by JH Terry
“Yes,” said Mary, “but its mother is Mrs. van Soothsbay.”
Suddenly Mr. Pickles’ face turned blood red as he realized that he was wrong in what he had said. He came onto the floor, trying to awaken Sarie as Jan realized that he did have a daughter named Adelé.
“Adelé, at the witch’s house,” said Jan, suddenly feeling a bit of feeling for his child. “Is she dead?”
“No, sir,” said Mary. “She is the healthiest child I have ever seen.”
“But, I thought she was already dead,” said Higgles. “Why isn’t she dead?”
“Mary Green,” said Jan. “Why did you leave my child in the hands of the witch? Are you in league with her?”
“No, sir,” said Mary. “I left her there because I knew she would die here under the care of my sister, Gertrude.”
“That’s a lie!” screamed Gertrude nearby as she pushed Mary, causing Mary to fall onto Mr. Pickles’ back, her skirt covering his head. Mr. Pickles tried to stand up, carrying a screaming Mary on his back. “I would never harm a hair on the head of the children of van Soothsbay.”
Mary rolled off of Mr. Pickles’ back, and said aloud, “That’s a lie.”
“What do you mean, Mary?” asked Jan.
“She is the reason why the other babies died, sir,” said Mary truthfully as Gertrude stood angered. “She hates your family. The only reason why Higgles is still alive is because Miss Sarie took such good care of her. I did not want little Adelé to die too since she had such a pretty name.”
Jan looked to Gertrude, and said, “I do not believe you Mary, not one bit.”
Gertrude’s anger turned to a smile as she said to Jan, “You are right sir, for I was not going to tell you, but she is the one who killed those children. Taking them to the witch to be fattened up, only to have the both of them eat them to the bones.” Again fainting was heard.
“When, and at what times did this happen, Gertrude?” asked Jan.
“Well, why, not long after they were born sir.”
“Really?” asked Jan.
“Yes,” said Gertrude.
“That is strange,” said Jan. “When the children were under your care, especially when it was Mary’s job to take care of my wife in those days.”
“Well, urr, ummm, well she would take them from me at night, sir.”
“To fatten them, when they seemed like only thin sticks when we would visit them?”
Seeing that nothing was going her way, Gertrude was about to run to the door, when Mr. Pickles stopped her. “Get out of my way!” screamed Gertrude.
“Never,” said Mr. Pickles. “You dirty beast!”
Looking to Mary, Jan said, “Bring me my daughter so that I might see that what you say is true. I am trusting you Mary, but if you run away I will catch you.”
As Mary left, the others stayed in the house for what seemed to be an hour. Soon they heard the rushing of feet as Mary entered the room again, this time with Adelé and the old lady. Everyone seemed flabbergasted, but to see the little girl as plump and rosy, her brown hair cascading down, from the shriveled prune that she was before, made them feel differently about the child. Sarie awoke to see the child and say, “Whose child is that?”
As Jan stood up and took Adelé in his arms, he said to Sarie, “This is our child, our little Adelé.”
Everyone went around the child, adoring it as Higgles, angry, left to her room to play with her dolls. Even Gertrude was mystified as the local constable, or police officer, took her to jail. Mary looked around to see that Mrs. Heinz was not there, but walking in the street. Walking out, Mary called out, “Thank you!”
Mrs. Heinz looked back, only to smile, and walk into the darkness of the forest to her house. As Mary went back to the house she could see how happy everyone was. She then closed the door as celebrations over Adelé commenced, but what would happen next no one would have guessed.
VIII: Higgles the Good, Adelé the Better
As will be remembered by the reader, Higgles was very selfish. She did not like anyone at all, only to use them as their slaves. This is the problem with the only or youngest child sometimes, parents tend to spoil them rotten. Even the writer should know that best, for it was the youngest for eleven years.
However, Higgles was jealous of Adelé. Adelé, once she went to school, was the most clever, whereas Higgles struggled, perhaps because she was always fiddling with her looks and not her books. Adelé, once she learned to play piano, was hired by all in the village to play. Higgles, on the other hand, played only the piccolo, and believe the writer when I tell you that even in this her skill was very, very low. In everything Adelé succeeded, while Higgles could not even make a dent. However, the place where Adelé had not made a dent was in the favor of her parents to Higgles. They still favored Higgles’s jolly attitude to Adelé mathematical one. They acknowledged the wisdom and skills of Adelé, but to them the funny nature of Higgles was worth one hundred times more than one Adelé. However, Adelé did not mind as she became older, reaching the age of eight with no problems, when one day Higgles ignited the match.
Adelé was writing a song on paper, a song for a couple next door. They had asked her to play a song especially for them. As Adelé was doing this Higgles had in her mind a bad thought to act out. As Adelé finished the song, Higgles came by and asked of her, “So, Adelé, what are you writing?” Adelé looked at her with surprise since they never talked, and suspicions rose in her mind. “Fine then, do not even talk to me, your sister. I guess I have to cry out to mommy and daddy that you are being rude again and not talking to me!!” exclaimed Higgles with Sarie entering the room.
“Again, Adelé?” asked Sarie. “Stop acting bad or mean to your older sister, show her at least some respect.”
“Yes, mother,” said Adelé as Higgles smiled to herself.
With this Sarie left, as Higgles said, “So, what are you writing?”
“A song for Mr. and Mrs. van der Bergh.”
“Really, why?”
“They would like a song just for them.”
“What kind of a song?”
“A peaceful song, I suppose. I must go now,” said Adelé as she placed the music in her chair. Adelé then ran upstairs to her room.
Seeing that no one was around, Higgles smiled to herself as she opened up the chair to look at the sheet of music. Higgles, as noted before, could read music enough to try to play the piccolo, and she smiled to herself as she said, “I think this composition needs a few new lines here and there.”
IX: The van der Bergh’s Song
Mr. and Mrs. van der Bergh waited in anticipation for the afternoon when Adelé came by to play for them her song. They were newly wedded and were hoping that the song would help them in later times when they were busy, stressed, or forgetful to remember how lucky they were to have each other.
Adelé entered the house as the couple were sitting in their living room in this anticipation.
“Good afternoon,” said Adelé politely to Mr. and Mrs. van der Bergh.
“Good afternoon, Adelé,” said Mrs. van der Bergh.
“Yes, afternoon Adelé,” said Mr. van der Bergh. “Would you like some tea first, or to play first?”
Seeing how their faces longed for the song, Adelé said, “Play first, and then tea.”
Both husband and wife smiled happily at this choice and sat down on the sofa as Adelé prepared herself to play, when suddenly, upon looking at the music, her hands in mid-air, she stopped in horror.
Seeing that something was wrong, Mr. van der Bergh said, “What is wrong, Adelé?”
“Nothing,” said Adelé to both husband and wife with a little smile. “I just remembered, I was not going to use the music sheet at all in any case.” With a quick movement Adelé threw the paper out the window, as it sailed onto Higgles’s head below, as she had walked over just to hear how badly Adelé would play the piano.
“What was that?” asked Mr. van der Bergh.
“An alley cat,” said Adelé with a slight smile.
“With that sound?” asked Mrs. van der Bergh.
“Yes,” said Adelé, “and to get rid of such a nuisance, this will do.” Adelé had picked up some ink from a table near the piano pouring it outside the window.
“Ahhhh, uggg, urrrr,” came the sound from the window with silence once more afterwards.
Adelé walked back to the piano, readying herself for her practice. Now, thought Adelé to herself, I can do this, I remember it that much. With a brisk movement her fingers gently touched and sounded out the beautiful strings of the piano, its music filling the streets and homes of all of those in New Amsterdam, New Netherlands, and even the entire New World. It was a song of such beauty that not even the writer can write it with the same warmth or in any tongue made up my men and women, for it was a song truly from the locked heart and not the suspicious brain. A song of innocence from one who embodied it all with no thought as to her having it.
Tears were seen along the streets, even dogs and cats hugged in understanding that life was too precious to fight over being different. Rats got off the ships and finally bathed in the sun that had for so long been to them a mere dream or tall tale. The trees swayed gathering the sunny sky, which had before been cloudy with even its clouds dispersing from such angry notions as raining and causing to those below sadness.
Suddenly the music stopped, and Adelé looked to Mr. and Mrs. van der Bergh to see them crying. “I am sorry,” said Adelé.
“Why?” asked Mrs. van der Bergh.
“My song has made you sad.”
“No,” said Mrs. van der Bergh. “Only truly happy to be alive to hear such a sweet sound. It is a very miraculous gift you have Adelé, never let it go.”
“Yes,” said Mr. van der Bergh. “You have a true gift. Thank you for such a song, it was more than what we asked for and we are truly happy that you have made it for us.”
“Your welcome,” said Adelé in her usual innocent manner.
“Your parents are blessed with such a child,” said Mrs. van der Bergh. “Now, you better go back home, and try to write that song down so you do not forget about it.”
As Adelé got off of the chair, she said, “You need not worry about that, it is in my special place since it is loved by you who are special to me.”
“That’s a good girl,” said Mr. van der Bergh. “Now, run along home.”
Adelé left as Mr. van der Bergh said to his wife, “I love you.”
She in turned smiled and said, “And I of you.”
X: Naughty Adelé
However, Adelé would soon learn that thanks were not what she was to receive at home. The scene before her was more horrid than anything she could have imagined. Before her was Higgles, happy and giddy, nothing wrong with her blond curls, but with some ink on her pink dress. Mr. Jan van Soothsbay was also fine, but with some black ink on his white shirt, but the worst was Sarie her hair stained, along with her dress and the skin on her face. Higgles had won after all.
“There you are,” said Sarie angrily. “Where were you at?”
“Playing a song for Mr. and Mrs. van der Bergh next door.”
“This song?” asked Higgles as she showed the music that she had distorted.
“No,” said Adelé. “Someone tampered with that.”
“I do not rightly care young lady,” said Jan. “I will not raise any naughty children in this house who throw music sheets and ink out windows on people’s heads! People around the neighborhood will not be pleased at all by such a thing. What if you had hit the governor with that, or even Mr. Stuyvestant. You must act better, or you will be taught the hard way how not to act naughty.”
“But Higgles changed the music on my sheet!” exclaimed Adelé.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Sarie. “We heard your song, the most disgusting I have ever heard. If Higgles did change it then you should have accepted it for she was only doing it as a favor to you since it was so bad. Now, Adelé, you go into your room and think about what you have done to my hair.”
“You are so hypocritical!” exclaimed Adelé.
“You mean hippoplitical,” said Higgles with a smile, thinking she was right over Adelé.
“You are so stupid, that is not even a word,” yelled Adelé at Higgles.
“That is far enough, Adelé,” said Jan. “Up to your room now young lady, and no dinner for you.”
Angrily Adelé ran up the stairs as Higgles smiled to herself.
“What does hippoplitical, or hypocritical mean?” asked Sarie.
“It means we are all fat hippos and not her,” said Higgles with a broad smile at how smart she was.
“I really cannot stand that child,” said Sarie.
“What?” asked Jan who was not listening to them at all.
“She called us fat hippos,” said Sarie with a tear coming from her eyes.
“Oh, Sarie dear,” said Jan. “Do not cry, I will straighten Adelé up, or it is off to Uncle Pieter’s wilderness she goes.”
Yes, thought Higgles to herself. No more Adelé ever again then, and it will be like it was before she came, just us.
* * * * * * * * *
When Mary had returned to the van Soothsbay home, she cursed herself for staying out so long. She had strayed yet again into Mr. Pickles, a man who at first was very friendly to her, but was getting continually colder and colder. She did not understand, especially on that day when he passed her by with only a shy hello and continued to walk on. They said that he was a bachelor, but that he was aiming to marry Miss Flora Wilson, the sister of Carina Wilson, and another problem to the parents. With these thoughts she entered the house to learn of Adelé’s plight. Being the caretaker of the child since birth, Mary quietly and quickly went up to Adelé’s room to see how she was.
Mary felt sad as she saw Adelé on her bed crying to herself. Mary went to the bed and stroked her head. Adelé was surprised to see her, but gave her a big hug.
“My goodness,” said Mary. “All of this for little me?”
“Yes, and more if you want it,” said Adelé as she gave Mary a kiss on the cheek.
“Oh, you are a little angel,” said Mary. “It is only sad that your parents do not realize that yet.”
“It doesn’t matter, Mary,” said Adelé. “I have you, and that is all that matters.”
“I must be at the dinner table in my usual job, but I got you a little something,” said Mary as she gave Adelé some bread and cake.
“Thank you Mary,” said Adelé. “However, you do not look too happy. What is it?”
“Well,” said Mary. “It’s Mr. Pickles. He has passed me today coldly, and I do not know why. Perhaps he no longer likes my friendship or hates me?”
“How do you know unless you ask him?” asked Adelé.
“Hmmm, it is not right for a maid to ask that of a gentleman.”
“I do not like these classes, a maid lower than a gentleman so that she cannot be his friend. It is wrong, why is it so?”
“I do not know, Adelé, maybe because people like to count the little things when the bigger things are really what count. We are all the same, it is just that people like to feel unique by hurting others sometimes, and making that shown always, that is all.”
“I do not like it. I think it would be wonderful if you and Mr. Pickles got married.”
“Ahhhh!” exclaimed Mary silently. “Mr. Pickles and me? Ha, ha, ha,” she laughed, but the thought had always been in her mind. “Adelé yes it would be very nice, me as Cinderella, he as my prince, but it could never be. He is more than likely going to marry Miss Flora Wilson. They will make a fitting match.”
“I think Flora Wilson is the ugliest thing in
the world.”
“Oh, Adelé, do not talk like that. It is wrong, you are being just as bad as them.”
“Yes, Mary.”
“Now, I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Good night, Mary.”
“Good night, Adelé.”
With this Mary left Adelé to sleep as the talk of before stood in her mind, and she as Cinderella with Pickles her prince.
XI: Higgles Giggles Pudding and Pie
The next day Mary again was walking in the market, when suddenly she noticed Mr. Pickles was besides her. Sensing she ought to say something, but unable to she just said, “Good morning, Mr. Pickles.”
Mr. Pickles looked her in the eyes and said coldly, “Good morning, Mary.”
As he walked away, Mary ran to him, “I am very sorry, but I feel I have done onto your great self an error of the most horrible kind, and I am very sorry for that.”