CHAPTER VI. GRANDMA
"WHERE'S Polly?" asked Fan one snowy afternoon, as she came into thedining-room where Tom was reposing on the sofa with his boots in theair, absorbed in one of those delightful books in which boys are castaway on desert islands, where every known fruit, vegetable and floweris in its prime all the year round; or, lost in boundless forests, wherethe young heroes have thrilling adventures, kill impossible beasts, and,when the author's invention gives out, suddenly find their way home,laden with tiger skins, tame buffaloes and other pleasing trophies oftheir prowess.
"Dun no," was Tom's brief reply, for he was just escaping from analligator of the largest size.
"Do put down that stupid book, and let's do something," said Fanny,after a listless stroll round the room.
"Hi, they've got him!" was the only answer vouchsafed by the absorbedreader.
"Where's Polly?" asked Maud, joining the party with her hands full ofpaper dolls all suffering for ball-dresses.
"Do get along, and don't bother me," cried Tom exasperated at theinterruption.
"Then tell us where she is. I'm sure you know, for she was down here alittle while ago," said Fanny.
"Up in grandma's room, maybe."
"Provoking thing! you knew it all the time, and did n't tell, just toplague us," scolded Maud.
But Tom was now under water stabbing his alligator, and took no noticeof the indignant departure of the young ladies.
"Polly's always poking up in grandma's room. I don't see what fun thereis in it," said Fanny as they went up stairs.
"Polly's a verwy queer girl, and gwandma pets her a gweat deal morethan she does me," observed Maud, with an injured air.
"Let's peek and see what they are doing," whispered Fan, pausing at thehalf-open door.
Grandma was sitting before a quaint old cabinet, the doors of whichstood wide open, showing glimpses of the faded relics treasured there.On a stool, at the old lady's feet, sat Polly, looking up with intentface and eager eyes, quite absorbed in the history of a high-heeledbrocade shoe which lay in her lap.
"Well, my dear," grandma was saying, "she had it on the very day thatUncle Joe came in as she sat at work, and said, 'Dolly, we must bemarried at once.' 'Very well, Joe,' says Aunt Dolly, and down she wentto the parlor, where the minister was waiting, never stopping to changethe dimity dress she wore, and was actually married with her scissorsand pin-ball at her side, and her thimble on. That was in war times,1812, my dear, and Uncle Joe was in the army, so he had to go, and hetook that very little pin-ball with him. Here it is with the mark ofa bullet through it, for he always said his Dolly's cushion saved hislife."
"How interesting that is!" cried Polly, as she examined the fadedcushion with the hole in it.
"Why, grandma, you never told me that story," said Fanny, hurrying in,finding the prospect was a pleasant one for a stormy afternoon.
"You never asked me to tell you anything, my dear, so I kept my oldstories to myself," answered grandma, quietly.
"Tell some now, please. May we stay and see the funny things?" said Fanand Maud, eyeing the open cabinet with interest.
"If Polly likes; she is my company, and I am trying to entertainher, for I love to have her come," said grandma, with her old-timepoliteness.
"Oh, yes! do let them stay and hear the stories. I've often told themwhat good times we have up here, and teased them to come, but they thinkit's too quiet. Now, sit down, girls, and let grandma go on. You see Ipick out something in the cabinet that looks interesting, and thenshe tells me about it," said Polly, eager to include the girls in herpleasures, and glad to get them interested in grandma's reminiscences,for Polly knew how happy it made the lonely old lady to live over herpast, and to have the children round her.
"Here are three drawers that have not been opened yet; each take one,and choose something from it for me to tell about," said Madam, quiteexcited at the unusual interest in her treasures.
So the girls each opened a drawer and turned over the contents till theyfound something they wanted to know about. Maud was ready first, andholding up an oddly shaped linen bag, with a big blue F embroidered onit, demanded her story. Grandma smiled as she smoothed the old thingtenderly, and began her story with evident pleasure.
"My sister Nelly and I went to visit an aunt of ours, when we werelittle girls, but we did n't have a very good time, for she wasextremely strict. One afternoon, when she had gone out to tea, and oldDebby, the maid, was asleep in her room, we sat on the doorstep, feelinghomesick, and ready for any thing to amuse us.
"'What shall we do?' said Nelly.
"Just as she spoke, a ripe plum dropped bounce on the grass before us,as if answering her question. It was all the plum's fault, for if ithad n't fallen at that minute, I never should have had the thought whichpopped into my mischievous mind.
"'Let's have as many as we want, and plague Aunt Betsey, to pay her forbeing so cross,' I said, giving Nelly half the great purple plum.
"'It would be dreadful naughty,' began Nelly,'but I guess we will,' sheadded, as the sweet mouthful slipped down her throat.
"'Debby's asleep. Come on, then, and help me shake,' I said, gettingup, eager for the fun.
"We shook and shook till we got red in the face, but not one dropped,for the tree was large, and our little arms were not strong enoughto stir the boughs. Then we threw stones, but only one green and onehalf-ripe one came down, and my last stone broke the shed window, sothere was an end of that.
"'It's as provoking as Aunt Betsey herself,' said Nelly, as we satdown, out of breath.
"'I wish the wind would come and blow'em down for us,' panted I,staring up at the plums with longing eyes.
"'If wishing would do any good, I should wish'em in my lap at once,'added Nelly.
"'You might as well wish'em in your mouth and done with it, if you aretoo lazy to pick'em up. If the ladder was n't too heavy we could trythat,' said I, determined to have them.
"'You know we can't stir it, so what is the use of talking about it? Youproposed getting the plums, now let's see you do it,' answered Nelly,rather crossly, for she had bitten the green plum, and it puckered hermouth.
"'Wait a minute, and you will see me do it,' cried I, as a new thoughtcame into my naughty head.
"'What are you taking your shoes and socks off for? You can't climb thetree, Fan.' 'Don't ask questions, but be ready to pick'em up when theyfall, Miss Lazybones.' "With this mysterious speech I pattered intothe house bare-footed and full of my plan. Up stairs I went to a windowopening on the shed roof. Out I got, and creeping carefully along tillI came near the tree, I stood up, and suddenly crowed like the littlerooster. Nelly looked up, and stared, and laughed, and clapped her handswhen she saw what I was going to do.
"'I'm afraid you'll slip and get hurt.'" "'Don't care if I do; I'llhave those plums if I break my neck doing it,' and half sliding, halfwalking I went down the sloping roof, till the boughs of the tree werewithin my reach."
"Hurrah!" cried Nelly, dancing down below, as my first shake sent adozen plums rattling round her.
"'Hurrah!" cried I, letting go one branch and trying to reach another.But as I did so my foot slipped, I tried to catch something to hold by,but found nothing, and with a cry, down I fell, like a very big plum onthe grass below.
"Fortunately the shed was low, the grass was thick and the tree broke myfall, but I got a bad bump and a terrible shaking. Nelly thought I waskilled, and began to cry with her mouth full. But I picked myself up ina minute, for I was used to such tumbles; and did n't mind the pain halfas much as the loss of the plums.
"'Hush! Debby will hear and spoil all the fun. I said I'd get'em and Ihave. See what lots have come down with me.'" So there had, for my fallshook the tree almost as much as it did me, and the green and purplefruit lay all about us.
"By the time the bump on my forehead had swelled as big as a nut, ouraprons were half full, and we sat down to enjoy ourselves. But we didn't. O dear, no! for many of the plums were not ripe, some were h
urt bythe birds, some crushed in falling, and many as hard as stones. Nellygot stung by a wasp, my head began to ache, and we sat looking at oneanother rather dismally, when Nelly had a bright idea.
"'Let's cook'em, then they'll be good, and we can put some away inour little pails for to-morrow.'" "'That will be splendid! There's afire in the kitchen, Debby always leaves the kettle on, and we can useher saucepan, and I know where the sugar is, and we'll have a grandtime.' "In we went, and fell to work very quietly. It was a large,open fire-place, with the coals nicely covered up, and the big kettlesimmering on the hook. We raked open the fire, put on the saucepan, andin it the best of our plums, with water enough to spoil them. But we didn't know that, and felt very important as we sat waiting for it to boil,each armed with a big spoon, while the sugar box stood between us readyto be used.
"How slow they were, to be sure! I never knew such obstinate things, forthey would n't soften, though they danced about in the boiling water,and bobbed against the cover as if they were doing their best.
"The sun began to get low, we were afraid Debby would come down, andstill those dreadful plums would n't look like sauce. At last they beganto burst, the water got a lovely purple, we put lots of sugar in, andkept tasting till our aprons and faces were red, and our lips burnt withthe hot spoons.
"'There's too much juice,' said Nelly, shaking her head wisely. 'Itought to be thick and nice like mamma's.' "'I'll pour off some of thejuice, and we can drink it,' said I, feeling that I'd made a mistake inmy cooking.
"So Nelly got a bowl, and I got a towel and lifted the big saucepancarefully off. It was heavy and hot, and I was a little afraid of it,but did n't like to say so. Just as I began to pour, Debby suddenlycalled from the top of the stairs, 'Children, what under the sun are youdoing?' It startled us both. Nelly dropped the bowl and ran. I droppedthe saucepan and did n't run, for a part of the hot juice splashed uponmy bare feet, and ankles, and made me scream with dreadful pain.
"Down rushed Debby to find me dancing about the kitchen with a greatbump on my forehead, a big spoon in my hand, and a pair of bright purplefeet. The plums were lying all over the hearth, the saucepan in themiddle of the room, the basin was broken, and the sugar swimming aboutas if the bowl had turned itself over trying to sweeten our mess for us.
"Debby was very good to me, for she never stopped to scold, but laidme down on the old sofa, and bound up my poor little feet with oil andcotton wool. Nelly, seeing me lie white and weak, thought I was dying,and went over to the neighbor's for Aunt Betsey, and burst in upon theold ladies sitting primly at, their tea, crying, distractedly, 'Oh, AuntBetsey, come quick! for the saucepan fell off the shed, and Fan's feetare all boiled purple!' Nobody laughed at this funny message, and AuntBetsey ran all the way home with a muffin in her hand and her ball inher pocket, though the knitting was left behind.
"I suffered a great deal, but I was n't sorry afterward, for I learnedto love Aunt Betsey, who nursed me tenderly, and seemed to forget herstrict ways in her anxiety for me.
"This bag was made for my special comfort, and hung on the sofa where Ilay all those weary days. Aunt kept it full of pretty patchwork or, whatI liked better, ginger-nuts, and peppermint drops, to amuse me, thoughshe did n't approve of cosseting children up, any more than I do now."
"I like that vewy well, and I wish I could have been there," was Maud'scondescending remark, as she put back the little bag, after a carefulpeep inside, as if she hoped to find an ancient ginger-nut, or awell-preserved peppermint drop still lingering in some corner.
"We had plums enough that autumn, but did n't seem to care much aboutthem, after all, for our prank became a household joke, and, for years,we never saw the fruit, but Nelly would look at me with a funny face,and whisper, 'Purple stockings, Fan!'"
"Thank you, ma'am," said Polly. "Now, Fan, your turn next."
"Well, I've a bundle of old letters, and I'd like to know if thereis any story about them," answered Fanny, hoping some romance might beforthcoming.
Grandma turned over the little packet tied up with a faded pink ribbon;a dozen yellow notes written on rough, thick paper, with red wafersstill adhering to the folds, showing plainly that they were writtenbefore the day of initial note-paper and self-sealing envelopes.
"They are not love-letters, deary, but notes from my mates after I leftMiss Cotton's boarding-school. I don't think there is any story aboutthem," and grandma turned them over with spectacles before the dim eyes,so young and bright when they first read the very same notes.
Fanny was about to say, "I'll choose again," when grandma began tolaugh so heartily that the girls felt sure she had caught some merry oldmemory which would amuse them.
"Bless my heart, I have n't thought of that frolic this forty years.Poor, dear, giddy Sally Pomroy, and she's a great-grandmother now!"cried the old lady, after reading one of the notes, and clearing themist off her glasses.
"Now, please tell about her; I know it's something funny to make youlaugh so," said Polly and Fan together.
"Well, it was droll, and I'm glad I remembered it for it's just thestory to tell you young things.
"It was years ago," began grandma, briskly, "and teachers were very muchstricter than they are now. The girls at Miss Cotton's were not allowedlights in their rooms after nine o'clock, never went out alone, and wereexpected to behave like models of propriety from morning till night.
"As you may imagine, ten young girls, full of spirits and fun, foundthese rules hard to keep, and made up for good behavior in public by allsorts of frolics in private.
"Miss Cotton and her brother sat in the back parlor after school wasover, and the young ladies were sent to bed. Mr. John was very deaf,and Miss Priscilla very near-sighted, two convenient afflictions for thegirls on some occasions, but once they proved quite the reverse, as youshall hear.
"We had been very prim for a week, and our bottled up spirits could nolonger be contained; so we planed a revel after our own hearts, and setour wits to work to execute it.
"The first obstacle was surmounted in this way. As none of us could getout alone, we resolved to lower Sally from the window, for she was lightand small, and very smart.
"With our combined pocket-money she was to buy nuts and candy, cake andfruit, pie, and a candle, so that we might have a light, after Betseytook ours away as usual. We were to darken the window of the innerchamber, set a watch in the little entry, light up, and then for a goodtime.
"At eight o'clock on the appointed evening, several of us professedgreat weariness, and went to our room, leaving the rest sewingvirtuously with Miss Cotton, who read Hannah More's Sacred Dramas aloud,in a way that fitted the listeners for bed as well as a dose of opiumwould have done.
"I am sorry to say I was one of the ringleaders; and as soon as we gotup stairs, produced the rope provided for the purpose, and invited Sallyto be lowered. It was an old-fashioned house, sloping down behind, andthe closet window chosen by us was not many feet from the ground.
"It was a summer evening, so that at eight o'clock it was still light;but we were not afraid of being seen, for the street was a lonely one,and our only neighbors two old ladies, who put down their curtains atsunset, and never looked out till morning.
"Sally had been bribed by promises of as many'goodies' as she couldeat, and being a regular madcap, she was ready for anything.
"Tying the rope round her waist she crept out, and we let her safelydown, sent a big basket after her, and saw her slip round the corner inmy big sun bonnet and another girl's shawl, so that she should not berecognized.
"Then we put our night-gowns over our dresses, and were laid peacefullyin bed when Betsey came up, earlier than usual; for it was evident thatMiss Cotton felt a little suspicious at our sudden weariness.
"For half an hour we lay laughing and whispering, as we waited for thesignal from Sally. At last we heard a cricket chirp shrilly under thewindow, and flying up, saw a little figure below in the twilight.
"'O, quick! quick!' cried Sally, panting
with haste. 'Draw up the basketand then get me in, for I saw Mr. Cotton in the market, and ran allthe way home, so that I might get in before he came.' Up came the heavybasket, bumping and scraping on the way, and smelling, O, so nice!Down went the rope, and with a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull alltogether, we hoisted poor Sally half-way up to the window, when, sad totell, the rope slipped and down she fell, only being saved from brokenbones by the hay-cock under the window.
"'He's coming! he's coming! O pull me up, for mercy sake!' criedSally, scrambling to her feet unhurt, but a good deal shaken.
"We saw a dark figure approaching, and dragged her in with more bumpingand scraping, and embraced her with rapture, for we had just escapedbeing detected by Mr. John, whose eyes were as sharp as his ears weredull.
"We heard the front-door shut, then a murmur of voices, and thenBetsey's heavy step coming up stairs.
"Under the bed went the basket, and into the beds went the conspirators,and nothing could have been more decorous than the appearance of theroom when Betsey popped her head in.
"'Master's an old fidget to send me travelling up again, just becausehe fancied he saw something amiss at the window. Nothing but a curtainflapping, or a shadder, for the poor dears is sleeping like lambs.' Weheard her say this to herself, and a general titter agitated the whitecoverlets as she departed.
"Sally was in high feather at the success of her exploit, and dancedabout like an elf, as she put her night-gown on over her frock, braidedher hair in funny little tails all over her head, and fastened the greatred pin-cushion on her bosom for a breast-pin in honor of the feast.
"The other girls went to their rooms as agreed upon, and all was soondark and still up stairs, while Miss Cotton began to enjoy herselfbelow, as she always did when'her young charges' were safely disposedof.
"Then ghosts began to walk, and the mice scuttled back to their holesin alarm, for white figures glided from room to room, till all wereassembled in the little chamber.
"The watch was set at the entry door, the signal agreed upon, the candlelighted, and the feast spread forth upon a newspaper on the bed, withthe coverlet arranged so that it could be whisked over the refreshmentsat a moment's notice.
"How good everything was, to be sure! I don't think I've eaten anypies since that had such a delicious flavor as those broken ones, eatenhastily, in that little oven of a room, with Sally making jokes and theothers enjoying stolen sweets with true girlish relish. Of course it wasvery wicked, but I must tell the truth.
"We were just beginning on the cake when the loud scratching of a ratdisturbed us.
"'The signal! fly! run! hide! Hush, don't laugh!' cried several voices,and we scuttled into bed as rapidly and noiselessly as possible, withour mouths and hands full.
"A long pause, broken by more scratching; but as no one came, we decidedon sending to inquire what it meant. I went and found Mary, the picketguard half asleep, and longing for her share of the feast.
"'It was a real rat; I've not made a sound. Do go and finish; I'mtired of this,' said Mary, slapping away at the mosquitoes.
"Back I hurried with the good news. Every one flew up, briskly. Welighted the candle again, and returned to our revel. The refreshmentswere somewhat injured by Sally's bouncing in among them, bit we did n'tcare, and soon finished the cake.
"'Now let's have the nuts,' I said, groping for the paper bag.
"'They are almonds and peanuts, so we can crack them with our teeth. Besure you get the bag by the right end,' said Sally.
"'I know what I'm about,' and to show her that it was all right, Igave the bag a little shake, when out flew the nuts, rattling like ahail-storm all over the uncarpeted floor.
"'Now you've done it,' cried Sally, as Mary scratched like a mad rat,and a door creaked below, for Miss Cotton was not deaf.
"Such a flurry as we were in! Out went the candle, and each one rushedaway with as much of the feast as she could seize in her haste. Sallydived into her bed, recklessly demolishing the last pie, and scatteringthe candy far and wide.
"Poor Mary was nearly caught for Miss Cotton was quicker than Betsey,and our guard had to run for her life.
"Our room was the first, and was in good order, though the two flushedfaces on the pillows were rather suspicious. Miss Cotton stood staringabout her, looking so funny, without her cap, that my bedfellow wouldhave gone off in a fit of laughter, if I had not pinched her warningly.
"'Young ladies, what is this unseemly noise?' No answer from us buta faint snore. Miss Cotton marched into the next room, put the samequestion and received the same reply.
"In the third chamber lay Sally, and we trembled as the old lady wentin. Sitting up, we peeped and listened breathlessly.
"'Sarah, I command you to tell me what this all means?' But Sally onlysighed in her sleep, and muttered, wickedly, 'Ma, take me home. I'mstarved at Cotton's.' 'Mercy on me! is the child going to have a fever?'cried the old lady, who did not observe the tell tale nuts at her feet.
"'So dull, so strict! O take me home!' moaned Sally, tossing her armsand gurgling, like a naughty little gypsy.
"That last bit of acting upset the whole concern, for as she tossed herarms she showed the big red cushion on her breast. Near-sighted as shewas, that ridiculous object could not escape Miss Cotton, neither didthe orange that rolled out from the pillow, nor the boots appearing atthe foot of the bed.
"With sudden energy the old lady plucked off the cover, and there laySally with her hair dressed, la Topsy, her absurd breast-pin and herdusty boots, among papers of candy, bits of pie and cake, oranges andapples, and a candle upside down burning a hole in the sheet.
"At the sound of Miss Cotton's horrified exclamation Sally woke up, andbegan laughing so merrily that none of us could resist following herexample, and the rooms rang with merriment far many minutes. I reallydon't know when we should have stopped if Sally had not got choked withthe nut she had in her mouth, and so frightened us nearly out of ourwits."
"What became of the things, and how were you punished?" asked Fan, inthe middle of her laughter.
"The remains of the feast went to the pig, and we were kept on bread andwater for three days."
"Did that cure you?"
"Oh, dear, no! we had half a dozen other frolics that very summer; andalthough I cannot help laughing at the remembrance of this, you must notthink, child, that I approve of such conduct, or excuse it. No, no, mydear, far from it."
"I call that a tip-top story! Drive on, grandma, and tell one aboutboys," broke in a new voice, and there was Tom astride of a chairlistening and laughing with all his might, for his book had come to anend, and he had joined the party unobserved.
"Wait for your turn, Tommy. Now, Polly, dear, what will you have?"said grandma, looking, so lively and happy, that it was very evident"reminiscing" did her good.
"Let mine come last, and tell one for Tom next," said Polly, lookinground, and beckoning him nearer.
He came and sat himself cross-legged on the floor, before the lowerdrawer of the cabinet, which grandma opened for him, saying, with abenign stroke of the curly head, "There, dear, that's where I keep thelittle memorials of my brother Jack. Poor lad, he was lost at sea, youknow. Well, choose anything you like, and I'll try to remember a storyabout it."
Tom made a rapid rummage, and fished up a little broken pistol.
"There, that's the chap for me! Wish it was n't spoilt, then we'd havefun popping away at the cats in the yard. Now, then, grandma."
"I remember one of Jack's pranks, when that was used with great effect,"said grandma, after a thoughtful pause, during which Tom teased thegirls by snapping the lock of the pistol in their faces.
"Once upon a time," continued Madam, much flattered by the row ofinterested faces before her, "my father went away on business, leavingmother, aunt, and us girls to Jack's care. Very proud he was, to besure, of the responsibility, and the first thing he did was to load thatpistol and keep it by his bed, in our great worriment, for we feared he'd kill himse
lf with it. For a week all went well; then we were startledby the news that robbers were about. All sorts of stories flew throughthe town (we were living in the country then); some said that certainhouses were marked with a black cross, and those were always robbed;others, that there was a boy in the gang, for windows, so small thatthey were considered safe, were entered by some little rogue. At oneplace the thieves had a supper, and left ham and cake in the front yard.Mrs. Jones found Mrs. Smith's shawl in her orchard, with a hammer andan unknown teapot near it. One man reported that some one tapped athis window, in the night, saying, softly, 'Is anyone here?' and when helooked out, two men were seen to run down the road.
"We lived just out of town, in a lonely place; the house was old, withconvenient little back windows, and five outside doors. Jack was theonly man about the place, and he was barely thirteen. Mother and auntwere very timid, and the children weren't old enough to be of anyuse, so Jack and I were the home-guard, and vowed to defend the familymanfully."
"Good for you! Hope the fellows came!" cried Tom, charmed with thisopening.
"One day, an ill-looking man came in and asked for food," continuedgrandma, with a mysterious nod; "and while he ate, I saw him glancesharply about from the wooden buttons on the back-doors, to the silverurn and tankards on the dining-room sideboard. A strong suspicion tookpossession of me, and I watched him as a cat does a mouse.
"'He came to examine the premises, I'm sure of it, but we will be readyfor him,' I said, fiercely, as I told the family about him.
"This fancy haunted us all, and our preparations were very funny. Motherborrowed a rattle, and kept it under her pillow. Aunt took a big bellto bed with her; the children had little Tip, the terrier, to sleep intheir room; while Jack and I mounted guard, he with the pistol, and Iwith a hatchet, for I did n't like fire-arms. Biddy, who slept in theattic, practised getting out on the shed roof, so that she might runaway at the first alarm. Every night we arranged pit-falls for therobbers, and all filed up to bed, bearing plate, money, weapons, andthings to barricade with, as if we lived in war times.
"We waited a week and no one came, so we began to feel rather slighted,for other people got'a scare,' as Tom says, and after all ourpreparations we really felt a trifle disappointed that we had had nochance to show our courage. At last a black mark was found upon ourdoor, and a great panic ensued, for we felt that now our time had come.
"That night we put a tub of water at the bottom of the back-stairs, anda pile of tin pans at the top of the front stairs, so that any attemptto come up would produce a splash or a rattle. Bells were hung on doorhandles, sticks of wood piled up in dark corners for robbers to fallover, and the family retired, all armed and all provided with lamps andmatches.
"Jack and I left our doors open, and kept asking one another if we didn't hear something, till he fell asleep. I was wakeful and lay listeningto the crickets till the clock struck twelve; then I got drowsy, andwas just dropping off when the sound of steps outside woke me up staringwide awake. Creeping to the window I was in time to see by the dimmoonlight a shadow glide round the corner and disappear. A queer littlethrill went over me, but I resolved to keep quiet till I was suresomething was wrong, for I had given so many false alarms, I did n'twant Jack to laugh at me again. Popping my head out of the door, Ilistened, and presently heard a scraping sound near the shed.
"'There they are; but I won't rouse the house till the bell rings or thepans fall. The rogues can't go far without a clatter of some sort, andif we could only catch one of them we should get the reward and a dealof glory,' I said to myself, grasping my hatchet firmly.
"A door closed softly below, and a step came creeping towards theback-stairs. Sure now of my prey, I was just about to scream 'Jack!'when something went splash into the tub at the foot of the back-stairs.
"In a minute every one was awake and up, for Jack fired his pistolbefore he was half out of bed, and roared 'Fire!' so loud it roused thehouse. Mother sprung her rattle, aunt rang her bell, Jip barked likemad, and we all screamed, while from below came up a regular Irish howl.
"Some one brought a lamp, and we peeped anxiously down, to see our ownstupid Biddy sitting in the tub wringing her hands and wailing dismally.
"'Och, murther, and it's kilt I am! The saints be about us! how iverdid I come forninst this say iv wather, just crapin in quiet afthera bit iv sthroll wid Mike Mahoney, me own b'y, that's to marry meintirely, come Saint Patrick's day nixt.' We laughed so we could hardlyfish the poor thing up, or listen while she explained that she hadslipped out of her window for a word with Mike, and found it fastenedwhen she wanted to come back, so she had sat on the roof, trying todiscover the cause of this mysterious barring out, till she wastired, when she prowled round the house till she found a cellar windowunfastened, after all our care, and got in quite cleverly, she thought;but the tub was a new arrangement which she knew nothing about; and whenshe fell into the'say,' she was bewildered and could only howl.
"This was not all the damage either, for aunt fainted with the fright,mother cut her hand with a broken lamp, the children took cold hoppingabout on the wet stairs, Jip barked himself sick, I sprained my ankle,and Jack not only smashed a looking-glass with his bullets, but spoilthis pistol by the heavy charge put in it. After the damages wererepaired and the flurry was well over, Jack confessed that he had markedthe door for fun, and shut Biddy out as a punishment for'gallivanting,'of which he did n't approve. Such a rogue as that boy was!'"
"But did n't the robbers ever come?" cried Tom, enjoying the joke, butfeeling defrauded of the fight.
"Never, my dear; but we had our'scare,' and tested our courage, andthat was a great satisfaction, of course," answered grandma, placidly.
"Well, I think you were the bravest of the lot. I'd like to have seenyou flourishing round there with your hatchet," added Tom, admiringly,and the old lady looked as much pleased with the compliment as if shehad been a girl.
"I choose this," said Polly, holding up a long white kid glove, shrunkenand yellow with time, but looking as if it had a history.
"Ah, that now has a story worth telling!" cried grandma; adding,proudly, "Treat that old glove respectfully, my children, forLafayette's honored hand has touched it."
"Oh, grandma, did you wear it? Did you see him? Do tell us all about it,and that will be the best of the whole," cried Polly, who loved history,and knew a good deal about the gallant Frenchman and his brave life.
Grandma loved to tell this story, and always assumed her most imposingair to do honor to her theme. Drawing herself up, therefore, she foldedher hands, and after two or three little "hems," began with an absentlook, as if her eyes beheld a far-away time, which brightened as shegazed.
"The first visit of Lafayette was before my time, of course, but I heardso much about it from my grandfather that I really felt as if I'd seenit all. Our Aunt Hancock lived in the Governor's house, on Beacon Hill,at that time." Here the old lady bridled up still more, for she was veryproud of "our aunt." "Ah, my dears, those were the good old times!" shecontinued, with a sigh. "Such dinners and tea parties, such damasktable cloths and fine plate, such solid, handsome furniture and elegantcarriages; aunt's was lined with red silk velvet, and when the coachwas taken away from her at the Governor's death, she just ripped outthe lining, and we girls had spencers made of it. Dear heart, how wellI remember playing in aunt's great garden, and chasing Jack up and downthose winding stairs; and my blessed father, in his plum-colored coatand knee buckles, and the queue I used to tie up for him every day,handing aunt in to dinner, looking so dignified and splendid."
Grandma seemed to forget her story for a minute, and become a littlegirl again, among the playmates dead and gone so many years. Pollymotioned the others to be quiet, and no one spoke till the old lady,with a long sigh, came back to the present, and went on.
"Well, as I was saying, the Governor wanted to give a breakfast to theFrench officers, and Madam, who was a hospitable soul, got up a splendidone for them. But by some mistake, or accident,
it was discovered at thelast minute that there was no milk.
"A great deal was needed, and very little could be bought or borrowed,so despair fell upon the cooks and maids, and the great breakfast wouldhave been a failure, if Madam, with the presence of mind of her sex, hadnot suddenly bethought herself of the cows feeding on the Common.
"To be sure, they belonged to her neighbors, and there was no time toask leave, but it was a national affair; our allies must be fed; andfeeling sure that her patriotic friends would gladly lay their cows onthe altar of their country, Madam Hancock covered herself with glory,by calmly issuing the command, 'Milk'em!' It was done, to the greatastonishment of the cows, and the entire satisfaction of the guests,among whom was Lafayette.
"This milking feat was such a good joke, that no one seems to haveremembered much about the great man, though one of his officers, acount, signalized himself by getting very tipsy, and going to bed withhis boots and spurs on, which caused the destruction of aunt's bestyellow damask coverlet, for the restless sleeper kicked it into rags bymorning.
"Aunt valued it very much, even in its tattered condition, and kept it along while, as a memorial of her distinguished guests.
"The time when I saw Lafayette was in 1825, and there were no tipsycounts then. Uncle Hancock (a sweet man, my dears, though some call himmean now-a-days) was dead, and aunt had married Captain Scott.
"It was not at all the thing for her to do; however, that's neitherhere nor there. She was living in Federal Street at the time, a mostaristocratic street then, children, and we lived close by.
"Old Josiah Quincy was mayor of the city, and he sent aunt word that theMarquis Lafayette wished to pay his respects to her.
"Of course she was delighted, and we all flew about to make ready forhim. Aunt was an old lady, but she made a grand toilet, and was asanxious to look well as any girl."
"What did she wear?" asked Fan, with interest.
"She wore a steel-colored satin, trimmed with black lace, and on her capwas pinned a Lafayette badge of white satin.
"I never shall forget how b-e-a-utifully she looked as she sat in stateon the front parlor sophy, right under a great portrait of her firsthusband; and on either side of her sat Madam Storer and Madam Williams,elegant to behold, in their stiff silks, rich lace, and stately turbans.We don't see such splendid old ladies now-a-days."
"I think we do sometimes," said Polly, slyly.
Grandma shook her head, but it pleased her very much to be admired, forshe had been a beauty in her day.
"We girls had dressed the house with flowers; old Mr. Coolidge sent in aclothes-basket full. Joe Joy provided the badges, and aunt got out someof the Revolutionary wine from the old Beacon Street cellar.
"I wore my green and white palmyrine, my hair bowed high, the beautifulleg-o'-mutton sleeves that were so becoming, and these very gloves.
"Well, by-and-by the General, escorted by the Mayor, drove up. Dear me,I see him now! a little old man in nankeen trousers and vest, a longblue coat and ruffled shirt, leaning on his cane, for he was lame, andsmiling and bowing like a true Frenchman.
"As he approached, the three old ladies rose, and courtesied with theutmost dignity. Lafayette bowed first to the Governor's picture, then tothe Governor's widow, and kissed her hand.
"That was droll; for on the back of her glove was stamped Lafayette'slikeness, and the gallant old gentleman kissed his own face.
"Then some of the young ladies were presented, and, as if to escape anyfurther self-salutations, the marquis kissed the pretty girls on thecheek.
"Yes, my dears, here is just the spot where the dear old man saluted me.I'm quite as proud of it now as I was then, for he was a brave, goodman, and helped us in our trouble.
"He did not stay long, but we were very merry, drinking his health,receiving his compliments, and enjoying the honor he did us.
"Down in the street there was a crowd, of course, and when he left theywanted to take out the horses and drag him home in triumph. But he didn't wish it; and while that affair was being arranged, we girls had beenpelting him with the flowers which we tore from the vases, the walls,and our own topknots, to scatter over him.
"He liked that, and laughed, and waved his hand to us, while we ran, andpelted, and begged him to come again.
"We young folks quite lost our heads that night, and I have n't a veryclear idea of how I got home. The last thing I remember was hanging outof the window with a flock of girls, watching the carriage roll away,while the crowd cheered as if they were mad.
"Bless my heart, it seems as if I heard'em now! 'Hurrah for Lafayetteand Mayor Quincy! Hurrah for Madam Hancock and the pretty girls! Hurrahfor Col. May!' 'Three cheers for Boston! Now, then! Hurrah! Hurrah!Hurrah!'"
And here the old lady stopped, out of breath, with her cap askew, herspectacles on the end of her nose, and her knitting much the worse forbeing waved enthusiastically in the air, while she hung over the arm ofher chair, shrilly cheering an imaginary Lafayette. The girls clappedtheir hands, and Tom hurrahed with all his might, saying, when he gothis breath, "Lafayette was a regular old trump; I always liked him."
"My dear! what a disrespectful way to speak of that great man," saidgrandma, shocked at Young America's irreverence.
"Well, he was a trump, anyway, so why not call him one?" asked Tom,feeling that the objectionable word was all that could be desired.
"What queer gloves you wore then," interrupted Fanny, who had beentrying on the much-honored glove, and finding it a tight fit.
"Much better and cheaper than we have now," returned grandma, readyto defend "the good old times" against every insinuation. "You are anextravagant set now-a-days, and I really don't know what you are comingto. By the way, I've got somewhere two letters written by two youngladies, one in 1517, and the other in 1868. The contrast between the twowill amuse you, I think."
After a little search, grandma produced an old portfolio, and selectingthe papers, read the following letter, written by Anne Boleyn beforeher marriage to Henry VIII, and now in the possession of a celebratedantiquarian:
DEAR MARY, I have been in town almost a month, yet I cannot say I havefound anything in London extremely agreeable. We rise so late in themorning, seldom before six o'clock, and sit up so late at night, beingscarcely in bed before ten, that I am quite sick of it; and was it notfor the abundance of fine things I am every day getting I should beimpatient of returning into the country.
My indulgent mother bought me, yesterday, at a merchant's in Cheapside,three new shifts, that cost fourteen pence an ell, and I am to have apair of new stuff shoes, for my Lord of Norfolk's ball, which will bethree shillings.
The irregular life I have led since my coming to this place has quitedestroyed my appetite. You know I could manage a pound of bacon and atankard of good ale for my breakfast, in the country, but in London Ifind it difficult to get through half the quantity, though I must ownI am generally eager enough for the dinner hour, which is here delayedtill twelve, in your polite society.
I played at hot cockles, last night, at my Lord of Leicester's. The Lordof Surrey was there, a very elegant young man, who sung a song ofhis own composition, on the "Lord of Kildare's Daughter." It was muchapproved, and my brother whispered me that the fair Geraldine, for so myLord of Surrey calls his sweetheart, is the finest woman of the age. Ishould be glad to see her, for I hear she is good as she is beautiful.
Pray take care of the poultry during my absence. Poor things! I alwaysfed them myself; and if Margery has knitted me the crimson worstedmittens, I should be glad if they were sent up the first opportunity.
Adieu, dear Mary. I am just going to mass, and you shall speedily havethe prayers, as you have now the kindest love of your own ANNE BOLEYN.
"Up before six, and think it late to go to bed at ten! What acountrified thing Anne must have been. Bacon and ale for breakfast, anddinner at twelve; how very queer to live so!" cried Fanny. "Lord Surreyand Lord Leicester sound fine, but hot cockles, and red mittens, andsho
es for three shillings, are horrid."
"I like it," said Polly, thoughtfully, "and I'm glad poor Anne had alittle fun before her troubles began. May I copy that letter some time,grandma?"
"Yes, dear, and welcome. Now, here's the other, by a modern girl on herfirst visit to London. This will suit you better, Fan," and grandmaread what a friend had sent her as a pendant to Anne's little picture ofLondon life long ago:
MY DEAREST CONSTANCE, After three months of intense excitement I snatcha leisure moment to tell you how much I enjoy my first visit to London.Having been educated abroad, it really seems like coming to a strangecity. At first the smoke, dirt and noise were very disagreeable, butI soon got used to these things, and now find all I see perfectlycharming.
We plunged at once into a whirl of gayety and I have had no time tothink of anything but pleasure. It is the height of the season, andevery hour is engaged either in going to balls, concerts, theatres,fetes and church, or in preparing for them. We often go to two or threeparties in an evening, and seldom get home till morning, so of coursewe don't rise till noon next day. This leaves very little time for ourdrives, shopping, and calls before dinner at eight, and then the eveninggayeties begin again.
At a ball at Lady Russell's last night, I saw the Prince of Wales, anddanced in the set with him. He is growing stout, and looks dissipated. Iwas disappointed in him, for neither in appearance nor conversation washe at all princely. I was introduced to a very brilliant and delightfulyoung gentleman from America. I was charmed with him, and rathersurprised to learn that he wrote the poems which were so much admiredlast season, also that he is the son of a rich tailor. How odd theseAmericans are, with their money, and talent, and independence!
O my dear, I must not forget to tell you the great event of my firstseason. I am to be presented at the next Drawing Room! Think howabsorbed I must be in preparation for this grand affair. Mamma isresolved that I shall do her credit, and we have spent the last twoweeks driving about from milliners to mantua-makers, from merchants tojewellers. I am to wear white satin and plumes, pearls and roses. Mydress will cost a hundred pounds or more, and is very elegant.
My cousins and friends lavish lovely things upon me, and you will openyour unsophisticated eyes when I display my silks and laces, trinketsand French hats, not to mention billet deux, photographs, and otherrelics of a young belle's first season.
You ask if I ever think of home. I really have n't time, but I dosometimes long a little for the quiet, the pure air and the girlishamusements I used to enjoy so much. One gets pale, and old, and sadlyfagged out, with all this dissipation, pleasant as it is. I feel quiteblase already.
If you could send me the rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and gay spirits Ialways had at home, I'd thank you. As you cannot do that, please sendme a bottle of June rain water, for my maid tells me it is better thanany cosmetic for the complexion, and mine is getting ruined by latehours.
I fancy some fruit off our own trees would suit me, for I have noappetite, and mamma is quite desolate about me. One cannot live onFrench cookery without dyspepsia, and one can get nothing simple here,for food, like everything else, is regulated by the fashion.
Adieu, ma chere, I must dress for church. I only wish you could see mynew hat and go with me, for Lord Rockingham promised to be there.
Adieu, yours eternally, FLORENCE.
"Yes, I do like that better, and I wish I had been in this girl's place,don't you, Polly?" said Fan, as grandma took off her glasses.
"I should love to go to London, and have a good time, but I don't thinkI should care about spending ever so much money, or going to Court.Maybe I might when I got there, for I do like fun and splendor," addedhonest Polly, feeling that pleasure was a very tempting thing.
"Grandma looks tired; let's go and play in the dwying-woom," said Maud,who found the conversation getting beyond her depth.
"Let us all kiss and thank grandma, for amusing us so nicely, beforewe go," whispered Polly. Maud and Fanny agreed, and grandma looked sogratified by their thanks, that Tom followed suit, merely waiting till"those girls" were out of sight, to give the old lady a hearty hug, anda kiss on the very cheek Lafayette had saluted.
When he reached the play-room Polly was sitting in the swing, saying,very earnestly, "I always told you it was nice up in grandma's room, andnow you see it is. I wish you'd go oftener; she admires to have you,and likes to tell stories and do pleasant things, only she thinks youdon't care for her quiet sort of fun. I do, anyway, and I think she'sthe kindest, best old lady that ever lived, and I love her dearly!"
"I did n't say she was n't, only old people are sort of tedious andfussy, so I keep out of their way," said Fanny.
"Well, you ought not to, and you miss lots of pleasant times. My mothersays we ought to be kind and patient and respectful to all old folksjust because they are old, and I always mean to be."
"Your mother's everlastingly preaching," muttered Fan, nettled by theconsciousness of her own shortcomings with regard to grandma.
"She don't preach!" cried Polly, firing up like a flash; "she onlyexplains things to us, and helps us be good, and never scolds, and I'd rather have her than any other mother in the world, though she don'twear velvet cloaks and splendid bonnets, so now!"
"Go it, Polly!" called Tom, who was gracefully hanging head downwardfrom the bar put up for his special benefit.
"Polly's mad! Polly's mad!" sung Maud, skipping rope round the room.
"If Mr. Sydney could see you now he would n't think you such an angelany more," added Fanny, tossing a bean-bag and her head at the sametime.
Polly was mad, her face was very red, her eyes very bright and her lipstwitched, but she held her tongue and began to swing as hard as shecould, fearing to say something she would be sorry for afterward. For afew minutes no one spoke, Tom whistled and Maud hummed but Fan and Pollywere each soberly thinking of something, for they had reached anage when children, girls especially, begin to observe, contrast, andspeculate upon the words, acts, manners, and looks of those about them.A good deal of thinking goes on in the heads of these shrewd littlefolks, and the elders should mind their ways, for they get criticisedpretty sharply and imitated very closely.
Two little things had happened that day, and the influence of a fewwords, a careless action, was still working in the active minds of thegirls.
Mr. Sydney had called, and while Fanny was talking with him she saw hiseye rest on Polly, who sat apart watching the faces round her with themodest, intelligent look which many found so attractive. At that minuteMadam Shaw came in, and stopped to speak to the little girl. Polly roseat once, and remained standing till the old lady passed on.
"Are you laughing at Polly's prim ways?" Fanny had asked, as she saw Mr.Sydney smile.
"No, I am admiring Miss Polly's fine manners," he answered in a grave,respectful tone, which had impressed Fanny very much, for Mr. Sydneywas considered by all the girls as a model of good breeding, and thatindescribable something which they called "elegance."
Fanny wished she had done that little thing, and won that approvinglook, for she valued the young man's good opinion, because it wasso hard to win, by her set at least. So, when Polly talked about oldpeople, it recalled this scene and made Fan cross.
Polly was remembering how, when Mrs. Shaw came home that day in her finevisiting costume, and Maud ran to welcome her with unusual affection,she gathered up her lustrous silk and pushed the little girl awaysaying, impatiently, "Don't touch me, child, your hands are dirty."Then the thought had come to Polly that the velvet cloak did n't covera right motherly heart, that the fretful face under the nodding purpleplumes was not a tender motherly face, and that the hands in thedelicate primrose gloves had put away something very sweet and precious.She thought of another woman, whose dress never was too fine for littlewet cheeks to lie against, or loving little arms to press; whose face,in spite of many lines and the gray hairs above it, was never sour orunsympathetic when children's eyes turned towards it; and whose handsnever were too
busy, too full or too nice to welcome and serve thelittle sons and daughters who freely brought their small hopes andfears, sins and sorrows, to her, who dealt out justice and mercy withsuch wise love. "Ah, that's a mother!" thought Polly, as the memorycame warm into her heart, making her feel very rich, and pity Maud forbeing so poor.
This it was that caused such sudden indignation at Fanny's dreadfulspeech, and this it was that made quick-tempered Polly try to calm herwrath before she used toward Fanny's mother the disrespectful tone sheso resented toward her own. As the swing came down after some dozenquick journeys to and fro, Polly seemed to have found a smile somewhereup aloft, for she looked toward Fan, saying pleasantly, as she pauseda little in her airy exercise, "I'm not mad now, shall I come and tosswith you?"
"No, I'll come and swing with you," answered Fanny, quick to feel thegenerous spirit of her friend.
"You are an angel, and I'll never be so rude again," she added, asPolly's arm came round her, and half the seat was gladly offered.
"No, I ain't; but if I ever get at all like one, it will be'mother'spreaching' that did it," said Polly, with a happy laugh.
"Good for you, Polly Peacemaker," cried Tom, quoting his father, andgiving them a grand push as the most appropriate way of expressing hisapprobation of the sentiment.
Nothing more was said; but from that day there slowly crept into thefamily more respect for grandma, more forbearance with her infirmities,more interest in her little stories, and many a pleasant gossip did thedear old lady enjoy with the children as they gathered round her fire,solitary so long.