A FAIR ATTEMPT.
“O FRED! Here comes aunt Betsey, with a great budget,” said Charlie,
who was looking out of the window. “Let’s hide under the bed till she
is gone. She never stays long;” and without another word under they
went.
“What do you want to hide for?” asked Hesper.
“O, because we know she don’t like us,” and Fred drew his head back
quickly, for she was just opening the door.
“Well-a-day, Hesper!” said aunt Betsey, with a doleful countenance, “I
hear you are in trouble again, and I have come down to see what I can
do for you. How is your father, this morning? I declare I never knew he
had hurt him till just now. Where is he?”
“In there,” said Hesper, pointing to the little bed-room where Mose and
Johnny usually slept. “He has been restless all night, but he is asleep
now.”
“Well, then I won’t disturb him, for I am so hurried with work that
I can’t stop a minute. I left everything in a heap and came down
directly, when I heard of your trouble. I declare I am all out of
breath with hurrying,” and she threw herself into a chair by the bed.
“Well, Susan,” she said to Hesper’s mother, “I should think you would
get all tired out with being sick so long, but I think Hesper looks
almost as frail as you, and I shouldn’t wonder at all if she should
give out.”
“I am afraid she will,” said her mother, and she sighed deeply.
“O, no!” replied Hesper, cheerfully, “I haven’t the least idea of it. I
didn’t sleep much last night, and am rather tired to-day, but I don’t
feel sick at all.”
“Well,” said aunt Betsey, “there’s no use in undertaking too much, and
I have really come down with the intention of doing something to help
you.”
Here she hesitated, for she really dreaded to make the proposition.
“You, Charlie;” whispered Fred--“if I should catch at her foot how she
would jump.”
The thought of aunt Betsey’s surprise quite overcame Charlie, and in
spite of his efforts he could not restrain a laugh.
“Mercy me!” exclaimed aunt Betsey. “What’s that?” and she looked
directly under the bed. Her expressions of wonder, and the angry
manner in which she eyed them over her spectacles, was perfectly
irresistible, and laughing with all their might, they crept out.
“Well, I declare!” said she, “you act as though you weren’t half
civilized, and I almost repent of my resolution. As I was just saying
to Hesper, I came down to take you home with me, to spend a few days.
It will be a great relief to your mother and sister, for I know you are
bad boys, and are dreadfully troublesome.”
The boys were sober in a moment. Fred looked at Charlie and Charlie at
Fred, but neither of them spoke a word. Now that aunt Betsey had given
the invitation, she was quite determined they should go.
“Well, what is the matter?” said she, “I don’t want you to work for me.
I only want you to behave yourselves, if you can, and I will do all I
can to please you. You shall have some apples to roast, and if your
Uncle Nathan is willing, I will give you one of his great pumpkins for
a jack-o’lantern.”
It was evident that she had touched the right chord, for the boys
assented immediately. Hesper was much pleased, and began to prepare
them as soon as possible. Soon all was ready, and they set out, with
the parting injunction from Hesper, to be good boys.
It was so quiet and peaceful after they were gone, and Hesper’s mind
was so much relieved, that after making some gruel for her father’s
dinner, she sat down in the great rocking chair, and in a few moments
was fast asleep. Poor Hesper was almost sick. Mose watched her from
day to day, and when he saw her cheek grow pale, his heart failed him.
He sat very often upon the old log by the mill-dam, but it was not
to think over his own troubles. They were all forgotten in his care
for Hesper, and knowing not what else to do, he prayed for her most
earnestly.