CHAPTER VII.
It had been growing colder all the afternoon, and continued to do sovery rapidly through the night. The next morning at the breakfast tablesome of the lads announced, with great glee that the lakelet was frozenover; the ice so thick and solid that it was perfectly safe for skatingin every part.
The news caused quite a flurry of pleasurable excitement among theyounger ones of the company.
"I move that we spend the morning there," said Zoe.
"How many of us have skates, I wonder?"
"You have I think, have you not?" said Edward.
"Yes; yours and mine are both in good order; I examined them only theother day."
The captain asked how many knew how to use skates, and from the repliesit seemed that all the lads had been more or less accustomed to theiruse, some of the girls also. Zoe had had quite a good deal of practicebefore her marriage, a little since.
The winters were usually too mild in this part of the country to givemuch opportunity for that kind of exercise. She was therefore the moreeager to avail herself of this one; for she was very fond of the sport.
Edward, Harold, and Herbert were all in the mood to join her in it andwere prepared to do so; and Rosie and Max too were equally fortunate;but most of the others had come without skates.
But that difficulty could be easily remedied; their homes were not faroff, nor was the village, with its stores where such things could bebought. It was decided to despatch messengers for the needed supplies.
"Papa," said Lulu, "may they get a pair for me? I'd like to learn toskate."
He turned to her with an indulgent smile. "Would you? then you shall; Iwill send for the skates and give you a lesson in the art myself. I usedto be reckoned a good skater in my boyhood. Would my little Grace liketo learn too?"
"No, thank you, papa, I'd rather walk on the ground, or ride."
"You shall ride on the ice if you will, little girlie," said Harold. "Ithink I can find a conveyance that will suit your taste."
"You're kind to think of it, Uncle Harold," she said, with a dubiouslook, "but I'm afraid the horses would slip and fall on the ice."
"I think not," he said; "but if they should they will only have to pickthemselves up again, and go on."
"But I'm afraid they might get hurt and maybe tip me over too."
Harold only smiled at that, as he rose and left the room to attend tothe despatching of the messengers.
Grace wondered what he meant, but as the older people all about her werebusily talking among themselves, she went on quietly with her breakfastand said no more.
"Are you a skater, my dear?" asked the captain, addressing his wife.
"I used to be a tolerably expert one and moderately fond of theexercise," she replied.
"I should like the pleasure of taking you out this morning, for a trialof your skill," he said. "Shall I send for skates for you?"
"Thank you, no; I think I have a pair somewhere about the house, andperhaps can find another for you."
"There are several pairs of gentlemen's skates," said her mother. "Iwill have them brought out for the captain to try."
He thanked her, adding that in case a pair should be found to fit, hecould have the pleasure of taking his wife out without waiting for thereturn of the servant despatched to the village.
Upon leaving the breakfast table they all repaired to the parlor forfamily worship, as was their custom morning and evening. Then those whohad skates, and some who wanted the walk and a near view of the skating,Lulu among them, got themselves ready and went to the lakelet, while theothers waited for the return of the messengers; most of them meanwhilegathered about the windows overlooking the lakelet, to watch themovements of the skaters--Edward, Zoe, Harold, Herbert, Rosie, Evelynand Max; presently joined by Capt. Raymond and Violet, a pair of skateshaving been found to fit each of them.
When all were fairly started the scene became very animated and pretty.The two married couples skated well, but Harold, and especially Herbert,far exceeded them, the swift, easy movement with which they glided overthe glassy surface of the lake, the exact balancing of their bodies, andthe graceful curves they executed called forth many an admiring anddelighted exclamation from the onlookers, both near at hand and fartheraway at the windows of the mansion.
Among the latter were Grandma Elsie, her father and his wife--GrandmaRose--and Cousin Ronald.
"Bravo!" cried the two old gentlemen simultaneously, as Herbertperformed a feat in which he seemed to fairly outdo himself. Mr.Lilburn adding, "I feel the old ardor for the sport stir within me atsight o' the lad's adroit movements. At his age I might have ventured tocompete with as expert a skater as he. What say you, Cousin Horace, to amatch atween the two auld chaps o' us down there the noo?"
"Agreed," Mr. Dinsmore said with a laugh. "There are skates that willanswer our purpose I think, and we will set off at once if you like."
At that moment Lulu came running in. "The skates have come, GrandmaElsie," she said, "just as I have got back to the house. Papa sent me inbecause it was too cold, he said, for me to be standing still out there.He'll come for me when Mamma Vi is tired and wants to come in."
"Does she seem to be enjoying it?" asked the person addressed.
"Oh yes, ma'am, very much indeed! Aren't you going to try it too?"
"Yes, do, Elsie," said her father. "And you too, Rose," to his wife."Let us all try the sport while we have an opportunity."
The ladies were nothing loath, everybody seemed to catch the spirit ofthe hour, the skates were quickly distributed, and all hurried away tothe lake, but Lulu and Grace who were to stay within doors, by theirfather's orders, till he came, or sent for them.
Lulu having taken off her hood and coat, now sat before the firewarming her feet. Grace was watching the skaters from an easy chair bythe window.
"It does look like good fun," she said. "Is it very cold out there, Lu?"
"Not so very; the wind doesn't blow; but when you've been standing stilla while your feet feel right cold. I hardly thought about it though, Iwas so taken up with watching the skating, till papa called to me thatit was too cold for me to stand there, and I must come in."
"Papa's always taking care of his children," remarked Grace.
"Yes," assented Lulu, "he never seems to forget us at all; I most wishhe would sometimes," she added laughing, "just once in a while when Ifeel like having my own way, you know.
"Wasn't he good to send for these for me?" she went on, holding up hernew skates and regarding them with much satisfaction. "They're niceones, and it'll be nice to have him teach me how to use them. I've heardof people getting hard falls learning how to skate, but I think I'll bepretty safe not to fall with papa to attend to me."
"I should think so," said Grace. "Oh papa and mamma have stopped and Ido believe they're taking off their skates! at least papa's takingher's off for her, I think."
"Oh then they're coming in and we'll get our turn!"
"I don't want to try it."
"No, but you can walk down there, and then you're to have a ride on theice; you know Uncle Harold said so."
"I don't know what he meant; and I don't know whether I want to try iteither. Yes, papa and mamma are both coming back."
Violet had soon tired of the sport, and beside feared her baby waswanting her. She went on up to the nursery while the captain entered theparlor where his little girls were waiting for his coming.
"Waiting patiently, my darlings?" he said, with an affectionate smile."I know it is rather hard sometimes for little folks to wait. But youmay bundle up now, and I will take you out to enjoy the sport with therest. It will be a nice walk for you, Gracie, and when you get there youwill have a pleasant time I think."
"How papa?"
"My little girl will see when she gets there," he said. "Ah, here isAgnes with your hood and coat. Now, while she puts them on you, I willsee if Lulu's skates are quite right."
They proved to be a good fit and in few minutes the captain
was on hisway to the lakelet with a little girl clinging to each hand.
A pretty boat house stood at the water's edge--on the hither side, underthe trees, and now close beside it, on the ice, the children spied asmall, light sleigh well supplied with robes of wolf and bear skins.
"There, Gracie, how would you like to ride in that?" asked her father.
"It looks nice, but--how can it go?" she asked dubiously. "I don't seeany horses papa."
"No, but you will find that it can move without."
Harold had seen them approaching, and now came gliding very rapidlytowards them, on his skates.
"Ah Gracie, are you ready for your ride?" he asked, "Rosie Lacey and oneor two of the other little ones are going to share it with you. Captainwill you lift her in while I summon them?"
"Here we are, Cousin Harold," called a childish voice, and Rose Laceycame running up almost out of breath with haste and excitement, twoother little girl cousins following at her heels; "here we are. Can youtake us now?"
"Yes," he said, "I was just about to call you."
In another minute the four were in the sleigh with the robes welltucked around them. Then, Harold, taking hold of the back of thevehicle, gave it a vigorous shove away from the shore, and keeping atight grip on it, propelled it quite rapidly around the lake.
It required a good deal of exertion, but Herbert and others came to hisassistance and the sleigh made the circuit many times, its youngoccupants laughing, chatting and singing right merrily: the gayest ofthe gay.
Meanwhile the others enjoyed the skating, perhaps quite as much. Theolder ladies and the two old gentlemen seemed to have renewed theiryouth, and kept up the sport a good deal longer than they had intendedin the beginning; while the younger ones, and especially the children,were full of mirth and jollity, challenging each other to trials ofspeed and skill, laughing good-naturedly at little mishaps, andexchanging jests and good humored banter.
And Cousin Ronald added to the fun by causing them to hear again andagain sounds as of jingling sleighbells and prancing horses in theirrear. So distinct and natural were these sounds that they could not helpspringing aside out of the track of the supposed steeds, and turningtheir heads to see how near they were.
Then shouts of laughter would follow from old and young of both sexes,mingled with little shrieks, half of affright and half of amusementfrom the girls.
While all this was going on, Capt. Raymond was giving Lulu her firstlesson in the use of skates, holding her hand in his, guarding hercarefully from the danger of falling.
But for that she would have fallen several times, for it seemed almostimpossible to keep her balance; however she gained skill and confidence;and at length asked to be allowed to try it for a little unaided.
He permitted her to do so, but kept very near to catch her in case sheshould slip or stagger.
She succeeded very well and after a time he ceased to watch herconstantly, remaining near her, but taking his eyes off her now and thento see what others were doing; noting with fatherly pride in his son,how Max was emulating the older skaters, and returning a joyous look andsmile given him by Gracie, as she swept past in the sleigh.
It presently stopped a few paces away, and he made a movement as ifto go and lift her out, but at the sound of a thud on the ice behindhim, turned quickly again to find Lulu down.
She had thrown out her hands in falling, and he felt a thrill of horroras he perceived that one of them lay directly in the path of a skater,Chester Dinsmore, who was moving with such velocity that he would notbe able to check his speed in time to avoid running over her.
But even while he perceived her peril the captain had, with an almostlightning like movement, stooped over his child and dragged herbackward. Barely in time; Chester's skate just grazed her fingers,cutting off the tip of her mitten. There were drops of blood on the ice,and for a moment her father thought her fingers were off.
"Oh my child, my darling!" he groaned, holding her close in his arms andtaking the bleeding hand tenderly in his.
"I'm not hurt, papa; at least only a very little," she hastened to say,while the others crowded about them with agitated, anxious questioning."Is Lulu hurt?" "Did Chess run over her!" "Did the fall hurt her?"
"My fingers are bleeding a little, but they don't hurt very much," sheanswered. "I think his skate went over my mitten, and I suppose myfingers would have been cut off if papa hadn't jerked me back out of theway."
Chester had just joined the group. "I can never be sufficiently thankfulfor the escape," he said with a slight tremble in his tones, "I couldnever have forgiven myself if I had maimed that pretty hand; though itwas utterly impossible for me to stop myself in time, at the headlongrate of speed with which I was moving."
"Your thankfulness can hardly equal her father's," the captain saidwith emotion almost too big for utterance, as he gently drew off themitten, and bound up the wounded fingers with his handkerchief. "Thatwill do till I get you to the house. Shall I carry you, daughter?"
"Oh no, papa, I'm quite able to walk," she answered in a very cheerfultone. "Please don't be so troubled; I'm sure I'm not much hurt."
"Allow me to take off your skates for you," Chester said, kneeling downon the ice at their feet, and beginning to undo the straps as he spoke."And I will gladly carry you up to the house, too, if you and yourfather are willing."
"Oh thank you, sir; but I'd really rather walk with papa to help mealong."
The accident had sobered the party a good deal, and most ofthem--including the older people and Lulu's mates--went back to thehouse with her and her father.
Violet was quite startled and alarmed to see the child brought in withher hand bound up; but when the blood had been washed away the woundswere found to be little more than skin deep; the bleeding soon ceased,and some court-plaster was all that was needed to cover up the cuts.
There were plenty of offers of assistance, but the captain chose to dofor her himself all that was required.
"There, my dear child, you have had a very narrow escape," he said whenhe had finished, drawing her into his arms and caressing her with greattenderness; "what a heartbreaking thing it would have been for us bothhad this little hand," taking it tenderly in his, "been robbed of itsfingers; far worse to me than to have lost my own."
"And you have saved them for me, you dear father," she said, clingingabout his neck and laying her cheek to his, her eyes full of tears, aslight tremble in her voice. "But they are yours, because I am," sheadded, laughing a little hysterically. "Oh I'm every bit yours; from thecrown of my head to the soles of my feet."
"Yes, so you are; one of my choice treasures, my darling," he said withemotion; "and my heart is full of thankfulness to God our heavenlyFather for enabling me to save you from being so sadly maimed."
"And I do think your Mamma Vi is almost as thankful as either of you,"Violet said, coming to his side and softly smoothing Lulu's hair.
They were in the dressing-room, no one else present but Grace and Max.
"I'm pretty thankful myself," observed the latter jocosely, but with atelltale moisture about the eyes; "I shouldn't like to have a sisterwith a fingerless hand."
"Oh don't, Max! don't talk so!" sobbed Grace, "I just can't bear tothink of such dreadful things!"
Her father turned toward her and held out his hand. She sprang to hisside and he put his arm about her.
"The danger is happily past, my pet," he said, touching his lips to hercheek; "so dry your eyes and think of something else, somethingpleasanter."
"You've got enough of skating, I suppose, Lu? you won't want to try itagain, will you?" asked Max.
"Yes; if papa will let me. I'd like to go back this afternoon. But I'dwant to keep fast hold of him so that I'd be in no danger of falling,"she added, looking lovingly into his eyes.
"I'll not let you try it in any other way for some time to come," hesaid, stroking her hair; "you must become a good deal more proficient inthe use of skates before I can again trust you to go alone
; especiallywhere there are so many other and more skilful skaters."
"I don't care for that, papa, but will you take me there again thisafternoon?"
"We'll see about it when the time comes," he said smiling at her eagertone, and not ill-pleased at this proof of a persevering disposition.
"Oh!" cried Max, glancing toward the window, "it's snowing fast! Dear,dear, it will spoil the skating for all of us!"
"But a good fall of snow will provide other pleasures, my son," remarkedthe captain in a cheery tone.
"Yes, sir, so it will," returned Max, echoing the tone.
"And beside plenty of indoor amusements have been provided," saidViolet. "I think we can all enjoy ourselves vastly, let the weatheroutside be what it will."
"I am sure of it," said her husband. "Gracie, how did you enjoy yourride?"
"Oh it was just lovely, papa!" answered the little girl, "the sleighskimmed along so nicely without a bit of jolting; and then too, it wassuch fun to watch the skaters."
A tap at the door, and Rosie's voice asking, "How is Lulu? Mamma sent meto inquire."
"Come in, Rosie," said the captain. "Mother is very kind, and I am gladto be able to report to her that Lulu is only very slightly hurt; soslightly that doubtless she will be ready to join her mates in any sportthat may be going on this afternoon."
Rosie drew near with a look of commiseration on her face, but exclaimedin surprise, "Why, your hand isn't even bound up!"
"No; I have just a patch of court plaster on each of three finger tips,"returned Lulu, laughingly displaying them.
"But oh what a narrow escape!" cried Rosie half breathlessly. "It fairlyfrightens me to think of it!"
"They'd all have been cut off if it hadn't been for papa," Lulu saidwith a shudder, hiding her face on his shoulder.
"O Lu, I'm so glad they weren't!" said Rosie. "Eva has been crying fitto break her heart because she was sure that at least the tips of yourfingers had been taken off; and in fact I couldn't help crying myself,"she added, turning away to wipe her eyes.
"How good in you both!" exclaimed Lulu, lifting her head and showingflushed cheeks and shining eyes. "Papa, shan't I go and find Eva andcomfort her by letting her see how little I am hurt, after all?"
"Yes, do, my child," he said, releasing her.
The two little girls went from the room together, each with her armabout the other's waist.
"Eva's in my room taking her cry out by herself," said Rosie. "I'd liketo go there with you, but I must carry your father's answer to mammafirst. Then I'll join you."
The door of Rosie's room stood open; Evelyn sat with her back towardit, and Lulu, entering softly, had an arm round her friend's neck beforeshe was aware of her presence.
"O Lu!" cried Evelyn, with a start, "are you much hurt?"
"No, you poor dear; you've been breaking your heart about almostnothing. I hurt my knees a little in falling, and Chester's skate took atiny slice out of my middle finger, and scratched the one each side ofit, but that's all. See, they don't even need to be wrapped up."
"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed Eva with a sigh of relief, and smilingthrough tears; then with a shudder and hugging Lulu close, "It wouldhave been too horrible if they'd been cut off! I think skating isdangerous, and I'm not sorry the snow has come to spoil it; for usgirls, I mean; the older folks and the boys can take care of themselves,I suppose."
"Oh I like it!" said Lulu. "I wanted papa to let me go back thisafternoon and try it again, and I think he would if the snow hadn'tcome."
"You surprise me!" exclaimed Evelyn. "If I had come so near losing myfingers, I'd never care to skate any more."
"I always did like boys' sports," remarked Lulu, laughing. "Aunt Beulahused to call me a tom-boy, and even Max would sometimes say he believedI was half boy; I was always so glad of a chance to slip off to thewoods with him where I could run and jump and climb without any body byto scold me and tell me I'd tear my clothes. I don't have to do thosethings without leave now, for papa lets me; he say it's good for myhealth, and that that's of far more importance than my clothes. Oh, weall do have such good times now, at home in our father's house, with himto take care of us!"
"Yes, I'm sure you do, and I'm so glad for you. How happy you all seem!and how brave you are about bearing pain, dear Lu! You are so bright andcheerful, though I'm sure your fingers must ache. Don't they?"
"Yes, some; but I don't mind it very much and they'll soon be well."
Just then they were joined by several of the other little girls, allanxious to see Lulu and learn whether she were really badly hurt.
They crowded round her with eager questions and many expressions ofsympathy first, then of delight in finding her so cheerful and sufferingso little.
The next thing was to plan indoor amusements for the afternoon andevening, as evidently the storm had put outdoor pleasures out of thequestion for that day.
The call to dinner interrupted them in the midst of their talk; a notunwelcome summons, for exercise in the bracing winter air had given themkeen appetites.
Some of the younger ones, who had particularly enjoyed the skating, felta good deal disappointed that the storm had come to put a stop to it,and were in consequence quite sober and subdued in their demeanor asthey took their seats at the table.
A moment of complete silence followed the asking of the blessing, then,as Edward took up a carving-knife, and stuck the fork into a roast duckin front of him, there was a loud "Quack, quack," that startledeverybody for an instant, followed by merry peals of laughter from oldand young.
A loud squeal came next from a young pig in a dish placed before Mr.Dinsmore, and the song of the blackbird from a pie Grandma Elsie wasbeginning to help.
"'Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie,'" remarked Mr. Lilburngravely.
"'When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before a king?'
"Ah ha! um h'm! ah ha! history repeats itself. But, Cousin Elsie, Ididna expect to be treated to a meal o' livin' creatures in your house."
"Did you not?" she returned with a smile. "Life is full of surprises."
"And grandpa and Ned go on carving without any apparent thought of thecruelty of cutting into living creatures," laughed Zoe.
"And what a singular circumstance that chickens baked in a pie shouldsing like blackbirds," remarked Grandma Elsie.
"Very indeed!" said Capt. Raymond. "I move that some one prepare anarticle on the subject for one of the leading magazines."
"No one better qualified for the task than yourself, sir," said hisbrother-in-law, Mr. Lester Leland.
"You will surely except our Cousin Ronald," said the captain; "doubtlesshe knows more about the phenomenon than any other person present."
"O Cousin Ronald," broke in Walter, "as we can't go skating thisafternoon, won't you please tell us young ones some of your famousstories?"
"Perhaps, laddie; but there may be some other amusement provided, and inthat case the tales will keep. It strikes me I heard some o' the leddieslaying plans for the afternoon and evening?" he added, turninginquiringly in Zoe's direction.
"Yes, sir," she said, "we are getting up some tableaux, but are readyto defer them if any one wishes to do something else."
"I think we will not tax Cousin Ronald with story telling to-day," saidGrandma Elsie: "he has been making a good deal of exertion in skating,and I know must feel weary."
"Are you, Cousin Ronald?" asked Walter.
"Well, laddie, I can no deny that there have been times when I've felt abit brighter and more in the mood for spinning out a yarn, as thesailors say."
"And perhaps you'd like to see the tableaux too, sir?"
"Yes, I own that I should."
That settled the question. "We will have the tableaux," Grandma Elsiesaid, and every body seemed well satisfied with the decision.
Preparations were begun almost immediately on leaving the table, andpretty much all the short winter afternoon occupied with them.
They had their exhibition after tea; a very satisfactory one to thosewho took part, and to the spectators.
Every child and young person who was desirous to have it so, was broughtin to one or more of the pictures. Lulu, to her great delight, appearedin several and did herself credit.
"How are the fingers, dear child? have they been giving you much pain?"the captain asked when he came to her room for the usual good-nighttalk, sitting down as he spoke, drawing her to a seat upon his knee, andtaking the wounded hand tenderly in his.
"Only a twinge once in a while, papa," she said, putting the other armround his neck and smiling into his eyes. "It's been a very nice day forme in spite of my accident; everybody has been so good and kind. I thinkthey tried to give me a pleasant part in as many of the tableaux as theycould to comfort me, and really after all it was only a little bit of ahurt."
"But narrowly escaped being a very serious one. Ah my heart is full ofthankfulness to God for you, my darling, and for myself, that the injurywas no greater. You might have lost your fingers or your hand; you mighteven have been killed by falling in such a way as to strike your headvery hard upon the ice."
"Did anybody ever get killed in that way, papa?" she asked.
"Yes, I have read or heard of one or two such cases, and had it happenedto you I could hardly forgive myself for letting go your hand."
"I'm sure you might feel that it was all my own fault, papa," she saidtightening her clasp of his neck and kissing him with ardent affection;"every bit my own fault because I begged you to let me try it alone."
"No, that could not have excused me; because it is a father's duty totake every care of his child, whether she wishes it or not; and it is mysettled purpose to do so henceforward," he said, returning her caresswith great tenderness.
Christmas with Grandma Elsie Page 7