Bessie in the City

by Joanna H. Mathews

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  IX.

  _TWO LOST PETS._

  THAT night Maggie had a very bad earache. She tried to be patient, butthe pain was so severe that she could not help crying, and could get norest. Her father and mother were up with her almost all night, tryingto give her ease; but nothing did her any good until towards morning,when she fell into a troubled sleep.

  "Margaret," said Mr. Bradford at the breakfast-table, "is thatcommittee coming here this morning?"

  "Yes," answered Mrs. Bradford.

  "Mamma," said Bessie, "may I see it?"

  "See what,--the committee?"

  "Yes'm."

  Mrs. Bradford smiled. "I do not think you would care much about it,Bessie, and the committee will be too busy with its own affairs to careto see you."

  "Why, is it alive?" asked Bessie, in great surprise.

  "To be sure," said Fred, before his mother could answer; "did you neversee one?"

  "No," said Bessie, "could it bite me or scratch me?"

  "It could if it had a mind to," said Fred, "and--" He was stopped byHarry's hand over his mouth. Fred drew back his head, and looked angry.

  "You gave me leave," said Harry.

  "So I did," said Fred. "I beg your pardon, Bess, for plaguing you oncemore. The committee wont hurt you; it's nothing but a lot of ladies."

  "You should beg your mother's pardon, also, for answering a questionaddressed to her," said Mr. Bradford; "it is a rude thing to do. Cometo me, Bessie." He took her upon his knee, saying, "A committee is anumber of people who are appointed to attend to some particular thing.You know that the ladies in our church are going to make up someclothing to send to the children at the Five Points' Mission; do younot?"

  "Yes, papa."

  "Well, several of these ladies have been asked to make all thearrangements for the meetings, and to have everything in order, so thatthere may be no confusion when they come together to sew; and they arecalled a committee. Your mamma is one of the committee, and the ladiesare to come here this morning. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, papa."

  It was quite late when Maggie awoke, long past breakfast-time, andafter she was dressed, she found her breakfast arranged for her in thedoll's tea-set, and Bessie ready to wait upon her. But our poor littleMaggie could not enjoy even this very much; she was languid and quitetired out with pain, and her troublesome ear would not let itself beforgotten, so that she did not feel much like play. Mamma took heron her lap, rocked her, and read a new story-book, which suited muchbetter.

  "I am sorry that I shall have to leave you for a while, dear," shesaid. "If I had known that I was to have a little sick girl thismorning, I would not have asked the ladies to come here; but as it is,I must go down. I do not think I shall be away more than an hour, andyou will be patient; will you not? Nurse will take care of you."

  "And I will yead to her," said Bessie.

  So when the ladies came, and mamma had to go down-stairs, she laidMaggie on the lounge and covered her up, while Bessie sat down closebeside her with "Very Little Tales," and "Susie's Six Birthdays." Janehad taken Franky to the park, and nurse, seeing Maggie so quiet andcomfortable, thought that she might leave her awhile.

  "Baby's a bit fretful," she said, "and it's a shame to keep her inthe house this pleasant day. I'll just take her on the sidewalk for alittle fresh air. I'll not go out of sight, just up and down here apiece, and if Maggie wants anything, you can come down and call me,Bessie. I know you are to be trusted not to get in mischief."

  Bessie was rather proud of being left to take care of Maggie, andwillingly agreed to let nurse go. The house seemed very still after shehad taken baby away. Bessie heard nothing but the sound of her ownsweet little voice as she read "Susie," and presently, looking up, shesaw that Maggie was fast asleep.

  Flossy lay on the foot of the lounge, rolled up into a round ball, butwith his bright eyes wide open, watching Bessie. He had been friskingabout Maggie all the morning, trying to coax her to a game of play, buthe found it was of no use. He did not understand why his merry playmateshould be so quiet, nor did he approve of it. But he could not help it,and so, like a wise dog, he seemed to have made up his mind to bear it,though he lay watching and listening for the least sign of better times.

  Bessie laid down her book, and sat looking at Maggie. "My poor Maggie,"she said to herself, "she's so good and patient. I wish I could dosomething for her, and I wish Aunt Annie or somebody would come andsee us and tell her a story while mamma is down-stairs. Oh, I wishColonel Yush would come; he tells us better stories than any one.Wouldn't it be nice if he was to come while Maggie is asleep? and thenshe'd see him when she wakes up, and she'd be so glad. If he knew shewas sick, I'm sure he would come. I'll just go out on the sidewalk andask nursey if she wont take me over to the hotel door, and then I'll goup to my soldier's room and ask him to come and see Maggie."

  She rose up softly from her chair and went into the nursery, followedby Flossy, who, being very wide awake himself, had no mind to be leftwith the sleeping Maggie, and jumped down from the lounge to run afterBessie as soon as she stirred. Bessie went to the closet and took downher garden-hat and sack from the peg where they hung. The hat was veryshabby, for it had been worn all summer at the sea-shore, and had seensome hard use in the garden since she came home. But she could notreach her best one, and said to herself that this would do, if nursewould only let her wear it, of which she was not at all sure. She putit on, walked down-stairs, and out upon the front stoop; but she saw nosign of nurse. Up and down the street she looked, but the old woman wasnowhere to be seen.

  Now the truth was, that nurse had not intended to lose sight of thefront-door, but as she passed Mr. Hall's house, Miss Carrie was at thebasement window, and calling her, begged that she would bring the babyand let her speak to her. Nurse, always proud to show off her pet, waswilling enough, and for a few moments quite forgot her other nurslings,as well as the open front-door; and it was just during these fewmoments that Bessie came out to look for her.

  "Nurse said she wouldn't go far away," said Bessie to herself, "and shehas, and now I can't go and find the colonel, 'cause mamma wouldn'tlike me to go alone."

  Flossy had run down to the foot of the steps, and there he stood,wagging his tail, whisking and frisking, and altogether behaving like apuppy who had quite taken leave of his senses, so glad was he to be outof doors.

  "We can't go, Flossy," said Bessie, as, with a sigh, she turned to gointo the house. "We're very disappointed, but we must mind mamma. Come,Flossy, come. Don't you leave me, Flossy."

  But Flossy was not so obedient as his little mistress, and instead ofcoming back, he ran a short distance up the street, and then stopped,barking joyously, and looking back to see if she were following.Bessie went down the steps, calling him over and over again in sucha coaxing voice, that it was strange even such a wilful doggie couldresist. But it was of no use. Away went Flossy as fast as he couldrun, and frightened at the thought of losing her pet, and forgettingeverything else, away went Bessie after him. Up to the end of theblock, around the corner, and so down the other side of the square,till they came to the long, crowded crossing, over which Bessie wasnever allowed to go without some grown person to hold her hand. Over itwent Flossy, in and out among the carriages and omnibuses, escaping thewheels and the horses' hoofs in a way that was quite wonderful to see,until he reached the opposite corner, where he again waited for Bessie.But poor Bessie dared not cross by herself, and stood still in greattrouble.

  "I wish I was over at the hotel," she said to herself, as she lookedup at the great building opposite, "and then the colonel would take mehome."

  There was generally a tall policeman on the corner, whom Bessie knewquite well, for he had often taken her hand, and led her over, orsometimes even carried her if the stones were wet; but now he was notthere. In his place was another, who was a stranger to her, and now hecame over to her corner Bessie went up to him.

  "Will you please tell me where my policem
an is, sir?" she said.

  "Who is your policeman?" said the officer.

  "I don't know his name, but he takes me over the crossing, and mammadon't 'low me to go alone."

  "I suppose I can take you over as well as another," said he; "but yourmother must be a queer one to allow you to go out alone at all."

  "She didn't," said Bessie, "and I didn't mean to, but Flossy yan away,and I went to get him. Please take me over; I am afraid somebody willcatch him; then I'll go to the colonel's yoom, and he'll take me home."

  The policeman lifted her up, and carried her to the opposite sidewalk.Flossy was off again as soon as he saw her near him, but the officerran after him, and soon had him safe in Bessie's arms.

  "And what are you going to do now?" said the good-natured man. "You'reover small for running about the streets by yourself."

  "I am going to the colonel's," said Bessie. "I know the way, and he'lltake care of me."

  She thanked him, and ran off; but the policeman followed till he sawher go into the hotel as if she were quite sure of her way.

  "She's all right," he said to himself, and then went back to his post,thinking no more about the little stray lamb whom he had only helpedinto farther trouble.

  Bessie found her way without difficulty to the colonel's room, andseeing the door open, she peeped in. There was no one there but aservant-woman, who was dusting.

  "Where is my soldier?" asked Bessie.

  "Your soldier?" said the woman. "If you mean the lame gentleman, he andthe lady have gone out to ride. I don't want you here bothering roundwith your dogs. Go back to your own rooms;" for the woman supposedBessie to be some child who belonged in the hotel.

  "My soldier lets me come in his yoom when I choose, and it isn't yoursto talk about," said Bessie, very much offended, and she walked awaywith her head very straight.

  What should she do now? She would go back to the corner, she thought,and ask her friend, the policeman, to take her home. But she wasbecoming a little confused and frightened with all her troubles, andwhen she left the hotel, turned the wrong way. On she went, fartherand farther from home, though she did not know it, and expected everymoment to see the well-known crossing. Some few people turned andlooked at her, as she passed with her dog clasped in her arms; butshe did not act at all like a lost child, and it was easy enough tothink that she was some little girl playing about her home and perhapswatched by loving eyes.

  At last she came near a broad avenue, where the cars were passing upand down, and then she knew she was not on her way home. But justthen she heard music, and her eye was caught by a new sight. Quite acrowd was gathered upon the sidewalk, where were two men, one witha hand-organ, the other with a table on which little figures ofgayly-dressed men and women were spinning around. Bessie stopped tolook, standing back from the crowd; but three or four rough boys whowere hanging about took notice of her and her dog. Presently they cameup to her.

  "Whose dog is that?" asked one.

  "Mine and Maggie's," said Bessie.

  "You give him to me, and I'll give you this," said the boy taking alarge red apple from his pocket.

  "I can't even if I wanted to," said Bessie, "'cause he's half Maggie's."

  "Well, you give me your half, and Maggie's will run after it."

  "No," said the little girl. "I wouldn't give you my Flossy for fiftyseventeen apples;" and she walked away, but the boys followed.

  "Where did you get so much hat?" said one.

  "It is not much," said Bessie. "It is old and torn, 'cause I carriedpeach-pits and stones in it. Mamma is going to give it away."

  "I don't know who'd thank her for it," said another. "I guess your maspent all her money on your frock, and left none for your hat."

  "She didn't," said Bessie, angrily; "she has plenty left."

  "She's right stingy, then, to give you such a hat; it's only fit forthe gutter, so here goes!" and the rude boy twitched off the unluckyhat, and sent it flying into the middle of the street, where a carpassed over it. Bessie did not care much about her hat, but she wasfrightened and displeased.

  "You are very yude," she said, "and I wont walk by you. You sha'n'ttalk so about my mamma."

  "Maybe we'll walk by you though," said the boy, and they kept by herside for a few steps farther, when suddenly, with a loud yelp of pain,Flossy sprang from her arms, for one of the boys had pinched his tailso as to hurt him very much. The boys shouted, Flossy ran, they afterhim, and the next moment one of them caught him up, and they alldisappeared with him round the corner.

  Bessie ran on a few steps and then stood still, crying loudly withterror and distress. Several persons immediately stopped, asking herwhat ailed her, and if she were lost; but she only called, "Oh, Flossy,Flossy! oh, mamma! oh, Maggie."

  Among the people who stopped, was an old lady, who looked at Bessiethrough her spectacles in rather a severe manner, and as she askedquestions in a quick, sharp way, the little girl felt afraid of her,and would not answer. Poor lost baby! There she stood, bareheaded, withthe wind blowing her curls, her tiny hands over her face, crying sopitifully that some of those who stood by felt as if they must cry withher, but still no one could get a word from her.

  But presently a policeman came by, and Bessie, looking up, saw him andwas a little comforted; for though he, too, was a stranger, she feltsomehow as if every policeman was a friend; and she ceased her loudcries, though her sobs still came heavy and fast.

  "Here's a lost child," said one of the crowd.

  "Please take me home, sir," said Bessie, stretching out her hands tohim.

  The tall officer was pleased, and, stooping, lifted the little creaturein his arms.

  "Where do you belong?" he asked, kindly.

  "In mamma's house," said Bessie.

  "And where is mamma?"

  "In a committee," answered the child.

  "Humph!" said the old lady, who stood close at the policeman's side,"in a committee, with a parcel of other foolish women, I suppose, whileher babies go running wild about the streets. She'd better attend toher own affairs."

  "She hadn't," said Bessie, who thought every one had something to sayagainst her own dear mother,--"she hadn't, and you are naughty to saythat. She's a nice, pretty lady, and better than anybody, and not a bitfoolish; and, oh, I do want her so, I do want her so!" and she began tocry afresh.

  "There then, never mind!" said the policeman; "we'll find her prettysoon. Can't you tell me where you live?"

  Bessie had long since been taught this, but now, in her fright anddistress, she quite forgot the street and number of the house, and onlyshook her head.

  "Tell me your name then," said the man.

  "Bessie--Yush--Byad-ford," sobbed the child.

  "Brightford--Brightford," repeated the policeman. "Does any one hereknow any people of the name of Brightford?"

  Poor little Bessie! Between her sobs and the difficulty of pronouncingher r's, the officer had quite mistaken the name, and no one answered.

  "You'll have to take her to the station-house," said the old lady.

  "Oh, no, Mr. Policeman! I'm not to be taken up,--indeed, I'm not," saidBessie. "I wasn't naughty, and mamma wont say so, only Flossy yanaway, and the colonel wasn't in his yoom, and I can't find my street."

  "Poor baby!" said the policeman, as he felt her trembling in his arms."Nobody shall hurt you, my child; but if your people miss you, theywill send up to the station, and if I take you there, they will findyou right off. You can't tell where your mamma lives, hey?"

  "I sha'n't talk about my mamma," said Bessie; "everybody says naughtythings about her; but I want to go to her, and please find Flossy, Mr.Policeman."

  "Who is Flossy?" asked he.

  "He's her dog, I guess," said a boy who stood by. "Four big fellowsran away with him. I se'ed 'em. They cut up the alley, and down by theback lots. I guess you must cotch 'em in a hurry, or see no more of thepup."

  "Don't you believe that," said the policeman, as Bessie's tears andsobs came faster than ev
er. "We'll find him for you one of these days;but now I must see you safe;" and he moved on with the little girl inhis arms.

  "Do you think some one will come and find me pretty soon?" she asked.

  "To be sure they will. Have you a papa?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Then you be sure when he finds you are gone, he'll come right off tothe station-house to see if you are there. Why, the other day I pickedup a little chap in the street not nigh as big as you. He could scarcewalk, and couldn't speak a word plain, and there, when I got him to thestation, was his mother waiting for him."

  So the officer talked on kindly and pleasantly, till Bessie was alittle comforted, and when they reached the station, looked eagerlyround to see if any of her own friends were there awaiting her. Butno, there was no one there yet, only several policemen were sitting orstanding about, to one of whom Bessie's protector spoke, telling himwhere he had found her.

  "And now I am going back to my beat," he said to the child, "and if anyone comes that way looking for you, I'll send them right up here."

  Bessie's lip began to tremble once more. She had been terriblydisappointed to find that no one was waiting for her; and now here washer new friend going away, and leaving her with these strangers.

  "Don't you cry any more," said the second policeman, taking her fromthe arms of the first. "Why, those brown eyes of yours are almostwashed out. Come along with me, and see me send off a telegraph messageto the other stations to say you're here."

  "I couldn't help crying," said the little girl. "I had so many troublesto-day."

  "Bless your heart!" said the sergeant. "You shall tell me all aboutthem presently. Why, you are just about the size of my Jenny, and Iwouldn't like to see her looking that way."

  When the policeman spoke of telling him her troubles, it came intoBessie's mind that she had not told them to her Father in heaven, andcovering her face with her little hands, she whispered, "Dear Fatherin heaven, please let my own home father come and find me very soon,'cause I'm so tired, and I want my own mamma; and don't let thosenaughty boys hurt my Flossy, and let papa find him too."

  The officer heard the low, soft whisper so close to his ear, though shehad not meant he should. "Bless her!" he said to himself, "I guess herfather'll be brought along pretty soon after that."

  Bessie was now quite interested in watching the working of thetelegraph wires which were put in motion to carry the message that astray child was to be found at this station. One of the men who hadgone out came back, bringing her a cake and an apple, but though it waslong past her usual dinner hour, she could not eat.

  "Now," said the sergeant, sitting down and putting her upon his knee,"let us hear all about those troubles of yours;" for the kind manthought if he could make her talk of herself, he might find out whereshe belonged.