Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Tonya Allen, and Project
Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
BE COURTEOUS:
OR,
RELIGION THE TRUE REFINER.
BY MRS. M. H. MAXWELL.
[Illustration: MARY AND THE SICK CHILD--SEE PAGE 56.]
PREFACE.
The scenes and characters of this story are those once familiar to the
writer. The story itself is but a disconnected diary of one who, early
refined from earthly dross, lived only long enough to show us that
there was both reason and divine authority in the words of an apostle,
when he exhorted Christians to "Be Courteous."
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE PLAIN--THE ISOLATED DWELLING--BLUE-BERRY PARTY--TAKING A
VOTE--TREATMENT OF NEW ACQUAINTANCES--THE FAMILY AT APPLEDALE--THE
YOUNG PEOPLE UPON THE PLAIN----SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD--A CALL AT THE
LOG-HOUSE--THE RIDE HOME--ORIGINAL POETRY
CHAPTER II.
THE KIND "GOOD-MORNING "--THE HIGH HILL--UNEXPECTED MEETING--ROMANCE
AND REALITY--THE GOOD FARMER--IMPRESSIONS OF CHILDHOOD--WORSHIPING--
BEARING THE CROSS
CHAPTER III
THE POOR WOMAN OF THE PLAIN--THE NOTE--MOURNFUL MUSINGS--THE CUP OF
TEA--THE STRUGGLE--CHARITY AND SELF--EMMA'S HISTORY
CHAPTER IV.
THE LITTLE TIME--HOW IMPROVED--FITNESS FOR REFINED SOCIETY--MORNING
REFLECTIONS--RUTH AND BOAZ--CHARITY AND COURTESY--THE VISIT
CHAPTER V.
THE OLD PEDDLER--BITTER WORDS--THE MEEK REPLY--THE EFFECT--ACTING A
PART--SOFTER FEELINGS--THE DEATH-SCENE--THE DAY OF SMALL
THINGS--SIMPLE CHRISTIAN COURTESY
BE COURTEOUS:
OR,
RELIGION THE TRUE REFINER.
CHAPTER I.
THE PLAIN--THE ISOLATED DWELLING--BLUE-BERRY PARTY--TAKING A
VOTE--TREATMENT OF NEW ACQUAINTANCES--THE FAMILY AT APPLEDALE--THE
YOUNG PEOPLE UPON THE PLAIN--SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD--A CALL AT THE
LOG-HOUSE--THE RIDE HOME--ORIGINAL POETRY.
Not more than a mile and a half from a pleasant village in one of our
eastern States is a plain, extending many miles, and terminated on the
north by a widespread pond. A narrow road runs across the plain; but
the line of green grass bordering the "wheel-track" upon either side,
shows that though the nearest, this road is not the most frequented way
to the pond. Many reasons might be assigned for this. There is a
wearisome monotony in the scenery along this plain. There are no hills,
and but few trees to diversify the almost interminable prospect,
stretching east, west, north, and south, like a broad ocean, without
wave or ripple. The few trees scattered here and there stand alone,
casting long shadows over the plain at nightfall, and adding solemnity
to the mysterious stillness of that isolated place. It is not a place
for human habitation, for the soil is sandy and sterile; neither is it
a place for human hearts, so desolate in winter, and so unsheltered and
dry during the long warm summer. Yet midway between the village and the
pond was once a house, standing with its back turned unceremoniously
upon the narrow road with its border of green. It was a poor thing to
be called a house. Its front door was made, as it seemed, without
reference to anything, for it opened upon the broad ocean-like plain.
No questions had been asked relative to a title-deed of the land upon
which that house stood, or whether "poor Graffam" had a right to pile
up logs in the middle of that plain, and under them to hide a family of
six. Through many a long eastern winter that family had lived there,
little known, and little cared for. Nobody had taken the pains to go on
purpose to see them; yet, during the month of July, and a part of
August, some of the family were often seen. At all times of the year,
in summer's heat and in winter's snow, the children going and returning
from school, were wont to meet "poor Graffam," a short man, with sandy
hair, carrying an ax upon his shoulder, and bearing in his hand a small
pail of "dinner;" for Graffam, when refused employment by others,
usually found something to do at "Motley's Mills," which were about
half a mile from the village. Sad and serious-looking was this poor man
in the morning, and neither extreme civility nor extreme rudeness on
the part of the school children could procure a single word from him at
this time of day. Not thus at evening. "Let us run after Graffam, and
have some fun," the boys would say on returning home; and then it was
wonderful to see the change which had been wrought in this
mournful-looking, taciturn man of the morning. Sometimes he was in a
rage, repaying their assaults with fearful oaths and bitter curses; but
it was a thing more general to find him in merry mood, and then he was
himself a boy, pitching his companions about in the snow, or talking
with them largely and confidentially of landed estates and vast
resources all his own. It is needless to inform my sagacious young
reader, that the cause of this change in the poor man was rum.
We have referred to the month of July and a part of August; it was
during this season of the year that the plain, on account of the rich
berries tinging its surface with beautiful blue, became a place of much
resort. These berries, hanging in countless clusters upon their low
bushes among the shrubbery, were at least worth going to see. It is the
opinion of most people, however, (an opinion first entertained in
Eden,) that fruit pleasant to the eye is desirable for the taste. Such
was the opinion prevalent in that region; and the sight of merry
"blue-berry companies," sometimes in wagons, sometimes on foot, was
among the most common of our midsummer morning scenes. Equally familiar
was the sight of like companies returning at evening, weary, but better
satisfied; glad that, with well-filled pails and baskets, they were so
near home. This was the time of year when the young Graffams became
visible. The blue-berry companies often encountered them upon the
plain, but found them shy as young partridges, dodging through the
bushes, and skulking away as though kidnappers were in pursuit.
There was, however, one boy among them, the eldest, (if we remember
rightly,) who was quite familiar with the villagers. He was a little
boy, not more than ten or eleven at the time of which I now write, and
for two or three summers had been in the habit of bringing berries to
the village, and offering them for any small matter, either for food or
clothing. Both the kind-hearted and the curious had plied this little
boy with questions, relative to his manner of life, his mother,
brothers, and sisters; but his answers were far from giving information
upon any of these points. He always declined a proposed visit by
saying, "Mother don't want no company." This seemed true enough; for
when any visitor to the plain called at Graffam's for a drink of water,
they were never invited to enter. The water was handed them through a
small opening, and the mother was seldom visible.
It was one of the brightest of our July mornings, when a blue-berry
company started from the village before-mentioned. Two wagons filled
with young people passed along the principal street at an early hour,
raising a cloud of dust as they turned the corner where stood a
guide-board pointing out the _plain_ road to the pond. Onward rolled
the two wagons, the tin-pails and dippers dancing and rattling in the
rear, keeping time with the clatter of untamed tongues in the van.
"Shall we call at 'Appledale?'" asked the driver of the first wagon,
coming to a sudden stand.
"Go along!" laughingly answered a gay girl in the second. "Our horse is
putting his nose into your tin rattletraps."
The question was repeated.
"They are strangers to us," replied a black-eyed young lady, "and from
seeing them at church I should think them precise. A refusal would be
mortifying; and if the prim Miss Martha concludes to go, that will be
still worse. We cannot act ourselves, and all the fun will be spoiled.
What say you, Fanny Brighton?"
Fanny, a bright-looking, but rather reckless girl, replied: "They shall
not go, neither Miss Martha nor Miss Emma; not that I care a
fiddlestring for their primness or their precision; nobody shall
prevent me from thinking, and acting, and doing as I please to-day;
from being, in short, what I was made to be--Fanny Brighton, and nobody
else."
Fanny spoke with her usual authority, and expected obedience; but to
her surprise Henry Boyd, the young driver of the first wagon, still
hesitated, and stooping down, he whispered to a mild, lovely-looking
girl, who, seated upon a box, was holding her parasol so as to shield
from the sun's rays a sickly little boy. "Take a vote of the company,"
whispered the pretty girl, whom he called Mary.
"If it be your minds," said Henry, rising to his feet, "that we call at
Appledale, and invite Miss Martha and Miss Emma Lindsay to be of our
company, please manifest it by raising the right hand. It is a vote,"
he quietly continued, taking his seat.
"Mary Palmer!" called out Fanny; "you are a simpleton, and so fond of
serving people as to court insult."
Mary's cheek flushed a little. It was not the first time that she had
been called a simpleton, or some kindred name, by the out-spoken Miss
Fanny; for this young lady prided herself on not being afraid to speak
plainly, and tell people just what she thought of them.
As we before said, Mary's cheek flushed a little; but she instantly
thought to herself, "It is Fanny, and I won't mind it." So she smiled,
and said very gently, "I am sure, Fanny, that no sensible person will
insult me for trying to be courteous, though I may not exactly
understand the way. It can do the Misses Lindsay no harm to receive
such an invitation from us, and we cannot be injured by a refusal."
"For my own part," said Henry, "I think that the question whether we
are to be neighbors or not should be settled. They are strangers, and
it is our business to make the first advance toward an acquaintance. If
they decline, we have only hereafter to keep at a respectful distance."
"Precious little respect will they find in me," said Fanny. "I am too
much of a Yankee to flatter people by subserviency, or to put myself
out of the way to gain acquaintances about whom I care not a fig. But
drive on: while we are prating and voting about the nabobs at Appledale
the sun is growing hot."
Henry gathered up his reins, and away the wagons clattered down the
long hill, and with a short, thunder-like rumble crossed the bridge
between the Sliver Place and Appledale. Perhaps the writer may be
called to account for this romantic name: he will therefore give it
here. Appledale was once called Snag-Orchard, on account of the old
trees whose fugitive roots often found their way into the road, making
great trouble, and causing great complaint from the citizens, who
yearly worked out a tax there.
The people of that place would never have thought of calling it
anything else, had it not been for Susan and Margaret Sliver, who
sometimes wrote verses, and thought that Appledale sounded better in
poetry than did Snag-Orchard. These ladies, (they called themselves
young, but we must be truthful, even at the expense of
courtesy,)--these ladies, Margaret and Susan, said that this old place
was decidedly romantic; but the plain people living in that vicinity
knew but little of romance. If they saved time from hard labor to read
their Bible, it was certainly a subject for thankfulness. Most of them
thought that Snag-Orchard was a gloomy place, and that it was a pity
for so much good ground to be taken up with overgrown trees. It suited
Mr. Croswell, however, who was the former proprietor. He had but little
interest in the land belonging to this world, for all his relatives,
nearly every one, had gone to the land that is "very far off." He loved
the trees, and seemed to us like an old tree himself, from which
kindred branch and spray had fallen, leaving him in the world's
wilderness alone. Some thought him melancholy; but he was not: he was
only waiting upon the shore of that river dividing the "blessed land"
from ours; and one spring morning, very suddenly to his neighbors, he
crossed that river, and found more, infinitely more than he had ever
lost. After he was gone, the house was closed for a time; and through
the bright days of the following summer, when the foliage became heavy
upon the old trees, casting so deep a shadow as to make noonday but
twilight there, and when the night breeze sang mournfully among the
pines in the rear of that old house, people coming from the pond by the
way of the plain looked stealthily over their shoulders at
Snag-Orchard: but they knew not why, for nothing was there--nothing but
loneliness and desertion.
There was a report among the school children that the Croswell house
was haunted; and in his merry moods poor Graffam had told the boys, how
many a time upon a dark night, when going from Motley's Mills to his
house upon the plain, he had seen that house brilliantly illuminated,
and once or twice had heard old Mr. Croswell call to him from the
window, and say, "Beware, Graffam, beware." Little, however, was
thought of these stories, for we all knew that the unhappy man often
went home at night with a fire upon his brain, and had no doubt but
that he got up his own illuminations; and as for the admonition,
"Beware, Graffam, beware," it doubtless came from the frogs, and was
interpreted by his own conscience. Snag-Orchard, however, was evidently
dreaded until the Lindsays came to live there, when it became less
gloomy: for though the old trees with their heavy foliage were still
there, descending in long sentinel-like rows down the hill-slope, until
the last row drooped their branches into the bright waters of the
brook, yet the rank grass around the house, that had so long raised its
seedy head, and looked in at the windows, was mowed down, and
sociable-looking flowers had taken its place; and then at evening, the
traveler returning from the pond by the way of the plain, realized what
had once been but the brilliant phantasy of poor Graffam's brain--for
though Mrs. Lindsay was a widow, she was neither poor nor deserted. The
reason for her coming there was not at that time known among us. A
gentleman who was projecting the plan of a settlement at the pond, in
reference to mill and factory privileges, bargained for the Croswell
place, and early in the spring this family took up a residence there.
Three months had passed away, and they were still strangers. This was
not from any want of sociability upon the part of their neighbors,--or
from studied indifference upon their own part, but from the time of
their first coming they had seemed fully occupied with company. Gay
parties upon horse-back had frequently issued from the large gate,
where in years gone by oxen had walked demurely in, bearing a
three-story load of hay. The long riding-dresses and feathered caps of
these gay riders, inasmuch as they were new in that old-fashioned
place, were judged of according to the several tastes of the farmers'
wives and daughters. Some thought it pretty business for girls to be
figuring about with men's hats, when there was work enough for women
folks within doors: and others thought (very justly too) that the
matter of this riding was no concern of theirs; and having business
enough of their own, they concluded to let Mrs. Lindsay and her guests
do as they pleased. This was a wise conclusion, since it daily became
more and more evident that they had no intention of doing otherwise
than as they pleased. Some of the family always presented themselves at
church on the Lord's day, but among them Miss Emma, and an elderly
woman supposed to be the housekeeper, were the only constant
attendants. Thus much of the new family at Appledale. The reader will
learn more as we progress in our story.
"I would see Mrs. Lindsay and the young ladies," said Henry Boyd, as
the servant opened the door. Henry was shown into the same room, where
many a time he had sat and talked with old Mr. Croswell, but which now
seemed to him like another place. A handsome carpet now covered the
white oaken floor, and rich curtains partially concealed the windows
once shaded by simple green. Where stood the old "sideboard" was now an
elegant piano, and luxurious chairs and lounges had taken the place of
Mr. Croswell's high-backed, upright-looking furniture. But Henry was
self-possessed; and though there were a number of young ladies in the
room, dressed in handsome morning _dishabille_, he neither stammered
nor turned red, but bowing easily to Mrs. Lindsay, gave Misses Martha
and Emma an invitation to go with him and the young ladies to the
plain. Mrs. Lindsay saw that Martha, on glancing from the window at the
rustic-looking company, could scarcely suppress a smile, so she
courteously thanked Henry, and was about to excuse her daughters, when
Emma entered the room. Henry could not accuse either Mrs. Lindsay or
Martha of impoliteness, but he felt somehow as though there was a great
contrast between this courtesy and that shown him by Emma; for she
offered him her hand, and said, "It is very kind of you to call for us,
and if mamma pleases, I should like to go."
"I have no objection, my love," said Mrs. Lindsay, "provided you return
before night."
Henry assured her that they should, Martha respectfully declined the
invitation, and Emma ran up stairs. "I am going," said she joyfully to
the elderly woman with whom she was often seen at church. "I am going,
Dora; and that dear little Mary Palmer is there." Dora arose, and
pinned a thin shawl upon the neck of the delicate girl, and while she
did so, looked affectionately into her white face.
"Of what are you thinking, Dora?" asked Emma.
"I was thinking," said she, "that my lily could shed her fragrance
beyond her own garden to-day."
"O, I am no lily," said Emma, half laughing, "only a poor blighted
thing going out to steal fragrance from other flowers."
"Well, darling," said Dora, "you can have it without theft, for we can
make for ourselves a garden of spices anywhere, and then you know who
will come in and eat our pleasant fruit."
Emma smiled, and nodded a good-by, as she left the room.
"What a singular girl is Emma," said one of the young ladies who looked
from the keeping-room window, as she entered the wagon. "I was glad
that they had the courtesy to offer her a cushioned seat; but she has
refused it, and is riding off upon a box. Dear Mrs. Lindsay, Emma is
excessively polite."
"_Mysteriously_ polite, I call it," said Mrs. Lindsay. "She seems more
and more to lose sight of herself, in a desire to make others happy;
yet before we left the city she often offended me by her disregard of
fashionable etiquette."
"Yet Emma never was offensive in her manners, mamma," said Martha.
"She was truly beloved, I know it, dear," replied the lady; "but her
great truthfulness kept me in constant jeopardy. Just think of her
telling Madam Richards that people considered her too old to dance."
"Well, it _was_ a shame," answered the first speaker, "for a lady of
such excellent qualities to make herself ridiculous by a single
foible."
"So Emma thought," said Mrs. Lindsay, "and had the frankness to tell
her so. It turned out well enough in her case, it is true; for she told
me when I went to apologize, that Emma had shown so much heartfelt
interest and concern in the matter of her being a public
laughing-stock, that she was obliged not only to forgive, but to love
her the better for what I called a rudeness. But," continued Mrs.
Lindsay, "singular as she is, I would give worlds to have her----"
Here the lady paused, and Martha said quickly, "She is better, mother.
She sleeps very well now, and her night-sweats are not so profuse."
The mother made no answer. It was not because Martha's hopeful words
were unheeded, but because mournful memories were at work in her heart;
and to avoid further conversation she arose and left the room.
"Mamma will look upon the dark side," said Martha, "but _I_ am much
encouraged. Our physician says, that rambling about in the country,
running in the fields and woods, climbing fences and trees, if she is
disposed, will do wonders for Emma: and I believe it; for how
wonderfully she has improved during these three months--so full of
life, and so full of interest in everybody."
Emma had refused the cushioned seat, because she saw at a glance that
the young boy occupying that seat was more feeble than herself. The
name of this little boy was Edwin. Emma had met him frequently in the
woods, and down by the brook where he went to fish. They had thus
become pretty well acquainted, and from him Emma had learned the name
of the pretty girl who sat in the pew in front of their own at
church--the little girl who wore a black ribbon upon her bonnet, and
whose manner in the house of prayer was both quiet and devout. Edwin
had told her that the name of this pretty girl was Mary Palmer; that
just before their family came to Appledale she had lost a little
sister; and that since then, though very quiet and kind before, Mary
had been very patient, even with Fanny Brighton. Emma, therefore, was
not wholly unprepared for the off-hand greeting bestowed upon her that
morning by Fanny. On first getting into the wagon, she pressed Mary's
hand without waiting for the ceremony of an introduction, for she knew
her name. Mary loved to have Emma so near her; for though they had
never spoken together before, a mutual affection existed between them;
but the modest girl felt that Henry ought to have given Emma a seat
beside some one who knew more than herself.
"Fanny Brighton," thought Mary, "is so amusing when she chooses to be;
Alice More is so witty; and the Misses Sliver so learned, Henry ought
to have seen that Emma was where she would be pleasantly entertained;
but I will make amends for this when we get to the plain--I will
introduce her, and leave her with them."
Emma, however, seemed well satisfied with her company. "I have long
wanted to speak with you," said she.
"That is very polite," thought Mary; "I suppose it is what well-bred
people generally say. I have _really_ wanted to hear her speak, though
I won't say so, for she will think that I am only trying to be polite."
Emma took off her sun-bonnet when riding through the woods, and told
Mary how happy it made her to hear the birds sing, and to breathe the
sweet fragrance which came from the hay-meadows; but Mary felt
diffident, and did not reply warmly, as she felt. She called Emma Miss
Lindsay; so Emma felt obliged to call her Miss Palmer, though she
longed to put her arms around her, as they sat upon the box, and call
her _Mary_.
All this time the company in the rear were talking in this way:--
"I suppose," said Fanny Brighton, "that this little chicky-dandy thinks
she has done us a great favor, by condescending to ride in a wagon, and
upon a box. If she shows off any of her aristocratic airs to me, I will
soon make her understand that her room is better than her company."
"What a milk-and-water looking thing she is," said Alice More; "they
had better have kept their cosset at home; she will be calling, 'ma!
ma!' before night."
"And we will answer, 'bah!'" said Josh Cheever, as Susan Sliver put her
hand over his mouth, for fear that he would give a sample.
Arrived at the plains, the wagons were turned a little into the
shrubbery, so as not to obstruct the passage of the narrow road; then
the company alighted, while Henry and Joshua led the horses to one of
the large trees, (of which there were, as we have already said, but
few,) each carrying a bundle of hay under his arm.
In the mean time Mary introduced the young ladies severally to Emma.
Alice More professed herself very glad to see her; but this profession,
for some reason, seemed to give Emma pain. Fanny made no professions at
all, only coldly nodding a "how-d'ye-do," without appearing to notice
that Emma wished to shake hands. The Misses Sliver were cordial enough,
but too sentimental for the occasion; Miss Susan, using the language of
some novel she had read, said, she hoped to find in Emma a "kindred
spirit;" at which remark Fanny laughed outright, saying she hoped that
"Sliver Crook" and "Snag Orchard" would not become etherialized.
"I cannot talk in that way," thought Mary; "so I will go by myself, and
pick berries, leaving Miss Lindsay with them." Mary felt, however, that
she should like to be somewhere near Emma; so she only withdrew a
little way, sitting down where she could see her through the bushes.
Alice chattered away very freely for a time, and then wandered off in
pursuit of Fanny, who, from the first, had not addressed a single word
to Emma. But the Misses Sliver kept near her, and seemed to be making
themselves very agreeable. Mary heard them mention at least a dozen
books, of which she had not heard even the titles before, and she was
glad for having left Emma with those who could talk of such matters.
She watched her though, as she bent over the blueberry bushes, and
fancied that she looked sad. Then after a time she saw her sit down
upon a log, looking very languid and weary. Mary had brought a bottle
of nice milk from home that morning, and the thought crossed her mind
that a draught of that milk might be refreshing to Emma; so she took a
bright little dipper from her basket, and ran off toward the wagon.
"Where are you going, Mary Palmer?" said Alice, whom she met on the
way.
"Miss Lindsay looks very pale and tired," said Mary. "I am going to
carry her some of my nice milk."
"I would do no such thing," said Alice; "she is used to having a host
of servants at her heels, and thinks that we country girls will act as
her lackies. If she wants refreshment, tell her where it is, and let
her go for it herself."
"Why, Alice," replied Mary, "you told her this morning that you were
very glad to see her, and now you have no interest in making her either
comfortable or happy."
"To be sure," said Alice; "do you suppose that I was going to say, 'I
am not at all glad to see you, Miss Prim--I am mad enough with Henry
Boyd to pull his ears, because he went to your house for you?' You
would not have had me say so; but these were my feelings; so what am I
to do?"
"I know what _I_ would do," said Mary, firmly. "I would pray to God
until I had better feelings; so that I could say from my _heart_, I am
glad to see you."
"O good!" exclaimed Alice, laughingly; "you _are_ getting to be
religious, and I shall tell Fanny: so look out, little Miss Courtesy."
"You are very kind," said Emma, as she took the bright dipper of milk
from Mary. "I ate but little breakfast, and am very fond of milk. This
looks so nice too, so pure and white, in this clean, shining dipper:"
and Emma sat looking at the milk, as though it were a pity to drink it
up; and Mary stood looking at her, until she thought that perhaps it
was not polite to do so, and turned away.
"Don't go," said Emma, "unless you choose to be by yourself. Sit down
here just a minute. I have queer thoughts about this milk; and since we
are all alone, I will tell you what they are. You read the Bible,
Ma--,--I mean Miss Palmer?"
"Yes; but call me Mary, if you please. I am not used to being called
Miss."
"Well then, Mary dear," said Emma, drawing closer to her, as they sat
upon the log, "you remember where the Bible speaks of the _sincere
milk_ of the _word_" Mary smiled; for she was much pleased, and a
little surprised. Mrs. Lindsay and her family, with their Sabbath rides
and evening dancing parties, were not of course considered religious
people. "What do you suppose," continued Emma, "is meant by the sincere
milk of the word?"
"When a very little girl," replied Mary, "father bought me a small book
called 'Milk for Babes,' and said it was for children who wanted to
learn the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. That little book
was all about _charity_."
"Was it?" said Emma, with animation, "how strange that I should have
the same thoughts, without knowing anything about it! When you gave me
this milk I thought of that passage, and of the one about the cup of
cold water; and now, Mary, please to say why you took all this pains
for me. Was it just to be polite?"
"No," replied Mary, smiling; "I was afraid that you might think me
_im_-polite for offering you milk in a tin dipper, but I saw you
looking pale and tired, and thought that it might do you good."
"That was giving it to me in the name of a disciple," said Emma, in a
low voice, looking at the milk again, as though it was now hallowed and
blessed of God. "It is delicious," said she, taking the cup from her
lips, "and I feel better. I am not so weary; my head aches less, and my
_heart_ is refreshed."
"Then I have not lost my reward," said Mary. "But here come Fanny and
Alice. They are very entertaining, and the day will be less tedious if
you can manage to keep with them. Fanny is plain spoken, but people
call her a good-hearted girl; and Alice is so funny."
"If you please," replied Emma, "I had rather be with you. I am not
afraid of plain-spoken people, if they are kind. Dora is very careful
to tell me my faults, but then her manner is such that I can't help
feeling that it is because she loves me so well; so I am neither pained
nor vexed. I used to be very partial to _funny_ people; but I feel
serious now nearly all of the time. I can love Fanny and Alice; but,
Mary dear, I had rather be with you, if you please."
"O," replied Mary, "I love to have you with me."
She was prevented from saying more, for Alice now called out, "Forward,
march! Do you hear the drum?"
"It is not probable," said Fanny, "that a _religious_ person like Mary
Palmer will march to the tune of Yankee Doodle upon a kettle-drum."
Emma looked at Mary, and saw the deep blush upon her face, and the tear
that, in spite of herself, trembled in her mild blue eye.
"How unkind," thought Emma, "and so _rude_ too! This plain-spoken girl
has not a good heart, if people do think so. I shall ask Dora about
her."
"It is the signal for dinner," said Mary, recovering herself in a
minute, and turning with a smile toward Emma. "Henry wants us to go to
the wagons." So they walked along arm-in-arm, while Alice and Fanny
whispered together about this sudden intimacy, and prophesied that hot
love like that would soon be cold.
"I mean to tell Mary just what I think of it," said Fanny; "for I am
not afraid to speak my mind to anybody."
"Well," replied Alice, "I cannot imagine what Miss Emma likes in Mary,
or why Mary is so charmed with her. This much I will say, but don't you
name it to any one--neither of them is at all to _my_ fancy."
It was not wonderful that Alice did not know the secret of that
affection between two who were comparatively strangers to each other.
The reason was not plain even to Emma and Mary, for neither of them yet
knew it by the Scripture name, which is "unity of the Spirit." Each had
loved the other while as yet no word of communication had passed
between them, because each had a portion of that Spirit which binds
heart to heart. Alice would not have understood this had it been told
her, for she had never entertained this gentle Spirit. She might have
done so, for it knocks at every human heart; but there are other
spirits there--spirits that must be cast out, before that which is
long-suffering, meek, and good, will come in and sup with us. Alice
would not cast emulation, pride, envy, and jealousy out of her heart,
that the good Spirit might enter. Would she have done so, she might not
have found it so difficult to understand what Emma and Mary saw in each
other to love.
The company was now assembled under a large tree near to the roadside.
Henry had constructed a rude table, over which was spread a cloth, and,
assisted by Joshua, he was now bringing the dinner from the wagon,
while the Misses Sliver arranged the dishes.
"Here is a comfortable seat, Miss Lindsay," said Henry, when the dinner
was ready; and he led her to a rock beside the table, which was covered
with moss.
"One of nature's verdant cushions," said Susan Sliver.
"Nature is very polite to the aristocracy," whispered Fanny, loud
enough to be heard; but Emma lifted little Edwin to the rock, saying
that it was just high enough for him.
Fanny had determined to show that she was not afraid to act herself
anywhere, so she talked about matters not at all interesting to the
company, taking care to think differently from every one who expressed
an opinion.
Again the question arose in Emma's mind, whether such rudeness could be
the fruit of a good heart; but she quieted herself by saying, "I will
ask Dora about it."
After the dinner was over, Miss Margaret Sliver began to talk of some
verses that Susan had written for this occasion, and insisted on
drawing them from her pocket. Susan pretended great unwillingness; but
her sister easily possessed herself of the copy, which, with great
pathos of manner, she read to the company.
"Splendid! elegant!" exclaimed Alice; but at the same time she stepped
upon Fanny's toe, and gave her a merry sidelong glance. "Beautiful! are
they not, Mary Palmer?"
"I am no judge of poetry," said Mary, modestly; "so my opinion is not
worth having."
"_You_ cannot say so, Miss Lindsay," continued Alice, "for I heard you
repeating some lines this morning."
"Did you," asked Emma, coloring a little, "then I think they must have
been from a hymn by James Montgomery, of which I am very fond, and
sometimes repeat unconsciously."
"Of course," said Fanny, looking suddenly at Emma, "you think Miss
Sliver equal to Montgomery."
"This is not the place for me to say whether I do or not," replied
Emma, quietly.
"I know," said Fanny, "that there are some people who think that the
truth is not to be spoken at all times; but I have never yet been
afraid to say what I think."
"There are things," said Henry, "of which we may not think rightly,
and, understanding this, some are slow to speak."
"And who is to be the judge of our thoughts," asked Fanny, "whether
they be right or wrong?"
All were silent now; not because they had no answer for Fanny's
question, but because they were not willing to give the _right_ answer.
At last, Mary, in a low voice, replied: "The Bible should be our rule,
both for thought and word, and conscience must judge between that and
us."
"And does the Bible teach you to flatter people with your tongue, while
you are laughing at them in your sleeves?" asked Fanny.
"No," replied Mary; "but it teaches us to love our neighbor as
ourselves, to be courteous, and pitiful."
"Then I keep one requirement," said Fanny, jumping over the log, seated
upon which she had eaten her dinner; "for I do pity people who are too
mealy-mouthed to be honest--pity, or _despise_ them, I cannot tell
which."
All now had withdrawn from the table, except Emma, Mary, Joshua
Cheever, and little Edwin. "Your milk is very nice, Mary," said Eddy,
"but it does not cure my thirst; O I do want some cold water."
"There is none nearer than the pond," said Joshua, "unless you go to
Graffam's; but they are so piggish, I would choke before I would ask
water of them. The last time I went there, the old woman sent one of
the young ones to tell me that the village folks were an unmannerly
set, and she wanted them to keep their distance. I told the girl to
give my love to her mother, and tell her that she was the sweetest
poppy upon the plain. So you see that it wouldn't do for me to go there
again; I might get my head cracked with one of Graffam's rum-jugs."
"I am not afraid to go," said Mary. "I have no doubt but that the
blueberry parties are a trouble to Mrs. Graffam."
"_Mrs_. Graffam!" exclaimed Joshua, laughing. "Nobody else calls her
anything but Moll, and her husband, Pete."
Emma now lifted Edwin from his seat upon the rock, and taking his hand,
while Mary brought the bright dipper, they started for the log-house,
which looked in the distance like a black stump.
"It is loving your neighbor _better_ than yourself,"--said the little
boy, looking smilingly up into Emma's face,--"I am sure it is, to come
all this way with me."
"Well, we ought to love our neighbor better than ourselves," replied
Mary, who was walking behind. "We shall, Eddy, if we are like----"
"Like Jesus?" asked Eddy.
"Yes," said Mary. "He didn't love himself at all; but he loved us, even
unto death."
"How wonderful!" said Emma. "Talk some more about him, Mary dear, if
you please."
But they were now at the poor door, which swung upon its wooden hinges:
they were about to knock, when they saw a forlorn-looking woman come
from a dark closet, with a sick child in her arms.
"Poor little thing!" said Mary, going toward her.[*] "What is the
matter with him, Mrs. Graffam?"
[Footnote *: See Frontispiece.]
"He is very sick," she replied, glancing from her to the door, when
Emma courtesied politely, and Edwin pulled off his hat. "Walk in," said
Mrs. Graffam; "my children are all out upon the plain, but you can help
yourselves to seats." Then turning to Mary she said again, "He is very
sick, and I cannot tell what is the matter with him, unless it is want
of----." Here she paused, and after a time added, "He is losing all his
flesh, poor thing!"
"Yes," said Mary, "he looks as my dear little sister did just before
she died!"
"When did she die?" asked Mrs. Graffam.
"Just as the grass was getting green," said Mary. "It was a fit time
for her to die, Mrs. Graffam; for she was born in the spring, and it
seemed exactly as though the sweet bud had to go back to the
summer-land before it could bloom."
"And if your little baby dies, Mrs. Graffam," said Eddy, "he will be a
flower in God's garden; won't he, Mary?"
"Yes," whispered Mary, while the poor woman's face flushed, and her lip
quivered. Mary glanced at Edwin, and remembered her errand.
"Mrs. Graffam," said she, "I know that the blue-berry parties must be a
great trouble to you, and we would not have come here for water, only
Eddy is not very well."
"You are welcome to as much water as you want," interrupted Mrs.
Graffam, "and so is any one who can treat us with civility. We are very
poor, it is true, and that is not our greatest misfortune either; but
it is hard to be despised."
While Mary was gone for the water, Emma sat looking at the sick baby,
and noticed, that though the weather was warm, its skeleton limbs
looked blue and cold. She was going to advise the mother to wrap it in
flannel, when the thought that perhaps the poor woman had none,
prevented her speaking: for Christian courtesy never says to the poor
"Be ye warmed and clothed," while it provides not the things which are
necessary; and fortunately Emma thought it time enough to speak of what
the poor child needed, when she had _supplied_ that need. Edwin was
greatly refreshed by his drink of cold water, and kissing the sick
child, he thanked Mrs. Graffam, and was ready to go.
"There is a good old lady living with my mother," said Emma, "who is
used to sickness, and might know what to do for your babe, Mrs.
Graffam; shall I ask her to come with me, and see you?"
"I shall be glad to see anybody," was the reply, "who is like you or
your little friends;" and bidding the poor woman a good-by, they went
back to the plain.
Henry Boyd remembered his promise to Mrs. Lindsay, and before the sun
was down the company were on their way home. The talk and clatter of
the morning were now hushed. Joshua whistled, while his horse plodded
lazily along, until Fanny peevishly bade him "hold his tongue."
"Anybody does that," said Joshua, "when he whistles!" but he
good-naturedly stopped.
Margaret Sliver undertook to repeat some poetry composed by Susan, upon
the setting sun:--
The setting sun is going down
Behind the western hills;
It glitters like a golden crown,----
"What is the last line, Susan?" asked Margaret; but Susan was not
flattered by the way her poetry had been handled at the dinner-table,
and now she refused to supply the missing rhyme.
The setting sun is going down
Behind the western hills,
pursued Margaret;
It glitters like a golden crown,
"_On top of Motley's Mills!_"
added Alice; while Fanny, calling out to Henry Boyd, repeated the whole
verse as Susan's poetry, bidding him ask Miss Lindsay if Montgomery
could beat that. Susan was highly offended, saying that she considered
herself insulted, and chose to walk the remainder of the way.
"O no, Miss Sliver," said Joshua; "never mind Fanny Brighton--she is
only one of the blunt sort, saying right to your face what other folks
would say behind your back."
This explanation from Joshua was rather more favorable than Fanny
deserved; for she had not the faithful Christian charity, which, while
it unflinchingly speaks truth to those whom it concerns, is careful to
speak no evil anywhere. It was well known, that though Fanny boasted of
not being afraid to tell to people's faces what she thought of them,
she was not less fearless in talking of the same things in their
absence; so that she differed from common backbiters only in having
more--shall we call it impudence?
It is a harsh name, but let us analyze the principle. What spirit
possesses the human heart, when it shows a disposition to make others
uncomfortable? Is it frankness--we know that it is sometimes dignified
with that name; though it is little akin to the true Christian
faithfulness, which, always at peace with truth, never offends against
true courtesy. Charity regards the little foibles incident to fallen
human nature with a lenient eye, never pointing them out to the
scornful gaze of another, but remembering that they are to be touched
tenderly, if touched at all; _secretly_, too, apart from the scrutiny
of another, and by disinterested friendship alone.
"The Sliver girls make fools of themselves, and of each other," said
Fanny, when Margaret and Susan, arrived at their own house, coldly took
leave of the company.
"I know it," replied Alice. "To think that they will associate with us
girls, pretending to be young, when everybody knows that they are not:
dressing, prinking, reading novels, and making poetry; while their poor
old slave of a mother is making butter and cheese."
"It provokes me when I think of it," answered Fanny; "and how you can
flatter them so, calling their dresses becoming, and their poetry
beautiful, I cannot imagine, when you know, Alice, that it is all a
lie."
"Well," said Alice, laughingly, "I do it for fun. It is so amusing to
see their languishing airs; and then, Fanny, to tell the truth, I have
no objection to people's playing the fool, if it makes them feel
better."
"But I shall hate you, by-and-by," said Fanny, "for being a hypocrite."
"Guess it won't be any put out to you," replied Joshua; "for you are as
full of hate as an egg is of meat."