CHAPTER XVI.
"I CAN'T BUY TEA"
Although Sally had not slept until late the night of the ball, yet quiteearly she awoke the next morning, and, gathering the shawl closely abouther, she began going over the fine sights and sounds, that had left acharm in her mind like unto a Fairy dream.
The longing in the maid's young heart for better things than those shehad, fairly cried out within her, as she thought of the appearance andthe graces of those high-born dames.
"I should have a better home," she said, glancing around her miserableroom. "There must be ways in which I can raise myself. I am getting ofan age to raise myself could I but see how to do it, yet I would wish todo nothing wrong."
"There can be no wrong in wishing to better your condition," said herFairy; "you are no slave."
"Then I will watch for a chance," said Maid Sally.
"Do," said her Fairy.
In those days, Mistress Brace grumbled and scolded because she dared notbuy tea. There was still a tax on it, and loyal colonists deniedthemselves tea sooner than pay the unjust tax.
But Mistress Brace had no great love of country, nor did she careanything about the matters that were stirring the people way down intotheir hearts and souls.
And so, after a time, she had grown tired and vexed at having to gowithout her tea. The only reason she had gone without it at all, wasbecause the hired men--these were farmers who were hired by aplanter--had said that it was known all over the place when any onebought an ounce of "the taxed stuff," and that whoever got it was setdown as being a "Tory," which meant a person who favored England andthe king rather than one's own country.
But there came a day not long after the ball, when Mistress Brace madeup her mind that she would do without tea no longer. The hired men hadput up with herb--they called it "yarb"--tea, made from herbs and mints,and had drunk it without complaint.
But the mistress thought they need know nothing about it if she bought apackage for her own use. Goodman Chatfield, who sold dry-goods andhaberdashery, or small wares, on one side of his store, and groceries onthe other, would sell no tea at all; he was a true patriot, and "thetaxed stuff" could not be found at his store.
But the "apothecary man" kept a little "for weak and sickly folk," andnow Mistress Brace handed Sally some money as she said:
"Here's two and thri-pence, and you are to go to Doctor Hancocke's storeand buy half a pound of tea."
"I can't buy tea," said Sally, drawing back her hand and not touchingthe money.
"You do as I tell you!" cried Mistress Brace, with fierceness in hertones. "If Doctor Hancocke says aught about it, tell him I am not welland must have a good sup of tea to hearten me."
"But you are well," replied Maid Sally, "and it would not be right,either that I should tell a lie or that I should buy tea with the king'stax upon it."
Mistress Brace raised her hand as if to strike the young maiden whostood straight and quiet before her. But she did not strike her, sheonly exclaimed again:
"Take the money and do as you are bid!"
"I can't buy tea" said Maid Sally.
"Then begone out of my sight and out of my house, and see that you comenot back!" cried the angry mistress. "Highty, tighty! but a great timeof day it is when beggars turn about and say 'I can't,' to those whohave kept and fed them. Begone, I say, you malapert!"
Sally turned away without a word, but when nearly through the doorway,she looked back and said:
"I am not a beggar. I am an American girl, and mean to act like one."
Now there is always something about the words of one who gets not in arage, but answers coolly one who is in one, that cools down the wrathfulperson and sets him or her to thinking. And Mistress Brace was struckwith fear. What had she dared to say? And what meant Sally to do?
But her temper was too high to put down all at once, so she replied:
"Very sure that you are an American, are you?"
Then, as if it came into her mind that she had better not have saidthat, and as she also already wished she had not called the maid abeggar, bidding her go away and stay, she began, with a sour kind oflaugh:
"Of course, I know nought of you before you were a baby wench of fouryears or so, and if you are so silly set against getting the tea--"
But Sally had darted to her tiny room. She would wait to hear no more.And thankful she was that Goodman Kellar came the next moment with eggsand butter for Mistress Cory Ann to chaffer or bargain about.
Mistress Brace had never been soft of speech, although she could put onthe manners of a well-spoken dame, but she had of late grown more andmore rough and coarse, ordering Sally about at times in so unmannerly away that the maid had more than once turned it over in her mind,wondering if she had any right so to order her.
And then, in truth, Sally was noticing such things more after hearingMistress Maria Kent's nice and gentle speech than she had in the past.And now she hastened to get away if possible before Mistress Brace andGoodman Kellar should be done parleying. All her young spirit flamed upwhen the mistress called her a beggar, and although something fine inher nature kept her quiet at the words, they were not to be passedover.
She dressed herself with care, putting on a brown and scarletlinsey-woolsey gown but just made, and bought nearly all with her ownmoney. Then she slipped out at the front door. It was her day to reciteto Parson Kendall, and although she scarcely dared think it out, therewas a resolve forming under the warm tints of her ruddy hair.
But here was her Fairy with something to say.
"What are you going to do, Maid Sally?"
"I know not, good Fairy, but I mean not to sleep to-night at MistressCory Ann's."
"Hast any other home?"
"No, good Fairy, but mayhap I will find one."
"Have you any fixed idea about it?"
"N-o; I have only in my mind that of which I cannot yet speak."
"Very well, then be brave and do not falter. You have long felt ill atease with the Tory woman; tell not too much, but speak the truthboldly."
"I mean to," said Maid Sally.
After the French lesson was over, Sally lingered in the parson'slibrary.
"I gave thee the next reading, did I not?" asked Parson Kendall.
"Yes, I know about the lesson, sir," replied Sally, "but I know notwhere I had better go. I have no home."
"No home?" repeated the parson, "how is that? Hath the woman MistressBrace cast thee out?"
Sally turned pale, so great was her fright and her desire to cry. But asingle word from her Fairy helped her:
"Courage!"
"I refused to buy tea at the apothecary man's," she said, "and MistressBrace called me a beggar, and bade me go and not return. I cannot becalled a beggar, nor can I go back, when I have been told to stay away."
Parson Kendall toyed with his watch-fob, looked at the braided mat onwhich he stood, and seemed studying the pattern of the border. Afterwhat seemed a long time to Sally, he said:
"Sit thee down for a moment, poor maid. I would speak with GoodwifeKendall for a space. Be not timorous, all may yet be well with thee."
Sally sank into a chair as the parson disappeared.
"I've done it!" she said to her Fairy.
"Yes, and without many words," answered her Fairy. "That is always thebest way to do that to which one has made up the mind."
Then Sally fell a-thinking. But so quickly beat her heart that she couldscarcely sit still. And it beat all the faster when the door opened andGoodwife Kendall, in a rustling black silk, with soft muslin collar andcuffs, and a lace cap upon her head, stood before her.
"I hear you have not so good a home, little maid," she said, in a fine,low voice, "as would beseem thee, and the minister has no mind to sendthee back to it. So here is a plan. My two servants are faithful attheir tasks, but there is much needlework that is needful to be done. Mytwo sisters are to tarry with me for the present, and much visiting mustbe enjoyed.
"There are certain duties t
o be attended to in the minister's family,and in his library, which it is not befitting that servants should betrusted with. Would it suit thee to be my helper for a time?"
"Oh, indeed, and indeed," cried Sally, stopping to choke for an instant,"I will so gladly and most faithfully do anything you may ask; and Ishall need nothing at present, I have clothes--"
"Tut, tut, child!" said Goodwife Kendall, with a smile. "No one shouldwork well to receive nothing in return, and I shall give thee two andsixpence a week, both to teach thee how to use a little money wisely,and also to pay for what I know thou wilt justly earn."
And seeing that Sally was at the point of bursting out crying, sheadded, while turning toward the door:
"Come, now, Parson Kendall will send to Mistress Brace for such clothesas you have bought for yourself, leaving all for which she has paid. Itwill please me to clothe thee with what may be needful from time totime. But there are dried berries to be picked over and put in soakbefore being stewed for supper. Come and let me show thee how to preparethem."