by Sophie May
CHAPTER XI.
BUYING A BROTHER.
"One, two, buckle my slipper! no, my gaiters," repeated Miss Dimple, asPrudy laced her boots. "I wish I was a horse, then my shoes would benailed on, and be done with it."
"I'm so glad," said Prudy, putting on her hat, "that we can go tohousekeeping again."
They had built a shingle palace on the bank of the river. It was aswhite as chalk could make it, and glared like a snowdrift out of a clumpof evergreens which were no taller than dandelions.
"Our house is shaded so much," said Prudy, "that it makes me think of alady with hair over her eyes."
The entrance to the little palace was through a swinging door, of whitecloth, and from the roof fluttered a small flag. There were four roomsin the house, all of them on the ground floor. The parlor was elegantlyfurnished with a braided carpet, of striped grass, a piano, whose blackand white keys were put on with coal and chalk, not to mention otherarticles of luxury. The table was spread with acorn-cups and poppyteapots, the little housekeepers being advised not to make use of theirchina dishes for this establishment.
There was a very black stove in the kitchen, but the most of thecooking was done out of doors, farther down the bank, in ovens shapedlike swallows' nests. Here were baked delicious mud cakes, temptingcurrant tarts, and dainty custards.
Nothing pleased Miss Dimple so well as to govern a household. She ruledwith a rod of iron.
In the midst of a caution to her servant-maid, Prudy, "not to burn herbiscuits as black as so'-leather," she was surprised to see hertwinkling off a tear.
"O, Prudy, I didn't mean to scold," said she, in the tenderest tones.
"Poh, as if I minded your make-believe, Dotty! I was only thinking aboutaunt Madge--that's all."
"What has she done?" asked Dotty as she went on stamping her mud cakewith the head of a pin.
"It isn't done yet, Dotty; but it will be. She's going to be married."
Dotty dropped her mud-cake. "Why! who to? Abner?"
"O, dear, no! To Mr.--I mean Colonel--Augustus Allen. Didn't you everhear of that?"
"Was that why he sent his objections to mamma?" asked Dotty, in a lowvoice.
"He sent his _respects_ to mother, if that's what you mean; and in thesame letter he said, 'Give oceans of love to Prudy.' As if it wasn't badenough to break my heart, without trying to drown me," murmured Prudy,with dripping eyes.
"I don't see what you're crying for," broke in her little sister. "Ishall marry my papa one of these days. I should think you'd feel badderabout that. Who's _you_ goin' to marry, Prudy?"
"Nobody, Dotty, as long as I live! I shall stay at home with my mother,and she'll be sitting in the rocking-chair, knitting, and father'll besitting by the window, reading the paper.--But there," added she, "auntMadge might be married three or four times, and I wouldn't care. It'sher going to New York that makes my heart ache so."
"Well, shell come back bimeby," said Dotty, soothingly.
"O," replied Prudy, with a wise smile; "seems to me when I was fouryears old I knew a great deal more than you do, child! People that aremarried stay away always."
"I wish they wouldn't," cried Dotty, beginning to feel alarmed. "I'llask Colonel 'Gustus to marry Abby Grant after she gets growed, and letmy auntie stay at home."
"The worst of it is," continued Prudy, glad of her sister's sympathy,such as it was, "Colonel Allen is a lawyer."
"Well, isn't lawyers as good as white folks?"
"The only trouble with lawyers, Dotty, is, that they can't write so youcan read it. My father told me so. He said their writing was liketurkey's tracks. He said it looked as if a fly had got into theinkstand, and crawled over the paper."
Dotty's face was the picture of distress.
"It's a drefful thing to grow up a nidiot," said she, drawing her mouthdown as she had seen Prudy do when beseeching her to learn the alphabet."Don't he know all the letters, skippin' about?"
Here aunt Louise's voice was heard, from the piazza. She asked if thechildren would like to go with her and see Mrs. Gray's baby. After alittle washing and brushing they were ready.
"Auntie," said Dotty, as they walked along, "you've got myporkmonnaie."
"Very true; so I have."
"How much money is in my porkmonnaie?"
"Two dollars and a half. Why?"
"'Cause I want to give it to Mr. Colonel Allen, to make him marry AbbyGrant when she gets growed. I 'spise her, and I want her to go to NewYork. There's where the husbands and wives go."
Miss Louise laughed.
"Very well," said she; "you may give the money to 'Mr. Colonel,' andI've no doubt you can persuade him to marry any one you please."
Dotty smiled with entire satisfaction, but Prudy looked inquiringly intoher auntie's face, not believing it possible that Colonel Allen wouldreally change his mind for two dollars and a half.
The children went wild over the sleeping baby, Philip Gray.
"He's a brother, isn't he?" said Dotty. "I wish he was mine. I haven'tany but Zip. I'd take my kitty out of the carriage, and put in thisbrother, and give him all my sugar things."
"Well," said Dr. Gray, with a flicker of fun in his eyes, "the baby isnot of the least use to me, and if you like him, my dear--"
Dotty danced about the cradle.
"He's nicer than a squir'l catched in a cage. O, he is!"
"That's just as people may fancy," said Dr. Gray. "Now I think, for mypart, a squirrel would be less trouble, for he could get his ownliving."
Dotty peeped into the doctor's face with her bright eyes, to make surehe really liked squirrels better than babies.
"But," continued he, very gravely, "it may be his mother might object tomy giving him away. I don't know why it is, but she seems to value himvery highly. She would expect some money for him, I think. How much areyou willing to pay?"
Dotty reflected. She possessed several dollies, a new tea-set, a box ofpicture-books, and a red morocco ball. But what would Dr. Gray care forthese, or her various other toys? All her money was contained in herportemonnaie, the money which she had meant should put a stop to heraunt Madge's dreadful marriage. Should she save her auntie, and give upthe baby? Or should she buy the baby, and leave her auntie to her fate?
The struggle in her mind was a severe one, but it did not last long.
"O," thought she, looking at the little sleeper in the cradle, "I'drather have him than aunt Madge; for he'll stay to our house, and sleepin my crib."
"How now?" said Dr. Gray, pinching Dotty's cheek; "made up your mind?"
"Yes, sir," replied the child, with her finger in her mouth; "I'm goin'to buy him. I mean, I'm goin' to if I can get him for two dollars and ahalf."
"A generous sum," laughed the doctor. "Well said. Now, the next thingis, to obtain his mother's consent."
This was very easily done, for Mrs. Gray, who was not strong, and hadonly a young girl in the kitchen, declared that, dearly as she loved thebaby, she found him a deal of trouble.
Dotty's face was radiant; but Prudy, who understood that the wholeconversation was merely a playful one, looked down upon her youngersister with a sage smile.
"Don't you think," whispered Dotty, clutching her auntie by the dress,"don't you think we'd better be going?"
"Why, dear, are you tired of your brother so soon?"
"O, I want to get the carriage, you know, and the money to pay him for."
Miss Louise, who knew that her little niece was terribly in earnest, nowtried to divert her with pictures; but Dotty was not to be wheedled byany such arts.
"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Dr. Gray; "we'll keep little Philfor you till he's as tall as a pair of tongs."
Unfortunately there was a fireplace in the room, and Dotty's keen eyesat once espied the tongs, leaning against a brass rester. As quick as athought she seized them, and laid them in the cradle beside the baby.They were half an inch shorter than Phil--even the doctor was obligedto confess it.
"Bravo! Miss Bright E
yes," said he, catching up Dotty, and whirling herover his shoulder; "you have a shrewd little brain of your own. I seeyou can be trusted to make your own bargains."
The baby had been for some moments nestling uneasily, and of course wasbroad awake by this time, screaming lustily, as if to protest againstthe inhuman proceeding of being bought and sold.
Dotty had just time to see that her "brother" had "nut-blue" eyes, whenshe was hurried away by her aunt Louise.
For three days the expectant child was kept in suspense by mirthful Dr.Gray, who pretended that he should bring the baby to her some time whenshe did not expect it. She often rushed into the parlor, saying, "O, Ithought I heard somethin' cryin';" and almost cried herself becausethere was no baby there. "I wish I could stop expecting my brother,"said Dotty, sorrowfully, "for then he might come."
But, at last, after her young heart had throbbed again and again withfalse hopes, she began to see that she had been cruelly deceived. Dr.Gray did not mean, and never had meant, to sell his baby.
"He tells too many fibs," said Dotty, stamping her foot, and lookingvery much flushed; "he cheated me, he did."
"Now, Susy, do you think it was right to cheat her so?" said Prudy,sorry for Dotty's disappointment.
"I don't know," replied the older sister, hesitating. "Dr. Gray is areal good man. I don't believe he meant to cheat. Father wears papercollars sometimes, and makes believe they are linen; but then, you know,_father_ wouldn't cheat! Dr. Gray was only joking. The trouble is, Dottyis too little to understand jokes. Dr. Gray didn't mean to break hisword."
"Well, if he didn't break it, he _bent_ it," replied Prudy, positively.
CHAPTER XII.
A WEDDING.
"I shan't buy any more brothers as long as I live--now you see if I do,"said Dotty Dimple, with quivering lips.
"Come here, little one, and sit on my knee," said Colonel AugustusAllen. "Can't you think of something next as good as a baby brother? Howwould you fancy a grown-up uncle!"
Dotty looked wonderingly into Colonel Allen's face.
"Who's got any to sell?" said she.
"Possibly the minister may have," said Colonel Allen, laughing. "Youwait till this evening, and very likely he may be here. Then you can goup to him and say, 'Please, Mr. Hayden, will you sell me an uncle?'"
"But he'll cheat me--he will," said Dotty, shaking her finger.
"O, no, never fear. Just try him, and see. Here's a sealed envelopewhich Susy may keep for you till night."
"And shan't I have to spend the money in my porkmonnaie?"
"Not a cent of it, chickie."
Something was going on which was called _a wedding_; though what awedding might be, Miss Dimple had no idea, having never attended one inall her life. But it was something remarkable, no doubt, for the parlorsware glowing with flowers, and everybody was in a flutter. The threechildren, dressed in their very best, were allowed to sit up for thewhole evening, or, at any rate, as long as they pleased.
It was as lovely out of doors as "a Lapland night." The full moon andthe gay lamplight tried to outshine one another.
"Do look at that great moon dripping down the juniper tree," criedPrudy, growing poetical as she gazed. "Let me tell you, Susy, when themoon is young and little, it makes me think of a smile, and when it's agrown-up, full moon, it makes me think of a laugh."
Just as Dotty was beginning to wonder whether she felt sleepy or not,the door-bell rang; and after that it kept ringing every few minutesfor an hour. By that time the fragrant parlors were almost filled withguests. Everybody had a few kind words for the children, and Prudylistened and answered with timid blushes: but Dotty Dimple was, asusual, very fearless, and perfectly at ease.
Presently Colonel Allen, and Miss Margaret, and Miss Louise entered theroom. Dotty had been wondering where they were.
"Now," whispered aunt Louise, "now's the time to ask Mr. Hayden for thatnew uncle."
Dotty stepped briskly up to the minister.
"Here's a letter for you," said she, "and it says, 'Will you pleasesell me an uncle, sir?'"
Mr. Hayden smiled, and asked the little maiden what sort of an uncle shewould like.
"A new one," she replied, bending her head one side, and peeping up inhis face like a tame canary, "and a soldier, too, if you've got any tosell."
Mr. Hayden said he certainly had, and laughed when he spoke, thoughDotty could not imagine why. Dr. Gray took her up in his arms, anddeclared he would like to carry her home in his pocket. Such an idea!And Dr. Gray was the man who had cheated her! When he set her down againshe stood on her dignity, and carried her head like a queen.
She had hardly crossed the room, and taken her station beside Prudy,when a hush fell upon the company. Dotty was inclined to think peoplehad paused in conversation to watch _her_. Colonel Allen and aunt Madgewere standing together, and Mr. Hayden in front of them. The guests werelooking at _them_, not at Miss Dotty Dimple!
Mr. Hayden began to talk very solemnly--almost like preaching. No oneelse spoke; no one smiled. Before Dotty could ask what they were doing,Mr. Hayden was praying; and after the prayer, which was so hearty andsimple that Dotty could almost understand it, the whole room was inmotion again. Everybody seemed suddenly bent on kissing aunt Madge,though what that young lady had been doing which was better than usualDotty could not exactly make out. But this, she concluded, was in someway connected with the entertainment called _a wedding_.
"Come, now, little lady," said Mr. Hayden, taking Dotty's hand, andleading her up to Colonel Allen, "here is the uncle you have bought. Heis new, and a soldier too. So you see I have done my best for you."
"That?" said Dotty, pointing her index-finger at the bridegroom insurprise. "I know _him_; he isn't _new_. He is Mr. Colonel. He isn't myuncle a bit, sir."
"True, he was not, five minutes ago, Miss Dimple; but the few littlewords you heard me say to him have made a wonderful change. He is nowyour uncle Augustus, and your aunt Margaret is Mrs. Allen."
Dotty looked up bewildered. Her newly-married aunt was engaged intalking to the guests; but Colonel Allen was gazing down upon his newniece with an arch smile.
"The minister did not cheat you, you see?" said he. "He has really givenyou what he promised."
"I didn't want you to marry my good auntie," was all Dotty's answer.
"Ah, my dear, that is very sad! I was not aware that you had any dislikefor me."
"O, I love you," exclaimed Dotty, "'cause you carry me pickaback; _but_I wish you knew your letters skippin' about!"
The minister and the bridegroom smiled at this absurd little speech, andit was repeated to everybody in the room. Prudy felt very guilty, andblushed like a damask rose, for she knew where Dotty had caught the ideaof Colonel Allen's extreme ignorance.
"I am very sorry, little Miss Dimple, that you object to me," said thenew uncle; "but by and by you and I will take the big dictionary, andyou may point out the letters to me. I think you will find I know them'skippin' about.' Is there anything else you have against me?"
"Yes, sir," replied the child, earnestly; "you're a lawyer--my fathersays so. You wrote to him once."
"Did I? What did I write?"
"A letter."
"And where was the harm in that?"
"O, it looked like turkeys' tracks--he said it did. You wrote the letterwith a fly. You dipped him in the inkstand, and stuck him on a pin, andwrote with him. My father says so."
"You surprise me, Dotty. I really don't remember it. Have you any otherreason for not wishing me to be your uncle?"
"I wanted you to marry somebody else."
"Indeed! You ought to have mentioned it before! What young lady had youchosen for me, Miss Dimple?"
"Abby Grant, the little girl that went behind the tree and let me losemyself. I'd as lief she'd go to New York as not. If you'd only waitedfor her she'd have growed up."
By this time Mrs. Parlin, though somewhat amused by her littledaughter's sharp speeches, thought it best to put an end to them bytaking
her away into a corner. She was too much inclined to pertness.
The evening was very delightful; but like everything else in this worldit could not last always. After the guests had departed, and before thedoors were closed or the lights put out, the three tired childrenslowly wound their way up stairs.
"I'm glad it's over and done," said Prudy, resignedly. "I've cried justall I'm going to."
"I only wish Grace Clifford had been here," murmured Susy, clutchinghold of the baluster.
"Well, I don't wish nothing so there," said Dotty Dimple, dreamily.
And this is the last word we are to hear from her. She is nearly asleep.Let us bid her and her two older sisters a Good Night and PleasantDreams.