Chapter VI. Grandma

by Louisa May Alcott

  Chapter VI. GrandmaWhere's Polly?" asked Fan one snowy afternoon, as she cameinto the dining-room where Tom was reposing on the sofa with hisboots in the air, absorbed in one of those delightful books in whichboys are cast away on desert islands, where every known fruit,vegetable and flower is in its prime all the year round; or, lost inboundless forests, where the young heroes have thrillingadventures, kill impossible beasts, and, when the author'sinvention gives out, suddenly find their way home, laden with tigerskins, tame buffaloes and other pleasing trophies of their prowess."Dun no," was Tom's brief reply, for he was just escaping from analligator of the largest size."Do put down that stupid book, and let's do something," saidFanny, after a listless stroll round the room."Hi, they've got him!" was the only answer vouchsafed by theabsorbed reader."Where's Polly?" asked Maud, joining the party with her handsfull of paper dolls all suffering for ball-dresses."Do get along, and don't bother me," cried Tom exasperated at theinterruption."Then tell us where she is. I'm sure you know, for she was downhere a little while ago," said Fanny."Up in grandma's room, maybe.""Provoking thing! you knew it all the time, and did n't tell, just toplague us," scolded Maud.But Tom was now under water stabbing his alligator, and took nonotice of the indignant departure of the young ladies."Polly's always poking up in grandma's room. I don't see what funthere is in it," said Fanny as they went up stairs."Polly's a verwy queer girl, and gwandma pets her a gweat dealmore than she does me," observed Maud, with an injured air."Let's peek and see what they are doing," whispered Fan, pausingat the half-open door.Grandma was sitting before a quaint old cabinet, the doors ofwhich stood wide open, showing glimpses of the faded relicstreasured there. On a stool, at the old lady's feet, sat Polly, lookingup with intent face and eager eyes, quite absorbed in the history ofa high-heeled brocade shoe which lay in her lap."Well, my dear," grandma was saying, "she had it on the very daythat Uncle Joe came in as she sat at work, and said,'Dolly, wemust be married at once.''Very well, Joe,' says Aunt Dolly, anddown she went to the parlor, where the minister was waiting, neverstopping to change the dimity dress she wore, and was actuallymarried with her scissors and pin-ball at her side, and her thimbleon. That was in war times, 1812, my dear, and Uncle Joe was inthe army, so he had to go, and he took that very little pin-ball withhim. Here it is with the mark of a bullet through it, for he alwayssaid his Dolly's cushion saved his life.""How interesting that is!" cried Polly, as she examined the fadedcushion with the hole in it."Why, grandma, you never told me that story," said Fanny,hurrying in, finding the prospect was a pleasant one for a stormyafternoon."You never asked me to tell you anything, my dear, so I kept myold stories to myself," answered grandma, quietly."Tell some now, please. May we stay and see the funny things?"said Fan and Maud, eyeing the open cabinet with interest."If Polly likes; she is my company, and I am trying to entertain her,for I love to have her come," said grandma, with her old-timepoliteness."Oh, yes! do let them stay and hear the stories. I've often told themwhat good times we have up here, and teased them to come, butthey think it's too quiet. Now, sit down, girls, and let grandma goon. You see I pick out something in the cabinet that looksinteresting, and then she tells me about it," said Polly, eager toinclude the girls in her pleasures, and glad to get them interested ingrandma's reminiscences, for Polly knew how happy it made thelonely old lady to live over her past, and to have the children roundher."Here are three drawers that have not been opened yet; each takeone, and choose something from it for me to tell about," saidMadam, quite excited at the unusual interest in her treasures.So the girls each opened a drawer and turned over the contents tillthey found something they wanted to know about. Maud was readyfirst, and holding up an oddly shaped linen bag, with a big blue Fembroidered on it, demanded her story. Grandma smiled as shesmoothed the old thing tenderly, and began her story with evidentpleasure."My sister Nelly and I went to visit an aunt of ours, when we werelittle girls, but we did n't have a very good time, for she wasextremely strict. One afternoon, when she had gone out to tea, andold Debby, the maid, was asleep in her room, we sat on thedoor-step, feeling homesick, and ready for any thing to amuse us."'What shall we do?' said Nelly."Just as she spoke, a ripe plum dropped bounce on the grass beforeus, as if answering her question. It was all the plum's fault, for if ithad n't fallen at that minute, I never should have had the thoughtwhich popped into my mischievous mind."'Let's have as many as we want, and plague Aunt Betsey, to payher for being so cross,' I said, giving Nelly half the great purpleplum."'It would be dreadful naughty,' began Nelly,'but I guess we will,'she added, as the sweet mouthful slipped down her throat."'Debby's asleep. Come on, then, and help me shake,' I said,getting up, eager for the fun."We shook and shook till we got red in the face, but not onedropped, for the tree was large, and our little arms were not strongenough to stir the boughs. Then we threw stones, but only onegreen and one half-ripe one came down, and my last stone brokethe shed window, so there was an end of that."'It's as provoking as Aunt Betsey herself,' said Nelly, as we satdown, out of breath."'I wish the wind would come and blow'em down for us,' panted I,staring up at the plums with longing eyes."'If wishing would do any good, I should wish'em in my lap atonce,' added Nelly."'You might as well wish'em in your mouth and done with it, ifyou are too lazy to pick'em up. If the ladder was n't too heavy wecould try that,' said I, determined to have them."'You know we can't stir it, so what is the use of talking about it?You proposed getting the plums, now let's see you do it,' answeredNelly, rather crossly, for she had bitten the green plum, and itpuckered her mouth."'Wait a minute, and you will see me do it,' cried I, as a newthought came into my naughty head."'What are you taking your shoes and socks off for? You can'tclimb the tree, Fan.' "'Don't ask questions, but be ready to pick'emup when they fall, Miss Lazybones.' "With this mysterious speech Ipattered into the house bare-footed and full of my plan. Up stairs Iwent to a window opening on the shed roof. Out I got, andcreeping carefully along till I came near the tree, I stood up, andsuddenly crowed like the little rooster. Nelly looked up, and stared,and laughed, and clapped her hands when she saw what I wasgoing to do."'I'm afraid you'll slip and get hurt.' "'Don't care if I do; I'll havethose plums if I break my neck doing it,' and half sliding, halfwalking I went down the sloping roof, till the boughs of the treewere within my reach."Hurrah!" cried Nelly, dancing down below, as my first shake senta dozen plums rattling round her."'Hurrah!" cried I, letting go one branch and trying to reachanother. But as I did so my foot slipped, I tried to catch somethingto hold by, but found nothing, and with a cry, down I fell, like avery big plum on the grass below."Fortunately the shed was low, the grass was thick and the treebroke my fall, but I got a bad bump and a terrible shaking. Nellythought I was killed, and began to cry with her mouth full. But Ipicked myself up in a minute, for I was used to such tumbles; anddid n't mind the pain half as much as the loss of the plums."'Hush! Debby will hear and spoil all the fun. I said I'd get'emand I have. See what lots have come down with me.' "So there had,for my fall shook the tree almost as much as it did me, and thegreen and purple fruit lay all about us."By the time the bump on my forehead had swelled as big as a nut,our aprons were half full, and we sat down to enjoy ourselves. Butwe did n't. O dear, no! for many of the plums were not ripe, somewere hurt by the birds, some crushed in falling, and many as hardas stones. Nelly got stung by a wasp, my head began to ache, andwe sat looking at one another rather dismally, when Nelly had abright idea."'Let's cook'em, then they'll be good, and we can put some awayin our little pails for to-morrow.' "'That will be splendid! There's afire in the kitchen, Debby always leaves the kettle on, and we canuse her saucepan, and I know where the sugar is, and we'll have agrand time.' "In we went, and fell to work very quietly. It was alarge, open fire-place, with the coals nicely covered up, and the bigkettle simmering on the hook. We raked open the fire, put on thesaucepan, and in it the best of our plums, with water enough tospoil them. But we did n't know that, and felt very important as wesat waiting for it to boil, each armed with a big spoon, while thesugar box stood between us ready to be used."How slow they were, to be sure! I never knew such obstinatethings, for they would n't soften, though they danced about in theboiling water, and bobbed against the cover as if they were doingtheir best."The sun began to get low, we were afraid Debby would comedown, and still those dreadful plums would n't look like sauce. Atlast they began to burst, the water got a lovely purple, we put lotsof sugar in, and kept tasting till our aprons and faces were red, andour lips burnt with the hot spoons."'There's too much juice,' said Nelly, shaking her head wisely.'Itought to be thick and nice like mamma's.' "'I'll pour off some ofthe juice, and we can drink it,' said I, feeling that I'd made amistake in my cooking."So Nelly got a bowl, and I got a towel and lifted the big saucepancarefully off. It was heavy and hot, and I was a little afraid of it,but did n't like to say so. Just as I began to pour, Debby suddenlycalled from the top of the stairs,'Children, what under the sun areyou doing?' "It startled us both. Nelly dropped the bowl and ran. Idropped the saucepan and did n't run, for a part of the hot juicesplashed upon my bare feet, and ankles, and made me scream withdreadful pain."Down rushed Debby to find me dancing about the kitchen with agreat bump on my forehead, a big spoon in my hand, and a pair ofbright purple feet. The plums were lying all over the hearth, thesaucepan in the middle of the room, the basin was broken, and thesugar swimming about as if the bowl had turned itself over tryingto sweeten our mess for us."Debby was very good to me, for she never stopped to scold, butlaid me down on the old sofa, and bound up my poor little feetwith oil and cotton wool. Nelly, seeing me lie white and weak,thought I was dying, and went over to the neighbor's for AuntBetsey, and burst in upon the old ladies sitting primly at, their tea,crying, distractedly, "'Oh, Aunt Betsey, come quick! for thesaucepan fell off the shed, and Fan's feet are all boiled purple!'"Nobody laughed at this funny message, and Aunt Betsey ran allthe way home with a muffin in her hand and her ball in her pocket,though the knitting was left behind."I suffered a great deal, but I was n't sorry afterward, for I learnedto love Aunt Betsey, who nursed me tenderly, and seemed to forgether strict ways in her anxiety for me."This bag was made for my special comfort, and hung on the sofawhere I lay all those weary days. Aunt kept it full of prettypatchwork or, what I liked better, ginger-nuts, and peppermintdrops, to amuse me, though she did n't approve of cossetingchildren up, any more than I do now.""I like that vewy well, and I wish I could have been there," wasMaud's condescending remark, as she put back the little bag, aftera careful peep inside, as if she hoped to find an ancient ginger-nut,or a well-preserved peppermint drop still lingering in some corner."We had plums enough that autumn, but did n't seem to care muchabout them, after all, for our prank became a household joke, and,for years, we never saw the fruit, but Nelly would look at me witha funny face, and whisper,'Purple stockings, Fan!' ""Thank you, ma'am," said Polly. "Now, Fan, your turn next.""Well, I've a bundle of old letters, and I'd like to know if there isany story about them," answered Fanny, hoping some romancemight be forthcoming.Grandma turned over the little packet tied up with a faded pinkribbon; a dozen yellow notes written on rough, thick paper, withred wafers still adhering to the folds, showing plainly that theywere written before the day of initial note-paper and self-sealingenvelopes."They are not love-letters, deary, but notes from my mates after Ileft Miss Cotton's boarding-school. I don't think there is any storyabout them," and grandma turned them over with spectacles beforethe dim eyes, so young and bright when they first read the verysame notes.Fanny was about to say, "I'll choose again," when grandma beganto laugh so heartily that the girls felt sure she had caught somemerry old memory which would amuse them."Bless my heart, I have n't thought of that frolic this forty years.Poor, dear, giddy Sally Pomroy, and she's a great-grandmothernow!" cried the old lady, after reading one of the notes, andclearing the mist off her glasses."Now, please tell about her; I know it's something funny to makeyou laugh so," said Polly and Fan together."Well, it was droll, and I'm glad I remembered it for it's just thestory to tell you young things."It was years ago," began grandma, briskly, "and teachers werevery much stricter than they are now. The girls at Miss Cotton'swere not allowed lights in their rooms after nine o'clock, neverwent out alone, and were expected to behave like models ofpropriety from morning till night."As you may imagine, ten young girls, full of spirits and fun, foundthese rules hard to keep, and made up for good behavior in publicby all sorts of frolics in private."Miss Cotton and her brother sat in the back parlor after schoolwas over, and the young ladies were sent to bed. Mr. John wasvery deaf, and Miss Priscilla very near-sighted, two convenientafflictions for the girls on some occasions, but once they provedquite the reverse, as you shall hear."We had been very prim for a week, and our bottled up spiritscould no longer be contained; so we planed a revel after our ownhearts, and set our wits to work to execute it."The first obstacle was surmounted in this way. As none of uscould get out alone, we resolved to lower Sally from the window,for she was light and small, and very smart."With our combined pocket-money she was to buy nuts and candy,cake and fruit, pie, and a candle, so that we might have a light,after Betsey took ours away as usual. "We were to darken thewindow of the inner chamber, set a watch in the little entry, lightup, and then for a good time."At eight o'clock on the appointed evening, several of us professedgreat weariness, and went to our room, leaving the rest sewingvirtuously with Miss Cotton, who read Hannah More's SacredDramas aloud, in a way that fitted the listeners for bed as well as adose of opium would have done."I am sorry to say I was one of the ringleaders; and as soon as wegot up stairs, produced the rope provided for the purpose, andinvited Sally to be lowered. It was an old-fashioned house, slopingdown behind, and the closet window chosen by us was not manyfeet from the ground."It was a summer evening, so that at eight o'clock it was still light;but we were not afraid of being seen, for the street was a lonelyone, and our only neighbors two old ladies, who put down theircurtains at sunset, and never looked out till morning."Sally had been bribed by promises of as many'goodies' as shecould eat, and being a regular madcap, she was ready for anything."Tying the rope round her waist she crept out, and we let her safelydown, sent a big basket after her, and saw her slip round the comerin my big sun bonnet and another girl's shawl, so that she shouldnot be recognized."Then we put our night-gowns over our dresses, and were laidpeacefully in bed when Betsey came up, earlier than usual; for itwas evident that Miss Cotton felt a little suspicious at our suddenweariness."For half an hour we lay laughing and whispering, as we waited forthe signal from Sally. At last we heard a cricket chirp shrilly underthe window, and flying up, saw a little figure below in the twilight."'O, quick! quick!' cried Sally, panting with haste.'Draw up thebasket and then get me in, for I saw Mr. Cotton in the market, andran all the way home, so that I might get in before he came.' "Upcame the heavy basket, bumping and scraping on the way, andsmelling, O, so nice! Down went the rope, and with a long pull, astrong pull, and a pull all together, we hoisted poor Sally half-wayup to the window, when, sad to tell, the rope slipped and down shefell, only being saved from broken bones by the hay-cock underthe window."'He's coming! he's coming! O pull me up, for mercy sake!' criedSally, scrambling to her feet unhurt, but a good deal shaken."We saw a dark figure approaching, and dragged her in with morebumping and scraping, and embraced her with rapture, for we hadjust escaped being detected by Mr. John, whose eyes were as sharpas his ears were dull."We heard the front-door shut, then a murmur of voices, and thenBetsey's heavy step coming up stairs."Under the bed went the basket, and into the beds went theconspirators, and nothing could have been more decorous than theappearance of the room when Betsey popped her head in."'Master's an old fidget to send me travelling up again, justbecause he fancied he saw something amiss at the window.Nothing but a curtain flapping, or a shadder, for the poor dears issleeping like lambs.' "We heard her say this to herself, and ageneral titter agitated the white coverlets as she departed."Sally was in high feather at the success of her exploit, and dancedabout like an elf, as she put her night-gown on over her frock,braided her hair in funny little tails all over her head, and fastenedthe great red pin-cushion on her bosom for a breastpin in honor ofthe feast."The other girls went to their rooms as agreed upon, and all wassoon dark and still up stairs, while Miss Cotton began to enjoyherself below, as she always did when'her young charges' weresafely disposed of."Then ghosts began to walk, and the mice scuttled back to theirholes in alarm, for white figures glided from room to room, till allwere assembled in the little chamber."The watch was set at the entry door, the signal agreed upon, thecandle lighted, and the feast spread forth upon a newspaper on thebed, with the coverlet arranged so that it could be whisked over therefreshments at a moment's notice."How good everything was, to be sure! I don't think I've eaten anypies since that had such a delicious flavor as those broken ones,eaten hastily, in that little oven of a room, with Sally making jokesand the others enjoying stolen sweets with true girlish relish. Ofcourse it was very wicked, but I must tell the truth."We were just beginning on the cake when the loud scratching of arat disturbed us."'The signal! fly! run! hide! Hush, don't laugh!' cried severalvoices, and we scuttled into bed as rapidly and noiselessly aspossible, with our mouths and hands full."A long pause, broken by more scratching; but as no one came, wedecided on sending to inquire what it meant. I went and foundMary, the picket guard half asleep, and longing for her share of thefeast."'It was a real rat; I've not made a sound. Do go and finish; I'mtired of this,' said Mary, slapping away at the mosquitoes."Back I hurried with the good news. Every one flew up, briskly.We lighted the candle again, and returned to our revel. Therefreshments were somewhat injured by Sally's bouncing in amongthem, bit we did n't care, and soon finished the cake."'Now let's have the nuts,' I said, groping for the paper bag."'They are almonds and peanuts, so we can crack them with ourteeth. Be sure you get the bag by the right end,' said Sally."'I know what I'm about,' and to show her that it was all right, Igave the bag a little shake, when out flew the nuts, rattling like ahail-storm all over the uncarpeted floor."'Now you've done it,' cried Sally, as Mary scratched like a madrat, and a door creaked below, for Miss Cotton was not deaf."Such a flurry as we were in! Out went the candle, and each onerushed away with as much of the feast as she could seize in herhaste. Sally dived into her bed, recklessly demolishing the last pie,and scattering the candy far and wide."Poor Mary was nearly caught for Miss Cotton was quicker thanBetsey, and our guard had to run for her life."Our room was the first, and was in good order, though the twoflushed faces on the pillows were rather suspicious. Miss Cottonstood staring about her, looking so funny, without her cap, that mybedfellow would have gone off in a fit of laughter, if I had notpinched her warningly."'Young ladies, what is this unseemly noise?' "No answer from usbut a faint snore. Miss Cotton marched into the next room, put thesame question and received the same reply."In the third chamber lay Sally, and we trembled as the old ladywent in. Sitting up, we peeped and listened breathlessly."'Sarah, I command you to tell me what this all means?' "But Sallyonly sighed in her sleep, and muttered, wickedly,'Ma, take mehome. I'm starved at Cotton's.' "'Mercy on me! is the child goingto have a fever?' cried the old lady, who did not observe the telltale nuts at her feet."'So dull, so strict! O take me home!' moaned Sally, tossing herarms and gurgling, like a naughty little gypsy."That last bit of acting upset the whole concern, for as she tossedher arms she showed the big red cushion on her breast.Near-sighted as she was, that ridiculous object could not escapeMiss Cotton, neither did the orange that rolled out from the pillow,nor the boots appearing at the foot of the bed."With sudden energy the old lady plucked off the cover, and therelay Sally with her hair dressed . la Topsy, her absurd breast-pinand her dusty boots, among papers of candy, bits of pie and cake,oranges and apples, and a candle upside down burning a hole inthe sheet."At the sound of Miss Cotton's horrified exclamation Sally wokeup, and began laughing so merrily that none of us could resistfollowing her example, and the rooms rang with merriment farmany minutes. I really don't know when we should have stopped ifSally had not got choked with the nut she had in her mouth, and sofrightened us nearly out of our wits.""What became of the things, and how were you punished?" askedFan, in the middle of her laughter."The remains of the feast went to the pig, and we were kept onbread and water for three days.""Did that cure you?""Oh, dear, no! we had half a dozen other frolics that very summer;and although I cannot help laughing at the remembrance of this,you must not think, child, that I approve of such conduct, orexcuse it. No, no, my dear, far from it.""I call that a, tip-top story! Drive on, grandma, and tell one aboutboys," broke in a new voice, and there was Tom astride of a chairlistening and laughing with all his might, for his book had come toan end, and he had joined the party unobserved."Wait for your turn, Tommy. Now, Polly, dear, what will youhave?" said grandma, looking, so lively and happy, that it was veryevident "reminiscing" did her good."Let mine come last, and tell one for Tom next," said Polly,looking round, and beckoning him nearer.He came and sat himself cross-legged on the floor, before thelower drawer of the cabinet, which grandma opened for him,saying, with a benign stroke of the curly head, "There, dear, that'swhere I keep the little memorials of my brother Jack. Poor lad, hewas lost at sea, you know. Well, choose anything you like, and I'lltry to remember a story about it."Tom made a rapid rummage, and fished up a little broken pistol."There, that's the chap for me! Wish it was n't spoilt, then we'dhave fun popping away at the cats in the yard. Now, then,grandma.""I remember one of Jack's pranks, when that was used with greateffect," said grandma, after a thoughtful pause, during which Tomteased the girls by snapping the lock of the pistol in their faces."Once upon a time," continued Madam, much flattered by the rowof interested faces before her, "my father went away on business,leaving mother, aunt, and us girls to Jack's care. Very proud hewas, to be sure, of the responsibility, and the first thing he did wasto load that pistol and keep it by his bed, in our great worriment,for we feared he'd kill himself with it. For a week all went well;then we were startled by the news that robbers were about. Allsorts of stories flew through the town (we were living in thecountry then); some said that certain houses were marked with ablack cross, and those were always robbed; others, that there was aboy in the gang, for windows, so small that they were consideredsafe, were entered by some little rogue. At one place the thieveshad a supper, and left ham and cake in the front yard. Mrs. Jonesfound Mrs. Smith's shawl in her orchard, with a hammer and anunknown teapot near it. One man reported that some one tapped athis window, in the night, saying, softly,'Is anyone here?' and whenhe looked out, two men were seen to run down the road."We lived just out of town, in a lonely place; the house was old,with convenient little back windows, and five outside doors. Jackwas the only man about the place, and he was barely thirteen.Mother and aunt were very timid, and the children weren't oldenough to be of any use, so Jack and I were the home-guard, andvowed to defend the family manfully.""Good for you! Hope the fellows came!" cried Tom, charmed withthis opening."One day, an ill-looking man came in and asked for food,"continued grandma, with a mysterious nod; "and while he ate, Isaw him glance sharply about from the wooden buttons on theback-doors, to the silver urn and tankards on the dining-roomsideboard. A strong suspicion took possession of me, and Iwatched him as a cat does a mouse."'He came to examine the premises, I'm sure of it, but we will beready for him,' I said, fiercely, as I told the family about him."This fancy haunted us all, and our preparations were very funny.Mother borrowed a rattle, and kept it under her pillow. Aunt took abig bell to bed with her; the children had little Tip, the terrier, tosleep in their room; while Jack and I mounted guard, he with thepistol, and I with a hatchet, for I did n't like fire-arms. Biddy, whoslept in the attic, practised getting out on the shed roof, so that shemight run away at the first alarm. Every night we arranged pit-fallsfor the robbers, and all filed up to bed, bearing plate, money,weapons, and things to barricade with, as if we lived in war times."We waited a week and no one came, so we began to feel ratherslighted, for other people got'a scare,' as Tom says, and after allour preparations we really felt a trifle disappointed that we had hadno chance to show our courage. At last a black mark was foundupon our door, and a great panic ensued, for we felt that now ourtime had come."That night we put a tub of water at the bottom of the back-stairs,and a pile of tin pans at the top of the front stairs, so that anyattempt to come up would produce a splash or a rattle. Bells werehung on door handles, sticks of wood piled up in dark corners forrobbers to fall over, and the family retired, all armed and allprovided with lamps and matches."Jack and I left our doors open, and kept asking one another if wedid n't hear something, till he fell asleep. I was wakeful and laylistening to the crickets till the clock struck twelve; then I gotdrowsy, and was just dropping off when the sound of steps outsidewoke me up staring wide awake. Creeping to the window I was intime to see by the dim moonlight a shadow glide round the cornerand disappear. A queer little thrill went over me, but I resolved tokeep quiet till I was sure something was wrong, for I had given somany false alarms, I did n't want Jack to laugh at me again.Popping my head out of the door, I listened, and presently heard ascraping sound near the shed."'There they are; but I won't rouse the house till the bell rings orthe pans fall. The rogues can't go far without a clatter of some sort,and if we could only catch one of them we should get the rewardand a deal of glory,' I said to myself, grasping my hatchet firmly."A door closed softly below, and a step came creeping towards theback-stairs. Sure now of my prey, I was just about to scream'Jack!'when something went splash into the tub at the foot of theback-stairs."In a minute every one was awake and up, for Jack fired his pistolbefore he was half out of bed, and roared'Fire!' so loud it rousedthe house. Mother sprung her rattle, aunt rang her bell, Jip barkedlike mad, and we all screamed, while from below came up aregular Irish howl."Some one brought a lamp, and we peeped anxiously down, to seeour own stupid Biddy sitting in the tub wringing her hands andwailing dismally."'Och, murther, and it's kilt I am! The saints be about us! how iverdid I come forninst this say iv wather, just crapin in quiet afther abit iv sthroll wid Mike Mahoney, me own b'y, that's to marry meintirely, come Saint Patrick's day nixt.' "We laughed so we couldhardly fish the poor thing up, or listen while she explained that shehad slipped out of her window for a word with Mike, and found itfastened when she wanted to come back, so she had sat on theroof, trying to discover the cause of this mysterious barring out, tillshe was tired, when she prowled round the house till she found acellar window unfastened, after all our care, and got in quitecleverly, she thought; but the tub was a new arrangement whichshe knew nothing about; and when she fell into the'say,' she wasbewildered and could only howl."This was not all the damage either, for aunt fainted with thefright, mother cut her hand with a broken lamp, the children tookcold hopping about on the wet stairs, Jip barked himself sick, Isprained my ankle, and Jack not only smashed a looking-glass withhis bullets, but spoilt his pistol by the heavy charge put in it. Afterthe damages were repaired and the flurry was well over, Jackconfessed that he had marked the door for fun, and shut Biddy outas a punishment for'gallivanting,' of which he did n't approve.Such a rogue as that boy was!' ""But did n't the robbers ever come?" cried Tom, enjoying the joke,but feeling defrauded of the fight."Never, my dear; but we had our'scare,' and tested our courage,and that was a great satisfaction, of course," answered grandma,placidly."Well, I think you were the bravest of the lot. I'd like to have seenyou flourishing round there with your hatchet," added Tom,admiringly, and the old lady looked as much pleased with thecompliment as if she had been a girl."I choose this," said Polly, holding up a long white kid glove,shrunken and yellow with time, but looking as if it had a history."Ah, that now has a story worth telling!" cried grandma; adding,proudly, "Treat that old glove respectfully, my children, forLafayette's honored hand has touched it.""Oh, grandma, did you wear it? Did you see him? Do tell us allabout it, and that will be the best of the whole," cried Polly, wholoved history, and knew a good deal about the gallant Frenchmanand his brave life.Grandma loved to tell this story, and always assumed her mostimposing air to do honor to her theme. Drawing herself up,therefore, she folded her hands, and after two or three little"hems," began with an absent look, as if her eyes beheld afar-away time, which brightened as she gazed."The first visit of Lafayette was before my time, of course, but Iheard so much about it from my grandfather that I really felt as if I'd seen it all. Our Aunt Hancock lived in the Governor's house, onBeacon Hill, at that time." Here the old lady bridled up still more,for she was very proud of "our aunt." "Ah, my dears, those werethe good old times!" she continued, with a sigh. "Such dinners andtea parties, such damask table cloths and fine plate, such solid,handsome furniture and elegant carriages; aunt's was lined withred silk velvet, and when the coach was taken away from her at theGovernor's death, she just ripped out the lining. and we girls hadspencers made of it. Dear heart, how well I remember playing inaunt's great garden, and chasing Jack up and down those windingstairs; and my blessed father, in his plum-colored coat and kneebuckles, and the queue I used to tie up for him every day, handingaunt in to dinner, looking so dignified and splendid."Grandma seemed to forget her story for a minute, and become alittle girl again, among the playmates dead and gone so manyyears. Polly motioned the others to be quiet, and no one spoke tillthe old lady, with a long sigh, came back to the present, and wenton."Well, as I was saying, the Governor wanted to give a breakfast tothe French officers, and Madam, who was a hospitable soul, got upa splendid one for them. But by some mistake, or accident, it wasdiscovered at the last minute that there was no milk."A great deal was needed, and very little could be bought orborrowed, so despair fell upon the cooks and maids, and the greatbreakfast would have been a failure, if Madam, with the presenceof mind of her sex, had not suddenly bethought herself of the cowsfeeding on the Common."To be sure, they belonged to her neighbors, and there was no timeto ask leave, but it was a national affair; our allies must be fed; andfeeling sure that her patriotic friends would gladly lay their cowson the altar of their country, Madam Hancock covered herself withglory, by calmly issuing the command,'Milk'em!' "It was done, tothe great astonishment of the cows, and the entire satisfaction ofthe guests, among whom was Lafayette."This milking feat was such a good joke, that no one seems to haveremembered much about the great man, though one of his officers,a count, signalized himself by getting very tipsy, and going to bedwith his boots and spurs on, which caused the destruction of aunt'sbest yellow damask coverlet, for the restless sleeper kicked it intorags by morning."Aunt valued it very much, even in its tattered condition, and keptit a long while, as a memorial of her distinguished guests."The time when I saw Lafayette was in 1825, and there were notipsy counts then. Uncle Hancock (a sweet man, my dears, thoughsome call him mean now-a-days) was dead, and aunt had marriedCaptain Scott."It was not at all the thing for her to do; however, that's neitherhere nor there. She was living in Federal Street at the time, a mostaristocratic street then, children, and we lived close by."Old Josiah Quincy was mayor of the city, and he sent aunt wordthat the Marquis Lafayette wished to pay his respects to her."Of course she was delighted, and we all flew about to make readyfor him. Aunt was an old lady, but she made a grand toilet, andwas as anxious to look well as any girl.""What did she wear?" asked Fan, with interest."She wore a steel-colored satin, trimmed with black lace, and onher cap was pinned a Lafayette badge of white satin."I never shall forget how b-e-a-utifully she looked as she sat instate on the front parlor sophy, right under a great portrait of herfirst husband; and on either side of her sat Madam Storer andMadam Williams, elegant to behold, in their stiff silks, rich lace,and stately turbans. We don't see such splendid old ladiesnow-a-days ""I think we do sometimes," said Polly, slyly.Grandma shook her head, but it pleased her very much to beadmired, for she had been a beauty in her day."We girls had dressed the house with flowers; old Mr. Coolidgesent in a clothes-basket full. Joe Joy provided the badges, and auntgot out some of the Revolutionary wine from the old Beacon Streetcellar."I wore my green and white palmyrine, my hair bowed high, thebeautiful leg-o'-mutton sleeves that were so becoming, and thesevery gloves."Well, by-and-by the General, escorted by the Mayor, drove up.Dear me, I see him now! a little old man in nankeen trousers andvest, a long blue coat and ruffled shirt, leaning on his cane, for hewas lame, and smiling and bowing like a true Frenchman."As he approached, the three old ladies rose, and courtesied withthe utmost dignity. Lafayette bowed first to the Governor's picture,then to the Governor's widow, and kissed her hand."That was droll; for on the back of her glove was stampedLafayette's likeness, and the gallant old gentleman kissed his ownface."Then some of the young ladies were presented, and, as if toescape any further self-salutations, the marquis kissed the prettygirls on the cheek."Yes, my dears, here is just the spot where the dear old mansaluted me. I'm quite as proud of it now as I was then, for he was abrave, good man, and helped us in our trouble."He did not stay long, but we were very merry, drinking his health,receiving his compliments, and enjoying the honor he did us."Down in the street there was a crowd, of course, and when he leftthey wanted to take out the horses and drag him home in triumph.But he did n't wish it; and while that affair was being arranged, wegirls had been pelting him with the flowers which we tore from thevases, the walls, and our own topknots, to scatter over him."He liked that, and laughed, and waved his hand to us, while weran, and pelted, and begged him to come again."We young folks quite lost our heads that night, and I have n't avery clear idea of how I got home. The last thing I remember washanging out of the window with a flock of girls, watching thecarriage roll away, while the crowd cheered as if they were mad."Bless my heart, it seems as if I heard'em now!'Hurrah forLafayette and Mayor Quincy! Hurrah for Madam Hancock and thepretty girls! Hurrah for Col. May!''Three cheers for Boston! Now,then! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!' "And here the old lady stopped, out of breath, with her cap askew,her spectacles on the end of her nose, and her knitting much theworse for being waved enthusiastically in the air, while she hungover the arm of her chair, shrilly cheering an imaginary Lafayette.The girls clapped their hands, and Tom hurrahed with all hismight, saying, when he got his breath, "Lafayette was a regular oldtrump; I always liked him.""My dear! what a disrespectful way to speak of that great man,"said grandma, shocked at Young America's irreverence."Well, he was a trump, anyway, so why not call him one?" askedTom, feeling that the objectionable word was all that could bedesired."What queer gloves you wore then," interrupted Fanny, who hadbeen trying on the much-honored glove, and finding it a tight fit."Much better and cheaper than we have now," returned grandma,ready to defend "the good old times" against every insinuation."You are an extravagant set now-a-days, and I really don't knowwhat you are coming to. By the way, I've got somewhere twoletters written by two young ladies, one in 1517, and the other in1868. The contrast between the two will amuse you, I think."After a little search, grandma produced an old portfolio, andselecting the papers, read the following letter, written by AnneBoleyn before her marriage to Henry VIII, and now in thepossession of a celebrated antiquarian: DEAR MARY, I have been in town almost a month, yet I cannotsay I have found anything in London extremely agreeable. We riseso late in the morning, seldom before six o'clock, and sit up so lateat night, being scarcely in bed before ten, that I am quite sick of it;and was it not for the abundance of fine things I am every daygetting I should be impatient of returning into the country.My indulgent mother bought me, yesterday, at a merchant's inCheapside, three new shifts, that cost fourteen pence an ell, and Iam to have a pair of new stuff shoes, for my Lord of Norfolk's ball,which will be three shillings.The irregular life I have led since my coming to this place hasquite destroyed my appetite. You know I could manage a pound ofbacon and a tankard of good ale for my breakfast, in the country,but in London I find it difficult to get through half the quantity,though I must own I am generally eager enough for the dinnerhour, which is here delayed till twelve, in your polite society.I played at hot cockles, last night, at my Lord of Leicester's. TheLord of Surrey was there, a very elegant young man, who sung asong of his own composition, on the "Lord of Kildare's Daughter."It was much approved, and my brother whispered me that the fairGeraldine, for so my Lord of Surrey calls his sweetheart, is thefinest woman of the age. I should be glad to see her, for I hear sheis good as she is beautiful.Pray take care of the poultry during my absence. Poor things! Ialways fed them myself; and if Margery has knitted me thecrimson worsted mittens, I should be glad if they were sent up thefirst opportunity.Adieu, dear Mary. I am just going to mass, and you shall speedilyhave the prayers, as you have now the kindest love of your ownANNE BOLEYN."Up before six, and think it late to go to bed at ten! What acountrified thing Anne must have been. Bacon and ale forbreakfast, and dinner at twelve; how very queer to live so!" criedFanny. "Lord Surrey and Lord Leicester sound fine, but hotcockles, and red mittens, and shoes for three shillings, are horrid.""I like it," said Polly, thoughtfully, "and I'm glad poor Anne had alittle fun before her troubles began. May I copy that letter sometime, grandma?""Yes, dear, and welcome. Now, here's the other, by a modern girlon her first visit to London. This will suit you better, Fan," andgrandma read what a friend had sent her as a pendant to Anne'slittle picture of London life long ago: MY DEAREST CONSTANCE, After three months of intenseexcitement I snatch a leisure moment to tell you how much I enjoymy first visit to London. Having been educated abroad, it reallyseems like coming to a strange city. At first the smoke, dirt andnoise were very disagreeable, but I soon got used to these things,and now find all I see perfectly charming.We plunged at once into a whirl of gayety and I have had no timeto think of anything but pleasure. It is the height of the season, andevery hour is engaged either in going to balls, concerts, theatres,f^tes and church, or in preparing for them. We often go to two orthree parties in an evening, and seldom get home till morning, soof course we don't rise till noon next day. This leaves very littletime for our drives, shopping, and calls before dinner at eight, andthen the evening gayeties begin again.At a ball at Lady Russell's last night, I saw the Prince of Wales,and danced in the set with him. He is growing stout, and looksdissipated. I was disappointed in him, for neither in appearancenor conversation was he at all princely. I was introduced to a verybrilliant and delightful young gentleman from America. I wascharmed with him, and rather surprised to learn that he wrote thepoems which were so much admired last season, also that he is theson of a rich tailor. How odd these Americans are, with theirmoney, and talent, and independence!O my dear, I must not forget to tell you the great event of my firstseason. I am to be presented at the next Drawing Room! Thinkhow absorbed I must be in preparation for this grand affair.Mamma is resolved that I shall do her credit, and we have spentthe last two weeks driving about from milliners to mantua-makers,from merchants to jewellers. I am to wear white satin and plumes,pearls and roses. My dress will cost a hundred pounds or more, andis very elegant.My cousins and friends lavish lovely things upon me, and you willopen your unsophisticated eyes when I display my silks and laces,trinkets and French hats, not to mention billet deux, photographs,and other relics of a young belle's first season.You ask if I ever think of home. I really have n't time, but I dosometimes long a little for the quiet, the pure air and the girlishamusements I used to enjoy so much. One gets pale, and old, andsadly fagged out, with all this dissipation, pleasant as it is. I feelquite blas, already.If you could send me the rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and gay spirits Ialways had at home, I'd thank you. As you cannot do that, pleasesend me a bottle of June rain water, for my maid tells me it isbetter than any cosmetic for the complexion, and mine is gettingruined by late hours.I fancy some fruit off our own trees would suit me, for I have noappetite, and mamma is quite desol,e about me. One cannot liveon French cookery without dyspepsia, and one can get nothingsimple here, for food, like everything else, is regulated by thefashion.Adieu, ma chSre, I must dress for church. I only wish you couldsee my new hat and go with me, for Lord Rockingham promised tobe there.Adieu, yours eternally, FLORENCE."Yes, I do like that better, and I wish I had been in this girl's place,don't you, Polly?" said Fan, as grandma took off her glasses."I should love to go to London, and have a good time, but I don'tthink I should care about spending ever so much money, or goingto Court. Maybe I might when I got there, for I do like fun andsplendor," added honest Polly, feeling that pleasure was a verytempting thing."Grandma looks tired; let's go and play in the dwying-woom," saidMaud, who found the conversation getting beyond her depth."Let us all kiss and thank grandma, for amusing us so nicely,before we go," whispered Polly. Maud and Fanny agreed, andgrandma looked so gratified by their thanks, that Tom followedsuit, merely waiting till "those girls" were out of sight, to give theold lady a hearty hug, and a kiss on the very cheek Lafayette hadsaluted.When he reached the play-room Polly was sitting in the swing,saying, very earnestly, "I always told you it was nice up ingrandma's room, and now you see it is. I wish you'd go oftener;she admires to have you, and likes to tell stories and do pleasantthings, only she thinks you don't care for her quiet sort of fun. I do,anyway, and I think she's the kindest, best old lady that ever lived,and I love her dearly!""I did n't say she was n't, only old people are sort of tedious andfussy, so I keep out of their way," said Fanny."Well, you ought not to, and you miss lots of pleasant times. Mymother says we ought to be kind and patient and respectful to allold folks just because they are old, and I always mean to be.""Your mother's everlastingly preaching," muttered Fan, nettled bythe consciousness of her own shortcomings with regard tograndma."She don't preach!" cried Polly, firing up like a flash; "she onlyexplains things to us, and helps us be good, and never scolds, and I'd rather have her than any other mother in the world, though shedon't wear velvet cloaks and splendid bonnets, so now!""Go it, Polly!" called Tom, who was gracefully hanging headdownward from the bar put up for his special benefit."Polly's mad! Polly's mad!" sung Maud, skipping rope round theroom."If Mr. Sydney could see you now he would n't think you such anangel any more," added Fanny, tossing a bean-bag and her head atthe same time.Polly was mad, her face was very red, her eyes very bright and herlips twitched, but she held her tongue and began to swing as hardas she could, fearing to say something she would be sorry forafterward. For a few minutes no one spoke, Tom whistled andMaud hummed but Fan and Polly were each soberly thinking ofsomething, for they had reached an age when children, girlsespecially, begin to observe, contrast, and speculate upon thewords, acts, manners, and looks of those about them. A good dealof thinking goes on in the heads of these shrewd little folks, andthe elders should mind their ways, for they get criticised prettysharply and imitated very closely.Two little things had happened that day, and the influence of a fewwords, a careless action, was still working in the active minds ofthe girls.Mr. Sydney had called, and while Fanny was talking with him shesaw his eye rest on Polly, who sat apart watching the faces roundher with the modest, intelligent look which many found soattractive. At that minute Madam Shaw came in, and stopped tospeak to the little girl. Polly rose at once, and remained standingtill the old lady passed on."Are you laughing at Polly's prim ways?" Fanny had asked, as shesaw Mr. Sydney smile."No, I am admiring Miss Polly's fine manners," he answered in agrave, respectful tone, which had impressed Fanny very much, forMr. Sydney was considered by all the girls as a model of goodbreeding, and that indescribable something which they called"elegance."Fanny wished she had done that little thing, and won thatapproving look, for she valued the young man's good opinion,because it was so hard to win, by her set at least. So, when Pollytalked about old people, it recalled this scene and made Fan cross.Polly was remembering how, when Mrs. Shaw came home that dayin her fine visiting costume, and Maud ran to welcome her withunusual affection, she gathered up her lustrous silk and pushed thelittle girl away saying, impatiently, "Don't touch me, child, yourhands are dirty." Then the thought had come to Polly that thevelvet cloak did n't cover a right motherly heart, that the fretfulface under the nodding purple plumes was not a tender motherlyface, and that the hands in the delicate primrose gloves had putaway something very sweet and precious. She thought of anotherwoman, whose dress never was too fine for little wet cheeks to lieagainst, or loving little arms to press; whose face, in spite of manylines and the gray hairs above it, was never sour or unsympatheticwhen children's eyes turned towards it; and whose hands neverwere too busy, too full or too nice to welcome and serve the littlesons and daughters who freely brought their small hopes and fears,sins and sorrows, to her, who dealt out justice and mercy with suchwise love. "Ah, that's a mother!" thought Polly, as the memorycame warm into her heart, making her feel very rich, and pityMaud for being so poor.This it was that caused such sudden indignation at Fanny's dreadfulspeech, and this it was that made quick-tempered Polly try to calmher wrath before she used toward Fanny's mother the disrespectfultone she so resented toward her own. As the swing came downafter some dozen quick journeys to and fro, Polly seemed to havefound a smile somewhere up aloft, for she looked toward Fan,saying pleasantly, as she paused a little in her airy exercise, "I'mnot mad now, shall I come and toss with you?""No, I'll come and swing with you," answered Fanny, quick to feelthe generous spirit of her friend."You are an angel, and I'll never be so rude again," she added, asPolly's arm came round her, and half the seat was gladly offered."No, I ain't; but if I ever get at all like one, it will be'mother'spreaching' that did it," said Polly, with a happy laugh."Good for you, Polly Peacemaker," cried Tom, quoting his father,and giving them a grand push as the most appropriate way ofexpressing his approbation of the sentiment.Nothing more was said; but from that day there slowly crept intothe family more respect for grandma, more forbearance with herinfirmities, more interest in her little stories, and many a pleasantgossip did the dear old lady enjoy with the children as theygathered round her fire, solitary so long.


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