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XII.
_A VISITOR._
A day or two after this, a lady and gentleman named Moore came to makea visit to Mr. and Mrs. Bradford. They brought with them their sonGeorge, a boy about Harry's age. What kind of a boy he was may be knownfrom a conversation between Harry and Fred on the first evening of theMoores' visit.
"Harry," said Fred, as they were undressing for bed, "what do you thinkof that chap?"
"Who,--George?" said Harry; "I don't fancy him, though it's scarcelyfair to judge yet; but I don't think there's much in him. He's a MissNancy-ish sort of a fellow."
"There's not much in him of the right sort," said Fred, savagely; "butthere's plenty of another kind; and if he tries it on here, I'll haveit out of him."
"Halloa!" said Harry; "what has set you up that way, Frederick theGreat? What would papa say to hear you speaking so of a guest in hishouse?"
"I don't care," said Fred; "guest or no guest, I am not going to haveany fellow playing shabby tricks on our Midget and Bess. It is a man'sduty to stand up for his mother and sisters. I tease the girls myselfsometimes I know, more shame for me, but you will allow I haven't doneit so much lately, Hal; I couldn't since Bess told me gemperlums didn'ttease;" and Fred began to laugh; "but I never played mean tricks onthem, and I sha'n't let any chap that's nothing to them. He'd betterlet them alone, or I'll fix him, that's all."
"But what has he done?" asked Harry. "Seeing he is a visitor, you oughtnot to talk so about him without some special good reason."
"Reason!" repeated Fred, pulling off his jacket and tossing it upon adistant chair; "there's special reason enough; if that is all you want,I'll tell you. The first thing, this evening, while the grown-uperswere at dinner and you were studying in the library, he was playingjackstraws with Maggie and Bessie. I thought it did not seem verypolite to leave him alone with the little girls; so, as I had doneall my lessons but the copying of my sums, I took my slate to theparlor table. I suppose he thought I was not noticing his play, but Isoon found him out. First place, he said they were to throw from theheight of their fists, his being twice as big as either of the girls.Presently he told Bessie that she joggled. I couldn't see that she did,but I said nothing. It was the same thing with Maggie. She had onlytaken off one or two, when he stopped her. Midget was quite sure thatshe had not shaken, and so was I; but he declared that he had seen it.Pretty soon he gave an awful shake himself, but the girls were lookingaway, and did not see it. He looked up at them, and seeing they did notnotice it, went on playing without a word. The next time he told Bessieshe shook, she laid down the hook with a little sigh, and said, in herinnocent way, 'We always shake when we don't see; please to 'scuse us,because we don't mean to.' Maggie declared that Bessie had not shaken,and insisted that she should go on; and what do you think the meanfellow did then? He blew upon the jack-straws as Bess went to drawone out; so, of course, they went. 'Then I did shake,' said Bessie.Of course, he won the game by ever so many. 'It's very funny we shookso much when we didn't see,' said Midget. 'You should look sharp,' heanswered. So then I put in. 'It don't do to have more than one toosharp in a game,' I said. He took, and after that did not care to playany more. Now, is he not a mean sneak to trick two little girls?"
"That he is," answered Harry, indignantly; "but still it wont do foryou to make a row with him, Fred."
"That's not all," said Fred. "You know when Maggie spilled thatspoonful of ice-cream over herself at dessert, and a little went onMrs. Moore's dress? Well, it was all George's doing. Just as she wentto lift it to her lips, he jerked her arm with his elbow, and away wentthe spoon. Then mamma said, 'Maggie, how could you be so careless, mydear?' and Mrs. Moore looked like a thunder-cloud; but he never hadthe honesty to own up, even when Meg turned and looked at him withgreat, wide-open eyes, as if she expected him to speak. Papa suspectedsomething, I know, for he called Maggie to him, and made her stay athis side, not a bit as if he thought it was her carelessness. He hadbetter look out for himself, that's all; for if he tries much more ofthat game, he'll find me pitching into him."
"You wont fight him?" said Harry.
"Yes, I will fight him, too, if he plagues our girls, or cheats them."
"You know what papa thinks of fighting, Fred; and what will he say ifyou quarrel with a boy who is a guest in our own house?"
"I'll guest him if he don't mind his p's and q's," said Fred,scrambling into bed in his usual headlong fashion. "I say, Hal,couldn't you give him a hint in the morning that we wont stand suchdoings? You're a better hand to do it than I am. You'll keep yourtemper, and I sha'n't."
"I'll see," said Harry, who was desirous to keep the peace betweenhis brother and the visitor, and who knew that Fred's hot temper, andcontempt for all meanness, would be very apt to lead him into troublewith such a boy as he perceived George to be.
"There's his mother, too," said Fred, "telling mamma that 'she felt itwas a great risk to bring him from home, he was such a good boy, sofree from all bad habits. She had never allowed him to play with otherchildren, as she thought they _contaminated each other_; and she wasglad he seemed to prefer girls' society.' Bosh! He 'prefers the girls'society' because he can come it over them, and he can't over us. Hisfather has more of the right stuff in him. He said, 'it was time Georgewas thrown with other boys, and allowed to take his share of rough andtumble.' But I sha'n't trouble him if he don't provoke me too much,only you tell him we wont stand seeing our sisters ill-treated."
But although Harry did as Fred asked, there was trouble before the daywas half over. Mr. Moore gave his son permission to go out to the parkduring the recess of the school which the boys attended. Before thehalf-hour was up, George rushed into the house crying loudly, and withhis lip cut and bleeding. He made such an outcry that the whole familywere very much alarmed; but when his mouth was washed, it proved to bebut a slight cut, and nurse declared to Jane that Franky would havebeen ashamed to make a fuss for such a trifle.
"Fred had done it," he said. "Fred wanted to fight, and he would not.He had never fought in his life. He'd be ashamed to say he had."
Mrs. Bradford was very much troubled; but she waited to hear her ownson's side of the story before she judged him. Mrs. Moore, however, hada great deal to say.
When Fred came home, two hours later, his hand was bound up in hispocket-handkerchief.
"How have you hurt your hand, Fred?" asked his father. "Is it true youhave been fighting?"
"Yes, sir."
"Without just cause, as George says?"
"I had cause enough, sir, if that was all," said Fred, rather sulkilyfor him.
"That he had," said Harry. "You'd have been ready to fight yourself,sir. I'll tell you how it was. George is not fair and above board,as we found out last night. So when he came out to the play-ground, Ijust told him we would allow no unfair play, and he did not try it. Butafter a while he said he did not care to play with such a rough set,and walked off by himself. I thought I ought to go and see after him,and found him shying stones at the sparrows about the water-tanks. Itold him he had better have done with that, or he would have an M. P.down on him. Then he said he guessed he'd go home. First thing I knewa few minutes after, he was howling, and Fred had him by the collar.It seems poor Charlie Wagstaff--poor, hump backed little Charlie--wassitting on a bench reading, when my gentleman George passed by and sawhim. He began by throwing gravel over Charley's head and neck, notthinking he was one of our boys, and that not a fellow in the schoolwould see him abused, and at last, getting bolder, snatched his book,and threw it over the park railing. It was a borrowed book, and thepoor boy took his crutches and started after it. Then George begandancing about him, and calling him 'Old hipperty hop,' and such names.Fred, who saw them from a distance, feared something was wrong, and ranto the spot just in time to see him pull Charlie's crutch from underhim, throw him on the ground, and then run. But Fred collared him, andin his quick way, just let fly and hit him in the mouth. He came offthe worst, though, for his knuckles were
cut by George's teeth, and_he_ was not so much hurt. George went off roaring, and that moment thewhistle sounded, and we had to go in. It was writing hour, and whenMr. Peters saw Fred's bleeding knuckles, he asked him if he had beenfighting. He said, 'Yes,' and Mr. Peters was going to keep him in,when Charlie spoke up, and told the whole story. Mr. Peters said we allknew how strict the rules against fighting in play-hours were; but hereally thought, in this case, Fred was almost excusable, and asked howmany agreed with him. Up went every hand in the school, and I don'tthink he was ill-pleased either. So he excused Fred, and told me totell you why he had done so; and I don't believe you'll be the one toblame him, papa."
Mr. Bradford was certainly not disposed to be severe with his boy, buthe talked to him a little on the evils resulting from his hasty temper,and readiness to give a blow when a word would answer.
"I am not inclined to punish or reprove you under the circumstances, myson," he said, "but you have made some discomfort for your mother andme, as well as for yourself, by your hasty conduct. It is not pleasantto feel that a son of ours has so conducted himself to the child of ourfriends, however great the provocation; and you have forgotten the lawsof hospitality in attacking one who is a guest beneath your father'sroof."
"I'll go and shake hands with him this minute," said Fred. "I didforget who and what he was, that's true, though I'll own I have beenafraid I should serve him out ever since he has been in the house."
And Fred went directly to find George and make peace with him. Georgewas unwilling to shake hands, and Mrs. Moore did not look very kindlyat Fred, but Mr. Moore insisted that his son should make friends andreceive Fred's apology. Neither Harry nor Fred told Mr. and Mrs. Mooreof George's misconduct towards Charlie, and he was not honorable enoughto tell himself, leaving his parents to suppose it was only Fred'squarrelsome temper that had been to blame.
After this, George kept himself rather apart from the other boys,spending most of his time with Maggie and Bessie, who did not like himmuch, they could scarcely tell why, but who were very polite to him.Flossy did not like him either, but he showed it very plainly, barkingat him whenever he saw him, and if George came near to him scramblinginto the children's arms or running under Mrs. Bradford's skirt, wherehe would keep up a low snarling or woof, wooffing, which was veryunmannerly.
Just about this time Mrs. Bradford found that one of Maggie's secondteeth was making its appearance behind the first tooth, which was notyet loosened to give place to it. She was afraid that the new toothwould come crooked, and so spoil the looks of Maggie's mouth, and shesaid she thought she must take her to the dentist and have the old onedrawn.
Now Maggie had a great horror of the dentist. Unfortunately, she hadonce been taken there by grandmamma when Aunt Annie was to have a toothdrawn. Maggie had happened to be in the carriage, and without thinkingmuch about it, Mrs. Stanton had allowed her to go in with them. Thetooth was a hard one to draw, and poor Aunt Annie fainted and wasvery sick, while no one thought of the little frightened child whostood trembling in a corner of the room, thinking that the dentist hadkilled her dear aunt. Afterwards Aunt Annie took cold in her face, andsuffered very much because she foolishly went out too soon; but Maggiethought it all the fault of the poor dentist. After that, whenever herdolls were ill, it was always because they had been to the dentist.They had smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, and broken legs and arms,and were even deaf, dumb, and blind all through the fault of thedentist. Mrs. Bradford was very sorry for this, as she feared it wouldmake trouble with Maggie when her teeth should need any attention; andso it proved, for when she told her she thought she must take her toDr. Blake, Maggie turned very white.
"It will not be much, dearest," said her mother. "It is a little firsttooth, and the pain will be over in a moment."
"Mamma," said Maggie. "I would rather have my mouth ever so ugly thanhave it out."
"Perhaps you do not care now, Maggie, but when you are a young lady,you will not thank your mother for allowing your teeth to grow crookedin order that she might spare you a moment's pain now."
Maggie said no more, but for the rest of the day she looked sotroubled, and she and Bessie had such anxious whisperings, and therewas so much feeling and touching of the tooth that was to be lost, thatMrs. Bradford told her husband that she should take her to Dr. Blakethe first thing in the morning, that she might have no more time tothink about it.
"Maggie," said Mr. Bradford, calling her to him just as he was goingdown town the next morning,--"Maggie, do you want to earn a dollar?"
"Oh, yes, papa!" and Mr. Bradford smiled as he saw the troubled facelight up for a moment.
"You and Bessie are going to be great money-makers," he said. "You mustnot grow too fond of it, or learn to love it for its own sake. If, whenI come home this afternoon, you have a little white tooth to show me,I shall pay you a dollar for it."
"And can I do what I like with it, papa?"
"Yes, whatever you please. You may spend it for Christmas presents orfor something for yourself,--just which you choose."
But Maggie did not mean to do either. She thanked and kissed herfather, and was off to tell her mother and Bessie.
"There's a whole another dollar for Mary's sack," she said, "now she'llhave it all the sooner." And she kept up her courage very well tillthey drove up to the dentist's stoop. Then Mrs. Bradford felt thelittle hand she held squeezing her own very tightly, and Maggie lookedup in her face with a quivering lip. "I have to think very much aboutMary's sack not to cry, mamma," she said.
"You are my own dear, courageous little girl," said Mrs. Bradford, "andit will soon be over now." She was very sorry for Maggie, for she knewthis was a hard trial for her, and wished very much that she could bearit in her place; but since this was not possible, all she could do wasto help her to bear it bravely.
Dr. Blake was at home and disengaged, and he was so kind and gentlethat Maggie was quite ashamed of feeling afraid of him.
"You don't say this little maid has any need of me?" he said.
Mrs. Bradford told what was the trouble, and took off Maggie's hat; thedentist lifted her into the chair, and told her to open her mouth. Shegave a long sigh and obeyed, holding on tightly to her mother's hand.Dr. Blake looked into her mouth for a moment, and then patting her onthe head, said to Mrs. Bradford,--
"It's all right enough, madam; the first tooth will be loose in a fewdays, when you may pull it with a thread, and the second will comequite straight. No need for any pulling of mine."
As soon as Maggie understood the tooth was not to come out, she lookedvery much delighted, then grave again. "If it is not too much trouble,sir," she said, "will you please to take it out."
"Why, you surely don't want to have it drawn for the fun of it!" saidthe dentist.
"No, sir; but for another reason." Maggie was too shy to tell what thatreason was.
Since there was nothing to be done with the tooth, Mrs. Bradford put onMaggie's hat and the doctor lifted her down from the great chair.
"Mamma," she said, as they left the house, "I shall never make my dollssick again because they went to the dentist. Why, I think he is justas nice as other gentlemen, and I felt real sorry I was so afraid ofhim."
While Mrs. Bradford and Maggie were gone, Bessie stood by the parlorwindow looking very melancholy and watching for their return. She wasvery much troubled about her sister, and would not play with George orlisten to the story which Jane offered to tell her, or do anything butthink of Maggie. Presently she saw Mr. Hall coming down the street. Hestopped at the stoop, looked up and nodded, and then came up the steps.Bessie slipped down from her chair and running to the front-door,called to Patrick, who was in the hall, to open it for her. She seizedher kind old friend by the hand, and said, "Mr. Hall, we have adreadful misfortune."
Mr. Hall was quite alarmed when he saw her sad little face, but whenhe had asked what the misfortune was, and heard that Maggie had goneto have a tooth drawn, he was very much relieved and rather amused. Hetook Bessie on his kn
ee, and after she had told him how well Maggie hadbehaved, talked to her for a few moments, and then, saying that it wasabout time for her mother and Maggie to be back, left a message for herfather, and went away.
Pretty soon mamma and Maggie came in, the latter, to her sister'ssurprise and delight, looking very bright; and lo! there was the toothstill in her head.
"But oh, our dollar! Bessie," said Maggie. "I am so sorry!"
"Never mind," said Bessie. "Maybe we can earn it some other way. I'm soglad you didn't be hurt, Maggie, dear."
"Where is that tooth I am to pay for?" said Mr. Bradford, when he camehome that afternoon.
Maggie came to him, and opening her mouth, showed her pretty rice-grainstill in its place.
"Halloa!" said papa. "Did your courage give out?"
"Dr. Blake wouldn't take it out, papa; not even when I begged him. Andnow you wont have to pay the dollar."
"I don't know about that," said papa. "I bought the tooth, and I didnot say where I should keep it. It is not quite convenient for me totake care of it just at present; perhaps you would not object to givingit lodging in its present place for a while. But it belongs to me,remember; here is the price, and you are to take care that it does notbite threads or crack nuts, or do anything else which might damage it.It is mine, now, bought and paid for;" and as papa spoke, he handedMaggie a dollar-bill. "You quite deserve it, my little girl. It wasno fault of yours that you did not keep your share of the bargain, andsince you did all you could, I shall keep mine."
After Maggie had hugged and kissed her father till he was halfstifled,--Bessie, too, doing her share at that business,--they ran forthe money-box to put away the new note. She and Bessie were trying tocount over their treasure when George came by.
"Whew!" he said. "Where did you get all that? Is it yours? What are yougoing to do with it?"
"We are going to do a purpose with it?" said Bessie, for neither of thechildren cared to tell George what that purpose was.
"Oh, to buy goodies and toys is your purpose, I suppose!"
"No," said Bessie. "It is not a foolish purpose like that;" and shesaid no more.
They let George help them count the money, however, for they could notdo it correctly themselves, then put it all back in mamma's drawer.George had followed them, and saw where they placed it.
That evening a parcel was left at the door directed to Maggie, and whenit was opened, there were two new books. In one was written, "For abrave little girl who has lost a tooth, from Grandpapa Hall;" in theother, "For the sister of the brave girl."
"Will you lend me one of your new books?" asked George, as Maggie andBessie were saying "good-night."
"We can't," said Maggie. "We must not keep them, you know, 'cause I didnot have my tooth out, and Grandpapa Hall meant it for that. We aregoing to give them back."
"Pshaw," said George; "he'll never know I should not think of such athing as giving them up."
"I don't believe you would," Fred whispered to Harry.
"Why, that would be doing a story," said Bessie, and she drew away fromGeorge with a shocked look. "Why, George, I'm afraid your mother don'tbring you up in the way you should go."
Fred and Harry laughed, but George was angry, and would not shake handswith Bessie, when, a moment later, she bade him good-night.
But Grandpapa Hall would not take back the books; he said, as papa haddone, that they were meant for the brave girl who was willing to haveher tooth drawn.