Marjorie's Maytime

by Carolyn Wells

  MARJORIE'S MAYTIME

  by

  CAROLYN WELLS

  Author of the "Patty" Books

  1911

  CONTENTS

  I A MAY PARTY

  II A NEW PET

  III A TRIAL TRIP

  IV VISITING A CAMP

  V HELD A CAPTIVE

  VI AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD'S

  VII AN EARLY ESCAPADE

  VIII AN EXCITING PICNIC

  IX ANCIENT FINERY

  X CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE

  XI A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE

  XII AT GRANDMA MAYNARD'S

  XIII A CHILDREN'S PARTY

  XIV A MERRY JOKE

  XV A RIDE IN MAY

  XVI AT THE CIRCUS

  XVII LITTLE VIVIAN

  XVIII IN BOSTON

  XIX FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL'S

  XX THE FESTIVAL

  CHAPTER I

  A MAY PARTY

  "Marjorie Maynard's MayCame on a beautiful day; And Marjorie's Maytime Is Marjorie's playtime;And that's what I sing and I say! Hooray!Yes, that's what I sing and I say!"

  Marjorie was coming downstairs in her own sweet way, which wasaccomplished by putting her two feet close together, and jumping twosteps at a time. It didn't expedite her descent at all, but it wasdelightfully noisy, and therefore agreeable from Marjorie's point ofview.

  The May-day was undeniably beautiful. It was warm enough to have doorsand windows flung open, and the whole house was full of May that hadswarmed in from out of doors.

  The air was soft and fragrant, the leaves were leaving out, the buds werebudding, and the spring was springing everywhere.

  The big gold bushes of the Forsythia were masses of yellow bloom;crocuses popped up through the grass; a few birds had begun to sing, andthe sun shone as if with a settled determination to push the spring aheadas fast as he could.

  Moreover it was Saturday, which was the best proof of all, of anintelligent and well-behaved Spring. For a May-day which knew enough tofall on a Saturday was a satisfactory May-day, indeed!

  Of course there was to be a May party, and of course it was to be at theMaynards', because Marjorie always claimed that the whole month of Maybelonged to their family, and she improved every shining hour of theMaytime.

  The May party was really under the auspices of the Jinks Club. But as theclub was largely composed of Maynards, it was practically a Maynard Mayparty.

  The bowers for the May Queens had been built out on the lawn, and thougha little wabbly as to architecture, they were beautiful of decoration,and highly satisfactory to the Royalty most interested.

  There were two May Queens, because Marjorie and Delight both wanted theposition; and though both were willing to resign in favor of the otherit was a much pleasanter arrangement to have two Queens. So there weretwo bowers, and Marjorie was to be the Red Queen and Delight the WhiteQueen.

  Of course Kingdon was the May King. No one had ever heard of a May Kingbefore, but that didn't bother the Jinks Club any, for they were a lawunto themselves.

  Kitty and Dorothy Adams were Princesses of May, and Flip Henderson was aPrince of May. Rosy Posy was a May Maid of Honor, and Mrs. Maynard waspersuaded to accept the role of Queen Dowager of May.

  Miss Hart was of the party, and the title of Duchess of May seemed to fither exactly.

  And now the time had come, and Marjorie was jumping downstairs on her wayto her own coronation. She wore a red dress, very much trimmed withflowers made of red tissue paper. The name of the flower doesn't matter,for they were not exact copies of nature, but they were very pretty andeffective, and red silk stockings and slippers finished off the brilliantcostume that was very becoming to Marjorie's rosy face, with its darkeyes and dark curly hair.

  As she reached the lower hall she saw Delight coming across the street,arrayed as the White Queen. Really she looked more like a fairy, withher frilly white frock and her golden hair and blue eyes.

  "Hello, Flossy Flouncy!" called out King, using his pet name for Delight;"you're a daisy May Queen! I offer you my humble homage!"

  A daisy May Queen was an appropriate term, for Delight's white frock wastrimmed and wreathed with garlands of daisies. Not real ones, for theywere not yet in bloom, except in green-houses; and so artificial ones hadbeen sewn on her frock with pretty effect.

  King's own attempt at a regal costume had resulted gorgeously, for withhis mother's help, he had contrived a robe of state, which looked likepurple velvet and ermine, though it was really canton flannel. But it hada grand and noble air, and King wore it with a majestic strut that wouldhave done credit to any coronation.

  Kitty and Dorothy wore light green dresses trimmed with pink paper roses,and were very pretty little princesses; while Rosy Posy as Maid of Honorwore one of her own little white frocks, tied up lavishly with blueribbons.

  Flip Henderson's costume was a good deal like King's, as he had purposelycopied it, not having any other design to work from.

  Mrs. Maynard and Miss Hart were not so fancifully attired as the youngermembers of the party, but they wore pretty light gowns with more or lessfloral decoration.

  The whole affair was impromptu; the children had spent the morninggetting it up, and now were going to devote the afternoon to the partyitself.

  "We must make a procession," began Marjorie, who was mistress ofceremonies; "you must go first, Mother, because the May Queen Dowager isthe most honorable one."

  "Me go first, too," announced Rosy Posy, taking her mother's hand.

  "Yes, you may," said Marjorie. "In fact, Baby, you'd better go first ofall, because you're Maid of Honor; and so you walk in front of the QueenDowager."

  So Rosy Posy toddled ahead, followed by Mrs. Maynard, who carried a wandof flowers with gracious effect.

  "The Queens ought to come next," said King, but Marjorie's sense ofpoliteness interfered with this plan.

  "No, the Duchess must come next," she said; "I don't care whether it'sright or not as a procession, but I think Miss Hart ought to go beforeus children."

  So the Duchess of May took her place next in line, and then the twoQueens side by side followed.

  Then came the two Princesses, and behind them, the King of May and thePrince, walking together in affable companionship. It was an imposingsight, and the paraders were so pleased with themselves that they marchedround the lawn several times before going to the scene of the festivity.

  But at last they went to the Coronation Bowers, and decided it was timefor the ceremonies to begin.

  The two crowns were in readiness for the two Queens. They were exactlyalike, and were made of pasteboard covered with gilt paper. Miss Hart hadhelped with these, and they were really triumphs of gorgeous beauty. Eachlay on a lace-trimmed cushion, and with them were long golden sceptreswith gilt balls on top.

  "Who's to do to the crowning?" asked King.

  "Why, I supposed you had those details all settled in advance," said MissHart, laughing.

  "No," returned King, "we didn't fix things up ahead much, we thought we'djust make up as we went along. I'll crown Flossy Flouncy, and Flip, youcrown Marjorie,--that'll be all right."

  The other members of the Royal Family took seats on rustic benches, andthe two Queens mounted their thrones. The bowers were pretty, and as theystood side by side, framing the smiling Queens, it was a pretty picture.

  "I hate to stop the proceedings," said Miss Hart, "but I think I must runover and get my camera, and take a snap-shot of this Coronation."

  "All right," said King, agreeably, "we'll wait. We'll sing a song whileyou're gone, and you can skip over and back in no time."

  So while the children sang the "Star Spangled Banner," Miss
Hart ranacross the street, and came back with her camera.

  "Better wait until they get their crowns on," suggested Kitty, "they'lllook a heap queenlier then."

  So the coronation ceremony proceeded. The King and the Prince advancedmajestically to the thrones, bearing the crowns on their cushions.

  "Who'll make the speech?" asked the King.

  "You may," said Flip, politely.

  "No, you're better at it than I am. Well, we'll each make one. You canbegin."

  So Flip advanced, and holding his burden high at arms' length he droppedon one knee before Marjorie, and began to declaim in oratorical tones:

  "Fair Maiden, Queen of May, I salute thee! I salute all the rest of youtoo, but mostly the Queen, because she is the principal pebble on thebeach. Queens always are. And so, Fair Maiden, Fair Maynard Maiden, Isalute thee."

  "That's enough saluting," put in King; "go on with your crowning."

  "And so, fair Queen of May, I crown thee, our Queen and our Sovereign!May your shadow never grow less, and may you have many happy returns ofthe day! And with kind regards to all, I'm your humble servant."

  Having set the crown squarely on Marjorie's head, Flip bowed low inhumble salutation, and then resumed an upright position, rather pleasedwith his own speech.

  "I accept thy homage, O Prince," said Marjorie, as she bowed and smiledwith queenly grace; "and I shall endeavor to be the best Queen in allthe world, except Delight, who will probably be better."

  With this graceful tribute to her companion queen, Marjorie sat down,holding her head very straight lest her crown should tumble off.

  Then King advanced to Delight, and holding up the other crown, began hisdeclamatory effort.

  "Oh, Queen! Oh, White Queen! Oh, our beautiful sovereign! I bring to theea crown,--a crown to crown you with, to show to all that you are ourbeloved and beloving Queen of May. Accept, oh, Queen, this crown andsceptre, and with them the assurance of our alleged loyalty, our humblesubmission, and our majestic royalty! I am a little at a loss for anything further to say, as I can't think of any more highfalutin words, soyou may as well put on your crown, and let's have some fun."

  But though King's high-flown language failed him, it was with a verymagnificent manner that he crowned his Queen and gave her theflower-trimmed sceptre.

  Then Delight, looking lovelier than ever in her added regalia, made herown little speech.

  "I thank you, my people, for your tokens of love and loyalty. I thank youfor choosing me to be your queen, and my rule shall be a happy one. Myonly law is, for everybody to do just what they want to, and so Ipronounce the Coronation Ceremonies over."

  Delight bowed, and sat down on her throne, while the audience applaudedheartily.

  Then the two Queens came down from their bowers, and Royalty gave way tothe members of the Jinks Club.

  "Now, let's cut up jinks!" cried King, capering about in his long Courtrobes, and looking like a very merry Monarch, indeed. "First the May-poledance, that'll limber us up some."

  A May-pole had been erected near by, and from its top depended longribbons of various colors. Each of the party took one of these ribbons,and under the direction of Miss Hart, they danced round the May-pole,weaving the ribbons in and out. It was a complicated matter at first, butthey soon learned how, and wove and unwove the ribbons many times withoutgetting tangled once. As they danced, they sang a little May song thatMiss Hart had taught them, and as they danced faster and faster it becamea frolic rather than a dignified rite.

  At last, all out of breath they dropped on the grass, and begged MissHart to tell them a story.

  "I'll tell you of the origin of the May-day celebrations," she said."May-day has been a festival since very ancient times. Its reason forbeing is the natural feeling that comes to every one at the glad springtime. When Nature breaks out into new life and beauty, our hearts feel asympathetic gladness, and a celebration of the spring is the naturaloutcome. The most primitive people felt this inclination, and they usedto gather the flowers that bloomed in profusion about them, set them up,and to pay them a sort of homage, expressed in dance and song. The oldRomans had what they called Floralia, or Floral Games, which began on thetwenty-eighth of April, and lasted several days. Later in England, andespecially in the Middle Ages, it was the custom for people of all ranks,even the Court itself, to go out early in the morning on the first of Mayand gather flowers. Especially did they gather hawthorn, and hugebranches of this flower were brought home about sunrise, withaccompaniments of pipe and tabor, and much joy and merriment. Then thepeople decorated their houses with the flowers they had brought. Andbecause of this, they called this ceremony bringing Home the May, orgoing A-Maying, and so the hawthorn bloom itself acquired the name ofMay, and is often spoken of by that name. In those early days, thefairest maid of the village was crowned with flowers, and called theQueen of May; she sat in state in a little bower or arbor while heryouthful courtiers danced and sang around her. But the custom of having aMay Queen really dates back to the old Roman celebration when theyespecially worshipped the goddess Flora. Another feature of May-day wasthe May-pole, which was erected in all English towns and villages, andround which the people danced all day long. But these merry customs werestopped when the Puritans put an end to all such jollifications. Theywere revived somewhat after the restoration, but they are rarely seennowadays except among children. But they are all pretty customs, and thewhole subject will well repay reading and study. I won't continue thislecture now, but before the month of May is over, we will study in schoolhours some of its characteristics, and we will read the poem of the MayQueen, by Lord Tennyson."

  "I wish you had boys in your school, Miss Hart," said Flip Henderson;"you do teach the nicest way I ever heard of."

  "Indeed she does," agreed Marjorie; "going to school to Miss Hart is likegoing to a party every day."

  And then came the crowning glory of the May party. This was the feast,which was served out of doors on a table prettily decorated with vinesand flowers. Dainty sandwiches were tied up with pink ribbons, and littleglass cups held delicious pink lemonade. The cakes were iced with pink,the ice cream was pink, and there were pink bon-bons of various sorts. Ateach plate was a little pink box of candies to take home; and a souvenirfor each guest in the shape of a pink fan for the girls, and pinkballoons for the boys. The big balloons made much fun as they bobbedabout in the air, and when the feast was over, the guests went awaydeclaring that the Jinks Club had never had a prettier party.