in mind and body, though it was a relief to remember that she had
confessed all to mamma, and that she had set her face toward the right
way once more, when Mrs. Howard came in bringing Nellie with her.
Poor Gracie gave a low sob, and covered her face with her hands in
utter shame and distress, feeling as if she could not bear to have
Nellie look at her.
But in a moment Nellie was beside her, saying,--
"Don't, Gracie; please don't. You needn't feel so very badly about it
now. I don't care much, and we'll make it all up."
"Oh, Nellie, Nellie! I don't deserve you to be so kind to me," sobbed
Gracie. "I was so hateful to you and so jealous, and it seemed as if I
could not bear to have you go before me in any thing. I know I've been
just too hateful to you."
"Well, never mind now," said Nellie.
Mrs. Howard had gone out and left the two children together.
"I can't help minding," said Gracie; "and, only think, Nellie, all
the other girls in the school will have to know, and it will shame me
almost to death. I hope, I hope mamma will never make me go back to
school, and I mean to stay away from the fair, any way."
"That is what I came to see you about," said Nellie. "The girls need
not know, Gracie. You see my--your--the mat with the ink-spot on it is
nearly finished now, so I have done about as much work on one as on the
other. And I don't care so very much about having mine called the best,
for the money will do Jessie and her grandfather just as much good, no
matter who earns it. So if each of us finishes the one she has now, it
will be all the same, and the rest of the children need never know it.
I am sure, Gracie, I should feel just as you do, and never want to come
back to school again or see any of our class if I had done this, and I
know just how badly you must feel. So I thought about it, and it seemed
to me it would come right again if we just went on with the work as if
this had not been found out; I mean if you had not told. I'd rather no
one would know it but just those who know now. Don't you think we could
arrange it so, Gracie? Your mother gave me leave to tell you this, and
says she would be very glad for you if it can be done, and she thinks
Miss Ashton will be willing."
To hear the earnest, wistful voice one might have supposed that
generous, great-hearted Nellie was pleading for some great boon for
herself.
But she could not tell all that Gracie felt. No, indeed; she did not
know what coals of fire she was heaping on her head; how perfectly
humbled and remorseful she felt as she remembered all the hard thoughts
she had cherished toward her; the unkind words and unjust actions of
which she had been guilty; all forgotten now, it seemed, by Nellie, who
was only anxious to make the path of repentance as easy as possible to
her, and to avoid all unnecessary shame and exposure to the one who had
so greatly injured her.
With many sobs and broken words she told Nellie all that was in her
heart, beseeching her forgiveness, and thanking her over and over for
her consideration and sweet thoughtfulness; not that she put it in just
such words, but in those that were very simple and very touching to
Nellie.
So peace was made between them,--a peace that was sure to be lasting
and true where there was such sincere repentance on one side, such good
will and hearty forgiveness on the other.
Grandmamma Howard was only too glad on Gracie's account to accept
Nellie's generous proposal.
Miss Ashton also agreed that the matter should go no further, and so
it was arranged, and further disgrace to Gracie avoided, although the
weight of shame and remorse was not readily lifted from her heart, and
she felt as if her schoolmates must know her secret and that she dared
scarcely look them in the face.
They all wondered at the new humility and modesty which she now began
to show; but the change was an agreeable one, and drew forth no unkind
remarks.
A prettier sight than Miss Ashton's garden and piazza on that lovely
June afternoon when the long-talked-of fair took place, would have been
hard to find. Kind friends had decked the spot tastefully; flowers
were everywhere in abundance; the tables conveniently and becomingly
arranged; and the display of articles upon them was not only tempting,
but such as had been manufactured by the children did them wonderful
credit. Flags, ribbons, wreaths, and festoons, all joined to make the
scene gay; and in and out, among and below them flitted the white-robed
"little sunbeams," who lent the fairest life and brightness to the
scene.
"Sunbeams" they all were that day, indeed. No cloud appeared to darken
their happiness, no ill-temper, jealousy, or desire to outvie one
another was heard or seen. Even Gracie and Hattie, who were each rather
oppressed with the sense of past naughtiness, and the feeling of what
the others would say and think if they knew all, could not but be
bright and gay amid this pleasant companionship.
Gracie had told Hattie that she had confessed her sin to her mother,
and the latter knew that some share of blame must have fallen to her;
so, although she did not look upon it in as serious a light as Gracie
did, she had an uncomfortable and conscious feeling. Miss Ashton had
talked to her more seriously than she had ever done before, and had
also informed her parents of what had taken place, telling them that
she did not wish to disgrace Hattie, and so, as it was near the close
of school, she would not ask them to remove her now; but that she could
not take her back in the fall. Hattie's utter disregard of truth had
already brought too much trouble into her little flock for her to risk
any further mischief from that source.
Hattie's parents had been much mortified and displeased, and the child
herself had been severely punished; but I doubt if the punishment had
been altogether just; for how was the child who saw equivocation and
deceit used at home as a means of family government when convenience
demanded it, to learn the value of the jewel thus sullied, or to judge
of the line where it was believed that falsehood must stop and truth
and uprightness begin?
As for generous Nellie, she seemed to have no recollection of what had
passed, unless it was in the new and caressing tenderness of her manner
toward Gracie; not a patronizing manner, but one full of encouragement
and helpfulness.
The other children wondered not only at Gracie's new gentleness and
modesty, but also at the sudden intimacy which seemed to have sprung up
between these two.
"Maybe," said Lily privately, "it is because Gracie is learning to
think better of herself"--which was just the opposite from what Lily
meant--"and Nellie's trying to help her."
"Yes," said Maggie; "perhaps Gracie is learning it is 'never too late
to mend,' which would make her much more agreeable, and other people
would think more of her. I do think she is improved."
Maggie had yielded not alone to the persuasions of Miss Ashton, but
also to an earnest appeal from Gracie, and accepted once more the
title of Queen. And very well she became it, standing in front of her
throne--which she could not be persuaded to occupy--within the pretty
bower into which one end of the piazza had been turned, according to
her ideas. Bessie, Belle, and Lily were her "maids of honor," and
helped her to sell the bouquets and baskets of flowers with which she
was bountifully supplied; and they drove a thriving trade; for so many
sweet smiles, bright looks, and winning words went with the flowers
that the stock within the "Queen's Bower" was much in demand. She had
her band of music too, for half a dozen canary-birds hung within and
around the bower, and, excited by the laughter and chatter about them,
seemed to try which could sing the loudest and sweetest.
Jessie's parrot was on exhibition, lent by his present owner for the
occasion, down in the old summer-house at the end of the garden, where
Jessie herself took the ten cents admission fee, and made him display
all his accomplishments.
And the Doll! She must have a capital letter to do justice to her
perfections. Of all the dolls that ever were seen or heard or thought
of, that doll surely took the lead. It would be of no use for me to
describe her or her toilet, for if you should ever see her, you would
surely tell me that I had not told one half.
It was nearly the hour at which the fair was "to begin," and the
children were all gathered about the table on which she was displayed,
when there came a ring at the front door-bell.
Away fluttered every little saleswoman to her appointed stand, hoping
that this might be the first customer.
And so it proved; for it was no less a person than old Mrs. Howard, who
had purposely timed her arrival so that she might be there before any
other person.
"Well, my dears," she said, looking round upon the smiling young faces
about her, "this is a pretty sight. And, industrious as I know you have
been, and kind as your friends have been, I should hardly have thought
it possible that you should have made such a fine show on your tables.
But you know I have some especial business with you, and I have come
early that we may have it over before the rush begins."
This was very encouraging. Mrs. Howard thought it probable they would
have "a rush" of customers, and who should know better than she?
"You remember I offered six prizes for different articles to be worked
for me," continued the old lady, "but there are only four finished,
as you know. My little grand-daughter, Gracie, felt that she had not
displayed a proper spirit about them, and she decided not to finish
hers for the fair, but to leave it and complete it for me afterwards."
This had been Gracie's own proposal to her mother and grandmother,
and they had allowed her to have her own way, thinking that this
willingness to put herself behind the others, and to give up even the
show of strife with Nellie, told of a spirit of true repentance, as
indeed it did. When the other children had asked with much surprise
where her mat was, she had answered quietly that she could not finish
it. This had not proved any loss to the fair, because the time she
would have devoted to the mat had been given to other articles.
"Here, then," continued Mrs. Howard, "are two toilet sets and two mats
for me to judge between. Of the latter, the one Nellie Ransom brings is
certainly the best in point of work; but it has unfortunately received
a bad ink-stain. Now those of us who know Nellie are very sure that
this has not come through any neglect or carelessness of her own, and
since she did not do it herself it seems hard that she should suffer
for it. I should be quite willing to overlook it, for this is really
the best piece of work among the four; but I cannot do so unless the
others are willing. Those among you who think Nellie ought not to be a
loser by this misfortune, raise your hands."
Instantly every little hand was raised, and if one were before another
it was Gracie's.
"Very well; that is satisfactory," said Mrs. Howard. "Nellie, my dear,
here are ten dollars for your mat, the first money taken in for your
fair. The second sum, I think, must go to Maggie's toilet set--ah!
yes, Maggie's and Bessie's, I should have said," as she saw the look
which Maggie turned upon her sister, as if wishing that she should have
her full share of credit--"the third to Dora's mat, and the fourth
to Hattie's toilet set. You are all satisfied, I trust, with this
arrangement."
There was a murmur of assent, and this part of the business was settled.
"And now," said Mrs. Howard, "I want to say that I think I made a
mistake in offering these rates of prices, and so exciting you to
outvie one another. I meant to give you a motive for trying to improve
yourselves, but I believe it was not a good principle to set you thus
one against the other, and I know that it has led to some hard feeling
and unkindness. But that, I trust, is now all healed, and I shall take
care not to put such temptation in your way again."
The children all thought they knew what Mrs. Howard meant, and with
true courteousness they all avoided looking at Gracie.
But this was as much as was ever known by any of them, save the two
or three who had been in the secret, of Gracie's temptation and fall.
That she had been jealous and unkind to Nellie, they had all seen; that
she had gone further and been led into deceit and meanness, they never
heard. Hattie, for her own sake, held her peace for once; and penitent
Gracie had not to face the scorn and wonder of all her schoolmates.
After this Mrs. Howard went about from table to table, purchasing
not only one article, but generally two or three, from each little
saleswoman; but she said she would not remove them till the fair was
over, so that they might still add to the appearance of their tables.
They were all marked SOLD in enormous, staring letters, that there
might be no possibility of mistake.
And now, customer after customer began to flock in, and among the
earlier arrivals came Mr. Powers, who was immediately seized upon by
Belle, and led to the table where the baby doll lay in her glory.
Now it had been announced that whoever offered the highest price for
this famous infant was to have her, and it was not to be told till the
close of the fair who had done this. The names of would-be purchasers,
with the amount each offered, were written down by Miss Annie Stanton,
who still held the doll in charge, lest too eager little hands should
mar her beauties.
"Please offer a whole lot, papa; I do want her so," said Belle. "Isn't
she lovely? Did you ever see such a doll?"
Mr. Powers expressed all the admiration he thought needful, which
did not nearly satisfy Belle, who was only half consoled by what she
thought a want of proper interest by Maggie's whispered assurance that
men "never did appreciate dolls, and it was quite useless to expect it
of them. It did not seem to be born in them."
However, Mr. Powers put down his name and the sum he would give, which
last remained for the present a secret between him and Miss Annie
Stanton.
Mamie Stone was as eager about the doll as Belle, and her mamma was
called upon also to offer a high price for the treasure.
But my "Sunbeam" would lengthen itself far beyond its sister rays if
I should tell you all that took place at the fair. Enough to say that
it was a great success, and that a sum was taken in that was more
than sufficient to purchase Jessie's parrot back and to provide a
comfortable home for herself and her grandfather for at least a year to
come. That is, with what the little girl might hope to make herself by
the further sale of her wares.
Evening came, bringing with it the great interest of the day, the
announcement of the munificent purchaser of the doll, and every little
heart beat high with hope that it might be some friend of her own, who
would bestow the coveted prize upon her.
It proved to be Grandmamma Howard.
Belle stood in an agony of expectation, squeezing her father's hand and
scarcely breathing in the hush that came before the name was spoken;
and when she heard "Mrs. Howard," a rush of color dyed her face, and a
look of blank disappointment overspread it. She looked up and caught
her father's gaze fixed anxiously upon her. She dashed her little hand
across her eyes to scatter the tears that would well up, and, forcing a
smile, said with a trembling lip, "Never mind, papa, you meant me to
have it, so it was just as good of you."
Her father stooped and kissed her, rejoicing in her sweetness and
determined good temper. A little more than a year since, a tempest
of tears and sobs would have broken from his over-indulged child;
but now she had learned to control herself and to be contented and
pleasant even when things did not go quite her own way. She was all
smiles and brightness again in a few minutes, nearly consoled for her
disappointment by her papa's caress and his few whispered words of
blessing.
All believed that Gracie or one of her little sisters would be
presented with the doll by her grandmother; and great, therefore, was
the amazement of the circle of young friends when the next day it was
rumored, then made certain, that Mrs. Howard had sent it to Nellie
Ransom.
Every child wondered "why," and so did more than one grown person; for
the Howards and the Ransoms were not, as Maggie said, "very intimate,
and it was rather surprising Mrs. Howard should think of giving such a
present to Nellie. But she seems to have taken a great fancy to her,
and Nellie quite deserves it," she added.
"I wonder if she gave it to her because of the mat," said Mamie Stone.
"I think it was because she is such a serious child," said Lily. "I
find old people like _seriosity_, and Nellie has a great deal of it."
So they judged, these little ones. Nellie, gentle, unobtrusive "little
sunbeam" that she was, went on her quiet way, shedding light and warmth
in many an unsuspected nook and corner, and bringing now and then some
hidden seed to blossom in beauty and fragrance.
Only one of her schoolmates ever suspected that it was her thoughtful
care for Gracie's character and feelings, her sweet forgiving spirit
which led her to forget past injuries, which had won for her the gift
of the much coveted doll, and given her a high place in the love and
admiration of the few who knew all the story.
[Illustration]
Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Son.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author's
original spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.