The Children of the New Forest
Page 6
CHAPTER VI.
Alice and Edith were very anxious to see the cow, and especially to seethe calf; but Humphrey told them that they must not go near till hewent with them, and then they should see it. After dinner was over,Jacob and Edward took their guns, and Humphrey put Billy in the cartand followed them. They found the bull where they left him, standingquite still; he tossed his head when they approached him, which theydid carefully, but he did not attempt to run at them.
"It's my idea that he has nearly bled to death," said Jacob; "butthere's nothing like making sure. Edward, put a bullet just threeinches behind his shoulder, and that will make all safe."
Edward did so, and the animal fell dead. They went up to the carcass,which they estimated to weigh at least fifty stone.
"It is a noble beast," said Edward; "I wonder we never thought ofkilling one before?"
"They aren't game, Edward," replied Jacob.
"No, they are not now, Jacob," said Humphrey; "as you and Edward claimall the game, I shall claim the cattle as my portion of the forest.Recollect, there are more, and I mean to have more of them yet."
"Well, Humphrey, I give you up all my rights, if I have any,"
"And I, all mine," added Edward.
"Be it so. Some day you'll see what I shall do," replied Humphrey."Recollect, I am to sell the cattle for my own self-advantage until Ibuy a gun, and one or two things which I want."
"I agree to that too, Humphrey," replied Jacob; "and now to skin thebeast."
The skinning and quartering took up the whole afternoon, and Billy washeavy laden when he drew his cart home. The next day Jacob went toLymington to sell the bull and the skin, and returned home wellsatisfied with the profit he had made. He had procured, as Humphreyrequested, some milk-pans, a small churn, and milk-pail out of theproceeds, and had still money left. Humphrey told them that he had notbeen to see the heifer yet, as he thought it better not.
"She will be tame to-morrow morning, depend upon it," said he.
"But if you give her nothing to eat, will not the calf die?"
"Oh no, I should think not. I shall not starve her, but I will make herthankful for her food before she gets it. I shall cut her some grassto-morrow morning."
We may as well here say, that the next morning Humphrey went in to theheifer. At first she tossed about, and was very unruly. He gave hersome grass, and patted her and coaxed her for a long while, till atlast she allowed him to touch her gently. Every day for a fortnight hebrought her food, and she became quieter every day, till at last if hewent up to her, she never pushed with her horns. The calf became quitetame, and as the heifer perceived that the calf was quiet, she becamemore quiet herself. After the fortnight, Humphrey would not allow theheifer to receive any thing except from the hand of Alice, that theanimal might know her well; and when the calf was a month old, Humphreymade the first attempt to milk her. This was resisted at first bykicking, but in the course of ten days she gave down her milk. Humphreythen let her loose for a few days to run about the yard, still keepingthe calf in the cow-house, and putting the heifer in to her at night,milking her before the calf was allowed to suck. After this headventured upon the last experiment, which was to turn her out of theyard to graze in the forest. She went away to some distance, and he wasfearful that she would join the herd, but in the evening she came backagain to her calf. After this he was satisfied, and turned her outevery day, and they had no further trouble with her. He would not,however, wean the calf till the winter time, when she was shut up inthe yard and fed on hay. He then weaned the calf, which was a cow calf,and they had no more trouble with the mother. Alice soon learned tomilk her, and she became very tractable and good-tempered. Such was thecommencement of the dairy at the cottage.
"Jacob," said Humphrey, "when do you go to Lymington again?"
"Why, I do not know. The end of August, as it is now, and the month ofSeptember, is not good for venison; and, therefore, I do not see what Ishall have to go for."
"Well, I wish when you do go, you would get something for Alice andsomething for me."
"And what is it that Alice wants?"
"She wants a kitten."
"Well, I think I may find that. And what do you want, Humphrey?"
"I want a dog. Smoker is yours altogether; I want a dog for myself, tobring up after my own fashion."
"Well, I ought to look out for another dog: although Smoker is not old,yet one ought to have two dogs to one's gun in case of accident."
"I think so too," replied Edward; "see if you can get two puppies, onefor Humphrey and one for myself."
"Well, I must not go to Lymington for them. I must cross the forest, tosee some friends of mine whom I have not seen for a long while, and Imay get some of the right sort of puppies there, just like Smoker. I'lldo that at once, as I may have to wait for them, even if I do have thepromise."
"May I go with you, Jacob?" said Edward.
"Why, I would rather not; they may ask questions."
"And so would I rather he would not, for he will shirk his work here."
"Why, what is there to do, Humphrey?"
"Plenty to do, and hard work, Edward; the acorns are fit for beatingdown, and we want a great many bushels for the pigs. We have to fattenthree, and to feed the rest during the winter. I can not get on wellwith only Alice and Edith; so if you are not very lazy, you will staywith us and help us."
"Humphrey, you think of nothing but your pigs and farmyard."
"And you are too great a hunter to think of any thing but a stag; but abird in the hand is worth two in the bush, in my opinion; and I'll makemore by my farmyard than you ever will by the forest."
"Humphrey has nothing to do with the poultry and eggs, has he, Edward?they belong to Edith and me, and Jacob shall take them to Lymington andsell them for us, and get us some new clothes for Sunday, for thesebegin to look rather worn--and no wonder."
"No, dearest, the poultry are yours, and I will sell them for you assoon as you please, and buy what you wish with the money," repliedJacob. "Let Humphrey make all the money he can with his pigs."
"Yes; and the butter belongs to me, if I make it," said Alice.
"No no," replied Humphrey; "that's not fair; I find cows, and getnothing for them. We must go halves Alice."
"Well, I've no objection to that," said Alice "because you find thecows and feed them. I made a pound of butter yesterday, just to trywhat I could do; but it's not firm, Jacob. How is that?"
"I have seen the women make butter, and know how, Alice; so next time Iwill be with you. I suppose you did not wash your butter-milk well out,nor put any salt in it?"
"I did not put any salt in it."
"But you must, or the butter will not keep."
It was arranged that Edward should stay at home to assist in collectingthe acorns for the pigs, and that Jacob should cross the forest aloneto see after the puppies, and he set off the next morning. He was awaytwo days, and then returned; said that he had a promise of two puppies,and that he had chosen them; they were of the same breed as Smoker, butthey were only a fortnight old, and could not be taken from the motheryet awhile, so that he had arranged to call again when they were threeor four months old, and able to follow him across the forest. Jacobalso said that he was very near being hurt by a stag that had made athim--for at that season of the year the stags were very dangerous andfierce--but that he had fired, and struck off one of the animal'shorns, which made it turn.
"You must be careful, Edward, how you go about the forest now."
"I have no wish to go," replied Edward; "as we can not hunt, it is nouse; but in November we shall begin again."
"Yes," replied Jacob, "that will be soon enough. To-morrow I will helpyou with the acorns, and the day afterward, if I am spared, I will takeAlice's poultry to Lymington for her."
"Yes, and when you come back you will help me to churn for then I shallhave a good deal of cream."
"And don't forget to buy the kitten, Jacob," said Edith.
"What's
the good of a kitten?" said Humphrey, who was very busy makinga bird-cage for Edith, having just finished one for Alice; "she willonly steal your cream and eat up your birds."
"No, she won't; for we'll shut the door fast where the milk and creamare, and we'll hang the cages so high that Miss Puss won't be able toget at them."
"Well, then, a kitten will be useful," said Edward, "for she will teachyou to be careful."
"My coat is a little the worse for wear, and so is yours, Edward. Wemust try if we can not, like Alice, find means to pay for another."
"Humphrey," said Jacob, "I'll buy all you want, and trust to you forpaying me again as soon as you can."
"That's just what I want," replied Humphrey. "Then you must buy me agun and a new suit of clothes first; when I've paid for them, I shallwant some more tools, and some nails and screws, and two or three otherthings; but I will say nothing about them just now. Get me my gun, andI'll try what the forest will do for me--especially after I have mydog."
"Well, we shall see; perhaps you'll like to come out with me sometimesand learn woodcraft, for Edward knows as much as I do now, and can goout by himself."
"Of course I will, Jacob: I want to learn every thing."
"Well, there's a little money left in the bag yet, and I will go toLymington to-morrow. Now I think it is time we were in bed; and if youare all as tired as I am, you will sleep soundly."
Jacob put into the cart the next day about forty of the chickens whichAlice had reared; the others were kept to increase the number in thepoultry-yard. They had cost little or nothing bringing up; for whenquite young, they only had a little oatmeal cake, and afterward, withthe potatoes which were left, they found themselves, as fowls canalways do when they have a great range of ground to go over.
Jacob came back at sunset, with all the articles. He brought a new suitfor Alice and Edith, with some needles and thread, and worsted, andgave her some money which was left from the sale of the chickens, afterhe had made the purchases. He also bought a new suit for Edward andHumphrey, and a gun, which was much approved of by Humphrey, as it hada larger bore and carried a heavier bullet than either Jacob's orEdward's; and there was a white kitten for Alice and Edith. There wasno news, only that the Levelers had opposed Cromwell, and he had putthem down with the other troops, and Jacob said that it appeared thatthey were all squabbling and fighting with each other.
Time passed; the month of November came on without any thing to disturbthe daily employments of the family in the forest: when one evening,Jacob, who had returned from hunting with Edward (the first time theyhad been out since the season commenced) told Alice that she must doall she could to give them a good dinner the next day, as it was to bea feast.
"Why so, Jacob?"
"If you can not guess, I won't tell you till the time comes," repliedJacob.
"Well then, Humphrey must help us," replied Alice, "and we will do whatwe can. I will try, now that we have some meat, to make a grand dinner."
Alice made all the preparations, and had for dinner the next day apiece of baked venison, a venison stew, a pair of roast chickens, andan apple pie--which, for them, was a very grand dinner indeed. And itwas very well dressed: for Jacob had taught her to cook, and by degreesshe improved upon Jacob's instruction. Humphrey was quite as clever atit as she was; and little Edith was very useful, as she plucked thefowls, and watched the things while they were cooking.
"And now I'll tell you," said Jacob, after saying grace, "why I askedyou for a feast this day. It is because exactly on this day twelvemonthI brought you all to the cottage. Now you know."
"I did not know it, certainly, but I dare say you are right," repliedEdward.
"And now, children, tell me," said Jacob, "has not this year passedvery quickly and very happily--quite as quickly and quite as happily asif you had been staying at Arnwood?"
"Yes, more so," replied Humphrey; "for then very often I did not knowwhat to do to amuse myself, and since I have been here the days havealways been too short."
"I agree with Humphrey," said Edward.
"And I am sure I do," replied Alice; "I'm always busy and always happy,and I'm never scolded about dirtying my clothes or tearing them, as Iused to be."
"And what does little Edith say?"
"I like to help Alice, and I like to play with the kitten," repliedEdith.
"Well, my children," said Jacob, "depend upon it, you are most happywhen your days pass quickest, and that is only the case when you haveplenty to do. Here you are in peace and safety; and may it please Godthat you may continue so! We want very few things in this world--thatis, we really want very few things, although we wish and sigh for many.You have health and spirits, which are the greatest blessings in life.Who would believe, to look at you all, that you were the same childrenthat I brought away from Arnwood? You were then very different fromwhat you are now. You are strong and healthy, rosy and brown, insteadof being fair and delicate. Look at your sisters, Edward. Do you thinkthat any of your former friends--do you think that Martha, who had thecare of them, would know them?"
Edward smiled, and said, "Certainly not; especially in their presentdresses."
"Nor would, I think, Humphrey be known again. You, Edward, were alwaysa stout boy; and, except that you have grown very much, and are morebrown, there is no great difference. You would be known again, even inyour present forester's dress; but what I say is, that we ought to bethankful to the Almighty that you, instead of being burned in yourbeds, have found health, and happiness, and security, in a forester'shut; and I ought to be, and am, most thankful to Heaven, that it haspleased it to spare my life, and enable me to teach you all to thepresent, how to gain your own livelihoods after I am called away. Ihave been able so far to fulfill my promise to your noble father; andyou know not what a heavy load on my mind is every day lessened, as Isee each day that you are more and more able to provide for yourselves.God bless you, dear children, and may you live to see many returns, andhappy returns, of the day;" and Jacob was so much moved as he saidthis, that a tear was seen rolling down his furrowed cheek.
The second winter now came on. Jacob and Edward went out huntingusually about twice a-week; for the old forester complained ofstiffness and rheumatism, and not feeling so active as he used to be.Humphrey now accompanied Edward perhaps one day in the week, but notmore, and they seldom returned without having procured venison, forEdward knew his business well, and no longer needed the advice ofJacob. As the winter advanced, Jacob gave up going out altogether. Hewent to Lymington to sell the venison and procure what was necessaryfor the household, such as oatmeal and flour, which were the principalwants, but even these journeys fatigued him, and it was evident thatthe old man's constitution was breaking fast. Humphrey was always busy.One evening he was making something which puzzled them all. They askedhim what it was for, but he would not tell them.
"It's an experiment that I am trying," said he as he was bending ahazel stick. "If it answers, you shall know: if it does not, I've onlyhad a little trouble for nothing. Jacob, I hope you will not forget thesalt to-morrow when you go to Lymington, for my pigs are ready forkilling, and we must salt the greatest part of the pork. After the legsand shoulders have lain long enough in salt, I mean to try if I can notsmoke them, and if I do, I'll then smoke some bacon. Won't that bejolly, Alice? Won't you like to have a great piece of bacon hanging upthere, and only to have to get on a stool to cut off what you want,when Edward and I come home hungry, and you've nothing to give us toeat?"
"I shall be very glad to have it, and I think so will you too, by theway you talk."
"I shall, I assure you. Jacob, didn't you say the ash sticks were thebest to smoke bacon with?"
"Yes, boy: when you are ready, I'll tell you how to manage. My poormother used to smoke very well up this very chimney."
"I think that will do," said Humphrey, letting his hazel stick springup, after he had bent it down, "but to-morrow I shall find out."
"But what is it for, Humphrey?" said Edith.
The next day Jacob took the venison into Lymington, and brought backthe salt and other articles required. The pigs were then killed, andsalted down under Jacob's directions; his rheumatism did not allow himto assist, but Humphrey and Edward rubbed in the salt, and Alice tookthe pieces of pork away to the tub when they were finished. Humphreyhad been out the day before with the unknown article he had been solong about. The next morning he went out early before breakfast andwhen he returned, he brought a hare in his hand, which he laid on thetable.
"There," said he, "my spring has answered, and this is the first fruitsof it. Now I'll make some more, and we will have something by way of achange for dinner."
They were very much pleased with Humphrey's success, and he was not alittle proud of it.
"How did you find out how to make it?"
"Why, I read in the old book of travels which Jacob brought home withhim last summer, of people catching rabbits and hares in some way likethis; I could not make it out exactly, but it gave me the idea."
We ought to have told the reader that Jacob had more than once broughthome an old book or two which he had picked up, or had given him, andthat these had been occasionally looked into by Humphrey and Edward,but only now and then, as they had too much to do to find much time forreading, although sometimes, in the evening, they did take them up.When it is considered how young they were, and what a practical andbusy life they led, this can not be surprising.