Bessie and Her Friends

by Joanna H. Mathews

  XII.

  _MAGGIE'S BOOK._

  Uncle Ruthven and Aunt Bessie went away the next morning, and were gonenearly a week, and very much did the children miss them, especially asthe week proved one of storm and rain, and they were shut up in thehouse.

  During all this stormy weather Aunt Patty seemed very anxious to goout, watching for the first glimpse of sunshine. But none came, andat last, one morning when there was a fine, drizzling rain, she camedown dressed for a walk. Mrs. Bradford was much astonished, for Mrs.Lawrence was subject to rheumatism, and it was very imprudent forher to go out in the damp. In vain did Mrs. Bradford offer to send aservant on any errand she might wish to have done. Aunt Patty wouldnot listen to it for a moment, nor would she allow a carriage to besent for, nor tell where she was going.

  She stayed a long time, and when the boys ran home from school in themidst of a hard shower, they were surprised to meet her just gettingout of a carriage which had drawn up around the corner. Aunt Patty didnot seem at all pleased to see them, and in answer to their astonishedinquiries, "Why, Aunt Patty! where have you been?" and "Why don't youlet the carriage leave you at the house?" answered, sharply, "When Iwas young, old people could mind their own affairs without help fromschool-boys."

  "Not without help from school-_girls_, when _she_ was around, I guess,"whispered Fred to his brother, as they fell behind, and let the oldlady march on.

  Nor was she more satisfactory when she reached home, and seemed onlydesirous to avoid Mrs. Bradford's kind inquiries and anxiety lest sheshould have taken cold. This was rather strange, for it was not AuntPatty's way to be mysterious, and she was generally quite ready to lether actions be seen by the whole world. But certainly no one wouldhave guessed from her manner that she had that morning been about herMaster's work.

  Uncle Ruthven and Aunt Bessie came home that afternoon, and found noreason to doubt their welcome.

  "We're very glad to see you, Uncle Er-er _R_uthven," said Bessie,bringing out the _R_ quite clearly.

  "Hallo!" said her uncle, "so you have come to it at last; have you? Youhave been learning to talk English while I was away. Pretty well for myprincess! What reward shall I give you for that _R_uthven?"

  "I don't want a reward," said the little princess, gayly. "I tried tolearn it 'cause I thought you wanted me to; and you are so kind to usI wanted to please you. Besides, I am growing pretty old, and I oughtto learn to talk plain. Why, Uncle Ruthven, I'll be six years old whenI have a birthday in May, and the other day we saw a little girl,--shewas blind Willie's sister,--and she couldn't say _th_, though sheis 'most seven; and I thought it sounded pretty foolish; and then Ithought maybe it sounded just as foolish for me not to say _r_, so Itried and tried, and Maggie helped me."

  "Uncle Ruthven," said Maggie, coming to his side, and putting her armabout his neck, she whispered in his ear, "did you ever find a man tobuy my book?"

  "To be sure," said Mr. Stanton, "a first-rate fellow, who promised totake it at once. He would like to know how much you want for it?"

  "I don't know," said Maggie; "how much can he afford?"

  "Ah! you answer my question by another. Well, he is pretty well off,that fellow, and I think he will give you sufficient to help along thatblind friend of yours a little. We will not talk of that just now,however, but when you go up-stairs, I will come up and see you, and wewill settle it all then."

  "Here is a prize," said Mr. Stanton, coming into the parlor some hourslater, when the children had all gone; and he held up Maggie's historyof the "Complete Family."

  "What is that?" asked Colonel Rush, who with his wife had come towelcome his sister.

  Mr. Stanton told the story of the book.

  "But how came it into your hands?" asked Mr. Bradford.

  "Oh, Maggie and I struck a bargain to-night," said Mr. Stanton,laughing, "and the book is mine to do as I please with."

  "Oh, Ruthven, Ruthven!" said his sister, coming in as he spoke, andpassing her hand affectionately through his thick, curly locks, "youhave made two happy hearts to-night. Nor will the stream of joy youhave set flowing stop with my little ones. That poor blind child andhis parents--"

  "There, there, that will do," said Mr. Stanton, playfully putting hishand on Mrs. Bradford's lips. "Sit down here, Margaret. I shall giveyou all some passages from Maggie's book. If I am not mistaken, it willbe a rich treat."

  Poor little Maggie! She did not dream, as she lay happy and contentedon her pillow, how merry they were all making over her "CompleteFamily," as Uncle Ruthven read aloud from it such passages as these.

  "The Happy father and mother brought up their children in the way theyshould go, but sometimes the children went out of it, which was not theblame of their kind parents, for they knew better, and they ought to beashamed of themselves, and it is a great blessing for children to haveparents.

  "The colonel had a new leg, not a skin one, but a man made it, butyou would not know it, it looks so real, and he can walk with it andneed not take his crutches, and the souls of M. and B. Happy were veryglad because this was a great rejoicing, and it is not a blessing tobe lame, but to have two legs is, and when people have a great manyblessings, they ought to 'praise God from whom all blessings flow;' butthey don't always, which is very wicked.

  "This very Complete Family grew completer and completer, for thetravelling uncle married Aunt Bessie, I mean he is going to marry her,so she will be our own aunt and not just a make b'lieve, and all thefamily are very glad and are very much obliged to him for being sokind, but I don't think he is a great sacrifice.

  "M. and B. Happy went to see the policeman's children. Blind Williewas sorrowful and can't see his mother, or anything, which is noconsequence, if he could see his mother's face, for if M. Happy andB. Happy could not see dear mamma's face they would cry all the time.I mean M. would, but Bessie is better than me so maybe she would not,and Willie is very patient, and the cat was very abominable, and ifFlossy did so, Bessie and I would be disgraced of him. She humpedup her back and was cross, so Mrs. Granby put her in the drawer, butshe put a paw out of the crack and spit and scratched and did 'mosteverything. Oh! such a bad cat!!!!!! Jennie she cannot say th, andafterwards I laughed about it, but Bessie said I ought not, because shecannot say r and that was 'most the same. And she is going to try andsay Uncle Ruthven's name quite plain and hard, he is so very good tous, and he promised to find a man to buy this book, and we hope the manwill give five dollars to be a great help for blind Willie's doctor. Isuppose he will ask everybody in the cars if they want to buy a book toprint, that somebody of his wrote, but he is not going to tell our namebecause I asked him not to."

  The book ended in this way:--

  "These are not all the acts of the Complete Family, but there will beanother book with some more. Adieu. And if you don't know French, thatmeans good-by. The end of the book!"

  "Pretty well for seven years old, I think," said Mr. Bradford. "Mamma,did you lend a helping hand?"

  "Only to correct the spelling," said Mrs. Bradford; "the compositionand ideas are entirely Maggie's own, with a little help from Bessie. Ihave not interfered save once or twice when she has chosen some subjectI did not think it best she should write on. Both she and Bessie havetaken so much pleasure in it that I think it would have been a realtrial to part with the book except for some such object as they havegained."

  "And what is that?" asked Colonel Rush.

  "The sum Dr. Dawson asks for the cure of Willie Richards," answeredMrs. Bradford, "which sum this dear brother of mine is allowing to passthrough the hands of these babies of mine, as their gift to the blindchild."

  "Aunt Patty," said Bessie at the breakfast-table the nextmorning,--"Aunt Patty, did you hear what Uncle Ruthven did for us?"

  "Yes, I heard," said the old lady, shortly.

  "And don't you feel very happy with us?" asked the little darling, whowas anxious that every one should rejoice with herself and Maggie; butshe spoke more timidly than she had done at first, and something of herold f
ear of Aunt Patty seemed to come over her.

  "I do not think it at all proper that children should be allowed tohave such large sums of money," said Mrs. Lawrence, speaking not toBessie, but to Mrs. Bradford. "I thought your brother a more sensibleman, Margaret. Such an ill-judged thing!"

  Mrs. Bradford was vexed, as she saw the bright face of her littledaughter become overcast, still she tried to speak pleasantly.Something had evidently gone wrong with Aunt Patty.

  "I do not think you will find Ruthven wanting in sense or judgment,Aunt Patty," she said, gently. "And the sum you speak of is for asettled purpose. It only passes through my children's hands, and isnot theirs to waste or spend as they may please."

  "And if it was, we would rather give it to blind Willie, mamma," saidBessie, in a grieved and half-angry voice.

  "I am sure of it, my darling," said mamma, with a nod and smile whichbrought comfort to the disappointed little heart. Ah, the dear mamma!they were all sure of sympathy from her whether in joy or sorrow. AuntPatty's want of it had been particularly hard on Bessie, for the dearchild saw the old lady did not look half pleased that morning, and shehad spoken as much from a wish to cheer her as for her own sake andMaggie's.

  "It is all wrong, decidedly wrong!" continued Mrs. Lawrence. "In myyoung days things were very different. Children were not then allowedto take the lead in every way, and to think they could do it as well orbetter than their elders. The proper thing for you to do, Margaret, isto put by that money till your children are older and better able tojudge what they are doing."

  "I think they understand that now, Aunt Patty," said Mrs. Bradford,quietly, but firmly; "and if they should not, I suppose you will allowthat their parents are able to judge for them. Henry and I understandall the merits of the present case."

  Aunt Patty was not to be convinced, and she talked for some time,growing more and more vexed as she saw her words had no effect. Mr. andMrs. Bradford were silent, for they knew it was of no use to argue withthe old lady when she was in one of these moods; but they wished thatthe meal was at an end, and the children were out of hearing.

  And there sat Miss Rush, too, wondering and indignant, and only keptfrom replying to Aunt Patty by Mrs. Bradford's beseeching look. Butat last Mr. Bradford's patience was at an end, and in a firm, decidedmanner, he requested the old lady to say nothing more on the subject,but to leave it to be settled by his wife and himself.

  If there was any person in the world of whom Mrs. Lawrence stood inawe, it was her nephew; and she knew when he spoke in that tone, hemeant to be obeyed. Therefore, she was silent, but sat through theremainder of breakfast with a dark and angry face.

  "Papa," said Maggie, as her father rose from the table, "do you thinkthere is the least, least hope that it will clear to-day?"

  "Well, I see some signs of it, dear; but these April days are veryuncertain. Of one thing be sure, if the weather be at all fit, I willcome home and take you where you want to go."

  "Are you tired of being shut up in the house so long, dear Midget?"asked Aunt Bessie, putting her arm about Maggie, and drawing her to herside.

  "Yes, pretty tired, Aunt Bessie; but that is not the reason why Bessieand I wish so very much to have it clear. Papa told us, if the weatherwas pleasant, he would take us to the policeman's, and let us give themoney ourselves. But he says, if it keeps on raining, he thinks itwould be better to send it, because it is not kind to keep them waitingwhen they feel so badly about Willie, and this will make them so glad.I suppose it is not very kind, but we want very much to take it, andsee Mrs. Richards how pleased she will be."

  "We will hope for the best," said Mr. Bradford, cheerfully; "and Ithink it may turn out a pleasant day. But my little daughters must notbe too much disappointed if the rain keeps on. And now that I may beready for clear skies and dry pavements, I must go down town at once."

  No sooner had the door closed after Mr. Bradford than Aunt Patty brokeforth again. "Margaret," she said, severely, "it is not possible thatyou mean to add to your folly by letting your children go to that lowplace, after such weather as we have had! You don't know what you mayexpose them to, especially that delicate child, whom you can neverexpect to be strong while you are so shamefully careless of her;" andshe looked at Bessie, who felt very angry.

  "That will be as their father thinks best," answered Mrs. Bradford,quietly. "He will not take them unless the weather is suitable;and the policeman's house is neat and comfortable, and in a decentneighborhood. The children will come to no harm there."

  "And it is certainly going to clear," said Harry. "See there, mamma,how it is brightening overhead."

  "It will not clear for some hours at least," persisted the old lady;"and then the ground will be extremely damp after this week of rain,especially among those narrow streets. Do be persuaded, Margaret, andsay, at least, that the children must wait till to-morrow."

  "Bessie shall not go unless it is quite safe for her," answered Mrs.Bradford, "and she will not ask it unless mamma thinks it best; willyou, my darling?"

  Bessie only replied with a smile, and a very feeble smile at that; andher mother saw by the crimson spot in each cheek, and the little handpressed tightly upon her lips, how hard the dear child was strugglingwith herself. It was so. Bessie was hurt at what she thought AuntPatty's unkindness in trying to deprive her of the pleasure on whichshe counted, and she had hard work to keep down the rising passion.

  Aunt Patty argued, persisted, and persuaded; but she could gain fromMrs. Bradford nothing more than she had said before, and at last sheleft the room in high displeasure.

  "Mamma," said Harry, indignantly, "what do you stand it for? How dareshe talk so to you? Your folly, indeed! I wish papa had been here!"

  "I wish you'd let me hush her up," said Fred. "It's rather hard for afellow to stand by and have his mother spoken to that way. Now is shenot a meddling, aggravating old coon, Aunt Bessie? No, you need notshake your head in that grave, reproving way. I know you think so;and you, too, you dear, patient little mamma;" and here Fred gave hismother such a squeeze and kiss as would have made any one else cry outfor mercy.

  "I sha'n't try to bear Aunt Patty's burden this day, I know," saidMaggie. "She is _too_ mean not to want blind Willie cured, and it isnot any of hers to talk about, either. Her corners are awful to-day!Just trying to make mamma say Bessie couldn't go to the policeman'shouse!"

  Bessie said nothing, but her mamma saw she was trying to keep down herangry feelings.

  "I suppose she is tired of the 'new leaf' she pretended to have turnedover, and don't mean to play good girl any more," said Fred.

  "She has been worrying papa too," said Harry. "There is never anyknowing what she'll be at. There was a grove which used to belong toher father, and which had been sold by one of her brothers after hedied. It was a favorite place with our great-grandfather, and AuntPatty wanted it back very much, but she never could persuade the manwho had bought it to give it up. A few years ago he died, and his sonoffered to sell it to her. She could not afford it then, for she hadlost a great deal of property, and the mean chap asked a very large sumfor it because he knew she wanted it so much. But she was determinedto have it, and for several years she has been putting by little bylittle till she should have enough. She told Fred and me all about it,one evening when papa and mamma were out, and we felt so sorry for herwhen she told how her father had loved the place, and how she could diecontented if she only had it back once more after all these years, thatwe asked papa if he could not help her. Papa said he would willinglydo so, but she would not be pleased if he offered, though she had soset her heart on it that she was denying herself everything she couldpossibly do without; for she is not well off now, and is too proud tolet her friends help her Well, it seems she had enough laid by atlast,--a thousand dollars,--and she asked papa to settle it all forher. He wrote to the man, and had a lot of fuss and bother with him;but it was all fixed at last, and the papers drawn up, when what doesshe do a week ago, but tell papa she had changed her mind, and sh
ouldnot buy the grove at present."

  "Harry, my boy," said Mrs. Bradford, "this is all so, but how do youhappen to know so much about it?"

  "Why, she talked to me several times about it, mamma. She was quitechipper with Fred and me now and then, when no grown people werearound, and used to tell us stories of things which happened at the oldhomestead by the hour. The other day when you were out, and Mag andBess had gone to the policeman's, she told me it was all settled thatshe was to have the grove; and she seemed so happy over it. But onlytwo days after, when I said something about it, she took me up quiteshort, and told me that affair was all over, and no more to be said. Ididn't dare to ask any more questions of her, but I thought it no harmto ask papa, and he told me he knew no more than I did, for Aunt Pattywould give him no reason. He was dreadfully annoyed by it, I couldsee, although he did not say much; he never does, you know, when he isvexed."

  "Quite true," said his mother; "and let him be an example to the restof us. We have all forgotten ourselves a little in the vexations of themorning. You have been saying that which was better left unsaid, andyour mother has done wrong in listening to you."

  "No, indeed, you have not," said Fred, again clutching his motherviolently about the neck; "you never do wrong, you dear, preciousmamma, and I'll stand up for you against all the cross old Aunt Pattysin creation."

  "My dear boy," gasped his mother, "if you could leave my head on, itwould be a greater convenience than fighting on my account with AuntPatty. And your mother must be very much on her guard, Fred, if athing is to be judged right by you because she does it. But, dearestchildren, did we not all determine not to allow ourselves to beirritated and vexed by such things as have taken place this morning?This is almost the first trial of the kind we have had. Let us bepatient and forgiving, and try to think no more of it."

  But it was in vain that Mrs. Bradford coaxed and persuaded, and evenreproved. Her children obeyed, and were silent when she forbade anymore to be said on the subject; but she could not do away with theimpression which Aunt Patty's ill-temper and interference had made.

  Poor Aunt Patty! She had practised a great piece of self-denial, hadgiven up a long-cherished hope, that she might have the means of doinga very kind action; but she did not choose to have it known by herfriends. And having made up her mind to this, and given up so muchto bring it about, it did seem hard that her arrangements should beinterfered with, as they seemed likely to be by this new plan which hadcome to her ears the night before.

  But now as she stood alone in her own room, taking herself to task forthe ill-temper she had just shown, she felt that it would be stillharder for the children; she could not allow them to be disappointedif it were still possible to prevent it; that would be too cruel nowthat she saw so plainly how much they had set their hearts upon thisthing. At first it had seemed to her, as she said, much better thatthey should put by the money until they were older, but now she saw itwas the desire to carry out her own will which had led her to thinkthis. But Aunt Patty was learning to give up her own will, slowly andwith difficulty it might be, with many a struggle, many a failure,as had been shown this morning; but still, thanks to the whispers ofthe better spirit by whose teachings she had lately been led, she wastaking to heart the lesson so hard to learn because so late begun.

  And now how was she to undo what she had done, so that Maggie andBessie might still keep this matter in their own hands? For Aunt Patty,hearing the little ones talk so much of the blind boy and his parents,had become quite interested in the policeman's family. She did notknow them, it was true, had never seen one of them, but the children'ssympathy had awakened hers, and she felt a wish to do something tohelp them; but to do this to much purpose was not very easy for Mrs.Lawrence. She was not rich, and what she gave to others she must takefrom her own comforts and pleasures. What a good thing it would be topay Dr. Dawson and free the policeman from debt! What happiness thiswould bring to those poor people! What pleasure it would give littleMaggie and Bessie! But how could she do it? She had not the means atpresent, unless, indeed, she put off the purchase of the grove for ayear or two, and took part of the sum she had so carefully laid by forthat purpose, and if she did so, she might never have back the grove.She was very old, had not probably many years to live, and she mightpass away before the wished-for prize was her own. And these peoplewere nothing to her; why should she make such a sacrifice for them?

  So thought Aunt Patty, and then said to herself, if she had but a shorttime upon earth, was there not more reason that she should spend it indoing all she could for her Master's service, in helping those of hischildren on whom he had laid pain and sorrows? She had been wishingthat she might be able to prove her love and gratitude for the greatmercy that had been shown to her, that she might yet redeem the wastedyears, the misspent life which lay behind her, and now when the Lordhad given her the opportunity for which she had been longing, shouldshe turn her back upon it, should she shut her ear to the cry of theneedy, because to answer it would cost a sacrifice of her own wishes?Should she bear the burdens of others only when they did not weighheavily on herself?

  And so the old lady had gone to Dr. Dawson and paid him the sum heasked for curing Willie's eyes. What more she had done will be shownhereafter. If the children had known this, perhaps they could haveguessed why she would not buy the grove after all papa's trouble. Therewere several reasons why Mrs. Lawrence had chosen to keep all this asecret; partly from a really honest desire not to parade her generosityin the eyes of men, partly because she thought that Mr. Bradford mightoppose it, and fearing the strength of her own resolution, she did notcare to have it shaken by any persuasions to the contrary, and partlybecause she had always rather prided herself on carrying out her ownplans without help or advice from others. This fear that she might betempted to change her purpose had also made Aunt Patty so anxious tobring it to an end at once, and had taken her out in the rain on theday before this. And now it seemed that her trouble so far as regardedDr. Dawson was all thrown away. But the question was, how should sheget the money back from the doctor without betraying herself to him orsome of the family? for this Aunt Patty was quite determined not to do.It was not a pleasant task to ask him to return the money she had oncegiven, and that without offering any reason save that she had changedher mind. Every limb was aching with the cold taken from her exposureof yesterday, and now if she was to be in time, she must go out againin the damp. True, it was not raining now, but there was another heavycloud coming up in the south; she should surely be caught in a freshshower. If she could have persuaded Mrs. Bradford to keep the childrenat home until the next day, she could go to Dr. Dawson that afternoonif the weather were clear, and so escape another wetting. For thedoctor had told her he did not think he could see the policeman beforethe evening of that day.

  But Margaret was "obstinate," said the old lady, forgetting that sheherself was a little obstinate in keeping all this a secret. So therewas nothing for it but to go at once.

  Poor old lady! Perhaps it was not to be wondered at that, as she movedabout the room, making ready to go out, she should again feel irritableand out of humor. She was in much pain. The plans which had cost herso much, and which she had thought would give such satisfaction, wereall disarranged. She was vexed at being misjudged by those from whomshe had so carefully concealed what she had done, for she saw plainlyenough that they all thought her opposition of the morning was owing tothe spirit of contradiction she had so often shown. She was vexed atherself, vexed with Mrs. Bradford, vexed even with the little ones whomshe could not allow to be disappointed, and just for the moment shecould not make up her mind to be reasonable and look at things in theirright light.

  Nor were her troubles yet at an end. As she left the room, she metMrs. Bradford, who, seeing that she was going out again, once moretried to dissuade her from such imprudence, but all to no purpose.Aunt Patty was very determined and rather short, and went on her waydown-stairs.

  As Mrs. Bradford entered her nursery, mammy, w
ho had heard all that hadpassed, said, with the freedom of an old and privileged servant,--

  "Eh, my dear, but she's contrary. She's just hunting up a fit ofrheumatics, that you may have the trouble of nursing her through it."

  Mrs. Lawrence heard the old woman's improper speech, but did not hearMrs. Bradford's gently spoken reproof, and we may be sure the first didnot help to restore her good-humor.

  decoration, end of chap. 12]

  Title decoration, chap. 13]