NEW FRIENDS
Up the stairs of the hotel, two steps at a time, ran a boy with a big,black dog at his heels. "Come on, Prince; soft, now," as they neared adoor at the end of the corridors.
It opened into a corner room overlooking "the Park," as the smallopen space in front of the hotel was called. Within the room there wassunshine and comfort, it being the most luxurious one in the house,which the proprietor had placed at the disposal of this most exactingguest. He didn't look very happy, however--the gentleman who sat in aneasy chair by the window; a large, handsome old gentleman, whose wholebearing showed plainly that personal comfort had always been his, andwas, therefore, neither a matter of surprise nor thankfulness.
"Where have you been?" he asked, turning around to greet the boy whocame in, followed by Prince.
"Oh, such a long story, father!" he cried, flushed; his eyes sparklingas he flung back the dark hair from his forehead. "You can't evenguess!"
"Never mind now," said the old gentleman, testily; "your stories arealways long; the paper hasn't come--strange, indeed, that one must needsbe so annoyed! do ring that bell again."
So the bell was pulled; and a porter popped in his head.
"What is it, sir?"
"The paper," said the old gentleman, irritably; "hasn't it come yet?"
"No, sir," said the man; and then he repeated, "taint in yet, please,sir."
"Very well--you said so once; that's all," waving his hand; then as thedoor closed, he said to his son, "That pays one for coming to such anout-of-the-way country place as this, away from papers--I never will doit again."
As the old gentleman, against the advice of many friends who knew hisdependence on externals, had determined to come to this very place, theboy was not much startled at the decisive words. He stood very quietly,however, until his father finished. Then he said:
"It's too bad, father! supposing I tell you my story? Perhaps you'llenjoy hearing it while you wait--it's really quite newspaperish."
"Well, you might as well tell it now, I suppose," said the oldgentleman; "but it is a great shame about that paper! to advertise thatmorning papers are to be obtained--it's a swindle, Jasper! a completeswindle!" and the old gentleman looked so very irate that the boyexerted himself to soothe him.
"I know," he said; "but they can't help the trains being late."
"They shouldn't have the trains late," said his father, unreasonably."There's no necessity for all this prating about 'trains late.' I'mconvinced it's because they forgot to send down for the papers till theywere all sold."
"I don't believe that's it, father," said the boy, trying to change thesubject; "but you don't know how splendid Prince has been, nor--" "Andthen such a breakfast!" continued the old gentleman.
"My liver certainly will be in a dreadful state if these thingscontinue!" And he got up, and going to the corner of the room, openedhis medicine chest, and taking a box of pills therefrom, he swallowedtwo, which done, he came back with a somewhat easier expression to hisfavorite chair.
"He was just splendid, father," began the boy; "he went for him, I tellyou!"
"I hope, Jasper, your dog has not been doing anything violent," said theold gentleman. "I must caution you; he'll get you into trouble some day;and then there'll be a heavy bill to pay; he grows more irritable everyday."
"Irritable!" cried the boy, flinging his arms around the dog's neck, whowas looking up at the old gentleman in high disdain. "He's done the mostsplendid thing you ever saw! Why, he saved a little girl, father, froma cross old organ-man, and he drove that man--oh! you ought to have seenhim run!"
And now that it was over, Jasper put back his head and laughed long andloud as he remembered the rapid transit of the musical pair.
"Well, how do you know she wasn't the man's daughter?" asked his father,determined to find fault someway. "You haven't any business to go aroundthe country setting your dog on people. I shall have an awful billto pay some day, Jasper--an awful bill!" he continued, getting up andcommencing to pace up and down the floor in extreme irritation.
"Father," cried the boy, half laughing, half vexed, springing to hisside, and keeping step with him, "we found her brother; he came alongwhen we were by the side of the road. We couldn't go any further, forthe poor little thing was all tired out. And don't you think they liveover in Badgertown, and--"
"Well," said the old gentleman, pausing in his walk, and taking outhis watch to wonder if that paper would ever come, "she had probablyfollowed the organ-man; so it served her right after all."
"Well, but father," and the boy's dark eyes glowed, "she was such acunning little thing! she wasn't more than four years old; and she hadsuch a pretty little yellow head; and she said so funny--'I want Polly."
"Did she?" said the old gentleman, getting interested in spite ofhimself; "what then?"
"Why, then, sir," said Jasper, delighted at his success in divertinghis thoughts, "Prince and I waited--and waited; and I was just going tobring her here to ask you what we should do, when--" "Dear me!" saidthe old gentleman, instinctively starting back as if he actually saw theforlorn little damsel, "you needn't ever bring such people here, Jasper!I don't know what to do with them, I'm sure!"
"Well," said the boy, laughing, "we didn't have to, did we, Prince?"stroking the big head of the dog who was slowly following the two asthey paced up and down, but keeping carefully on the side of his master;"for just as we really didn't know what to do, don't you think there wasa big wagon came along, drawn by the ricketiest old horse, and a boy inthe wagon looking both sides of the road, and into every bush, just aswild as he could be, and before I could think, hardly, he spied us, andif he didn't jump! I thought he'd broken his leg--"
"And I suppose he just abused you for what you had done," observed theold gentleman, petulantly; "that's about all the gratitude there is inthis world."
"He didn't seem to see me at all," said the boy. "I thought he'd eat thelittle girl up."
"Ought to have looked out for her better then," grumbled the oldgentleman, determined to find fault with somebody.
"And he's a splendid fellow, I just know," cried Jasper, waxingenthusiastic; "and his name is Pepper."
"Pepper!" repeated his father; "no nice family ever had the name ofPepper!"
"Well, I don't care," and Jasper's laugh was loud and merry; "he'snice anyway,--I know; and the little thing's nice; and I'm going to seethem--can't I, father?"
"Dear me!" said his father; "how can you, Jasper? You do have thestrangest tastes I ever saw!"
"It's dreadful dull here," pleaded the boy, touching the right string;"you know that yourself, father, and I don't know any boys around here;and Prince and I are so lonely on our walks--do permit me, father!"
The old gentleman, who really cared very little about it, turned away,muttering, "Well, I'm sure I don't care; go where you like," when aknock was heard at the door, and the paper was handed in, which broke upthe conversation, and restored good humor.
The next day but one, Ben was out by the wood-pile, trying to break upsome kindlings for Polly who was washing up the dishes, and otherwisepreparing for the delights of baking day.
"Hulloa!" said a voice bethought he knew.
He turned around to see the merry-faced boy, and the big, black dog whoimmediately began to wag his tail as if willing to recognize him.
"You see I thought you'd never look round," said the boy with a laugh."How's the little girl?"
"Oh! you have come, really," cried Ben, springing over the wood-pilewith a beaming face. "Polly!"
But Polly was already by the door, with dish-cloth in hand. "This is mysister, Polly," began Ben--and then stopped, not knowing the boy's name.
"I'm Jasper King," said the boy, stepping upon the flat stone by Polly'sside; and taking off his cap, he put out his hand. "And this is Prince,"he added.
Polly put her hand in his, and received a hearty shake; and then shesprang over the big stove, dish-cloth and all, and just flung her armsaround the dog's neck.
"Oh, you splendid fellow, you!" said she. "Don't you know we all thinkyou're as good as gold?"
The dog submitted to the astonishing proceeding as if he liked it, whileJasper, delighted with Polly's appreciation, beamed down on them, andstruck up friendship with her on the instant.
"Now, I must call Phronsie," said Polly, getting up, her face as red asa rose.
"Is her name Phronsie?" asked the boy with interest.
"No, it's Sophronia," said Polly, "but we call her Phronsie."
"What a very funny name," said Jasper, "Sophronia is, for such a littlething--and yours is Polly, is it not?" he asked, turning around suddenlyon her.
"Yes," said Polly; "no, not truly Polly; it's Mary, my real name is--butI've always been Polly."
"I like Polly best, too," declared Jasper, "it sounds so nice."
"And his name is Ben," said Polly.
"Ebenezer, you mean," said Ben, correcting her.
"Well, we call him Ben," said Polly; "it don't ever seem as if there wasany Ebenezer about it."
"I should think not," laughed Jasper.
"Well, I must get Phronsie," again said Polly, running back into thebedroom, where that small damsel was busily engaged in washing "Baby"in the basin of water that she had with extreme difficulty succeeded ingetting down on the floor. She had then, by means of a handful of softsoap, taken from Polly's soap-bowl during the dish-washing, and a bit ofold cotton, plastered both herself and "Baby" to a comfortable degree ofstickiness.
"Phronsie," said Polly--"dear me! what you doing? the big dog's outthere, you know, that scared the naughty organ-man; and the boy--" butbefore the words were half out, Phronsie had slipped from under herhands, and to Polly's extreme dismay, clattered out into the kitchen.
"Here she is!" cried Jasper, meeting her at the door. The little soapyhands were grasped, and kissing her--"Ugh!" he said, as the soft soapplentifully spread on her face met his mouth.
"Oh, Phronsie! you shouldn't," cried Polly, and then they all burst outinto a peal of laughter at Jasper's funny grimaces.
"She's been washing 'Baby," explained Polly, wiping her eyes, andlooking at Phronsie who was hanging over Prince in extreme affection.Evidently Prince still regarded her as his especial property.
"Have you got a baby?" asked Jasper. "I thought she was the baby,"pointing to Phronsie.
"Oh, I mean her littlest dolly; she always calls her 'Baby," said Polly."Come, Phronsie, and have your face washed, and a clean apron on."
When Phronsie could be fairly persuaded that Prince would not runaway during her absence, she allowed herself to be taken off; and soonre-appeared, her own, dainty little self. Ben, in the meantime, hadbeen initiating Jasper into the mysteries of cutting the wood, thetool-house, and all the surroundings of the "little brown house." Theyhad received a re-inforcement in the advent of Joel and David, whostared delightedly at Phronsie's protector, made friends with the dog,and altogether had had such a thoroughly good time, that Phronsie,coming back, clapped her hands in glee to hear them.
"I wish mammy was home," said Polly, polishing up the last cupcarefully.
"Let me put it up," said Jasper, taking it from her, "it goes up here,don't it, with the rest?" reaching up to the upper-shelf of the oldcupboard.
"Yes," said Polly.
"Oh, I should think you'd have real good times!" said the boy,enviously. "I haven't a single sister or brother."
"Haven't you?" said Polly, looking at him in extreme pity. "Yes, we dohave real fun," she added, answering his questioning look; "the house isjust brimful sometimes, even if we are poor."
"We aren't poor," said Joel, who never could bear to be pitied. Then,with a very proud air, he said in a grand way, "At any rate, we aren'tgoing to be, long, for something's coming!"
"What do you mean, Joey?" asked Ben, while the rest looked equallyamazed.
"Our ships," said Joel confidently, as if they were right before theireyes; at which they all screamed!
"See Polly's stove!" cried Phronsie, wishing to entertain in her turn."Here 'tis," running up to it, and pointing with her fat little finger.
"Yes, I see," cried Jasper, pretending to be greatly surprised; "it'snew, isn't it?"
"Yes," said the child; "it's very all new; four yesterdays ago!"
And then Polly stopped in sweeping up and related, with many additionsand explanations from the others, the history of the stove, and good Dr.Fisher (upon whom they all dilated at great length), and the dreadfulmeasles, and everything. And Jasper sympathized, and rejoiced with themto their hearts content, and altogether got so very home-like, that theyall felt as if they had known him for a year. Ben neglected his work alittle, but then visitors didn't come every day to the Peppers; sowhile Polly worked away at her bread, which she was "going to make likebiscuits," she said, the audience gathered in the little old kitchen wasin the merriest mood, and enjoyed everything to the fullest extent.
"Do put in another stick, Bensie dear," said Polly; "this bread won't befit for anything!"
"Isn't this fun, though!" cried Jasper, running up to try the oven; "Iwish I could ever bake," and he looked longingly at the little brownbiscuits waiting their turn out on the table.
"You come out some day," said Polly, sociably, "and we'll all trybaking--mammy'd like to have you, I know," feeling sure that nothingwould be too much for Mrs. Pepper to do for the protector of littlePhronsie.
"I will!" cried Jasper, perfectly delighted. "You can't think howawfully dull it is out in Hingham!"
"Don't you live there?" asked Polly, with a gasp, almost dropping a tinfull of little brown lumps of dough she was carrying to the oven.
"Live there!" cried Jasper; and then he burst out into a merry laugh."No, indeed! I hope not! Why, we're only spending the summer there,father and I, in the hotel."
"Where's your mother?" asked Joel, squeezing in between Jasper andhis audience. And then they all felt instinctively that a very wrongquestion had been asked.
"I haven't any mother," said the boy, in a low voice.
They all stood quite still for a moment; then Polly said, "I wish you'dcome out sometime; and you may bake--or anything else," she added; andthere was a kinder ring to her voice than ever.
No mother! Polly for her life, couldn't imagine how anybody could feelwithout a mother, but the very words alone smote her heart; and therewas nothing she wouldn't have done to give pleasure to one who had doneso much for them.
"I wish you could see our mother," she said, gently. "Why, here shecomes now! oh, mamsie, dear," she cried. "Do, Joe, run and take herbundle."
Mrs. Pepper stopped a minute to kiss Phronsie--her baby was dearer thanever to her now. Then her eye fell on Jasper, who stood respectfullywaiting and watching her with great interest.
"Is this," she asked, taking it all in at the first glance--the boy withthe honest eyes as Ben had described him--and the big, black dog--"isthis the boy who saved my little girl?"
"Oh, ma'am," cried Jasper, "I didn't do much; 'twas Prince."
"I guess you never'll know how much you did do," said Mrs. Pepper. Thenlooking with a long, keen gaze into the boy's eyes that met her own sofrankly and kindly: "I'll trust him," she said to herself; "a boy withthose eyes can't help but be good."
"Her eyes are just the same as Polly's," thought Jasper, "just suchlaughing ones, only Polly's are brown," and he liked her on the spot.
And then, somehow, the hubbub ceased. Polly went on with her work, andthe others separated, and Mrs. Pepper and Jasper had a long talk. Whenthe mother's eyes fell on Phronsie playing around on the floor, she gavethe boy a grateful smile that he thought was beautiful.
"Well, I declare," said Jasper, at last, looking up at the old clock inthe corner by the side of the cupboard, "I'm afraid I'll miss the stage,and then father never'll let me come again. Come, Prince."
"Oh, don't go," cried Phronsie, wailing. "Let doggie stay! Oh, make himstay, mammy!"
"I can't, Phronsie," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling, "if he
thinks he oughtto go."
"I'll come again," said Jasper, eagerly, "if I may, ma'am."
He looked up at Mrs. Pepper as he stood cap in hand, waiting for theanswer.
"I'm sure we should be glad if your father'll be willing," she added;thinking, proudly, "My children are an honor to anybody, I'm sure," asshe glanced around on the bright little group she could call her own."But be sure, Jasper," and she laid her hand on his arm as she lookeddown into his eyes, "that you father is willing, that's all."
"Oh, yes, ma'am," said the boy; "but he will be, I guess, if he feelswell."
"Then come on Thursday," said Polly; "and can't we bake something then,mammy?"
"I'm sure I don't care," laughed Mrs. Pepper; "but you won't find muchbut brown flour and meal to bake with."
"Well, we can pretend," said Polly; "and we can cut the cakes with theheart-shape, and they'll do for anything.
"Oh, I'll come," laughed Jasper, ready for such lovely fun in the oldkitchen; "look out for me on Thursday, Ben!"
So Jasper and Prince took their leave, all the children accompanyingthem to the gate; and then after seeing him fairly started on a smartrun to catch the stage, Prince scampering at his heels, they all beganto sing his praises and to wish for Thursday to come.
But Jasper didn't come! Thursday came and went; a beautiful, bright,sunny day, but with no signs of the merry boy whom all had begun tolove, nor of the big black dog. The children had made all the needfulpreparations with much ostentation and bustle, and were in a state ofexcited happiness, ready for any gale. But the last hope had to be givenup, as the old clock ticked away hour after hour. And at last Pollyhad to put Phronsie to bed, who wouldn't stop crying enough to eat hersupper at the dreadful disappointment.
"He couldn't come, I know," said both Ben and Polly, standing staunchlyup for their new friend; but Joel and David felt that he had broken hisword.
"He promised," said Joel, vindictively.
"I don't believe his father'd let him," said Polly, wiping away a slytear; "I know Jasper'd come, if he could."
Mrs. Pepper wisely kept her own counsel, simply giving them a kindlycaution:
"Don't you go to judging him, children, till you know."
"Well, he promised," said Joel, as a settler.
"Aren't you ashamed, Joel," said his mother, "to talk about any onewhose back is turned? Wait till he tells you the reason himself."
Joel hung his head, and then began to tease David in the corner, to makeup for his disappointment.
The next morning Ben had to go to the store after some more meal. As hewas going out rather dismally, the storekeeper, who was also postmaster,called out, "Oh, halloa, there!"
"What is it?" asked Ben, turning back, thinking perhaps Mr. Atkinshadn't given him the right change.
"Here," said Mr. Atkins, stepping up to the Post-office department,quite smart with its array of boxes and official notices, where Ben hadalways lingered, wishing there might be sometime a letter for him--orsome of them. "You've got a sister Polly, haven't you?"
"Yes," said Ben, wondering what was coming next.
"Well, she's got a letter," said the postmaster, holding up a nice bigenvelope, looking just like those that Ben had so many times wishedfor. That magic piece of white paper danced before the boy's eyes for aminute; then he said, "It can't be for her, Mr. Atkins; why, she's neverhad one."
"Well, she's got one now, sure enough," said Mr. Atkins; "here 'tis,plain enough," and he read what he had no need to study much as it hadalready passed examination by his own and his wife's faithful eyes:"Miss Polly Pepper, near the Turnpike, Badgertown'--that's her, isn'tit?" he added, laying it down before Ben's eyes. "Must be a first timefor everything, you know, my boy!" and he laughed long over his ownjoke; "so take it and run along home." For Ben still stood looking atit, and not offering to stir.
"If you say so," said the boy, as if Mr. Atkins had given him somethingout of his own pocket; "but I'm afraid 'tisn't for Polly." Thenbuttoning up the precious letter in his jacket, he spun along home asnever before.
"Polly! Polly!" he screamed. "Where is she, mother?"
"I don't know," said Mrs. Pepper, coming out of the bedroom. "Dear me!is anybody hurt, Ben?"
"I don't know," said Ben, in a state to believe anything, "but Polly'sgot a letter."
"Polly got a letter!" cried Mrs. Pepper; "what do you mean, Ben?"
"I don't know," repeated the boy, still holding out the precious letter;"but Mr. Atkins gave it to me; where is Polly?"
"I know where she is," said Joel; "she's up-stairs." And he flew out ina twinkling, and just as soon reappeared with Polly scampering after himin the wildest excitement.
And then the kitchen was in an uproar as the precious missive was putinto Polly's hand; and they all gathered around her, wondering andexamining, till Ben thought he would go wild with the delay.
"I wonder where it did come from," said Polly, in the greatest anxiety,examining again the address.
"Where does the postmark say?" asked Mrs. Pepper, looking over hershoulder.
"It's all rubbed out," said Polly, peering at it "you can't seeanything."
"Do open it," said Ben, "and then you'll find out."
"But p'raps 'tisn't for me," said Polly, timidly.
"Well, Mr. Atkins says 'tis," said Ben, impatiently; "here, I'll open itfor you, Polly."
"No, let her open it for herself, Ben," protested his mother.
"But she won't," said Ben; "do tear it open, Polly."
"No, I'm goin' to get a knife," she said.
"I'll get one," cried Joel, running up to the table drawer; "here's one,Polly."
"Oh, dear," groaned Ben; "you never'll get it open at this rate!"
But at last it was cut; and they all holding their breath, gazedawe-struck, while Polly drew out the mysterious missive.
"What does it say?" gasped Mrs. Pepper.
"Dear Miss Polly," began both Ben and Polly in a breath. "Let Pollyread," said Joel, who couldn't hear in the confusion.
"Well, go on Polly," said Ben; "hurry!"
"Dear Miss Polly, I was so sorry I couldn't come on Thursday--"
"Oh, it's Jasper! it's Jasper!" cried all the children in a breath.
"I told you so!" cried Ben and Polly, perfectly delighted to find theirfriend vindicated fully--"there! Joey Pepper!"
"Well, I don't care," cried Joe, nothing daunted, "he didn't come,anyway--do go on, Polly."
"I was so sorry I couldn't come--" began Polly.
"You read that," said Joel.
"I know it," said Polly, "but it's just lovely; 'on Thursday; but myfather was sick, and I couldn't leave him. If you don't mind I'll comeagain--I mean I'll come some other day, if it's just as convenient foryou, for I do so want the baking, and the nice time. I forgot to saythat I had a cold, to,' (here Jasper had evidently had a struggle in hismind whether there should be two o's or one, and he had at last decidedit, by crossing out one) but my father is willing I should come when Iget well. Give my love to all, and especially remember me respectfullyto your mother. Your friend,
"JASPER ELYOT KING."
"Oh, lovely! lovely!" cried Polly, flying around with the letter in herhand; "so he is coming!"
Ben was just as wild as she was, for no one knew but Polly just how thenew friend had stepped into his heart. Phronsie went to sleep happy,hugging "Baby."
"And don't you think, Baby, dear," she whispered sleepily, and Pollyheard her say as she was tucking her in, "that Jasper is really comin';really--and the big, be-you-ti-ful doggie, too!"
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew Page 12