A Little Girl of Long Ago; Or, Hannah Ann

by Amanda M. Douglas

  CHAPTER VIII

  GOING VISITING

  "Don't you want to tell me about your little friend?" Mrs. French saidwhen she had put Hanny in the hammock, and hedged her about with silkencushions. She sat in a willow rocker that Hanny thought quite asfascinating as the hammock.

  "Oh, yes," and Hanny smiled brightly, and, like a true biographer beganat the beginning, the first time the children had seen Daisy, with herlong golden curls and pallid face, like a snow-drift. And how Doctor Joehad been in the hospital when she had the operation performed.

  "Poor little thing!" exclaimed Mrs. French. "And now there is somethingthey can use that gives a blessed unconsciousness, and when you wake upthe worst of the pain is over. I do not know how any one could enduresuch torture."

  "Joe said she was very brave, though she fainted several times. Andshe's growing straight and tall, and her hair curls lovely again. I havealways wished my hair curled naturally. It just twists a little at theends, but won't make ringlets."

  People in those days curled their hair a great deal; but they had to putit in papers. Patent curlers, like a great many other things, had notbeen invented. When you wanted to be very fine, you went to thehair-dresser's. The real society ladies had some one come to the houseto "do" their hair; and sometimes it was very elaborate.

  Mrs. French thought curly hair would not improve the little girl. Therewas something charming in her very simplicity, and her hair was likefloss silk.

  As she told about Daisy she detailed bits of neighbourhood life, anddescriptions of the other children. Mrs. French heard about John RobertCharles and his mother.

  "But she's so different now. She is not real strong any more; and thenCharles is such a big boy, and goes out with his father. It's queer, butJim and he are great friends, and Jim goes over there to study withCharles. Mrs. Reed did not use to like boys; and Jim is so full of funand pranks, mother calls them, and he knows so many funny stories!Mother tries very hard not to laugh at them; but she can't always helpit."

  The evening passed so quickly that it was bed-time before either of themrealised it. Mrs. French took the large square pillows off the bed, andlaid one of the silken spreads over the footboard. How beautiful andsoft they were, with great flowers so natural it seemed as if you couldpick them up! And the fragrance was so delicate and puzzling: one momentyou thought it violets, then it suggested roses and lilies and the smellof newly cut grass.

  Mrs. French kissed her, and said if she felt strange in the night tocall her; but she was asleep in five minutes, and never woke until quitein the morning, it was so much more quiet than in First Street.

  When she did sit up in the bed and glance around, she had a queerfeeling that she was a part of a fairy story, like the white cat in herenchanted palace, waiting for the Prince, or perhaps Psyche, blown fromthe hill-top to her beautiful place of refuge, where she found and lostLove, and had to do many hard tasks before she could regain him.

  She was quite sure, an hour or two later, that she _was_ in someenchanted realm. There were such queer things,--some beautiful, and someshe thought very ugly, especially the grotesque idols.

  "I couldn't believe a god like that had any power. And I am sure Icouldn't worship him," Hanny said emphatically.

  "They beat their gods sometimes and break them to pieces, and go off andget new ones. It seems very singular to us."

  The little girl had been deeply interested in Judson, the missionary toBurmah. There had been a good deal of romance about his last marriage,to "Fanny Forester," who wrote tales and sketches and poems, and hadmade herself quite a name for brightness and gay humour, and then hadsurprised her friends by going to India as a missionary's wife. And sheknew Bishop Heber's beautiful poem to his wife all by heart, and oftensang "From Greenland's icy mountains." So she had a feeling that she didknow something about India.

  But Mrs. French had really been there, and spent two months at Bombay,and almost six months at Calcutta. There were so many gorgeousthings,--silks, and bright stuffs with threads of gold, jackets allembroidery, and queer Eastern dresses, two made of pineapple cloth,--asheer, beautiful fabric,--and one had delicate flowers embroidered insilk.

  But the oddest of all, Hanny thought, was burning incense. Mrs. Frenchhad several curious incense bowls and jars. She lighted one, and in alittle while the room was filled with an indescribable fragrance and ahazy purplish air.

  "They burn incense in the Roman Catholic churches. Joe took us oneEaster Sunday. It was very strange, I thought. And a little boy swungthe--something--"

  "Censer."

  "Oh, yes, censer. And the singing was beautiful. But we couldn'tunderstand the prayers; Joe said they were Latin. I suppose he couldfollow them."

  "No doubt; I have attended some very grand services in churches abroadand in England."

  The incense burned out presently, and they went downstairs to dinner.Afterward, a niece and nephew, her brother's children, came. The girlwas not quite twelve, but most a head taller than Hanny, who felt rathershy with her. The boy was older still, and his name was Harold, whichsuggested to Hanny the last of the Saxon kings. But he was very dark,and didn't look like a Saxon, she thought.

  Mrs. French sent to the livery and ordered a carriage, and they all wentto drive. Hanny was quite conversant with upper New York and WestchesterCounty; but she had only been once to Brooklyn. It had quite a countryaspect then; but there were beautiful drives, and Greenwood Cemetery hadalready some extremely handsome monuments.

  There was something about Eva Bounett that suggested Lily Ludlow, andkept Hanny from liking her cordially. She laughed at so many things,made fun of them; and Hanny wondered if she was criticising her, andwould laugh at her when she returned home.

  Now and then, Mrs. French would remark, "Don't, Eva, that is not a nicething to say." Still she was bright, and at times Hanny had to laugh.She found so many Dickens' people along the streets; and really they didlook like the pictures by Cruikshank. And one tall fierce old woman,with wisps of hair hanging about her neck, and an old torn shawl, whowas brandishing her arms and talking wildly, she said was Meg Merrilies.

  The children remained to tea, and Harold played and sang some verypretty songs afterward.

  "But you ought to hear our sister Helen," declared Eva. "She sings inchurch, and sometimes at concerts; she's just magnificent. She'snineteen now. And Mary has a good voice; while I sing like a crow! Doyou do any of the fine things,--draw or paint? I take music lessons; butI make my teacher's hour vexation of spirit, not vanity," and she gave asatisfied kind of laugh.

  "I study music and French. I embroider and crochet--"

  "I hate sewing; I'd like to be a man and a sea-captain. Uncle French isjust magnificent; I hope he will take me to sea sometime; I'm not a bitsick; are you?"

  "I have never been to sea," replied Hanny.

  "Well, just a little ways; I've been down to the Fishing Banks; and it'sawful rough. And last summer we were at Great South Bay, and went out ina yacht; and I learned to row. At all events, I mean to marry asea-captain; and I'll just go with him every time."

  One of the older brothers dropped in for the children. Eva was veryeffusive in her good-bye, and kissed Hanny, and said she must surelycome to see her.

  Hanny felt quite relieved when she was alone again with Mrs. French, whotalked of Helen and Mary, and seemed to admire them very much. "But Idon't know what they will do with Eva. My half-sister, Luella, was justsuch a noisy harum-scarum; but she had only boys to play with. Now, sheis getting to be a nice lady-like girl."

  Hanny recalled two visits in Hammersley Street when Luella had kept herin a fright all the time.

  They went to church Sunday morning, and heard Helen Bounett sing. It wasvery fine and moving. Hanny wished Charles could hear her.

  About mid-afternoon, as they were sitting on the front piazza, which wasshady now, Hanny espied her two brothers. Why, Ben was quite as tall asJoe! He looked more like Stephen; but Joe was _very_ good-looking.

  She flew
down to meet them, and gave one hand to each brother.

  "Oh," she cried joyfully, "I've had a lovely time! I've been to Indiaand China; and I've had incense and ginger preserve, and some beautifulsilks to take home, and a pineapple handkerchief, and a ginger-jar; andI haven't been a bit homesick."

  Mrs. French was watching the eager little face that looked so pretty inits enthusiasm of love. Doctor Joe stooped and kissed her; Ben waiteduntil he was up on the porch.

  They were very cordially welcomed. Mrs. French said she was afraid apatient would come to hand at an inopportune moment.

  "The city is desperately healthy," returned Joe, laughingly. "That's ayoung doctor's experience. When I am wrinkled and grey-haired, I shallprobably tell a different story."

  "What do you think I have?" turning to Hanny. "A letter from Mr. Jasper.A steamer was just going out, so he sent a few lines."

  He handed it to her while he resumed his conversation with Mrs. French.

  Hanny devoured it with a thrill. A letter from across the ocean!

  They had a very pleasant journey, with only one storm worth mentioning.Mrs. Jasper, who had dreaded sea-sickness, had only a slight attack.Aunt Ellen was ill four days, and Daisy a whole week. Once they werequite alarmed about her. But her recovery was more rapid than they hadexpected; and now they were all well, and the ladies would write more atlength.

  An ocean voyage was quite an undertaking then. Some people of leisurewent by a packet, which took three weeks, occasionally longer.

  It was very odd to think of Daisy Jasper in England. But how many timesMrs. French had come home safely.

  Of course they must go out and see the flowers: the beautiful red rosewhose mother, or grandmother, had come from the Escurial at Madrid; anda real English hawthorn, from Windermere, just out of bloom now; andseveral valuable and curious foreign plants, quite common at this day.At the southern end there was a conservatory for the housing of the moredelicate ones.

  Ben was wonderfully interested with the indoor curiosities, and a caseof stuffed birds, the like of which he had never seen. They had a littlemore incense too, and opened jars of rare perfume that was nobody knewhow many years old. There were some Chinese paintings on finetransparent silk, and ivory carvings that were enough to puzzle themost astute brain. Ben thought he would like to spend at least a monthover them.

  Supper-time came too soon. Mrs. French said she had enjoyed every momentof Hanny's visit, and hoped to have her a whole week in the summervacation, and the young men must feel they would be welcome any time.

  "I've just been crowded full of delight," exclaimed Hanny, with hergood-bye kiss.

  It was quite a walk down to the ferry; then they had their sail across.How still and tranquil everything seemed! When they reached the city,people were going to church, and a few last bells were ringing. Theywalked leisurely up Grand Street; and, at the junction of East Broadway,Joe said he would run up to the office to see if he was needed foranything. Then Ben and Hanny kept on. There were a good many privateresidences in Grand Street, but the stores were creeping along. Alreadythey began to show foreign names, and on some stoops a whole Jewishfamily would be sitting with their black-eyed children. And so many ofthem had such beautiful curling hair that it made Hanny sigh.

  Across Norfolk Street to Houston, and a turn in their own First Street.Mr. Underhill had walked down to the corner, and was sauntering about.He was very glad to get his little girl home and hear about the goodtime.

  A fortnight later, the little girl had a letter from Daisy Jasper, allto herself. They had gone straight up to London on account of business,and were at a hotel; but it was all so queer and unlike New York. Shecertainly did like her own city best. But there would be so many thingsto see; not the least among them would be the Queen and Prince Albert,and the royal children, who were often out driving, and the Mall and theRow, and the palaces, and the Tower, and the great British Museum! Daisythought, if she went everywhere, it would take a whole lifetime. She wasbeginning to feel very well; but she admitted that she was awfullyseasick, and that it was "horrid." She wanted Hanny, and dear DoctorJoe. And Hanny must tell her about everybody in the street. She must getsome thin foreign paper, so the postage wouldn't cost so much.

  For then postage was regulated by the distance, and we had nointernational union. I think we were doing without a good many usefulthings; yet the older generation professed to believe there was so muchluxury and ease that people would be soon demoralised.

  Jim had rather fallen behind, with all his fun and nonsense, and wasstudying day and night. He wasn't going to have Charley Reed get so farahead of him! Examinations were coming on, and he didn't want any one tobe ashamed of him, neither did he want to be conditioned.

  The little girl was studying very hard also, and reading a great deal.She had taken up the wonderful things of London that had beenaccumulating year by year. She had thought New York was getting quiteancient, but, oh, dear! England had been colonised by Julius Caesar, andwas a country with a government even before that.

  There was no one to go out with, and she was too old to play. Lastsummer, they had gone around with Daisy in her wheeling-chair, and foundso many amusing incidents, beside being out of doors in the vivifyingair and sunshine. Josie Dean was almost a young lady, so tall that shewore her hair in a French twist, with a pretty silver comb, which was asmuch a girl's ambition as the big shell comb had been her mother's. AndTudie was just crazy over worsted work. She was doing a pair of coversfor large ottomans, and then meant to go at the back and seat for adaintily carved reception-chair. There were some nice schoolmates wholived up above Mrs. Craven's; but they seldom came down to First Street.And as the little girl never complained, no one seemed to notice thatshe grew pale and thin, until one day Mrs. Underhill exclaimed:--

  "Mercy me! What is the matter with that child! She looks like a ghost."

  "She never does have red cheeks except when she is excited," said herfather. "But she has fallen away."

  "Too hard study and too much staying in the house," said Doctor Joe.

  "But I _must_ study one week more," declared the little girl. "I'm goingto have a beautiful French exercise,"--they didn't always adapt theiradjectives to the fine shades of meaning,--"and I'm at the head inhistory. I want to get in the senior grade. I feel well, only tired, andmy head aches sometimes."

  Doctor Joe examined her pulse and nodded.

  "I'll give you the week," he said; but her heart went up to her throat.What if he had _not_ given her the week!

  They all came off with flying colours. Charles's Latin was the finest;but he had been studying it several years. Jim's essay won him muchpraise. And the little girl achieved her heart's desire. She was in thesecond grade of the seniors, and would graduate in two years.

  They had hardly decided what to do with her; but one day Mrs. Odell camedown with Polly, who had cheeks like roses and was fat as a seal, hermother said.

  "You just let her come up and stay awhile with us, and drink buttermilk,and run out of doors and play in the hay. She's lived in the city longenough for a country girl, and she wants a change to freshen up herblood. She's fairly blue, she's so white."

  "That wouldn't be a bad idea," rejoined Mr. Underhill. "We could driveup every few days and see her."

  Mrs. Underhill looked up much interested.

  Margaret was engrossed with her baby, and then she went out drivingevery day, though they did talk of going away for a week the last of thesummer. She was very fond of having her little sister visit her, andHanny enjoyed the talks about books and the delightful people theHoffmans were always meeting.

  All the Beekman daughters were going to stay awhile at the farm anddiscuss the settlement of the estate. The city authorities were to cuttwo streets through it in the early autumn. They had a very fair offerfor the house, from a second or third cousin who fancied he wanted apart of the old family estate. The ground, of course, was too valuablefor farming purposes. Annette's husband, who was in a shipping firm th
enon Water Street, preferred living down-town. So Mrs. Beekman would keepthe old city house, and they would live together.

  Dolly proposed to take the little girl, for there would be a largeout-of-doors.

  "There are too many grown people," declared Doctor Joe. "She's too oldherself, and too anxious for knowledge of all kinds. She wants to runand play with children. We must keep her a little girl as long aspossible, and not bother her brains with the wisdom of the ages. Sendher up to West Farms. As Father says, we can see her every few days."

  That settled the matter. Father Underhill did not care to give her upanyhow, and he was best pleased with this plan. Mrs. Underhill imaginedshe had so many things to do, as mothers of households did in thosedays, and somehow she did not like to hurry Hanny about as she hadMargaret. There really was not so much sewing. Joe insisted uponordering his shirts made; and Margaret had sent Ben half-a-dozen forChristmas. Then Barbara was very efficient, and, with true Germanthrift, improved every moment. She insisted on darning the stockings andknitting the woollen ones for winter. She was also a very neat hand atsewing.

  Mrs. Underhill had learned another lesson in her city life. There were agood many poor people who really needed work, and she found it a muchwiser plan to give them employment and pay them for it, and advise themto lay in coal and various other matters for winter. She was not astingy woman; but she did not believe in confirming people in indolenthabits.

  Martha came often to see them; and at times she felt almost jealous ofBarbara. But she had a very pleasant home, and her stepchildren provedtractable. She did a good deal of church work, and through her Mrs.Underhill heard of really worthy poor people.

  Hanny wasn't a bit enthusiastic about going to West Farms.

  "Janey and Polly seem so childish," she said to her brother Joe.

  "And you are getting to be a little old woman. We don't want you to turnold and grey before your time, and have to wear spectacles and allthat."

  "But I can see the least little thing," protested the child, earnestly."And if I do go, can't I take my 'Queens of England' with me? I had somany lessons that I couldn't read them as I wanted to."

  Margaret had sent the volumes to her for a birthday gift. She had justskimmed through them, and was saving them up for her leisure time.Everybody was talking about them, and recommending them to girls. MissStrickland certainly knew how to interest readers.

  Doctor Joe shook his head, with a sort of mirthful regret which couldn'thelp but soothe the disappointment a little.

  "I don't want you to read or to study, but just run out in the sunshineand get fat. If we have such a poor pale little thing in our family,people will wonder if I really am a good physician."

  He looked so grave, not a bit as if he was "making fun," that she gave asort of sighing assent.

  "If you get real homesick, you need not stay more than a fortnight. Butthere is a good deal to learn out of doors. There are trees and wildflowers and birds. I'll come up now and then and take you out driving."

  "I shall like that. I suppose I may write to Daisy Jasper?" she returnedwith a flash of spirit. "You see I want to know about London, andBerlin, and ever so many places, so that I won't seem like an ignoramuswhen she comes back."

  "You will have all winter to learn about them." Then he kissed her andwent off about his own business.

  She had to go and say good-bye to Stevie, who was just too sweet foranything, and Annie, and dark-eyed Daisy Hoffman.