CALICO AND COMPANY
Mrs. Morton passed the muffins for the fifth time to Ernest. Ernest's
appetite for muffins was prodigious. Sherm was also ready for another.
Chicken Little hadn't quite finished hers, but at the rate they were
disappearing--she thought she'd better. Katy said: "Yes, thank you," and
Gertie, who ate more slowly than the others, had only had one. Dr.
Morton was merely waiting to be urged. Mrs. Morton rang the bell
doubtfully. Annie had filled the plate three times already. Annie
appeared with a questioning grin.
"Shall I bring some bread, Ma'am? They ain't no more muffins."
Dr. Morton laughed. "Our appetites do credit to your cooking, Annie."
Mrs. Morton sighed, then smiled as she surveyed the rosy, tanned faces.
"There is certainly nothing like country air to make people eat. I
wonder when Alice and Dick will be getting back. Dick said the first
week in August probably."
"Oh, dear," said Chicken Little, "I want to see Alice and Dick again,
but I don't want Katy and Gertie and Sherm to go home. They can only
stay a few days this time, Alice said so."
"I don't want to go home a bit," replied Katy.
"There's nothing to do at home till school begins."
"I'd like to go home and see Mother, and then come back." Gertie looked
a little wistful. She did want Mother within reach.
"I wish we could keep you all till September." Dr. Morton liked to have
the clatter of the young people about. "If we only knew some one going
back to Illinois at that time to look after you. I don't suppose Mrs.
Halford would like to have you girls travel so far without some grown
person along. But I don't see why Sherm can't just as well stay till
time to get ready for college."
"I'd like nothing better, and I'm not dead sure I'm going to college
this fall. Father seemed a little doubtful when I left, and the folks
haven't said anything about it in their letters. If I can't, I guess
I'll try for a clerkship in the post-office when I go back."
Dr. Morton studied a moment. "How would you like to work here on the
ranch if you don't go to college, Sherm?"
"Do you mean it, Dr. Morton?"
"I surely do. Of course, Ernest's going is not quite settled yet, but I
have practically made up my mind that he must go off to school
somewhere. We shall need some one to take his place and it would be very
pleasant to have you. Chicken Little here wouldn't be quite so homesick
for Ernest, perhaps, if you would let her adopt you in his place."
Jane jumped up and down in an ecstasy.
"Oh, Sherm, please do--I thought I'd just die with lonesomeness this
winter with all of you gone, and Ernest, too."
Sherm looked pleased at her eagerness. His news from home was still
depressing and Sherm, if not homesick, had his lonely hours.
"I would pay you regular wages--whatever is customary for boys of your
age. I should have to make some inquiries," continued Dr. Morton.
"Yes, and we could go to the lyceums--they most always have one every
winter over at the Fair View Schoolhouse. It's heaps of fun when there's
snow on the ground. Frank puts the big wagon bed on runners and we fill
the bottom with straw and buffalo robes and all snuggle down together.
You just must stay, Sherm!"
"Perhaps he will, if you don't talk him to death, Chicken Little. You
haven't given him a chance to get in a word edgeways." Ernest reproved
his sister sharply after the manner of brothers slightly older.
"What about you?" retorted Chicken Little. "Sherm, we'll all keep quiet
and let you have a chance."
"I'd like to, if college is ruled out, and Mother and Father will let
me. They may want me at home, especially if Father grows worse." Sherm
gave a little gulp. He was very fond of his father.
"I'll write to him to-day, Sherm, and you might write, too, for I'm
going in to town about noon. Any commissions, Mother? Why don't you drop
things and come along? A change will do you good--you haven't been off
the place for two weeks or more."
"I don't know but I will. Chicken Little, you girls might get up a
little picnic lunch for yourselves and the boys, and have it out in the
orchard. Annie has a big ironing to-day and it would help her out not to
have a dinner to get. Then we'll have a hearty supper this evening."
"Yes, and Chicken Little, did you girls feed the porkers last evening? I
heard them squealing and grunting in the night."
"Golly!" said Chicken Little, sitting up with a start and looking at
Katy. Katy looked guilty, and Gertie concerned.
Dr. Morton did not need any further answer. "Well, you'd better run
right out. Remember dumb beasts must never be neglected, daughter."
"And Jane, I don't want to hear you say Golly again. By-words of any
kind are objectionable for young girls, and that is particularly rough
and coarse," Mrs. Morton added severely.
"You never say it is coarse when Ernest says it--and he uses it an awful
lot."
"My dear, you are not a boy," Mrs. Morton replied with a dignity that
was final.
"I don't care," said Chicken Little when the trio got out doors, "it's
not one bit fair to let boys do so many more things than girls! You just
wait, if I ever have a daughter she's going to do every single thing her
brother does. So there!"
Sherm overheard and later in the day when he and Jane were talking
together, he remarked: "Chicken Little, I don't think it is exactly fair
either to hold the girls in so much tighter than boys, but your mother
is right, allee samee. I have heard the fellows talk often enough to
know they think a lot more of a girl who isn't slangy, than of one who
is. Of course, mild ones like 'Oh dear' don't matter, but you see a man
kind of likes to have a girl, well--different." Sherm was getting in a
little beyond his depth.
The girls carried two pails of sour milk and a great basket of parings
to their greedy pigs and watched them feed without interest.
"The only reason I'm glad to go home is I won't have to feed these
horrid pigs any more. I never saw anything grow and eat like they do.
They ought to be worth a lot of money after all the stuff they've
eaten." Katy kicked her toe against the log pen to emphasize her
remarks.
"I don't think they're worth so very much yet." Chicken Little was
regarding them with no very friendly eye.
"I wouldn't mind so much if they weren't getting so ugly and smelly,"
said Gertie plaintively.
Frank, happening by just then, was amused to see their disgusted
expressions.
"Say, Frank, how soon will these pigs be big enough to go in the corral
with the others?"
Frank's eyes twinkled. He came up and scanned the ten muddy, impudent
pigs, who were already coming up to the sides of the pen, grunting for
more. "Well," he said judicially, "I think perhaps you will be rid of
them inside of two or three months, but they'll eat a lot more from now
on."
The three set up a united protest.
"Father said it would only be a few weeks when we caught them, and it's
been five already," Chicken Little remonstrated hotly.
"Well, don't go for me. You asked for my opinion and I gave it to you."
Frank grinned so broadly that Jane grew suspicious. "Pooh, you're
teasing, I'll ask Father to-night."
The girls scoured the pantry and spring house for provender for the
picnic. Sherm and Ernest would be in from the meadow where they were
cutting down thistles about half-past twelve. Bread and butter and cold
ham were flanked with cookies, pie, and musk melons. Annie wanted them
out of her road as speedily as possible, so they took their stuff all
down to the orchard and stowed it away in the shade.
"Now what?" demanded Katy.
"I don't know. Wish we could think of something new." Chicken Little
stared up and down the rows of apple trees, seeking an inspiration.
Her glance fell upon a lone apple tree standing in the center of an open
space, apart from all its fellows. Katy's glance followed hers.
"Why is that old tree all by itself that way?"
"I don't know--they were all big trees when we came here. It is a
bell-flower and we call it Old King Bee. Say, I've got an idea. Let's
get Calico and Caliph and play riding school--you remember that article
in 'The Harper's' about a riding school in New York, and you said you
wished you could go."
"Would Ernest let us take Caliph?"
"I don't know, but I know I could ride him if I tucked my skirts up and
used the man's saddle. There can't a soul see us here; it's so shut in
by the trees."
"It would be fun. Let's try to ride bare back and do stunts to surprise
the boys. I wish we could take our skirts clear off--they catch so on
the saddle horn and in the stirrup buckles."
"I tell you what we'll do." Chicken Little's eyes danced impishly.
"There are lots of Ernest's old trousers in the lumber-room closet that
he outgrew ever so long ago. I believe we could find some to fit all of
us. Let's go see."
A swift rummage of the dusty closet set them all sneezing, but they
triumphantly brought forth an armful of defunct trousers and carried
them up to their room. For the next fifteen minutes such giggles and
exclamations and shrieks of laughter escaped from their room that Annie
left her ironing to see what was up. An astonishing sight met her gaze.
Once started upon the dressing-up craze, the girls had not been content
with one garment. Chicken Little had daringly ransacked not only
Ernest's bureau, but Sherm's possessions, in quest of shirts and ties.
She had decked herself in a blue checked cheviot shirt, tucked into blue
serge trousers, liberally patched at the knees. Sherm's best red tie was
neatly knotted at her throat, and an old straw hat adorned with a red
hair ribbon, topped her brown braids. Katy was resplendent in a tan
colored shirt, with a bright green tie popularly supposed to belong to
Ernest. Her own black sailor finished her off nicely. Gertie had a faded
pink shirt, which dated back to Centerville days--all Ernest's more
recent garments being too big for her slim little figure.
Annie threw up her hands. "You're a pretty-looking lot. I'd just like to
have the Missus see you now. I bet you'd catch it."
But Annie had troubles of her own and retired to her ironing.
The trio slipped out the back way--they didn't care to have Marian see
them, and they didn't wish to bother with Jilly. The stable was
deserted. They quickly saddled Caliph after making friends--with sundry
lumps of sugar. Calico was equipped only with a saddle blanket and
girth. Gertie decided that she would let the others experiment first, so
she walked back to the orchard.
"Let's try them down the lane first. They will be easier to manage on a
straight road than in among the trees, if they are fractious."
Jane helped Katy upon Calico's back and showed her how to press her
knees against the sides to secure her seat in the place of stirrups.
"You can put your hand under the girth if you begin to slip."
Katy took a turn or two and decided she could stick on if Calico didn't
trot. He was a single footer and had a very easy gait except on the rare
occasions when he insisted upon breaking into a hard trot. Chicken
Little led Caliph to the fence. She wanted to be sure that she was well
in her seat before Caliph discovered she was a girl.
But Caliph liked Chicken Little, and not having any skirts to make him
suspicious, seemed inclined to take her for what she seemed. He noticed
only that he had a lighter hand on the reins. He dashed off as lightly
and smoothly as if Ernest or Sherm were on his back, and Chicken Little
was in a transport of pleasure and triumph to think she could ride him.
Katy had a harder time, but she stuck on pluckily for three turns up and
down the lane.
They didn't dare linger too long lest some neighbor come by and see
them. So they presently turned off upon the faint track that led through
the gate into the orchard. Gertie was awaiting them under the big tree.
Katy slipped off Calico to give Gertie her turn. Chicken Little led the
way on Caliph and they went round and round the tree, faster and faster,
till both were ready for a rest. The ponies were fresh and seemed to
enjoy the sport as much as they did.
Katy tried Calico next, enchanted to find she could stick on at a
canter. By this time they were ready for something new.
"Do you suppose we could ride backwards?" Katy was in a daring mood.
They could and they did, though Calico was a little doubtful as to
whether he approved of this innovation. It was not exactly comfortable
for anyone concerned and they soon gave it up. But when Chicken Little
tried to make the intelligent pony dance on his hind legs, Calico waxed
indignant. Instead of rising gracefully, he gave two short, plunging
leaps, descending with forelegs rigid and head down, a maneuver which
sent his mistress flying over his head.
The turf was soft and she was up in a trice, gripping Calico's rein
before he could make use of his freedom. The crowning feat of the
morning was another of Chicken Little's brilliant ideas. They had
tethered the ponies by their bridle reins and were letting them graze on
the orchard grass while they stretched out and rested. Suddenly Jane sat
up with a start and began to take off her shoes.
"What on earth are you going to do now, Jane Morton?" demanded Katy
sharply.
"Wait and see. I'm most sure I can. I want you to lead Calico very
slowly."
Katy obediently followed directions. Chicken Little put her hand on the
girth and vaulted on his back. She rode once around the tree tamely,
then slowly got to her feet on Calico's slim back, bidding Katy steady
her. She succeeded in going about three feet with this precarious
footing before she lost her balance and slid harmlessly down on the
pony's back. Calico did not look specially pleased at the jounce she
gave him as she lit. She persevered until she could go round the tree,
then insisted upon trying it alone. Katy and Gertie both remonstrated.
"You'll get killed! Calico doesn't like it a bit."
"I won't--I tried once all by myself last summer on old Kit, but
Calico's harder, because he isn't so fat. You wouldn't hurt me, would
you, Calico?" She put her arm around his neck and squeezed him hard.
Calico whinnied and began to nose her for sugar. She produced two lumps,
and stroked him, talking to him in whispers while Katy hooted.
"A lot of good that will do."
Chicken Little got up again with Katy's help, then started off slowly by
herself. Calico moved carefully at a snail's pace. She made the entire
circuit of the tree successfully this time. Again she went around,
increasing the speed of Calico's walk. She was so jubilant she grew
reckless and clucked, which was Calico's signal to canter. He responded
promptly and with equal promptness, she slid down on him kerplunck.
Calico laid back his ears in disapproval, and looked around inquiringly.
By this time Katy had plucked up her courage and wished to try it. She
was entirely willing, however, to have Chicken Little at the pony's
head. Katy slipped, too, but she was lighter, and Calico was growing
used to it and did not mind so much. Chicken Little patted him each time
and he soon ceased to notice the bumps. Gertie preferred to be a
spectator at this stunt, but the others persisted until Jane succeeded
in going round the tree once with Calico pacing.
"Golly, I wish Ernest and Sherm could see us!" Chicken Little was
already sighing for new worlds to conquer.
"You said Golly again."
"Golly, I did, didn't I? It's awfully hard to quit anything like that.
Say, I want you girls to pinch me every time I say it, then I'll
remember."
"You'll get mad if we do," replied Gertie, wise beyond her years.
"No, I won't! Honest to goodness I won't. I truly want to stop it."
"All right," said Katy firmly, "but you will get more pinches than you
are expecting."
Katy and Gertie and poor Calico were all ready to settle down for a
rest. But Chicken Little was burning to show off before Ernest and
Sherm. She untied Caliph and took several turns around the tree, going
faster and faster.
"Pooh," she said after a while, "I bet I could ride Caliph anywhere.
Suppose we go meet the boys. You and Gertie can both ride Calico bare
back. I guess they'll be surprised. It's most noon; I can tell by the
sun."
"But Jane, we can't go to meet the boys this way." Gertie looked
distressed.
"Oh, I forgot. What can we do? I'd be afraid to ride Caliph with even a
short skirt--he's never had a woman on him before."
"What if the boys do see us? Nobody else is likely to come along just at
noon. Anyway, your father thinks it's dangerous for girls to wear long
skirts to ride in. I heard him say so." Katy was plausible and Chicken
Little wanted to be persuaded.
"I don't care, if you don't."
"All right, let's do it. I think you look real nice that way, Chicken
Little, honest I do."
"Well, they're heaps more comfortable. I feel so light. You make an
awfully cute boy, Katy, and Gertie is just sweet. And you couldn't ride
bare back half so well sidewise."
It took some persuasion to secure Gertie's consent, but she finally gave
in.
They rode gaily out into the lane. Calico was too tired to make any
protest to his double burden. Once in the lane, they waited in the
shade. But the boys did not come. They waited until Jane was sure it
must be one o'clock and their appetites suggested two at the very
earliest. Calico waited patiently enough, but Caliph was uneasy over the
flies. Finally, they decided to give the boys up and go back and have
their picnic alone.
"We might take one gallop down the line to the creek to make sure
they're not in the meadow," Katy suggested.
"I bet they finished the weeds sooner than they expected and went
fishing." Chicken Little strained her eyes in the direction of the
meadow.
They started the horses off at a smart pace, then faster and faster,
till they broke into a swift gallop.
"Isn't it glorious?" Chicken Little called back. She was several lengths
ahead.
She did not hear Katy's response. A jack rabbit, frightened by the
approaching horses, broke cover from some wild blackberry bushes that
grew over the stone wall, and dashed across the road directly in front
of Caliph. The spirited beast shied violently, then leaped forward,
throwing Chicken Little neatly off into the exact middle of the dusty
lane. Her pride was more hurt than she was. She tried to stop him by
calling "Whoa" lustily. But Caliph seemed to have a pressing engagement
elsewhere. He quickly disappeared around a bend in the lane.
The girls looked at each other in dismay.
Chicken Little got hastily to her feet. There was no time to nurse
bruises. She must catch Caliph somehow.
"Golly, he's got that beautiful Mexican saddle on and he may take a
notion to roll. I knew I hadn't any business to take it, but I wanted to
ride him just as Ernest does."
Katy and Gertie noticed the "Golly," but there seemed to be more
important business on hand.
"Do you suppose you could take Calico and catch him?" asked Katy
anxiously.
"I don't know, but I guess I'll have to try."
Katy and Gertie climbed down and Chicken Little swung herself up.
"Maybe one of you'd better come, too, to hold Calico and ride him home
if I catch Caliph."
"I'll come, and Gertie had better run and change her clothes and go back
to the orchard to give the boys their lunch, if they come before we get
back. Don't tell them where we're gone."
"Nor about Caliph, Gertie, you can say we'll be back in a minute."
Katy had mounted behind Jane while she was giving this last direction
and poor Calico started off at a gallop. They crossed the creek and came
to the place where the road forked just beyond the timber without seeing
hide or hair of Caliph.
"He must have streaked it. I don't think he'd take the road to town--he
must have gone straight home to the Captain's. Oh, dear, I'll have to
tell him I used Ernest's horse without permission, and I've got these
awful clothes on! It just seems as if the Captain has to know every
single bad thing I ever do." Chicken Little heaved a long sigh and
clucked to Calico.
They had almost reached the Captain's gate when they saw Wing Fan
approaching on horseback, leading the truant Caliph. Chicken Little was
immensely relieved to find, as they came near, that neither saddle nor
bridle had suffered from the run away.
Wing Fan was also greatly relieved to find that no one had been hurt.
"Me velly 'fraid honorable brother have bad fall. Captain Clarke no
home. I bring horse, find out."
Wing held Caliph while Jane mounted, and rode a little way with her to
make sure he would not be fractious, but Caliph seemed to have had his
fling and bowled along smoothly.
In the meantime Ernest and Sherm had arrived and were plying Gertie with
questions between mouthfuls. Gertie parried as long as she could,
shutting her lips together tight when they began to press her too hard.
"I'd just like to know what they are up to now. That precious sister of
mine can get into more scrapes than any kid I ever saw."
"And Katy isn't far behind her," added Sherm, hoping Gertie would try to
defend her absent sister and let something out.
Chicken Little and Katy took the horses to the barn, carefully unsaddled
Caliph, and rubbed both horses down and fed them, before going back to
the orchard. They forgot all about their unusual dress.
They arrived there, tired and flushed, in time to help the boys finish
the last melon.
"You mean things to eat the melons all up." Chicken Little almost forgot
her own offense in her disgust over their greediness.
The boys did not waste time defending themselves; their attention was
concentrated on the girls' peculiar costume.
"Well, what in the demnition bow wows have you been doing now, Chicken
Little Jane Morton?" Ernest's gaze wandered from his sister to Katy, who
suddenly became self-conscious and tucked her feet and as much of her
trouser-clad legs as she could manage, underneath her.
Chicken Little gave a start of surprise, then faced Ernest boldly.
"Oh, just having a little fun."
By this time Ernest was beginning to grasp details. "Suppose next time
you start out to have fun you let my things alone. Isn't that Sherm's
best tie you've got on?"
Chicken Little clutched the offending tie and glanced hastily at Sherm.
The boy was regarding her with a peculiar expression, both admiring and
disapproving. There was no denying that Chicken Little made a most
attractive boy.
The swift color swept into the girl's face as she caught Sherm's glance.
"Oh, dear, and he had told her only that morning that girls should be
different!" She liked Sherm--she didn't want him to think she was a
bold, awful girl. Some way their prank seemed to need excusing. She
replied to the look in Sherm's eyes rather than to her brother's
accusation.
"We--I wanted to ride Caliph--I just knew I could if I didn't have a lot
of horrid skirts to frighten him. And we did beautiful stunts and we
couldn't, if we hadn't put on your old things. I bet if you had to wear
cluttering things like skirts all the time you'd be glad to take them
off some times, too." Chicken Little's big brown eyes sought Sherm's
appealingly.
Ernest answered before Sherm could say anything.
"Well, you can settle with Mother about the skirts, but I'll thank you
to let Caliph and my best ties alone."
"Did you ride him?" asked Sherm. "You're welcome to my tie, Chicken
Little. It's very becoming."
Chicken Little felt subtly consoled. "Yes, I rode him, but he threw me
once," she confessed.
"He threw me once, too," said the boy. "You'd better be a little
careful."
Sherm grinned and Chicken Little smiled back happily.