CHAPTER XI
AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS
"IT is Mr. Lyon's suggestion," concluded Mrs. Lyon, "and Melvina iseager to come and live with you, Mrs. Weston, if Anna is ready to cometo me."
Mrs. Lyon, it seemed to Anna, had been talking a long time. She had saidthat Melvina was not very strong, and that possibly she was kept toomuch indoors; and then had come the astounding suggestion that, on thevery next day, Anna should go and live with the minister and his wife,and Melvina should come and take her place.
"Oh, do, Anna! Say you will," Melvina whispered, as the two little girlsfound a chance to speak together while their mothers discussed the plan.For Melvina was sure that if she came to live in Anna's home she wouldbecome exactly like Anna; as brave and as independent, and who couldtell but what she might grow to look like her as well!
The same thought came to Anna. Of course, if she lived with Mrs. Lyonshe would learn to behave exactly like Melvina. But to go away from herfather and mother and from Rebby; this seemed hardly to be possible.
"Do you want me to go, Mother?" she asked, half hoping that her mothermight say at once that it was not to be thought of.
"I must talk with your father; 'tis a great opportunity for your good,and I am sure he will be pleased," replied Mrs. Weston. For had not theReverend Mr. Lyon written a book, and, it was rumored, composed musicfor hymns; for any little girl to live in his family would be a highprivilege. And this was what Mr. Weston thought when he heard of theplan.
"Why, it is a wise scheme indeed," he said gravely; "my little Danna isbeing too much favored at home, and to be with the minister and his wifewill teach her as much as a term in school."
"But I am not to stay long, Father. I am only to stay for two weeks,"said Anna, "and you must not learn to think Melvina is your littlegirl."
"Mr. Lyon wishes Melvina to run about as freely as we have allowedAnna," Mrs. Weston explained, "and to have no lessons or tasks of anykind, and to spend an hour each afternoon at home while Anna does thesame."
"But I am to have lessons, just as if I were Melvina," Anna declared,and before bedtime it was decided that on the next day Anna should go tothe minister's to remain a fortnight.
Rebecca was the only one who did not think well of the plan. "I do notwant Danna to go," she said over and over; and added that she should notknow how to treat Melvina, or what to say to her. It was Rebecca whowent with Anna to Mr. Lyon, carrying the small package containing Anna'sclothing, and she brought back Melvina's carefully packed basket. Mrs.Lyon looked worried and anxious as she saw Melvina start off for theWestons'; but she gave her no cautions or directions, beyond telling herto be obedient to Mrs. Weston. Then she took Anna's hand and led herup-stairs to the pleasant room where she and Melvina had played sohappily with the rabbits.
"You can leave your sunbonnet here, Anna, and then come down to thelibrary. This is the hour for your lesson in English history."
"'English history,'" Anna repeated to herself excitedly. She wonderedwhat it could mean. But if it was something that Melvina did she waseager to begin.
Mr. Lyon smiled down at his little visitor as she curtsied in thedoorway. He hoped his own little daughter might return with eyes asbright and cheeks as glowing.
"This is where Melvina sits for her study hour," he said, pointing to asmall chair near a side window. There was a table in front of the chair,and on the table was spread a brightly colored map.
"To-day we are to discover something of the English opinion ofAmericans," began Mr. Lyon, taking up a small book. "It is always wiseto know the important affairs of the time in which we live, is it not,Anna?" he said thoughtfully.
"Yes, sir," responded Anna seriously, sitting very straight indeed andfeeling of greater consequence than ever before.
"America's great trouble now, remember, is taxation withoutrepresentation," continued the minister; "and now listen carefully towhat an Englishman has to say of it: 'While England contends for theright of taxing America we are giving up substance for the shadow; weare exchanging happiness for pride. If we have no regard for America,let us at least respect the mother country. In a dispute with Americawho would we conquer? Ourselves. Everything that injures America isinjurious to Great Britain, and we commit a kind of political suicidewhen we endeavor to crush them into obedience.'
"Ah! There is still wisdom in the English council; but I fear it is toolate," said Mr. Lyon, as if speaking his thoughts aloud. "And now, mychild, what is the subject of our lesson?" he questioned, looking kindlyat Anna.
"England and America," she replied promptly.
Mr. Lyon nodded. "And why does America firmly resolve not to be unjustlytaxed?" he asked.
"Because it wouldn't be right," said Anna confidently.
Mr. Lyon was evidently pleased by her direct answers.
"If an Englishman sees the injustice of his government it is smallwonder that every American, even to a little girl, can see that it isnot to be borne," said Mr. Lyon, rising and pacing up and down thenarrow room, his thoughts full of the great conflict that had alreadybegun between England and her American colonies.
Anna's eyes turned toward the map. There was a long yellow strip marked"American Colonies," then, lower down, a number of red blots and circleswith "The West Indies" printed across them. Far over on the end of themap was a queerly shaped green object marked "Asia" and below it abeautiful blue place called "Europe." Anna was so delighted andinterested in discovering France, and Africa, the AEgean Sea, and theBritish Isles, that she quite forgot where she was. But as she looked atthe very small enclosure marked "England," and then at the long line ofAmerica she suddenly exclaimed: "America need not be afraid."
Mr. Lyon had seated himself at his desk, and at the sound of Anna'svoice he looked up in surprise.
"Why, child! You have been so quiet I had forgotten you. Run out to thesitting-room to Mrs. Lyon," and Anna obeyed, not forgetting to curtsy asshe left the room.
HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!]
Mrs. Lyon had a basket piled high with work. There were stockings to bedarned, pillow-cases to be neatly repaired, and an apron of stoutdrilling to be hemmed. Anna's task was to darn stockings. She was givenMelvina's thimble to use, a smooth wooden ball to slip into thestocking, and a needle and skein of cotton.
How long the afternoon seemed! Never before had Anna stayed indoors forthe whole of a May afternoon. She felt tired and sleepy, and did notwant to walk about the garden after supper--as Mrs. Lyon kindlysuggested; and not until Mrs. Lyon said that Melvina, on every pleasantday, walked about the garden after supper, did Anna go slowly down thepath. But she stood at the gate looking in the direction of her homewith wistful eyes.
"Two weeks," she whispered; it seemed so long a time could never pass.Then she remembered that the next day she would go home for the dailyvisit agreed upon.
If the days passed slowly with Anna, to Melvina they seemed only tooshort. She had quickly made friends with Rebecca, and the elder girl wasastonished at the daring spirit of the minister's daughter. Melvinawould balance herself on the very edge of the bluff, when she and Rebby,often followed by a surprised and unhappy Luretta, went for a morningwalk. Or on their trips to the lumber yard for chips Melvina would climbto the top of some pile of timber and dance about as if trying to makeRebby frightened lest she fall. She went wading along the shore, andbrought home queerly shaped rocks and tiny mussel-shells; and, as herfather had hoped, her cheeks grew rosy and her eyes bright.
The day set for the erection of the liberty pole was the last day of the"exchange visit" of the two little girls, and Anna was now sure thatMrs. Lyon must think her very much like Melvina, for she had learned herdaily lessons obediently, and moved about the house as quietly as amouse.
But when she awoke on the morning of the day upon which she was toreturn home she was sure it was the happiest day of her life. Mrs. Lyonhad even called her a "quiet and careful child," and the minister smiledupon her,
and said that she "was a loyal little maid." So she had greatreason for being pleased; and the thought of being home again made herready to dance with delight.
The day that the tree of liberty was planted was declared a holiday, andthe inhabitants of the town gathered on the bluff where it was to beset. Melvina and Anna and Luretta were together, and the other childrenof the neighborhood were scattered about.
"Where is Rebby, Mother?" Anna asked, looking about for her sister.
"To be sure! She started off with Lucia Horton, but I do not see them,"responded Mrs. Weston, smiling happily to think that her own littleDanna would no longer be absent from home.
There was great rejoicing among the people as the tree was raised, andcitizen after citizen stepped forward and made solemn pledges to resistEngland's injustice to the American colonies. Then, amid the shouts ofthe assembled inhabitants, the discharge of musketry, and the sound offife and drum, Machias took its rightful place among the defenders ofAmerican liberty.
But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton, sitting in an upper window of theHorton house, looked out at the inspiring scene without wishing to beany nearer. Rebecca was ashamed when she remembered her own part intrying to prevent the erection of a liberty pole, for now she realizedall it stood for; and she was no longer afraid of an attack upon thetown by an English gunboat. To Rebecca it seemed that such an attackwould bring its own punishment. Her thoughts were now filled by a greatdesire to do something, something difficult and even dangerous to herown safety, in order to make up for that evening when she had crept outin the darkness and helped Lucia send the tree adrift.
But Lucia's mind was filled with entirely different thoughts. She wasready to cry with disappointment and fear in seeing the liberty pole setup. She could not forget that her father had said that such a thingwould mean trouble.
"If we had not set it adrift, Lucia, we could be on the bluff now withthe others," Rebby whispered, as they heard the gay notes of the fife.
"Bosh! Who wants to be any nearer? My mother says 'tis a silly andfoolish performance," replied Lucia. "But perhaps 'twill be cut downbefore the _Polly_ comes into harbor."
Rebecca jumped up from the window-seat, her face flushed and her eyesshining.
"No one would dare, Lucia Horton. And if it is cut down I'll know you,or someone in this house, planned it; and I will tell my father justwhat you told me and what we did," she exclaimed, starting toward thedoor.
"You can't tell, ever, Rebecca Weston! You promised not to," Luciacalled after her, and Rebecca stopped suddenly. Lucia was right. Nomatter what happened she could never reveal what Lucia had told her,because of her promise; and a promise was a sacred thing.
Without a word of good-bye Rebecca went slowly down the stairs. This wasthe second time she had left the Horton house in anger. "I won't comehere again," she thought, a little sadly, for she and Lucia had been"best friends" ever since Captain Horton had brought his family to theremote settlement.
"There's Rebby," Anna called joyfully, as holding her father's hand, andwith her mother walking close behind, she came along the path towardhome. Rebby was walking slowly along a short distance in front of thelittle party, and Anna soon overtook her.
"Oh, Rebby! Was it not a splendid sight to see the liberty tree set up?"Anna exclaimed eagerly, "and all the men taking off their hats andcheering?"
"Yes," responded Rebby briefly; and then looking at Anna she said: "Oh,Danna! I wish, more than anything, that I could do something to protectthe liberty tree."
"Perhaps you can, Rebby, sometime, you and I together," replied Annahopefully; "anyway, isn't it lovely that I am home to stay?"
And to this Rebby could agree smilingly, but she kept in her heart thewish she had just uttered.
A Little Maid of Old Maine Page 12