"HOMEWARD BOUND"
Captain Starkweather had renamed his sloop. The old name had been
painted out, and now, on each side of the boat, in gilt letters on a
white scroll the new name "Anne Nelson" could be seen.
The little craft was anchored off the Freeman wharf, and at early
twilight Mr. Nelson and Anne said their good-byes to the Freemans, and
put off in the sloop's tender. Captain Starkweather was on board the
sloop, and as noiselessly as possible they made ready to start.
The favoring winds swept the little craft along, and as the sun came
smiling up from the far horizon Anne awoke, and was quite ready for the
crackers, boiled eggs and doughnuts that Mrs. Freeman had packed for
their breakfast.
The long "arm" of land now stretched out as if to welcome the returning
voyagers, and the sloop ran in beside the little pier just as Captain
Enos and Jimmie Starkweather came down the beach.
"Been watching your craft since sunup," declared Uncle Enos. "What's
kept you in Boston so long, Starkweather? We began to worry about you,
John, and feared some ill news of our little maid."
Anne did not wait to hear her father tell the story of their great
adventure, but ran swiftly up the path toward home. Aunt Martha was
standing in the doorway, and as Anne saw the loving smile and felt the
kind arms encircle her she was indeed sure that this was home, and that
the most fortunate thing that had ever befallen her had been the welcome
Aunt Martha had given her two years before, when she had come to that
very door asking for shelter.
How much there was to tell! And how Aunt Martha exclaimed over the
adventures of her little maid, and thanked heaven that she was safely
back in Province Town.
Then when Uncle Enos and John Nelson came up the path, each wheeling a
barrow filled with the fine gifts that Anne and her father had brought
home, then indeed did Mistress Stoddard declare that it was enough to
make one believe in good fairies. And that reminded Anne of Caroline's
story, which she had written down in the book.
Captain Enos put on his glasses and looked the book over admiringly.
"It should be in print," he declared; "this book is the finest thing of
all, Anne. 'Twould be an excellent idea, Martha, for us to ask the
neighborhood in to hear it read."
But Mrs. Stoddard shook her head, and said Anne must not think too well
of what, after all, was Miss Rose Freeman's book as much as it was
Anne's. "You must not overpraise our little maid," she warned Captain
Enos reprovingly. But the book was ever one of Mistress Stoddard's most
valued treasures, and was kept with "Pilgrim's Progress" in the big
chest.
It was late in the afternoon before all the dishes, pewter, the fine new
table-cloths, and the pretty brown cloth for Mistress Stoddard's new
gown, were unpacked.
"This package is for Amanda," Anne said, holding up a good-sized bundle.
"For Amanda, indeed!" exclaimed Mistress Stoddard. "I'm not too sure
that she deserves it. 'Twas she that sent you out into the night,
thinking your Aunt Martha hard-hearted and unfair. And now a fine
present for her--I do not know about it."
"Oh, Aunt Martha, Amanda didn't mean to," pleaded Anne, "and she came
and told you."
Anne picked up the bundle and sped away. Down past the spring and up the
sandy path toward Amanda's home she ran, hoping to meet Amanda coming to
welcome her. Amanda was on the door-step with her knitting. At the sight
of Anne she started up as if to run indoors, but Anne's call made her
hesitate, and in a moment Anne was beside her, saying: "Amanda! Amanda!
Isn't it fine that I am home again! And see, I've brought you these
presents from Boston. See, Amanda!" and she held up the silk sash, and
spread out the pretty dimity.
But instead of exclaiming with delight, as Anne had expected, poor
Amanda dropped her work, covered her face with her hands and began to
cry.
"Stop crying, Amanda Cary! You'll get spots on your lovely sash," said
Anne, and Amanda's tears ceased in sudden terror lest she spoil that
wonderful length of shining blue silk.
"Taste of that barley sugar, Amanda," continued Anne, opening a
heart-shaped box, and helping herself to a piece. Amanda obeyed almost
unconsciously, and when Mrs. Cary came to the door a little later she
found the two girls sitting close together, talking and laughing.
That night after Anne was fast asleep in the little loft chamber, John
Nelson told his good friends that he wished all the little settlement to
share in his good fortune.
"My little maid and I have found a home and friends here," he said, "and
I should like well to do some friendly thing for the people before I
return to Boston."
"'Twould be a pleasant thing for us all to have a day together, and a
good dinner," suggested Mistress Stoddard, "with figs, dates, and some
of those fine crackers and jellies, and of course, a good fish chowder;
'twould be a treat indeed," and so it was decided that the neighborhood
should be bidden to come as the guests of John Nelson and Anne for a
day's pleasuring.
"We'll spread a sail in the yard to make a shelter from the sun,"
suggested Captain Enos.
"I'll make the chowder myself," declared John Nelson. "Mistress Stoddard
shall not be burdened with work, and I'll see that the Starkweather
boys earn a shilling by helping me," and it was settled that the
following Thursday should be the day.
Anne thought it the finest plan in the world, and she and Amanda brought
branches of pine, and fragrant fir balsam to cover the ground under the
big sail. Mrs. Stoddard insisted on spreading her two new fine
table-cloths over the rough table, and on using her tall pewter
pitchers.
"And Elder Haven is to have a plate and cup of china," she said proudly.
Not a boat put out from harbor on that Thursday morning, and the day was
not far advanced when the guests, all wearing their Sunday best, began
to come up the hill toward Captain Stoddard's house. John Nelson and
Anne gave them all a warm welcome, and as they all stood together around
the white covered table and Elder Haven asked a blessing to rest on them
all it seemed to Anne and Amanda that it was the happiest day that
Province Town had ever known.
The Stories in this Series are:
A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN
A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY
A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;
otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's
words and intent.