CHAPTER XII.
JOE'S FORTUNE.
Hal's chickens were a success again, though it cost more for him toget them to market this fall. And, since eggs seemed to be a veryprofitable speculation, they concluded to winter over quite a number,mostly spring broods. Hal enlarged their house; as he had a wonderfulgift, Granny declared, for building. And a very nice place it was, Ican assure you.
Granny still wove rag-carpets and the like, and now and then helped aneighbor at house-cleaning; but she had not worked out so much sincethe Kinseys went away. It troubled Hal to have her do it at all.
"When I get a little older, you never shall, Granny," he would say,giving her a fond hug; and she would answer,--
"You're a great blessing, Hal. Whatever should I have done without you?"
Dot grew nicely, though she was still "small for her size." Joe said.But now she kept quite well; and she was as fair as a lily, with tinygolden curls that never seemed to grow long. There the resemblance toFlorence ceased. She was such an odd, old-fashioned little thing! andreminded Hal more of Granny than any one else.
"It would be sweet to have her a baby always, now that she is well,and doesn't cry all the time," said Hal. "I'm sorry to have her loseall her crooked baby words. Joe use to laugh so over 'pety poket,' and'poky hontis,' and 'umbebella tause it wained.' Dear, dear! shall weever have such nice, gay times again, Granny, when there wasn't anything but mush and molasses for supper, and a crowd of hungry children?"
Granny sighed at the remembrance.
"And yet it is a comfort to grow up, and be able to do something foryou."
Hal studied hard, and spent much of his leisure time in reading.Charlie was wilder than a hawk, combining Joe's love of mischief withperfect lawlessness. Mr. Fielder tried every motive of reward, andevery method of punishment; and Charlie cried one moment, but laughedthe next, and, what was infinitely more aggravating, made all thechildren laugh. If every thing else failed her, she could draw funnyfaces on her slate, that set every one in a titter. And then sheclimbed trees, jumped fences, or perched herself on a post, and madeFourth-of-July orations. She could talk Irish with a true nationalscreech and whoop, or broken German as if she had just come over; shecould make "pigs under the gate," cats in a terrible combat, and alitter of puppies under your feet that would absolutely frighten you.
Nobody could see what Granny Kenneth would do with Charlie. Florence,now, had been a lady; but Charlie was a regular wild Indian. She couldwork like a Trojan, but she did not like it; and as for sewing--well,there was no word that could describe the performance. With all herfaults, she had a warm, tender side to her character. She fought Kit'sbattles, and always came off triumphant. She was never cruel to anything smaller and weaker than herself; and I think no one ever couldremember her telling a lie. But as Dot said in her sage way, with asolemn shake of the head,--
"She was the worstest child we had."
Joe came home the latter part of December as important as the GreatMogul himself. _We_ had been selling out the old craft, and werebargaining for a regular little beauty,--a trading-vessel to make tripsbetween New York and the West Indies, Cuba, and all those places. Theboys opened their eyes at that. Joe Kenneth actually going to Havana,to be feasted continually upon oranges, figs, cocoanuts, and bananas!
Why, it was wonderful! incredible! There _was_ nothing like being asailor, and travelling all over the world. Joe took upon himself thetallest kind of airs, confused the boys with his flying-jib and spankerand mizzen-mast and capstan and larboard and starboard, and fortyother things that he knew all about, and they didn't. And then thefrolics and tricks, the sailors' yarns, the storms and dangers, heldthem all spell-bound. Indeed, I don't believe Joe ever knew so muchagain in all his life.
Capt. Burton followed him about a week later. "The Morning Star" hadbeen purchased, and was being repaired a little.
The captain's principal errand in Madison was to see Granny Kenneth.
"Joe and me gets along tip-top," he said. "He's a sailor all over:there isn't a hair in his head but loves salt water. And I'm as gladto have him as he is to go; but, as we were making a new bargain allround, it wouldn't 'a been the thing not to come here and have a talkwith you."
"Yes," replied Granny with a bob of her curls, though for her life shecould not have told to what she was assenting.
"It's just here, you see. If the lad means to be a sailor, he can'thave a much better chance. He's smart and quick in figgers, which suitsme to a shaving; and I'd like to take him for the next two years. I'llgive twelve dollars a month, beginning now, and look after him as ifhe'd a been my own son. I had a lad once,--about like him. It all cameback when I was at Cousin Terry's last winter, watching him, so full ofpranks and tricks, and with a smile and a pleasant word for everybody.My Dick was jest so. I took him on a trip with me, for he had ahankerin' after the sea; but his poor mother she most grieved herselfsick. There wa'n't no gals to comfort her. He was all we had. So I lefthim home next time. I can jest see him, with the tears shining in hiseyes, and a' choking over his good-by; and then how he turned roundand put his face right between his mother's neck and shoulder, so's Ishouldn't see him cry. Well, when I came back my poor Dick was dead andburied."
Granny gave a little sob, and Capt. Burton drew the back of his handacross his eyes.
"Yes, 'twas a fever. His poor mother was 'most crazy. So I tried tocomfort her. 'Sweetheart,' said I, 'God is all over, on the sea as wellas the land, and he's brought our Dick into a better port, though wecan't understand it jest now in our grief. If we didn't know there wasa wiser hand than ours in it, we couldn't bear it; but that will helpto cheer a bit. But it was a hard blow."
Capt. Burton wiped his eyes, and cleared the huskiness from his voice.
"So I took a 'mazing fancy to this lad; and I'm proud to say I like himbetter'n better. He's trusty, for all his fun and nonsense, and brightas steel. So, if you'll agree, I will promise to do my best, and puthim along as fast as I can, so that by the time he's a man he will beable to manage a craft of his own. He's a smart lad."
Granny was glad to hear the good report; and as for the bargain,--why,there was nothing to do but to consent. She did not know as it would beany worse to have Joe go to Cuba than to Albany.
"It won't be as bad," said he. "Why, I can come home every time thatwe're in port unloading. It's the most splendid streak of luck that Iever heard of. And, Granny, I'm bound to go to China some day."
Granny consented inwardly, with a great quaking of the heart.
"And you'll have the green-house, Hal! Wasn't it funny that we shouldplan it all up in the old garret?"
Hal's eyes sparkled with a distant hope.
"Can't girls _ever_ go to sea?" asked Charlie.
"Oh, yes! they can go to see their friends and take tea, or go toEurope if they have money enough."
"I did not mean that!" she said with contempt.
"Tell you what, Charlie," and there was a sly twinkle in Joe's eye:"there is something that you can do if you would like to be a boy."
"What?" and Charlie was on tiptoe.
"Why, there's a kind of mill somewhere; and they put girls in it, andgrind 'em all up fine, and they come out boys!"
"O Joe!"
"Fact," said Joe solemnly.
"I wonder--if--'twould--hurt much?" and Charlie considered on herpowers of endurance.
That was too much for Joe, and even Hal joined the laugh.
"I knew it wasn't true," said Charlie, red with anger anddisappointment. "But I do hate to be a girl, and you having all the funand going everywhere."
"Well, you can run away. There is a bright opening for your future."
"You see if I don't!" returned Charlie.
So Joe went off again in capital spirits. At Capt. Burton's suggestionhe told Granny that he meant to give her half his pay; which she,simple soul, thought the noblest thing in the world.
"I mean to do a good deal for you by and by, Granny. I'll be a captainsome day, and
make oceans of money."
"It is nice to have Joe settled and in good hands," Hal said after hewas gone. "And I hope we'll all be an honor to you, Granny."
"You've been a comfort since the day you were born," was Granny'stremulous answer.
They found Joe's six dollars a month a great help; and then the twowere missed out of the dish, as well as the household circle. Hal stillkept to his thoughtful ways, reading and studying, and planning how heshould make his wants and his opportunities join hands. For somehow hedid mean to compass the green-house.
Joe's letters and stories were wonderfully entertaining. He beganto lose the boy's braggadocio: indeed, the facts themselves wereinteresting enough, without much embellishment. One by one theislands came in for a share. Moro Castle and all the old Spanishfortifications, the natives who were so new and peculiar, the differentmodes of life, the business, the days and nights of listless, lovelysailing, the storms and dangers, gave a great variety to his life.
Now and then he brought them some choice fruits; and, while Charlie andKit devoured them, Hal used to sit and listen to the description oforange-groves, and how pine-apples and bananas grew. It was somethingto have been on the spot, and looked at them with your own eyes,--everso much better than a book.
Thus the months and years ran on. Joe was past sixteen, tall, and,though not thin, had a round, supple look, and could dance a break-downto perfection. He did not practise standing on his head quite so much,but I dare say he could have done it with equal grace. He was just asdroll and as merry as ever; and you would always be able to tell him bythe twinkle in his fun-loving eye. In fact, Joe Kenneth was "somebody"at Madison.
Hal was much smaller of his age. Charlie began to evince symptoms ofshooting up into a May-pole, and being all arms and legs. She was stillthin, lanky indeed, and always burned as brown as a berry, except afew weeks at mid-winter; and her eyes looked larger than ever; whileher hair was cropped close,--she would have it so, and, to her greatdisgust, it seemed as if it was actually turning red.
"Because you always ran in the sun so much," Hal would say.
They heard from Flossy, who was happy and prosperous,--a great ladyindeed. She had elegant dresses, and went to grand parties, had createda sensation at Saratoga, been to Niagara Falls, and expected to spendthe winter at Fifth-avenue Hotel.
Ah, how far she had drifted beyond them! They could not cross thegolden river that flowed between. Did she ever long for them a little?Would she be glad to drop down upon them in all her glory and beauty,and be kissed by the dear old lips that prayed daily and nightly forher welfare?
There came some quite important changes to Madison. A new railroad wasprojected, that would shorten the distance to the intervening cities,and bring it within an hour's ride from the great emporium, New York.Then began a great era of activity. Streets were laid out around thestation; quite an extensive woollen-mill was put in operation, whichcaused an influx of population. The old sawing-mill was enlarged, sogreat became the demand for lumber; the Kinsey farm was divided intobuilding-lots, some rather elegant mansions were raised, and a newchurch erected.
The Kenneth place was rather out of range of all this.
"But our little farm may be quite valuable by and by," declared Hal."It would be astonishing, Granny, if you were to become a rich womanbefore you died."
"I'll have to live a good long while;" and Granny gave her cracked butstill pleasant little laugh.
Joe remained nearly two years and a half with Capt. Burton, when thecrowning good fortune of his life, as he thought it, occurred. This wasnothing less than an opportunity to go to China, his great ambition.
It almost broke Granny's heart. To have him away two or three monthshad appeared a long while; but when it came to be years--
"Of course I shall return," declared Joe. "Did you ever hear of a fishbeing drowned, or a bad penny that didn't come back? And then for asilk gown, Granny, and a crape shawl! You shall have one if you are ahundred years old, and have to hobble around with a crutch."
"I'd rather have you than a hundred silk gowns."
"And I expect you to have me. The very handsomest grandson in thefamily. If you are not proud of me, Granny, I shall cut you off with ashilling, and wear a willow garland all the days of my life, in tokenof grief."
So he kept them laughing to the latest moment; and, after all, it wasnot so very different from the other partings. But he declared, ifGranny didn't live to see him come home, he never should be able toforgive her.
Hal actually went down to New York to see him off, and had a pleasantvisit with Mrs. Burton. It was a great event in the boy's life.
"I didn't think there ever could be quite such a splendid place!" hesaid on his return. "And the great beautiful bay, with its crowds andcrowds of shipping, looking like flocks of birds in the distance; butthe people almost frightened me, for it seemed as if one could neverget out of the tangle. Then the park is just like fairy-land. And Ifound a place where a man buys cut-flowers, especially all kinds ofbeautiful white ones. And, Granny, one _could_ make a good deal ofmoney with a hot-house."
"I hope you'll have it," Granny answered; though, truth to tell, shehad no very clear ideas upon the subject, except that Hal of all othersdeserved to have his dream come true.
Hal had treated himself to a book on gardening, and another onfloriculture. He was fifteen now,--a steady, industrious little chap;and the farmers round were very glad to have him when they were ina hurry or ran short of help. For Hal had a good many very sensibleideas, and sometimes quite astonished the country people who went onin the same groove as their fathers and grandfathers. To be sure,they laughed and pooh-poohed a little; but, when his plans proved morefortunate in some respect, they admitted that he had an old head onyoung shoulders.
"I'm going to have some nice hot-beds for next spring," he said toGranny. "I'm sure I can sell early lettuce and radishes, and some ofthose things."
So he worked on, spending his leisure days in improving his own littlegarden-spot. The place had begun "to blossom like a rose," dear Joesaid. There were honeysuckle and roses trained over the house, makingit a pretty little nest, in spite of want of paint and a generaltumbling into decay. Over the kitchen part crept clusters of wisteria;and in front there were two mounds of flowers, making the smalldooryard bright and attractive.
The chickens had to be kept by themselves, on Hal's farm. Every dayhe felt thankful for that little plot of ground. Mr. Terry was gladto take all their eggs, for Hal managed that they should be large andchoice.
"And if I should have a hot-house by the time Joe comes back, it willbe just royal!"
Granny smiled.
Poor dear Hal! One day he was working out in the hayfield, gay as alark; and Farmer Morris said his boys did as much again work whenHal was there. The last load was going home. Hal mounted to the top,calling merrily to the group, when the horses gave a sudden start. Itseemed as if he only slid down, and the distance was not very great;but he lay quite still. They waited for a laugh or a shout, and thenran; but Hal's face was over in the grass.
Great brawny Sam lifted him up, uttering a sharp cry; for Hal wasdeathly white, and could not stand. A deep groan escaped the lips thathad laughed with gladness only a moment ago, and were now drawn to athin blue line.
They crowded round with awe-stricken faces.
"Oh, he isn't dead!"
"No, I guess not;" and Sam's voice had a quiver in it, as if tears werenot far off. "O father, father!"
Mr. Morris hurried to the spot.
"Poor Hal! Let's take him home, and send for a doctor. I wouldn't hadit happen for a hundred dollars! It'll about kill his grandmother."
Hal gave another groan, but did not open his eyes.
"Can't we rig up some kind of a litter? for, if he's hurt much, it willnever do to carry him by hand. Run get a shutter, Sam. Dick, go andbring a hatful of water. Poor boy! I'd rather it had been one of myown."
Dick flew to the brook, and brought back some water, with w
hich theybathed the small white face. Then Sam made his appearance, with ashutter on his shoulder.
"Raise him softly, so. Dick, run after Dr. Meade as fast as you can go.We'll take him home."
They lifted him with tender hands; but both soul and body wereunconscious of pain. Sam brushed away some tears with his shirt-sleeve,and Farmer Morris spread his linen coat over the silent figure. It wassome distance to Mrs. Kenneth's.
Charlie was firing stones at a mark; but she rushed to the gate andscreamed, "Granny, Granny!"
When Granny Kenneth saw them with their burden, a speechless agonyseized every pulse. She could not even utter a cry.
"He isn't dead," Farmer Morris hurried to say. "But it's a sad day'swork, and I'd a hundred times rather it had been my Dick."
"O Hal, my darling! The greatest comfort your poor old Granny had! No,I can't have him die. Oh! will God hear us, and pity me a little? I'vehad a sight o' troubles in my day, but this"--
They laid him on Granny's bed, and washed his face with camphor,feeling of the limp wrists, and chafing the cold hands.
A little quiver seemed to run along the lips, deepening into a shudder,and then a groan which they were thankful to hear.
"No, he isn't dead. Thank God for that!"
Fortunately Dr. Meade was at home, and he lost no time in coming overimmediately.
Mr. Morris and the doctor stripped off Hal's clothes, and began toexamine the limbs. The arms were all right,--ankles, knees, ah, whatwas this!
Hal opened his eyes, and uttered an excruciating cry.
Granny rocked herself to and fro, her poor old brain wild withapprehension, for his pain was hers.
"The trouble's here,--in the thigh. Not a break, I hope; but it's badenough!"
Bad enough they found it,--a severe and complicated fracture, andperhaps internal injuries.
"Do your best, doctor," said Mr. Morris. "I'm going to foot this bill;and if any thing'll save him"--
He sent Sam back for some articles that they needed, and triedpatiently to understand the full extent of the injury. Part of the timeHal was unconscious. And after a long while they laid him on his back,bandaged, but more dead than alive.
"My wife will come over and stay with you," Mr. Morris said to Granny."She's a master hand at nursing."
Dot hid herself in the shadow of Granny's skirts, clinging fast withher little hands; and Kit and Charlie huddled in the corner of thekitchen window-sill, crying softly. No one wanted any supper, exceptthe chickens, who asked in vain.
All night Granny prayed in her broken, wandering way. God had her owndear Joe up in heaven. Flossy was gone; little Joe was on the wideocean; and how could she live without her precious Hal! Not but what hewas good enough to be an angel, only--only--and the poor heart seemedbreaking.
God listened and answered. The August weather was hot and sultry; andHal had to battle with fever, with dreadful languor and mortal pain.He used to think sometimes that it would be blessed to die, and have alittle rest, but for Granny's sake!--
After the first fortnight the danger was over, and the case progressingfairly. Hal's back had received some injury, that was evident, andrecovery would be tedious. But Granny was so thankful to have him anyway.
Everybody was very kind. Mr. and Mrs. Howard came often; the Terryssent in many luxuries; Sam Morris drew a cord of wood, sawed, split,and piled it; and there was nothing wanting. But Hal lay there whiteand wan, his fingers growing almost as thin as Dot's little bird'sclaws.
"I can't understand why it had to happen to you, Hal," Granny wouldexclaim piteously. "Now, if it had been Charlie, who is alwayssky-larking round; but you, the very best one of 'em all!"
Hal would sigh. He couldn't exactly understand it, either. Butsomehow--God was so much greater than them all; and he _did_ keepwatch, for it was better to be lying here than in the churchyard yonder.
Mr. Fielder had gone away, and Hal felt the loss sorely. He was alittle afraid of Mr. Howard, and could not seem to talk of his plansand his flowers, and ask any question that puzzled him; though Mr.Howard kindly sent him entertaining books, and used to drop in for achat now and then.
September passed. Hal was still unable to sit up, and he began to growweary of the confinement.
"Granny," he said one day, "I believe I'll have to be a girl, and learnto make myself useful. I could knit a little once, or I might sewpatchwork. There is no one to laugh at me."
"Dear heart, so you shall," replied Granny.
So she cut him out a pile of pretty bright calicoes begged of thedressmaker. And then he knit Charlie a pair of yarn mittens, andcrocheted some edging for Dot's white apron.
Indeed, Dot was a great comfort to him. She used to climb up on his bedwith her "Red Riding Hood," or "Mother Goose Melodies," and read himstories by the hour. Then she would twine her fingers in his soft brownhair to make him "pretty," as she said, and cuddle him in various ways,always ending with a host of kisses and, "Dotty so sorry for you, Hal!"
For she was still a little midget, and cried so dreadfully the firstday she went to school that they let her stay home. Hal had taught hera great deal; but she was so shy that she would hardly say a word to astranger.
Charlie began to improve a little, it must be confessed; though shehad fits of abstraction, when she salted the pan of dish-water in thecloset, and threw the knives and forks out of doors, and one dayboiled the dish-cloth instead of the potatoes, which Hal fancied mustbe army-soup; and sometimes, without the slightest apparent cause, shewould almost laugh herself into hysterics.
"What _is_ the matter?" Granny would ask. "Are you out of your head?"
And Charlie would answer, "I was only thinking."
"I'd like to get inside of her brain, and see what was there," Halwould sometimes remark.
The chickens had to be made ready and taken to market this year withoutany of Hal's assistance. And then he began to wonder if he ever wouldget well? Suppose he did not?