ON THE JOGGLING BOARDS.
To say that Ned was surprised is to describe his feeling very mildly.
Knowing his uncle's easy, indolent mode of life, his contentment with
home, his lazy love of books and pipes and ease generally, Ned would as
soon have expected to hear that the organ in the little church had gone
off summering, as to learn that his uncle and aunt were travelling.
The other boys were in consternation.
"What on earth shall we do?" asked Jack Farnsworth.
"Better eat supper, fust an' fo'most," replied Maum Sally, whose theory
of life consisted of a profound conviction that the important thing to
be done was to eat an abundance of good food, well-cooked.
"That's so," said Ned. "We can't bring my uncle back by neglecting our
supper, but we can let the coffee get cold, and that would be a pity.
Let's eat now while the things are hot."
"Yes," replied Charley Black, "that's all right, but after that?"
"Why, after that we'll try the joggling boards."
"But, Ned," remonstrated Charley, "this won't do. Your uncle has gone
away, and the house is shut up and so we can't stay here. Now, I move
that you go back to Aiken with us."
"Not a bit of it," answered Ned. "I've visited at your house and at
Jack's, and now you're my guests. Do you think I've 'forgot my manners,'
as Maum Sally says?"
"But, Ned," said Jack, "you see the situation has changed since we
started to go home with you. You can't go home, and now you can't stay
here."
"Can't I though?" asked Ned; "and why not? I know a way into the house,
and if you'll stay where you are for five minutes, I'll have the big
doors unbarred and invite you in."
With that Ned stepped upon the piazza railing, caught a timber above,
and easily swung himself up to the roof of the porch. Thence he made his
way quickly to a round window in the garret--the house was only one
story high, with a high garret story for the protection of the rooms
from the heat of the sun. Pushing open this round window he sprang in,
descended the stairs, and a moment later the boys heard him taking down
the wooden bar which kept the great double doors fast. Then drawing the
bolts at top and bottom, he swung the doors open without difficulty.
"Come in, boys," he cried. "I'll open the doors at the other side, and
we'll have a breeze through the hall."
"But I say, old fellow," said Charley, "I don't like this. What will
your uncle think of us for making free with his house in this way?"
"What, Uncle Edward? Why, he wouldn't ask how we got in if he were to
get home now. He never troubles himself, and he's the best uncle in the
world; so is Aunt Helen, or, I should say, she is the best aunt. And,
besides, I tell you, this isn't Uncle Edward's house. It's my father's,
and all the furniture is his too. Uncle Edward lives here just because
he likes it here, and because father likes to have him here. But the
house is ours, and sometimes we all come here without warning, and stay
for months. It don't make any difference, except that more plates are
put on the table. Every thing goes on just the same, and if Uncle Edward
were to come in now he would hardly remember that we weren't here when
he went away. So make yourselves easy. You're in my home just as much as
if we were in Savannah, and there's nobody here to be bothered by our
fun. We'll stay here and fish and row and bathe, and have a jolly time.
The servants have all gone away, I suppose, except Maum Sally, but
she'll take good care of us. You see, I'm her special pet. She has
thought it her duty to coddle me and scold me and regulate me generally
ever since I was born, and she likes nothing better. So come on out here
and I'll introduce you unfortunate up-country boys to that greatest of
human inventions, a joggling board. There are four or five of them on
the front piazza."
This hospitable harangue satisfied the scruples of the boys, and the
house was so pleasant, with its large, high rooms, wide hall, and broad
piazzas--one of which looked out over the water,--the grounds were so
tasteful, the trees so large and fine, and the whole aspect of Bluffton
was so quiet and restful, that they were glad to settle themselves
contentedly after their long tramp from the railroad at Hardeeville.
"The best way to get acquainted with a joggling board," said Ned,
approaching a queer-looking structure on the piazza, "is to get on it.
Try it and see, Charley. Don't be afraid. It won't turn over, and it
can't break down. There," as Charley seated himself upon the board, "lie
down now, and move almost any muscle you please the least bit in the
world, and you'll understand what the thing is for."
"Oh! isn't it jolly!" exclaimed Charley, as the board began to sway
gently under him and the breeze from the sea fanned him.
"It is all of that," replied Ned. "I'll get some pillows as soon as I
get Jack to risk his precious neck on a board, and then we'll all be
comfortable, like clams at high-tide. Jump up, Jack; it won't tip over.
Now swing your legs up and lie down. There, how's that?"
Jack gave a sigh of satisfaction, while Ned ran into the house for sofa
pillows. The three boys, tired as they were, soon ceased to talk, and
fell asleep to the gentle swaying of the joggling boards.