CHAPTER XXIV.
CONCLUSION.
"What shall we do to celebrate your birthday, my child?" askedGrandmother Kitty, early in that first week of October on whoseSaturday the young girl would reach to the dignity of sixteen years."All the conditions of your life are so different from mine at yourage: seeming to make you both older and younger--if you understandwhat I mean--that I would like to hear your own wishes."
"They shall be yours, Grandma dearest. You always have such happyideas. I'd like yours best."
"No, indeed! Not this time. I want everything to be exactly as youlike this year; especially since you are now to assume the main chargeof some of our charities."
"I feel so unfitted for the responsibility you are giving me, SunMaid. I'm afraid I shall make many blunders."
"Doesn't everybody? And isn't it by seeing wherein we blunder andavoiding the pitfall a second time that we learn to walk surely andswiftly? You have been well trained to know the value of the moneywhich God has given you so plentifully and of that loving sympathywhich is better and richer than the wealth. I am not afraid for you,though it is an excellent sign that you are afraid for yourself. Now atruce to sermons. Let's hear the birthday wish. I am getting an oldlady and don't like to be kept waiting."
"Sunny Maid! you are not old, nor ever will be!"
"Not in my heart, darling. How can I feel so when there is so muchin life to do and enjoy? I have to bring myself up short quiteoften and remind myself how many birthdays of my own have gone by;though it seems but yesterday that Gaspar and I were standing by theSnake-Who-Leaps and learning how to hold our bows that we might shootskilfully, even though riding bareback and at full speed, yet----"
"I believe that you could do the very same still; and that there isn'tanother old lady----"
"Let me interrupt this time. Aren't you contradicting yourself? Wereyou speaking of 'old' ladies?"
"You funny Grandma! Well, then, I don't believe there's anotheryoung-old person in this great city can sit a horse as you do. If youwould only ride somewhere besides in our own park and just for oncelet people see you! How many Snowbirds have you owned in yourlifetime, Grandmother?"
"One real Snowbird, with several imitations. Still, they have beenpretty fair, for Gaspar selected them and he was a fine judge ofhorseflesh. You must remember that as long as he was with me we rodetogether anywhere and everywhere he wished. He was a splendidhorseman."
"He was 'splendid' in all things, wasn't he, Sun Maid?" asked thegirl, with a lingering tenderness upon the other's Indian name andknowing that it still was very pleasant in the ears of her who ownedit.
"He was a man. He had grown to the full stature of a man. That coversall. But let's get back to birthday wishes. What are they?"
"They're pretty big; all about the new 'Girls' Home' where I am towork for you. I think if the girls knew me, not as just somebody whois richer than they and wants to do them good, but as an equal,another giddy-head like themselves, it would make things ever so mucheasier for all of us. I would like to go through all the big storesand factories and places and find out every single girl who is sixteenand have them out to Keith House for a real delightful holiday. Andbecause I like boys, and presume other girls do, too--Don't stiffenyour neck, please, Grandmother; remember there were you andGaspar----"
"But we were different."
"Maybe; yet these girls have brothers, and I wish I had. Never mind,though. I'd like to invite them all out here for Saturday and Sunday.On Saturday evening we'd have an old-fashioned young folks' party,with games and frolics such as were common years and years ago. Then,for Sunday, there'd be the ministers who are to stop here during thatconvention that's coming, and they'd be glad, I know, to speak to usyoung folks. It's perfect weather, and all day these young things whoare shut up all the week could roam about the park, or read, or restin the picture-gallery or library, and--eat."
The Sun Maid laughed.
"Do you really stop to think about the eating? How many do you imaginewould have to be fed? And I assure you, my young dreamer, that, thoughit doesn't sound especially well, the feeding of her guests is one ofthe most important duties of every hostess. But I'll take that partoff your hands. You attend to the spiritual and moral entertainmentand I'll order the table part. Yet your plan calls for many sleepingaccommodations. How about that?"
"I thought, Grandmother, maybe you'd let me open the 'Barrack' again.That would do for the boys, and there's surely room enough in thisgreat house for all the girls who'd care to stay."
A shadow passed over the Sun Maid's face, but it--_passed_. In amoment she looked up brightly and answered as, a few hours later, shewas to be most thankful she had done:
"Very well. After the war was over and I closed it I felt as if Icould never reopen the place. Though Gaspar and my boys never saw it,somehow it seemed always theirs. I suppose because it had been builtfor the benefit of those who had fought and suffered with them. Now Isee that this was morbid; and I am glad I have never torn the buildingdown, as I have sometimes thought I would. You may have it for yourfriends and should set about airing and preparing it at once. Also, ifyou are to give so many invitations, you would better start uponthem."
"Couldn't I just put an advertisement in the papers? That's so easyand short."
"And--rude!"
"Rude?"
"Yes. There would be no compliment in a newspaper invitation. Wouldyou fancy one for yourself?"
"No, indeed, I should not. That rule of yours, to 'put yourself in hisplace,' is a pretty good one, after all, isn't it?"
"Yes. Now order the carriage and I'll go with you on your rounds andmake a list as we do so of how many will need to be provided for. Weshall have a busy week before us."
"But a happy one, Grandmother. Your face is shining already, even morethan usual. I believe in your heart of hearts you love girls betterthan anything else in this world."
"Maybe. Except--boys."
"And flowers, and animals. How they will enjoy the conservatories! Andit wouldn't be wrong, would it, to have out the horses between timeson Sunday and let these young things, who'd never had a chance, seehow glorious a feeling it is to ride a fine horse? Just around thepark, you know."
"Which would be quite as far as most of them would care to ride, Ifancy, for there are very few people who call their first experienceon horseback a 'glorious' one."
It was a busy week indeed, but a joyful one, full of anticipationconcerning the coming festivities. Never had the Sun Maid appearedyounger or gayer or entered more heartily into the preparations forentertainment. A dozen times, maybe, during those mornings of shoppingand ordering and superintending, did she exclaim with fervor:
"Thank God for Gaspar's money, that makes us able to give otherspleasure!"
"Grandmother, even for a foreign nobleman you wouldn't do half somuch!"
"Foreign? No, indeed. To all their due; and to our own youngAmericans, these toilers who are the glory of our nation, let everydeference be paid. Did you write about the orchestra? That was to playduring Saturday's supper?"
"Yes, indeed. I believe nothing is forgotten."
To the guests, who came at the appointed time, it certainly did notseem so; and almost every one was there who had been asked.
"I did not believe that there could be found so many working girls inChicago who are just sixteen," cried the gay young hostess, standingupon the great stair and looking down across the wide parlor, crowdedwith bright, graceful figures.
"I did. My Chicago is a wonderful city, child. But I do not believethat in any other city in the world could be gathered another suchassemblage. Typical American girls, every one. May God bless them!Their beauty, their bearing, even their attire, would compare mostfavorably with any company of young women who are far more richlydowered by dollars. And the boys; even with their greater shyness, howdid they ever learn to be so courteous, so----"
"Oh, my Sun Maid! Answer yourself, in your own words. 'It's in theair. It's just--Chicago!'"
When the fun was at the highest, there came a belated guest whobrought news that greatly disquieted the elder hostess, though none ofthe merrymakers about her seemed to think it a matter half asimportant as the next game on the list.
"A fire, broken out in the city? That is serious. The season is so dryand there are many buildings in Chicago that would burn likekindlings. However, let us hope it will soon be subdued; and there issomebody calling you, I think."
Although anything which menaced the prosperity of the town she lovedso well always disturbed the Sun Maid, she put this present matterfrom her almost as easily as she dismissed the youth who had broughtthe bad tidings. The housing and entertaining of Kitty's guests was anengrossing affair; and all Sunday was occupied in these duties; but onSunday night came a time of leisure.
It was then, while resting among her girls and discussing their earlydeparture in the morning--which their lives of labor renderednecessary--that a second messenger arrived with a second message ofdisaster.
"There's another fire downtown, and it's burning like a whirlwind!"
"We have an excellent fire department," answered the hostess, withconfident pride.
"It can't make much show against this blaze. I think those of us whocan should get home at once."
The Sun Maid's heart sank. The coming event had cast its shadow uponher and, foreseeing evil, she replied instantly:
"Those who must go shall be conveyed at once; but I urge all who willto remain. Keith House is as safe as any place can be if this firecontinues to spread. It is not probable, even at the best, that any ofyou will be wanted at your employers' in the morning. The excitementwill not be over, even if the conflagration is."
The company divided. There were many who were anxious about homefriends and hastened away in the vehicles so hastily summoned; butthere were also many whose only home was a boarding-house and who werethankful for the shelter and hospitality offered. Among these lastwere some of the young men, and the Sun Maid summoned them to her ownoffice and discussed with them some plans of usefulness to others.
"We shall none of us be able to sleep to-night. I have a feeling thatwe ought not. I wish, therefore, you would go out and engage all theteams you possibly can from this neighborhood; and go with them andtheir drivers to the threatened districts, as well as those alreadydestroyed. Our great house and grounds are open to all. Bring any whowish, and assure them that they will be cared for."
"But there may be thieves among them," objected one lad, who had akeener judgment of what might occur.
"There is always evil amid the good; but not for that reason shouldany poor creature suffer. Remember I am able to help liberally inmoney, and never so thankful as now that this is so. Go and do yourbest."
They scattered, proud to serve her, and thrilled with the excitementof that awful hour; but many were amazed to find that after a brieftime she had followed them herself.
The younger Kitty pleaded, though vainly, to prevent her grandmother'sdeparture, for the Sun Maid answered firmly:
"You are to take my place as mistress here. I will have the oldcoachman drive me in the phaeton to the nearest point advisable. Imust be on the spot, but I will not recklessly risk myself. Only, mydear, it is _our city_, Gaspar's and mine; almost a personalbelonging, since we two watched its growth from a tiny village to thegreat town it has become. Gaspar would be there with his aid andcounsel. I must take his place."
There were many who saw her, and will forever remember the noblewoman, standing upright in the low vehicle at a point where two waysmet; with the light of the burning city falling over her wonderfulhair, that had long since turned snowy white, and bringing out thebeauty of a face whose loveliness neither age nor sorrow could dim.
The sadness in her tender eyes deepened as she could see the cruelblaze sweeping on and on, wiping out home after home and hurling todestruction the mighty structures of which she had been so personallyproud.
"Oh, I have loved it, I have loved it! Its very paving-stones havebeen dear to me, and it is as if all these fleeing, homeless ones weremy own children. Well, it is--Chicago,--a city with a mission. Itcannot die. Let the fire do its worst; not all shall perish. There arethings which cannot burn. Again and again and again I have thanked Godfor the wealth he led my Gaspar, the penniless and homeless, togain--for His own glory. Let the flames destroy unto the limit He hasset. Out of their ruins shall rise another city, fairer and lovelierthan this has been; richer because of this purification and far moretender in its broad welcome to humanity."
Hour after hour she waited there, directing, comforting, assisting;giving shelter and sustenance, and, best of all, the influence of herhigh faith and indomitable courage. As it had done before, her clearsight gazed into the future and beheld the glory that should be; and,like every prophecy her tongue had ever uttered, this, spoken there inthe very light of her desolation, as it were, has already been morethan verified.
This all who knew the Beautiful City as it was and now know it as itis will cheerfully attest; and some there are among these who deem ittheir highest privilege to go sometimes to a stately mansion, setamong old trees, where in a sunshiny chamber sits an old, old lady,who yet seems perennially young. Her noble head still keeps its heavycrown of silver, her eye is yet bright, her intellect keen, and herinterest in her fellow-men but deepens with the years.
Very like her is the younger Kitty, who is never far away; who hasgrown to be a person of influence in all her city's beneficence; andwho believes that there was never another woman in all the world likeher grandmother.
"Yes," she assures you earnestly, "she is the Sun Maid indeed,--afountain of delight to all who know her. She has still the heart of achild and a child's perfect health. I confidently expect to see herround her century."
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Transcriber's note:
Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwiseevery effort has been made to remain true to the author's words andintent.
The Sun Maid: A Story of Fort Dearborn Page 26