umbrella need to be; I am so faded and stained by old age or rough
exposure now. Yet I actually was; for in the large manufactory where I
was born, no stouter whalebone frame or finely carved handle could be
found.
"My ribs have been broken in several places since, and clumsily mended
again, which naturally gives me a bungling appearance. Ah, well! beauty
must fade.
"I remember very well my debut in life. I was standing in the rack of a
larger shop, one fine summer morning, when a very natty young gentleman
entered, and purchased me without delay.
"Of course, as I was inexperienced and foolish, I was only too glad to
exchange the monotony of the warehouse for any novelty.
"Allow me to remark, in commencing, that I have one complaint to urge
against fate for having made me what I am. The life of an umbrella is a
most aggravated form of slavery. One can never be sure of having a
moment's peace. In stormy weather, no matter how heavily the rain falls,
or the snow sleet drives, one must be on duty, shivering in wet corners
neglected, or dragged out to brave the tempest again; while on clear
days one may be under the bed, or behind the wardrobe likely
enough,--that at least was my experience, but then my master was a
bachelor.
"I wondered what duty I should perform on this bright, pleasant morning;
for there was not so much as a cloud in the sky to be seen. I soon
discovered I was to be of service on an excursion of some kind; for the
gentleman walked up an avenue leading to a handsome house, and upon the
steps, under the clustering rose-vines, stood a fair lady, awaiting his
arrival apparently.
"Presently they drove away in a pretty basket carriage, drawn by a fat
little pony, and I accompanied them, together with the luncheon parcels
and fruit baskets.
"It was a pleasant route along a shady road; and I amused myself
listening to the conversation of the young people (it was of a very
interesting nature to themselves!), or I flirted with the lady's
parasol,--a dainty bit of silk that ruffled its lace flounce
coquettishly upon the breeze, and showed the pink-tinted lining to
advantage.
"'You are extremely handsome,' I remarked to the Parasol.
"'Yes,' she replied complacently; 'I was imported from Paris, you know,
and cost very dear, as my lace is _real_. But what are you doing here?'
"'That I cannot tell myself,' I answered. 'Perhaps we shall know before
the day is over.'
"At length we reached the end of our drive; the master assisted his
companion to alight; the luncheon, parasol, and myself, followed to
where the grass bank, soft as velvet, sloped to the brink of a merry
little brook, which sparkled laughingly in the sunlight for a time, then
hid among the ferns that fringed the distance.
"An umbrella never was exposed to more contempt than I received on that
occasion. No sooner had my master brought me upon the scene, than the
company began to laugh and jest. It seemed so absurd to these silly
people, that I should be needed. Even the Parasol, resting in the lap of
her mistress, smirked contemptuously at me where I stood disconsolately
against a tree. For three long hours I remained unoccupied; while all
the gay people strolled among the trees to gather wild flowers, or
reclined in the shade to enjoy strawberries and ice-cream.
"Gradually the sun became obscured behind masses of swiftly rising
cloud; but no one noticed it except myself, and, as no refreshments were
offered me, I had nothing better to do than to watch the change of the
weather. Suddenly there sounded a peal of thunder, followed by a flash
of lightning; then down pattered the rain, making delicious music among
the leaves overhead.
"I never felt so wicked in my life. I longed to dance, only an umbrella
cannot do that without losing its balance. I longed to shout aloud, but
an umbrella cannot do this either for the want of a pair of lungs. I
spread my grateful shelter above the heads of the group to whom I
belonged, and I even took the naughty Parasol under my protection, which
was certainly a generous act, although one ought never to make a merit
of such things: I should be ashamed to suspose any of my race would have
behaved differently under the circumstances.
"There was no house or shelter at hand, and all the pretty pony
carriages were no protection against the storm. How flabby the muslin
dresses of the ladies became, how limp the white coats of the gentlemen,
as they crowded under the shelter of the oak-trees pretending to think
it very funny indeed! But they did not, I could see that plainly enough.
The young ladies' hair came out of curl, and the brims of their hats
were crushed out of shape from attempting to keep them dry; while the
piles of frosted confectionery melted into a mass that might as well
have been soaked brown paper, or any thing else tough and disagreeable.
The strawberries tumbled about in crimson pyramids, followed by stray
golden lemons; and cakes, with white caps on, popped out of their place,
to join in the general ruin.
"How proud I felt! Soft words and tender glances were exchanged by the
young couple I protected; for I managed to screen them from the rest, so
they could enjoy themselves the more.
"'Dear Umbrella,' entreated the Parasol, 'do save my tassels; they are
growing quite wet, and the color has changed.'
"'Yes, indeed, Madam Butterfly: you are not good for much.'
"'I am so new to be thrown aside,' sobbed the Parasol. 'All for a stupid
shower, too!'
"'There, don't cry,' I urged. 'Your tassels can be changed or dyed.'
"'Dyed!' shrieked the Parasol, indignantly. 'I hope I have not come to
that.'
"'Do not be so proud,' I said. 'You will certainly come to grief. At
least men do, and I see no reason why the same rule should not apply to
parasols as well.'
"I have never seen the parasol, lady, or any of the gay company that
laughed in the sunshine, or shivered in the rain since. I suppose my
young master must have married the lady, for I saw him slip a beautiful
diamond ring upon her finger at the picnic. I hope they are all very
happy, and that the frail parasol is still in existence; yet I have no
means of knowing. Alas! an umbrella cannot move without being carried.
"For a short time I resided in the young gentleman's apartments, where I
formed some very pleasant acquaintances. There was a porcelain standard
on the mantel-piece, holding a meerschaum pipe; and a tobacco vase, with
a little Hindoo god perched on the lid. There was an embroidered
smoking-cap with a gold tassel, hanging over the arm of a parian statue
of Juno; a bronze clock, a silver-knobbed cane, and a riding-whip on the
wall.
"The smoking-cap and riding-whip were very spicy in their conversation,
and waged continual war with the tobacco vase or pipe, who were true
Germans.
"'That stupid maid very nearly broke my head with the handle of her
duster,' said Juno, angrily. 'My heart flutters still with the fright it
gave me.'
"'She soiled my lining with her dirty fingers, too,' said the
smoking-cap.
"'Thank fortune! I do not require dusting, warbled the canary bird,
spreading his golden feathers in the sunlight, and flirting a seed at
the Hindoo god on the lid of the tobacco vase, who only grinned a
broader smile at the attention.
"'My face is cracked,' chimed in the pretty, good-natured clock; and at
this, the canary bird, jealous of any sound save his own voice, poured
forth a flood of music from his tiny throat.
"'Hush!' rustled an ivy-plant, that drooped in graceful tendrils about
the open window. 'We have not received the new-comer politely.'
"'What new-comer? Oh, the Umbrella!'
"'Yah, ze Umbrella,' echoed the meerschaum, speaking very broken
English.
"So they all welcomed me cordially, to my great relief; for I was
beginning to feel dreadfully shy and awkward, not being accustomed to
society. I endeavored to make myself agreeable, by describing to them
the incident of the shower, at which they all laughed heartily.
"My thoughts frequently revert to the life I led in that delightful
home, where I was surrounded by so many refinements. Alas! it was too
soon brought to a close. My master made a journey; and, although I had
not the least idea of it, I accompanied him. I was scarcely allowed time
to look farewell at the various inmates of the room; the clock and
canary chirping good-by in duet, and I was gone.
"I next found myself upon a large steamboat. Any thing more wretched
than the night we passed there, I cannot imagine. I rolled about in the
most uncomfortable fashion, the lights bobbing up and down, the cabin
floor rocking giddily, and my careless master took no heed to my safety.
"A tattered, rusty-looking man came prowling along, then, stooping over
me, adroitly managed to drop a clumsy, cotton umbrella, and carry me off
instead. What must have been my master's disgust, when he discovered
that horrid, faded thing, instead of my slim, genteel self!
"There was no help for it, because an umbrella cannot raise any outcry;
so the thief took possession of me without struggle.
"We arrived in a large city; and I was carried ashore by the rusty man,
who made his way along many narrow, dirty streets, to a small dingy
shop, which he entered. It was a musty, dark place, crowded with
many strange articles of sale, from mended furniture, silver
watches, odd crockery, and picture frames, to china vases, and silk
pocket-handkerchiefs.
"Here, I was sold to the owner of the shop, a wrinkled, old man, with a
white beard, who placed me in company with others of my class in a rack.
At first I was too unhappy in my altered circumstances to attempt any
conversation with those about me. The sun came peeping in the
dust-stained window; and each stray, gilded beam seemed a blessing in
that sad, gloomy place. How every thing brightened under the heavenly,
glorifying touch! The wreaths of artificial flowers took the bright hues
of life; and a gray parrot, in a battered cage, shook himself to peer
about more cheerfully.
"'How pleasant the sun is!' remarked the parrot. 'If it only would shine
here all day, as it does in my native India, instead of creeping away
over the roofs so soon, leaving us chill and dark again!'
"Then I inquired, 'You have not lived here always?'
"'I should rather think not,' retorted the parrot, sharply. 'Do you take
me for a common bird, sir? I belonged to one of the best families at
home; only it was my misfortune to be caught by a sailor, who brought me
over the seas to this great city, when he was taken ill, poor fellow,
and died. I heard him say I was to be a present for his sweetheart up in
the country; but I never saw her, because the lodging-house woman sold
me, with the rest of the sailor's effects, to the old Jew here.'
"'As to that,' said a rosewood arm-chair, with a faded cover, 'I once
adorned a magnificent drawing-room myself.'
"' And we,' sighed a wreath of artificial roses, 'once nestled among the
curls of beauty.'
"'I was stolen,' said an alabaster vase, standing in graceful purity
among the surrounding common objects.
"'I was, also,' echoed a velvet portmonnaie, an ivory fan, and a
crystal perfume-bottle, with silver top.
"Then with the parrot for conductor, holding a bit of straw in his left
claw, as the leader of an orchestra wields his baton, they all commenced
a song, the words of which were composed by the ivory fan, and set to
music by the parrot.
'Our varnish is cracked,
Our colors are worn,
In this den we are packed,
All our glory is gone.
_Chorus_. We have seen better days,
Tra, la, la, tra, la, la.'
"The parrot was so much affected by this sad yet beautiful composition,
that he shed tears.
"Just then the old Jew shopkeeper came to show the bird to a purchaser,
but the parrot was most obstinate. He would not move or speak, although
coaxed and even threatened to do so. The customer turned away, saying,--
"'What a stupid bird! he does not speak a word.'
"This touched our friend's pride, who cocked his head over his shoulder,
and replied,--
"'I think the more.'
"The customer was so much delighted, that he at once bought the parrot,
who departed in triumph.
"'I spoke because I thought I could not do worse than stay here,' he
remarked, with a sage nod of the head.
"Soon after, a little beggar-boy peeped into the door, and, as I stood
near by, seized me. He did not know what to do with me; so, after riding
on me as a hobby horse a while, he exchanged me with a larger boy for a
green apple. It is said the wheel of fortune constantly revolves; and,
if such is the case, my luck must have been very low just then. I was
knocked about from one person to another. Now it was a boot-black owned
me, now it was a news-vender, or perhaps for a space I belonged to a
street sweep. At last I was taken from this miserable existence in the
most curious way.
"I tumbled out of the window in an attic where I had been carelessly
left, and crashed down upon the pavement. I was severely injured in my
whalebone parts, yet my ivory handle remained unbroken. For a long
while I lay unnoticed; then an old lady, carrying a shawl and carpet-bag
upon her arm, came along to rescue me. She took me a journey in the
cars, and at last I saw the fresh, smiling country once more.
"The old lady lived in a pretty cottage, surrounded by a pleasant
garden, where the tulips and lilies nodded in the breeze all day long.
The old lady was thrifty, so she had my ribs mended by some village
tinker; but it was not well done, which accounts for the loss of my fine
figure.
"It was a delightful home,--every thing was so neat about it; and I
should have been contented to remain there all my life, had I been
consulted.
"The old lady's nephew came home from school for a holiday; and, after
shocking our nerves in that quiet spot a week, he departed again, in a
rain-storm. The good aunt insisted upon my being made use of, although
the young master did not wish it at all. When the rain ceased, he
carelessly threw me out by the road-side,--then drove on to his
destination.
"I remained in the ditch several days, all soaked and muddy as you now
see me. Finally the peddler, who is stopping here to-night, discovered
me, while he was driving his wagon slowly along, and raised me from my
lowly position.
"I do not know where I may go next," said the Umbrella, mournfully. "We
are all born, but we are not all dead, you know."
"A new thought, certainly," remarked the Kettle, drowsily. "Follow an
umbrella from the cradle to the grave."
It was now time for the Wasp to distinguish himself.
"I can repeat something, in the fairy-tale style, which was told me by
Mother Carey's chicken, when we were waiting for the nestling to grow
strong enough for us to make our journey. It is:--
THE GODMOTHER'S GIFTS.
"On the edge of the wood there once lived a poor woman, and her three
children. On the opposite bank of the broad clear river rose the king's
palace of marble, with a flag floating proudly from the battlements; but
the poor woman's children never had crossed the river, or dared to
venture into the magnificent gardens which surrounded the royal
residence. Ah, no! they were too poor for that.
"This made the widow's heart very heavy at times, when she watched the
setting sun gild the arched dome, and silken pennant, or make the lofty
windows flash in a thousand glittering sparkles of light, in answer to
his golden beams.
"'My children are as handsome and good as any that visit there,' she
said to herself. Yes, even as brave as the king's son and daughters
themselves, no doubt; yet I can never earn enough to give them fine
clothes, so they just have to stay alone in the woods. To-morrow is the
great festival, when all are at liberty to bring some curiosity, for
which they will receive a prize, if it prove the most worthy, from his
majesty. What have my little ones to display?'
"She called them to her and said,--
"'A distant relation of your father's, who is a fairy, was present at
your birth, my dears. Perhaps she may visit you again, sometime; so if
any person should call in my absence, treat them very politely. Remember
that fairies are easily vexed.'
"Soon after the mother departed to the mill, and the children seated
themselves under a large tree to enjoy their breakfast of brown bread
and milk.
"Across the water the king's children, all glistening in jewels and
embroidery, were plucking fruit from the laden boughs, or tossing
flowers to one another in fragrant showers.
"'What fun that must be!' exclaimed the poor woman's son Small, his
little round face dimpled with laughter. 'I should like to marry the
princess in a blue scarf.'
"'She is not so handsome as her sister with the red net over her black
curls,' said the older brother, Perke.
"'For my part, the young prince seems perfection,' added Elfie.
"At this they all laughed together, and finished the brown bread. A
black hawk paused on outspread wings in the air, and dropped a large
gold ring from his beak, which fell to the ground near the children.
Before they could stoop to touch it, from within the circle sprang three
tulips, rising on slender, enamelled stalks, their gorgeous variegated
buds closed.
"'There is one a-piece, any way,' said Perke, plucking one.
"Small and Elfie did the same.
"'Let us save them until mother returns,' said the sister.
"'It must be a gift from our godmother,' whispered Small, wisely.
"'I shall see what mine contains,' said Perke, boldly.
"He pulled at the folded leaves, but they resisted all his endeavors,
and clung firmly together.
"Small concluded to hold his bud under the spring that gurgled into a
mossy basin, yet it did not open for the crystal drops that fringed it
with fragrant dew.
"Then little Elfie pressed her warm lips gently upon the tulip, and like
magic it flew open, disclosing a tiny gold trumpet.
"Her brothers then kissed their flowers as well, and found each to
contain a similar gift.
"Within the golden circle now sprang up still another tulip, which
opened of its own accord, and forth stepped a quaint little figure. She
wore a red-peaked cap, high-heeled shoes, and a tight-laced bodice. Her
hair was bright yellow, and the tip of her sharp nose had a blue tinge,
which would have been unbecoming to any other person than a fairy. Her
carriage consisted of a sweet-pea blossom, drawn by two spirited
cockchafers. The children could not but admire the skilful manner in
which she handled the ribbons and whip, made of a spider's leg,
ornamented with tassels.
"'Here I am at last, dears,' said Madam Pug briskly. 'Whoa! Trot is a
most vicious bug. Be still, sir!'
"'Are you our godmother?' asked Elfie, timidly.
"'Certainly,' answered the fairy, putting on her spectacles, the better
to examine them.
"'You have grown to be nice, plump children; I hope no giant may catch
and eat you up. I am here to grant whatever you may wish, which can be
obtained by blowing the request through the trumpets to be found in the
flowers. Use the power wisely; so that, when I come again, I may find
the gift has proved a blessing instead of a curse.'
"She then cracked her whip, hoisted a tiny umbrella, which served the
purpose of a sail as she rose in the air, and the cockchafers spread
their wings.
"'It is slow travelling along the rough earth,' she remarked, when she
reached a level with the children's noses, 'so I will fly for a time,
especially as important business calls me to the North Pole just now.'
"The children were left to examine their trumpets, and look at each
other in wonder at the good fortune which had befallen them. What do you
suppose they at once did?
"'First, let us wish for clothes handsomer than those of the royal
family across the water,' proposed Elfie.
"They blew through the trumpets, and instantly their coarse garments
were changed to magnificent satin and velvet, with fringes of lace,
pearls, and silver tassels. They could do nothing but caper about in the
sunshine, now admiring each other's plumed caps, now comparing shoes on
which sparkled radiant jewels, until the court paused to watch their
bright forms, in amazement; for, in the distance, the poor widow's
children resembled brilliant meteors flashing about among the trees.
"'Now let us wish for a boat, to visit the palace before mother
returns,' cried Small.
"The next moment saw them speeding across the water in the most
beautiful little boat imaginable. It was made of ivory, lined with a
delicate pink shading, like the cavities of sea-shells, and a sail of
pink silk, held by gold cords, expanded like a rose-leaf to the soft
breeze. The court clapped their hands at the wonderful sight.
"All at once the children looked down at themselves: they wore their
rough clothes again, which only seemed the uglier from contrast with the
elegant ship.
"'We can never visit his majesty in these rags,' said Elfie. 'Let us
wish for even more splendid dresses than those we just had on the bank.'
"White robes spangled with diamond drops enveloped them; but the boat
glided from beneath their feet at the same time, leaving them to sink
through the water to the very river bed. This brought them unexpectedly
into the presence of the river fairy, a sworn enemy of their godmother,
who caressed them, and coiled her floating hair about them in slender
rings, which served to bind them captives.
"'Stay with me always,' coaxed the river spirit, in her sweet voice;
'life is so pleasant under the cool, clear waters here.'
"'I like the sunshine better,' said Small, rubbing his eyes with two
chubby little fists.
"'You can bask on the surface,' laughed the fairy. 'Come with me to the
neighboring ocean and see all the wonderful forms one can assume.'
"She gathered them in her arms, and swept down the stream swiftly until
the ocean opened broad gates of welcome, and she paused on the threshold
of the great deep. She waved her fair arms, and a forest of sea-weeds,
some thick-stemmed as trees, others mere tangles of silky threads, rose
before them. In shaded nooks scuttled crabs, looking like awkward
spiders; marine worms twined about in ribbons of green or brown; and
upon the drooping fronds clung gorgeous mollusks, their variegated
shells displaying the fringed edge of no less gorgeous mantles.
"'If you would rather swim about than live at the bottom, look at the
fishes,' said the water spirit.
"'Forthwith approached a finny host. The whale cleaved the waters with
his powerful tail; the sword-fish flashed swiftly past followed by the
stealthy white shark, who showed his terrible teeth. Then came the
graceful dolphin, quivering in long tracts of silvery light, the
indolent porpoise, the handsome salmon, the greedy cod, the pretty
mackerel, and a countless multitude of beautiful fish, their scales
tinged with a golden lustre, or dyed in crimson and purple tints.
"Little Elfie clapped her hands when she beheld some lovely medusae
dancing lightly along on the surface, their feathery tentacles drifting
idly on the current; so the fairy changed her to a crystal globe of a
jelly-fish, propelled by several tiny oars, like spun glass, that
reflected all colors of the rainbow in flashing motion.
"'O you silly bubble!' exclaimed Small; 'I had rather be a herring than
that,' and he immediately began to swim about a pretty herring.
"'As to that, I believe I should like to try a state of lobsterhood,'
said Perke; and his desire was at once gratified. The thoughtless
children had forgotten the importance of retaining their magic trumpets,
in case they should ever need them again; so, when they changed forms,
the godmother's gifts were carelessly allowed to sink to the bottom, and
the water spirit laughed triumphantly.
"'Now I have you, Madam Pug,' she said to herself. 'Your pets are in the
sea; let me see you reclaim them.'
"The trumpets lay on the bottom beside a rock, where there lived a
colony of oysters. The oysters are good-natured, save when a hungry
star-fish pokes a ray into their shells to scoop out the
delicious-flavored inmate; then they are very apt to close the doors
smartly with a sudden clap that snips off the intruder's paw, leaving
the star-fish to hobble away, and grow a new one. The grandfather of the
colony had listened to all that transpired between the fairy and her
visitors with much interest; and now that the trumpets fell to the
bottom, he began to wonder how they were to be rescued from harm.