“Get me Gracie’s night-dress, and we’ll put her to bed—you and I,” the
captain said pleasantly to Lulu, when they had reached Gracie’s bedroom.
Lulu made haste to obey, and stood by his side ready to give her
assistance when needed.
“Poor darling,” she said in a low tone, “how tired and sleepy she is,
papa.”
“Yes, she is not at all strong yet,” he sighed, thinking to himself
it was not likely she would ever be any thing but feeble and easily
exhausted.
The child did not rouse to consciousness, but was still fast asleep as
he laid her gently down upon her pillow.
He covered her up with tender care, then seating himself again, drew
Lulu into his arms with a fond caress.
“Dear child,” he said, “your unselfish love for your sister makes me
very happy.”
There was a flash of joy in Lulu’s eyes as she lifted them to his, then
blushing and half hiding her face on his shoulder, “But I don’t deserve
to have you say that, papa,” she murmured; “for I didn’t want to come
up with you and Gracie.”
“No, but if you had had no desire to stay behind there would have been
no self-denial in your yielding to her wish. You deserve all the credit
I am giving you. Now do you want to go back again?”
“If you like me to, papa, Gracie is so sound asleep that she will not
miss me.”
“Yes; and if you are not too tired with all the shopping you have done
to-day, you may stay up half an hour later than your usual bedtime,” he
said, taking her hand and leading her from the room.
“Oh, thank you, papa!” she cried, “I don’t think that I’m too tired,
and I should like to so very much!”
“You are very greatly interested in what is going forward?” he
remarked, inquiringly, and smiling down on her as they descended the
stairs, her hand in his.
“Yes, indeed, papa! Oh, may I read the book that tells about the magic
cave?”
“Some day, when you are a little older; at present you may read only
what it says about that.”
Once such a reply to such a question would have brought a frown to
Lulu’s brow, and she would have asked sullenly why she could not
read the whole book now. But she was improving under her father’s
training; growing much less willful and more ready to yield to his
better judgment, having become convinced that he was really wiser
than herself, and that he loved her too well to deny her any harmless
indulgence.
So she responded in a perfectly pleasant tone, “Thank you, papa, I’ll
read only that part.”
“I can trust you,” he said, “for I know you to be a truthful child; and
I think, too, that you are learning to be an obedient one also.”
Lulu was allowed to stay in the parlor as long as the older people did,
as it so happened that they were ready to retire earlier than usual
that evening; they separated and scattered to their respective rooms
before ten o’clock.
Captain Raymond lingered behind to see that every thing was made secure
for the night. Passing into the library on his round he was a trifle
surprised to find Harold there.
“Ah, I thought you had gone up-stairs with the rest!”
“So I did—part of the way at least—but the remembrance of something I
heard this afternoon and which ought, I think, to give you pleasant
dreams, brought me back to tell it. That boy of yours, captain, is a
son to be proud of.”
“So I have thought myself, at times, but feared it might be only a
father’s partiality,” returned the captain, his face lighting up with
pleased surprise. “What have you to tell me of him?”
“He had an experience over at the Oaks last night, that might have
easily proved too severe a test of moral courage to an older fellow
than he, yet he came out of the trial with colors flying. I heard the
whole story from Art Howard as we were driving together from the Oaks
over to Roselands.”
And Harold went on to give a detailed and perfectly correct account of
what had taken place among the lads after retiring to their rooms for
the night.
He had an intensely interested and deeply gratified listener.
When he had finished, his hand was taken in a cordial grasp, while the
captain said with emotion, “A thousand thanks, Harold! You can never
know until you are a father yourself, what joy you have brought to
my heart. I have strong hope that my boy will grow up a brave, true
Christian gentleman, neither afraid nor ashamed to stand up for the
right against all odds.”
“I believe it, sir; he’s a fine fellow; I’m so proud of him myself that
I regret the fact that there is no tie of blood between us.”
The next morning Lulu was hurrying through the duties of the toilet,
saying to herself that she wanted a little talk with Gracie about
the Peri’s present to papa, before he should come in to bid them
good-morning, as was his custom, when she heard his voice in their
sitting-room, which adjoined her bedroom.
Half glad, half sorry, he was there already, Lulu made all haste to
finish her dressing, then softly opened the communicating door.
Her father was seated with Grace on his knee, his back toward herself,
and before he was aware of her presence she had stolen up behind him
and put her arms round his neck, her lips to his cheek, with a loving
“Good-morning, my dear, dearest papa!”
“Ah, good-morning, my darling daughter,” he responded, drawing her
round in front of him into his arms and returning the kiss. “How happy
it makes me to see you looking so bright and well. Beautiful, too,” he
added to himself; but that he did not say aloud.
“You’ve come in ’most too soon this morning, papa,” she remarked,
lifting laughing eyes to his.
“Ah! how is that?” he asked.
“Why, I was just coming in to consult with Gracie about the gift you
are to get from the Peri; and now I can’t, because it has to be a
secret from you, you know.”
“Papa,” said Grace, “please name over lots of things you would like to
have, so we can choose one, and you needn’t know which.”
“Lots of things that I should like to have!” he repeated, “I really
can not think of one. I have been deluged with beautiful and useful
presents; the lovely bracket Lulu sawed out for me, the pincushion
Gracie made with her own small fingers for my toilet table, Mamma Vi’s
beautiful painting that hangs over the mantel in my dressing-room, the
watch case from Max, beside the too-numerous-to-mention gifts from
others not quite so near and dear as wife and children.”
“But you’ve got to have something, you see, papa,” laughed Lulu,
“whether you want it or not. Never mind, though, Gracie, we’ll think up
something. Perhaps Aunt Zoe can help us.”
“Ah, that reminds me,” the captain said, “that we are to think of a
gift for her. What shall it be, Lulu?”
“Suppose we say a ring, papa? When we were in that large jewelry store
I saw her looking at one with an emerald in it, and she admired it very
much. Would it cost too much!”
“Perhaps not,” he said; “I shall see about it.”
“Did you like the things we gave you for Christmas, papa?” asked Grace,
affectionately stroking his face with her little white hand.
“Yes, indeed! particularly because they were all the work of your own
hands. I could hardly have believed such tiny fingers as my Gracie’s
could do work so fine as that on the cushion she made for her papa. And
Lulu’s carving surprised and pleased me quite as much.”
“Isn’t it just lovely, papa?” cried Grace with enthusiasm. “I can’t do
that kind of work at all.”
“No, you are not strong enough.”
“And I can’t sew half so well as she can,” added Lulu; “I’m not at all
fond of plain sewing.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” remarked her father, “for I think every
woman should be skilled in that sort of work.”
“I’d like sewing on a machine pretty well,” said Lulu, “but it’s slow,
tedious work with a needle in your fingers.”
“Then I fear if I should buy you a machine now, you would never learn
the skillful use of your needle. I want you to persevere with that,
daughter, and I promise that as soon as your mamma tells me you have
become an accomplished needle-woman, I will buy you the best machine
that is to be had. And perhaps,” he added with a humorous look, “it
will not be necessary to forbid you to use it too constantly.”
“I don’t believe it will, papa,” returned Lulu laughingly, “I don’t
believe I should ever enjoy working it half so well as sawing and
carving.”
Just then the breakfast-bell put an end to their talk.
Shortly after the meal was over Zoe drew Lulu aside and asked if she
had decided upon the present from the Peri to the captain.
“No, not yet, Aunt Zoe; have you thought of any thing?”
“Yes, one that is spoken of in the book we take the idea from, the idea
of the magic cave, the Peri and so on, I mean. It’s a pen-wiper with an
ass’s head, and the words ‘There are two of us.’”
“Why, Aunt Zoe! that would be just insulting papa! I shan’t consent to
it at all!” Lulu burst out indignantly.
“Oh no; it would be only to make fun, and your father would understand
it and be as much amused as any one else.”
“I don’t like it; I couldn’t bear to have such a thing as that given to
him,” returned Lulu. “I want to buy him a gold pen and holder that I
saw in the city. I have money enough, and don’t you suppose I can get
somebody to go for it?”
“Oh that will be easy enough,” said Zoe good-naturedly. “Edward is
going in to-day, and I know he will do the errand willingly.”
“Oh, that will be nice! Thank you,” said Lulu, in a tone of delight, “I
must run and tell Gracie about it.”
She was turning to go, but Zoe detained her. “Wait a moment,” she said.
“There are some pretty things to be made for adorning the magic cave;
do you want to help with the work?”
“Yes, Aunt Zoe, if you will show me what to do,” Lulu answered a
little doubtfully, “you know I’m not an expert needle-woman; but I
think I should enjoy working with pretty things; it would be much more
interesting than plain sewing.”
“Yes, indeed, and you will take to it very readily if I am not greatly
mistaken. I’ll join you presently, bringing some of the materials, and
show you what is wanted.”
“Oh, if you please, Aunt Zoe! I’ll be ever so much obliged; you’ll find
me in Gracie’s and my sitting-room,” Lulu answered, hurrying away.
“Yes; that will be a nice one for you to give papa,” Grace said in
reply to Lulu’s communication, “but what shall I give him? I want to
give him something too.”
“Make him a pen-wiper,” suggested Lulu; “that would go nicely with a
pen and pen holder, and you know he said he would rather have something
we made for him ourselves.”
“Oh, I’d like to, if I only knew how! Maybe mamma would give me some
stuff to make it of and show me how to do it.”
“Yes, I’m sure she will,” cried Lulu; “she’s so kind.”
At that moment Violet and Zoe came in together, bringing with them a
quantity of material to be fashioned into dolls, fairies, etc., for
ornamenting the magic cave, or to do duty as gifts to be dispensed by
the Peri.
“If you little girls feel inclined to give us some assistance in this
work, we shall be glad to have it,” said Violet pleasantly.
“I should very much indeed, Mamma Vi, if you or Aunt Zoe will show me
how,” exclaimed Lulu, eagerly.
“I too, mamma,” said Grace. “Please, mayn’t I make papa a present
first! I was thinking of a pen-wiper for him, if you’ll please show me
how to make a pretty one.”
“Gladly, my dear. What would you think of a little book, its inside
leaves of chamois, the cover of soft morocco, all fastened together
with ribbon, and papa’s name printed in gilt letters on the outside?”
“Oh, that would be ever so nice, mamma! But I haven’t any chamois or
morocco; and could any body go and buy them for me in time?”
“I have some of each and will make you a present of as much as you
need,” Violet returned gayly, bending down to press a kiss upon the
little eager upturned face.
“I have some liquid gilding too,” she went on, “so there will be no
trouble about the lettering on the cover. I will do that part and
perhaps papa will not object because so much is my work.”
“Oh, no; I’m sure he won’t!” exclaimed Grace; “and mamma, you’re so
very kind to help me so!”
Lulu was eagerly turning over the piles of pretty things, while Zoe
gave her directions how to fashion them into the desired articles.
Violet went in search of what was needed for the pen-wiper, and
presently they were all four busily engaged, chatting and laughing
right merrily as they worked, Violet and Zoe seeming to feel almost as
young and free from care as the two little girls.
They were dressing paper dolls as fairies in wide-spreading tarleton
skirts highly ornamented with tinsel.
Lulu had dressed two, thought their appearance really beautiful, and
was highly delighted at her success; she was holding the second one up
and calling the attention of her companions to it, when Harold Travilla
looked in to say that a quantity of things to be used in getting up
the tableaux, had come over from Ion, been taken by the captain’s
order, to one of the unoccupied rooms, and mamma thought Vi, Zoe and
perhaps Lulu, might like to look them over and select for the different
characters.
“Of course we will,” said Zoe, jumping up with alacrity, while Lulu
hastily dropped her fairy into her work-basket, asking “O, Mamma Vi,
may I?”
“Certainly, dear; Gracie too, if she wishes,” Violet answered
pleasantly, adding, “you will have plenty of time to finish your gift
for papa afterward, little girlie.”
Zoe had already hurried on ahead, Violet and Lulu followed more slowly,
as Grace was not yet strong enough to move quickly, and they would not
leave her behind.
Reaching the room whither the package had been conveyed, Grace was
comfortably seated in an arm-chair where she could overlook the
proceedings without fatigue, and the others gave themselves up to the
fascinating business of examining the articles and discussing their
merits, and the uses to which they should be put.
There were some very elegant silks, satins, velvets, brocades and laces
among them, and Lulu was quite lost in admiration. She thought it would
be delightful to wear some of them even for the little while a tableau
would last, and hoped it would be decided that she should take part in
several.
At length, having seen every thing, and being seized with a desire to
go on with her work, in which she had become quite interested, she ran
back to her own rooms without waiting for the others.
Reaching the open door of the sitting-room, she paused upon the
threshold, transfixed with astonishment and dismay. The baby, at the
moment sole occupant of the apartment, was seated on the floor tearing
up her fairies, while round her lay scattered in wildest confusion, the
contents of Lulu’s work-basket, skeins of silk, and worsted tangled
together, ribbons and bits of silk, satin and velvet that Lulu had
thought to fashion into various dainty little articles, all crumpled
and wet, showing this Miss Baby had been putting them in her mouth and
trying her pretty new teeth upon them.
Lulu’s first impulse was to spring forward, snatch the fairy out of the
baby’s hands, and give the little mischief-maker an angry shake.
But she controlled herself with a great effort, and recalling the sad
scenes and bitter repentance of a few weeks ago, refrained from rushing
at the child, but moved gently toward her, saying in soft persuasive
tones:
“Oh, baby, dear, don’t do so, let sister have that, there’s a darling!
Oh, you’ve made sad work! But you didn’t know any better, did you,
pretty pet?”
“Oh, Miss Lu! I’se awful sorry! didn’t neber t’ink ob my child doing
sech ting!” exclaimed the baby’s nurse, hurrying in from an adjoining
room. “I was jes’ lookin’ at de Christmas tings scattered roun’ an’
hyar de chile gets hol’ o’ yo’ work-basket fo’ I sees what she ’bout.”
“You ought to have watched her, Aunt Judy: It was your business to see
that she didn’t get into mischief,” returned Lulu in a tone of sorrow
and vexation. “All these pretty things are ruined, just ruined? And I’d
taken so much pains and trouble to make those fairies for the magic
cave,” she went on, taking them up and turning them over in her hands
with a despairing sigh.
“Never mind, daughter, there are plenty more pretty things where those
came from,” said her father’s voice from the open doorway.
Lulu started, and looked up in surprise. “Papa!” she exclaimed, “I did
not know you were there. I did try to be patient with baby.”
“And succeeded,” he said, bending down to smooth her hair caressingly
(for he was now close at her side), and giving her a tenderly
affectionate look and smile.
Then he sat down and drew her into his arms, while Aunt Judy carried
the baby away.
“Dear child,” he said, “you have made me very happy by your patience
and forbearance under this provocation. I begin to have strong hope
that you will learn to rule your own spirit, which the Bible tells us
is better than taking a city.”
Lulu’s face was full of gladness. “Now, I don’t care if the fairies
_are_ spoiled!” she said with a happy sigh, putting her arm round his
neck and laying her cheek to his. “I’m ’most obliged to baby for doing
it.”
Her father continued his caresses for a moment, then he said, “I am
going for a walk; would you like to go with me? I should be glad of
your company, and I think you need the exercise.”
“Oh, ever so much, papa!” she answered joyously. “There’s nothing
hardly that I like better than taking a walk with you!”
“Then you may go and put on your coat and hood, and we will set out at
once.”
It was a bright clear morning, the air just cold enough to be bracing
and exhilarating. Lulu felt it so and went skipping, jumping, dancing
along by her father’s side, her hand in his and her tongue running very
fast on the interesting subjects of children’s parties, tableaux and
magic caves.
He listened with an indulgent smile. “I think my little girl is very
happy this morning?” he said at length.
“Oh yes, yes, indeed I am, papa!” she answered earnestly, “how could I
help it with so much to make me so?”
“You are looking forward to a great deal of pleasure in entertaining
your young friends next week?”
“Yes, papa; and that makes me glad; but that isn’t all, you know.” And
she looked up into his face with an arch, loving smile.
“What else?” he asked, returning the smile with one full of fatherly
affection.
“Oh a great many things, papa; but most of all, that you don’t have to
go away and leave us any more; that makes this the very happiest winter
of our lives so far, Maxie and Gracie and I all think.”
“You may safely put my name into that list also,” he said.
“You’d rather be with us than on your ship?”
“Much rather, daughter. I greatly enjoy these walks with you, as well
as many another pleasure belonging to life at home with wife and
children.”
“Papa, why did you forbid me to take walks by myself?” asked Lulu
presently.
“Wait a moment,” he said, and just then a turn in the road brought them
face to face with a ragged, dirty man of aspect so forbidding that
Lulu, though not usually a timid child, clung to her father’s hand and
shrank half behind him in terror.
The tramp noted it with a scowl, pushed rudely by them and disappeared
round the corner.
“O papa,” panted Lulu, “what a horrible looking man! He looked at me as
if he’d like to kill me.”
“How would you enjoy meeting him alone?” asked her father.
“Oh! not at all, papa! I’d be frightened half to death!”
“I think you would; and what is more, I think he—and many another of
the same class—would be a more dangerous creature for you to meet alone
than any wild beast. Do you need any further reply to your question of
a moment ago?”
“O papa! no indeed! and I shall never disobey you again by roaming
about by myself. I see now that you were kind to punish me for it.”
“I thought it far kinder than to let you run the risk that such
disobedience would bring,” he said. “And,” he went on presently, “there
are others who, though not so forbidding in appearance, are very nearly
if not quite as dangerous: who coax and wheedle children and by that
means get them into their power and carry them away from their parents
and friends, to lead miserable sinful lives. I think it would break my
heart to lose my dear little Lulu in that way; so, my darling, heed
your father’s warning, and never, never listen to them.”
“Indeed I’ll not listen to them!” she exclaimed in her vehement way,
“but I am sure nobody could ever persuade me to go away from you, my
own dear, dear father!”
“Ah,” he said with a sigh, “I think you forget how, a few weeks ago,
you attempted to run away from me without persuasion from any one.”
“But that was because I thought you didn’t love me any more, papa,” she
answered humbly; “but now I know you do,” she added, looking up into
his face with eyes full of ardent affection.
“Never doubt it again my precious child, never for one moment doubt
that you are very, very dear to your father’s heart,” he said with
emotion, bending down to give her a tender kiss.