It was recess at the school-house at the cross roads, and three
country girls gathered round a companion, whose unhappy face showed
that something had gone wrong.
"Is this your last day at school, Lucindy?" asked Carrie Hess, a girl
of fifteen, and the eldest of the three sisters.
"Yes, this is my last day, thanks to the summer boarders. I can't bear
to think of them. I hate them!"
"Will you have to work harder than you do now?" asked Freda, who was
next younger to Carrie.
"I don't mind the work so much as I do their impudent airs, and their
stuck-up ways. I wont be ordered around, and if Auntie thinks I'm
going to be a black slave, she'll find she's mistaken."
Lucindy's face flushed, and she appeared to be greatly in earnest.
"I'd be glad to have them come to our house, they have such nice
clothes," said Lena, the youngest and most mischievous.
"Yes, it's very nice, I must say, to go around in old duds, and have a
girl that's not a whit better in any way than you, only she's been to
a city school and has a rich father, turn up her nose at you, and
perhaps make fun of you, with her white dresses and her silk dresses,
and her gaiter boots."
"Can't we come to your house any more? Can't we come to play?" asked
Carrie.
"Oh, can't we come?" said the other two, almost in a breath.
"No, Auntie told me this morning, that I must tell you and the rest of
the girls, that it wouldn't be convenient to have you come, as you
have done; you are not stylish enough for Miss Hattie Randolph to
associate with, I suppose."
The girls looked really disappointed. Lucindy was a great favorite,
and a leader, fearless and successful in all escapades that required
originality and coolness, and her company would be sorely missed. Her
aunt had indulged her in all the dress and amusement she could afford,
and her companions had always been welcome to visit at the house, but
now there was a necessity for her services, and play could not be
indulged in so often for the rest of the summer, as the household
needed the avails, if not the presence of summer boarders.
"Is she older than we?" asked Carrie.
"No, but she's lived all her life in the city, and feels above
everybody. She and her brother and her mother will just take
possession of our piazza and door-yard, and our swing; and I can wash
dishes, and sit on the back door-step, and never see a girl from one
month's end to another." Here Lucindy burst out crying.
"It's too bad," said Carrie.
The little Lena, ever fertile in invention, crept near, and putting
her arms around Lucindy's neck, whispered:
"We'll come to see you on the sly, and we can go down in the fields
and have fun, when your Auntie goes out for an afternoon."
"I wish you would," said Lucindy. "And I'll bring down some cake and
pickles, and some honey, and we'll have a pic-nic in spite of Mrs.
Randolph!"
This was a solution of the unhappy problem, and it seemed to throw a
ray of sunlight slantwise into the gloomy picture of the coming
summer.
The progress of the afternoon at the school-house was not marked by
any unusual occurrence, and at the close, the little company of
schoolmates proceeded together, until they came to the road leading to
Lucindy's home. Here they parted, with many professions of everlasting
friendship; Lucindy, walking backwards, watched her companions until
the turn in the road hid them from view.
Then she sat down upon a bank by the roadside under an old tree.
Throwing her slate and books down on the grass, she snatched a few
daisies that grew near, and thought of many things of a disquieting
nature, pulling the flowers to pieces.
"I feel mad enough to run away!" she thought. "I could earn my living
easy enough in the city, and not have to work so hard either. Miss
Hunter can't teach me any thing more. I've learned all she knows. It's
just too bad not to be able to get more education. I'll just take my
own way, if Auntie crowds me too much. I don't care if she don't like
it. If my father and mother were alive, she wouldn't be my boss. I can
get on in another place with what I know about a good many things.
"But oh, that girl that's coming has so much better times than I.
Those lovely city schools! no one can help learning there, they take
such pains with you."
She looked down the road upon which the slanting red light of the
declining sun was shining, and there she saw a cloud of dust. This
road was not a great thoroughfare, and she knew that was the stage,
and it probably would bring the undesired summer guests.
She shrank visibly back into the shadow of the tree as it came on, and
smoothed out her faded calico dress and pulled her sun-bonnet farther
over her face.
The coach came rolling past, and a girl in the back seat directed the
attention of a fashionably-dressed lady to herself, she thought, and
laughed as though immensely pleased, at the same time pointing at her.
A little boy, who sat in the front seat with the driver, and who was
playing upon a harmonica, stopped, and looking in her direction,
laughed too.
"It's my outlandish sun-bonnet they're making fun of," she thought. "I
suppose this is the beginning of it."
[Illustration: SHE SAT DOWN ON A BANK BY THE ROADSIDE UNDER AN OLD
TREE.]
Now this ungentle girl was mistaken in her surmise, as she was about
many things that caused her unhappiness. What the people in the stage
were really interested and amused with were a couple of lambs in the
field back of Lucindy, and their playful gyrations were a novel sight
to them, and they had come for the very purpose of being pleased with
country sights and experiences. Lucindy felt sure these were the
summer boarders, and, taking a short cut across the fields, arrived at
her aunt's just as the guests were alighting.
Lucindy stood at the back corner of the house, and heard the sprightly
talk of Mrs. Randolph and the merry laugh of the daughter, as her aunt
bade them welcome, and she knew they were being conducted to the upper
rooms that had been prepared with such thoughtful reference to their
comfort.
Her aunt came down very soon, and seeing Lucindy, bade her wash her
hands and smooth her hair, and put on a white apron, and prepare to
get ready the tea. This duty Lucindy had always done, and a little
curiosity, mingled with her other feelings, came to her, as to how the
boarders would like her aunt's puffy biscuit, and if the cold custard
and raspberry jam wouldn't be to their taste. If coffee and fricasseed
chicken would not be just the thing after an all-day ride, and
remarked to herself: "If they don't like such fare, let them go where
they'll get better."
The tea passed off with great good feeling; the new people making a
most favorable impression upon her aunt, and impressing Lucindy with
the discovery that polite manners were a recommend to strangers, for
her aunt made gratified remarks from time to time as she came into the
kitchen. Lucindy would not wait upon the table the first evening, a
convenient head-ache being the excuse.
Mrs. Gimson was a most kindly disposed person, and endeavored, in
every way, to make the time pass pleasantly to her guests; but all she
could say in their favor did nothing toward disposing the mind of her
niece to regard them with any toleration. She performed the household
duties that fell to her with a stolid indifference, or with an openly
expressed reluctance, and her aunt bore all kindly, explaining and
smoothing away what she could, promising Lucindy that she should have
a nice present of money when the guests departed.
Hattie Randolph had not taken any notice of her, never really having
seen her, for Lucindy had positively refused to wait upon the table;
and had kept herself in the back-ground, thus making her life at home
more of a discipline than was necessary. She envied Hattie's graceful
ways and refined conversation; and her apparel was a revelation, not
of beauty, but of another source of jealous envy to the country girl,
for in putting the guests' rooms in order, she examined, critically,
the pretty things in the wardrobe.
The city people found so much to interest them in the beauties of the
surrounding neighborhood, that they were out nearly all the time, and
when the evening came, Mrs. Randolph, with her son and daughter, made
a pleasant addition to Mrs. Gimson's parlors, with their graceful
talk, and numberless resources of entertainment.
Lucindy, observant and sullen, kept herself informed of all their
movements, and was continually having the blush brought to her cheek
and the bitterness of comparison to her heart, as she noted the wide
difference there was between herself and them. It never once occurred
to this foolish girl, that this difference was growing more and more
every day, by the fostering of pride and an ignorant stubbornness,
which prevented her, utterly, from ever cultivating their envied
characteristics.
It was a long time since she had seen any of her playmates from the
school, but by an ingenious contrivance, that had been thought out by
Lucindy, a tin box had been inserted into an old tree in a fence
corner, about midway between her home and the school-house, and in
this they deposited their notes to each other.
[Illustration: MISS HATTIE RANDOLPH.]
This was a solace to Lucindy, as all the happenings at the school
could be reported, and many a mis-spelled, soiled missive found its
way to the eager hands of the absent one. Not less interesting was the
news as to the doings of the boarders. Nothing, however trivial, that
happened not to accord with Lucindy's notions was overlooked in her
setting forth of grievances, and she found ready sympathizers in the
Hess girls. Carrie Hess stood under the old tree, one lovely morning,
overstaying her time in doing so, as the warning bell had rung at the
school-house, reading a note she had taken from the tree post-office.
Among other things, it communicated the welcome news, that herself and
sisters might come to the pretty knoll behind the house that
afternoon, and that Lucindy would take the occasion to make a holiday
for herself, as her aunt was going, after dinner, to look up fresh
butter and eggs, and would be gone until near tea time.
Mrs. Randolph had hired a team, and with her family would be gone the
same length of time, for a ride.
Carrie took a race to school, very much elated at the prospect of
enjoying Lucindy's company once more. Recess came, and after eating
their very generous lunch, they prepared to quietly put a considerable
distance between themselves and the precincts over which Miss Hunter's
authority extended. They were "skipping," as they termed it, and as
their parents would not know of it, they reveled in the forbidden
freedom. They proceeded over fences and across stubble fields, and
soon reached the coveted meeting-place. A wide-spreading tree, with a
wreath of apples upon it, just turning to a ruddy hue, was almost
completely surrounded at its trunk with hazel bushes, but on one side
they did not grow; this was away from the house, and toward the wheat
field. It was a natural bower, and into this they crept to await the
coming of Lucindy.
They were not kept long in suspense, and when she appeared what a
hugging and kissing were gone through with!
"Have your boarders gone for their ride?" asked Carrie.
"Yes, and I thought they'd never get off. Old Mrs. Randolph fusses so,
you'd think she was going to a party every time she goes to ride. I
wonder who she expects to see on a country road?"
"Sure enough. How was the girl dressed, Lu?"
"Oh, she had on a light check silk, and a lovely brown jockey, trimmed
with pink satin ribbon rosettes and long ends at the back, and a
lovely, wide collar."
"Don't you like her better than her mother?" asked Lena.
"Well, she doesn't put on as many airs as her mother, and she's acted,
two or three times, as if she were going to speak to me, but I managed
not to let her. I don't want her acquaintance. I don't want any of her
coming down to me!"
"I suppose they have nice things, that they've brought with them, in
their rooms," said Carrie.
"Yes, Mrs. Randolph has an elegant blue satin pin-cushion, with
morning-glories and apple-blossoms painted on it, and a dressing-case
with white ivory combs and brushes, and they do your hair up lovely,
for I fixed mine in her room yesterday with them." This caused much
merriment.
Lucindy proceeded to take from her pocket a pack of children's cards,
illuminated with gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen, and queer-looking
figures of all kinds. These caused a sensation; they looked
incredulously at Lucindy, as she said:
"These are the things that make them laugh evenings. If we knew how to
play them, we could have some of their kind of fun."
They passed them to one another and examined them. They threw them
aside presently, and returned to the subject of never-failing
interest--the wardrobe of the boarders.
Carrie and Lena intimated more than once, that if they could only see
something that city people really considered elegant, they would be
satisfied, and forever indebted to Lucindy for the sight.
[Illustration: GRETCHEN TRAILING THE BEAUTIFUL MULL OVERSKIRT ON THE
GROUND.]
"Oh, dear, if that will please you so much," said Lucindy, entirely
willing to gratify them, "I'll go and get one of Mrs. Randolph's
prettiest dresses and show you. It wont take me a minute."
"Oh, do, Lucindy! we're just crazy to see it! She'll never know it,"
said Carrie, with eagerness.
Lucindy had no scruples whatever in procuring so coveted a pleasure
for her dear friends. She ran back to the house and up into Mrs.
Randolph's room. She fumbled over the dresses, and thinking it was as
well to take out two or three, that they might feast their eyes upon a
variety, she piled two silk dresses and an India mull upon her arm,
and hurried out.
They dragged considerably upon the dusty path, but this was not
noticed, and the wild delight of the girls, when they really had them
in their hands, amply repaid Lucindy for any risk, she thought.
They fingered them over, the bead embroideries and lace trimmings, and
examined the fashion of each with untiring interest.
"Let's put them on!" said Carrie, "and see how we would look in
them."
"We'll look sweetly stylish," said Freda.
"Oh, do let us, Lucindy! Mrs. Randolph wont be back until evening.
It'll be such fun!" insisted Carrie.
"All right, let us; I don't care how much fun we have with them, the
more the better," returned Lucindy. No sooner said than done; over
their clothing they stretched the dresses, and jerked and settled them
into the proper set. Shouts of laughter greeted every ridiculous pose
and awkward stumble, and certainly nothing could be more provocative
of merriment than their appearance. They trailed the dresses over the
stubble in mock dignity; they improvised a dance, and went through all
the grotesque changes they could invent. Their comments and jokes were
most spicy and personal, and in all Lucindy led.
After a good time enjoyed in this way, the fun lost its point and
novelty, and they threw the dresses in a heap on the grass, and sat
and chatted over the gossip connected with the school at the cross
roads. The afternoon was wearing on, and Lucindy thought it time to
produce her good things, and taking up the dresses, ran along to the
house.
In getting through the bars she dropped the mull overskirt and did not
perceive her loss. Gretchen saw it, and running after, brought it
back. Lucindy hung the dresses up in their places, certainly not
improved by the airing they had had; but chancing to look out of an
upper window, she was horrified to see down the road the identical
team that Mrs. Randolph had hired, and as true as the world, they were
coming home!
She rushed down, and abandoning the lunch, ran as fast as she could to
the field, and as she approached, this was the sight that met her
gaze:
Gretchen was strutting about with a dock leaf held over her head for a
parasol, and trailing the beautiful mull overskirt on the ground,
endeavoring to realize the feelings of a fine lady in a trailed dress.
"Gretchen! Gretchen!" screamed Lucindy, as loudly as she dared. "Hide
it! hide it! Mrs. Randolph has come home!"
Carrie jumped, and lifting Gretchen from it, secured the skirt, and
Lucindy grasped it and rolled it in a small ball and hid it in the
hazel bushes. Then they held a hurried consultation, and decided it
was best for Lucindy to go back immediately; but, as it was now
impossible to restore the skirt to its place in the wardrobe, they
urged her to put it in some unfrequented spot, until a favorable
opportunity came to get it back. Lucindy now feared her aunt would
arrive without warning, and, although loth to part without the long
anticipated treat, they walked quickly down the path by the fence
toward the road.
"What on the face of the earth will I ever do with this thing?"
whispered Lucindy, for the first time betraying fear. "I can't get it
back to-night, that's as plain as the nose on your face. Oh, grief!
she may inquire after it as soon as I go in! It'll be just like my
luck for her to want to wear it to-night. Maybe she expects some one
to spend the evening with them, and that's what brought them back so
early. Let me see--Auntie will find it if I put it anywhere about the
house or barn; I must not be found out in this, because if I am,
Auntie wont give me the present she promised. I'll tell you, Carrie,
you take it and put it down the hole in the tree, under the tin box.
No one has ever found out that place; it will be safe there until I go
for it to-morrow."
This was immediately decided upon, and the girls went sulkily home.
The skirt was forced down into the tree, and the tin box placed on
top, and they trudged slowly homeward.
As Lucindy approached the house, she began to see more and more the
serious dilemma in which she was placed, and her face hardened visibly
as she thought.
"I'll deny the whole thing if I'm cornered; perhaps Mrs. Randolph will
live through the disappointment of not wearing her dress for once. I
have to live all the time without such dresses."
Just then she heard her aunt calling her, and she knew that some
unlooked-for occasion had brought them home before evening.
"Lucindy, we must hurry up the tea; the folks are going to spend the
evening at Judge Brander's. The team is waiting to take them there.
Mrs. Randolph saw me in the village, and told me."
Lucindy did not answer, but went in and about her duties as usual.
Presently Mrs. Randolph called for Mrs. Gimson to come up stairs, as
she wished to speak to her. Lucindy felt that now the discovery had
been made, and strengthening her purpose, to deny all, worked on,
quietly waiting for developments.
In a few moments, her aunt came down in great excitement, and told her
that someone had been in the house, while they were away, and had
stolen Mrs. Randolph's elegant India mull overskirt, and had almost
ruined her other dresses, as the trimmings were broken and destroyed,
and some of them were gone entirely.
"It must have been when I went for water; I noticed that there were
two tramps going down the road, a man and woman."
"Oh, Lucindy, you should have locked the door!"
"Why, aunt, I never lock the doors when I go after water. I suppose
you'll put the blame of it on me!" Here Lucindy began to cry. "I think
you are a very strange woman to leave no one but a girl alone in a
house, with such valuable things; it's a wonder the robbers didn't
kill me; my coming in frightened them away. I've no doubt they thought
it was the hired man," Lucindy continued to cry.
Mrs. Gimson never suspected her niece of such systematic deception.
The well was a short distance from the house, and that accounted for
the fact that nothing else was missing, as they had not had time, and
also that the other dresses had been rudely dragged to get them down.
She believed Lucindy's story. Mrs. Randolph could not account for the
plight in which she found her clothing, and bewailed her loss, as
being particularly annoying at this juncture.
Nothing more was said, and, after taking tea, they started for the
Judge's, leaving Mrs. Gimson in a greatly perturbed state of mind. She
knew that this unfortunate thing would get abroad and discourage
patrons. Desirable boarders would avoid her house in future.
Lucindy, never uttering a comforting word to her aunt, went up to her
room with an air of injured innocence that hurt her aunt quite as much
as any thing she had undergone. During the early part of the evening a
violent thunder storm came up, and Mrs. Randolph did not return. The
next morning it still rained, and there was no excuse for Lucindy's
going out, and the dress could not be secured. Mrs. Randolph returned
at noon, and informed Mrs. Gimson that she had been invited to visit,
for the rest of the summer, at Judge Brander's, and would leave Mrs.
Gimson's the next day.
Just as soon as Lucindy could be spared, she ran down to the tree
post-office, put a note into the tin box, and returned. This, Carrie
Hess got as soon as recess came, and the scheme worked out
successfully, as the event proved.
Barry, Hattie's brother, was standing by the shrubbery gate, when a
little barefoot boy sidled up, and attracted his attention by his
curious behavior--he finally spoke:
"I say, them Hitalyans stuffed yer mother's clothes inter a tree down
here; I found it this mornin'."
"What do you mean?" asked Barry, not fully understanding the boy.
"That ere tree, don't yer see?" and the boy pointed to the girls'
post-office, that stood out dimly down the road.
"Is it there now?" asked Barry.
"I do'no, I seed it there this mornin'."
[Illustration: A LITTLE BAREFOOT BOY SIDLED UP AND ATTRACTED HIS
ATTENTION.]
"Wait till I go and tell my mother," said Barry, and he ran into the
house.
In a moment Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. Gimson were at the gate, but the
boy had disappeared. "Go down, Barry, and see if what he says is
true," said his mother. He ran off, and returning after a little time,
brought the overskirt, rolled up in a soiled bundle, as the rain had
soaked it and the decayed wood had stained it.
"Yes, I think it must have been those tramps," said Mrs. Randolph.
"They hid it there, expecting to come for the rest of it the next day.
They'll be disappointed. I'll be gone."
The boy was Carrie Hess's brother, and the ruse had worked; entirely
turning off all suspicion from Lucindy.
Mrs. Gimson lost her summer boarders and Lucindy returned to school.
This unprincipled girl, however, learned the hard lesson, in her after
life, that ingratitude to benefactors, and unfaithfulness to trust,
meet a sure retribution, even if they appear to succeed.
[Illustration: A MIDNIGHT ATTACK.]
[Illustration: {AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN--BIRDS; A WOMAN AND CHILD;
TREES.}]
[Illustration: {A CHERUB AND BIRDS.}]