by A. A. Milne
“Sir,” he said respectfully, “will you be so kind as to tell me if you are anybody in particular? I’m from the country, and shouldn’t like to meet any great man and not know it.”
“I, sir?” cried Chester, drawing himself up to his full height, and swelling with importance. “I? I am the greatest man in America; the greatest man of the age; I am Mr. Smith, sir, the inventor of the most delicious ices and confectionery ever eaten.”
“Thank you, sir,” returned Harold, with another low bow. “I shall always be proud and happy to have met so great a man.”
Laughter, clapping of hands, and cries of “I! I!” among the spectators, as the two withdrew by way of the hall.
Soon the young actors flocked in again. A book lay on a table, quite near the edge. With a sudden jerk Herbert threw it on the floor.
Rosie picked it up and replaced it, saying: “Can’t you let things alone?”
“Rosie, why can’t you let the poor boy alone?” whined her cousin, Lora Howard. “No one has ever known me to be guilty of such an exhibition of temper; it’s positively wicked.”
“Oh, you’re very good, Lora,” sniffed Zoe. “I can’t pretend to be half so perfect.”
“Certainly I can’t,” said Eva.
“I can’t.”
“I can’t,” echoed Lulu, Max, and several others.
“Come now, children, can’t you be quiet a bit?” asked Harold. “I can’t auction off these goods unless you are attending and ready with your bids.”
Setting down a basket he had brought in with him, he took an article from it and held it high in air.
“We have here an elegant lace veil worth perhaps a hundred dollars; it is to be sold now to the highest bidder. Somebody give us a bid for this beautiful piece of costly lace, likely to go for a tithe of its real value.”
“One dollar,” said Rosie.
“One dollar, indeed! We could never afford to let it go at so low a figure; we can’t sell this elegant and desirable article of ladies’ attire so ridiculously low.”
“Ten dollars,” said Maud.
“Ten dollars, ten dollars! This elegant and costly piece of lace going at ten dollars!” cried the auctioneer, holding it higher still and waving it to and fro. “Who bids higher? It is worth ten times that paltry sum; would be dirt cheap at twenty. Somebody bid twenty; don’t let such a chance escape you; you can’t expect to have another such. Who bids? Who bids?”
“Fifteen,” bid Zoe.
“Fifteen, fifteen! this lace veil, worth every cent of a hundred dollars, going at fifteen? Who bids higher? Now’s your chance; you can’t have it much longer. Going, going at fifteen dollars— this elegant veil, worth a cool hundred. Who bids higher? Going, going at fifteen dollars, not a quarter of its value. Will nobody bid higher? Going, going, gone!”
“Can’t,” exclaimed several of the audience, as the veil was handed to Zoe, and the whole company of players retired.
They shortly returned, all dressed in shabby clothing, some with wallets on their backs, some with old baskets on their arms, an unmistakable troop of beggars, passing round among the spectators with whining petitions for cold victuals and pennies.
A low growl instantly followed by a loud, fierce bark, startled players and spectators alike, and called forth a slight scream from some of the little ones.
“That auld dog o’ mine always barks at sic a troop o’ mendicants,” remarked Cousin Ronald quietly. “I ken mendicant’s the word, lads and lasses, and ye hae acted it out wi’ commendable ingenuity and success.”
“You couldn’t have made a better guess if you had belonged to the universal Yankee nation, cousin,” laughed Herbert.
They retired again and in a few minutes Eva and Lulu came in dressed in travelling attire, each with a satchel in her hand.
“This must be the place, I think,” said Eva, glancing from side to side, “but there seems to be no one in.”
“They may be in directly,” said Lulu, “let us sit down and rest in these comfortable looking chairs, while we wait.”
They seated themselves, and as they did so, Zoe and Maud walked in.
They too were dressed as travelers, and carried satchels. The four shook hands, Zoe remarking, “So you got in here before us! How did you come?”
“In the stage,” answered Lulu.
“Ah! one travels so slowly in that! We came in the cars,” said Maud.
“Yes,” said Zoe; “in the train that just passed.”
“Let us go back in the cars, Lu,” said Eva.
“Yes; in the same train they take. Oh! who is this coming? He acts like a crazy man!” as Frank Dinsmore entered, gesticulating wildly, rolling his eyes and acting altogether very much like a madman.
Chester was following close at his heels.
“Don’t be alarmed, ladies,” he said, “he shall not harm you. I’ll take care of that; I have my eye on him all the time; never let him out of my sight. I am his keeper.”
“But he’s dangerous, isn’t he?” they asked, shrinking from Frank’s approach, as if in great fear.
“Not while I am close at hand,” said Chester. “I’ll see that he disturbs no one.”
“I think it would be well for us to go now, girls,” said Zoe. “Let us ask the driver of that stage to take us in; then we’ll be safe from this lunatic.”
They hurried out and in another minute Chester and Frank followed.
Then Edward came in, walked up to the fire and stood leaning against the mantelpiece in seemingly thoughtful mood; but as the lady travelers again appeared at the door, he started and went forward to receive them.
“Walk in, ladies,” he said; “walk into the parlor. Pray be seated,” handing them chairs. “Now what can I do for you?”
“You are the innkeeper?” asked Zoe.
“At your service, madam. Do you wish a room? or rooms?”
“Yes; we will have two; and let them be adjoining, if possible.”
“Certainly, madam; we can accommodate you in that and will be happy to do so.”
Then turning to the spectators, “Can you tell us our word, ladies and gentlemen?” he asked.
“Innkeeper,” was the prompt response from several voices.
“Quite correct,” he said. Then with a sweeping bow, “This closes our entertainment for the evening, and with many thanks for their kind attention we bid our audience a grateful adieu.”
Half an hour later tea was served, and upon the conclusion of the meal the guests began to take their departure.
The family separated for the night earlier than usual, but Harold and Herbert followed their mother to her dressing-room, asking if she felt too weary for a little chat with them.
“Not at all,” she said with her own sweet smile. “I know of nothing that would afford me greater satisfaction than one of the oldtime motherly talks with my dear college boys; so come in, my dears, and let us have it.”
Harold drew forward an easy chair for her, but she declined it. “No, I will sit on the sofa, so that I can have you close to me, one on each side,” she said.
“That will suit your boys, exactly, mamma, if you will be quite as comfortable,” said Herbert, placing a hassock for her feet, as she seated herself.
“Quite,” she returned, giving a hand to each as they placed themselves beside her. “Now remember that your mother will be glad of your confidence in everything that concerns you, great or small; nothing that interests you or affects your happiness in the very least, can fail to have an interest for her.”
“We know it, dearest mamma,” said Harold, “and are most happy in the assurance that such is the fact.”
“Yes,” assented Herbert, lifting her hand to his lips, “and it is that which makes a private chat with our mother so great a delight; that and our mutual love. Mamma, dear, I can not believe I shall ever meet another woman who will seem to me at all comparable to my dearly loved and honored mother.”
“Such words from the lips of my son are
very sweet to my ear,” she responded, a tender light shining in her eyes, “and yet for your own sake I hope you are mistaken; I would have all my children know the happiness to be found in married life where mutual admiration, esteem and love are so great that the two are as one.”
“Such a marriage as yours, mamma?”
“Yes; there could not be a happier. But I am looking far ahead for my college boys,” she added with a smile; “at least I trust so; for you are over young yet to be looking for life partners.”
“I don’t think either of us has begun on that thus far, mamma,” said Harold. “At present we are more solicitous to decide the important question, what shall our principal life work be? and in that we desire the help of our mother’s counsel, and to follow her wishes.”
“It is a question of very great importance,” she said, “for your success and usefulness in life will depend very largely upon your finding the work your heavenly Father intends you to do, and for which you are best fitted by the talents He has given you.
“But I thought you had both decided upon the medical profession; and I was well content with your choice, for it is a most noble and useful calling.”
“So we thought mamma, but recently our hearts have been so moved at thought of the millions perishing for lack of a saving knowledge of Christ, that it has become a momentous question with each of us whether he is called to preach the gospel, especially in the mission-field, at home or abroad.”
Her eyes shone through glad tears. “My dear boy,” she said with emotion, “to have sons in the ministry I should esteem the greatest honor that could be put upon me; for there can be no higher calling than that of an ambassador for Christ, no grander work than that of winning souls.”
“So we both think,” said Herbert, “and, mamma, you are willing we should go and labor wherever we may be called in the providence of God?”
“Yes, oh yes! you are more His than mine; I dedicated you to his service even before you were born, and many times afterward. I would not dare stand in your way, nor would I wish to; for dearly as I love you both, sweet as your presence is to me, I am more than willing to deny myself the joy of having you near me for the sake of the Master’s cause, and that you may win the reward of those to whom He will say at the last, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of the Lord.’ Are you particularly drawn to the foreign field?”
“No, mamma,” answered Harold, “the cause is one— ’the field is the world’— but while we are deeply interested in foreign missions and desirous to do all we can to help there, we feel that their prosperity depends upon the success of the work at home, and that the cause of home missions is the cause of our country also; for that cause we would labor and give as both patriots and Christians.
“Look at the dangers threatening our dear native land— and the cause of Christ also— from vice and illiteracy, Popery and Mormonism, all ever on the increase from the rapid influx of undesirable immigrants— paupers, insane, anarchists, criminals. Ah how surely and speedily they will sweep away our liberties, both civil and religious, unless we rouse ourselves and put forth every energy to prevent it! Never a truer saying than that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty!’ and nothing can secure it to us but the instruction and evangelization of these dangerous classes. Is it not so, mamma?”
“Yes,” she assented; “I am satisfied that the gospel of Christ is the only remedy for those threatening evils, the only safeguard of our liberties, as well as the only salvation for a lost and ruined world.
“And, my dear boys, if you devote yourselves to that work it shall be your mother’s part, your mother’s joy, to provide the means for your support. I can not go into the work myself, so the sending of my sons and supporting them while they labor, must be my contribution to the cause.
“But I see no reason why you should give up the idea of studying medicine, since so many medical missionaries are needed. My plan would be to prepare you for both preaching and practising, if you have talent for both.”
“We have thought of that,” said Harold, “and as you approve, dearest mamma, we will hope to carry it out.”
“I am so glad, mamma, that you have large means and the heart to use them in the work of spreading abroad the glad tidings of salvation through Christ,” Herbert remarked.
“Yes,” she said “it is both a responsibility and a privilege to be entrusted with so much of my Lord’s money; pray for your mother, my dear boys, that she may have grace and wisdom to dispense it aright.”
“We will, mamma, we do; and oh how often we rejoice in having a mother to whom we can confidently apply in behalf of a good object! You have many times given us the joy of relieving misery and providing instruction for the ignorant and depraved.”
“It has been a joy to me to be able to do so,” she said thoughtfully, “yet I fear I have not denied myself as I ought for the sake of giving largely.”
“Mamma, you have always given largely since I have been old enough to understand anything about such matters,” interrupted Harold warmly; “yes, very largely.”
“If every one had given, and would give as largely in proportion to means,” remarked Herbert, “the Lord’s treasury would be full to overflowing. Is it not so, Harold?”
“Surely; and mamma has never been one to spend unnecessarily on herself,” replied Harold, fondly caressing the hand he held.
“It has been my endeavor to be a faithful steward,” she sighed, “and yet I might have given more than I have. I have been giving only of my income; I could give some of the principal; and I have a good many valuable jewels that might be turned into money for the Lord’s treasury.
“I have thought a good deal about that of late and have talked with my daughters in regard to the matter; I thought it but right to consult with them, because the jewels would be a part of their inheritance, and I wish you two to have some say about it also, as fellow heirs with them.”
She paused and both lads answered quickly that they thought the jewels should all go to their sisters.
“No; you and your future wives should have a share also,” she replied smilingly; “that is if I retained them all. And that being understood, are you willing to have most of them disposed of and the proceeds used in aid of home and foreign missions?”
Both gave a hearty assent.
“Thank you, my dears,” she said. “And now having already consulted with your grandfather and older brother, winning their consent and approval, I consider the matter settled.
“A few of my jewels, dear to me as mementoes of the past, I shall retain; also a few others which would not sell for nearly what they are really worth to us; but the rest I intend to have sold and the money used for the spread of the gospel in our own and heathen lands.”
“I am convinced you could not make a better investment, mamma,” Harold said, his eyes shining with pleasure.
“Yes, you are right,” she returned, “it is an investment; one that can not possibly fail to give a grand return: for does He not say, ’He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again?’
“Who was it (Dean Swift if I remember aright) who preached a charity sermon from that text— ’If you like the security, down with the dust’?”
“And you do like the security, mamma; you prefer it to any other, I am quite sure,” said Herbert. “But what a fine specimen of a charity sermon that was! both powerful and brief. Doubtless many of the hearers were greatly relieved that they had not to listen to a long, dull harangue on the subject, and all the more disposed to give liberally on that account.”
“Yes; do not forget to act upon that idea, when your turn comes to preach a sermon on that subject,” Harold said, giving his younger brother a mischievous smile.
“And let us not forget the lesson of the text when the appeal comes to us,” added their mother. “Oh my dear boys, what a privilege it is to be permitted to make such investments! and to be sowe
rs of the good seed whether by personal effort or in providing the means for sending out others as laborers. Let us endeavor to be of the number of those who sow largely in both ways; for ’He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.’
“And the harvest is sure; at the end of the world; if not sooner. And whether we give in one way or the other, let us not do it ’grudgingly or of necessity,’ but joyfully and with all our hearts, for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
“Mamma,” said Harold earnestly, “we do both feel it a great and blessed privilege to be permitted to be co-workers with God for the advancement of his cause and kingdom.”
With that the conversation turned upon other themes, but presently the boys kissed the dear mother good night and withdrew lest they should rob her of needed rest.
Chapter 10
“Home again, and it’s nice to get home!” exclaimed Lulu, skipping up the steps of the veranda and across into the wide hall where all was light and warmth and beauty.
Violet and Grace had preceded her and her father was following with little Elsie in his arms.
“I am glad to hear you say that; glad my daughter appreciates her home,” he said in a cheery tone.
“I’d be a queer girl, papa, if I didn’t appreciate such a home as this is,” she returned with warmth, and smiling up into his face. “Don’t you say so, Max?” catching sight of her brother who, riding his pony, had arrived some minutes ahead of the carriage and was now petting and fondling his dog at the farther end of the hall.
“Yes, indeed!” he answered; “I think if we weren’t happy and contented in this home we oughtn’t to have any at all. Papa, Prince is a splendid fellow!” stroking and patting the dog’s head as he spoke.
“So I think,” said the captain.
“And I too,” said Violet; “he is a very acceptable addition to the family. My dear, home does look exceedingly attractive to me, as well as to the children. But little Elsie’s eyes are closing; mamma must see her babies to bed.”