was told what was proposed, and bidden to have as large a supply
as possible, so that they might be offered for sale with the other
articles; and the lady and some of her friends kindly bought so many
of those already on hand that Jessie was furnished with the means of
procuring her materials at once.
The older class in Mrs. Ashton's room also entered with spirit into
the affair, promising all the assistance that they could give, so that
there was good prospect it would be a success. The time fixed was the
first day of June, if the weather should be pleasant; if not, the first
fair day after that.
One morning Gracie Howard came to school in a state of great excitement.
"My grandmamma," she said to the other children, "takes the greatest
interest in our fair, and she is going to give us ever so many things
for it. She told me to invite you all to come to her house this
afternoon, and she has a whole lot of pieces of silk and ribbons, and
worsteds and beads, and ever so many lovely things to divide among us.
And what is better still, she says she would like each child to make
some article expressly for her, and she will buy it."
"Oh, delightful!" "How kind! how nice!" "What a great help!" came from
one and another of her little hearers.
"And," continued Gracie, warming with her subject, "she wants some
particular things. Two toilet sets of lace and muslin, one lined and
trimmed with blue, the other with pink; and two mats for flower vases,
to be exactly alike. I am going to do one of the mats, and grandmamma
says she thinks the other one and both the toilet sets had better be
made by some of us older children, because she thinks the little ones
can scarcely do them. And she will give ten dollars for the mat that is
worked the most nicely and evenly, and nine for the other; eight for
the best toilet set, and seven for the second; and she will give us all
the materials. Just think of that! Why, whoever has the best mat will
earn more than the price of Jessie's parrot! I wanted grandmamma to say
that one might have the buying of the parrot for her own part; but she
said that would not be just to the rest who had a share in the fair;
and that she had no right to say so, either. I don't see why, and I
think she might have let me."
"Why, you don't know that you will have the nicest mat," said Lily.
"See if I don't then," said Gracie. "I can work much better than any of
you, I know."
"If I didn't live in such a very glass house myself, I'd say
_petticoat_ to you," said Lily, who had lately shown a fancy for the
use of proverbs, after the manner of Maggie Bradford.
Gracie tossed her head, and put on the expression which children call,
"turning up their noses."
She knew very well what Lily meant, how not long since she had boasted
of herself, and been so very sure that she would outdo all others, and
how she had miserably failed in the end.
But, in spite of this consciousness, she was not at all taken down
by Lily's reminder, for she felt herself a person of more than usual
consideration and importance that morning; not without more than
ordinary reason, was thought by most of her companions, for it was
really a fine thing to have such a munificent grandmamma, who was ready
to do so much for the grand object at present in the minds of each and
every one.
It was true also, and well known in the school that Gracie did worsted
work remarkably well and evenly for a little girl, and that there was
more reason than common for her belief that she should outshine all
the others. Still her constant boasting was never agreeable, and Lily
always would set herself to combat it with all her might.
"Are not Maggie and Bessie to try with us too?" she asked.
"Of course," answered Gracie; "they are just as much in the fair as we
are; and Maggie works so nicely."
"Should think she did," said Lily; "better than
_a-ny--child--in--the--whole--world_."
The extreme deliberation with which this was said, made it very
forcible, and gave the remark all the point which was intended. Woe to
the person who, in Lily's hearing, ventured to deny that her particular
friends, Maggie and Bessie Bradford, were not all that was wisest,
best, and prettiest.
"Besides," said Belle, "Bessie was the first to find out Jessie and
her grandfather, so it seems as if it was very much her charity and
Maggie's. Good-morning, dear Miss Ashton;" and little Belle flew to
meet her teacher, whom she dearly loved, and began to tell her of this
new and delightful arrangement.
But she had hardly commenced when she checked herself, and saying,--
"But it is Gracie's to tell about, and I expect she would like to,"
turned to her schoolmate, and allowed her, nothing loath, to take up
the tale.
Miss Ashton approved, and readily consented to what was proposed; but
she was sorry to see that, as usual, Gracie took the chief credit,
and claimed the first place for herself in the new plan; seeming, as
before, not to have the slightest doubt that her work would be the
best, and bring the highest premium. However, she would say nothing now
to damp the general pleasure and enthusiasm, but called her young flock
to the business of the day without reproof or remonstrance.
On the way home from school, Gracie called to invite Maggie and Bessie
to her grandmamma's house that afternoon; and at the appointed hour
the whole "committee," as Maggie called it, were assembled in the
drawing-room of the kind old lady.
"Now," said Mrs. Howard, "we will settle first who among you are to
take these pieces of work. Gracie seemed to think that all who were
able to work nicely would prefer worsted work, so I have here two pairs
of mats, as well as the toilet sets; and you may decide for yourselves
which you will take. As for the younger ones, I will leave it to them
to choose the things they will make for me, as each one knows what she
is best able to do."
Gracie looked dismayed and displeased at the first part of her
grandmother's speech; and, not daring to object aloud, she whispered to
Hattie, who stood next her,--
"It's too bad! There grandmamma goes and gives three chances against
me."
"Never mind, you'll have the first," answered Hattie; "you know you
work better than any of the others."
"How many of you," continued the old lady, "are able to do worsted work
nicely?"
"I can, grandmamma, _very_ nicely," said Gracie promptly, while the
others, more modest and shy, looked from one to another.
"Maggie Bradford works very nicely, ma'am," said Nellie Ransom.
"And so do you too, my dear, if I'm not mistaken," said Mrs. Howard.
"Would you like to do one of the mats?"
"If you please, ma'am," said Nellie, and stepping up, Mrs. Howard gave
her her choice among the mats.
"Ah! you have made the same choice as Gracie," said the old lady.
"Well, we shall see who will do the best. Gracie, take the mat, my
dear. Now for the other pair. Maggie, will you have one?"
But Maggie held back a little; and at length, with many blushes said,
that she would prefer to take one of the toilet sets, because Bessie
was anxious to help her, and she could do some of the easy sewing on
the ruffles, but she could not do worsted work evenly enough to go with
her own.
Dora took one of the second pair of mats; and Hattie, who was next
in age, and who knew very little about embroidering, chose the other
toilet set, as she believed she could do that better than the mat.
Maggie looked wishfully at this, and Mrs. Howard saw the look.
"Would you like to take this also, Maggie, dear?" she said. "You
deserve some reward for being so unselfish, and if it is not too much
for you to undertake, you are quite welcome to try it."
"Oh no, ma'am!" said Maggie with brightening eyes; "we have nearly
seven weeks, you know, and with Bessie's help, and Aunt Annie to
arrange all the work for me, I think I could do both. But I don't care
for a reward, Mrs. Howard, for you know if Jessie and her grandfather
have the money, it does not make much difference who does the most."
"No, truly," said Mrs. Howard; "and it is not that you may strive to
outdo one another that I make these offers, but only that you may all
try your best to have the work well done. I am an old-fashioned woman,
my dears, and I like to see every little girl brought up to use her
needle properly, and to keep her things in order; so I say that it is
not so much the beauty of the work, as the care and neatness with which
it is done that I shall look at. Keep it from spot or stain, or from
being frayed or rubbed; this you can all do with proper care."
Then Mrs. Howard repeated how much she would give for each article,
promising also once more to buy some pretty trifle from each of the
younger children; and they all felt as if a large sum was already
secure for Jessie and her grandfather.
After this, the treasures of lace, muslin, ribbons, flowers, beads,
and worsteds of all colors were displayed to their delighted eyes,
and divided with as much fairness as was possible. Not a child but
carried home with her a most precious package, already in the eyes of
the little ones transformed into many an article of use and beauty for
the benefit of old Malcolm and his grandchild. The fair was now the
all-absorbing subject of thought and conversation among Miss Ashton's
young scholars and their little friends, Maggie and Bessie Bradford;
and a fit of uncommon industry had seized upon each and every one.
But, one morning, only two days after the meeting of the young people
at her house, Mrs. Howard was surprised to hear that Maggie Bradford
wanted to see her; and ordering her to be shown in, the little girl
entered, followed by her sister and nurse.
[Illustration]
Maggie looked flushed and uncomfortable, and held a small parcel in
her hand; but, after she had said good-morning to Mrs. Howard a fit of
shyness came over her, and she could not tell her errand.
So Bessie spoke for her.
"Mrs. Howard," said the little girl, who was herself rather confused,
but who felt bound to help Maggie out of her trouble, "Maggie has come
to bring you back the mat. She thinks it is rather better for her not
to do it."
"Did you find you had undertaken too much, Maggie, my dear?" asked the
old lady encouragingly.
"N-n-no, ma'am," whispered Maggie, plucking up a few crumbs of courage
as she heard the kind tone, "no, it was not that; but we thought I'd
better bring it back to you."
"But you must have some reason," said Mrs. Howard. "Can you not tell me
what it is? Has Gracie been saying any thing unkind to you?"
"Gracie has not said any thing to me about it, ma'am," said Maggie
rather evasively.
"Please don't ask us, Mrs. Howard," said Bessie gravely. "Maggie and I
overturned our minds about it, and thought we'd better bring back the
mat; but we do not want to tell tales."
"Then I shall not ask," said Mrs. Howard; but from the very fact that
Bessie had innocently begged that they might not be pressed to "tell
tales," she felt that her suspicions were tolerably correct. Gracie's
desire to be _first_, and the fear that others should excel, or even
equal her, were becoming so great that they often blinded her to what
was just and kind.
"There are plenty of pretty things that we can make, Mrs. Howard," said
Maggie, "and I would rather not do any thing that any one might think
was not my share."
"Very well, dear, as you please," answered the old lady; "but since you
do not choose to make this I shall not give it to any one else."
When Maggie and Bessie had gone, the old lady put on her bonnet
and went around to her son's house, where she found her little
grand-daughter at home.
"Gracie," she said, after a little talk, "Maggie Bradford came to see
me just now, bringing back the mat which she was to have worked for the
fair. Do you know any reason why she should have done so?"
"Why, no, grandmamma!" answered Gracie, turning her eyes upon her
grandmother in unfeigned and unmistakable surprise, which left no doubt
of the perfect truth of her answer.
"Think," said the old lady, believing that she might have forgotten.
"You know you were not pleased that I should give Maggie the two things
to make for me; have you said any thing that could hurt her feelings,
and show her that you were displeased?"
"I never said one word to Maggie about the mat, grandmamma," said
Gracie, "and I can't see how"--she paused, as if struck by some sudden
thought, and coloring, added uneasily--"I did talk to Hattie about it,
and I was rather provoked, because I did not see why Maggie should
have a better chance than the rest to make so much for the fair.
And--and--perhaps Hattie went and told Maggie; but it was real mean of
her if she did; and besides there was nothing for Maggie to be so mad
at, and make such a fuss about."
"Maggie was not 'mad,' as you call it, Gracie; so far from it that she
would say nothing to throw blame upon you or any one else," said her
grandmother; "but it was plain that she had been vexed and hurt."
"Gracie," said her mother who sat by, "it would be a sad thing if _you_
should show yourself so wanting in feeling and gratitude as to say
unkind things of Maggie, or to injure her in any way, especially in
such a matter as this."
"Well, mamma, and I'm sure I wouldn't," said Gracie, with a little
pout. "I am very fond of Maggie, and I wouldn't do a thing to her; but
I did feel rather provoked about the mat, only I did not mean her to
know it. I'm just going to ask Hattie if she told her what I said."
Gracie was really uncomfortable. She remembered that she had in a
moment of pettishness, made one or two remarks to Hattie which she
would not have cared to make in Maggie's hearing; but she would not
willingly have offended the latter. She knew very well to what her
mother referred when she spoke of Maggie. How a year ago when a
prize had been offered for composition by Miss Ashton's uncle, she
and Maggie had been believed to stand far ahead of the rest; how her
own composition, all ready for presentation, had been lost, and that
through her own inordinate vanity; how Maggie and Bessie had found it,
and like the honorable little girls they were, had brought it at once
to her, although they believed that by so doing Maggie was deprived of
all chance of the much wished-for prize. It was true that neither she
nor Maggie had gained it, for it had fallen to Nellie Ransom; but that
did not lessen, or should not have lessened, Gracie's gratitude to her
little friend; and as her mother said, it ill became her to nurse any
feeling of jealousy towards Maggie.
"Gracie," said her mother, "can you remember exactly what you said
about Maggie?"
"No, mamma," answered the child, looking thoughtful and a little
troubled; "but it was not much, I think."
"I am afraid," said Mrs. Howard, "that a very little sometimes becomes
much in Hattie's keeping. I do not know that she really wishes to make
mischief, but her love of talking and her want of strict truthfulness
lead her to exaggerate, and also, I fear, to repeat many a thing with a
very different meaning from that which the speaker intended. The more
I see of her, the plainer does this become to me; and I fear, Gracie,
that she is not a safe friend for you."
"Mamma," said Gracie, in a tone of some offence, "you'd never think
that Hattie could make _me_ learn to tell stories, do you? Why, I never
told a falsehood in my life, and I'm sure I'd never think of doing such
a thing."
"I am sure I hope not, my child," said her mother, "but I fear
temptation for you, Gracie; and I think Hattie encourages you in your
great fault, your self-conceit and desire for admiration. And, although
I do not think that you ever mean to be untruthful, my daughter, your
idea of your own merits often leads you into exaggeration of these, and
makes you unwilling to see them in others."
Gracie pouted, and put on the expression she always wore if she were
found fault with.
"Mamma," she said, "I think that is a very horrid character to give any
one; and I am sure you need not think I ever could tell a falsehood or
do any thing mean to any one."
"I do not say you would, Gracie. I only want you to beware of
temptation."
"I shan't fall into temptation, no fear of that," said Gracie almost
scornfully; not scorn of her mother, but of the idea that she was not
quite able to take care of herself, and that she could be led into
wrong-doing.
"And I shall be obliged to say," continued Mrs. Howard, "that I do not
think it best for you to be so much with Hattie. She is doing you no
good. I cannot keep you apart altogether, but you must not ask me to
let you have her here so often, nor can I allow you to go to her house
as much as you have done. When I see you have a more gentle and humble
spirit, Gracie, and learning to stand by another strength than your
own, I may not so much fear evil companionship for you; but this very
belief that you cannot fall makes you all the more ready to do so."
Gracie flounced out of the room in high displeasure, muttering to
herself as she went upstairs that her mother always thought "every one
better than me," and "it was very unjust," and "just as if I could fall
into the temptation of telling a story."
Mrs. Howard sighed, and looked troubled, as she well might; and so did
grandmamma, as they talked together on this subject, and considered
what was best to be done with Gracie. Her overwhelming desire for
admiration; her wish to be first in every thing; her self-conceit and
impatience of reproof were day by day growing stronger and stronger,
and overrunning all that was fair and lovely in her character. It was,
as the mother had said, difficult to break off all intercourse between
her and Hattie, although it was certain that the latter was exercising
no good influence on Gracie; for the two families were intimate, and
it was impossible, without giving offence, to keep the two children
entirely apart. Moreover, they were schoolmates, and had grown really
fond of one another, although Gracie was losing confidence in Hattie,
as she could not but perceive that she had by no means a strict regard
for truth.
But little did Gracie dream that Hattie's influence or example could
ever lead her astray in this way.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
VI.
_JEALOUSY._
Days went by, and all was progressing famously for the fair; at least
so thought the little workers. New offers of help came in; new articles
were promised, and some even sent, early as it was, and these were
committed to Miss Ashton's keeping until the appointed day--the first
of June--should arrive. Mrs. Bradford promised all the ice-cream
that should be needed for the refreshment table; Mrs. Howard the
strawberries; another mamma offered jelly; two or three cake; Mr.
Powers promised a quantity of French bonbons; and from all sides came
offers of flowers. Mr. Stanton, the little Bradfords' "Uncle Ruthven,"
said he would furnish flags and banners enough to deck the piazza; and
mammas, grandmammas, aunts, and cousins were coaxed and wheedled out
of so many bright ribbons for the same purpose, that it might have
been supposed that they were expected to go in grave colors for the
remainder of their days.
And if you had seen the doll that Miss Annie Stanton and her
sister-in-law were dressing as a baby!
If you had but seen that doll!
With a face so sweet, and so like a "real live baby" that it almost
startled one to come upon it unawares in some place where the real
live baby could not have been found! such hands and feet! and oh, such
a fitting out! Day by day the progress of that doll's wardrobe was
watched with eager, delighted eyes by Maggie, Bessie, Belle, and Lily,
who had more opportunities for this than the rest of the children.
These last were, however, invited in every now and then, to see the
wonder as it grew; and that doll became the great object of interest,
in comparison with which the remainder of the fair arrangements were
as nothing. Every thing that was dainty and pretty and cunning was
furnished for the baby doll; not only clothes without number, but also
a tasteful cradle lined and trimmed with blue silk, white muslin, and
lace; and a baby basket, furnished completely with all that the most
exacting infant could require. In short, this was plainly to be the
grand attraction of the fair, at least in the eyes of the younger
portion of its patrons, for the fame of the doll spread far and wide,
and great was the curiosity of those who had never had the opportunity
of witnessing its beauties.
And the question arose and was eagerly discussed, who was to be the
munificent purchaser? who, oh! who, the fortunate possessor? Papas and
mammas were besieged with petitions and coaxings, but wisely declined
making positive promises till the price of the wonderful prize should
be fixed, and the doll herself put up for sale. Money-jugs were broken,
and "savings banks" emptied, that the contents might be counted over
and over to ascertain if there was any possibility that they might
reach the sum which would probably be required; allowances were saved
up in the same hope.
The only trouble about it was, that as Maggie Bradford said, "only one
could have the doll, and so all the rest were doomed to disappointment,
which made it a case in which it would be well if one man's meat were
every other man's poison."
Jessie and her grandfather were cared for in the meanwhile. Miss Ashton
had interested several of her friends in them; the children had done
the same with their parents; and Mr. Bradford, Mr. Norris, and one or
two other gentlemen had been to see old Malcolm, and finding that there
was little or no probability of his cure while he remained in the cold,
damp shanty, where he had been living for the last few months, had
furnished him with more comfortable lodging.
Jessie's wares were also finding a good market, and every week she
came down into the city with a number. Some of these she sold to such
purchasers as came in her way, and whatever were left over she carried
to Miss Ashton, and put in her hands for the fair.
She was also making some particularly choice articles which she kept
back for exhibition and sale on that occasion; and among them were half
a dozen boxes of straw and bright-colored ribbons, with an initial
letter woven in beads upon the top of each. There had been but four of
them at first, bearing respectively an M, a B, a G, and a D, standing
for Maggie, Bessie, Gracie, and Dora; for Jessie looked upon these as
her first friends, because they had first become interested in her
story. But Bessie having mentioned that Belle and Lily were "just
like ourselves, and my sister and I would be pleased to buy boxes for
them at the fair," Jessie completed two more with an L for Lily, and
a B for Belle. There was a delightful amount of mystery respecting
these boxes, for each one of the six knew what had been done for the
other five; Jessie telling her in confidence, and leaving her with
the suspicion that the same pleasure was in store for her. Not on any
account would any one of them have spoken of this suspicion; oh dear,
no! but was quite prepared to be very much surprised if a box bearing
her initial should turn up at the fair.
Maggie and Bessie owned a pretty little pony, the gift of their Uncle
Ruthven; at least Fred said it was "Uncle Ruthven's present," but Mr.
Stanton said it was Fred's. For, having offered Fred the choice of a
present for himself as a reward for the pains he had taken to break
himself of some troublesome faults, the generous brother asked for a
pony for his little sisters. He and his brother Harry each owned one,
and he wished Maggie and Bessie to enjoy the same pleasure. So Uncle
Ruthven had bought the pony and equipped him, but he declared it was
Fred's gift to the little girls, and I think he was about right.
However that was, the pony had given no small amount of pleasure, and
this was still farther increased when Belle's papa gave her one.
It was a pretty sight to see two of the little girls on these ponies,
escorted by Harry and Fred, and the whole party under the care of
one of the papas, or Uncle Ruthven, or sometimes of old James, the
coachman. Belle and Bessie rode as yet with a leading string to the
pony's rein, but Maggie had grown to be a fearless little rider, and
had no idea of being led. Lily would have been welcome to a ride now
and then if she had chosen, but "the one thing in the world" which Lily
feared was a horse, and she declined the most pressing offers of this
nature.