Little Fishers: and Their Nets

  CHAPTER XVII.

  THE FLOWER PARTY.

  I DARE say some of you think Nettie Decker was a very silly girl tocare so much because her dress was a blue and white gingham instead ofbeing all white.

  You have told your friend Katie about the story and asked her if shedidn't think it was real silly to make such an ado over _clothes_; youhave said you were sure you would just as soon wear a blue ginghamas not if it was clean and neat. But now let me venture a hint. Ishouldn't be surprised if that was because you never do have to go toplaces differently dressed from all the others. Because if you did,you would know that it was something of a trial. Oh! I don't say itis the hardest thing in the world; or that one is all ready to die asa martyr who does it; but what I _do_ say is, that it takes a littlemoral courage; and, for one, I am not surprised that Nettie lookedvery sober about it when the afternoon came.

  It took her a good while to dress; not that there was so much to bedone, but she stopped to think. With her hair in her neck, stillunbraided, she pinned a lovely pink rose at her breast just to see howpretty it would look for a minute. Miss Sherrill had left it for her towear; but she did not intend to wear it, because she thought it wouldnot match well with her gingham dress. Just here, I don't mind owningthat I think her silly; because I believe that sweet flowers go withsweet pure young faces, whether the dress is of gingham or silk.

  But Nettie looked grave, as I said, and wished it was over; and triedto plan for the hundredth time, how it would all be. The girls, CeceliaLester and Lorena Barstow and the rest of them, would be out in theirelegant toilets, and would look at her so! That Ermina Farley would bethere; she had seen her but once, on the first Sunday, and liked herface and her ways a little better than the others; but she had beenaway since then. Jerry said she was back, however, and Mrs. Smith saidthey were the richest folks in town; and of course Ermina would beelegantly dressed at the flower party.

  Well, she did not care. She was willing to have them all dressedbeautifully; she was not mean enough to want them to wear ginghamdresses, if only they would not make fun of hers. Oh! if she could_only_ stay at home, and help iron, and get supper, and fry somepotatoes nicely for father, how happy she would be. Then she sighedagain, and set about braiding her hair. She meant to go, but she couldnot help being sorry for herself to think it must be done; and shespent a great deal of trouble in trying to plan just how hateful itwould all be; how the girls would look, and whisper, and giggle; andhow her cheeks would burn. Oh dear!

  Then she found it was late, and had to make her fingers fly, and torush about the little woodhouse chamber which was still her room, in away which made Sarah Ann say to her mother with a significant nod, "Iguess she's woke up and gone at it, poor thing!" Yes, she had; and wasdown in fifteen minutes more.

  Oh! but didn't the little girls look pretty! Nettie forgot her troublefor a few minutes, in admiring them when she had put the last touchesto their toilet. Susie was to be in a tableau where she would need adolly, and Miss Sherrill had furnished one for the occasion. A lovelydolly with real hair, and blue eyes, and a bright blue sash to matchthem; and when Susie got it in her arms, there came such a sweet,softened look over her face that Nettie hardly knew her. The sturdyvoice, too, which was so apt to be fierce, softened and took a motherlytone; the dolly was certainly educating Susie. Little Sate lookedon, interested, pleased, but without the slightest shade of envy.She wanted no dolly; or, if she did, there was a little black-faced,worn, rag one reposing at this moment in the trundle bed where littleSate's own head would rest at night; kissed, and caressed, and petted,and told to be good until mamma came back; this dolly had all ofSate's warm heart. For the rest, the grave little old women in capsand spectacles, which wound about her dress, crept up in bunches onher shoulders, lay in nestling heaps at her breast, filled all Sate'sthoughts. She seemed to have become a little old woman herself, soserious and womanly was her face.

  Nettie took a hand of each, and they went to the flower festival. Therewas to be a five o'clock tea for all the elderly people of the church,and the tables, some of them, were set in Mr. Eastman's grounds, whichadjoined the church. When Nettie entered these grounds she founda company of girls several years younger than herself, helping todecorate the tables with flowers; at least that was their work, but asNettie appeared at the south gate, a queer little object pushed in atthe west side. A child not more than six years old, with a clean face,and carefully combed hair, but dressed in a plain dark calico; and herpretty pink toes were without shoes or stockings.

  AT THE FLOWER PARTY.]

  I am not sure that if a little wolf had suddenly appeared before them,it could have caused more exclamations of astonishment and dismay.

  "Only look at that child!" "The idea!" "Just to think of such a thing!"were a few of the exclamations with which the air was thick. At last,one bolder than the rest, stepped towards her: "Little girl, where didyou come from? What in the world do you want here?"

  Startled by the many eyes and the sharp tones, the small new-comer hidher face behind an immense bunch of glowing hollyhocks, which she heldin her hand, and said not a word. Then the chorus of voices becamemore eager:

  "Do look at her hollyhocks! Did ever anybody see such a queer littlefright! Girls, I do believe she has come to the party." Then the onewho had spoken before, tried again: "See here, child, whoever you are,you must go right straight home; this is no place for you. I wonderwhat your mother was about--if you have one--to let you run awaybarefooted, and looking like a fright."

  Now the barefooted maiden was thoroughly frightened, and sobbedoutright. It was precisely what Nettie Decker needed to give hercourage. When she came in at the gate, she had felt like shrinking awayfrom all eyes; now she darted an indignant glance at the speaker, andmoved quickly toward the crying child, Susie and Sate following closebehind.

  "Don't cry, little girl," she said in the gentlest tones, stooping andputting an arm tenderly around the trembling form; "you haven't doneanything wrong; Miss Sherrill will be here soon, and she will make itall right."

  Thus comforted, the tears ceased, and the small new-comer allowed herhand to be taken; while Susie came around to her other side, andscowled fiercely, as though to say: "I'll protect this girl myself;let's see you touch her now!"

  A burst of laughter greeted Nettie as soon as she had time to give heedto it. Others had joined the groups, among them Lorena Barstow andIrene Lewis. "What's all this?" asked Irene.

  "O, nothing," said one; "only that Decker girl's sister, or cousin, orsomething has just arrived from Cork, and come in search of her. LorenaBarstow, did you ever see such a queer-looking fright?"

  "I don't see but they look a good deal alike," said Lorena, tossing hercurls; "I'm sure their dresses correspond; is she a sister?"

  "Why, no," answered one of the smaller girls; "those two cunning littlethings in white are Nettie Decker's sisters; I think they are realsweet."

  "Oh!" said Lorena, giving them a disagreeable stare, "in white, arethey? The unselfish older sister has evidently cut up her nightgowns tomake them white dresses for this occasion."

  "Lorena," said the younger girl, "if I were you I would be ashamed;mother would not like you to talk in that way."

  "Well, you see Miss Nanie, you are not me, therefore you cannot tellwhat you would be, or do; and I want to inform you it is not yourbusiness to tell me what mother would like."

  Imagine Nettie Decker standing quietly, with the barefooted child'ssmall hand closely clasped in hers, listening to all this! There was apretense of lowered voices, yet every word was distinct to her ears.Her heart beat fast and she began to feel as though she really waspaying quite a high price for the possibility of getting Norm into thechurch parlor for a few minutes that evening.

  At that moment, through the main gateway, came Ermina Parley, a coloredman with her, bearing a basket full of such wonderful roses, that for aminute the group could only exclaim over them. Ermina was in white, buther dress was simply made, and looked as though
she might not be afraidto tumble about on the grass in it; her shoes were thick, and the bluesash she wore, though broad and handsome, had some way a quiet air offitness for the occasion, which did not seem to belong to most of theothers. She watched the disposal of her roses, then gave an inquiringglance about the grounds as she said, "What are you all doing here?"

  "We are having a tableau," said Lorena Barstow. "Look behind you, andyou will see the Misses Bridget and Margaret Mulrooney, who have justarrived from ould Ireland shure."

  Most of the thoughtless girls laughed, mistaking this rudeness for wit,but Ermina turned quickly and caught her first glimpse of Nettie'sburning face; then she hastened toward her.

  "Why, here is little Prudy, after all," she said eagerly; "I coaxed hermother to let her come, but I didn't think she would. Has Miss Sherrillseen her? I think she will make such a cunning Roman flower-girl, inthat tableau, you know. Her face is precisely the shape and style ofthe little girls we saw in Rome last winter. Poor little girlie, wasshe frightened? How kind you were to take care of her. She is a realbright little thing. I want to coax her into Sunday-school if I can.Let us go and ask Miss Sherrill what she thinks about the flower-girl."

  How fast Ermina Farley could talk! She did not wait for replies. Thetruth was, Nettie's glowing cheeks, and Susie's fierce looks, told herthe story of trial for somebody else besides the Roman flower-girl; shecould guess at things which might have been said before she came. Shewound her arm familiarly about Nettie's waist as she spoke, and drewher, almost against her will, across the lawn. "My!" said Irene Lewis."How good we are!"

  "Birds of a feather flock together," quoted Lorena Barstow. "I thinkthat barefooted child and her protector look alike."

  "Still," said Irene, "you must remember that Ermina Farley has joinedthat flock; and her feathers are very different."

  "Oh! that is only for effect," was the naughty reply, with another tossof the rich curls.

  Now what was the matter with all these disagreeable young people? Didthey really attach so much importance to the clothes they wore as tothink no one was respectable who was not dressed like them? Had theyreally no hearts, so that it made no difference to them how deeply theywounded poor Nettie Decker?

  I do not think it was quite either of these things. They had been, sofar in their lives, unfortunate, in that they had heard a great dealabout dress, and style, until they had done what young people and afew older ones are apt to do, attached too much importance to thesethings. They were neither old enough, nor wise enough, to know thatit is a mark of a shallow nature to judge of people by the clothesthey wear; then, in regard to the ill-natured things said, I tellyou truly, that even Lorena Barstow was ashamed of herself. When heryounger sister reproved her, the flush which came on her cheek was notall anger, much of it was shame. But she had taught her tongue to sayso many disagreeable words, and to pride itself on its independence insaying what she pleased, that the habit asserted itself, and she couldnot seem to control it. The contrast between her own conduct and ErminaFarley's struck her so sharply and disagreeably it served only to makeher worse than before; precisely the effect which follows when peopleof uncontrolled tempers find themselves rebuked.

  Half-way down the lawn the party in search of Miss Sherrill met herface to face. Her greeting was warm. "Oh! here is my dear littlegrandmother. Thank you, Nettie, for coming; I look to you for a greatdeal of help. Why, Ermina, what wee mousie have you here?"

  "She is a little Roman flower-girl, Miss Sherrill; they live onParker street. Her mother is a nice woman; my mother has her torun the machine. I coaxed her to let Trudie wear her red dress andcome barefoot, until you would see if she would do for the Romanflower-girl. Papa says her face is very Roman in style, and she alwaysmakes us think of the flower-girls we saw there. I brought my Romansash to dress her in, if you thought well of it; she is real bright,and will do just as she is told."

  "It is the very thing," said Miss Sherrill with a pleased face; "I amso glad you thought of it. And the hollyhocks are just red enough to goin the basket. Did you think of them too?"

  "No, ma'am; mamma did. She said the more red flowers we could massabout her, the better for a Roman peasant."

  "It will be a lovely thing," said Miss Sherrill. Then she stooped andkissed the small brown face, which was now smiling through its tears."You have found good friends, little one. She is very small to be herealone. Ermina, will you and Nettie take care of her this afternoon, andsee that she is happy?"

  "Yes'm," said Ermina promptly. "Nettie was taking care of her when Icame. She was afraid at first, I think."

  "They were ugly to her," volunteered Susie, "they were just as ugly toher as they could be; they made her cry. If they'd done it to Sate Iwould have scratched them and bit them."

  "Oh," said Miss Sherrill sorrowfully. "How sorry I am to hear it; thenSusie would have been naughty too, and it wouldn't have made the othersany better; in fact, it would have made them worse."

  "I don't care," said Susie, but she did care. She said that, justas you do sometimes, when you mean you care a great deal, and don'twant to let anybody know it. For the first time, Susie reflectedwhether it was a good plan to scratch and bite people who did not, inher judgment, behave well. It had not been a perfect success in herexperience, she was willing to admit that; and if it made Miss Sherrillsorry, it was worth thinking about.

  Well, that afternoon which began so dismally, blossomed out into abetter time than Nettie had imagined it possible for her to have. Tobe sure those particular girls who had been the cause of her sorrow,would have nothing to do with her; and whispered, and sent disdainfulglances her way when they had an opportunity; but Nettie went in theirdirection as little as possible, and when she did was in such a hurrythat she sometimes forgot all about them. Miss Sherrill, who waschairman of the committee of entertainment, kept her as busy as a beethe entire afternoon; running hither and thither, carrying messages tothis one, and pins to that one, setting this vase of flowers at oneend, and that lovely basket at another, and, a great deal of the time,standing right beside Miss Sherrill herself, handing her, at call,just what she needed when she dressed the girls with their specialflowers. She could hear the bright pleasant talk which passed betweenMiss Sherrill and the other young ladies. She was often appealed toowith a pleasant word. Her own teacher smiled on her more than once, andsaid she was the handiest little body who had ever helped them; andall the time that lovely Ermina Farley with her beautiful hair, andher pretty ways, and her sweet low voice, was near at hand, joiningin everything which she had to do. To be sure she heard, in one ofher rapid scampers across the lawn, this question asked in a loudtone by Lorena Barstow: "I wonder how much they pay that girl forrunning errands? Maybe she will earn enough to get herself a new whitenightgown to wear to parties;" but at that particular minute, ErminaFarley running from another direction on an errand precisely like herown, bumped up against her with such force that their noses ached; thenboth stopped to laugh merrily, and some way, what with the bump, andthe laughter, Nettie forgot to cry, when she had a chance, over theunkind words. Then, later in the afternoon, came Jerry; and in lessthan five minutes he joined their group, and made himself so usefulthat when Mr. Sherrill came presently for boys to go with him to thechapel to arrange the tables, Miss Sherrill said in low tones, "Don'ttake Jerry please, we need him here." Nettie heard it, and beamed hersatisfaction. Also she heard Irene Lewis say, "Now they've taken thatIrish boy into their crowd--shouldn't you think Ermina Farley would beashamed!"

  Then Nettie's face fairly paled. It is one thing to be insultedyourself; it is another to stand quietly by and see your friendsinsulted. She was almost ready to appeal to Miss Sherrill forprotection from tongues. But Jerry heard the same remark, and laughed;not in a forced way, but actually as though it was very amusing to him.And almost immediately he called out something to Ermina, using anunmistakable Irish brogue. What was the use in trying to protect a boywho was so indifferent as that?