'Twas a dear, old fashion'd garden,
Half sunshine and half shade,
Where all day long the birds and breeze
A pleasant music made;
And hosts of bright and glowing flower
Their perfume shed around,
Till it was like a fairy haunt
That knew no human sound.--FRANK LEE BENEDICT.
It was a bright spring morning, the sky full of great fleecy clouds
that chased each other over the clear blue, and a light wind stirring
the trees until their opening buds sent forth a delicious fragrance,
that was like a perfumed breath from the approaching summer.
Sarah Jones stood by the window of her little room, looking wistfully
out into the neighboring garden, oppressed by a feeling of loneliness
and home-sickness, which made her long to throw aside her books,
relinquish her half acquired accomplishments, and fly back to her quiet
country home.
It seemed to her that one romp with her brothers through the old
orchard, pelting each other with the falling buds, would be worth
all the French and music she could learn in a score of years. The
beat of her mother's lathe in the old fashioned loom, would have been
pleasanter music to her ear, than that of the pianoforte, which she had
once thought so grand an affair; but since then she had spent so many
weary hours over it, shed so many tears upon the cold white keys, which
made her fingers ache worse than ever the spinning-wheel had done,
that, like any other school-girl, she was almost inclined to regard the
vaunted piano as an instrument of torture, invented expressly for her
annoyance.
She was tired of thinking and acting by rule, and though Madame Monot
was kind enough in her way, the discipline to which Sarah was forced to
submit, was very irksome to the untrained country girl. She was tired
of having regular hours for study--tired of walking out for a stated
time in procession with the other girls--nobody daring to move with
anything like naturalness or freedom--and very often she felt almost
inclined to write home and ask them to send for her.
It was in a restive, unhappy mood, like the one we have been
describing, that she stood that morning at the window, when she ought
to have been hard at work over the pile of books which lay neglected
upon her little table.
That pretty garden which she looked down upon, was a sore temptation to
her; and had Madame Monot known how it distracted Sarah's attention,
there is every reason to believe that she would have been removed in
all haste to the opposite side of the house, where if she chose to idle
at her casement, there would be nothing more entertaining than a hard
brick wall to look at. Just then, the garden was more attractive than
at any other season of the year. The spring sunshine had made the shorn
turf like a green carpet, the trim flower-beds were already full of
early blossoms, the row of apple-trees was one great mass of flowers,
and the tall pear-tree in the corner was just beginning to lose its
delicate white leaves, sprinkling them daintily over the grass, where
they fluttered about like a host of tiny butterflies.
The old-fashioned stoop that opened from the side of the house into the
garden was covered with a wild grape-vine, that clambered up to the
pointed Dutch gables, hung down over the narrow windows, and twined and
tangled itself about as freely and luxuriantly as it could have done in
its native forest.
Sarah watched the gardener as he went soberly about his various
duties, and she envied him the privilege of wandering at will among
the gravelled walks, pausing under the trees and bending over the
flower-beds.
Perhaps in these days, when nothing but scentless japonicas and rare
foreign plants are considered endurable, that garden would be an
ordinary affair enough, at which no well-trained boarding-school miss
would condescend to look for an instant; but to Sarah Jones it was a
perfect little paradise.
The lilac bushes nodded in the wind, shaking their purple and white
plumes, like groups of soldiers on duty; great masses of snowballs
stood up in the center of the beds; peonies, violets, lilies of the
valley, tulips, syringas, and a host of other dear old-fashioned
flowers, lined the walks; and, altogether, the garden was lovely enough
to justify the poor girl's admiration. There she stood, quite forgetful
of her duties; the clock in the hall struck its warning note--she did
not even hear it; some one might at any moment enter and surprise her
in the midst of her idleness and disobedience--she never once thought
of it, so busily was she watching every thing in the garden.
The man finished his morning's work and went away, but Sarah did not
move. A pair of robins had flown into the tall pear-tree, and were
holding an animated conversation, interspersed with bursts and gushes
of song. They flew from one tree to another, once hovering near the
grape-vine, but returned to the pear-tree at last, sang, chirped, and
danced about in frantic glee, and at last made it evident that they
intended to build a nest in that very tree. Sarah could have clapped
her hands with delight! It was just under her window--she could watch
them constantly, study or no study. She worked herself into such a
state of excitement at the thought, that Madame Monot would have been
shocked out of her proprieties at seeing one of her pupils guilty of
such folly.
The clock again struck--that time in such a sharp, reproving way, that
it reached even Sarah's ear. She started, looked nervously round, and
saw the heap of books upon the table.
"Oh, dear me," she sighed; "those tiresome lessons! I had forgotten all
about them. Well, I will go to studying in a moment," she added, as if
addressing her conscience or her fears. "Oh, that robin--how he does
sing."
She forgot her books again, and just at that moment there was a new
object of interest added to those which the garden already possessed.
The side door of the house opened, and an old gentleman stepped out
upon the broad stoop, stood there for a few moments, evidently enjoying
the morning air, then passed slowly down the steps into the garden
supporting himself by his stout cane, and walking with considerable
care and difficulty, like any feeble old man.
Sarah had often seen him before, and she knew very well who he was. He
was the owner of the house that the simple girl so coveted, and his
name was Danforth.
She had learned every thing about him, as a school-girl is sure to do
concerning any person or thing that strikes her fancy. He was very
wealthy indeed, and had no family except his wife, the tidiest, darling
old lady, who often walked in the garden herself, and always touched
the flowers, as she passed, as if they had been pet children.
The venerable old pair had a grandson, but he was away in Europe, so
they lived in their pleasant mansion quite alone, with the exception
of a few domestics, who looked nearly as aged and respectable as their
master and mistress.
Sarah had speculated a great deal about her neighbors. She did so
long to know them, to be free to run around in their garden, and sit
in the pleasant rooms that overlooked it, glimpses of which she had
often obtained through the open windows, when the housemaid was putting
things to rights.
Sarah thought that she might possibly be a little afraid of the old
gentleman, he looked so stern; but his wife she longed to kiss and make
friends with at once; she looked so gentle and kind, that even a bird
could not have been afraid of her.
Sarah watched Mr. Danforth walk slowly down the principal garden-path,
and seat himself in a little arbor overrun by a trumpet honeysuckle,
which was not yet in blossom, although there were faint traces of
red among the green leaves, which gave promise of an ample store of
blossoms before many weeks.
He sat there some time, apparently enjoying the sunshine that stole
in through the leaves. At length Sarah saw him rise, move toward the
entrance, pause an instant, totter, then fall heavily upon the ground.
She did not wait even to cry out--every energy of her free, strong
nature was aroused. She flew out of her room down the stairs,
fortunately encountering neither teachers nor pupils, and hurried out
of the street-door.
The garden was separated from Madame Monot's narrow yard by a low
stone wall, along the top of which ran a picket fence. Sarah saw a
step-ladder that had been used by a servant in washing windows; she
seized it, dragged it to the wall, and sprang lightly from thence into
the garden.
It seemed to her that she would never reach the spot where the poor
gentleman was lying, although, in truth, scarcely three minutes had
elapsed between the time that she saw him fall and reached the place
where he lay.
Sarah stooped over him, raised his head, and knew at once what was the
matter--he had been seized with apoplexy. She had seen her grandfather
die with it, and recognized the symptoms at once. It was useless to
think of carrying him, so she loosened his neckcloth, lifted his head
upon the arbor seat, and darted toward the house, calling with all her
might the name by which she had many times heard the gardener address
the black cook. "Eunice! Eunice!"
At her frantic summons, out from the kitchen rushed the old woman,
followed by several of her satellites, all screaming at once to know
what was the matter, and wild with astonishment at the sight of a
stranger in the garden.
"Quick! quick!" cried Sarah. "Your master has been taken with a fit;
come and carry him into the house. One of you run for a doctor."
"Oh, de laws! oh, dear! oh, dear!" resounded on every side; but Sarah
directed them with so much energy that the women, aided by an old negro
who had been roused by the disturbance, conveyed their master into the
house, and laid him upon a bed in one of the lower rooms.
"Where is your mistress?" questioned Sarah.
"Oh, she's gwine out," sobbed the cook; "oh, my poor ole massar, my
poor ole massar!"
"Have you sent for the doctor?"
"Yes, young miss, yes; he'll be here in a minit; bress yer pooty face."
Sarah busied herself over the insensible man, applying every remedy
that she could remember of having seen her mother use when her
grandfather was ill, and really did the very things that ought to have
been done.
It was not long before the doctor arrived, bled his patient freely,
praised Sarah's presence of mind, and very soon the old gentleman
returned to consciousness.
Sarah heard one of the servants exclaim: "Oh, dar's missus! praise de
Lord!"
A sudden feeling of shyness seized the girl, and she stole out of the
room and went into the garden, determined to escape unseen. But before
she reached the arbor she heard one of the servants calling after her.
"Young miss! young miss! Please to wait; ole missus wants to speak to
you."
Sarah turned and walked toward the house, ready to burst into tears
with timidity and excitement. But the lady whom she had so longed to
know, came down the steps and moved toward her, holding out her hand.
She was very pale, and shaking from head to foot; but she spoke with a
certain calmness, which it was evident she would retain under the most
trying circumstances.
"I can not thank you," she said; "if it had not been for you, I should
never have seen my husband alive again."
Sarah began to sob, the old lady held out her arms, and the frightened
girl actually fell into them. There they stood for a few moments,
weeping in each other's embrace, and by those very tears establishing a
closer intimacy than years of common intercourse would have done.
"How did you happen to see him fall?" asked the old lady.
"I was looking out of my window," replied Sarah, pointing to her open
casement, "and when I saw it I ran over at once."
"You are a pupil of Madame Monot's, then?"
"Yes--and, oh my, I must go back! They will scold me dreadfully for
being away so long."
"Do not be afraid," said Mrs. Danforth, keeping fast hold of her hand
when she tried to break away. "I will make your excuses to Madame; come
into the house. I can not let you go yet."
She led Sarah into the house, and seated her in an easy chair in the
old-fashioned sitting-room.
"Wait here a few minutes, if you please, my dear. I must go to my
husband."
She went away and left Sarah quite confused with the strangeness of
the whole affair. Here she was, actually seated in the very apartment
she had so desired to enter--the old lady she had so longed to know
addressing her as if she had been a favorite child.
She peeped out of the window toward her late prison; every thing looked
quiet there, as usual. She wondered what dreadful penance she would be
made to undergo, and decided that even bread and water for two days
would not be so great a hardship, when she had the incident of the
morning to reflect upon.
She looked about the room with its quaint furniture, every thing so
tidy and elegant, looking as if a speck of dust had never by any
accident settled in the apartment, and thinking it the prettiest place
she had seen in her life.
Then she began thinking about the poor sick man, and worked herself
into a fever of anxiety to hear tidings concerning him. Just then a
servant entered with a tray of refreshments, and set it on the table
near her, saying:
"Please, miss, my missus says you must be hungry, 'cause it's your
dinner-time."
"And how is your master?" Sarah asked.
"Bery comfortable now; missee'll be here in a minute. Now please to eat
sumfin."
Sarah was by no means loth to comply with the invitation, for the old
cook had piled the tray with all sorts of delicacies, that presented a
pleasing contrast to the plain fare she had been accustomed to of late.
By the time she had finished her repast Mrs. Danforth returned, looking
more composed and relieved.
"The doctor gives me a great deal of encouragement," she said; "my
husband is able to speak; by to-morrow he will thank you better than I
can."
"Oh, no," stammered Sarah; "I don't want any thanks, please. I didn't
think--I--"
She fairly broke down, but Mrs. Danforth patted her hand and said
kindly:
"I understand. But at least you must let me love you very much."
Sarah felt her heart flutter and her cheeks glow. The blush and smile
on that young face were a more fitting answer than words could have
given.
"I have sent an explanation of your absence to Madame Monot," continued
Mrs. Danforth, "and she has given you permission to spend the day with
me; so you need have no fear of being blamed."
The thought of a whole day's freedom was exceedingly pleasant to Sarah,
particularly when it was to be spent in that old house, which had
always appeared as interesting to her as a story. It required but a
short time for Mrs. Danforth and her to become well acquainted, and the
old lady was charmed with her loveliness, and natural, graceful manners.
She insisted upon accompanying Mrs. Danforth into the sickroom, and
made herself so useful there, that the dear lady mentally wondered how
she had ever got on without her.
When Sarah returned to her home that night, she felt that sense of
relief which any one who has led a monotonous life for months must have
experienced, when some sudden event has changed its whole current,
and given a new coloring to things that before appeared tame and
insignificant.
During the following days Sarah was a frequent visitor at Mr.
Danforth's house, and after that, circumstances occurred which drew her
into still more intimate companionship with her new friend.
One of Madame Monot's house-servants was taken ill with typhus fever,
and most of the young ladies left the school for a few weeks. Mrs.
Danforth insisted upon Sarah's making her home at their house during
the interval, an invitation which she accepted with the utmost delight.
Mr. Danforth still lingered--could speak and move--but the favorable
symptoms which at first presented themselves had entirely disappeared,
and there was little hope given that he could do more than linger for a
month or two longer. During that painful season Mrs. Danforth found in
Sarah a sympathizing and consoling friend. The sick man himself became
greatly attached to her, and could not bear that she should even leave
his chamber.
The young girl was very happy in feeling herself thus prized and loved,
and the quick weeks spent in that old house were perhaps among the
happiest of her life, in spite of the saddening associations which
surrounded her.
One morning while she was sitting with the old gentleman, who had grown
so gentle and dependent that those who had known him in former years
would scarcely have recognized him, Mrs. Danforth entered the room,
bearing several letters in her hand.
"European letters, my dear," she said to her husband, and while she put
on her glasses and seated herself to read them, Sarah stole out into
the garden.
She had not been there long, enjoying the fresh loveliness of the day,
before she heard Mrs. Danforth call her.
"Sarah, my dear; Sarah."
The girl went back to the door where the old lady stood.
"Share a little good news with me in the midst of all our trouble," she
said; "my dear boy--my grandson--is coming home."
Sarah's first thought was one of regret--every thing would be so
changed by the arrival of a stranger; but that was only a passing pang
of selfishness; her next reflection was one of unalloyed delight, for
the sake of that aged couple.
"I am very glad, dear madame; his coming will do his grandfather so
much good."
"Yes, indeed; more than all the doctors in the world."
"When do you expect him?"
"Any day, now; he was to sail a few days after the ship that brought
these letters, and as this vessel has been detained by an accident, he
can not be far away."
"I am to go back to school to-day," said Sarah, regretfully.
"But you will be with us almost as much," replied Mrs. Danforth. "I
have your mother's permission, and will go myself to speak with Madame.
You will run over every day to your lessons, but you will live here; we
can not lose our pet so soon."
"You are very kind--oh, so kind," Sarah said, quite radiant at
the thought of not being confined any longer in the dark old
school-building.
"It is you who are good to us. But come, we will go over now; I must
tell Madame Monot at once."
The explanations were duly made, and Sarah returned to her old routine
of lessons; but her study-room was now the garden, or any place in Mr.
Danforth's house that she fancied.
The old gentleman was better again; able to be wheeled out of doors
into the sunshine; and there was nothing he liked so much as sitting in
the garden, his wife knitting by his side, Sarah studying at his feet,
and the robins singing in the pear-trees overhead, as if feeling it a
sacred duty to pay their rent by morning advances of melody.