THE WINNING OF AN HONOR
Barbara Lewis was very much puzzled. All the girls in her camp fire werewinning the right to embroider their symbol on the dress of their guardianand she wanted to do the same. But how could she? She had chosen for hername, "Chante--I _serve_," and she wanted to really win the right to havethe name, but how could she? She was not allowed to go into the kitchen tohelp there at home, for the cook would leave if she were disturbed, so shecouldn't do as some of her friends were doing and learn to cook. Shecouldn't serve mother, for mother was always away at the club or doingwork about the country for the suffrage cause. There were maids to do themending and the sewing, so how could she serve there?
Some of the girls could serve at their church, but her teacher had neverasked her to do one thing, though she was always ready. Her teacher hadnot formed a club of her girls, so of course she knew them only onSundays. There was no chance to serve the church. If she only knew theminister, perhaps he would suggest a way, but he was very tall and verydignified, so she just couldn't ask him. Whatever could she do?
It had been weeks since their guardian had told them that when they hadearned the right to their names, they could embroider the symbol on herdress, and every day since then she had wished she knew what to do. Maryhad chosen the name "Aka--I _can_," and when she had proved that she couldbreak herself of using slang by using none for a whole month, she put atiny little white flower on the dress, for she was using pure speech.
"Frilohe" was the name Grace had chosen and it meant, "_A friend who lovesto help_." Grace's mother had been in the hospital and Grace had takencare of the brothers and sisters all the time, so, of course, they allagreed that she had earned the right.
And now Barbara felt that she just must think of a way. She would go tothe library and ask her friend there if she knew what she could do toserve.
Now it chanced that from that library there were going out almost everyday girls to tell stories to groups of children about the city. Sometimesthey went to the orphan homes, sometimes to the hospitals, sometimes tothe crowded streets. Into many needy places they were sent, and alreadythe children were beginning to look for the gypsy-girls who werestory-tellers. As Barbara entered the library, one of the girls was justleaving, so she stopped for a moment and told about her new work and howmuch she loved it.
"Aha," said Barbara, "I believe I could do that. I have read such lots andlots of stories, I am sure I could do that. I should love to try. But theyhaven't asked me. I couldn't volunteer, for mother would think me verybold. Oh dear, I am sure I could serve in that way."
All the way home she thought the matter over and then a plan came to her.Just back of the house there was an alley and the little children therewere always looking through the fence at the flowers in her beautifulgarden. She would tell stories to these little children and see what shecould do. So she went into the house to find the stories she would use.All the afternoon she looked in her old books. Then she was sure she wasready.
For a long time she hesitated the next morning as she dressed. She mustlook her very best if she was to win the children. Finally she chose alittle blue gingham dress that she liked much--perhaps they would like ittoo. It was only ten o'clock when she went into the garden to wait. Dearme! Weren't they coming this morning? One hour passed and then anotherhalf.
Just then Tommy, the boy who threw stones, and chased the cats, and didall sorts of things that were naughty, pushed his dirty face against thefence. Oh my, she could never tell stories to him! But Tommy saw her therein the garden and said:
"Wisht you would give me a posy. Mom's sick and she hain't got none."
Then the gate of the garden was opened and Barbara said:
"Of course I will give you some flowers for your mother. Choose what youwould like and I will cut it with these shears."
"Um! Um!" said Tommy. "Um! I'd like some of them blue flowers. Say, I likeblue flowers, and blue sky, and I like that blue dress. I wish Mary had ablue dress."
"And who is Mary?" said Barbara.
"Oh, she is one of my sisters," said Tommy. "You see, there is six of usand Mary is the pretty one. She has blue eyes and curls. Um! Um! I wishyou could see her."
"I'd like to see her," said Barbara. "If you will go and bring her here Iwill tell you both a story. Would you like that?"
"Sure," said Tommy. "Sure I would. Kin I bring them all?" and off he ranwith his precious flowers.
In five minutes he was back, followed by Mary and Katie and Jimmie andMike and Susan--all dirty, all barefoot, and all in a hurry to see theflowers and hear the story. About this time Barbara began to feel queerinside. How could she ever keep them still? Suppose they should begin torun over her father's flowers! She almost wished she had not asked them tocome. But she remembered for what she was working, and she said toherself, "Chante, _I serve_; Chante--_I serve_," over and over till hercourage came back.
Then she seated them all on the steps and began. Susie wanted "Red RidingHood," and Katie wanted "Goldilocks," so these were first. Then Marywanted "Cinderella," but Tommy was not to be forgotten.
"I want a boy's story. Tell me the one you promised me or I'll push therest all home," he said.
What could she do? She never remembered having read a boy's story. Ohdear, maybe she couldn't win Tommy.
Over and over in her mind went the stories she had gotten ready. Then sheremembered one that she had loved years ago. It was about Cedric, theKnight. This was just the one for Tommy. So she told it to him while hiseyes grew bigger and bigger. When the story was done, Barbara and Tommywere friends and Tommy had a new hero.
When the dinner bell rang, she was still telling stories to the dirtylittle group but she had forgotten why she was doing it, for she wasliving the stories with the children.
The days went by and every morning found Barbara out in the garden, ifonly for one story, but now the Lowinskys were not the only ones. They hadbrought their neighbors and friends till the group sometimes numberedforty. The steps had grown too small, so they had moved to the wall. Thenthat had not been satisfactory, so they had moved out under the trees awaydown by the little brook. Here the birds sang, the little brook whispered,and everything was just right for the little story-teller. Over and overshe had told the stories with a new one now and then, but Cedric, theKnight, was the favorite one. Tommy always stood near Barbara and saw toit that all the boys were listening, so he had a fine chance to whisper,"Now my story. Please tell mine."
And she was telling it again one morning when she realized that some onestood near who was not a child. It was Miss Rose, her guardian, wholistened for a moment and then drew back where the children could not seeher. When the story hour was over, she was nowhere to be seen. But laterin the evening a package was left at the door for Barbara. It containedthat precious dress for which she had longed.
Pinned to the dress was a card which said, "Inasmuch as ye have done itunto one of these, my little ones, ye have done it unto me." And below waswritten, "I shall be glad to have you put your symbol on my dress beforeFriday night so that we may tell the girls at the Ceremonial about yourstory-group."
Later when Barbara had finished the embroidery, it showed a tiny figure ofa primitive woman surrounded by little children. And the little lady wastelling them a story. She had found her way to serve.
Fireside Stories for Girls in Their Teens Page 10