me for the washing when she washere," said Mrs. Hansell.

  "I mean the money she sent in the letter," he shook it at her; "thepaper check to pay for the children's railroad fare. Where is it?"

  "I hain't seen no money," said Mrs. Hansell, putting up her handuncertainly to her poor bewildered head.

  Thereupon the minister decided to take matters into his own hands. Sogetting off from his chair, "Children," he said, "not one of thesebundles can be opened until we find something that has been dropped outof this letter. A little strip of paper."

  "I guess Susan's et it," said Elvira, cheerfully.

  "Oh, no, that cannot be."

  "Yes, 'tis," she defied him, "she's been eatin' paper just awful."

  "Well, look for it as hard as you can. I'll help you." The ministerdropped to all fours, and together they all looked over the papers andbundles strewn in confusion around the big box. No strip of paper was tobe seen.

  "This is very dreadful," said the Rev. Mr. St. John, at last, getting upto his feet, and snapping off the wisps of straw from his clothes, whichhe was glad to reflect were not his best ones.

  "Now can't we open the bundles?" screamed Matilda.

  "Yes, can't we? can't we?" begged the others, except Matthew, who waswholly concerned in himself and his new attire.

  "Everythin's out of the old box," said Mark, giving it a kick.

  "Yes, everythin'," said Elvira, taking a flying leap past it, andpeering in once more, "'cept an old scrap o' paper." She dived into itsdepths and brought up a long, thin strip, which she waved disdainfullybefore casting it off. At sight of which, the minister sprang andtwisted it out of her hands. "Oh, the check! Well, I _am_ thankfulthat's found!"

  But this fell on careless ears after all. For was not the opening of thewonderful bundles at last to be allowed! And for the next half hournothing was heard but the tearing of paper, the bursting of string, andthe howls of delight from the young brood and the half-frightened,tearful ejaculatio
ns from the little mother. No one stopped in theprocess of unfolding the treasures, except to dig the teeth into acracker or a bun, too hungry to wait.

  "Tea, Mammy!" Mark bundled a package that spilt half its contents intohis mother's lap, then rushed back for more treasures.

  "Thank the Lord!" she cried, involuntarily, and hungrily gathering upeach morsel.

  The minister turned aside his face to look out of the window, pretendingto see something very attractive in the drear winter landscape, and sothe babel went on.

  At last all the unfolding was done. "Now then," said the Rev. Mr. St.John, "you understand, don't you, that Matthew and Mark are to go, andone of the girls, to visit Mrs. Van Ruypen?"

  "See my new dress," interrupted Matilda, prancing up with a red merinogown, resplendent in gilt buttons all down the back.

  "That's mine," said Elvira, dropping the blue one, which she hadselected, now that she saw how pretty the red one looked.

  "'Tain't either. This is too big for you. Anyway, it's mine," saidMatilda, folding it within her arms, and getting off the kitchen-lengthfrom her sister.

  "Children, children, stop quarrelling," commanded the minister.

  "Huh, I ain't afraid o' him," said Elvira to Luke, and pointing to theminister, who since he had been down on the floor with them, hunting forthe check, had seemed quite one of the family.

  "Now which one of the girls shall you allow to go to Madam VanRuypen's?" asked the minister. "She has left it to you, Mrs. Hansell."

  "Oh, I don't know, I'm sure," she said helplessly.

  "You can send which one you like," he said kindly, and smiling down ather encouragingly.

  "Well, Elviry ain't goin', anyway," said Matthew, with great decision.

  "Where?" Elvira dropped her blue gown in a heap, and ran up to hermother's chair. "Where ain't I goin', Mammy?" but she looked up into theminister's face for the reply.

  "Oh, visiting with Matthew and Mark," he said laughingly at her.

  "What's visiting?"

  "Oh, a little journey. But be quiet now, and give your mother time tothink."

  "What's a journey?" demanded Elvira, without the least hesitation.

  "Oh, going away on the cars."

  "Are Matthew and Mark goin'?" asked Elvira, with a long breath, and verybig eyes.

  "Yes. Well, Mrs. Hansell, what do you say?"

  "I don't know."

  "I'm goin'; I'm goin'," announced Elvira, capering away.

  "Be quiet, child, your mother hasn't decided," said the minister.

  "I'm goin'; I'm goin'," Elvira kept on, shouting and dancing away ashard as she could, which presently brought the other two girls up totheir mother's chair with a clamor to know what it was all about.

  When it was explained, the trouble was so great the minister had morethan two minds to flee the scene and let the little widow get out of itas best she might. At last a happy thought struck him.

  "Mrs. Hansell, you might let them draw," he said; "strips of paper, youknow. Now that's the very idea!" He clapped his hands like a boy. "Now,Matthew, get the pieces."

  "It's the littlest, ain't it?" said Matthew, hurrying, as fast as thedignity of the great coat and tippet would allow, to obey the minister.

  "No, no, the longest," said the minister, laughing. "Now, girls, youmust stand in a row--there--and toe that crack. That's it," as theyscuttled into place on the old kitchen floor. "Now then, my boy, hurryup." He was as excited as the children themselves, and found it asdifficult to wait.

  "Now shut your eyes," and he turned his eyes on the line of girls, whileMatthew handed him the little strips.

  "Tilly's peekin'," announced Luke.

  "I ain't," said Matilda, twisting her eyelids tightly together; "not asingle squint, so there, Luke Hansell."

  "Well, all ready!" The minister whirled around, the little strips neatlyplaced, and all presenting the same appearance, between his two hands."Matilda, you're the oldest; you may draw first."

  "O dear! I don't know which one," said Matilda, putting out her brownhand, then drawing it back with a jerk.

  "Of course not," said Matthew, bursting into a laugh; "if you did thatwould be peekin'."

  "Well, you must hurry, and give your sisters a chance," said theminister.

  "I don't want to; I want to go myself," said Matilda, hanging back.

  "Then you don't want to draw," said the young man, severely. "Very well,you give up your chance. Elvira, it's your turn."

  "Oh, I will, I will," cried Matilda, terribly alarmed, and, making alunge, she twitched out the middle piece, so very tiny it was scarcelyworth being there at all.

  "Hoh, hoh!" snickered Mark. And Luke gave a little crow. Badly as heshould miss Elvira, he wouldn't for the world want her to lose thechance of going.

  "Now, Elvira."

  "Oh, I'm goin'," she said, confidently, laying hold of the outsidepiece.

  Luke trembled; that couldn't be the one. Out it came,--there was asecond's lull,--and a strip so long it had to be doubled up in themiddle was flying from her hand.

  "I told you I was goin'," she said.