never say a word about it," returned the barefaced boy, with a
wheedlesome air, and a tender glance toward the dainty tea-table set
forth so temptingly just under his nose.
"Not a bit, unless you'll say our tree is lovely and own that we are
the cleverest at getting up new and nice things," said Kitty, sternly.
"Never!" roared Tom; "we can beat you any day if we choose."
"Then do it, and we will own up; yes, and we will go halves in all the
goodies we get off our big tree to-night," added Kitty, bound to stand
by her sex and ready to wager a year's bon-bons in the defence of her
position.
"By George, I'll do it if the fellows will agree! Honor bright now,
and no dodging," said Tom, recklessly pledging himself and friends to
any thing and every thing.
"Honor bright," chorused the girls in high glee.
"Only don't be a month about it; you boys are so slow," added Grace, in
a superior tone, that ruffled the gentleman at the ventilator.
"We'll do it to-morrow; see if we don't," he cried out, rashly heaping
difficulties upon his party.
"Then you'd better set about it at once, and leave us in peace," said
Nell, tartly.
"I shall go, ma'am, when I please, and not one minute sooner"--began
Tom, with immense dignity; but he did not keep his word; for the sudden
withdrawal of his head, followed by a crash and howls of mingled
merriment, wrath, and pain, plainly proved that circumstances over
which he had no control hastened his departure.
The ladies sat down to their afternoon tea, which was much enlivened by
guessing what those "stupid boys" would do. The gentlemen, warned by
Tom's downfall, contented themselves with racking their mighty minds to
invent some new, striking, and appropriate entertainment which should
cover their names with glory and demolish their opponents for ever more.
Perhaps it was too soon after dinner; perhaps the brightest wits of the
party had been shaken by the fall, or the cold affected the inventive
powers; for, rack as they would, those mighty minds refused to work.
"You ought to have given us more time; of course we can't get up any
thing clever in one day and a half," grumbled Frank, much annoyed
because all the rest looked to him and he had not an idea to offer.
"I wasn't going to have a parcel of girls crow over me. I'd blow
myself up for a show before I'd let them do that," answered Tom,
rubbing his bruised elbows with a grim and defiant glance toward the
fatal ventilator, for he felt that he had got not only himself but his
mates into a scrape.
"Don't worry, old fellows; time enough; sleep on it, and something
capital will pop into somebody's noddle, see if it doesn't," counselled
Alf, with a sage nod, as he went to discover who was sobbing in the
hall.
Little Lotty sat on the fuzzy red mat, with a tortoise-shell kitten in
her arms, her white pinafore full of candies, and her chubby face
bedewed with tears.
"What's the matter, Toddlekins?" asked Alf, in such a sympathetic tone
that the afflicted infant poured forth her woes in one breath, with the
brown eyes flashing through their tears and a dramatic gesture of the
small hands that told the tale better than her broken words.
"De naughty, naughty girls turned out my Torty 'cause she hopped on de
table and drinked de tea, and I comed too, and we is doing to have a
kitmouse tee all ourselfs up in de nursery, so now!"
Alf laughed at her indignation, but dried her tears, and sent her away
happy with a sprig of hemlock from the decorations of the hall.
"Virtue is its own reward" proved true in this case; for as Alf went
back to his mates he had an idea--such a superb one that it nearly took
his breath away and caused him to break into a wild sort of jig, as he
cried aloud--"I've found it, boys; I've found it!"
"Where? What? How?" asked the others, clinging to him as if they were
shipwrecked mariners, and he a rope thrown out to them.
The idea was evidently a good one, for it was received with great
applause, and everybody was interested at once in helping Alf elaborate
his plan.
"Won't it be heaping coals of fire on their heads after the shabby way
they have treated us?" said Tom, chuckling at the thought of the girls'
remorse when the touching surprise in store for them should be revealed.
"But how the dickens shall we get enough m----?" began Frank, rather
inclined to throw cold water on the affair because he was not the
originator of it.
"Hush!" shouted Alf; then added in a melodramatic whisper, "If the
girls hear that word we are lost. I've planned how to manage that, but
it will take time, and we'd better begin at once, or there won't be
enough you-know-whats to go round. Come upstairs; we can talk safely
there without a pack of girls listening at the keyhole, as I know they
are this identical minute."
Alf raised his voice at the last words, and the boys trooped off with
derisive hoots; for a guilty rustle and a sudden outburst of
conversation in the other room told them that their shot had hit
somebody.
"I wish we hadn't dared them to do it; for they will be sure to get up
some dreadful surprise. I shall be expecting it every minute, and that
will make me so nervous I shall not enjoy myself a bit."
"I'm not afraid; they won't invent any thing to-night, so we may as
well clear up and be ready for our tree," answered Kitty to Nell as
they packed the dolls on the sofa to sleep while their mammas enjoyed
themselves.
No need to tell about that evening, for every child knows what a
Christmas tree is better than we can describe it, so we will skip into
the next morning when the boys' joke came off.
The young folks usually slept late after their unwonted revelry by
night, but, strange to relate, the lads were early astir. In fact,
Mary, the cook, saw several small ghosts whisking up the back-stairs
when she went down to kindle her fire, and curious sounds were heard in
attic and cellar, store-room and closets.
Something very exciting was going on, and the elders were evidently in
it, for, though several mammas were heard to cry out when certain
mysterious things were shown them, they never said a word, but looked
up bits of gay ribbon without a murmur; while the papas enjoyed the fun
and lent a hand in the most delightful manner.
When the girls came down to the late breakfast they found notes under
their napkins, inviting them to a surprise party in the drying room at
eleven A.M.
"I didn't think they'd be so quick. Shall you dare to go?" whispered
Nell to Kitty as they compared notes and tried to make out the device
on the seal, which was evidently intended for an animal of some sort.
"We must go, for we promised. Of course it won't amount to any thing,
and we can keep our sweeties," answered Kitty, lovingly eying the
pretty box of French bon-bons which she had so rashly staked.
"You'll be sorry if you don't, for it is the completest thing you ever
saw, and no end of fun in it," began Tom, assuming an ecstatic
expression and smacking his lips.
"Hold your tongue and go to work, or we shall not be ready in time.
We've got to trim all the _jigamarees_, hang the _thingummies_ while
they are fresh, and see that the basket of _treasures_ arrives safely,"
said Alf, with such mysterious nods and smiles that the girls were
instantly consumed by an intense curiosity to know what "thingummies"
and "jigamarees" were, while "treasures" had such a rich sound that
they began to hope the boys were really going to atone for the past by
some splendid piece of generosity.
"Come punctually at eleven and bring your boxes with you; they will be
a good deal lighter when you come down again;" with which cheering
remark Frank led off his men, leaving the girls to watch the clock with
anxious, yet eager eyes.
Their wonder and suspense was much increased by the fact that Lotty was
sent for and carried off by an escort of two. Listening at the foot of
the back-stairs they heard her little voice exclaim approvingly:
"Oh how funny! how berry nice!" then the door closed, and the girls
heard no more.
As the clock struck, up marched seven young ladies, each with a bon-bon
box under her arm and an eager sparkle in her eyes. As they paused at
the door Tom's voice was heard saying, "I wish they'd hurry up, for I'm
tired of this business and have had scratching enough."
"They are coming! Now mind, no scrambling till I give the word. Each
fellow stand in his place, keep the bows right side up and hold tight,
or there will be a dreadful piece of work," answered Alf, evidently
giving last touches to the spectacle.
"They have borrowed Fred's monkey and are going to scare us; I know
they are by what Tom said: and I hear a queer noise--don't you?"
whispered Nell, clutching Grace's skirts.
"It cannot be any thing very bad or Lotty would cry. Steady, girls;
I'm going to knock," and Kitty gave a bold "rat-tat-tat," which caused
a sensation within.
The door opened, and Frank made his best bow as he said, with a
flourish:
"Enter, ladies, and join us in the interesting festival which we have
prepared at your desire. Take a look first, and then I will explain
this charming scene if it is not clear to you."
No need to tell the girls to take a look; they had done that already;
but it was evident that an explanation would be necessary, for they
were quite mystified by the "charming scene;" and well they might be,
for it was a curious one.
The middle of the room was adorned by a large tub, in which stood a
small spruce tree hung with the oddest things that ever swung from a
bough. Mice by their tails, bits of cheese, milk in small bottles, gay
balls, loops of string, squares of red and blue flannel like little
blankets, bundles of herbs tied with bright ribbons, and near the top
hung a cage with several small white animals dancing about in it.
But funniest of all was the circle of boys around this remarkable tree,
at the foot of which Lotty sat; for each held a cat or kitten in his
arms decorated with a gorgeous bow; both boys and cats so absurdly
solemn and ill at ease that after one look the girls burst into a gale
of merriment.
"Glad you like it, ladies; we have done our best, and I flatter myself
it is a pretty neat thing," began showman Frank, with a gratified air,
while the other boys with difficulty restrained their charges from
escaping to their mistresses.
"It's very funny, but what does it all mean?" asked Grace, wiping her
eyes, and nodding to her own fat Jerry, whose yellow eyes appealed to
her for aid.
"It is a Kitmouse tree, the first one ever known, prepared at great
expense for this occasion, to prove that _we_ can invent superior
amusements, and entirely outdo other folks who shall be nameless."
"It isn't half so pretty as our tree was," said Kitty, as Frank paused
for breath.
"But think how much more pleasure it will give; for cats can enjoy and
dolls can't. These presents are useful and instructive; for we have
not only food and drink, but catnip and cataplasms for the poor
darlings, if they have catarrh or any other catastrophe of that sort;
but here is a little catechism for the kits, and string for cats'
cradles when they have learned their lessons. Cataracts of milk will
flow from these bottles for their refreshment, and a catalogue of
delicacies will be furnished free to any lady wishing to repeat this
performance at a future time."
"Hurry up, and give Jerry a bite of something, or he'll eat me," cried
Tom, who had been silently struggling with his puss while Frank
delivered the speech, which he considered a masterpiece of wit.
"If the ladies will sit upon the window-seats I will give out the
presents at once;" and Frank proceeded to do so, amid much merriment;
for the kittens began at once to play with the balls, the cats to eat
and drink, while the boys surveyed the scene with great satisfaction,
and the girls applauded as the mice were handed round, one to each cat,
as a delicate attention, though few were eaten.
The pussies behaved remarkably well, for the lads had wisely selected
the most amiable ones they could find, and the six belonging to the
house received them hospitably. Mother Bunch and her three kits did
the honors, while Torty and Jerry tried to be polite, though
aristocratic Torty arched her back at the half-starved little cat Neddy
found in the street, and stout old Jerry growled to himself when Nell's
pretty white Snowball took his mouse away.
Such a frolic as they had, boys and girls, cats and kittens,
altogether, one would have thought the house was coming down about
their ears. The elders took a peep at them, but a very little of that
sort of fun satisfied them and they soon left the youngsters to
themselves.
"It's almost one, and we are going coasting before dinner, so own up
girls, and hand over the goodies," said Alf at last, when a lull came
and every one stopped for breath after a lively game of tag, which
caused the cats to seek refuge in every available nook and corner.
"I suppose we must; for it certainly was a bright idea, and we have had
a capital time," confessed honest Nell, sitting down in the
clothes-basket, where Mother Bunch had collected her family when the
romp began, and beginning to divide her candies.
"Stop a minute!" cried Kitty, with a twinkle in her black eyes; "was
not the agreement that you should _invent_ something newer and nicer
than our dolls' affair?"
"Yes; and isn't this ever so much better fun in every way than all that
fuss for rag babies that don't know or care any thing about it?" cried
Alf, as proud as a peacock of his success.
"Of course it is," admitted sly Kitty.
"Wasn't it clever of us to get it up, and haven't we pleased you by
treating your cats well?"
"I'm sure you have, and it was dear of you to do it."
"Well, then, what's the trouble?"
"Only that you did _not_ invent the thing all yourselves," coolly
answered Kitty.
"I should like to know who did!" cried the boys with one breath.
"Lotty. She put the idea into your heads with her funny word
'kitmouse.' You never would have thought of it but for that. A girl
helped you; and a very little one too; you had to call her in to make
the cats mind, I'm sure, so you have lost your wager and we will keep
our bon-bons, thank you."
Kitty made a low courtesy and stood crunching a delicious strawberry
drop as she triumphantly surveyed the astounded boys, who looked as
much taken aback as Antonio and his friends when Portia outwits Shylock
in the famous court scene.
"She's got us there," murmured Frank, with an approving nod to his
clever young sister.
"Oh, come; that's not fair; we had a right to take just a word that
meant nothing till we made it. I don't care for the sweet stuff, but
I'm not going to own that we are beaten!" cried Alf, in high dudgeon;
for he had taken much credit to himself for this bright idea.
"You _must_ own that a girl helped you. Do that fairly and I'll go
halves, as we promised; for you _have_ made a good joke out of Lotty's
word," said Kitty, who was generous as well as just, and felt that the
poor lads deserved some reward for their labor.
"All right, if the other fellows agree," returned Tom, helping himself
to a handful of candy as he spoke; which cool performance had such a
good effect upon the other boys that they all cried out, "We do! we
do!" while Alf, swinging Lotty to his shoulder, marched away, singing
at the top of his voice,
"Now cheer, boys, cheer,
With three times three,
Our little Lot,
And her kitmouse tree!"
IV.
ROSES AND FORGET-ME-NOTS.
I.
ROSES.
It was a cold November storm, and every thing looked forlorn. Even the
pert sparrows were draggle-tailed and too much out of spirits to fight
for crumbs with the fat pigeons who tripped through the mud with their
little red boots as if in haste to get back to their cosy home in the
dove-cot.
But the most forlorn creature out that day was a small errand girl,
with a bonnet-box on each arm, and both hands struggling to hold a big
broken umbrella. A pair of worn-out boots let in the wet upon her
tired feet; a thin cotton dress and an old shawl poorly protected her
from the storm; and a faded hood covered her head.
The face that looked out from this hood was too pale and anxious for
one so young; and when a sudden gust turned the old umbrella inside out
with a crash, despair fell upon poor Lizzie, and she was so miserable
she could have sat down in the rain and cried.
But there was no time for tears; so, dragging the dilapidated umbrella
along, she spread her shawl over the bonnet-boxes and hurried down the
broad street, eager to hide her misfortunes from a pretty young girl
who stood at a window laughing at her.
She could not find the number of the house where one of the fine hats
was to be left; and after hunting all down one side of the street, she
crossed over, and came at last to the very house where the pretty girl
lived. She was no longer to be seen; and, with a sigh of relief,
Lizzie rang the bell, and was told to wait in the hall while Miss Belle
tried the hat on.
Glad to rest, she warmed her feet, righted her umbrella, and then sat
looking about her with eyes quick to see the beauty and the comfort
that made the place so homelike and delightful. A small waiting-room
opened from the hall, and in it stood many blooming plants, whose
fragrance attracted Lizzie as irresistibly as if she had been a
butterfly or bee.
Slipping in, she stood enjoying the lovely colors, sweet odors, and
delicate shapes of these household spirits; for Lizzie loved flowers
passionately; and just then they possessed a peculiar charm for her.
One particularly captivating little rose won her heart, and made her
long for it with a longing that became a temptation too strong to
resist. It was so perfect; so like a rosy face smiling out from the
green leaves, that Lizzie could not keep her hands off it, and having
smelt, touched, and kissed it, she suddenly broke the stem and hid it
in her pocket. Then, frightened at what she had done, she crept back
to her place in the hall, and sat there, burdened with remorse.
A servant came just then to lead her upstairs; for Miss Belle wished
the hat altered, and must give directions. With her heart in a
flutter, and pinker roses in her cheeks than the one in her pocket,
Lizzie followed to a handsome room, where a pretty girl stood before a
long mirror with the hat in her hand.
"Tell Madame Tifany that I don't like it at all, for she hasn't put in
the blue plume mamma ordered; and I won't have rose-buds, they are so
common," said the young lady, in a dissatisfied tone, as she twirled
the hat about.
"Yes, miss," was all Lizzie could say; for _she_ considered that hat
the loveliest thing a girl could possibly own.
"You had better ask your mamma about it, Miss Belle, before you give
any orders. She will be up in a few moments, and the girl can wait,"
put in a maid, who was sewing in the anteroom.
"I suppose I must; but I _won't_ have roses," answered Belle, crossly.
Then she glanced at Lizzie, and said more gently, "You look very cold;
come and sit by the fire while you wait."
"I'm afraid I'll wet the pretty rug, miss; my feet are sopping," said
Lizzie, gratefully, but timidly.
"So they are! Why didn't you wear rubber boots?"
"I haven't got any."
"I'll give you mine, then, for I hate them; and as I never go out in
wet weather, they are of no earthly use to me. Marie, bring them here;
I shall be glad to get rid of them, and I'm sure they'll be useful to
you."
"Oh, thank you, miss! I'd like 'em ever so much, for I'm out in the
rain half the time, and get bad colds because my boots are old," said
Lizzie, smiling brightly at the thought of the welcome gift.
"I should think your mother would get you warmer things," began Belle,
who found something rather interesting in the shabby girl, with shy
bright eyes, and curly hair bursting out of the old hood.
"I haven't got any mother," said Lizzie, with a pathetic glance at her
poor clothes.
"I'm so sorry! Have you brothers and sisters?" asked Belle, hoping to
find something pleasant to talk about; for she was a kind little soul.
"No, miss; I've got no folks at all."
"Oh, dear; how sad! Why, who takes care of you?" cried Belle, looking
quite distressed.
"No one; I take care of myself. I work for Madame, and she pays me a
dollar a week. I stay with Mrs. Brown, and chore round to pay for my
keep. My dollar don't get many clothes, so I can't be as neat as I'd
like." And the forlorn look came back to poor Lizzie's face.
Belle said nothing, but sat among the sofa cushions, where she had
thrown herself, looking soberly at this other girl, no older than she
was, who took care of herself and was all alone in the world. It was a
new idea to Belle, who was loved and petted as an only child is apt to
be. She often saw beggars and pitied them, but knew very little about
their wants and lives; so it was like turning a new page in her happy
life to be brought so near to poverty as this chance meeting with the
milliner's girl.
"Aren't you afraid and lonely and unhappy?" she said, slowly, trying to
understand and put herself in Lizzie's place.
"Yes; but it's no use. I can't help it, and may be things will get
better by and by, and I'll have my wish," answered Lizzie, more
hopefully, because Belle's pity warmed her heart and made her troubles
seem lighter.
"What is your wish?" asked Belle, hoping mamma wouldn't come just yet,
for she was getting interested in the stranger.
"To have a nice little room, and make flowers, like a French girl I
know. It's such pretty work, and she gets lots of money, for every one
likes her flowers. She shows me how, sometimes, and I can do leaves
first-rate; but"--
There Lizzie stopped suddenly, and the color rushed up to her forehead;
for she remembered the little rose in her pocket and it weighed upon
her conscience like a stone.
Before Belle could ask what was the matter, Marie came in with a tray
of cake and fruit, saying:
"Here's your lunch, Miss Belle."
"Put it down, please; I'm not ready for it yet." And Belle shook her
head as she glanced at Lizzie, who was staring hard at the fire with
such a troubled face that Belle could not bear to see it.
Jumping out of her nest of cushions, she heaped a plate with good
things, and going to Lizzie, offered it, saying, with a gentle courtesy
that made the act doubly sweet:
"Please have some; you must be tired of waiting."
But Lizzie could not take it; she could only cover her face and cry;
for this kindness rent her heart and made the stolen flower a burden
too heavy to be borne.
"Oh, don't cry so! Are you sick? Have I been rude? Tell me all about
it; and if I can't do any thing, mamma can," said Belle, surprised and
troubled.
"No; I'm not sick; I'm bad, and I can't bear it when you are so good to
me," sobbed Lizzie, quite overcome with penitence; and taking out the
crumpled rose, she confessed her fault with many tears.
"Don't feel so much about such a little thing as that," began Belle,
warmly; then checked herself, and added, more soberly, "It _was_ wrong
to take it without leave; but it's all right now, and I'll give you as
many roses as you want, for I know you are a good girl."
"Thank you. I didn't want it only because it was pretty, but I wanted
to copy it. I can't get any for myself, and so I can't do my
make-believe ones well. Madame won't even lend me the old ones in the
store, and Estelle has none to spare for me, because I can't pay her
for teaching me. She gives me bits of muslin and wire and things, and
shows me now and then. But I know if I had a real flower I could copy
it; so she'd see I did know something, for I try real hard. I'm so
tired of slopping round the streets, I'd do any thing to earn my living
some other way."
Lizzie had poured out her trouble rapidly; and the little story was
quite affecting when one saw the tears on her cheeks, the poor clothes,
and the thin hands that held the stolen rose. Belle was much touched,
and, in her impetuous way, set about mending matters as fast as
possible.
"Put on those boots and that pair of dry stockings right away. Then
tuck as much cake and fruit into your pocket as it will hold. I'm
going to get you some flowers, and see if mamma is too busy to attend
to me."
With a nod and a smile, Belle flew about the room a minute; then
vanished, leaving Lizzie to her comfortable task, feeling as if fairies
still haunted the world as in the good old times.
When Belle came back with a handful of roses, she found Lizzie absorbed
in admiring contemplation of her new boots, as she ate sponge-cake in a
blissful sort of waking-dream.