A Sweet Little Maid

by Amy Ella Blanchard

  CHAPTER V

  Rock

  Florence and Dimple with Rubina and Celestine were on the back porch,when they heard some one whistle, and looking up they saw Rock comingaround the corner of the house.

  "Good-morning," said he, "I am glad you have your dolls here; I want tomeasure them."

  "Why, are you a tailor?" asked Florence.

  "No," he said, laughing, "only a cabinetmaker. I came over with amessage from my mother to Mrs. Dallas, and a message from myself toyourselves."

  "Have you given mamma her message?" asked Dimple.

  "Yes," said he, "and mine is that I want you to come to tea with meto-morrow evening, you and Florence and the dolls."

  "Oh, the dolls?"

  "Yes, the dolls. I will come for you, if you like, at half-past four."

  "Did mamma say we might go?"

  "Yes, so it is all settled."

  "Now," said Florence, "we _must_ make the dolls new frocks. Do tell us,Rock, what they ought to wear."

  Rock turned over the bits of stuff in Dimple's box. "White, I think,"said he; "that dotted stuff is pretty."

  "Oh, yes," said Dimple, "and I have plenty of that. We can trim themwith this lace, Florence, and they will look so cool and nice. Now ifmamma only had time to make hats for them!"

  "I'll make them hats," said Rock.

  "You! Whoever heard of boys making hats for dolls?"

  "Did you never hear of a man-milliner?" asked Rock. "And mendressmakers? I have. You stay here. I am going to ask your mamma forsomething to make them of."

  "Isn't he a funny boy, Florence?" said Dimple, as Rock disappeared; "butI think he is real nice. Just hand me the scissors, won't you? Which waydoes this go, so, or so?"

  "So, like mine. Are you going to make a wide or a narrow hem?"

  "Wide, if the stuff is long enough; it isn't so easy, but it looksnicer. I wonder if mamma will give us fresh ribbons for sashes for thedolls; it will set them off so."

  "Here comes Rock," exclaimed Florence, "and what has he in his hand? Anold bonnet, I declare."

  "Now," said Rock, "if you will tell me where I can get a basin of water,I will make the hats."

  "With water?"

  "I shall need water. Don't get up--Bubbles will get it for me," asDimple was about to put down her work.

  Bubbles brought the water, and Rock began to rip the straw bonnet topieces; then he dampened it a little and sewed it into shape, once in awhile dampening it more to give it the right turn. "Will you have a wideor a narrow brim?" he asked.

  "Oh, just a between brim. Don't you say so, Florence? Isn't it going tobe lovely? Did you ever?" as Rock handed her a cunning little straw hat.

  "Now for the other one," said he, and he soon had that done too.

  A little narrow ribbon and one or two flowers made the hats perfect.

  "Oh, Rock, I wish you were my brother," sighed Dimple, as she held herdoll off at arm's length to admire her. "Rubina, you are a darling! blueis _so_ becoming to her."

  "I almost wish I had trimmed mine with blue," said Florence,regretfully.

  "Oh, I think pink is just as pretty," exclaimed Rock, "and it is nicernot to have them both alike."

  "Now what are you making?" asked Dimple, as Rock went on sewing straw.

  "Baskets."

  "Baskets, for the dolls?"

  "Yes, for the dolls, or you either."

  Dimple put her chin in her hands, and leaned on the arm of her chair towatch him.

  "How clever you are," she said, "I wish you were my brother, really andtruly, Rock."

  "Well, we will pretend I am," said he. "What shall I put in your basket,sister?"

  They all laughed.

  "I don't think it will hold much, but Rubina can put her work in it.See, if I pin her arm up so, she can hold it nicely. There! I must goand show it to mamma. I'll tell her to adopt you," she called back, asshe ran off.

  "Now I must clear up my scraps," said Rock, as he put the finishingtouches to the other basket.

  "Mamma says I may gather you some flowers," said Dimple, coming outagain with a pair of shears in her hand, "and she says you are a verynice boy, a very nice boy indeed."

  Rock laughed. "She wouldn't think so sometimes," said he. "I don'tbelieve she wants to change children with my mother."

  "I hope she doesn't want to," said Dimple, then added quickly, "Not thatI don't think your mother is real nice, Rock, but you know I am so usedto mine, and she is so used to me."

  "Of course," said Rock, laughing again. "I didn't mean they wouldchange, or even think of it."

  "Now let's get the flowers," said Dimple; "you are to choose just whichyou like best, Rock," she said, leading the way to the flower-beds. "Thepansies are almost gone, but there are plenty of roses yet, andverbenas, and mignonette, and lots of things."

  "Now, Rock," she said, as they went along the paths, "you are notchoosing the prettiest ones at all. I believe you are picking out themean ones on purpose; I am going to choose myself. You tell me,Florence, whenever you see a real pretty one."

  Florence promised, and Rock looked on, secretly pleased that they hadtaken the matter into their own hands.

  "What lovely ones you have chosen," he said, as Dimple gave the bunchinto his hands. "Thank you so much."

  "And thank you, so much," said the girls, "for the hats, and thebaskets, and the invitation."

  "You will be sure to be ready," he said, at the gate.

  "Yes," they cried.

  "At half-past four?"

  "Yes."

  "Good-bye sister; good-bye Florence; go in out of the sun."

  "Good-bye, brother, keep in the shade."

  Then they laughed and ran in.

  "Mamma," cried Dimple. "Auntie," cried Florence, "where are you?"

  "Upstairs," she answered.

  Up they ran. "Aren't you glad Rock is such a nice boy? Did you know boyscould be so nice?" asked Dimple.

  "I knew they could be, if they would."

  "What makes Rock so gentle and kind and good?"

  "Well, you see he lost his father when he was a very little boy, and ashe had no brothers or sisters, he has been almost constantly with hismother, who is a very gentle, sweet woman."

  "He doesn't seem silly, like some boys, either," said Florence. "I knowa boy, we call him 'sissy,' he is so like a girl, and he is alwayswhining, and afraid of cold, and afraid of sun, and afraid ofeverything."

  "I shouldn't like that kind of boy," Dimple said. "Mamma, I call Rock mybrother, and he calls me sister."

  "Do you?" said her mother, smiling. "Now it is nearly dinner time, andif I am not mistaken, two little girls have left their new dolls, andall their scraps and things out on the porch."

  "So we have!" they exclaimed, and ran down to bring them in.

  The dolls were laid away in state for the next day, and at the sound ofthe dinner bell, the girls went into dinner.

  Since the arrival of Florence, Dimple had not cared so much for Bubbles'society, and sometimes objected to her joining in their plays; butBubbles, by the gift of Floridy Alabamy, did not lack amusement, andcould be seen almost any afternoon happy with her doll.

  She was singing, "Oh Beurah lan', sweet Beurah lan'," when Florencecalled her.

  "What are you singing, Bubbles?"

  "Beurah lan'," answered she.

  "What does she mean, Dimple?"

  "Beulah land. She does get things so twisted. We are going down to thewoodshed to play till mamma calls us. Bubbles, do you want to go?"

  Of course Bubbles did, and off they all went.

  The woodshed was at some distance from the house, out in a shady place.Sometimes the children took to the roof, which could be reached by aladder, and it was the scene of many a bold adventure.

  "What shall we play?" said one to another.

  "Injun," suggested Bubbles.

  "No Indian for me, since my foot was cut," said Dimple.

  "Let's play house afire and climb from the roof by the ladder," saidFlo
rence.

  "No. I tell you," said Dimple, "let's be cats and get on the roof andmeow like they do at night."

  They all laughed at this, but finally concluded to be birds, and buildnests, but why they should take leaves in their mouths and climb up anddown the ladder no mortal could tell, and indeed this proved too tediousa play, and they all sat on the roof to decide what should be done next.

  Suddenly Dimple cried out, "What is that sticking out of your pocket,Bubbles?"

  Bubbles quickly thrust whatever it was back into her pocket, and wasabout to get down from the roof, when Dimple held her.

  "Pull it out, Florence," she cried. "I believe it is a piece of mydotted swiss."

  And so it was. Bubbles had been consumed with envy ever since Rubina andCelestine had been dressed in white, and wanted her doll to look aswell.

  "You wicked girl! where did you get it?" asked Dimple, fiercely.

  "Found it."

  "You didn't. You've been stealing. You stole it from my box that I lefton the porch yesterday. What were you going to do with it?"

  "Make a frock for Floridy Alabamy."

  "Why didn't you ask for something, instead of taking what didn't belongto you?"

  Bubbles was silent.

  "You told a story too, when you said you found it; you knew it was mine.Now you shall be punished."

  "Don't send me to the orphan asylum," said Bubbles, beginning to cry.

  "No, I promised mamma I wouldn't say that any more, but I shall dosomething. The idea of your doing such a thing. I really used to thinkyou were nearly as nice as a white girl, Bubbles, but I never shall anymore."

  Bubbles cried harder than ever at this.

  "What shall I do with her, Florence?"

  "Take her doll away," suggested she.

  "No! no! no! please, Miss Dimple, I'll never do so no mo'," criedBubbles, "'deed an' 'deed, I won't. Don't take my doll away. Yuh canwhup me, or anything, but don't tek my doll away," and she hugged ittightly, rocking herself to and fro.

  Dimple thought a moment, and then she said, "I know, we will leave herhere on the roof, and take the ladder away; then when mamma calls us tocome in to dress we can put the ladder up again, and she can get down."

  This was agreed upon, and Bubbles was left a lofty prisoner.

  The girls concluded to play under the big tree, and became sointerested, that when Mrs. Dallas called them, they forgot all aboutBubbles, and went into the house without ever putting up the ladder.

  "What am I to wear, mamma?" asked Dimple. "One of my white frocks, Isuppose."

  "Yes," said her mother.

  "And Florence too? Yes, Florence, then we will all be in white, thedolls too. Mamma, may we carry our parasols?"

  "I don't think you will need them. Now, girls, I will send papa for youat half-past eight. I hope you will be little ladies, both of you,because I particularly want Mrs. Hardy to be fond of you."

  "Oh, we will, mamma," replied Dimple. "Why do you want Mrs. Hardy tolike us?"

  "I have two or three reasons. I will tell you when we have more time.Hurry, Florence, and put on your frock; it is nearly half-past four."

  "I hear a carriage stopping," said Dimple, running to look out of thewindow. "Florence, Florence, do hurry; Rock and his mother are out therein a carriage; where are the dolls? Oh, here they are. No, I haveyours," she exclaimed, excitedly. "Do, Florence, get your hat."

  "Don't get so excited, Dimple," said her mamma. "There is no need ofsuch a very great hurry as all that. I will go down and you can come.You have forgotten your handkerchief; it is there on the bureau."

  "Oh Dimple, do get me a handkerchief too," said Florence, "I don't knowwhat does make me so behindhand."

  "Perfume, Florence?"

  "Oh, please, just a wee drop, not too much."

  "Cologne or violet water?"

  "Which have you?"

  "Cologne."

  "Then I will take the other. Now I'm ready. Do you suppose we are goinganywhere? It is such a little way to drive only to the house."

  "I don't know," returned Dimple. "We'll soon see."

  "We thought it was so early," said Mrs. Hardy, "that we could take ashort drive before tea, if these little girls would like it."

  "Indeed we should," said they.

  "Then help them in, Rock," and they were soon seated, driving off ingreat style, dolls and all.

  Meanwhile, Bubbles sat on the roof, waiting for their return. As thetime passed and they did not come, she made desperate efforts to getdown, but there was no way. The tree that shaded the woodhouse was justtoo high to reach, and she crept to the edge of the roof, making up hermind to jump, but when she saw the distance her heart failed her, andshe went back.

  "Leave me hyah all night I s'pose," she said, "mebbe I'll ketch cold anddie; 'most wisht I would."

  Then she heard some one call "Bubbles, Bubbles," but though sheanswered, no one came.

  It grew later and later, the sun went down, and the sky sent up littlepuffs of pink clouds overhead.

  Bubbles lay down on her back, and looked up at the sky. After a while alittle star peeped out, then disappeared again, like a baby playing"Peep-bo."

  "Angels, I reckon," thought Bubbles. "S'pose I won't git to see 'em. Ireckon stealin's awful," and she lay there in a very humble frame ofmind, till she went to sleep.

  "I cannot imagine what has become of Bubbles," said Mrs. Dallas to herhusband when he came in. "I have looked the house over, and called herin every room. She cannot have followed the children. I never knew herto stay away before."

  "Hasn't Sylvy seen her?"

  "Not since early in the afternoon. She has looked all over the place."And so she had, but Bubbles asleep on the roof did not hear her, and alimb of the tree on that side hid her from view.

  "There is no reason for her running off, is there?" asked Mr. Dallas.

  "No, unless Dimple has threatened her with the orphan asylum once toooften. She has such a horror of it, but I told Dimple not to do soagain, and she is not apt to disobey."

  They sat down to tea, and it was not till an hour later that Bubbles wasrescued. Mr. Dallas was walking about, smoking his cigar, when he hearda doleful voice saying,

  "Lordy, Lordy, I'm awful bad, just as well go to the orphan asylum. I'lldie hyah, plum sho'."

  He listened, and walked a few steps further.

  "Wisht I was a bird, I'd get up in that tree. Wisht I had a raven tobring me my supper--s'pose I'll starve and die too."

  "Bubbles, where are you?" called Mr. Dallas. He heard a scramblingoverhead, and a delighted reply.

  "Hyah, sah, hyah I are."

  He looked all around, but did not see her.

  "Where are you?" he asked again.

  "On de roof, sah."

  "Well, why don't you get down?"

  "Ain't no way, sah; done tucken de ladder away."

  Mr. Dallas found the ladder and put it up, and Bubbles scrambled down.

  "Have you been up there all this time?"

  "Yas, sah," said Bubbles, scraping one foot with the bare toes of theother.

  "How came the ladder down?"

  "Miss Dimple done did it."

  "What for?"

  Bubbles hung her head, and began scraping the other foot.

  "What for?" again asked Mr. Dallas.

  "I done stole," said Bubbles, solemnly.

  "And she did it to punish you?"

  "Yas, sah."

  Mr. Dallas could not avoid smiling, but he said, "Go along into thehouse, and tell Mrs. Dallas about it. By the way, didn't you see any onelooking for you?"

  "No, sah. I was clean tuckered a waitin', and I went to sleep. 'Specsthey came then mebbe."

  "Well, go along," he said, and Bubbles started for the house, while hewent to bring home the girls.