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BEN PEPPER
BY MARGARET SIDNEY
AUTHOR OF "FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND THEIR FRIENDS," "A LITTLE MAID
OF CONCORD TOWN," "OLD CONCORD," "HESTER, AND OTHER NEW ENGLAND
STORIES," ETC.
_ILLUSTRATED BY
EUGENIE M. WIREMAN_
BOSTON:
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
PEPPER
TRADE MARK
Registered in U. S. Patent Office.
COPYRIGHT, 1905,
BY HARRIETT M. LOTHROP.
PUBLISHED, AUGUST, 1905.
_Twentieth Thousand_
Norwood Press:
Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
[Illustration: THEN SHE HOPPED AWAY FROM POLLY AND MADE A LITTLE CHEESE
RIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK.]
PREFACE
It was quite impossible that the detailed records presented through the
later Pepper books, of the doings and sayings of the "Little Brown
House" family, should omit Ben. He, the eldest-born of Mother Pepper's
brood, and her mainstay after the father died, the quiet,
"steady-as-a-rock boy," as the Badgertown people all called him, with
lots of fun in him too, because he could not help it, being a Pepper,
was worthy of a book to himself.
So the hosts of readers of the Pepper Series decided, and many of them
accordingly be-sought the author to give Ben a chance to be better
known. He was always so ready to efface himself, that it was Margaret
Sidney's responsibility, after all, to bring him more to the front, to
be understood by all who loved his life in the earlier records.
So Margaret Sidney, despite Ben's wishes, has written this latest
volume. To do it, Polly and Joel and David and Phronsie have told her
most lovingly the facts with which it is strewn. Most of all, Mother
Pepper-Fisher contributed to the new book, out of a heart full of
gratitude and love for her Ben.
MARGARET SIDNEY.
CONTENTS
I. THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EXPEDITION
II. BEN'S PLAN
III. HAPS AND MISHAPS
IV. "IT'S JOEL'S OLD LADY"
V. "THE PRESENTS ALL GO FROM SANTA CLAUS"
VI. BEN GOES SHOPPING WITH MADAM VAN RUYPEN
VII. "WHERE'S PIP?" AND JASPER TURNED BACK
VIII. "ANY ONE WHO WANTS TO PLEASE JASPER," SAID BEN, "HAD BETTER TAKE
UP THIS CHAP"
IX. WHAT A HOME-COMING
X. "I'LL LOVE HER JUST FOREVER!"
XI. AN AFTERNOON CALL
XII. VAN
XIII. THE BIG BOX
XIV. THE CHILDREN IN THE MOUNTAIN CABIN
XV. THE MINISTER LOOKS AFTER HIS PARISHIONERS
XVI. WHO WILL HELP?
XVII. "NOW WE CAN HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS!"
XVIII. TELLING ALL THE NEWS
XIX. JOCKO
XX. REPAIRING DAMAGES
XXI. THE POSTPONED CHRISTMAS MORNING
XXII. AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
XXIII. THE SLEIGHING PARTY
XXIV. JASPER AND BEN
XXV. IT WAS POLLY WHO HEARD IT FIRST
XXVI. "COULD YOU TAKE HIM, BEN?"
XXVII. "MR. KING, WHO IS THAT PIP YOU HAVE HERE?"
XXVIII. BEN DECIDES THE MATTER FOR HIMSELF
ILLUSTRATIONS
Then she hopped away from Polly and made a little cheese right on the
sidewalk
"O dear me," wailed Polly, burrowing deeper within the folds of the
black alpaca apron
And the first person he ran up against was a small boy, his hands full
of little wads of paper bundles
"See what you've done; that's castor oil"
There was an awful pause, every one staring at the smooth layer of brown
paper
"Did you ever see such sweet little fingers?" said Polly
Ben Pepper
I
THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EXPEDITION
"Oh, yes, the children can go as long as Ben and Polly are with them,"
said Mother Fisher, with pride. "I'll trust them anywhere," her face
said as plainly as if she had put it all into words.
"I wish I could go with them." Mrs. Whitney took her gaze from the busy
fingers sorting the pile of small stockings Jane had brought up from the
laundry, and went abruptly over to the window with a troubled face.
"But you can't," said Mrs. Fisher, cheerfully, nowise dismayed at the
number of holes staring up at her, "so don't let us think any more of
it. And Ben's big enough to take them anywhere, I'm sure. And Polly can
look after their manners," she thought, but didn't finish aloud.
"You see father didn't know about this picture exhibit till Mr. Cabot's
note came a half hour ago, begging him not to miss it. And if I told him
of the children's plans, he'd give the whole thing up and stay at home
rather than have them disappointed. He mustn't do that."
"Indeed he mustn't!" echoed Mrs. Fisher, in her most decided fashion,
and putting the last stocking into place on top of the big pile on the
table. "Hush! Here comes Polly!"
"Oh, Mamsie!" Polly rushed up to the work-table. "Just think what
splendid fun!" She threw her arms around Mrs. Fisher's neck and gave her
a big hug. "Isn't Aunty Whitney too lovely for anything to take us out
to buy our Christmas presents? Dear me! What richness!"
"Polly, see here, child," Mother Fisher brought her face around to look
into the rosy one; "Mrs. Whitney cannot--"
Polly tore herself away with a gasp, and stood quite still, her brown
eyes fixed on Mother Fisher's face, and the color dying out of her
cheek. "Do you mean we are not to go, Mamsie?" she cried, her hands
working nervously; "we must!" she brought up passionately.
"You see, Polly," Mrs. Whitney came quickly away from the window. Polly
at that turned and stared in dismay. O dear! To think Aunty Whitney was
there, and now she would be so distressed. "It is just this way," Mrs.
Whitney was hurrying on in quite as unhappy a state as Polly had feared:
"Father has received word that there is a picture exhibit this
afternoon, and I must go with him. I'm sorry, dear, but it can't be
helped." She bent to kiss Polly's cheek where the color had rushed this
time up to the brown hair.
"I'm so sorry, too," Polly burst out, clinging to Mrs. Whitney's hand.
Oh, why had she given way to her passion? The tears were running down
her cheeks now, "I didn't mean--" she murmured.
"Why, you are going, Polly," said Mrs. Whitney, comfortingly, and
patting the brown hair.
"What?" exclaimed Polly, bringing up her head suddenly to stare into the
kind face.
"Yes," laughed Mrs. Whitney, "the Christmas shopping isn't to be given
up. Mrs. Fisher is going to let you and Ben take the children. Just
think, Polly, that's much better than to go with me," she finished
gayly.
All this time Mother Fisher had sat quite still, her black eyes fastened
on Polly's face. "I don't know," she said slowly, "about their going
now."
"Oh, Mrs. Fisher," cried Mrs. Whitney, in dismay, "you can't think of--"
but she didn't finish, on seeing Mrs. Fisher's face. Instead, she went
softly out and closed the door.
"I didn't mean--" mumbled Polly again, and then she tumbled down on her
knees and hid her face on Mamsie's lap, and sobbed as hard as she could.
"Yes, that's the trouble, Polly," Mother Fisher's hands were busy
smoothing the brown hair; "you didn't mean to, but you said it just the
same; and that's the mischief of it, not to mean to say a thing, and yet
say it."
"O dear me!" wailed Polly, burrowing deeper within the folds of the
black alpaca apron. "Why did I? O dear!"
[Illustration: "O DEAR ME," WAILED POLLY, BURROWING DEEPER WITHIN THE
FOLDS OF THE BLACK ALPACA APRON.]
Mother Fisher's hands kept on at their task, but she said nothing, and
at last Polly's sobs grew quieter. "Mamsie," she said faintly.
"Yes, dear."
"I'm so sorry."
"I know you are, child; but, Polly, there is no 'must' unless mother
says so. And to fly into a passion--why, then you ought not to go at
all."
"Oh, I don't want to go now, Mamsie," cried Polly, flying up to sit
straight on the floor, and brushing away the tears with a hasty hand, "I
really don't, Mamsie."
"Well, then you see you'll just keep the children at home," said Mrs.
Fisher; "for I can't let Ben have all the care alone, and they'll be so
disappointed."
Polly gave a groan and wriggled on the carpet in distress.
"You see, Polly, that's the trouble when we give way to our passion; it
hurts more than ourselves," said Mother Fisher, "so I can't see but that
you have got to go."
"Oh, I don't want to, Mamsie; don't make me," cried Polly, squeezing her
mother's hands tightly in both of her own. "I can't go now!"
"Tut, tut, Polly," said Mrs. Fisher, reprovingly; "'can't' isn't the
thing to say any more than 'must.'" And her black eyes had such a look
in them that Polly ducked her head, taking refuge in the lap again.
"And now you must get up," said Mother Fisher, "and get ready, for I am
going to let you and Ben take the children; that's decided."
"Oh, Mamsie!" Polly found her feet somehow, and flung her arms again
around her mother's neck; "you won't trust me ever again. O dear me!"
"Yes, I will," said Mrs. Fisher, quickly, and, seizing Polly's hands,
she made the brown eyes look at her; "why, Polly child, did you suppose
Mother would let you go and help Ben take care of the children if she
didn't know you would do everything just right? Never say such a word as
that again, Polly!" and the black eyes shone with love and pride. "And
now hurry, child, for here's Ben coming," as steps sounded in the hall,
and then his voice asking, "Where's Mamsie?"
Polly flew up to her feet and stumbled over to the washstand. "O dear
me!" she gasped, catching sight of her face in the long mirror on the
way, "I can't--oh, I mean my eyes are so red, and my nose, Mamsie! Just
look at it!"
"That's the trouble of crying and giving way to fits of passion,"
observed Mrs. Fisher, quietly; "it makes a good deal of trouble, first
and last," as Ben came hurrying in.
Polly splashed the water all over her hot face with such a hasty hand
that a little stream ran down the pretty brown waist, which only served
to increase her dismay.
"Oh, Mamsie!" Ben was saying, "we're not to go, after all. What a pity!
Polly'll be so sorry." His blue eyes looked very much troubled. To have
anything make Polly sorry hurt him dreadfully.
"Oh, yes, you are going, Ben," Mrs. Fisher made haste to say.
"Why, Aunty Whitney can't go," said Ben, in surprise. "Grandpapa just
said she is going out with him."
"You didn't say anything of the shopping plan, Ben?" ejaculated Mrs.
Fisher, involuntarily, yet she knew she didn't need to ask the question.
"Why, no," said Ben, in amazement; "of course not, Mamsie."
"Of course not, too," said his mother, with a little laugh; "and why I
asked such a stupid question, I'm sure I don't know, Ben."
All this gave Polly time to sop her face quite cool, and she had buried
her red cheeks in the towel to dry them off, when Mother Fisher, having
made Ben acquainted with the joyful news, called, "Come, Polly, it's
time to get on your hat and coat."
"Halloo, Polly, you there?" cried Ben, whirling round, as Polly hurried
into the little room next to get her out-of-door things.
"Yes," called back Polly, on her way, "I'll be ready in a minute, Ben."
"Isn't it no end jolly that we're going, Polly?" he cried, deserting his
mother to hurry over to the doorway where he could stand and see Polly
get ready. His blue eyes shone and his head was held very high. To think
that Polly and he were to be allowed to take the children out shopping
amid all the excitement of Christmas week! It was almost too good to be
true! "Say, Polly, did you ever know anything like it?" He came in and
pressed close to the bureau where Polly was putting on her hat.
"Yes, yes, I know. Ugh!" Polly, with all her eyes on the red-rimmed ones
looking out at her from the mirror, beside what she saw of the poor
swollen nose, jammed on the hat over her face and jumped away from the
bureau.
"You needn't hurry so," said Ben, "'tisn't any matter if we don't start
right away. Besides, I don't suppose Jane has Phronsie ready yet. But
isn't it perfectly splendid that we can go alone, you and I, and, just
think, Polly Pepper, can take the children?" He was quite overcome again
at the idea and leaned against the bureau to think it all out.
"Yes," said Polly, in a muffled voice. But she was in the closet now,
getting into her coat, because if she stayed out in the room Ben would
help her into it, and then he would be sure to see her face! So Ben,
although he thought it funny that Polly, who was generally bubbling over
with joy at the prospect of any pleasant expedition, should be very
quiet and dull in the light of such an extraordinary one, set it down to
the hurry she was in getting ready.
"Oh, Polly, don't hurry so!" he cried, going over to the closet. "Here,
come out here, and let me help you with that."
"Ugh, no, go right away, Ben," cried Polly, wriggling off frantically,
and only succeeding in flopping up one sleeve to knock her hat farther
down over her nose. "O dear me! where _is_ the other armhole?"
"Do come out," cried Ben; "whoever heard of trying to put on a coat in a
closet? Whatever makes you, Polly?"
"And I do wish you'd go away," cried Polly, quite exasperated, and
setting her hat straight, forgetting all about her face.
But instead, Ben, after a good look, took hold of her two shoulders and
marched her out into the room. And before Polly knew it, her other arm
was in its sleeve, and he was trying to button up her coat.
"Oh, Bensie," she mumbled; "I'm so sorry I was cross."
"Never mind," said Ben, giving her a comforting pat. "Well, come on, now
you're ready, Polly."
And Joel and David plunging in tumultuously into Mamsie's room, followed
by Jane ushering in Phronsie all attired for the trip, the whole bunch
gathered around Mother Fisher's chair for final instructions.
"See, Mamsie," piped Phronsie, crowding up closely, to hold up the
little money-bag dangling by its chain from her arm; "my own purse, and
I'm going to buy things."
"Don't, Phron," said Joel, "push so," and he tried to get past her to
stand nearest to Mother Fisher.
"What are you doing yourself," said Ben, "I sh'd like to know, Joel
Pepper?"
"Well, that was my place," said Joel, loudly, and not yielding an inch.
"Joel!" said Mrs. Fisher.
"It was my place," he grumbled. But he hung his head and wouldn't look
up into Mamsie's face.
"It's my very own purse," cried Phronsie, in a joyful little key, "and
I'm going to buy things, I am. See, Mamsie!" She held it up before Mrs.
Fisher, and patted it lovingly, while she crowded in worse than ever.
"Yes, I see," said Mrs. Fisher, smiling down into her face, but there
was no smile for Joel, and looking up he caught her black eyes resting
on him in a way he didn't like.
"You may have it, Phron!" he exclaimed, tumbling back against David
suddenly, who was nearly knocked over by his sudden rebound. "I'd just
as lief you would. Here, get in next to Mamsie."
"And I'm going to buy you something, Mamsie," said Phronsie, standing on
her tiptoes to whisper confidentially into Mother Fisher's ear.
"You are, dear?" Mrs. Fisher leaned over to catch the whisper, but not
before she sent a smile over to Joel that seemed to drop right down into
the farthest corner of his heart. "Now Mother'll like that very much
indeed."
"And you must be s'prised," said Phronsie, bobbing her head in its big,
fur-trimmed bonnet, and fastening a grave look of great importance on
Mrs. Fisher's face.
"Hoh--hoh!" began Joel, who had recovered his composure. Then he
thought, and stopped. And again Mother Fisher smiled at him.
"Now, children, you understand this is the first time you have ever been
out shopping without Mr. King or Mrs. Whitney or me," began Mrs. Fisher,
looking around on them all. "Well, it's quite time that you should make
the trial, for I can trust you all." She lifted her head proudly and her
black eyes shone. "I'm sure you'll all be good."
"Oh, we will, we will, Mamsie," declared all the little Peppers
together. And their heads went up, too, in pride.
"So I am going to let Ben and Polly take you about in the shops. And
whatever they tell you, you are to do. And remember one thing, you are
not to crowd and push."
"We can't see if the big people all get in front," said Joel,
grumblingly.
"Then you must go without seeing," said Mrs. Fisher, decidedly. "At any
rate, you are not to crowd and push. Remember, Joel, and all of you."
"I won't," said Joel, "crowd and push. Now may we go, Mamsie?" and he
began to prance to the door impatiently.
"One thing more. Come back, Joel." Mrs. Fisher waited until the group
was once more quiet around her chair. "And you are none of you to handle
things."
"Not when we are going to buy them?" cried Joel, in an injured tone.
"Oh, Mamsie, I sh'd think we might when we are out shopping. And I've
got such lots of money in my pocket-book." He swung it high, clenched in
his hot little fist.
"Take care or you'll lose it if you show it like that, Joe," said Ben.
"How am I going to lose it?" demanded Joel, squaring around at Ben.
"Somebody'll pick it out of your hand if you don't look out," warned
Ben.
"I guess there won't anybody pick my pocket-book. I'm going to get a
pin," and he raced off to the big mahogany bureau in the corner.
"What for?" asked David, who always followed Joel's movements with
attention; "what are you going to do with a pin, Joel?"
"I'm going to pin up my pocket so no old picker can get my purse,"
declared Joel, with energy, and running back with the biggest pin he
could find on the cushion, the one Mrs. Fisher fastened her shawl with.
"Yes, and likely enough you'll forget all about it and stick your own
hand in," said Ben, "then, says I, what'll you do, Joel?"
"Humph--I won't forget," snorted Joel, puckering up the pocket edge and
jamming the pin through the folds; "there, I guess the pickers will let
my pocket alone. Yes-sir-ee," he cried triumphantly.
"Now you remember you are not to touch things on the counters," Mrs.
Fisher was saying. "I don't want my children to be picking and handling
at such a time. You can look all you want to; but when you see what you
would really like to buy, why, Polly and Ben must ask the saleswoman to
show it to you."
"I've got my money-purse," said Phronsie, exactly as if the fact had not
been announced before; "see, Mamsie," and she held it up with an
important air.
"I see," said Mother Fisher, "it's the one Grandpapa gave you last
birthday, isn't it, Phronsie?"
"Yes," she said, patting it lovingly. "My dear Grandpapa gave it to me,
and it's my very own, and I'm going to buy things, I am."
"So you shall," said Mrs. Fisher, approvingly. All the while Joel was
screaming, "Come on, Phron, we'll be late," as he pranced out into the
hall and down the stairs.
"Oh, Mamsie," Polly flung her arms around Mrs. Fisher's neck, "I wish
you were going too."
"Well, Mother can't go," said Mrs. Fisher, patting Polly's shoulder;
"and take care, Phronsie will hear you."
"And I want to kiss my Mamsie good-by, too," said Phronsie, clambering
up into Mrs. Fisher's lap, as well as she could for the fur-trimmed
coat. So Mother Fisher took her up, and Phronsie cooed and hummed her
satisfaction, and was kissed and set down again. And then David had to
say good-by too, and Ben as well; and then Polly made up her mind she
would have the last kiss, so it was some minutes before the four
children got out of Mamsie's room and ran down the stairs. And there
they found Joel hanging on to the newel post and howling: "You've been
an awful long time. Come on!"
"We wanted to bid Mamsie good-by," said Polly, twitching Phronsie's coat
straight. "Well, we're all ready now; come on, children."
Joel had thrown the big front door open with a flourish and was rushing
out. When Polly said that about Mamsie, he stopped suddenly, then
plunged back, nearly upsetting Phronsie, and ran over the steps as fast
as he could. "Oh, Mamsie," he cried, flying up to her. Mrs. Fisher had
gotten out of her chair, and was now over by the window to see her
little brood go off so happy and important. "Why, Joel!" she exclaimed,
"what's the matter?" as he precipitated himself into her arms.
"I want to kiss you good-by, too," howled Joel, burrowing within them;
"good-by, Mamsie!"
"So you shall, Mother's boy," said Mrs. Fisher, cuddling him. "Well now,
Joel, you remember all I said."
"I'll remember," said Joel, lifting a radiant face; "I'll be good all
the time."
"Yes, you must, else Mother'll feel badly. Well, good-by."
Joel's good-by floated back as he raced down the stairs and overtook the
group waiting for him out on the big stone steps.
"Who's keeping us waiting now, I wonder?" said Ben, as he came up
panting.
"Well, I guess I'm going to bid my Mamsie good-by, too," said Joel,
importantly. "Come on, Dave, let's race to the big gate!"
II
BEN'S PLAN
When Phronsie saw the two boys racing away, she wanted to run too, and
started to patter off after them.
"No, no, Phronsie," said Polly, calling her back. "She'll get all tired
out to begin with," she said to Ben, "then what should we do?"
"Oh, I want to race to the big gate with Joel and David," said Phronsie,
coming back slowly. "Can't I, Polly? Do let me," she begged.
"No," said Polly, decidedly, "you'll get all tired out, Phronsie."
"I won't be tired," said Phronsie, drawing herself up very straight; "I
won't be, Polly."
"You will be if you run and race to begin with," declared Polly, very
much wishing she could join the boys herself. But she was holding
Phronsie's hand by this time, and it never would do to leave her. "So we
must walk till we reach the car."
Phronsie heaved a sigh, but she kept tight hold of Polly's hand, and
walked obediently on.
"You see," said Polly, who never could bear to hear Phronsie sigh,
"we're going shopping, Phronsie, and there's a good deal of walking we
have before us, and--"
"And I have my money-bag," cried Phronsie, breaking in jubilantly, and
not waiting for Polly to finish, and lifting it high as it dangled from
her arm. "See, Polly, and dear Grandpapa gave it to me, he did."
"I know, pet," said Polly; "take care, now, or you'll tumble on your
nose."
"And I'm going to buy my dear Grandpapa something," declared Phronsie,
with a bob of her fur-trimmed bonnet; "I am, Polly."
"So you shall," cried Polly, radiantly; "now that'll be fine."
"Polly," said Ben, on her other side, "I've been thinking of something
that perhaps it would be good to do."
"Oh, Ben, what is it?" she cried, all in a twitter to know, for Ben's
plans, if sometimes slow, were always so good to follow.
"Why, let's us all put our money together instead of buying little
things for Grandpapa, for of course we are all going to give him
something, and buy one good present." It was a long speech for Ben, and
he was quite glad when it was all out.
"Let's," said Polly, quite enchanted. "Oh, Ben, you do think of just the
right things."
"No," said Ben, "I don't think up such nice things as you do, Polly,"
and he looked at her admiringly; "I can't."
"Well, your things are always best in the end, anyway," said Polly,
unwilling to take so much praise, and preferring that Ben should have
it.
"O dear me!" Joel, with David at his heels, came tumbling up. "You are
so slow, just like snails," he grumbled.
"Just like snails," echoed Phronsie, with very pink cheeks, stepping
very high, all her attention on the money-bag dangling from her wrist.
"Well, we can't go any faster, Joe," said Ben, "so you must make up your
mind to be satisfied."
"Well, I'm not satisfied," declared Joel, in a dudgeon.
"So it seems," said Ben, with a little laugh.
"And it isn't the way, when people are going shopping, to run through
the street," said Polly, "so when you get outside the gateway, you've
got to walk, Joel. It isn't elegant to race along."
When Polly said "elegant" with such an air, the children always felt
very much impressed, and little David now hung his head quite ashamed.
"I'm sorry I ran, Polly," he said.
"Oh, it's no matter in here," said Polly, "but when we get outside, then
you must walk in a nice way. Mamsie'd want you to. Oh, now, Ben, go on
with your plan and tell the rest."
"Oh, now you've been talking up things, you and Ben; you're always doing
that, Polly Pepper," cried Joel, loudly. And he tried to crowd in
between Polly and Phronsie.
"See here, you get back!" cried Ben, seizing his jacket collar; "you're
not to crowd so, Joe."
"Well, you and Polly are always talking secrets," said Joel, but he fell
back with Ben nevertheless, "and keeping them from Dave and me."
"Then you should have stayed with us," said Ben, calmly.
"We didn't know you were going to talk secrets," grumbled Joel.
"Oh, we've only just begun," said Polly, brightly, looking over past
Phronsie, "so you'll hear it all, Joey; and Davie, too," she added,
looking off to little David on the farther end of the line.
"I'm not going to stir a step away ever again," declared Joel, squirming
up as close to Ben as he possibly could, "then you can't talk things
without I hear them."
"You've got to give me a little more of the walk, Joe," said Ben,
striding on and thrusting out his elbow on Joel's side, "else you'll go
behind."
"O dear! I want to hear what you're going to say," whined Joel. But he
gave way, moving up against David, who was the last in the row. "Well,
do begin," he begged.
"Yes, do tell them, Ben," said Polly.
"Well, you see," said Ben, as they turned out of the big stone gateway,
"we are all to give Grandpapa a present, each one, I mean."
"I am," shouted Joel, jumping up and down, "Whoopity la, whickets, I
am!"
"Oh, Joel Pepper!" exclaimed Polly, looking down the row at him.
Whenever Polly said "Joel Pepper," everybody felt that the case was very
serious. So Joel hung his head and looked quite sheepish.
"Mamsie would be so sorry to hear you say that," went on Polly.
"Well, he isn't going to say it again," said Ben, "I don't believe."
"No, I'm not," declared Joel, his black head going up again, "never
again, Polly."
"That's right," and she smiled approvingly. "Oh, now, do go on again,
Ben," she said, "with your plan."
"Yes, we're all going to give Grandpapa presents," cried Joel, before
Ben had time to put in a word. "I am, and I won't tell what I'm going to
buy, either. You can't make me, Dave." He slapped the pocket containing
his purse, but encountering the big pin, drew off his fingers. "Ow!"
"There, who's hurt now?" cried Ben, with a laugh as he looked down at
the rueful face.
"Pooh--it didn't hurt any," said Joel, pulling off his glove to suck the
drop of blood that came up to meet him.
David, who never could bear to see Joel hurt, pressed up to see the
extent of his injury, and turned pale. Perhaps it went clear through his
finger, for it was Mamsie's big shawl-pin!
"Oh, don't, Joel," cried Polly, with a grimace; "take your handkerchief,
do!"
"No, I'm not going to," said Joel, squirming away, and repeating the
process as another little drop appeared; "I can spit it out, and my
handkerchief'll stay bad."
"Joel," said Polly, sternly, "you must not do that. Do you hear me?"
"Well, that's the last drop, anyway," declared Joel, "so I haven't got
to do anything."
"Let me see," said Polly, feeling quite motherly with all her brood to
look after. So the whole row stopped and Joel leaned over and thrust out
his finger for Polly to examine it.
"Yes, that's all right," she said with a sigh of relief. "Well, now, we
must hurry, for we have so much to do. And, Ben, do go on."
"Well, you see Grandpapa has so many things that it'll be hard to pick
out five that he'd like," said Ben, "so I thought--"
"He'll like mine," interrupted Joel.
"Hold on, Joe, and wait till I get through," commanded Ben, turning on
him.
"And if you interrupt again, you must walk behind, Joel," said Polly,
severely.
"I don't want to walk behind," said Joel, ducking as he caught her
glance.
"Well, then, you mustn't interrupt Ben again," declared Polly, in her
most decided fashion.
"Oh, I won't, I won't!" he promised, much alarmed as he saw her face.
"See that you don't, then," said Ben. "Well, so it seems as if perhaps
it would be a good plan to all put our money together and get Grandpapa
one good thing."
"I think it would be a perfectly elegant plan," declared Polly,
radiantly.
Joel stood stock-still twitching the end of Ben's coat, so that he was
pulled up short. "I'm not going to put any money in," he cried in a loud
tone.
"Hey? Oh, then, you don't like the plan, Joe?" said Ben, getting his
coat free and whirling around on him.
"I'm not going to put any money in," repeated Joel, in the same high
key.
"Well, then, you needn't," said Ben, nowise disturbed.
"Oh, Ben, then we can't any of us do it," said Polly, quite dismayed,
"and it would have been so perfectly splendid." She stopped short, and
Phronsie, looking up in surprise, pulled her hand gently. "Oh, Polly,"
she exclaimed, "are you sick?"
"Oh, the rest of us will do it," said Ben, coolly, "and Joel can stay
outside."
"Oh, I'm not going to stay outside," howled Joel, throwing his arms
around Ben and clinging to him in his distress. "I'm not. I'm not, Ben,
don't make me."
"I don't make you," said Ben, getting himself free from Joel's frantic
little hands; "if you don't want to join us, why, you'll just have to
stay by yourself."
"I'm not going to stay by myself," cried Joel, in the greatest distress,
"need I, Polly?" and he flew over to her. "I don't want to stay by
myself, I don't."
But Ben answered instead of Polly.
"Hush now, Joel, we're to walk along quietly, else you'll have to go
home. And we'll vote now, and all who don't want to get Grandpapa one
big, nice present, can just stay out of the plan. Polly and I are going
together in it, anyway."
Which was just the same as saying the plan would be carried out. If
Polly and Ben were to join in it, all the remainder of the "Five Little
Peppers" would consider it the greatest calamity to be left out, so Joel
pushed as near to Ben as he could get as the whole group drew off to the
curbstone to vote on the question.
"I'm in it,--I'm in it," screamed Joel, making more than one passer-by
turn the head to look back at the busy little group. "Come on, Dave,"
twitching that individual's jacket to get him into the centre of things.
"He's in it, too, Ben," he added, anxious to have that settled beyond a
doubt. "David is."
"Everybody is looking at us," said Polly, whose greatest pride was to
have the children appear well, and she looked quite mortified. "O dear
me!" and this was only the beginning of the Christmas shopping!
"Now you must just understand, Joe," Ben laid hold of him; "we aren't
going to have such carryings on. Look at Polly, how you're making her
feel."
All the children now regarded Polly anxiously, Phronsie standing on
tiptoe to achieve the best result. "Oh, I won't make her feel," cried
Joel, much alarmed, "I won't. Please don't, Polly; I'll be good," he
promised. His face worked, and he had hard work not to burst out crying.
"All right, Joey," said Polly, trying to smile, and the little pucker
between her eyebrows straightened itself out at once. And she leaned
over and set a kiss on the chubby cheek.
"You kissed me on the street!" said Joel, quite astounded. "Why, Polly
Pepper, and you said the other--"
"Never mind," broke in Ben, hastily.
"And I couldn't help it," said Polly, happily, yet with a backward
glance to see if any one saw it, for Polly deeply loved to be fine on
all occasions.
"And if we are going shopping for Christmas presents," said Ben, "we
must hurry up. Hush, Joe, don't say a word. Now how many want to put in
their money to buy one big, nice present for Grandpapa instead of little
bits of ones? Put up your hands."
Joel's hand shot up as high as he could raise it, while he stood on
tiptoe, and of course Polly's went up, and so did David's. But Phronsie
stood looking down at her money-bag dangling from her arm, while she
patted it lovingly and crooned softly to herself.
"She doesn't understand," said Polly, so she got down until she could
look into the face within the fur-trimmed bonnet. "Look up, pet; now
don't you want to buy Grandpapa a big, big present with all of us?"
"I'm going to buy my dear Grandpapa a present," cried Phronsie, in a
happy little voice, and, taking her gaze from the money-bag, "I am,
Polly," she declared, dreadfully excited. Then she put her mouth close
to Polly's rosy cheek; "I'm going to buy him a cat," she whispered.
"O dear me!" exclaimed Polly, nearly tumbling over backward.
"Yes, I am," said Phronsie, decidedly, "a dear sweet little cat, and
Grandpapa will like it, he will."
"Well, now," said Polly, recovering herself, "don't you want to put the
rest of your money you were going to spend for Grandpapa's present into
something big? We're all going to do that, Phronsie, and give him a nice
Christmas present."
"My present will be nice," said Phronsie, gravely.
"Yes, yes, I know," said Polly, quickly, and giving the boys a look that
told them to keep away from this conference; "but don't you want to help
to buy this big present, too? I would, Phronsie pet, if I were you!"
"I shall give him the cat," said Phronsie, decidedly and bobbing her
head.
"Yes, of course. But you can help to buy the other, too," said Polly.
"I'll help to buy the other," hummed Phronsie. Then she hopped away from
Polly and made a little cheese right on the sidewalk. The fur-trimmed
coat flew out as well as it could, and the money-bag also.
"Oh, Phronsie!" exclaimed Polly, in dismay, getting her up as quickly as
possible.
"I'm going to buy a cat and a big thing, too, for my dear Grandpapa,"
announced Phronsie to all the bunch, as Polly got her straight and
smoothed down her coat and settled her bonnet.
All this proceeding took so much time that Ben now hurried them off, and
they walked briskly along till presently they turned into the main
street where the most of the holiday shoppers were out in full force.
And as Joel wanted to stop at each window that presented a smart
display, and that was furnished at nearly every step of the way, they
didn't make so very much progress after all.
"We shan't get anywhere at this rate," said Ben, at last, in despair,
and, hauling Joel away from a fascinating window against which he had
set his chubby face, quite lost to the delightful show within, he struck
off at a smart pace, threading his way quickly in and out of the crowd
of shoppers, so that Polly and Phronsie, clinging to her hand, had great
difficulty to keep track of him at all. David was pattering along in
front as close to Ben as he could get.
At last they stopped before a big toy-shop, and Ben drew breath.
"O dear me!" cried Polly, hurrying up. Phronsie's bonnet was pushed awry
where an excited shopper had knocked a big bundle against it, so she
couldn't see anything till Polly had set it straight.
All this took a little time; meanwhile the bunch of shoppers was
stopping the crowd.
"Get out of the way," roared an expressman at them. He was so crowded up
with bundles that only his head was to be seen above the pile; there was
another heap on the pavement and a man loading up, as fast as he could,
the already well-filled wagon, and he gave Joel a punch with something,
not his hand, for that was full.
"Stop that!" Joel squared up at him and doubled up his little fist.
"Joe, Joe!" cried Ben, suddenly.
"That man pushed me with an old bundle," said Joel, his eyes flashing.
"Well, come on," said Ben, picking his sleeve. Polly, busy with
Phronsie, had heard nothing of it.
"O dear, dear!" David was wailing.
"And I'll give you something more'n a push if you don't get out of the
way," declared the expressman, trying to look over his shoulder as he
edged his way to the wagon, "you saucy cub, you!"
"And he's calling me names," cried Joel, wildly; "let me go back and
make him stop," and he shook his small fists in the air. "He's a bad old
man and he hasn't any right. Let me go, Ben."
But Ben by this time had Joel well within the shop, and, the others
following, they were soon lost in the important business of choosing
Christmas presents.
"Let Phronsie buy hers first," said Polly. And the others, even Joel,
saying, "Yes, let Phronsie buy hers first," they edged their way along,
Phronsie proclaiming in a high key, as they threaded their course down a
long aisle, that she was going to buy Grandpapa a cat, so that everybody
turned and smiled, until at last they found a saleswoman, who seemed to
be willing and able to wait on them.
"So you want a cat?" she said to Phronsie, who could just manage to see
over the counter by standing on her tiptoes.
"Yes," said Phronsie, "I do, a really and truly cat for my dear
Grandpapa."
"Oh, we haven't any real cats," said the woman, turning back from the
shelf she was looking over with a pair of sharp eyes. "We don't keep
live cats in a shop. Nobody does," she added.
"She means that it must have fur on," explained Polly, while the younger
boys never took their eyes from the transaction. This was quite one of
the most important events of the afternoon for Phronsie to choose her
own present. Just at this juncture a stout old lady, with a stiff black
silk coat that made her bigger than ever, as it had a trick of flying
open, and the sides blowing off seemed ready to engulf all unfortunate
passers-by, swept past Phronsie, and she disappeared from view for a
moment.
"Stop that!" roared Joel, looking up into the soft white puffs above the
woman's nose; "you 'most knocked my sister over."
The stately old woman looked down into the chubby face. "You impertinent
boy!" she exclaimed, then set her profile disdainfully in the opposite
direction and sailed on.
"Oh, Ben!" cried Polly, in consternation, all the color gone out of her
face; "what shall we do?"
"Here, pet," and Ben swung Phronsie up to his shoulder. "Now, that's the
best place for you in such a crowd."
"I want a truly cat," Phronsie kept saying from her perch, and, swinging
her feet delightedly, she grasped Ben's neck so tightly it seemed as if
he could hardly breathe; and his face got very red.
"I tell you we haven't got any live cats," declared the saleswoman,
impatiently, and slamming the glass door beneath. "Here's a china one,"
and she set it on the counter.
"Oh, no!" Phronsie shook her head. Polly meanwhile had been looking
after the stately old woman, and clasping and unclasping her hands
nervously. It wouldn't take but a minute to go after her, for the big
figure had paused in front of the doll counter, and say how sorry she
was, for he was her brother, and would she please to excuse it? And
without stopping to think, Polly dashed off through the crowd, no one of
the little bunch of Peppers seeing her go, as they were lost in the
transaction that was to get Phronsie her cat.
She plunged up suddenly to the side of the stiff black silk coat, now
wedged in against the overcrowded counter, its owner by no means in the
best temper at her failure to attract any saleswoman to wait on her.
"Oh, ma'am," Polly looked up into the impatient face, and everything she
had intended to say flew right out of her mind, for the white puffs
seemed to stand right out like mountains, and the Roman nose was so very
dreadful. "My brother," was all she could manage to say.
"Hey?" The stately old woman laid down a doll and glared at her. "My
brother," began Polly, wishing that she was back with the others. If
only she could catch a glimpse of Ben, but the intervening crowd surged
in waves between her and the spot where she had left them, so that they
were swallowed up. Meantime there was that dreadful old woman, with her
cold, sharp eyes just like gimlets boring her through and through, and
waiting for her to finish what she had to say.
"My brother," began Polly, faintly, and her head dropped, "said
something naughty to you."
"Well?" said the old lady, and she turned her back on the doll counter
as far as she was able for being wedged in so, and this time Polly felt
that she must make herself understood. Besides, the people on either
side were beginning to be interested, and were nudging each other not to
miss this funny thing.
So she began quite decidedly, determined to be brave and say it all
through. "My brother--" But the stately old lady broke in, "I don't know
anything about your brother, nor you, girl, and if you speak to me
again, I shall call the proprietor," and she shook with indignation till
all the jingling jet things, and there seemed to be a great many under
her silk coat, made a great commotion.
"I came to ask you to forgive my brother who spoke to you because you
brushed against my little sister." Polly was speaking so fast now, a
little red spot on either cheek, that the stately old woman had to hear.
"It was naughty of him, and Mamsie would be sorry."
"Naughty?" The old lady gasped for breath; it was such a new idea to ask
her to forgive a saucy boy; still, she couldn't make any other reply
than "It was scandalous, and you are nearly as bad, interrupting me in
the midst of my Christmas shopping." Then she turned to the dolls again,
leaving Polly to stumble back as best she might to the place where she
had left Ben and the children. But they were not there.
III
HAPS AND MISHAPS
"I want Polly," Phronsie was saying, wholly lost now to the fact that
the "really truly cat" for Grandpapa had not been found. "Bensie, I do!"
"Yes, Phronsie," Ben made out to say, holding her hand fast; "we'll see
her pretty soon."
"She's lost!" cried Joel, wildly, who up to this time had been so
diverted by the bewildering array of tin soldiers, drums, and express
wagons displayed on all sides as they threaded their way in among the
crowds that surrounded the counters and shelves, that he hadn't given
his mind to anything else. "She's lost, Polly is!" he ended with a howl.
At this direful announcement Phronsie gave one cry, then she sat right
down on the floor and lifted up her voice, "I want Polly!"
It was impossible to quiet her, and everybody in the immediate vicinity
turned and stared. A small girl, trying to decide between a woolly dog
and a pig, both of whose charms had held her for the past ten minutes,
laid them down on the counter and ran over to the place where the cry
came from. When she saw the little group she pushed in between them. "O
dear me!" she cried to Phronsie, sitting there in a small heap and
sobbing pitifully, "how'd she get hurt?"
Little David made way for her instantly, but Joel, who had stopped his
wails in surprise at her appearance, stood his ground. "Go away," he
said, his black eyes shining through his tears.
The small girl paid no attention to him. "How'd she get hurt?" she kept
on asking.
"She isn't hurt," said Ben, not looking up as he knelt on the floor and
wiped Phronsie's streaming tears with his handkerchief. "There, there,
Phronsie, stop crying."
"O dear me!" exclaimed the girl; "what a little goose to cry!" and she
laughed derisively.
"She isn't a goose," cried Joel, in a loud, injured tone; "my sister
isn't a goose; so now you just take that back, you girl, you!"
"Joel," commanded Ben, sternly, "stop this moment," just as a
floor-walker stalked up. "You're blocking the way," he said with a great
deal of official manner, "and you must just take yourselves off out of
this aisle."
Little David, who up to this time, clasping and unclasping his hands
nervously, had said nothing, now looked up into the cross face. "We've
lost Polly," he exclaimed.
The floor-walker, not understanding, repeated to Ben, "You've just got
to get out of this aisle."
But the small girl had heard. "O dear me!" she exclaimed again; "now
that's perfectly dreadful," and she sat right down by Phronsie's side.
"I'll go and find her for you," she said, putting her hands on
Phronsie's two small ones, doubled up in the folds of the fur-trimmed
coat. "And I'm sorry I called you a goose. Don't cry, I'll bring her
back."
Phronsie, astonished out of her grief, and hearing the welcome words,
"I'll bring her back," looked up radiantly, the tears trailing off down
the round cheeks, while Joel, whose face had become a lively red,
blurted out, "And I'm sorry I was bad to you," staring at the girl.
"Oh, I didn't mind you," said the girl, carelessly. "Now, who is Polly?"
She looked at Ben as she spoke. Meanwhile, she was helping Phronsie to
her feet. "Here she is now, I guess." She gave a sharp, birdlike glance
between the crowd, then started off like a flash, winding herself in and
out of the throng, and up to a girl a little bigger than herself. "Are
you Polly?" she demanded breathlessly.
Polly, rushing along, searching one side and the other frantically for a
glimpse of Ben's blue cap and sturdy shoulders (she hadn't much hope of
seeing the children, for the crowd was very thick just here), hurried
on, scarcely hearing the words.
"Because if you are, she wants you, the little girl does. And I guess
they all do," said the girl, rushing after.
"Where are they?" cried Polly, turning on her, "please be quick and tell
me."
"Come on, I'll take you." The girl made her way through the crowd,
edging along, and Polly, with the color coming back to her cheeks that
had gone quite white, followed as nimbly as she could, till, "Here she
is; here's Polly!" She heard Joel's voice. And in a minute Polly was in
their midst, her arms around Phronsie, and cuddling her to her heart's
content.
And after this episode they all settled down to the business of shopping
at once; all except Ben, who looked here and there for the small girl
who had found Polly. She had slipped away in the crowd.
"And we didn't even thank her," said Ben, sorrowfully.
"Well, we must go to some other store and get Phronsie's cat," said
Polly, "as long as we can't find her," with a sigh, so they all followed
Ben as he made a way for them through the crowd, Phronsie clinging to
Polly's hand as if she never meant to let her go again. All at once Ben
darted aside, then turned back to Polly. "There she is," he pointed over
to the counter where the small girl had her pig and woolly dog once
more, taking each up affectionately, then laying it down.
"Well, you can't do that all day," observed the saleswoman, crossly.
"Take one, or leave it, or I'll put 'em both up again."
"He'd like 'em both," said the small girl, "my brother would, an' I
don't know which."
The saleswoman snatched up the pig and reached out an impatient hand for
the woolly dog.
"Oh, Polly, just hear that!" whispered Ben; "she wants them for her
brother, and she was so good to us."
"I know it," said Polly. "O dear me, I wish she could get them both."
Ben fumbled in his pocket and brought out his brown leather pocket-book.
"You give it to her," he said, putting a silver half-dollar into Polly's
hand.
"Oh, whick--!" began Joel, with his big eyes at the half-dollar.
"Don't say anything, Joel," said Ben, hurriedly, and dragging him off;
"here, just look at that steam-engine, will you?"
Polly shut her fingers over the half-dollar, and still holding
Phronsie's hand, she leaned over the small shoulder, which now she saw
was thin, and touched the rusty black coat sleeve. "That's for the
woolly dog," she said softly, so nobody heard, and slipping the
half-dollar into the red hand without any glove on.
"Oh, my!" cried the girl, staring first at her hand with the silver
half-dollar shining up at her from the middle of it, and then into
Polly's face, "what's that for?"
"You were so good to us," said Polly, simply, and before the girl could
say a word, she had slipped back to Ben, and this time they were soon
lost in the crowd down the aisle, on their way to another shop.
"You've given away a whole half-dollar," gasped Joel, staring up into
Ben's face.
"Hush!" said Ben, hauling him on, as Polly flew back; "well, now, then,
we must hurry, else we never will get through."
"Yes, we must get Phronsie's cat," said Polly, with a happy little
thrill. "Oh, Ben, just think," she whispered, for Ben never could bear
to be thanked, "she's bought that woolly dog by this time, I 'most
know."
"Do hush!" begged Ben.
"Oh, now, I know you are whispering secrets," declared Joel, trying to
crowd in between them.
"No, we are not," said Polly, "really and truly we are not; are we,
Ben?"
"Then what are you whispering for?" demanded Joel, before Ben could
answer, as they all hurried out, Phronsie announcing gleefully that she
was going to buy Grandpapa's cat, and pulling Ben along, whose hand she
held, so that there was no time to peer into the shop windows.
Polly and the boys brought up the rear of the little procession. And
there, sure enough, up on the top shelf of the animal department of the
next toy-shop, was a little yellow cat with very green eyes, and a pink
ribbon around her neck, looking down on the "Five Little Peppers" as if
she had expected them all the while, as they hurried up to anxiously
scan the assortment. And oh, she had really-and-truly fur on! When she
saw that, Phronsie screamed right out: "She's there. Oh, I want her!"
and stretched out her arms, the money-bag dangling merrily, as if its
services would be wanted presently. "Oh, Polly, I want her, I do!"
And before any one would believe it, it was all done so quickly, the
little yellow cat was taken down and paid for, and Phronsie had it in
her hand, and was stroking its back lovingly, and telling it about dear
Grandpapa, and that it was going to him on Christmas Day, and ever so
much more.