THE FESTIVAL OF ROSES.
A ring--a ring of roses,
Laps full of posies;
Awake--awake!
Now come and make
A ring--a ring of roses.
The month of June had littered its path with roses, and now came July,
with its crimson berries, its ruddier blossoms, and its profuse
foliage. On the Fourth of this luxurious month some gleams and
glimpses of the great National Jubilee are sure to reach even the
prisoners and the poor on Blackwell's Island. The sick children at the
Hospital had a share of enjoyment; presents of toys, cake and fruit
were liberally distributed. The grounds produced an abundance of
flowers, and it was marvellous how these little creatures managed to
amuse themselves. The matron, the nurses, and many of the little
patients, were busy as so many bees that morning, before the sun had
changed his first rose-tints to the shower of vivid gold with which he
soon boldly deluged the water. Among the first and the busiest were
Mary Fuller and Isabel. They sat beneath a great elm tree back of the
Hospital, with a heap of flowers between them, out of which they
twined a world of bouquets, fairy garlands, and pretty crowns.
Half-a-dozen little girls, lame, or among the convalescent sick,
volunteered to gather the flowers, and some of the larger boys were up
among the branches of the elm tree, garlanding them with ropes of the
coarser blossoms. The birds were in full force that morning, as
became the little republican rovers, absolutely rioting among the
leaves, and pouring forth their music with a wild _abandon_ that made
the foliage thrill again.
"Now, now the sun will be up in no time. Run, Isabel, with the
flowers--here they are, a whole apron full--I will be tying up more
while you leave these!" said Mary Fuller, heaping Isabel's apron with
the pretty bouquets she had been preparing; "don't leave a pillow
without them!"
Isabel gathered up her apron and ran into the house. Up the stairs she
went with a fairy footstep, and glided into the wards. Stealing softly
from one little cot to another, she left upon each pillow her pretty
tribute, where the sick child was sure to see it the moment its
languid eyes were unclosed. When her store was exhausted she ran down
for more.
"Did any of them wake up? Did they see the flowers?" inquired Mary,
eagerly.
"Some were awake--they hadn't slept all night, poor things--but the
flowers made them smile," was the cheerful reply. "Come, fill my apron
again, and give me those large ones, with the white lilies, for the
mantel-pieces. Won't the doctor be astonished when he goes up? They're
better than medicine, I can tell him."
Again Isabel's apron was heaped full, and again she glided, in all her
bright, young beauty, through the sick wards. When she came down, an
earthern pitcher, crowded with great white lilies, honeysuckles and
sweetbriar, stood on the windows or mantel-pieces of every room. There
was not a pillow without its pretty garland, or bouquet of buds, tied
with the spray of some fragrant shrub. She had made the atmosphere of
those sick wards redolent with fragrance.
"Now for the boys' hats!" said Mary, "here are plenty of soldier's
feathers."
The boys cast down their straw-hats from the tree, shouting for her to
make soldiers of them, each one clamoring for a red plume.
But the red hollyhocks did not quite hold out, so, perforce some of
the slender plumes were of yellow, some of snow-white--for you never
saw such hollyhocks as grew in the Hospital-gardens--and Mary had all
variety of tints around her, even to some of a deep maroon.
When each straw hat had its plume, the little girls fell to ornamenting
three or four large paper kites, and then they began forming garlands
for their own heads. Mary twined a beautiful wreath of white clematis
around the dark tresses of Isabel's hair.
"Nothing but white," she said with a gentle sigh, "for that is almost
mourning."
The others arrayed themselves according to their own fancy, and when
the sun rose high it kindled up a happy and picturesque group beneath
that old elm tree.
A company of boys, with a red silk handkerchief streaming over them
for a banner, their hollyhock plumes rising jauntily in the sunshine,
the tallest mounting an epaulette of red, yellow, and purple flowers,
marched out with gallant parade from the shelter of the old tree. Tin
trumpets, an old milk pail, and various similar instruments, made the
air ring again as this warlike band sallied forth.
A score of little pale creatures watched them from the Hospital stoop
and the upper windows. Some of the boys were lame; some were blind;
while others bore evidence of recent disease; but if they looked in
these things like a company of volunteers returning from Mexico, it
only gave them a more warlike appearance, and of this they were very
ambitious.
Then the little girls began to seek their own amusements. They played
"hide and seek," "ring, ring a rosy," and a thousand wild and pretty
games; for the place was so beautiful, and the day so bright, the
little rogues quite forgot that they were in the Poor House, or had
ever been sick in the whole course of their lives.
Mary and Isabel were a little pensive at times, but when all the rest
seemed so happy, they could not choose but smile with them--and so the
Fourth of July wore over.
There was a great tumult and glorious time on Long Island shore that
day. The children had a festival of flowers over there also; crowds of
people were walking along the banks of the river; and you could see
hundreds of gaily-dressed visitors landing every minute from the
water, while the children huzzaed, and flung up their hats till you
could hear them across the broad river. Still it is to be doubted if
there was more real enjoyment among them than our little band of
convalescents experienced among the flowery nooks of the old Hospital.
The hour for cakes and fruit to be served under the elm surprised our
little warriors down by the river. When the signal was given, they
marched along the broad walk, lined on each side with box-myrtle of
twenty years' growth. They paraded superbly up the terrace steps--down
again--through the grape arbors, and around the end of the Hospital,
in gallant array, with colors flying, sixpenny trumpets blowing, and
the tin pails doing their best to glorify the occasion.
Our little troop bivouacked under the old elm, amid a storm of
fire-crackers, and a shout from the little girls. Here gingerbread and
fruit were served, and the girls began their games again. Little Mary
Fuller sat upon the grass, singing, while the rest formed a ring,
darting, with their garlands and bouquets, like a chain of flowers,
through an arch made by the uplifted hands of Isabel Chester and a
little lame girl who could not run. Nothing on earth could be more
beautiful than Isabel was just then, with the white spray dancing in
her hair, a pleasant smile in her dark eyes, and the faintest
rose-tint breaking over her cheek.
"She is delicate as a flower, beautiful as a star!"
The speaker was a lady dressed in the deepest possible mourning. The
long widow's veil reached to her knees, and was double two-thirds of
the way up. Her bombazine dress was so heavily trimmed with broad
folds of crape, that you could not judge of the original material;
from head to foot she was shrouded in black, till you felt quite
gloomy to look on her. She seemed to have measured off her grief in so
many yards of crape. Still, as if to show that there was a gleam of
hope about her, she wore an immense diamond on the black ribbon at her
throat. A large cluster ring that gleamed through the net glove,
covering a small and withered hand, with the gem sparkling at her
throat, bespoke uncommon wealth; and there was a tone of almost
pampered sentimentality in her voice and manner.
"It is indeed a very lovely child," answered the gentleman whom she
addressed, gazing with a smile upon Isabel.
"Was ever anything so perfect found in a poorhouse! Oh, if the
policeman's daughter proves only half as pretty as she is," the lady
exclaimed again.
"Let us inquire something about her," answered the gentleman, gravely,
"with all her beauty she may be a common-place child!"
"No--no, I am quite certain she is everything that is charming. If
your protege is only half as lovely, I shall be reconciled to the duty
Mr. Farnham has so unreasonably--I must say, imposed upon me,"
persisted the lady.
The gentleman observed gravely that the idea of adopting a child was
no trifling matter, and walked on till they surprised the little girls
at their play. The chain broke, the girls scattered through the
thickets like a flock of frightened birds. The lame girl dropped
Isabel's hand and limped away, leaving the beautiful child all alone
save Mary Fuller, who had stopped singing and sat quietly on the
grass.
"I am afraid we have frightened your little friends away," said the
gentleman, addressing the child, with a bland and gentle manner; "we
did not intend to do that!"
His voice seemed to startle the children.
Isabel turned to her friend, with a glad smile.
"Oh, Mary, it is he!"
Mary started up from the grass.
"Oh, sir, we are so glad to see you!"
Judge Sharp took her hand--"You must be glad to see this lady, too."
Mary blushed, and looked timidly at the lady.
Mrs. Farnham stepped back, holding up both hands, as if to prevent the
child approaching.
"Judge--Judge Sharp, you don't mean to say that this is the child?
Little girl, is your name Chester!"
"No," answered Mary, "that is Isabel Chester--I am only Mary Fuller."
Isabel drew close to her friend.
"She's just the same as me--just like my own, own sister, ma'am."
The lady turned to Judge Sharp, and shook her mourning parasol at him.
"Oh, you naughty wicked man, to frighten me so; but is this dear,
pretty darling really the policeman's daughter? I won't believe it
yet--how providential, isn't it?"
"I thought you would like her," answered the Judge.
"Like her, indeed; won't she be a lovely pet!" answered the lady, much
as she would have spoken of a King Charles spaniel; "how brave she is,
too; when all the others ran off she remained!"
"Mary stayed, too," said Isabel, gliding one arm around her friend's
waist; "besides, I dare say they were not afraid, ma'am, they only
felt a little strange to play before people they didn't know, I
suppose! They don't mind the doctor or the matrons in the least!"
"But you are not afraid of strangers!" said the lady. "You didn't run
away and hide in the bushes when we came up, but stood all alone like
a dear love of a little girl."
Isabel glanced at Mary Fuller.
"She was here, ma'am, just as much as I was."
The gentleman turned and looked earnestly at Mary. There was something
in her face that pleased him even more than Isabel's beauty. From the
first she had been his favorite.
"And what is this little girl to you?" he said, very kindly.
"Oh, she is everything, everything in the wide world to me now!"
answered Isabel with tears in her eyes.
"You know, sir, Mr. and Mrs. Chester died," said Mary, with gentle
humility. "And now we are left alone together."
"I knew that the poor lady was dead," answered the Judge, feelingly.
Isabel was weeping; she could not reply, but Mary answered in a
faltering voice,
"Yes, sir, we are both orphans!"
"And would you not like to go away from here where you will have a new
fine home, with pretty clothes and books and birds to amuse yourself
with?" said Mrs. Farnham, bending over Isabel and kissing her.
The child did not answer. She only turned very pale, and drew back
toward Mary.
"Would you not be pleased with all those pretty things?" said the
Judge, who observed that Mary Fuller turned white as death when they
spoke of taking Isabel away.
"If _she_ can have them, too. Will you take her, sir? if not I would
rather stay here!"
"But we do not wish to adopt more than one little girl," said the
lady, hastily. "You have no mother, I will be one to you. In a little
time you will forget all about the people here."
"I shall never forget her, ma'am," replied Isabel, firmly, "never."
"Lead the child away and talk with her alone. This little creature
seems intelligent, I will gather something of their history from her,"
said the Judge.
When Mary saw that the gentleman was about to address her, she arose
and stood meekly before him, as he leaned against the elm.
"So, you would not like to have the little girl go away and leave you
here?"
Mary struggled bravely with herself, her bosom heaved, she could not
keep the tears from swelling to her eyes, but she answered truly and
from her aching heart.
"If she will be better off. If you will love her as--as I do, as they
did, I will try to think it best!"
"You will try to think it best," repeated the gentleman, and the smile
that trembled across his lips was beautiful; "if she goes, my little
girl, you shall go with her!"
"Me!" said Mary, lifting up her meek eyes to his face. "Oh, sir, don't
make fun of me. Nobody would ever think of making a pet of _me_!"
"No, not a pet, that is not the word, but, if God prospers us, we will
make a good and noble woman of you!" said the gentleman, with generous
energy.
"Oh, don't, don't--if you are not in earnest--don't say this!" said
the child, almost panting for breath.
"I am in earnest, heaven forbid that I should trifle with you for a
moment. If we take the other child you go also. Now, sit down and tell
me about yourself."
Mary obeyed with a swelling heart. She told him simply that they were
both orphans--that no one on earth could claim them; but with the
first few words her voice broke. So the gentleman arose, sought Isabel
and led her back to the elm tree, then he took the lady aside and
conversed with her long and earnestly. The little girls watched her
countenance in breathless suspense. It was dissatisfied,--angry, but
she had the will of a strong mind to contend against, and Judge Sharp
was resolute.
"As the legal guardian of your son, chosen by the Court and yourself,
I have the power to sanction this adoption, and, to own the truth,
gave my consent to it before Fred went to College; I doubt if we could
have got him off without that!"
"Fred never could find a medium; he is always in extremes. The idea of
adopting an ugly little thing like that, and he a mere lad yet! I
declare it's too ridiculous; but he need not expect me to take charge
of her. There is a medium in all things, Judge, and that is beyond
endurance."
"That is all considered; I will see that Mary has a home and proper
protection."
"Very well, I wash my hands of the whole affair; poor dear Mr. Farnham
was very anxious about this pretty little Isabel. I don't choose to
ask why, Judge, I hope I've got pride enough not to stoop so low as
that; but, as I was saying, he made a point of it, and you see how
resolute I am to perform my duty. It's hard, but I've had to endure a
great deal, indeed I have."
"I did hope--in fact, I had reason," said the Judge, "to believe that
Mr. Farnham would have provided for that child by will."
Mrs. Farnham colored violently.
"Then you had a reason. He said something to you about it, perhaps?"
"Yes, he certainly did; but then his death at last was so sudden. I
don't remember when anything has shocked me so much."
Mrs. Farnham lifted her handkerchief to her eyes; there was something
very pathetic in the action, and the deep black border which was
intended to impress the Judge with a sense of her combined martyrdom
and widowhood.
"Well madam," said that gentleman, heartily weary of her airs, "I hope
Fred has your consent to adopt this child. Remember the expense will
be nothing compared to the great wealth which he inherits. My word for
it, the young fellow will find much worse methods of spending his
money if you thwart his generous impulses."
"I have nothing to say. It is my destiny to make sacrifices; of
course, if my son chooses to incumber himself with a miserable thing
like that, he need not ask his mother. Why should he, she is nobody
now."
"Then you consent," said the Judge, impatiently, for he saw the
anxious looks of the little girls and pitied their suspense.
Mrs. Farnham removed the handkerchief with its sable border from her
eyes, and shook her head disconsolately.
"Yes, I consent. What else can I do--a poor heart-broken widow is of
no account anywhere."
The Judge turned away rather abruptly.
"Well, now that it is settled let us go; the poor children are
suffering a martyrdom of suspense. The Commissioner is on the other
side; we can settle the whole thing at once."
"I fancy he'll wonder a little at your taste. But I wash my hands of
it--this is your affair. I submit, that is a woman's destiny,
especially a widow's."
Judge Sharp advanced toward the children.
"Say to your matron that we may call for you at any minute, and shall
hope to find you ready. Tell her that you are both adopted!"
"Together, oh, Mary! we are going away, and together!" cried Isabel,
casting herself into the arms of her friend. Mary answered nothing,
her heart was too full.