round the room so fast, that Pet had not a particle of breath left in
her fat little body. The noise made all the other children open their
eyes, and join in the fun; while even the baby sat up in its crib, to
crow, and pat its dimpled hands together, because the rest did: babies
can never give any better reasons for their actions. Nurse Hannah and
her assistant, Sarah, never had such work to dress their charges, as on
that morning. First, Tom put on his soldier's cap, which Santa Claus had
given him only a few weeks before, and strapped the sword about his
waist, which certainly made him look very funny indeed, considering that
he still wore only his night-clothes; while all the rest strutted after
him in single file, Dick beating a drum, Milly carrying a tin musket,
and Pet bringing up the rear, staggering under the weight of a knapsack.
In this way, they marched about, always slipping like eels when Nurse
Hannah touched them, and making so much noise the while, that she could
scarcely hear herself speak. At last, Sarah pounced upon Pet, and bore
her away shrieking and struggling to the bath-room, whence, after a good
deal of gurgling and splashing, she returned, looking as fresh as a
rosebud that the dew has just kissed into fragrance. Milly now began to
behave better; for she thought she must set Pet a good example, since
she was so much the elder of the two. Tom and Dick, however, grew wilder
and gayer as they dressed themselves. They hid Milly's boots so that she
could not find them; they whisked the baby out of his crib, where he
sat contentedly sucking one thumb, and perched him upon the bureau; and
Tom leaped upon the table with a newspaper, which he held upside down,
and pretended to read, with Nurse Hannah's steel-bowed spectacles upon
his little pug nose.
"At this they all laughed so loudly that mamma came to the door to
inquire what was the matter, and tell them it was breakfast-time.
"'O Sarah! please brush my hair, quick,' implored Milly. 'I want to
begin my year in season for every thing, if I possibly can.'
"So Sarah brushed her hair, and smoothed down the nice new dress and
crisp muslin apron prepared for the occasion; then Milly ran downstairs,
and climbed into her high chair, just before papa was ready to ask the
blessing, feeling very gay and happy. After breakfast, mamma proposed
that they should all go out to play for a time, as the morning was so
fine.
"'Then,' she said with a smile, patting her eldest daughter's soft round
cheek, 'we will see what we can do to amuse Milly in the house.'
"Mamma then went away, and Milly turned to the window with a half sigh
of disappointment. The view from where she stood was beautiful enough to
make any child's eyes sparkle with delight. The earth was hidden by a
soft covering of fresh snow; the trees and shrubs were powdered with
icicle fringes, that gleamed and sparkled in the sun like so many
crystal pendants; and the Hudson River swept along, bearing upon its
surface, now a stately steamboat, ploughing its way swiftly along
through sheets of foam-flakes, and now a flitting sail-boat, with white
sail spread like a bird's wings upon the wind. But, for the moment,
Milly did not enjoy this splendid winter landscape; nor did she notice
the little snow-birds, hopping about the frozen ground on their
frail-looking little legs, and cocking their bright eyes up at her, as
if begging a crumb from the plenty of the table. A cloud had come over
her bright face, causing it for the time to look sullen and sad. Do you
know what she was thinking of? Precisely what you or any other little
child might in her place. She had expected a birthday gift, and now
nothing of the kind was presented to her from papa even down to the
baby.
"'I always had one,' reflected Milly, growing more and more aggrieved as
she thought of this injustice, until a tear rolled down her cheek. 'I
always had one,'--this with a sob,--'even when I was ever so little. I
had a rag doll, and a tin horse and cart, and a picture book, and all
sorts of things; but to-day'--
"Here Pet came running in with her arms full of wrappings, followed by
Sarah also carrying Milly's warm cloak, hat, and mittens.
"'Come,' said Pet, 'we are to slide on the pond with the boys, and have
such fun.'
"'I don't want to slide,' pouted Milly, turning away to the window
again.
"'What a naughty girl!' exclaimed Sarah, as she tied on Pet's hat, who
could do nothing but stare at Milly in amazement, with big, bright eyes.
"'Not do,' piped the little sister. 'Oh! I know somethin', Mil',' she
added, puffing out her cheeks with an important air. 'You are not to go
up-stairs at all, mamma said.'
"'Oh, you silly little goose!' said Tom, overhearing the last sentence
as he entered the room: 'I shall box your ears for that, Miss.'
"Then Tom pretended to carry out his threat, and Milly forgot her tears
to join in the romp; while Sarah tried to defend poor Pet, who became so
tumbled and out of breath, with her hat knocked over one eye, that she
looked very funny indeed, though I do not believe she was very much hurt
after all.
"Well, they went out into the frosty air, which nipped their little
noses, stung their round cheeks into a warmer glow, and caused the blood
to course through their young veins like sparkling champagne. Tom and
Dick meant to be very good and patient to-day, because they loved their
little sister much, although they were sometimes rough and rude to her;
but then she was only a girl. Milly's uncle had sent her a beautiful
pair of skates Christmas, all buckles and straps and sharp-curved
runners. They were really splendid; but Milly did not make very much
progress in using them, after all. Her ankles _would_ turn; and she felt
so helpless standing upon the smooth, glaring surface of ice alone,
with her two feet planted close together, while her brothers whizzed
past her in circles that made her head spin to watch, and asked her why
she did not "strike out,--so!" Then when she followed their advice, and
did strike out, her skates were sure to flash up in the air, where her
head ought to have been, while her head went down bump, bump, where her
skates should have been. This was the way Milly skated. When they
reached the pond, Tom and Dick strapped on their skates; then Dick
said,--
"'Now, Milly, we will teach you real nice to-day: we are going to be
awfully good.'
"'No, I thank you,' said Milly, with a grand air: 'I am not going to
tumble about, and get so vexed on my birthday. Pet and I will be ladies,
and you shall be our horses.'
"At first, the two boys looked surprised; but Milly quite coolly seated
herself upon Tom's sled, tucked her little petticoats snugly about her,
and sat nodding at them both.
"'Upon my word, that's cool!' cried Tom; but he harnessed himself with
the rope, nevertheless, and away they started, the silver bells
attached to the sled tinkling merrily. They had a grand time of it for
an hour or so, until Milly suddenly remembered what Pet had said about
not going up-stairs; and then she wondered what it all could mean. They
finally started for the house; and when they saw their mamma standing at
the dining-room window watching, Pet and Milly joined hands, and ran as
fast as they could towards home: they could not tell exactly why, except
that they felt like it.
"'Can Milly go up-stairs now, mamma?' asked Pet eagerly.
"Mamma assented; and Milly, wondering very much what was coming,
followed her mother into a little room that had never before been used,
and which was now furnished in the most beautiful manner. There was a
fresh muslin curtain, looped with gay ribbons, at the window; the carpet
looked as if it had just been strewn with rosebuds; the tiny bedstead,
of carved wood, had the daintiest linen and crimped hangings; while
there was a little bookcase in one corner, containing all kinds of
pretty books; upon the table bloomed a bouquet of sweet-scented
violets; and by the table was the loveliest rocking-chair imaginable,
just large enough to hold a little girl of six years old. Upon the wall,
in a wreath of evergreen, were written these words: 'Milly's room.'
"Milly gazed about her, feeling as if she was in a dream. Having
examined all the fine furniture which was from this time to be all her
own, Pet pointed to a large object in a corner, concealed by a sheet
curtain.
"'What's that?' dancing about with delight.
"'Let her guess,' said Tom, putting his hand over foolish little Pet's
rosy lips, to keep her from telling the important secret.
"'It's a ba-by,' gurgled Pet; but Tom put his jacket over her head, and
extinguished her entirely.
"'Can you guess what it is?' asked mamma.
"'It looks like an elephant,' said Dick.
"'I should think it might be a bookcase, only there is one; and Pet said
it was a baby-house,' replied Milly hesitatingly.
"'Right, right!' cried all the children, clapping their hands.
"Then papa drew aside the curtain, and Milly's eyes fairly danced with
delight at the sight disclosed.
"It was the most splendid baby-house she had ever seen in her life,
although she had always considered that of her Cousin May very fine
before. The roof reached nearly to the ceiling of the room, boasting
gables and chimneys; there was a large front door, wearing the number of
the house upon a brass plate; and the windows with the parted curtains
temptingly invited a glimpse into the interior. Mamma then told Milly to
open the door, which she did half shyly, as though she did not know what
to expect next. First, she sat down upon the carpet to look at the
kitchen, with its shining painted floor, its stove, dresser, teakettles,
saucepans, flat-irons, and other implements of that department, over
which reigned Dinah, in a yellow turban and smart red dress, with ever
so many assistant darkies, from her daughter Sue down to tiny doll
grandchildren, not more than an inch long, all as black as ebony. Next
came the dining-room, which was certainly as handsome as the most
fastidious doll could wish for. There were two mahogany sideboards, with
a grand array of frosted cakes, pies, and ice-cream pyramids, only they
were all made of painted wood; and there was a table with a beautiful
gilt tea-service, and a large coffee-urn upon it. On the neatly papered
wall hung several choice pictures about an inch square, and a veritable
cuckoo clock, with the bird all ready to pop out when you pulled a silk
tag. A genteel waitress, in a muslin cap and apron, stood by the table.
"Milly now stood up to view the second story, and by so doing just
brought her small nose on a level with the bedroom. She found this to be
furnished exactly like her own. The same carpet was spread upon the
floor; the bureau, the bedstead, and washstand, were precisely similar.
The baby-house had many more articles of furniture, however, than did
the larger apartment; for it was not only adorned by a toilet-table, a
wee bath-tub, and a wardrobe, but there were ever so many cradles and
high-chairs for the children.
"'Now look at the parlor,' cried Pet.
"I cannot begin to describe the magnificence of this drawing-room. Every
thing was gilt and crimson in the appointments, which is certainly very
good taste, whether doll or human being. There was a gilt chandelier,
with pink wax candles ready to light at any time, gilt chairs, and
centre-table holding vases filled with flowers, while the carpet and
walls were crimson. Before the open piano was seated a very pretty doll
in a flounced blue silk dress, trimmed with crystal drops; upon the sofa
reclined her two sisters, one wearing white with a green sash, and the
other pink barege; while the mother, in purple satin edged with white
lace, occupied a large arm-chair, with her feet upon a footstool. At the
billiard-table in the corner were several more dolls, one holding the
cue ready to play a game.
"This is all that I can remember of the wonderful baby-house (it is a
long time since I saw it last); but if there was any thing else that I
have not mentioned, you may be sure Milly discovered it before
nightfall, that birthday when she was six years old. When she had seen
all these things, little Milly jumped up with a flush on her cheek, and
turned to all the kind faces that were watching her surprise and
pleasure. First, she gave her parents a kiss of thanks; then there was
Sarah smiling in the doorway, and Nurse Hannah holding the baby, who
looked quite solemn, with one thumb in its mouth, baby fashion. The boys
then ran away to their skating again, for they thought they were too big
and old, to show much interest in a baby-house; and the sisters were
left to their play undisturbed. Of course there was no end of fun for
the rest of that long, happy day. Milly and Pet had hardly leisure to
eat their dinner, they were so absorbed with their new playthings. Such
a confusion as they made in the neat little rooms, house-cleaning,
re-arranging furniture and dollies! Such a number of meals as were
served in that one afternoon alone! It is only a wonder that a single
doll had any digestion left, or that Dinah could still show her white
teeth in that contented smile; for any other cook would have given
warning that she was about to leave, I am sure, who had to serve the
quantities of sweetened water, scraped apple, and chalk dishes that she
did. But Dinah did not lose her temper, although it was so severely
tried, one would think; and the day's pleasure closed with a grand
tea-party, to which Tom and Dick were invited. Then the baby-house was
arranged, and the door closed for the night.
"When it was bedtime, Milly realized, for the first time, what a large
girl she had grown, to have a place all to herself. Sarah brought a
light, and prepared to put her charge to bed; but this Milly resisted
indignantly. She was going to undress, and take care of herself; so she
bade Sarah good-night very ceremoniously, and the nursery-maid went away
laughing. There was a good deal of pattering to and from the nursery,
however, after that. First, Milly ran across her mother's room, and
along the passage, to make a call upon the other children; and she
looked back with a little shiver at comfortable Miss Pet sitting on the
hearth-rug like a soft white kitten, and the baby asleep in the crib, as
she returned to her _own room_ once more. Then the others made her a
call, and envied her new dignity: only Pet whispered in an awed tone,--
"'Wont you be afraid when the light goes out, Milly?'
"'No, indeed,' said Milly bravely.
"Then she blew out the candle, and sprang into bed, just to show Pet how
much she enjoyed it all. But when they had trotted back, and it was all
dark, she began to see strange shapes from out of the darkness, and to
hear rustlings all about that she had never noticed in the shelter of
the nursery, until she fell asleep. She was awakened by a noise that
made her heart leap into her throat with a single bound. It was
something between a gurgle and a groan; and so frightened grew little
Milly, that she stole out of her warm bed, and paused, trembling, on the
threshold of her mother's room to listen. What do you suppose the noise
was, after all? Milly almost laughed at herself when she discovered; it
was her papa snoring loudly. She was so glad that no one knew of her
fright, the first night she slept alone, that she nestled into bed
again, and pulled the blankets almost over her curly head. The moonlight
came peeping into the window in silvery beams; and, after looking out
upon the clear sky, where a few stars twinkled, Milly saw a wonderful
sight. Down the moonbeam, which formed a pathway paved with sparkling
hues, floated tiny fairy figures, bearing in their midst upon a litter,
formed of a lily-cup, their queen. Milly thought she had never dreamed
of any thing half so beautiful. Shimmering colors wrapped each little
sprite in a misty glow, while their wings were frosted like those of a
butterfly. As for the queen, she was ten times more radiant than any of
her subjects, as a queen should be; and, when she moved, a faint musical
sound tinkled from the chains of turquoises, which were fastened about
her waist; from thence they twined in festoons all about her small
person. She was further distinguished from the rest by a starry crown
upon her head, and a wand tipped with the same radiance in her hand.
"'Here we are, at last,' said the moonbeam fairy in the sweetest voice.
'Give me your hand, Milly.'
"The little girl extended it half-fearfully, and the fairy leaped into
the outspread palm, dancing lightly over the pink-tipped fingers in
doing so.
"'Don't be afraid of me,' she said. 'I never hurt any child in my life,
I assure you.'
"The other fairies climbed upon the bed also, some clinging to the
curtain tassels, some perched among Milly's curls, and others sat at
their ease on the footboard.
"'It is Milly's birthday,' rustled the elves, like the soft patter of
raindrops among forest leaves.
"'Yes: we have come a long way to see you, for we live in the moon,'
said the fairy; 'and it is only when she lowers silver ladders to the
earth, that we can make a visit down here.'
"'I am so glad you all came to-night,' exclaimed Milly; 'only how did
you know, away up there, that it was my birthday?'
"'Ah!' returned the fairy smiling, 'we always know every thing, you may
be sure. The angels tell us, especially about those that are good upon
the earth. Now to-night my twelve sisters are also down here somewhere;
this one flitting into the attic windows of the city streets, where
there is sickness and sorrow; that one whispering words of comfort in
dreams of warmth and plenty to the little wayfarer, sleeping upon a
cold doorstep; while another is hovering over the broad sea, to lead the
poor, rude sailor's thoughts home.'
"'Do you live in a palace?' asked Milly.
"'Yes: we live in a palace beside a silver lake; and we are called the
twelve sisters of the fairy lake, because we all sprang into life from a
single bubble of foam, blown through the reed of our Father, the water
god, who rules over rivers and fountains in the moon.'
"'How wonderful!' commented Milly.
"'Let us be doing something, mistress,' piped a restless elf, who had
never been at rest a moment, but who skipped and danced about like a
firefly; once, indeed, turning a summersault, and landing upon Milly's
nose.
"'What shall we do?' said the queen.
"'Oh! any thing else but talk, please; we can do that at home,' replied
the elf.
"'Shall I show you my new baby-house?' inquired Milly, who supposed that
the fairies must find as much to interest them in it as she did
herself.
"At this the restless elf darted off, and was followed by the others;
while the queen waved her wand, and, to Milly's astonishment, the door,
which she had carefully locked, flew wide open. The fairy again waved
her wand; and from every tiny chandelier sprang jets of light, that
shone through the windows, and sparkled over the handsome furniture in
the most beautiful manner.
"'Will you come to see the fun?' asked the fairy; and Milly, all
curiosity, followed her midnight guests across the room.
"The restless elf next borrowed the queen's wand, and, stepping into the
window of the bedroom, tapped each of the sleeping dolls with it upon
the head.
"'Come, come! get up, you lazy creatures!' cried the roguish elf,
enjoying himself immensely.
"All the dolls began to move about and yawn, as if they were just waking
up. Milly thought she had never imagined any thing so delightfully funny
as the little babies winking their bright black eyes, and crying so that
the nurses had to rock the cradles to keep them quiet.
"'Now, then,' said the elf, 'you all dress yourselves as quickly as
possible, and then I will tell you what to do.'
"He left them in the bedroom, roused Dinah in the kitchen, and the
genteel waitress in the dining-room; then he returned to the parlor,
tried the piano, whistling a tune, at the same time winking so drolly at
Milly, that she laughed with delight; played a round or so at the
billiard-table, and then seated himself in the large arm-chair. In the
mean while, the dolls were grumbling over the whole affair.
"'I never heard of such a thing,' said the fat mamma, smoothing her hair
before the looking-glass, 'to turn us all out of bed at this time of
night, and set all babies crying, too!'
"'Never mind, mamma,' said the daughter in blue silk, shaking out her
flounces: 'it is the little lady's birthday, and we can take a nap
to-morrow.'
"'Yes,' chimed in the pink-barege sister; 'and she never has broken us,
you know.'
"'I am sure I am afraid of my legs, if that Miss Pet only looks at me,
for fear they will be smashed,' echoed the white-muslin lady, looking
mournfully at her china boots.
"'If Pet could only hear her talk!' whispered Milly to the fairy queen;
when lo! in toddled the young lady, and, putting her arm about Milly's
neck, stood looking at the wonderful sight also.
"'I am so glad you can see it too, Pet!'
"'By this time the dolls had made their toilets; all except the babies
that were left in charge of their nurses, some of whom trotted them upon
their knees, or fed them with pap out of tin mugs, while others still
rocked the cradles, and the seamstress stitched upon the sewing-machine.
"'First, we will have a dance,' said the elf, cutting a caper in mid
air. 'You stupid dolls! why don't you act as though you were made of
something better than wood?'
"'We are made of the best French china and kid,' retorted the dolls
indignantly, as they all huddled together in the corner, and stared at
the elf with their round eyes.
"'They are afraid of you; join your companions on the roof,' commanded
the queen.
"The elf made a wry face, for he desired to play pranks upon the
dollies; but he flew up at the royal command to where the others were
clustered about the chimneys, and hung himself by one leg from an eave,
with his queer little face and twinkling eyes close to Milly. Left to
themselves, the inmates of the baby-house felt more at their ease. The
blue-silk daughter commenced to play a lively air upon the piano, to
which all the younger dolls began to dance; and such waltzes, polkas,
and quadrilles as were performed never were seen before.
"'You would think they had been to dancing-school all their lives,' said
the fairy.
"'What fun we are having!' exclaimed a pretty doll, with red cheeks,
mincing along. 'I was only made last week, and I had no idea the world
was such a nice place.'
"'You need not think you are to go on in this way all your life,'
snapped another, who was rather ill-natured, because her nose was
broken. 'We are all bewitched to-night.'
"'Are we?' returned rosy-cheeks. 'I should like to be so always, then.'
"In the mean while, the stout mamma had done nothing but doze and nod
upon the sofa, with a fine lace pocket-handkerchief over her head, while
all the music and dancing had gone on so merrily about her. But no
sooner had the genteel waitress arranged every thing below stairs, and
tinkled the little silver bell, than she whisked off the covering from
her face, and rose briskly to go to supper.
"Such a feast as awaited them! There was _real_ tea and coffee bubbling
in the urns; the wooden cakes, pies, and ices, were wooden no longer;
or, if they were, the dolls certainly found them delicious. As for
Dinah, the cook, she was as busy as possible, not only making various
dishes over the fire, but boxing the ears of her children, and scolding
them when they did not bring her pepper or salt just to the minute.
Then, what a pet she was in when any thing burned upon the stove!
"Milly watched all the busy little figures until her very eyes ached,
and the clock, upon the dining-room wall of the baby-house, struck one,
two, when out popped the bird above, without any one's pulling the silk
tag, and chirped 'cuckoo' quite distinctly. At this the moonbeam fairies
fluttered from their perch upon the gables, and circled in rings of
flame and purple and gold and blue, quickly succeeding each other; while
the moonlight streamed brighter and brighter, wrapping every thing in a
dazzling cloud.
"What do you suppose this dazzling light really was, my dear little
reader? Why, it was nothing but another day's sun kissing Milly's
eyelids and curls with golden caresses. Yes, every thing was undisturbed
in her room. The baby-house was closed; and, when she peeped in, all the
dolls were as stupid as though they never had skipped, or eaten a late
supper the previous night, while all the wooden cakes stood upon the
sideboard untouched.
"'Never mind; the fairies _were_ here,' thought Milly, 'for Pet saw
them, too.'
"At the breakfast-table, she tried to tell her story; but Tom and Dick
laughed at her so, she did not get through with it very well.
"'But the fairies were here,' cried Milly, half vexed. 'Pet saw them.'
"The little sister, who was eating bread and butter contentedly,
stopped, with her mouth and eyes wide open, which made everybody laugh
the more.
"'I never did!' said Pet, indignantly: 'I only slept the whole time.'
"Poor Milly said no more; but she never saw the moon climb her
sparkling, star-strewn pathway afterward, without wishing that the
fairies might spread their rainbow wings, and flutter down into her
little chamber again, as they did the night when she was six years old."
It stormed heavily all day. The Teapot and Saucepan, sitting on the
shelf in a state of idleness, agreed together, that, if the rain dashed
against the windows in that way, the Club would not be able to hear each
other speak when night came.
On the hearth stood an intruder; a dilapidated old umbrella was in the
corner, drops of dirty water trickling in streams across the hearth from
the damp folds.
"I have wet my feet in this muddy river," said the Wasp.
"The hearth was so clean before," sighed the Caterpillar.
"I am really very sorry my master the peddler left me in your way," said
the Umbrella, meekly. "Only I cannot help it."
"To be sure not," said the Kettle. "You look like an old traveller,
friend; will you tell us something of yourself?"
"Certainly," replied the Umbrella, and began his history:--
THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA.