A PLEASANT SURPRISE.
THE winter months passed swiftly away with the Greyson family, in their
new home, but it was not till the spring opened, and the pleasant
sunshine and warm air came again, with their invigorating influences,
that Hesper was able to regain any of her former strength and buoyancy
of spirits. When the weather was mild, and the sky clear, she would
steal out and work for a short time in the little flower garden, but
the good doctor still kept his eye on her, and would not suffer her
to engage in any fatiguing employment. It happened, fortunately, that
there was no need of it, for Hesper’s mother was now so much better,
that she could attend to the household duties, and Mr. Greyson, who was
constantly employed, earned enough to support them all, comfortably.
The doctor had made some extensive purchases in the way of new lands,
and what with ploughing and planting, draining meadows and clearing
wood-lands, he not only managed to keep Mr. Greyson, but also Fred and
Charlie busy. The services of the Grimsby boys too were often required,
and though, as might have been expected, a crooked word or a hard look
would often pass between them and the young Greysons, yet the promise
which they had made to Mose, and the presence of Mr. Byers among them,
prevented them from breaking out into open hostilities.
One clear, bright summer day, Mr. Greyson and the boys were at work in
a beautiful pine grove--a part of the doctor’s woodland, clearing away
the under-brush for the accommodation of a pic-nic, which was to be
held there the following week. “Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted Fred all at
once, “there comes mother and Hesper.”
Mr. Greyson looked up, at Fred’s exclamation, and throwing down his
hatchet, he took off his hat and waved it to them as they came down the
green and shady road that led to the grove.
“I am right glad to see you,” he said, “though I am afraid it is ‘most
too long a walk for two such invalids.”
“O, I have enjoyed every step of the way,” said Hesper, whose cheeks
were as richly colored as the wild rose she held in her hand.
“I should think mother would be tired, though, for see, she has brought
dinner enough for us all in her basket. We mean to have a little
pic-nic of our own, so, while you and the boys are at work, we will
spread our table by the spring.”
“I am right glad you thought of that,” said Mr. Greyson, “for I am both
tired and hungry, and I shall relish my dinner much better for eating
it in pleasant company.” He took the basket to the spring, and then
left them to prepare their table. It was a most delightful spot they
had chosen, for the grass was soft and green beneath their feet, while
up above, the branches of the trees, interwoven with vines, screened
them from the rays of the noon-day sun. Then, too, there was a pleasant
humming of bees among the fragrant blossoms of the locusts, to which
the musical ripple of the spring formed a sweet accord.
Fred and Charlie found it quite impossible to wait until they were
called, and the cloth was scarcely spread, before they perched
themselves upon the large stones they had provided for seats. It was
not long, however, before everything was ready, and Mr. Greyson was
summoned.
“I declare,” said he, as he threw himself upon the ground and wiped the
perspiration from his brow--“I would not exchange this spot for the
palace of a king, and if Mose was only here, I could desire nothing
more.”
“Yes,” said Hesper, with a sad smile, “and little Johnny too.”
“Perhaps he is,” replied her mother, “though our poor eyes are not
permitted to see his sweet little countenance.” Fred looked up at her
thoughtfully, for a moment; then he started up, and rolled his stone a
little one side.
“Here, Charlie,” he said, “let him have a place between us, for I like
to think he is here.”
“Isn’t there room for one more?” said a pleasant voice, close beside
them. They all looked up, and saw Juliana’s face peeping out upon them
from the bushes.
“Yes, and welcome,” said Hesper. “But pray how came you here?”
“Why,” said Juliana, “mother stayed at home to-day, so I thought I
would just run over and see you. When I came to the house I found no
one there, but on my way back I met with Kate Smiley, who told me where
you were. I thought, on the whole, I would venture to join your party,
for I shall not have so good a chance to be with you again, as I open a
school next week. Mother says she can’t earn money enough to supply all
my need, so I must see what I can do for myself.”
“And I,” said Hesper, with a smiling countenance, “am going to school
next week. Father has promised me that I shall go all summer.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Greyson, “Hesper shall have all she needs, if I work
my fingers to the bone, and she shall enjoy her school to her heart’s
content, for I mean to make up, if possible, for her working so hard
last winter.”
“O dear!” sighed Juliana, as she glanced down at her old dress--“how
much I wish that I could go too. But I can’t,” she continued, “so
there’s no use fretting about it.”
They were still very much engaged in conversation, and had almost
finished their dinner, when they heard the sound of a carriage coming
along the road. They looked out from among the trees and saw Capt.
Clark with a stranger in his wagon. They wondered who he could be, for
they had scarce ever seen a more rough looking personage. His hair and
beard were both long and bushy--over his shoulders he carried a stick
with a bundle on it, and his clothes looked travel worn and dusty. The
Captain stopped his horse just as they arrived at the spring.
“Hallo!” said he, “if here isn’t a gipsey party! Come, friend, let’s
join them a few moments.” They both sprang from the wagon, and
approached the little group.
“You see, here,” said the Captain, addressing Mr. Greyson and pointing
towards the stranger--“a poor traveller, whom I overtook on my way from
the city. The cars had started before him, and he was so anxious to
reach home that he set out on foot.” Before he could finish speaking,
the stranger threw down his stick and bundle, and clasping Juliana
around the neck, he kissed her with all his might. The poor girl
screamed with surprise, but the next moment she cried out--“father!
father!” and returned his salutation with a good will.
Sure enough it was their old friend and neighbor, Mr. Grimsby, though
his rude dress had so disguised him that it was difficult to recognize
him.
“How is this?” said Mr. Greyson, as he shook hands with him--“we were
not looking for you back so soon.”
“Ah!” he replied, “I have had famous luck--better than I could have
possibly expected! and as I didn’t want my wife going out a washing, or
my children wandering about the streets, while I was so well able to
take care of them, I have come home to make them comfortable and happy.”
Juliana was so delighted that she laughed and cried, and scarce knew
what to do, in order to express her joy.
“There, now,” said Hesper, “you will let her go to school with me,
won’t you?”
“Yes,” said her father, “she shall live like a lady, dress like a
queen, and be educated like a professor, if she wants to, for I am
able to do it, and mean that there shall be one Grimsby, at least, who
shall make a show in the world. So come along my girl, let’s go to your
mother and the boys, and see if they like my looks as well as you do.”
Capt. Clark helped her into his wagon, with Mrs. Greyson and Hesper,
who were right glad of this opportunity to ride home. Away they all
started, with happy hearts and smiling countenances, while Mr. Greyson
and the boys, who remained behind, sent three parting cheers after
them.