CHAPTER XI.
OUT OF THE OLD HOME-NEST.
But then it all looked so different by daylight! The old rickety house,the noisy children, the general shabbiness, and the life of hard workand dissatisfaction, stretching out interminably. For, to the eyesof fifteen, it seems a long way to fifty; and roses are so much moretempting than thorns!
Hal found her out in the garden crying.
"Dear Flossy," he began tenderly, "I think you had better go, afterall. When the parting is over, Granny will be reconciled, andunderstand that it is for the best."
"But I ought to stay at home and help," she sobbed. "If I could doboth"--
"That is not possible;" and Hal tried to smile away the tears in hiseyes.
"It looks so--so foolish not to be able to make up one's mind."
"It is a hard case, and there is so much on Mrs. Osgood's side."
"Hal, what would you do?" and Florence glanced up earnestly.
"My darling, I think you want to go, and that you would always beunhappy and regretful if you staid. We can't help all our feelings andwants and tastes; and it seems as if you were born for a lady. That isnatural too."
"But I do love you all, and dear Granny"--
"We shall never doubt that," he answered re-assuringly. "We shall oftensit on the old doorstep, and talk about you, and try to imagine you inthe beautiful house, with the pictures and the piano, and all the nicethings you will be learning. It will be just lovely for us too. Thenyou can write every summer."
"And perhaps I shall come back when I am a woman!"
At this Florence brightened wonderfully, but after a moment said, "Youdon't think it very selfish, Hal?"
"My dear, no," replied brave little Hal. "I am sure it would be a greattrial for me to give up any thing so splendid."
"If you would only tell Granny--again."
Hal nodded; for he couldn't say any more just then.
Granny wiped the tears out of her old eyes with the corner of herchecked apron, and trod upon the cat, stretched out upon the floor, whoadded her pathetic howl to the fund of general sorrow.
So it came to pass, when Mrs. Osgood made her appearance, Florence wasquite elegant and composed. The lady was very, very gracious. Sheexpatiated on the great advantage this step would be to Florence, thepleasure to _her_, and the relief to Granny to know that one of herflock was provided for. Of course, she understood it was hard to partwith her; but they had so many left, that in a little while they wouldhardly miss her. Then they _would_ hear about her, and no doubt come torejoice in her good fortune.
Indeed, by the time Mr. Howard arrived, she had talked them into quitea reasonable frame of mind. She promised to treat her like a daughter,educate her handsomely; so that, in case of her death, Florence wouldbe able to take care of herself. If, at the end of the first year,she should feel unwilling to remain, Mrs. Osgood would not oppose herreturn.
Granny was calm, but very grave, while these preliminaries were beingdiscussed. Hal kept swallowing over great sobs that wrenched his heartat every breath. The agreement was concluded and signed.
"Now, my dear, put on your hat," said Mrs. Osgood in her sweetest tone."Brief partings are the kindest; are they not, Mr. Howard? I am muchobliged for your assistance in this matter; and you must permit me tooffer you a small donation for your pretty little church."
Granny's tears streamed afresh; but Hal managed her with delicatetenderness. Florence kissed them all many times. Dot wanted to go inthe "boofer wagon;" while Kit and Charlie looked on, with tearful,wondering eyes, not half understanding the importance of the step.
Then--she was driving away. One last, long look. Was that the waving ofher pretty white hand? Their eyes were too dim to see.
"It seems to me that she will come back to the old house some time,"said Hal, breaking the sad silence.
Granny turned away, and shut herself in the best room. For a long whilethey heard nothing of her. But God was listening to the heart-brokenprayer, which he answered in his own time and his own way.
"So Flossy's gone!" exclaimed Joe soberly that night. "I can't make itseem a bit real. Air-castles don't generally turn into the substantial.After the king's ball I guess she will come home in glass slippers, andwe will have her giving us loads of good advice. It is so sure to betrue, Granny, that we can afford to take a little comfort meanwhile."
Granny did not laugh as usual. Kit chewed his thumb vigorously, and sawpiles of violins in the distance.
But they confessed to being very lonesome on Sunday. Charlie declinedwearing Flossy's second-best hat; for she insisted that she "felt it inher bones" that Florence would return, which Joe declared was incipientrheumatism, and that she must take a steam-bath over the spout of thetea-kettle. Yet secretly in his heart he had greater faith in themythical sea-captain who was to take him off with flying colors.
About a month afterwards they received a letter from Mrs. Osgood. Joedisplayed the handsome monogram in great triumph, and begged Mr. Terryto let him run home with it at noon. They all crowded round him witheager eyes.
"It's Granny's letter," he said, handing it to her.
"Read it, Hal," she rejoined tremulously.
Mrs. Osgood gave a delightful account of Florence; declaring that shealready loved her as a mother, and, the homesickness being over, shewas studying industriously. There was no doubt but that she would makea very fine musician; and it was extremely fortunate that such talentcould be rescued in time to make the most of it. Then Florence addeda few words, to say that she was very happy, and that it seemed likefairy-land, every thing was so beautiful. She enclosed a gift for themall, and said good-by until next year.
They felt then how surely they were divided; yet they all rejoiced inFlossy's good fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Howard were very kind; but I thinkHal's tender love did more towards comforting Granny than all the rest.She kept telling herself that it was foolish to grieve; yet there wasa dumb ache way down in the poor old heart, an empty corner where onebirdling had flown out of the home-nest.
The affair had created quite an excitement in Madison. Joe picturedit in the most gorgeous style, and made Mrs. Osgood an actual fairygodmother. Mrs. Van Wyck, who still held a little grudge against her,insisted that it was not half as grand as the Kenneths represented it.
"Now, Mr. Howard," she said at one of the parsonage gatherings, "is itreally true? Did this woman adopt that flyaway Kenneth girl, or onlytake her as a sort of servant? And is she so very rich?"
"Mrs. Osgood is a lady of means and position, and is connected withsome of the most reliable people in New York. She has legally adoptedFlorence, and I was a witness to the agreement. It certainly was arather remarkable event."
"Well, she's nothing but a bunch of vanity, anyhow. She'll make one ofthe high-flyers, without a grain of sense, and I dare say elope withthe coachman. I wish the woman joy of her bargain;" and Mrs. Van Wyckset her cap-streamers in violent motion.
Autumn came on apace. Poor Granny was grievously perplexed when sheentered the clothing-campaign. Florence's fertile brain and handyfingers were sorely missed. Granny did her best; but the tasty touchesthe child was wont to add, that transformed the commonest garb intocertain prettiness, were lacking now. Still, Charlie thought it agodsend to have so many clothes all at once, having fallen heir toFlossy's discarded heritage.
"Granny!" exclaimed Hal, rushing in breathless one afternoon, "Mr.Kinsey says he will take all my chickens to market! Isn't thatsplendid? He is going on Friday, and again next Tuesday; and he showedme how to make a crate to pack them in. Now is the very time, he says."
"But we'll have to kill 'em, Hal!" exclaimed Granny aghast.
"To be sure: that's the hard part of it, isn't it;" and Hal lookedsober.
"They seem a'most like human beings. They patter round after Dot, andtalk to her in their queer fashion, and eat out of her hand. But, then,we couldn't keep them all through the winter."
"We shall save the pets. There are some that I could not spare. Bu
t youmust not grow chicken-hearted, Granny;" and he laughed softly at her.
"Deary me! Somehow I can't bear to part with any thing any more. What afoolish old cretur!"
"The dearest old creature in the world!" and Hal kissed her. "I wouldn'thave you changed a mite, except, that, when you were almost a hundred,I'd like to set you back so that we could keep you always."
"I sha'n't be worth it, Hal;" and she shook her head.
"I shall have to stay home from school on Tuesday. I am quite anxiousto know what our fortune will be, and whether it has paid."
For Hal had gone back to school, as there seemed no business openingfor him. Mr. Terry had raised Joe's wages; and, one way and another,they managed to get along quite comfortably. Hal tried to make up forthe absence of Florence, and comforted Granny in many tender, girlishways. He would pull her cap straight, and find her glasses and herthimble, two things that were forever going astray. Then he borrowedbooks from one and another to read aloud evenings; and, though Grannysat in the chimney-corner and nodded, she always declared that it wasthe loveliest thing in the world, and that she didn't believe but Halwould write a book some day himself, he was so powerful fond of them.
To Charlie and Kit this was a great enjoyment. Indeed, it seemed asif in most things they listened more readily than they ever had toFlorence. Dear, sweet-souled Hal! Your uses and duties in the worldwere manifold. And yet it tries our faith to see such fine gold droppedinto the crucible. Is it those whom the Lord loveth?
They had a great time on Thursday. Joe was up early in the morning, ashe thought there was some fun in making an onslaught upon the army ofchickens; so when Hal and Granny stepped over the threshold, they saw agreat pile of decapitated fowls.
"Why, Hal, you'll make a mint of money!" exclaimed Joe. "I suppose youmean to put it in government bonds."
Hal only laughed.
But he and Granny were busy as bees all day. About four o'clock Mr.Kinsey came over to see how the packing progressed.
"There are just two dozen," said Hal; "and I shall have two dozen againnext week."
"They're beauties too! Why, I believe they go ahead of mine. You'veplucked them nicely. Poultry's pretty high this year; retailing attwenty-five and twenty-eight, I heard."
They weighed them, and then laid them snugly in the crate; plump andyellow, looking almost good enough to eat without a pinch of salt, Mr.Kinsey said.
"Now I shall send them all over to the station, and they'll go throughin the freight-train. Jim will soon be here with the wagon."
Joe and Hal counted up the possible profit that evening. They hadraised, with all their broods, sixty-five chickens. The actual outlayfor food had been seventeen dollars; and Hal had sold eggs to the valueof two dollars and a half.
"It's better than keeping store, I do believe!" ejaculated Joe. "Hal,you have a genius for farming."
"Does raising chickens prove it?"
"If a hundred of corn-meal costs two fifty, what will the biggestchanticleer in the lot come to? There's a question for you, Granny."
"Why, it would depend on--how much he weighed," said Granny cautiously.
"Oh, no! it would depend on how you cooked him. In my kitchen he'd cometo pot-pie, according to the double rule of a good hot fire."
"You won't sell 'em all, Hal?" said Charlie anxiously.
"No: we will have a little Thanksgiving for ourselves."
Granny sighed. They all knew of whom she was thinking,--a sweet,fair face dropped out of the circle. Now that Flossy was gone, theyremembered only her pleasant qualities; and it seemed as if Joe did notcare half so much for making a noise when she was not here to be teased.
Mr. Kinsey did not return until Saturday, but he came over with asmiling face.
"Royal luck for you, Hal!" he said in his hearty tone. "I've half amind to make you guess, and keep all that is over."
"But I might guess high;" and a bright smile brought sunshine into theboy's face.
"Try it, then."
"Thirty dollars," ventured Hal, rather hesitatingly. "Though I don'tbelieve it _is_ as much as that."
"Thirty-two dollars; and the same man has spoken for your next lot.They were about the handsomest chickens in the market."
"Oh! isn't that splendid?" said Hal. "Why, I can hardly believe it!"
"There's the money. I've always observed that there's no eye-salve likemoney;" and Mr. Kinsey laughed.
"You ought to have something for your trouble."
"No, my fine little fellow. I shall only take out the freight. I'm gladto see you so energetic; and I do hope you will prosper as well inevery thing you undertake."
Hal thanked Mr. Kinsey again and again, and insisted that he shouldcome over and do some work for the farmer; but that gentleman onlylaughed.
"Have your second lot ready on Tuesday evening," said he, as he wishedthem good-day.
The next was still more of a success, for they netted thirty-fourdollars. Hal was overjoyed.
"That certainly is 'bully!' our dear Flossy to the contrary," declaredJoe. "Why, I'm so glad that I could stand on my head or the tip of mylittle finger. What _will_ you do with it all? Granny, was there everso much money in this old house? It's lucky that I have a pistol tokeep guard."
Granny smiled, but a tear crept to the corner of her eye.
"Now let us reckon it all up," said Hal. "Here is my book."
Every item had been put down in the most systematic manner. They madea list of the expenses, and added the column, then subtracted it fromthe whole sum.
"Forty-seven dollars!"
"All that clear!" asked Granny in amaze.
"Yes. Isn't it wonderful?"
Joe could hold in no longer; but took a tour over the chairs, as ifthey had been a part of the flying trapeze. Hal's eyes were as large assaucers,--small ones.
"I wouldn't a' believed it! But you've been very ekernomical, Hal, andused every thing, and raised so much corn"--
"And the buckwheat-field was so nice for them! If we can only keep themcomfortable through the winter, and have them lay lots of eggs!"
"It's astonishing how contrary they are when eggs are scarce," said Joegravely. "What do you suppose is the reason, Charlie?"
"Forty-seven dollars!" said Charlie, loftily ignoring the last remark.
"Enough to buy me a fiddle," Kit remarked.
"It will have to buy a good many things," said Hal. "I am so very, verythankful for it."
Granny insisted that Hal should have a suit of clothes, and finallypersuaded him into buying a complete outfit. That took twenty-threedollars. Then some boots for Kit, shoes for Charley, a pretty dressfor Dot, a barrel of flour, and there was very little of it left.
"But it was really magnificent!" said Hal with a sigh of pleasure. "Ishall try it again next year, if you don't mind the trouble, Granny."
Granny said that she should not.
Their Christmas festival was quiet compared to the last one. Flossy hadhelped make them gay then, and there had been the wonderful shoe. Wouldany thing ever be quite as brilliant again?
"It almost seems as if Flossy was dead, doesn't it?" Hal said softlyto granny. "And yet I suppose she has had lots of presents, andis--very--happy."
"God keep her safely," answered Granny.
Before spring some changes came to Madison. Grandmother Kinsey died,having reached a good old age; and Mr. Kinsey resolved to put his petproject into execution,--removing to the West, and farming on a largescale. Everybody was very sorry to have them go. It seemed to Granny asif she were losing her best friend. Ah! by and by the world would lookvery wide and desolate.
But the Kenneths had a little recompense for their loss. In castingabout for a parting gift to Hal, fortune seemed to put an excellent oneright in his way. In having some dealings with Farmer Peters, he tookthe small piece of land that Hal had made so profitable, and deeded itto the boy.
"It is not much," he said; "but it may help along a little. I only wishyou were going out West with me. That's
the place for boys!"
Hal almost wished that he could.
"But you will come and visit us some day, I know. You are a brave,ambitious little chap, and deserve to prosper. I hope you will, indeed."
Hal was a good deal astonished, and wonderfully thankful for his gift.To think of being actual owner of some land!
"You beat the Dutch for luck, Hal! I never did see any thing like it,"was Joe's comment.
All Madison bewailed the Kinseys. They were some of the oldestsettlers, and it was like removing a landmark. Mrs. Kinsey did notforget Granny, but sent her many useful articles in the way of oldclothes, and some furniture that would have brought but a trifle atauction, yet served to quite renovate the little cottage. But whenGranny tried to thank her kind friend, Mrs. Kinsey said,--
"I've always been glad to do what I could; for when I thought of you atyour age, taking charge of all those little ones, it seemed as if everyone ought to stand by you. And they will be a comfort to you, I know.God will not let you go without some reward."
Granny wiped the tears from her eyes, and answered brokenly. One andanother were dropping out of her world.
She had hardly recovered from this blow when one night Joe came home inhigh glee.
"The luck's changed, Hal!" he said in his laughing, breezy voice. "Justguess"--
"More wages?"
"No indeed! Better still, a great sight. If you have tears, pleasewring out your pocket-hand_kerchers_, and prepare to shed 'em! Slightlyaltered from Shakspeare. I'm going to sea! Hip, hip, hurrah!"
Joe swung his old hat so hard that crown and brim parted, the crownlanding on the mantle-piece.
"Couldn't have done better if I'd tried. I'm a dead shot, for certain!"
"Going to sea?"
Granny came out at that.
"Yes. A cousin of Mr. Terry's has been visiting there; and we havestruck up a friendship and a bargain,--Cap'n Burton. He owns a sloopthat goes to Albany and around, and wants a boy who can keep books alittle, and all that. It's just as jolly as a lark!"
It was plain to be seen that Joe no longer stood in awe of Florence'sladylike reprimands.
Granny's eyes grew larger and larger. She fairly clutched Joe's arm asshe gasped,--
"Going--to sea!"
"Yes, Granny. Don't get solemn new, as if you thought a shark woulddevour me the first thing,--body and boots. You know it always _was_my idea, and this is real splendid! And there's no more danger thandriving Mr. Terry's grocery-wagon."
"But you might get drownded," Granny said awesomely.
"Tell you what I'll do, Granny. Tie a rope to my leg, and fasten itto the mast. Then you know, if I fall overboard, I can haul in. Thereisn't a bit of danger. Why, Capt. Burton's been all his life. There,don't cry. You are the dearest old grandmother that ever was; but wecan't stay under your wing forever."
"You have not made your bargain?" asked Hal, surprised that anotherdream should come true.
"Well,--almost. He's coming down here in the morning to have a talkwith Granny. He will give me ten dollars a month and found, which mean,tea and fish and baccy."
"Oh!" said Hal, "you won't chew tobacco?"
"Sailors always do. But ten dollars a month _is_ better than eight, andmy board thrown in. I'm going, Granny."
Granny sighed. It was useless to endeavor to talk Joe out of hisproject; and so she might as well keep silence.
Capt. Burton came the next morning. He had taken a wonderful fancy toJoe, and was very anxious to engage him.
"He's just the kind of lad that I need," exclaimed the captain. "Iwant some one who is handy, and quick in figgers; who can keep myaccounts for me, as my eyes are getting rather poor; and do arrants;and I've taken a 'mazing liking to him. I'll keep a good watch overhim; and he can come home once in a while."
"How far do you go?" asked Granny.
"To Albany, mostly. Now and then I take a trip around Long Island, orup the Sound. Your boy has taken a 'mazing fancy to the sea; and hewill never be satisfied until he's had a taste of salt water, in my'pinion."
"No, that I won't!" declared Joe stoutly.
"We haul off in the winter 'bout three months; which'll give him aholiday. Sence he hankers after it so, you better consent, I think.Cousin Terry will tell you that I ain't a hard master."
What could Granny say? Nothing but cry a little, look up Joe's clothes,and kiss him a hundred times, or more, after the fashion of Mrs. Malloyand her dear Pat. Joe was so delighted, that he could hardly "hold inhis skin," as he said to Kit, who sagely advised him not to get into acast-iron sweat,--Kit's chronic fear on remarkable occasions.
There was not much time for consideration. In two days Joe was off, bagand baggage, whistling, "The girl I left behind me."
And so the gay household thinned out. They missed Joe terribly. To besure, vacation commenced after a while; and Kit and Charlie were inmischief continually, or in rags: Granny hardly knew which was worse.
They had some glowing letters from Joe, who didn't believe there wasany thing finer in Europe than New York and the Hudson River. Capt.Burton was a "jolly old tar;" and nautical phrases were sprinkled aboutthick as blackberries.
Mr. Terry offered the place in the store to Hal, who consulted awhilewith Granny.
"I think I could make as much money by working round, and raisingchickens, and all that; and then I could go to school. I believe Ishould like it better; and there is so much that I want to learn!"
"But you know a master sight now, Hal," said Granny in admiration.
So the proposal was very kindly declined.
Charlie thought Fourth of July was "awful dull" this year. She lamentedJoe loudly.
"If she had only been a boy!" said Hal regretfully.
The latter part of July, Joe came home for a flying visit. It seemedas if he had grown taller in this brief while. His curly hair had beencropped close; and he was brown as an Indian. Charlie made herself aperpetual interrogation-point; and Joe told her the most marvellousyarns that ever were invented. She soon learned every thing about thesloop, and wished that she could be a sailor, but finally comfortedherself by thinking that she _might_ marry a sea-captain.
Then, to crown all, they had a letter from Florence. It was written ontinted paper, and had a beautiful monogram in green and gold. She wasvery well, very happy; had grown a little taller than Mrs. Osgood; andwas studying every thing. She could play quite well, and read French,and went to dancing-school, besides lovely little parties. Then thehouse was so elegant! She had never been homesick at all.
Perhaps she thought it would be wrong to wish to see them; for that wasnever once expressed.
"But I am glad she is happy," said Granny, striving to be heroic.