ISHMAEL'S FIRST STEP ON THE LADDER.
There is a proud modesty in merit
Averse to asking, and resolved to pay
Ten times the gift it asks.
--_Dryden_.
Early the next morning the professor made his appearance at the Hill
Hut. Ishmael and Hannah had eaten breakfast, and the boy was helping his
aunt to put the warp in the loom for a new piece of cloth.
"Morning, Miss Hannah; morning, young Ishmael! You are wanted, sir, up
to the Hall this morning, and I am come to fetch you," said the
professor, as he stood within the door, hat in hand.
"Yes, I thought I would be; there must be no end of the rubbish to clear
away, and the work to do up there now, and I knew you would be expecting
me to help you, and so I meant to go up to your house just as soon as
ever I had done helping aunt to put the warp in her loom," answered
Ishmael simply.
"Oh, you think you are wanted only to be set to work, do you? All right!
But now as we are in a hurry, I'll just lend a hand to this little job,
and help it on a bit." And with that the artist, who was as expert at
one thing as at another, began to aid Hannah with such good will that
the job was soon done.
"And now, young Ishmael, get your hat and come along. We must be going."
But now, Hannah, who had been far too much interested in her loom to
stop to talk until its arrangements were complete, found time to ask:
"What about that fire at Brudenell Hall?"
"Didn't young Ishmael tell you, ma'am?" inquired the professor.
"Very little! I was asleep when he came in last night, and this morning,
when I saw that his clothes were all scorched, and his hair singed, and
his hands and face red and blistered, and I asked him what in the world
he had been doing to himself, he told me there had been a fire at the
Hall; but that it was put out before any great damage had been done;
nothing but that old wing, that they talked about pulling down, burnt,
as if to save them the trouble," answered Hannah.
"Well, ma'am, that was a cheerful way of putting it, certainly; and it
was also a true one; there wasn't much damage done, as the wing that was
burnt was doomed to be pulled down this very spring. But did young
Ishmael tell you how he received his injuries?"
"No; but I suppose of course he got them, boy-like, bobbing about among
the firemen, where he had no business to be!"
"Ma'am, he got burned in saving Commodore Burghe's sons, who were fast
asleep in that burning wing! Mrs. Middleton offered freedom to any slave
who would venture through the house to wake them up, and get them out.
Not a man would run the risk! Then she offered freedom, not only to any
slave, but also to the wife and children of any slave who would go in
and save the boys. Not a man would venture! And when all the women were
a-howling like a pack of she-wolves, what does your nephew do but rush
into the burning wing, rouse up the boys and convoy them out! Just in
time, too! for they were sleeping in the chamber over the burning room,
and in two minutes after they got out the floor of that room fell in!"
said Morris.
"You did that! You!" exclaimed Hannah vehemently. "Oh! you horrid,
wicked, ungrateful, heartless boy! to do such a thing as that, when you
knew if you had been burnt to death, it would have broken my heart! And
you, professor! you are just as bad as he is! yes, and worse too,
because you are older and ought to have more sense! The boy was in your
care! pretty care you took of him to let him rush right into the fire."
"Ma'am, if you'll only let me get in a word edgeways like, I'll tell you
all about it! I did try to hinder him! I reasoned with him, and I held
him tight, until the young hero--rascal, I mean--turned upon me and hit
me in the face; yes, ma'am, administered a 'scientific' right into my
left eye, and then broke from me and rushed into the burning house--"
"Well, but I thought it better the professor should have a black eye
than the boys should be burned to death," put in the lad, edgeways.
"Oh, Ishmael, Ishmael, this is dreadful! You will live to be hung, I
know you will!" sobbed Hannah.
"Well, aunty, maybe so; Sir William Wallace did," coolly replied the
boy.
"What in the name of goodness set you on to do such a wild thing? And
all for old Burghe's sons! Pray, what were they to you that you should
rush through burning flames for them?"
"Nothing, Aunt Hannah; only I felt quite sure that Israel Putnam or
Francis Marion would have done just as I did, and so--"
"Plague take Francis Putnam and Israel Marion, and also Patrick
Handcock, and the whole lot of 'em, I say! Who are they that you should
run your head into the fire for them? They wouldn't do it for you, that
I know," exclaimed Hannah.
"Aunt Hannah," said Ishmael pathetically, "you have got their names all
wrong, and you always do! Now, if you would only take my book and read
it while you are resting in your chair, you would soon learn all their
names, and--"
"I'll take the book and throw it into the fire the very first time I lay
my hands on it! The fetched book will be your ruin yet!" exclaimed
Hannah, in a rage.
"Now, Miss Worth," interposed the professor, "if you destroy that boy's
book, I'll never do another odd job for you as long as ever I live."
"Whist! professor," whispered Ishmael. "You don't know my Aunt Hannah as
well as I do. Her bark is a deal worse than her bite! If you only knew
how many times she has threatened to 'shake the life out of' me, and to
'be the death of me', and to 'flay' me 'alive,' you would know the value
of her words."
"Well, young Ishmael, you are the best judge of that matter, at least.
And now are you ready? For, indeed, we haven't any more time to spare.
We ought to have been at the Hall before this."
"Why, professor, I have been ready and waiting for the last ten
minutes."
"Come along, then. And now, Miss Hannah, you take a well-wisher's
advice and don't scold young Ishmael any more about last night's
adventur'. He has done a brave act, and he has saved the commodore's
sons without coming to any harm by it. And, if he hasn't made his
everlasting fortun', he has done himself a great deal of credit and made
some very powerful friends. And that I tell you! You wait and see!" said
the professor, as he left the hut, followed by Ishmael.
The morning was clear and bright after the rain. As they emerged into
the open air Ishmael naturally raised his eyes and threw a glance across
the valley to Brudenell Heights. The main building was standing intact,
though darkened; and a smoke, small in volume but dense black in hue,
was rising from the ruins of the burnt wing.
Ishmael had only time to observe this before they descended the narrow
path that led through the wooded valley. They walked on in perfect
silence until the professor, noticing the unusual taciturnity of his
companion, said:
"What is the matter with you, young Ishmael? You haven't opened your
mouth since we left the hut."
"Oh, professor, I am thinking of Aunt Hannah. It is awful to hear her
rail about the great heroes as she does. It is flat blasphemy," replied
the boy solemnly.
"Hum, ha, well, but you see, young Ishmael, though I wouldn't like to
say one word to dampen your enthusiasm for great heroism, yet the truth
is the truth; and that compels me to say that you do fall down and
worship these same said heroes a little too superstitiously. Why, law,
my boy, there wasn't one of them, at twelve years of age, had any more
courage or wisdom than you have--even if as much."
"Oh, professor, don't say that--don't! it is almost as bad as anything
Aunt Hannah says of them. Don't go to compare their great boyhood with
mine. History tells what they were, and I know myself what I am."
"I doubt if you do, young Ishmael."
"Yes! for I know that I haven't even so much as the courage that you
think I have; for, do you know, professor, when I was in that burning
house I was frightened when I saw the red smoke rolling into the passage
and heard the fire roaring so near me? And once--I am ashamed to own it,
but I will, because I know George Washington always owned his faults
when he was a boy--once, I say, I was tempted to run away and leave the
boys to their fate."
"But you didn't do it, my lad. And you were not the less courageous
because you knew the danger that you freely met. You are brave, Ishmael,
and as good and wise as you are brave."
"Oh, professor, I know you believe so, else you wouldn't say it; but I
cannot help thinking that if I really were good I shouldn't vex Aunt
Hannah as often as I do."
"Humph!" said the professor.
"And then if I were wise, I would always know right from wrong."
"And don't you?"
"No, professor; because last night when I ran into the burning house to
save the boys I thought I was doing right; and when the ladies so kindly
thanked me, I felt sure I had done right; but this morning, when Aunt
Hannah scolded me, I doubted."
"My boy, listen to the oracles of experience. Do what your own
conscience assures you to be right, and never mind what others think or
say. I, who have been your guide up to this time, can be so no longer. I
can scarcely follow you at a distance, much less lead you. A higher hand
than Old Morris' shall take you on. But here we are now at the Hall,"
said the professor, as he opened the gates to admit himself and his
companion.
They passed up the circular drive leading to the front of the house,
paused a few minutes to gaze upon the ruins of the burnt wing, of which
nothing was now left but a shell of brick walls and a cellar of smoking
cinders, and then they entered the house by the servant's door.
"Mr. Middleton and the Commodore are in the library, and you are to take
the boy in there," said Grainger, who was superintending the clearing
away of the ruins.
"Come along, young Ishmael!" said the professor, and as he knew the way
of the house quite as well as the oldest servant in it, he passed
straight on to the door of the library and knocked.
"Come in," said the voice of Mr. Middleton.
And the professor, followed by Ishmael, entered the library.
It was a handsome room, with the walls lined with book-cases; the windows
draped with crimson curtains; the floor covered with a rich carpet; a
cheerful fire burning in the grate; and a marble-top table in the center
of the room, at which was placed two crimson velvet arm-chairs occupied
by two gentlemen--namely, Mr. Middleton and Commodore Burghe. The
latter was a fine, tall, stout jolly old sailor, with a very round
waist, a very red face, and a very white head, who, as soon as ever he
saw Ishmael enter, got up and held out his broad hand, saying:
"This is the boy, is it? Come here, my brave little lad, and let us take
a look at you!"
Ishmael took off his hat, advanced and stood before the commodore.
"A delicate little slip of a fellow to show such spirit!" said the old
sailor, laying his hand on the flaxen hair of the boy and passing his
eyes down from Ishmael's broad forehead and thin cheeks to his slender
figure. "Never do for the army or navy, sir! be rejected by both upon
account of physical incapacity, sir. Eh?" he continued, appealing to Mr.
Middleton.
"The boy is certainly very delicate at present; but that may be the
fault of his manner of living; under better regimen he may outgrow his
fragility," said Mr. Middleton.
"Yes, yes, so he may; but now as I look at him, I wonder where the deuce
the little fellow got his pluck from! Where did you, my little man, eh?"
inquired the old sailor, turning bluffly to Ishmael.
"Indeed I don't know, sir; unless it was from George Washington
and--" Ishmael was going on to enumerate his model heroes, but the
commodore, who had not stopped to hear the reply, turned to Mr.
Middleton again and said:
"One is accustomed to associate great courage with great size, weight,
strength, and so forth!" And he drew up his own magnificent form with
conscious pride.
"Indeed, I do not know why we should, then, when all nature and all
history contradicts the notion! Nature shows us that the lion is braver
than the elephant, and history informs us that all the great generals of
the world have been little men--"
"And experience teaches us that schoolmasters are pedants!" said the old
man, half vexed, half laughing; "but that is not the question. The
question is how are we to reward this brave little fellow?"
"If you please, sir, I do not want any reward," said Ishmael modestly.
"Oh, yes, yes, yes; I know all about that! Your friend, Mr. Middleton,
has just been telling me some of your antecedents--how you fought my
two young scapegraces in defense of his fruit baskets. Wish you had been
strong enough to have given hem a good thrashing. And about your finding
the pocketbook, forbearing to borrow a dollar from it, though sorely
tempted by want. And then about your refusing any reward for being
simply honest. You see I know all about you. So I am not going to offer
you money for risking your life to save my boys. But I am going to give
you a start in the world, if I can. Come, now, how shall I do it?"
Ishmael hesitated, looked down and blushed.
"Would you like to go to sea and be a sailor, eh?"
"No, sir, thank you."
"Like to go for a soldier, eh? You might be a drummerboy, you know."
"No, thank you, sir."
"Neither sailor nor soldier; that's queer, too! I thought all lads
longed to be one or the other! Why don't you, eh?"
"I would not like to leave my Aunt Hannah, sir; she has no one but me."
"What the deuce would you like, then?" testily demanded the old sailor.
"If you please, sir, nothing; do not trouble yourself."
"But you saved the life of my boys, you proud little rascal and do you
suppose I am going to let that pass unrepaid?"
"Sir, I am glad the young gentlemen are safe; that is enough for me."
"But I'll be shot if it is enough for me!"
"Commodore Burghe, sir, will you allow me to suggest something?" said
the professor, coming forward, hat in hand.
"And who the deuce are you? Oh, I see! the artist-in-general to the
country side! Well, what do you suggest?" laughed the old man.
"If I might be so bold, sir, it would be to send young Ishmael to
school."
"Send him to school! Ha, ha, ha! ho, ho, ho! why, he'd like that least
of anything else! why, he'd consider that the most ungrateful of all
returns to make for his services! Boys are sent to school for
punishment, not for reward!" laughed the commodore.
"Young Ishmael wouldn't think it a punishment, sir," mildly suggested
the professor.
"I tell you he wouldn't go, my friend! punishment or no punishment!
Why, I can scarcely make my own fellows go! Bosh! I know boys; school is
their bugbear."
"But, under correction, sir, permit me to say I don't think you know
young Ishmael."
"I know he is a boy; that is enough!"
"But, sir, he is rather an uncommon boy."
"In that case he has an uncommon aversion to school."
"Sir, put it to him, whether he would like to go to school."
"What's the use, when I know he'd rather be hung?"
"But, pray, give him the choice, sir," respectfully persisted the
professor.
"What a solemn, impertinent jackanapes you are, to be sure, Morris! But
I will 'put it to him,' as you call it! Here, you young fire-eater, come
here to me."
The boy, who had modestly withdrawn into the background, now came
forward.
"Stand up before me; hold up your Head; look me in the face! Now, then,
answer me truly, and don't be afraid. Would you like to go to school,
eh?"
Ishmael did not speak, but the moonlight radiance of his pale beaming
face answered for him.
"Have you no tongue, eh?" bluffly demanded the old sailor.
"If you please, sir, I should like to go to school more than anything in
the world, if I was rich enough to pay for it."
"Humph! what do you think of that, Middleton, eh? what do you think of
that? A boy saying that he would like to go to school! Did you ever hear
of such a thing in your life? Is the young rascal humbugging us, do you
think?" said the commodore, turning to his friend.
"Not in the least, sir; he is perfectly sincere. I am sure of it, from
what I have seen of him myself. And look at him, sir! he is a boy of
talent; and if you wish to reward him, you could not do so in a more
effectual way than by giving him some education," said Mr. Middleton.
"But what could a boy of his humble lot do with an education if he had
it?" inquired the commodore.
"Ah! that I cannot tell, as it would depend greatly upon future
circumstances; but this we know, that the education he desires cannot do
him any harm, and may do him good."
"Yes! well, then, to school he shall go. Where shall I send him"
inquired the old sailor.
"Here; I would willingly take him."
"You! you're joking! Why, you have one of the most select schools in the
State."
"And this boy would soon be an honor to it! In a word, commodore, I
would offer to take him freely myself, but that I know the independent
spirit of the young fellow could not rest under such an obligation. You,
however, are his debtor to a larger amount than you can ever repay. From
you, therefore, even he cannot refuse to accept an education."
"But your patrons, my dear sir, may object to the association for their
sons," said the commodore, in a low voice.
"Do you object?"
"Not I indeed! I like the little fellow too well."
"Very well, then, if anyone else objects to their sons keeping company
with Ishmael Worth, they shall be at liberty to do so."
"Humph! but suppose they remove their sons from the school? what then,
eh?" demanded the commodore.
"They shall be free from any reproach from me. The liberty I claim for
myself I also allow others. I interfere with no man's freedom of action,
and suffer no man to interfere with mine," returned Middleton.
"Quite right! Then it is settled the boy attends the school. Where are
you, you young fire-bravo! you young thunderbolt of war! Come forward,
and let us have a word with you!" shouted the commodore.
Ishmael, who had again retreated behind the shelter of the professor's
stout form, now came forward, cap in hand, and stood blushing before the
old sailor.
"Well, you are to be 'cursed with a granted prayer,' you young Don
Quixote. You are to come here to school, and I am to foot the bills. You
are to come next Monday, which being the first of April and
all-fool's-day, I consider an appropriate time for beginning. You are to
tilt with certain giants, called Grammar, Geography, and History. And if
you succeed with them, you are to combat certain dragons and griffins,
named Virgil, Euclid, and so forth. And if you conquer them, you may
eventually rise above your present humble sphere, and perhaps become a
parish clerk or a constable--who knows? Make good use of your
opportunities, my lad! Pursue the path of learning, and there is no
knowing where it may carry you. 'Big streams from little fountains flow.
Great oaks from little acorns grow;' and so forth. Good-by! and God
bless you, my lad," said the commodore, rising to take his leave.
Ishmael bowed very low, and attempted to thank his friend, but tears
arose to his eyes, and swelling emotion choked his voice; and before he
could speak, the commodore walked up to Mr. Middleton, and said:
"I hope your favor to this lad will not seriously affect your school;
but we will talk further of the matter on some future occasion. I have
an engagement this morning. Good-by! Oh, by the way--I had nearly
forgotten: Mervin, and Turner, and the other old boys are coming down to
my place for an oyster roast on Thursday night. I won't ask you if you
will come. I say to you that you must do so; and I will not stop to hear
any denial. Good-by!" and the commodore shook Mr. Middleton's hand and
departed.
Ishmael stood the very picture of perplexity, until Mr. Middleton
addressed him.
"Come here, my brave little lad. You are to do as the commodore has
directed you, and present yourself here on Monday next. Do you
understand?"
"Yes, sir, I understand very well; but--"
"But--what, my lad? Wouldn't you like to come?"
"Oh, yes, sir! more than anything in the world. I would like it,
but--"
"What, my boy?"
"It would be taking something for nothing; and I do not like to do that,
sir."
"You are mistaken, Ishmael. It would be taking what you have a right to
take. It would be taking what you have earned a hundred-fold. You risked
your life to save Commodore Burghe's two sons, and you did save them."
"Sir, that was only my duty."
"Then it is equally the commodore's duty to do all that he can for you.
And it is also your duty to accept his offers."
"Do you look at it in that light, sir?"
"Certainly I do."
"And--do you think John Hancock and Patrick Henry would have looked at
it in that light?"
Mr. Middleton laughed. No one could have helped laughing at the solemn,
little, pale visage of Ishmael, as he gravely put this question.
"Why, assuredly, my boy. Every hero and martyr in sacred or profane
history would view the matter as the commodore and myself do."
"Oh, then, sir, I am so glad! and indeed, indeed, I will do my very best
to profit by my opportunities, and to show my thankfulness to the
commodore and you," said Ishmael fervently.
"Quite right. I am sure you will. And now, my boy, you may retire," said
Mr. Middleton, kindly giving Ishmael his hand.
Our lad bowed deeply and turned towards the professor, who, with a
sweeping obeisance to all the literary shelves, left the room.
"Your everlastin' fortin's made, young Ishmael! You will learn the
classmatics, and all the fine arts; and it depends on yourself alone,
whether you do not rise to be a sexton or a clerk!" said the professor,
as they went out into the lawn.
They went around to the smoking ruins of the burnt wing, where all the
field negroes were collected under the superintendence of the overseer,
Grainger, and engaged in clearing away the rubbish.
"I have a hundred and fifty things to do," said the professor; "but,
still, if my assistance is required here it must be given. Do you want
my help, Mr. Grainger?"
"No, Morris, not until the rubbish is cleared away. Then, I think, we
shall want you to put down a temporary covering to keep the cellar from
filling with rain until the builder comes," was the reply.
"Come along, then, young Ishmael; I guess I will not linger here any
longer; and as for going over to Mr. Martindale's, to begin to dig his
well to-day, it is too late to think of such a thing. So I will just
walk over home with you, to see how Hannah receives your good news,"
said the professor, leading the way rapidly down the narrow path through
the wooded valley.
When they reached the hut they found Hannah sitting in her chair before
the fire, crying.
In a moment Ishmael's thin arm was around her neck and his gentle voice
in her ear, inquiring:
"What is the matter?"
"Starvation is the matter, my child! I cannot weave. It hurts my arms
too much. What we are to do for bread I cannot tell! for of course the
poor little dollar a week that you earn is not going to support us,"
said Hannah, sobbing.
Ishmael looked distressed; the professor dismayed. The same thought
occurred to both--Hannah unable to work, Ishmael's "poor little dollar a
week" would not support them; but yet neither could it be dispensed
with, since it would be the only thing to keep them both from famine,
and since this was the case, Ishmael would be obliged to continue to
earn that small stipend, and to do so he must give up all hopes of going
to school--at least for the present, perhaps forever. It was a bitter
disappointment, but when was the boy ever known to hesitate between
right and wrong? He swallowed his rising tears and kissed his weeping
relative saying:
"Never mind, Aunt Hannah! Don't cry; maybe if I work hard I may be able
to earn more."
"Yes; times is brisk; I dare say, young Ishmael will be able to bring
you as much as two dollars a week for a while," chimed in the professor.
Hannah dropped her coarse handkerchief and lifted her weeping face to
ask:
"What did they want with you up at the Hall, my dear?"
"The commodore wanted to send me to school, Aunt Hannah; but it don't
matter," said Ishmael firmly.
Hannah sighed.
And the professor, knowing now that he should have no pleasure in seeing
Hannah's delight in her nephew's advancement, since the school plan was
nipped in the bud, took up his hat to depart.
"Well, young Ishmael, I shall start for Mr. Martindale's to-morrow, to
dig that well. I shall have a plenty for you to do, so you must be at my
house as usual at six o'clock in the morning," he said.
"Professor, I think I will walk with you. I ought to tell Mr. Middleton
at once. And I shall have no more time after to-day," replied the boy
rising.
They went out together and in silence retraced their steps to Brudenell
Heights. Both were brooding over Ishmael's defeated hopes and over that
strange fatality in the lot of the poor that makes them miss great
fortunes for the lack of small means.
The professor parted with his companion at his own cottage door. But
Ishmael, with his hands in his pockets, walked slowly and thoughtfully
on towards Brudenell Heights.
To have the cup of happiness dashed to the ground the very moment it was
raised to his lips! It was a cruel disappointment. He could not resign
himself to it. All his nature was in arms to resist it. His mind was
laboring with the means to reconcile his duty and his desire. His
intense longing to go to school, his burning thirst for knowledge, the
eagerness of his hungry and restless intellect for food and action, can
scarcely be appreciated by less gifted beings. While earnestly searching
for the way by which he might supply Hannah with the means of living,
without sacrificing his hopes of school, he suddenly hit upon a plan. He
quickened his footsteps to put it into instant execution. He arrived at
Brudenell Hall and asked to see Mrs. Middleton. A servant took up his
petition and soon returned to conduct him to that lady's presence. They
went up two flights of stairs, when the man, turning to the left, opened
a door, and admitted the boy to the bed-chamber of Mrs. Middleton.
The lady, wrapped in a dressing gown and shawl, reclined in an arm-chair
in the chimney corner.
"Come here, my dear," she said, in a sweet voice. And when Ishmael had
advanced and made his bow, she took his hand kindly and said: "You are
the only visitor whom I would have received to-day, for I have taken a
very bad cold from last night's exposure, my dear; but you I could not
refuse. Now sit down in that chair opposite me, and tell me what I can
do for you. I hear you are coming to school here; I am glad of it."
"I was, ma'am; but I do not know that I am", replied the boy.
"Why, how is that?"
"I hope you won't be displeased with me, ma'am--"
"Certainly not, my boy. What is it that you wish to say?"
"Well, ma'am, my Aunt Hannah cannot weave now, because her wrists are
crippled with rheumatism; and, as she cannot earn any money in that way,
I shall be obliged to give up school--unless--" Ishmael hesitated.
"Unless what, my boy?"
"Unless she can get some work that she can do. She can knit and sew very
nicely, and I thought maybe, ma'am--I hope you won't be offended--"
"Certainly not."
"I thought, then, maybe you might have some sewing or some knitting to
put out."
"Why, Ishmael, I have been looking in vain for a seamstress for the last
three or four weeks. And I thought I really should have to go to the
trouble and expense of sending to Baltimore or Washington for one; for
all our spring and summer sewing is yet to do. I am sure I could keep
one woman in fine needlework all the year round."
"Oh, ma'am, how glad I would be if Aunt Hannah would suit you."
"I can easily tell that. Does she make your clothes?"
"All of them, ma'am, and her own too."
"Come here, then, and let me look at her sewing."
Ishmael went to the lady, who took his arm and carefully examined the
stitching of his jacket and shirt sleeve.
"She sews beautifully. That will do, my boy. Ring that bell for me."
Ishmael obeyed and a servant answered the summons.
"Jane," she said, "hand me that roll of linen from the wardrobe."
The woman complied, and the mistress put the bundle in the hands of
Ishmael, saying:
"Here, my boy: here are a dozen shirts already cut out, with the sewing
cotton, buttons, and so forth rolled up in them. Take them to your aunt.
Ask her if she can do them, and tell her that I pay a dollar apiece."
"Oh! thank you, thank you, ma'am! I know Aunt Hannah will do them very
nicely!" exclaimed the boy in delight, as he made his bow and his exit.
He ran home, leaping and jumping as he went.
He rushed into the hut and threw the bundle on the table, exclaiming
gleefully:
"There, Aunt Hannah! I have done it!"
"Done what, you crazy fellow?" cried Hannah, looking up from the frying
pan in which she was turning savory rashers of bacon for their second
meal.
"I have got you--'an engagement,' as the professor calls a big lot of
work to do. I've got it for you, aunt; and I begin to think a body may
get any reasonable thing in this world if they will only try hard enough
for it!" exclaimed Ishmael.
Hannah sat down her frying pan and approached the table, saying:
"Will you try to be sensible now, Ishmael; and tell me where this bundle
of linen came from?"
Ishmael grew sober in an instant, and made a very clear statement of his
afternoon's errand, and its success, ending as he had begun, by saying:
"I do believe in my soul, Aunt Hannah, that anybody can get any
reasonable thing in the world they want, if they only try hard enough
for it! And now, dear Aunt Hannah, I would not be so selfish as to go to
school and leave all the burden of getting a living upon your shoulders,
if I did not know that it would be better even for you by-and-by! For if
I go to school and get some little education, I shall be able to work at
something better than odd jobbing. The professor and Mr. Middleton, and
even the commodore himself, thinks that if I persevere, I may come to be
county constable, or parish clerk, or schoolmaster, or something of that
sort; and if I do, you know, Aunt Hannah, we can live in a house with
three or four rooms, and I can keep you in splendor! So you won't think
your boy selfish in wanting to go to school, will you, Aunt Hannah?"
"No, my darling, no. I love you dearly, my Ishmael. Only my temper is
tried when you run your precious head into the fire, as you did last
night."
"But, Aunt Hannah, Israel Putnam, or Francis--"
"Now, now, Ishmael--don't, dear, don't! If you did but know how I hate
the sound of those old dead and gone men's names, you wouldn't be
foreverlasting dinging of them into my ears!" said Hannah nervously.
"Well, Aunt Hannah--I'll try to remember not to name them to you again.
But for all that I must follow where they lead me!" said this young
aspirant and unconscious prophet. For I have elsewhere said, what I now
with emphasis repeat, that "aspirations are prophecies," which it
requires only faith to fulfill.
Hannah made no reply. She was busy setting the table for the supper,
which the aunt and nephew presently enjoyed with the appreciation only
to be felt by those who seldom sit down to a satisfactory meal.
When it was over, and the table was cleared, Hannah, who never lost
time, took the bundle of linen, unrolled it, sat down, and commenced
sewing.
Ishmael with his book of heroes sat opposite to her.
The plain deal table, scrubbed white as cream, stood between them,
lighted by one tallow candle.
"Aunt Hannah," said the boy, as he watched her arranging her work, "is
that easier than weaving?"
"Very much easier, Ishmael."
"And is it as profitable to you?"
"About twice as profitable, my dear; so, if the lady really can keep me
in work all the year round, there will be no need of your poor little
wages, earned by your hard labor," answered Hannah.
"Oh, I didn't think it hard at all, you see, because Israel Put--I beg
your pardon, Aunt Hannah--I won't forget again," said the boy,
correcting himself in time, and returning to the silent reading of his
book.
Some time after he closed his book, and looked up.
"Aunt Hannah!"
"Well, Ishmael?"
"You often talk to me of my dear mother in heaven, but never of my
father. Who was my father, Aunt Hannah?"
For all answer Hannah arose and boxed his ears.