Nellie's Housekeeping

  VI.

  _THE GRAY MICE._

  DURING the next few days Daisy, and not Daisy only, but also the otherchildren, found great pleasure and satisfaction in the white mice. Theywere all very careful not to take them near the house where they mighttrouble their mother, and Daisy was so particular about this, and sograteful to mamma for allowing her to keep them, that whenever she sawher go out in the garden, or even on the piazza which faced that way,she would rush to the garden-house, put the cage containing her mice ina corner behind a bench, throw over that a piece of old cocoa mattingwith half a dozen garden-tools piled on top, and then come out in astate of great excitement, shutting the door behind her, and holdingit fast with both hands till mamma was out of sight. One might havethought, to see her, that some fierce dog or wild animal was behindthat door, able to unlatch it for itself, and eager to make a fierceattack on her mother. As for taking them near the house, or lettingthem annoy mamma in any way, that Daisy would not have thought of; andshe was so good that when a rainy day came, and she could not go out tothe garden-house, she never whimpered or fretted at all, but cheerfullysubmitted to have her pets cared for by the boys.

  After that first day of her new experiment, Nellie did not altogetherdiscard her lessons. Her half-hour of sewing, another of readinghistory, and an hour's practising, mamma thought might as well bekept up; but she no longer devoted herself to her books and writingas she had done: indeed, this would have been quite impossible ifshe properly fulfilled her new and pleasant duties as mamma's littlehousekeeper. There seemed so much to be done; and Nellie was quiteamazed to find what a help she could be, and how interested she felt inhaving things in nice order.

  One morning, Mrs. Ransom said she would have the store-room cleaned,and put in thorough order. But first various drawers, bins, boxes, andother receptacles must be looked over; and this Nellie could do, withCatherine to assist her, and move such articles as were too heavy orcumbersome for her. Mrs. Ransom went herself to the store-room, andgave both Nellie and the cook some general orders, but she was feelingmore than usually languid that day, and soon tired of the bustle; soshe returned to the library, telling Nellie to send to her if she wasin any difficulty, or at any loss to know what to do. Nellie determinedthat mamma should be troubled as little as possible, and, with apleasant sense of responsibility and happiness, set about her task.

  Catherine humored her as much as possible; for Nellie, with herpleasant, gentle ways, was a favorite with all her inferiors, and everyservant in the house was ready to oblige her, or do her bidding.

  Carrie and Daisy were very busy too, of course, and trotted many timesbetween kitchen, pantry, and store-room, carrying articles that were tobe thrown away or put in other places.

  "There now, Miss Nellie, I think you can get along without me for abit," said Catherine, at last. "I have my bread to see to, and youcould be overhauling all these boxes and pots the while, and setting bywhat you're sure Mrs. Ransom will want emptied. If ever I see sech anuntidy set as must have had this house afore us, and a shame to them itis to be laving things this way, and they calling themselves ladies andgentlemen."

  And, with her arms full of "rubbish," away walked the good-naturedIrishwoman, whose tidy soul was, as she had said, sorely vexed by theslovenly way in which the house had been left by those who had lived init before Mrs. Ransom's family.

  "Here, Daisy," said Nellie, who thought it necessary to find incessantoccupation for the busy little fingers of her smallest "helper" lestthey should find it for themselves,--"here, Daisy dear, you may sortthose corks. Pick out all the large ones and put them in this jar, andput the small ones in this. That will be a great help."

  "I'd rafer help fissing sugar," said Daisy, raising herself on tiptoewith one hand on the edge of the sugar-barrel, and peeping longinglywithin its depths.

  "Yes, I dare say you would," laughed Nellie, "but then the sugar is tostay where it is. But I'll tell you, Daisy. Run and ask mamma if I maygive you the largest lump of sugar I can find when the corks are done."

  Away scampered Daisy, and did not return for some minutes, herattention being attracted on the way with something else than hererrand, for one thing at a time was not Daisy's motto.

  Having at once eased her own mind on the subject of the sugar byreceiving mamma's permission to have "the largest lump that Nelliecould find," she thought that both sugar and corks would keep tillit suited her convenience to return to the store-room, and, seeing alarge parcel lying upon the hall-table, she was seized with a thirstfor information respecting its contents. She walked round and round it,inspecting it on every side; then ran back to her mother.

  "Mamma," she said, "there's oh! _such_ a big bundle on the hall-table."

  "Yes, I know it," said mamma.

  "And with writing on it," said Daisy. "I fink the writing says, MissDaisy Ransom, with somebody's respects."

  "No," said her mother, smiling: "it says John Ransom, Esq."

  "Is that our Johnny?" asked Daisy.

  "No, it means papa," answered her mother.

  "Are you going to open it, mamma. Papa is away."

  "No, we'll leave it till papa returns. He will be here to-morrowevening."

  "I don't fink it's a good plan to wait. It makes people tired," saidDaisy, plaintively.

  "But it is right to wait when papa did not tell us to open it," saidMrs. Ransom. "Little girls must not be too curious."

  "Is it kurous to make a little hole in the paper and peek in?" askedDaisy, after a moment or two of deep reflection.

  "Yes, curious and very naughty," said Mrs. Ransom. "That would bemeddlesome. Ask Nellie to tell you a story she knows about a meddlesomegirl."

  Daisy obeyed, but with less alacrity than usual, lingering for three orfour moments longer about the parcel; although, with the fear of beingthought "curious and meddlesome," she did not venture to touch it. Atlast with a long sigh she departed.

  Meanwhile Nellie and Carrie were opening the various boxes, jars, &c.,and inquiring into their contents.

  "I wonder what's in this," said Nellie, who was standing on a chair,and reaching down things from a shelf. "I thought I heard somethingrustle in it. There it is again. Why! I wonder if there's any thingalive in it," and she looked with some trepidation at a wooden boxwhich stood on the shelf before her. The lid was not shut down quitetight, and again as she looked at it came that rustle from within.

  Nellie took up the box rather gingerly; raised the lid a little, justenough to peep within; then, with an exclamation, quickly closed itagain.

  "Why! what is it?" asked Carrie, gazing up at her.

  "There are mice in it, and one almost jumped out," answered Nellie,crimson with the little start and excitement, although she was not inthe least afraid of mice. "I'm not quite sure, I had such a littlepeep; but I think there's a big one, and some little tiny ones."

  "How do you suppose they got in?" asked Carrie.

  "I expect the cover has been left partly open, and then they havegnawed a place large enough to pass in," said Nellie, turning the boxaround in her hand. "See here," and she showed Carrie where the lid wasgnawed away.

  "What shall we do with them?" asked Carrie.

  "I don't know," said Nellie, "they'll have to be killed, I s'pose. Theymust be put out of the way before mamma knows any thing about them, andI think it is best not to tell her, Carrie. It would only trouble herto know there had been any about the house."

  "Oh! it's too bad," said Carrie. "Must they be killed?"

  "Yes, I'm afraid so," said Nellie. "I am sorry too: they are suchcunning little things."

  "Why couldn't we keep them, and take them down to the garden-housewhere Daisy's white mice are?" asked Carrie.

  "Oh, no!" answered Nellie: "it would never do, Carrie. I do notbelieve they would stay there, and they might come back to the house,and perhaps frighten mamma. They must be killed. Just take the boxto Catherine before Daisy comes back: she might let it out to mammawithout meaning to."

  "What wil
l Catherine do with them?" said Carrie, taking the box fromher sister's hand, and lingering with it.

  "I don't know. Drown them, I suppose. I don't like to think about it,but it can't be helped. Besides, mice _have_ to be killed, you know,they are so mischievous. Tell Catherine not to speak about them beforemamma."

  Carrie passed slowly out of the store-room, feeling very unwilling tohave the mice killed; not only from pity for the poor little creatures,but also because she had a strong desire to keep them as pets.

  Daisy had her white mice, and was allowed to keep them: why should shenot have these little animals, so long as they were kept out of mamma'sway? Belle Powers had her tame mouse: why could not she tame these aswell? And rebellious thoughts and wishes began to rise in Carrie'sbreast as she lingered half way between the store-room and the kitchen,unable, or rather unwilling, to make up her mind to do as Nellie hadtold her, and carry the box to Catherine.

  "I don't see why mamma need be so afraid of a harmless, cunninglittle mouse," she said to herself. "I know grandmamma said she wasfrightened into convulsions once, when she was a little girl, by a badservant-girl putting one down her back; but I should think she'd hadplenty of time to grow out of being afraid of them, now she's grownup; and if she don't know it, I don't see why I can't keep them inthe garden-house, or--or--somewhere else. 'Cause I s'pose if I didtake them to the garden-house, there would be a fuss about it; andthe other children would say I ought not to keep them, and maybe tellmamma. It's a shame to kill the dear, pretty little things. BellePowers' papa just lets her have every thing she wants. I wish my papaand mamma did. And Daisy has her own way too, 'most always; and it'snot fair. I'm older than she is. If she can have white mice, I don'tsee why I can't have gray ones. One isn't any more harm than theother. Besides, I don't have to mind Nellie. She needn't be tellingme I _must_ take the mice to Catherine. She thinks herself so greatever since she's been mamma's housekeeper; but I'm not going tomind her when I don't choose to. I shan't let them be drowned now;and--and--I've just a good mind."

  Turning hastily about, Carrie ran down a short side entry which led toa dark closet where Catherine kept wood for daily use; thrust the boxin a far corner; and then, with fast beating heart, returned to thestore-room.

  "How long you stayed!" said Nellie. "I began to be afraid you werewaiting to see Catherine drown the mice, and yet I didn't think youcould bear to."

  "No, I didn't," said Carrie, in a low tone, glad that Nellie had notsaid any thing that would have forced her either to confess, or to tella deliberate falsehood. She persuaded herself that she was not actinguntruthfully now, but she could not make her voice as steady as usual.

  Nellie did not notice it. She was just then absorbed in trying toextract a small jar from one but little larger, into which it had beenthrust. Succeeding in her endeavors, she took up again the low songwhich her words to Carrie had interrupted.

  "I wish Nellie would stop that everlasting singing," said Carrie toherself, feeling irritable and out of humor with every one and everything. "I've a good mind not to help her any more."

  She had been pleasant, happy, and interested in her work, but a fewmoments since. Can you tell what had made such a change in so short atime?

  "Daisy has forgotten about her corks and sugar, I think," said Nelliepresently, interrupting herself again in her song. "Oh, no! here shecomes;" then, as Daisy's little feet pattered into the store-room, "Didyou forget the corks, pet?"

  "No, and mamma says I can have the biggest lump of sugar, Nellie; andthere's a very big bundle on the hall-table, but it's papa's."

  "Is it?" said Nellie.

  "Yes," answered the little one, settling herself to the task of sortingthe corks, "but I wasn't kurous or messeltome."

  "Wasn't what?" asked Nellie.

  "Messeltome. Mamma said to touch what wasn't ours, or to peek, wasmesseltome; but I didn't do it. Tell me about that messeltome girl,Nellie. Mamma said you would."

  "Very well," said Nellie, understanding Daisy's definition.

  "Tell it a long, long story,--tell me till your tongue is tired, willyou?" pleaded Daisy, for whom no story could ever be too long.

  "I'll see," said Nellie; and she began her tale, but had made butlittle headway in it when a servant came and told Daisy that MasterFrankie Bradford was waiting to see her.

  "What shall I do?" said Daisy, in a state of painful indecision betweenthe conflicting claims of business and society. "The torks are notdone, and I didn't have my sugar."

  "You can take the corks with you, and the sugar too: perhaps Frankiewould like to help you," said Nellie, dismounting from her perch, andfishing out the largest lump from the sugar-barrel. "There, I supposeyou will want a lump for Frankie too."

  "No," said Daisy, "mamma said only one lump. If Frankie does half thetorks he shall have half my sugar;" and away she ran, carrying corksand sugar with her.

  "What a dear, honest little thing Daisy is!" said Nellie, when she wasgone. "I don't believe she could be tempted to do the least thing shethought mamma would not like, or take any thing she thought was notquite fair. And she's so sweet and thoughtful about mamma. Just see howmuch pains she's taken not to cry for little things since I told her ittroubled her."

  Carrie turned away her face, feeling more uncomfortable than ever,bitterly reproached by Nellie's unconscious words, no less than by theuprightness and loving dutifulness of her almost baby sister.

  Daisy found Frankie in the library with her mother. Mrs. Bradford hadsent her nursery maid to ask if Mrs. Ransom would drive with her in theafternoon, and Frankie had decided to accompany her.

  "Mamma said I could stay and play with Daisy, if you asked me," was theyoung gentleman's first remark, after he had greeted Mrs. Ransom.

  "Oh!" said Jane, the maid, much mortified, "Master Frankie, I'mashamed of you. Mrs. Bradford never expected he'd do that, ma'am."

  "No, I suppose not," said Mrs. Ransom, smiling; "but Daisy will be veryglad to have you stay, and so shall I."

  Daisy was called, as you have heard, and made her appearance in greatglee, delighted to see Frankie, and at once inviting him to share herlabors, and their reward.

  The sugar had its attractions, but Frankie privately regarded thecork business with disdain. Having come, however, with the intentionof making himself especially agreeable to Daisy, he did not refuse toenter into partnership; and they were soon seated on the upper step ofthe piazza, and busily at work.

  "Frankie," said Daisy presently, luxuriating in thus having him all toherself, and in this condescending mood, "would you rafer go to heaven,or stay here and sort torks?"

  "Well, I don't know as I care much about either," answered Frankie."I'd rather dig clams. But, then, I'd want you to dig them with me,Daisy," he added, sentimentally.

  The proposal was alluring certainly, but it had its objections inDaisy's eyes; and she said, in a corresponding tone,--

  "I b'lieve I couldn't. They might think I was a boy if I digged clams.But, Frankie, if I went to heaven wifout you, would you cry?"

  "No," answered Frankie, indignantly, "men don't cry about things likethat. Maybe I wouldn't laugh much that day, but I would not cry."

  Daisy was silent for a moment, then suddenly put one of those startlingquestions for which she was famous.

  "Frankie, if I went in to bafe, and Jonah's whale came and swallowed meup, how could God get my soul out of him?"

  Frankie considered for a little; then not seeing his way clear to asatisfactory answer, and unwilling to confess ignorance on any point,he said gravely and reprovingly,--

  "That's not a proper question for you to ask, Daisy."

  Daisy looked abashed, and said,--

  "I didn't mean to ask improper kestions."

  "No, I don't s'pose you did, so I thought I'd better tell you," saidFrankie. "We'll talk about something else."

  "They're all done," said Daisy, meaning the corks, "now we'll eat thesugar."

  But the dividing of the sugar proved a difficult matter; f
or the lumpwas large and thick, and resisted the efforts of both pairs of littlehands.

  "I'll crack it with this stone," said Frankie; and, suiting the actionto the word, he laid it upon the step and gave it a blow with the stone.

  One part of the much prized morsel remained in very good condition,but the rest suffered severely under this violent treatment, and wasreduced very nearly to powder.

  "Just see what this horrid old stone did!" said Frankie, looking at hiswork in much disgust.

  "Never mind," said Daisy, "you can have the whole piece, and I'll eatthe mashed."

  The swain made a feeble resistance to this generous offer, feeling induty bound to do so; but Daisy insisted, and he was so moved by themagnitude of her self-sacrifice that he said,--

  "Daisy, I shall make those other girls wait till you're dead, and marryyou first, 'cause you're the best of all the lot."

  Here Carrie joined them, for she had soon quitted Nellie, telling herthat she was tired; but the true reason was that she feared her sistermight say something that would force her to confess that she had notobeyed orders about the mice.

  But, wherever she went, it seemed somehow as if things would be said tomake her feel self-reproached and uncomfortable.

  "Oh! but you're a help, Miss Carrie, and your mother'll be proud to seethe forethought of you and Miss Nellie," said Catherine, when Carriebrought out her last load to the kitchen.

  "What dear, helpful little girls I have!" said mamma, with a lovingsmile, as Carrie paused for a moment at the open door of the library,not feeling as if she could pass it without seeming to notice hermother, and yet ashamed and afraid to go in. "It almost helps me tofeel stronger to see you all so considerate and anxious to do all youcan for me."

  Carrie smiled faintly in reply; then passed out upon the piazza. Shewould be safe with Daisy and Frankie, she thought, from speeches thatwould make her feel guilty and uncomfortable.

  But no.

  "What shall we do now?" asked Daisy, when the last crumb of sugar hadbeen disposed of.

  "Where are the white mice? Let's play with them a little while," saidFrankie.

  "Down in the garden-house," answered Daisy.

  "What a funny place to keep them!" said Frankie. "Let's go and bringthem up here."

  "Oh, no! we mustn't," said Daisy: "we can go and play wif 'em; but theycan't come here, 'cause mamma don't like 'em."

  "We won't take them in the house, Daisy, only out here on the piazza."

  "No, no," said Daisy, decidedly, "not out of the garden-house. Mammamight see 'em, and they would make her feel, oh! dreffully! I shouldfink we _wouldn't_ do any fing mamma don't like, would we, Carrie?" sheadded, lifting her great, innocent eyes to her sister's face.

  Carrie turned quickly away without an answer, and was glad when thenext moment the two little things ran hand in hand down the path whichled to the garden-house.

  Carrie was not happy,--no, indeed, how could she be? A great manyuncomfortable feelings were in her young breast just then. Jealousyof her little sister, whom she chose to consider more petted andindulged than herself; envy even of her motherless little playmate,Belle Powers; irritation which she dared not show against Nellie, forbidding her take the mice to Catherine; fear that her secret would bediscovered, and the doubt what she was to do with the mice now that shehad them: all were making her very restless and miserable.

  What though she did persuade herself that Nellie had no _right_ to giveher orders; what though mamma had never forbidden her to have the mice;what though she did believe she could keep them safely hidden in someplace where they need never trouble her mother,--was she any the lessguilty and disobedient? And where should that place be that she was tohide them, not only from mamma, but from every one else?