II.
_AN EXCURSION._
A large omnibus stood before the door of Miss Ashton's house, and hadbeen waiting there some minutes. This was on a street where a line ofomnibuses ran, and every now and then some would-be passenger made forthe door of this one, when the driver would turn and say somethingwhich plainly disappointed him of his ride, at least in this particularstage.
If such an individual chanced to glance up at the windows of MissAshton's house, he saw there a row of little faces in each of theparlor windows; and these same faces brimming over with smiles anddimples at the sight of his discomfiture, and the consciousnessthat this omnibus had been chartered for their especial pleasure andconvenience, and that no mere passer-by had any right or title therein.
Some people smiled in return to the happy little group, and noddedgood-naturedly, as if to say,--
"Oh, yes! it is all right, and we are glad you are going to enjoyyourselves, and hope you will have a very pleasant time;" but one ortwo looked cross, frowning and shaking their heads or shoulders ina displeased manner, and as if they had no sympathy with any simplepleasure or frolic.
Upon each and all of these did the little observers pass remarks,according to what they believed to be their deserts.
"Look at that man," said Belle Powers, "how very displeased he looks.Just as cross as any thing, because the driver wouldn't let him go inour stage."
"I don't believe he likes children," said Bessie Bradford.
"No," said her sister Maggie, "I think he cannot be one of the happykind the Bible speaks about, that have their 'quivers full of them,'for which he is to be pitied, and we need not be very severe with him."
"But can't people like children and be glad they are going to havea nice time, even if they don't have any in their own homes?" askedCarrie Ransom.
"Yes, of course," said Maggie, always ready to find excuses for others;"but then probably that gentleman never had nice times himself when hewas a child, and so he does not know how to appreciate them."
Maggie's long words and elegant sentences always settled any doubtfulpoint, and the "cross gentleman," who still stood upon the sidewalkwaiting for the next passing omnibus, was now regarded with eyesof sympathy and pity, which were quite lost upon him as he scoldedand grumbled at the "fuss that was made nowadays about children'spleasures."
"Chartered for a troop of youngsters," he growled forth to anothergentleman, who coming up also opened the door of the omnibus, and wouldhave jumped in.
Upon which the new-comer drew back, looked up smilingly at the windowsof the house, nodded and waved his hand, receiving in return blushesand smiles for himself, with an answering nod or two from some of theleast shy of the group.
"He's glad," said Lily; "he is a nice gentleman, and I expect he haslots of little children who love him dearly, and that he tries to givethem a good time."
"And so is made happy himself," said Maggie. "There comes Patrick withthe shawls and wraps."
And now came Miss Ashton and a couple of lady friends, who hadvolunteered to go with her and help take care of the little party,bound for an excursion and ramble in the Central Park; and the signalbeing given for the merry group to take their places in the stage,forth they all fluttered, like so many birds; and amid much laughingand chattering stowed themselves away in the roomy conveyance.
They were all seated, and Patrick, Mrs. Bradford's man, who had been_lent_ for the occasion, was mounting to his seat beside the driver,when another gentleman, coming up with a quick step, pulled open thedoor of the omnibus, and popped in. He was plainly shortsighted, anddid not see how matters stood until he was fairly inside and lookingabout for a seat.
Perhaps, indeed, his hearing taught him first, for he might almosthave thought himself in a nest of sparrows with all that chirping andfluttering. A smothered laugh or two also broke forth as he entered,and he speedily saw that he had no right to a place there.
"Ah! private, I see. Beg your pardon, ladies," he said good-naturedly,and jumped out again, turning with a bow, and "I wish you a pleasanttime." Then, as he caught sight of a roguish face and a pair ofdancing eyes watching him with a look of recognition, he said,--
"Why, Lily, my dear! Glad to see you. Bound for a frolic? I hope youmay enjoy yourself; and your schoolmates as well. A merry day to you,birdies." With which he banged the door and watched them off.
"Who's that gentleman, Lily?" asked more than one voice.
"He is Kitty Raymond's father. His name is Mr. Raymond," answered Lily.
"He is a nice, pleasant gentleman, is he not?" asked Bessie.
"Well, yes, he is very pleasant," said Lily, "but then he is an awfulliar."
"Oh-h-h! ah! ah!" broke from one and another of the children at Lily'svery plain speaking; and Miss Ashton said reprovingly,--
"Lily, my child! what a very improper expression for you to use, and ofone so much older than yourself, too."
"I don't care," said Lily, "it is true, Miss Ashton. I know he tellsthe most dreadful untrue stories, and that does make him a liar, Iknow. If children say what is very untrue, people say it is a lie; andwhen grown-ups say what is not true to children I don't see why theyare not liars all the same. And Mr. Raymond don't tell little storieswhat you would call _fibs_, either, but real big, true _lies_, what Tomcalls whoppers. So, though he is pleasant and good-natured, I don'tthink he is so very nice; and I'm glad he is not my papa."
Miss Ashton hardly knew what to say, for if Lily's accusations weretrue,--and the child was not apt to accuse any one wrongfully,--herreasoning was quite just, and it was plainly to be seen that in someway her sense of right and truth had been grievously offended. Butstill she did not wish to have her speak in such an improper way, andshe was about to say so again, when Lily broke forth once more with,--
"Miss Ashton, I'll tell you, and you can just judge for yourself. Theother day I was spending the afternoon with Kitty, and her littlebrother wanted to go down stairs with us, and his papa did not want himto go; so he told him that the big black man in the closet in the hallwould catch him and put him up the chimney. And it _was a lie_! I sayit was a real, true lie," persisted Lily, who was apt to be emphaticin her choice of words, "for Mr. Raymond knew there was no black manthere, and he just made it up."
"Was the little boy frightened?" asked Belle.
"Yes, as frightened as any thing, and he really believes there is ablack man in that closet; and Willie Raymond, who is six years old,will not go past that closet without some big person. And I did feelnot very brave myself when I went past it," confessed Lily, "for all Iknew there was no black man there--and if there was, he wouldn't hurtme, the poor, old fellow--and knew it was just a--well, if Miss Ashtonsays so, I'll call it a _fib_, but I shall _think_ it was a lie."
Miss Ashton and the other ladies could hardly help smiling at Lily'stone; and the former felt that the child was so far right that shecould scarcely reprove her again for her indignant attack upon this toocommon form of deceit.
"And Mr. Raymond went and winked at me, just as if he thought _I_thought it was funny," pursued Lily; "but I thought it was only horrid,and I didn't smile a bit, but looked back at him very solemn. No, Idon't like him, and I'm not going to."
"You don't like him because you can't respect him," said Bessie withsolemn gravity.
"No, I just don't," answered Lily; "and I'm not going to go and have arespect for a person who tells--who says what is not true, not if theyare as big and as old as a mountain."
Lily's resolution was received with general approval; but now, at hersuggestion, the subject was changed. There was enough to talk aboutwithout taking any unpleasant thing; and how those little tongues didgo!
It was a mild, lovely day in the early spring, uncommonly warm forthe season,--just the day for an excursion. Modest crocuses, lovelyhyacinths and gay tulips were in bloom; the willows were just clothingthemselves in their first tender green, and every stream and springrippled and sparkled and sang as if it were rejoicing in its new l
ifeand liberty.
The park was fairly alive with children, who, like our little party,seemed determined to enjoy this bright, spring day to the utmost; butperhaps none were so gleeful and merry as our young friends.
The windows of the omnibus were open, and the little girls had allscrambled upon their knees that they might the better see what waswithout; and many a grave countenance was won to smiles by the sightof the bright, joyous faces as they rolled past, and the merry pealsof laughter which every now and then broke forth from the cumbrousvehicle. And they scattered not only smiles and bright looks whereverthey went, but other good things also.
Mabel Walton, who considered it almost impossible to enjoy oneselfwithout a quantity of candies and sugar-plums on hand, had beenfurnished by her over-indulgent mother with a large supply of thesedelicacies; nor were most of the others without their share; so thatMiss Ashton looked with some dismay upon the treasures which weredisplayed by one and another, fearing that her little flock mightsurfeit themselves with too many sweets before the day was over.
However, her mind was soon relieved, at least in a measure. For Mabelhaving doled out a handful of sugar-plums to each of her companions,Bessie Bradford called out as the carriage rolled slowly up a hillypart of the road,--
"Oh! see that little girl; what a nice face she has. But she looks sopale and sorry. I wish I had some pennies for her; but I will give hersome of my sugar-plums. Perhaps she don't have many."
Poor child! she looked as if she had not many loaves of bread, asshe ran by the side of the omnibus, holding up her thin hand. A pale,sorrowful little face it was that looked up into those, so rosy andhappy, above it; pinched, careworn, and old above its years, withthat look so often seen in the faces of the children of the poor.Yet, in spite of her extreme poverty, she was not very ragged or verydirty; and as little Bessie had said, she had "a nice face," an open,straightforward look, a gentle expression, and a clear, honest eye.
As she saw Bessie's hand outstretched, her face brightened, and as thelittle girl dropped two or three sugar-plums, she stooped hastily topick them up; but when she raised her head again, the old weary lookhad come back, deepened now by disappointment.
Just then the driver whipped up his horses and the omnibus rolled onfaster, leaving the child looking sadly after it, and making no attemptto pick up the sugar-plums now thrown out freely by all the littlegirls.
"Why! she looks as if she didn't like sugar-plums," said Belle.
"Impossible!" said Maggie. "There never could be a person so wanting insense as not to like sugar-plums."
"Maybe that man who lived in a tub did not," said Lily. "Maggie, I wasvery much interested in that man when you wrote to me about him, and Imeant to ask you a little more about him, but I did not think he couldbe a _wise_ man. What was his name?"
"Mr. Diogenes," said Maggie; "and the reason they called the oldcross-patch a wise man was because wise men were very scarce in thosedays. They only had seven in all that country; but when you are as faras I am in Parley's History you will learn all about them."
"I wonder what did make that little girl look so sorry," said Bessie,unable to forget the look of disappointment so plainly visible on thechild's face.
"I think, darling," said Miss Ashton, "that she expected pennies whenshe saw you were about to throw something out, and so was not satisfiedwith the candies. There was something interesting and sweet in herface."
"Here are some more poor children," said Bessie; "let's drop somesugar-plums to them and see if they care about them."
There could be no doubt as to the approbation of these new recipientsof the bounty of our little friends. At first it was difficult to tellwhether the pleasure was most enjoyed by those within the omnibuswho scattered with liberal hand, or by the outsiders who gatheredthe harvest; but as the enthusiasm of these last drew new claimants,and all waxed more and more clamorous, it soon became an annoyance,and Miss Ashton was obliged to put a stop to the shower, which hadalready received a check, as some of the younger children were becomingfrightened.
But Patrick and the driver were forced to threaten the obstreperouscrowd, and even to call for the aid of a policeman before they couldbe scattered, so that this diversion did not end so agreeably.
There was one thing gained, however, in Miss Ashton's opinion; and thiswas that the greater part of the sugar-plums had been disposed of,without hurt to her young charge.
Not that she objected to sugar-plums altogether. Do not think, mylittle readers, that she was, as Maggie would have said, so "wanting insense," as that; but she had been rather appalled by the sight of thenumerous tempting looking parcels that were produced, to say nothing ofMabel's over-abundant supply.
Our gay party made the round of the park, stopping for a while at anyplace of interest, and now and then alighting if they were so inclined.They hung for some time about the paddock where the deer are kept,putting their little hands through the palings and trying to temptthe pretty, gentle creatures to come nearer. But the deer were not tobe persuaded and although they watched the children with their mild,soft eyes in a very amiable manner, they held aloof and would notcondescend to a closer acquaintance.
The swans were less timid, and, as the children flocked down to theborder of the lake with their hands full of crackers and bread, cameswimming up, arching their graceful necks, and looking eagerly for thebits with which they were speedily treated. It was enchanting to seethem so friendly, and to have them feed from one's very hand.
The old gray arsenal, with its collection of wild animals, was not tobe visited until after they had taken their lunch. As they passed theCasino on their way up through the park, Patrick had been left there tomake all ready for them; and now they drove back and alighted. Pleasantand mild though the day was, the ground was still too cold and theair too fresh to permit of lunching out of doors; and, although thechildren entreated that they might be permitted to do so, Miss Ashtonwas too wise to yield.
The lunch was not quite ready when they reached the Casino, and thechildren were permitted to wander around and amuse themselves as theypleased for a few moments, provided they did not lose sight of thehouse, or go beyond call.
Bessie, Lily, and Belle had strolled a short distance away together,and had disappeared from the view of Maggie, Nellie, and Dora, whostood at the head of a short flight of stone steps leading up to theCasino. They had but gone around the other side of the hedge, however,and could not be far off.
Suddenly Lily and Belle came flying back with frightened faces, andrushed breathless and panting to where the other children stood.
Then Belle turned, and exclaimed,--
"Where's Bessie? Didn't Bessie come?"
No Bessie was to be seen, certainly; and Maggie, noticing the startledfaces of the other children, took alarm at once for her little sister,and started forward, crying,--
"Where is she? What has happened? Where's my Bessie?"
Before Belle or Lily could speak, Hattie darted from behind the hedge,laughing and mischievous; and, pointing her finger at the crimson facesof the two little ones, cried triumphantly,--
"Oh! didn't I take you in? Didn't I give you a fright, though?"
"What is it? Where's Bessie?" said Maggie again.
Hattie sat down upon the lower step, and doubling herself over androcking back and forth, said between paroxysms of laughter,--
"Oh, dear! Bessie is round there talking to the old fellow. She's allright. Didn't I play you two geese a nice trick, though? How you didrun! I didn't think you could be so taken in. Oh, what fun!"
"What!" exclaimed Lily, indignation taking the place of her alarm,"were you tricking us? Didn't he try to take your hair? Hattie, Hattie!you mean, mean girl! And you told us a real wicked story, too. How dareyou do it?" And Lily stamped her foot at Hattie, in a real passion atthe trick which had been played upon her.
The effect was different upon Belle. She was a sensitive little thing,easily overcome by any undue excitement; and, throwing herself upon
Maggie, she burst into a violent fit of sobbing and crying.
Miss Ashton and her friends heard and came to inquire into the trouble;and Hattie was now rather frightened herself as she saw the effect ofher foolish deceit.
Lily indignantly told the story, which amounted to this. It was awell-known fact, and had unfortunately come to the ears of our littlegirls, that some man had lately attacked several children, and suddenlysevered the hair from their heads, making off as fast as possible afterhe had done so. He did this for the sake of the hair, which he probablysold; but he was, of course, a bad man and a thief, and the childrenall felt much dread of him.
So when Hattie had come flying up to Bessie, Belle, and Lily, withoutany hat, and seemingly in a state of the wildest excitement, andhad told them, with every appearance of truth and of being herselfexcessively frightened, that "that old man there" had snatched off herhat and tried to cut her hair, they had readily believed her--as an oldman was really there--and had turned about and run away in great alarm.They had been terrified half out of their senses; and now here wasHattie confessing--yes, glorying, till Miss Ashton came--that she had"tricked" them, that she was "only in fun," it was all "a joke."
But her triumph was speedily brought to an end, when Miss Ashton sawBelle's state, and heard how it had been brought about. She sternlyreprimanded Hattie, and bade her go into the house, and remain there.
But where was Bessie?
The other children declared that "an old man was really there;" and, inspite of Hattie's confession that she had only been joking, Maggie'smind was filled with visions of her little sister's sunny curls inthe hands of a ruffian; and away she flew in search of her, quiteregardless of any supposed risk to her own wealth of dark, wavingringlets.