CHAPTER XIV
A CANDY PARTY
The next morning proved warm and pleasant with only a light breeze, butCaptain Enos had his sloop ready at an early hour, and when Anne, with Mr.Freeman and Rose, came down to the wharf he was anxious to start at once.
Anne still wore the blue cape, which Mrs. Freeman had insisted on givingher, and the hat was in a round pasteboard box, which Anne carriedcarefully, and which was put away in the cabin with Aunt Martha's newshawl and the cloth for Anne's new dress.
As the sloop sailed away from the wharf Anne waved her hand to RoseFreeman until she could no longer see her. Captain Enos watched the littlegirl anxiously; he was half afraid that Anne might be disappointed becauseshe could not stay with her father, but her face was bright and smiling.
"Where is the packet your father handed you?" Captain Enos questionedeagerly, as soon as his sloop was clear of the wharf.
"I have it pinned safe inside my frock," she answered. "Shall I give it toyou now, Uncle Enos?"
"Maybe 'Tis safer with you, Anne," replied the captain. "It may be thatsome British boat will overhaul us, and question us. I'm doing an errand,Anne, for your father. If this boat is taken and I am made a prisoner, youare to say that you want to go to Newburyport. That and no more. Mayhapthey'll set you ashore there. Then make your way to Squire Coffin's houseas best you may. Give him the packet. Tell him the story, and he'll find away to reach your father. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Uncle Enos," said Anne very soberly.
"Repeat what I have told you, that I may be sure," said Captain Enos, andAnne obeyed.
"But I do not want to be set ashore in a strange place," she said soberly."How should I get back to Province Town?"
"You will be taken care of, never fear," responded Captain Enos, "andyou'll be doing a good service to the cause of liberty, Anne, if you carrythe papers safely. Your Aunt Martha will indeed be proud of you. Rememberwhat I have told you. But I hope to slip in behind Plum Island and make alanding without being seen. The wind is favoring us. You have had a finevisit, Anne?"
"Yes, indeed!" agreed the little girl, "and I have a present for AuntMartha," she said, as the sloop ran out among the islands. "See, my fathergave me this for her," and she held up a gold coin. "Will she not bepleased?"
"But she will be better pleased to have you safe home again," said CaptainEnos. "What do you think Amanda Cary will say when she hears of yourvoyage to Boston and of all the fine things you have seen there? 'Tis notmany of the children in Province Town have ever taken such a journey."
"She will think it a better voyage than the one we took to House PointIsland," answered Anne. "I have something for Amanda, too. Rose Freemangave me a package of barley sugar, and I said to myself I would take ithome to Amanda."
Captain Enos kept a watchful eye for suspicious looking craft. But hiscourse lay well inshore, and he was apparently not noticed by any of thevessels. Before noon he was cruising along the Ipswich shore, and made hislanding at Newburyport without having been spoken.
"The worst part of the business is before us," he said to Anne, as he madethe boat fast. "If I leave the boat here, I may come back and find notrace of her, but leave her I must, or Squire Coffin will wait in vain forthe papers."
"But I can carry them," said Anne. "Tell me where to go, and I'll comestraight back and say no word of my errand."
"'Tis the best possible way. Did I not say that you were a wise child!"declared Captain Enos, his face beaming with delight. "Put on your prettyhat and cape, and follow that lane up to the main road. Then ask forSquire Coffin's house of the first person you meet."
In a few moments Anne was ready to start. As she walked up the laneCaptain Enos's eyes followed her anxiously. "I can see no danger in it forthe child," he said aloud, and then, sailor fashion, set about putting hisboat in order.
"'twill be a cold night, but the cabin will be snug and warm," he thought."I'll get out of here before sunset and maybe make Province Town bydaybreak."
Anne walked up the pleasant lane. Her feet sank deep in the leaves fromthe overarching trees, and made a cheerful, crackling sound. She could seethe roofs of houses not far away, and as she turned from the lane into aroad she met two girls not much larger than herself. They looked at hercuriously, and when Anne stopped they smiled in a friendly way.
"Would you please to tell me where I can find Squire Coffin?" Anne asked,feeling very brave and a little important.
"Squire Coffin is my uncle," the larger of the two girls replied. "I'mgoing there now."
"I have an errand," Anne explained.
"Oh!" responded both the little girls, but Anne could see that theywondered who this strange little girl could be, and what her errand was.
"You may come with us if you want to," Squire Coffin's niece said, andAnne was very glad to walk with these silent little girls, for neither ofthem spoke again until they stopped in front of a tall, square white housevery near the street. As Anne looked up at it she thought that she hadnever seen so many windows before in one house. "That's Uncle Coffin onthe porch," explained his niece.
"Thank you," said Anne, and as the two little girls politely curtseyed sheendeavored to imitate them, and with apparent success. Then she went upthe stone steps toward the dignified looking gentleman who stood in thedoorway.
She held the packet under her cape, and as she came near him shewhispered, as Captain Enos had told her to do, "This is from Boston."
"Great George!" he exclaimed grabbing the package, in what seemed a veryrude manner to Anne, and putting it quickly in his pocket, "and how cameyou by it?"
But Anne remembered her promise to keep quiet, and she also rememberedthat the squire's niece had made the queer little curtsey on sayinggood-bye. So Anne bobbed very prettily to the squire, and said "good-bye,"and ran down the steps, leaving the squire standing amazed. It was manyweeks before he learned the name of the little maid, and that her home wasin Province Town.
"THIS IS FROM BOSTON"]
It was an easy matter to find her way back to the lane. There was anorchard just at the corner of the road, and a man was gathering apples."Want an apple?" he called.
"Yes, sir," answered Anne, and now, being rather proud of her newaccomplishment, she curtseyed very politely.
"Well, well, you are a young lady, miss. Come up to the fence and I'llhand you the apples." Anne obeyed, and the good-natured man gave her twobig red-cheeked apples. They seemed very wonderful to the little girl fromthe sandy shore village, where apples were not often to be seen, and shethanked him delightedly.
Captain Enos was watching for her, and as soon as she was on board heswung the sloop clear of the wharf, ran up his mainsail and headed towardthe outer channel. As they looked back at the little wharf they saw a tallman come running down the lane.
"I reckon that's the squire," chuckled Captain Enos.
"Yes, it is," said Anne.
"Well, now for Province Town. I guess we've helped a little bit, Anne. Atleast you have."
Anne was eating one of the big red apples, and thinking about SquireCoffin's big house and small niece.
"We'll tell Aunt Martha all that's happened," went on Captain Enos, "butdo not speak to any one else of it, Anne. 'Twould make trouble for yourfather and for me if our trip to Newburyport was known."
"I'll not speak of it," Anne promised.
"It has been a good trip," said Captain Enos. "Mr. Freeman paid me wellfor the fish. I have a keg of molasses in the cabin, which will be welcomenews for Martha."
As they came into harbor at sunrise next morning and Captain Enos droppedanchor and lowered the big mainsail, Anne looked eagerly toward the shore.She could see Jimmie Starkweather and his father watching them. AfterCaptain Enos had lowered the keg of molasses into the dory, and put in thebox that held Anne's hat, and the other packages, he helped Anne over theside of the sloop to a seat in the bow of the dory.
As soon as the boat touched the shore Jimmie and his father ran down tohelp draw it
up on the beach. Jimmie looked at Captain Enos as if he halfexpected a scolding, but as soon as Captain Enos landed he patted theboy's shoulder kindly, and said:
"The little maid has told me all about it. You were not greatly to blame,Jimmie. And the trip turned out all right."
"I saw my father," said Anne, and then ran away toward home, leavingCaptain Enos to tell of the visit to Boston.
Aunt Martha had seen the sloop come to anchor, and was waiting at the doorto welcome Anne.
"Uncle Enos and I have a secret with my father," Anne whispered to Mrs.Stoddard, "and we have been to Newburyport." And then the story of thewonderful trip was told, and Anne showed Mrs. Stoddard how she hadcurtseyed to the squire.
"Well! Well!" exclaimed the good woman in amazement. "It does seem as ifyou had all sorts of adventures, Anne. To think of Enos undertaking such athing. I'm proud of you both. 'twill be a fine story to tell yourgrandchildren, Anne. How you carried news from Boston patriots toNewburyport. But do not speak of it till we are through with all thesetroublous days." And again Anne promised to keep silent.
"To think you should run off like that, child," continued Aunt Martha."When Jimmie Starkweather came up and told me you were gone I could scarcebelieve him till I had climbed the stairs to the loft and found no traceof you. But I am right glad you wore your shoes and stockings. Where didthe blue cape come from?"
By this time they were in the kitchen, and Anne had put down the box thatheld her hat.
"Mrs. Freeman gave it to me," she replied, "and see! I have a new hat!"and she opened the box and took out the pretty hat.
"I thought thy uncle would take thee straight to Mistress Freeman," saidMrs. Stoddard.
"And we found my father," went on Anne happily, "and he sent thee this,"and she drew the gold piece from her pocket and gave it to Mrs. Stoddard.
"Well, well," said Aunt Martha, "'Tis a fine piece of money, and yourfather is kind to send it. I will use it well."
"And Uncle Enos has fetched you a fine shawl and a keg of molasses," saidAnne. "You do not think there was great harm in my hiding in the sloop,Aunt Martha?" The little girl's face was so troubled that Aunt Martha gaveher another kiss, and said:
"It has turned out well, but thee must never do so again. Suppose a greatstorm had come up and swept the sloop from her moorings that night?"
"Rose Freeman looks just like a rose," said Anne, feeling quite sure thatAunt Martha was not displeased; "and she walks so softly that you canhardly hear her, and she speaks softly, too. I am going to walk and speakjust as she does."
"That is right," agreed Mrs. Stoddard. "I am sure that she is awell-spoken girl."
When Captain Enos came up the hill toward home Anne had already put herblue cape and hat carefully away, and was sitting near the fire with thewhite kitten curled up in her lap.
"The Freemans do not eat in their kitchen," said Anne, as they sat down tosupper; "they eat in a square room with a shining floor, and where thereis a high mantel-shelf with china images."
"'Tis a fine house," agreed Captain Enos, "well built of brick. 'twas agreat thing for Anne to see it."
"'Tis not so pleasant a house as this," said Anne. "I could not see theharbor from any window, and the shore is not smooth and sandy like theshores of our harbor."
Captain Enos smiled and nodded.
"That's right, Anne," he said; "Boston houses may do for town people, butwe sailor-folk like our own best."
"Yes, indeed!" replied Anne, "and I do not believe a beach-plum grows ontheir shore. And nothing I tasted there was so good as Aunt Martha's mealbread."
The next morning Anne started for school, wearing the new shoes andscarlet stockings and the little plaid shawl. The children were allanxious to hear about what she saw in Boston, and she told them of thesoldiers on the Common, and of the shops, and of the houses made of brickand stone, and she showed Amanda how to make the wonderful curtsey. ButElder Haven soon called them to take their seats, and it was not until thenoon recess that she found a chance to speak alone with Amanda.
The two little girls sat down on the front door-step of Elder Haven'shouse, and Anne told of the wonderful sail to Boston, and had just begunto describe Rose Freeman when the teacher's voice was heard calling themin.
As soon as school closed for the day, Amanda said that she could walk homewith Anne and see the new cape and hat, and hear more about Rose Freeman.
"Would you like better to live in Boston than here?" asked Amanda, as theywalked along.
Anne looked at her in surprise.
"Why, Amanda!" she said; "of course I wouldn't. It is not seemly there togo out-of-doors without a hat; and Rose Freeman said that she had neverbeen barefooted in her life. She has fine white stockings knit of cottonyarn for summer, and low shiny shoes that she called 'slippers.'"
"'Twould be hard to wear shoes all the year," agreed Amanda, looking downat her own stout leather shoes, "but I like them well now."
"I brought you a present from Boston," said Anne just as they reached theStoddards' door. "Rose Freeman gave it to me, and I saved it for you."
"Well, Amanda," said Mrs. Stoddard, as the two girls came into thekitchen, "are you not glad to have Anne safe home again? 'twas quite ajourney to take."
"She likes Province Town better than Boston," answered Amanda smilingly.
"To be sure she does, and why not?" replied Mrs. Stoddard. "There are fewplaces where there is so much salt water to be seen as here, and no betterplace for fishing. Now, Anne, I have a little surprise for you. I haveasked Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather and their six boys to come up thisevening, and your father and mother, Amanda, and you and Amos. Theevenings are getting fine and long now and we must begin to beneighborly."
"Then I mustn't stay long now," said Amanda; "it will be pleasant to comeup here again in the evening."
Amanda tried on Anne's blue cape and hat, looked admiringly at Mrs.Stoddard's shining gold piece and brown shawl, and then Anne handed herthe package of barley sugar.
"I will keep it," said Amanda, gratefully; "'twould seem ungrateful to eata present."
Mrs. Stoddard nodded. "Keep it until Sunday, Amanda," she said, "but thenit will be well to eat a part of it."
"But can she not taste it now?" asked Anne. "I am sure it is good. It cameout of a big glass jar in a shop."
"I see I must tell you two little girls a secret," said Mrs. Stoddard,"but Amanda must not tell Amos."
"No, indeed," said Amanda quickly.
"It is about this evening," said Mrs. Stoddard; "I am going to make a finedish of molasses candy!"
"Oh, Aunt Martha!" "Oh, Mistress Stoddard!" exclaimed the little girlstogether.
"It has been years since I tasted any myself," went on Mrs. Stoddard, "butI remember well how it is made; and I do not believe one of you childrenhas ever tasted it."
"My mother has told us about it," said Amanda, "and said that when timeswere better she would make us some."
"We all need cheering up," said Mrs. Stoddard, "and I am glad I can giveyou children a treat to remember. Now, Amanda, you see why it will be bestnot to eat your barley sugar until Sunday."
"I have good times every day since I gave you the white kitten," saidAmanda, as she bade Anne good-bye, and started for home.
"We must bring all our chairs into the kitchen to-night, Anne," said AuntMartha, as soon as supper was finished, "for even then I doubt if there beseats enough for our company."
"I had best bring in my long bench from the shed," said Captain Enos;"'twill be just the thing to put a row of Starkweather boys on."
"The youngest is but two years old," said Mrs. Stoddard; "'Tis like hewill find our bed a good resting place."
Mr. and Mrs. Cary with Amos and Amanda were the first to arrive, and asthey came in Captain Enos put two big pieces of pitch pine on the fire. Ina moment it blazed up making the kitchen as light as day.
The Starkweathers, climbing up the sandy hill, saw the bright lightshining through the windows of the little hous
e, and Mrs. Starkweatherexclaimed:
"Does it not look cheerful? To think of us all coming to a merrymaking! Itwas surely a kind thought of Mistress Stoddard's."
"Shall we play games?" asked Daniel, the boy next younger than Jimmie.
"It may be," answered his mother, "and you boys must be quiet and notrough in your play. Remember there is a little girl in the house."
The youngest Starkweather boy, carried carefully by his father, was soundasleep when they reached the Stoddards', and was put comfortably down onMrs. Stoddard's big bed, while the others gathered around the fire.
"Sit you here, boys," directed Captain Enos, pointing to the long bench,"and you girls can bring your stools beside me. I have a fine game for youto play. Do you see this shining brass button? 'twas given me in Boston,and came from the coat of a British soldier. Now we will play 'Button'with it," and the captain, with a few whispered words to JimmieStarkweather, slid the shining button into his hand, and "Button, button!who's got the button?" was soon being laughingly asked from one to anotheras the brass button went from Jimmie to Amos, passed into Anne's hand andswiftly on to Amanda, and back to Jimmie before Captain Enos could locateit.
"Look!" exclaimed one of the younger Starkweather boys. "Mistress Stoddardis pouring syrup into a kettle!"
"Yes, my boy," said Captain Enos laughingly, "and now you will all be gladthat I had a good trip to Boston, for I brought home a keg of finemolasses, and now you will have some first-class candy!"
There were many exclamations of surprise and pleasure, even the oldermembers of the party declaring that it would indeed be a fine treat; andMrs. Starkweather said that it reminded her of the times when she was alittle girl like Anne, and her mother made candy for her.
The molasses boiled and bubbled in the big kettle hung over the fire, andMrs. Stoddard and Mrs. Cary took turns in stirring it. The childrenbrought dippers of cold water for spoonfuls of the hot molasses to bedropped in to see if it had begun to candy; and when Amanda lifted astringy bit from her tin cup and held it up for Mrs. Stoddard to see, itwas decided that it was cooked enough, and the kettle was lifted from thefire and the steaming, fragrant mass turned into carefully buttered pans.
"We must set these out-of-doors to cool," said Mrs. Stoddard; so Jimmie,Amos and Daniel were each entrusted with a pan to carry out on the broadstep.
"When it is cool we will all work it," said Mrs. Stoddard; "that meanspull and twist it into sticks."
It did not take long for the candy to cool, and then under Mrs. Stoddard'sdirections each child was given a piece to work into shape. But the candyproved too tempting to work over, and in a few minutes the long bench wasfilled with a row of boys, each one happily chewing away upon a clumsypiece of molasses candy.