CHAPTER XVII
SOME OF THE OLD LANDMARKS
"Yes, all of us," said Ben. "We can tuck in the Deans. I only wishCharles could go. Well, the house won't run away. And Mr. Audubon hastravelled all over the world. Mr. Whitney wrote an article about him.That's the work I'd like to do--go and see famous people and write aboutthem."
Interviewing was not such a fine art in those days. Ben had enough of itlater on.
Dr. Joe had asked Mr. Audubon's permission to bring a crowd of childrento see him and his birds. He was getting to be quite an attraction inthe city.
When they packed up they found a crowd sure enough. But Dr. Hoffman tookMargaret and the little girl with him, as Charles had been allowed ahalf day off for the trip. The drive was so full of interest. They wentup past the old Stuyvesant place and took a look at the pear-tree thathad been planted almost two hundred years ago and was still bearingfruit. Then they turned into the old Bloomingdale Road, and up bySeventy-fifth Street they all stopped to see the house where LouisPhilippe taught school when he was an emigrant in America. And now hewas on the throne, King of the French people, a grander and greaterposition, some thought, than being President of the United States.
"For of course," said Jim, "he can stay there all his life, and thePresident has only four years in the White House. After all, it is a bigthing to be a king."
And in a little more than two years he was flying over to England forrefuge and safety, and was no longer a king. Mr. Polk was still in theWhite House.
It was an odd, low, two-story frame house where royalty had beenthankful to teach such boys as Ben and Jim and Charles. There was asteep, sloping roof with wide eaves, a rather narrow doorway in themiddle of the front, carved with very elaborate work, and an old knockerwith a lion's head, small but fierce. The large room on one side hadbeen the schoolroom, and the board floor was worn in two curious rowswhere the boys had shuffled their feet. The fireplace was what mostpeople came to see. It was spacious and had a row of blue and whiteAntwerp tiles with pictures taken from the New Testament. They weresmoked and faded now, but they still told their story. The mantelpieceand the doors were a mass of the most elaborate carving.
There were still some old houses standing in New York that had beenbuilt with bricks brought from Holland. Charles was very much interestedin these curiosities and had found one of the houses down in PearlStreet.
Then they drove up through McGowan's Pass, where Washington had plannedto make a decisive stand at the battle of Harlem Heights. There was theledge of rock and the pretty lake that was to be Central Park some day.It was all wildness now.
There was so much to see that Dr. Joe declared they had no more time tospend following Washington's retreat.
"But it was just grand that he should come back here to be inauguratedthe first President of the United States," said Charles. "I am proud ofhaving had that in New York."
"The city has a great many famous points," said Dr. Joe; "but we seem tohave lost our enthusiasm over them. Beyond there," nodding his head overeast, "is the Murray House that can tell its story. Handsome Mrs.Murray, and she was a Quaker, too, made herself so charming in herhospitality to the British generals that she detained them long enoughfor Silliman's brigade to retreat to Harlem. Washington was awaitingthem at the Apthorpe House, and they had left that place not more thanfifteen minutes when the British came flying in the hot haste ofpursuit. So but for Mrs. Murray's smiles and friendliness they mighthave captured our Washington as well as the city."
"That was splendid," declared Charles enthusiastically.
"And maybe as a boy Lindley Murray might have thought up his grammarthat he was to write later on to puzzle your brains," continued Dr. Joe.
"Well, that is odd, too. I'll forgive him his grammar," said Ben, with atwinkle in his eye.
"And if we don't go on we will have no time for Professor Audubon andthe birds. But we could ramble about all day."
"I didn't know there were so many interesting things in the city. Theyseem somehow a good ways off when you are studying them," repliedCharles.
He really wished Hanny was in the carriage. She was so eager about allthese old stories.
Then they went over to Tenth Avenue. There was the old Colonial house,with its broad porch and wide flight of steps. It was country then withits garden and fields, its spreading trees and grassy slopes.
And there was Professor Audubon on the lawn with his wife and twolittle grandchildren. He came and welcomed the party cordially. He hadmet both doctors before. He was tall, with a fine fair face and longcurling hair thrown back, now snowy white. Once with regard to thewishes of some friends while abroad he had yielded and had it cut"fashionable," to his great regret afterward, and the reminiscence wasrather amusing. His wide white collar, open at the throat, added to hispicturesque aspect. Then he had a slight French accent that seemed torender his hospitality all the more charming.
Ben and Charles knew that he had been nearly all over the Continent, andhad hardships innumerable and discouragements many, and had in spite ofthem succeeded in writing and illustrating one of the most magnificentof books. And when they trooped into the house and saw the stuffed birdsand animals, the pictures he had painted, and the immense folio volumesso rich with drawings, it hardly seemed possible that one brain couldhave wrought it all.
Everything, from the most exquisite hummingbird to an eagle and a wildturkey. There was no museum of natural history then. Mr. Barnum'scollection was considered quite a wonder. But to hear this soft-voicedman with his charming simplicity describe them, was fascination itself.
The little girl really wavered in her admiration for Mayor Harper. Hehad been her hero _par excellence_ up to this time. A man who couldgovern a city and make boots had seemed wonderful, but here was a manwho could keep the birds quite as if they were alive. You almostexpected them to sing.
He was very fond of children and Mrs. Audubon was hardly lessdelightful. They could not see half the treasures in such a brief while,and they were glad to be invited to come again. Ben did find his way upthere frequently, and Charles gleaned many an entertaining bit ofknowledge. When the little girl went again, the tender, eager eyes hadlost their sight, and the enthusiasm turned to a pathos that was sorrowitself. But there was no hint of it this happy day, which remained oneof their most delightful memories.
Now that they were so near, Margaret said they must go and see MissLois. Dr. Joe was quite a regular visitor, for Miss Lois was growingmore frail every week. Josie and Tudie thought they would like to seeanother old house, and a harp "taller than yourself." Charles was muchinterested. Jim had his mind so full of birds and hunting adventures hecould think of nothing else, and said he would rather walk around.
Miss Lois was quite feeble to-day, and said Margaret must be thehostess. They went into the old parlor and examined the quaint articlesand some of the old-fashioned books. Josie wished they might try theharp and see how it would sound, but no one would propose it if MissLois was so poorly.
"It's very queer," said Hanny. "She played for me once. The strings arerusted and broken, and it sounds just like the ghost of something, as ifyou were going way, way back. I didn't like it."
The German woman was out in the kitchen and gave them each a piece ofcake. There was a quaint old dresser with some pewter plates and apitcher, and old china, and a great high mantel.
"You seem way out in the country," said Charles. "But it's pretty, too.And the trees and the river and Fort Washington. Why, it's been like anexcursion. I am so glad you asked me to come."
Margaret entered the room. "She wants to see you, Hanny," she saidquietly. "And when she is stronger she would like the little girls tocome again."
Hanny went into the chamber. Miss Lois was sitting up in the big rocker,but her face was as white as the pillow back of her head. And oh, howthin her hands were! strangely cold, too, for a summer day.
"I'm very glad you came again, little Hanny," she said. "I had beenthinking of you and Margaret
all day, and how good it was of your fatherand you to hunt me up as you did. You've given me a deal of happiness.Tell him I am thankful for all his kindness. Will you kiss me good-by,dear? I hope you'll be spared to be a great comfort to every one."
Hanny kissed her. The lips were almost as cold as the hands. And thenshe went out softly with a strange feeling she did not understand.
It was late enough then to go straight home. Dr. Joe had a little talkwith his mother, and the next day he took her up to Harlem. The childrenwent over to Daisy's in the afternoon and told her about "everything."Mrs. Jasper insisted upon keeping them to supper.
Her mother had not returned when the little girl went to bed. It seemedso strange the next morning without her. Margaret was very quiet andgrave, so the little girl practised and sewed, and then read a while. Inthe afternoon her mother came home and said Miss Lois had gone to bewith her sister and her long-lost friends in the other country.
A feeling of awe came over her. No one very near to her had died, andthough she had not seen so very much of Miss Lois, for her mother hadgone up quite often without her, the fact that she had been there solately, had held her poor nerveless hand, had kissed her good-by in analmost sacred manner when she was so near death, touched her. Did sheknow? Hanny wondered. What was death? The breath went out of yourbody--and her old thoughts about the soul came back to her. It was sodifferent when the world was coming to an end. Then you were to becaught up into heaven and not be put into the ground. She shrank fromthe horrible thought of being buried there, of being so covered that younever could get out. She decided that she would not so much mind if theworld did come to an end.
"Margaret," she said, "was it dreadful for Miss Lois to die?"
"No, dear," returned her sister gently. "If we were all in anothercountry, the beautiful heaven, and you were here all alone, would younot like to come to us? That was the way Miss Lois felt. It is so muchbetter than living on here alone. And then when one gets old--no, dear,it was a pleasant journey to her. She had thought a great deal about it,and had loved and served God. This is what we all must do."
"Margaret, what must I do to serve Him?"
"I think trying to make people happier is one service. Being helpful andobedient, and taking up the little trials cheerfully, when we have to dothe things we don't quite like."
"I wish you would tell me something hard that I do not like to do."
"Suppose I said I would not go out and play with the girls thisafternoon."
"I'd rather not of myself," said Hanny. "I feel like being still andthinking."
Margaret smiled down in the sweet, serious face. There was no trial shecould impose.
"Then think of the beautiful land where Miss Lois has gone, where no onewill be sick or tired or lonely, where the flowers are always bloomingand there is no winter, where all is peace and love."
"But I don't understand--how you get to heaven," said the puzzled child.
"No one knows until the time comes. Then God shows us the way, andbecause He is there we do not have any terror. We just go to Him. It isa great mystery. No one can quite explain it."
Elsie Hay came for her, but she said she was not going out, that she didnot feel like playing. She brought her sewing, and in her mind wanderedabout heaven, seeing Miss Lois in her new body.
They did not take her to the funeral. She went over to Daisy Jasper'sand read to her, wondering a little if Daisy would be glad to go whereshe would be well and strong and have no more pain. But then she wouldhave to leave her father and mother who loved her so very much.
Miss Lois had left some keepsakes to Margaret. Two beautiful oldbrocaded silk gowns that looked like pictures, some fine laces, and apretty painted fan that had been done expressly for her when she wasyoung. A white embroidered lawn for Hanny, a pearl ring and six silverspoons, besides some curious old books. Mrs. Underhill was to takewhatever she liked, and dispose of the rest. The good German neighborwas to have the house and lot for the care she had taken of both ladies.Mr. Underhill had arranged this some time before, so there would be notrouble.
Everything in the house was old and well worn. There was a little chinaof value, and the rest was turned over to the kindly neighbor.
Margaret and Hanny went up to visit grandmother, both grandmothers,indeed. The old Van Kortlandt house was a curiosity in its way, andthough Hanny had seen it before she was not old enough to appreciate it.The satin brocade furniture was faded, the great gilt-framed mirrorstarnished, and all the bedsteads had high posts and hanging curtains,and a valance round the lower part. Aunt Katrina was there and a cousinRhynders, a small, withered-up old man who played beautifully on ajewsharp, and who sang, in a rather tremulous but still sweet voice,songs that seemed quite fascinating to Hanny, pathetic old ballads suchas one finds in "The Ballad Book" of a hundred years ago. There was anold woman in the kitchen who scolded the two farmhands continually; abeautiful big dog and a cross mastiff who was kept chained, as well asnumerous cats, but Grandmother Van Kortlandt despised cats.
It was delightful to get home again, though now Elsie and Florence hadgone to see their grandmother, and the Deans were away also. But DaisyJasper kissed her dozens of times, and said she had missed her beyondeverything and she would not have known how to get along but for Dr.Joe. Hanny had so much to tell her about the journey and her relatives.
"And I haven't even any grandmother," said Daisy. "There is one familyof cousins in Kentucky, and one in Canada. So you see I am quitedestitute."
Both little girls laughed at that.
Dr. Joe said Daisy was really improving. She walked about with hercrutch, but they were afraid one leg would be a little short.
Charles came over to see Hanny that very evening. He certainly had growntaller, and had lost much of his timidity. He really "talked up" to Jim.He was so fair and with the sort of sweet expression that was consideredgirlish, and kept himself so very neat, that he was different from mostboys. I don't suppose his mother ever realized how much mortificationand persecution it had cost him.
She still toiled from morning to night. Charles began to wish she wouldwear a pretty gown and collar and a white apron at supper time insteadof the dreadful faded ginghams. Everything had a faded look with her,she washed her clothes so often, swept her carpets, and scrubbed heroil-cloths so much. The only thing she couldn't fade was thewindow-glass.
Charles and his father had grown quite confidential. They had talkedabout school and college.
"Though I am afraid I don't want to be a minister," said Charles,drawing a long breath as if he had given utterance to a very wickedthought.
"You shall have your own choice about it," replied his father firmly."And there's no hurry."
It had been such a pleasure to walk down-town every morning with hisfather. Broadway was fresh and clean, and the breeze came up from theriver at every corner. There were not so many people nor factories, andthere were still some lots given over to grassy spaces and shrubs.Walking to business was considered quite the thing then.
He had a great deal to tell Hanny about "our" store, and what "we" weredoing. The new beautiful stock that was coming in, for then it took fromtwelve to sixteen days to cross the ocean, and you had to order quite inadvance. He had learned to play several tunes on the accordeon, and hehoped his father would let him take his four weeks' wages and buy one.And Mr. Gerard had said he should be very happy to have all the girlsand their mothers come down some afternoon.
"And if Daisy only could go!"
"Isn't she beautiful?" said Charles. "She looks like an angel. Her shortgolden hair is like the glory they put around the saints and theSaviour, an aureole they call it."
"What a beautiful word."
"I thought at first she would die. But your brother is sure she willlive now. Only it's such a pity----" the boy's voice faltered a littlefrom intense sympathy.
Hanny sighed too. She knew what he meant to say. But the childrenrefrained from giving it a name. "Hanny, I think it's just splendid tobe
a doctor. To help people and encourage them when you can't cure them.He said one night when he stopped at the Deans that she might have beendreadfully deformed, and now it will not be very bad, that when herlovely hair gets grown out again it will not show much. I'm so glad."
They had cut the golden ringlets close to her head, for she could not bedisturbed during those critical weeks in the hospital.
When the Deans came home there was great rejoicing. And since there wassuch a little time left for Charles to stay in the store they could notwait for Elsie and Flossie.
"If we _could_ take Daisy," Hanny said to Joe. He dropped in nearlyevery evening now. The city was very healthy in spite of August weather,and young doctors were not wont to be overrun with calls.
"I don't see why you shouldn't. It would be the best thing in the worldfor her to go out, and to be with other children and have some interestsin common with them. Yes, let us go down and see."
The family were all out on the stoop and the little paved court. Theywere so screened from observation. Dr. Joe came and stood by Daisy'schair, while Hanny sat on a stool and held the soft hand. Then hepreferred the children's request.
"Oh, it would be lovely!" Then the pale face flushed. "I don't believeI--could."
"Why not?" asked Dr. Joe.
There was no immediate answer. Mrs. Jasper said hesitatingly: "Would itbe wise, doctor? One cannot help being--well, sensitive."
"Yet you do not want to keep this little girl forever secluded. Thereare so many enjoyable things in the world. It is not even as if Daisyhad brothers and sisters who were coming in hourly with all manner offreshness and fun."
"I can't bear people to look at me so. I can almost hear what theysay----"
Daisy's voice broke in a short sob.
"My dear child," Dr. Joe took the other hand and patted it caressingly."It is very sad and a great misfortune, but if you had to remember thatit came from the violence of a drunken father, or the carelessness of aninefficient mother, it would seem a harder burden to bear. We can't tellwhy God allows some very sad events to happen, but when they do come wemust look about for the best means of bearing them. God has seen fit tomake a restoration to health and comparative strength possible. I thinkHe means you to have some enjoyment as well. And when one gets used tobearing a burden it does not seem so heavy. Your parents are prosperousenough to afford you a great many indulgences, and you must not refusethem from a spirit of undue sensitiveness. And then, my little girl, Godhas given you such a beautiful face that it cannot help but attract.Can't you be brave enough to take the pleasures that come to you withoutdarkening them by a continual sense of the misfortune?"
Daisy was crying now. Dr. Joe pressed the small figure to his heart, andkissed her forehead. He had been unusually interested in the case, buthe knew now some effort must be made, some mental pain endured, or herlife would drop to weariness. Mrs. Jasper was very sensitive to commentherself.
Mr. Jasper began to walk up and down the path.
"Yes, doctor," he exclaimed; "what you say is true. You have been such agood friend to my little girl. We want her to be happy and to have somecompanionship. The children up your way have been very kind andsympathetic. I like that young lad extremely. It is only at first thatthe thing seems so hard. Daisy, I think I would go."
He came and kissed his unfortunate little girl.
"Oh, do!" entreated Hanny softly. "You see, it will be like the ladiesof long ago when they went out in their chairs. There's some pictures inthe old books Miss Lois sent us, and the funny clothes they wore. I'llbring them over some day. I read about a lady going to Court in herchair. And there were two or three pretty maids to wait on her. We'llmake believe you are the Countess Somebody, and we are the ladies inwaiting. And we'll all go to the Palace. The King will be out; they'realways on hunting expeditions, and the Prince, that will be Charles,there was a bonnie Prince Charlie once, will take us about and show usthe lovely things in the Palace----"
Hanny had talked herself out of breath and stopped.
Mr. Jasper laughed. "Upon my word, Miss Hanny, you would make a goodstage manager. There, could you have it planned out any nicer, Daisy? Ishall have to be on hand to see the triumphal procession as it goes downBroadway."
Hanny's imagination had rendered it possible.
Joe swung her up in his strong arms.
"We think a good deal of our Hanny," he said laughingly. "If she wassmaller she might be exhibited along with Tom Thumb, but she's spoiledthat brilliant enterprise, and yet she stays so small that we begin tothink she's stunted."
"Oh, Joe, do you really?" she cried.
"We shall have to call her the little girl all her life. And you knowshe's bothered a good deal about her name, which isn't at all pretty,but she takes it in good part, and puts up with it."
"I call her Annie sometimes," said Daisy.
"Ann is but plain and common, And Nancy sounds but ill; While Anna is endurable, And Annie better still,"
repeated Dr. Joe. "So you see we all have some trials. To be a littlemite of a thing and to be called Hanneran is pretty bad. And now, littlemite, we must go back home. When will the cavalcade start? I must be onhand to see it move."
"About three, Charles said. Oh, it will be just delightful!"
Now that Hanny had been put down she hopped around on one foot for joy.
They said good-night and walked up home.
"Don't you think I _will_ grow some, Joe?" she asked, with a prettydoubt in her tone. "I did grow last year, for mother had to let down myskirts."
"I don't want you to grow too much. I like little women," he answered.
The cavalcade, as Dr. Joe called it, did start the next day. Daisy'smother and her Aunt Ellen went, Mrs. Dean and Margaret, and four littlegirls, including Nora Whitney, who was growing "like a weed." They wentout to Broadway and then straight down. Of course people looked at them.The children were so merry, and really, Daisy in her chair with hercolored attendant was quite an unusual incident. Aunt Ellen had let hercarry her pretty dove-colored sunshade. It was lined with pink and had ajoint in the handle that turned it down and made a shelter from toocurious eyes. There were a good many people out. It was not necessarythen to go away for the whole summer in order to be consideredfashionable. People went and came, and when they were home theypromenaded in the afternoon without losing caste.
Stores were creeping up Broadway. "Gerard & Co." was on the block abovethe Astor House, a very attractive notion and fancy store. The windowwas always beautifully arranged, and the cases were full of temptingarticles. There were seats for customers, and across the end of the longstore pictures and bijou tables and music-boxes were displayed. In asmall anteroom there was a workshop where musical instruments, jewelryand, trinkets were repaired.
Sam lifted out his young mistress and carried her in. Charles cameforward to receive his guests, and though he flushed and showed someembarrassment, acquitted himself quite creditably. Mr. Gerard, with hisFrench politeness, made them very welcome and took a warm interest atonce in Daisy. She sat by the counter with Sam at her back, and lookedquite the countess of Hanny's description. Mr. Gerard brought her somerare and pretty articles to examine. The others strolled around, thechildren uttering ejaculations of delight. Such elegant fans and cardcases and mother-of-pearl _portemonnaies_ bound with silver and steel!Such vases and card receivers--indeed, all the pretty bric-a-brac, as weshould term it nowadays.
But the greatest interest was aroused by the music-boxes. The childrenlistened enchanted to the limpid tinkle of the tunes. It was likefairy-land.
"Oh," cried Daisy, with a long sigh of rapture; "if I only could have amusic-box! Then I could play for myself. And it is so beautiful. Oh,mamma!"
Mrs. Jasper inquired prices. From twenty-four dollars to beyond onehundred. There was one at forty dollars that played deliciously, andsuch a variety of tunes.
"And when you tire of them you can have new music put in," explained Mr.Gerard.
"
And you don't have to learn all the tiresome fingering," commentedHanny.
"If I had a piano I shouldn't ever think it tiresome," said Charles.
"Oh, yes, you would, even when you loved it and tried to learn with allyour might. Tunes give you a joyful sort of feeling," and Hanny's eyessparkled.
"And you could dance to this," Tudie whispered softly, while her eyesdanced unmistakably.
Mrs. Jasper examined several of them and listened to the tunes. Theycame back to that for forty dollars.
"We will have to talk to papa. He thought he might drop in."
The children did not tire of waiting. Hanny thought she might spend awhole day looking over everything, and listening to the dainty,enchanting music. But Mrs. Dean said she _must_ go.
Just at that instant Mr. Jasper arrived, having been detained. His wifespoke in a little aside, and he showed his interest at once. Why, yes, amusic-box could not fail to be a great delight to Daisy.
Mr. Gerard wound up two or three of them again. Then the ladies decidedthey would ride up in the stage with the children. Mr. Jasper and Samwould see to Daisy's safety.
And the result was that Mr. Jasper bought the music-box, ordering itsent home the next day. Daisy was speechless with joy. Sam carried herout and put her into her chair.
"I don't believe I shall ever be afraid to go out again," she saideagerly. Indeed she did not mind the eyes that peered at her now. Somewere very pitying and sympathetic.
As Charles was putting away many of the choice articles for the nightMr. Gerard slipped a dollar into his hand.
"That's your commission," he said smilingly, "on unexpected goodfortune. And I shall be so sorry to lose you. I wish it was the first ofAugust instead of the last, or that you didn't want to go back toschool."