THE TRIP TO HASLEMERE
The next morning all was bustle and excitement.
Mr. Maynard stayed at home from business to escort the travellers to
the train. The trunks were packed, and everything was in readiness for
their departure. Marjorie herself, in a spick-and-span pink gingham
dress, a tan-colored travelling cloak, and a broad-brimmed white straw
hat, stood in the hall saying good-bye to the other children. She
carried Puff in her arm, and the sleepy, indifferent kitten cared
little whither she was going.
"Be sure," Kingdon was saying, "to plant the seeds I gave you in a
sunny place, for if you don't they won't grow right."
"What are the seeds?" asked Marjorie.
"Never mind that," said her brother; "you just plant them in a warm,
sunny bed, in good, rich soil, and then you wait and see what comes up.
It's a surprise."
"All right, I'll do that, and I suppose Grandma will give me a lot of
seeds besides; we always have gardens, you know."
"Be sure to write to me," said Kitty, "about Molly Moss. She's the one
that lives in the next house but one to Grandma's. You've never seen
her, but I saw her two years ago, and she's an awfully nice girl.
You'll like her, I know."
"And what shall I remember to do for you, Rosy Posy?" asked Marjorie,
as she kissed the baby good-bye.
"Don't know," responded the little one; "I've never been to Gamma's. Is
they piggy-wigs there?"
"No," said Marjorie, laughing; "no piggy-wigs, but some nice ducks."
"All wite; b'ing me a duck."
"I will, if Grandma will give me one"; and then Marjorie was hurried
down the steps by her father, and into the carriage, and away she went,
with many a backward look at the three children who stood on the
veranda waving good-byes to her.
The railroad trip to Morristown lasted about four hours, and Marjorie
greatly enjoyed it. Mr. Maynard had put the two travellers into their
chairs in the parlor car, and arranged their belongings for them.
Marjorie had brought a book to read and a game to play, but with the
novel attractions of the trip and the care of her kitten, she was not
likely to have time hang heavily on her hands.
Mrs. Maynard read a magazine for a time, and then they were summoned to
luncheon in the diningcar. Marjorie thought this great fun, for what is
nicer than to be a hungry little girl of twelve, and to eat all sorts
of good things, while flying swiftly along in a railroad train, and
gazing out of the window at towns and cities rushing by?
Marjorie sat opposite her mother, and observed with great interest the
other passengers about. Across the car was a little girl who seemed to
be about her own age, and Marjorie greatly wished that they might
become acquainted. Mrs. Maynard said that after luncheon she might go
and speak to the little stranger if she chose, and Marjorie gladly did
so.
"I wonder if you belong in my car," said Marjorie, by way of opening
the conversation.
"I don't know," said the other child; "our seats are in the car just
back of this."
"We are two cars back," said Marjorie, "but perhaps your mother will
let you come into my car a while. I have my kitten with me."
"Where is it?" asked the other little girl.
"I had to leave it with the porter while we came to luncheon. Oh, she's
the loveliest kitten you ever saw, and her name is Puff. What's your
name?"
"My name is Stella Martin. What's yours?"
"My real name is Marjorie Maynard. But I'm almost always called Midge
or Mops or some name like that. We all have nicknames at home; don't
you?"
"No, because you see I haven't any brothers or sisters. Mother always
calls me Stella."
"Well, let's go and ask her if you can't come into my car for a while.
My mother will look after you, and then you can see the kitten."
After some courteous words of explanation between the two mothers,
Stella was allowed to play with Marjorie for the rest of the journey.
Seated together in one of the big Pullman easy chairs, with the kitten
cuddled between them, they rapidly made each other's acquaintance, and
soon became good friends. They were not at all alike, for Stella Martin
was a thin, pale child with a long braid of straight, light hair, and
light blue eyes. She was timid, too, and absolutely devoid of
Marjorie's impetuosity and daring. But they were both pleased at the
discovery that they were to be near neighbors throughout the summer.
Stella's home was next-door to Grandma Sherwood's, although, as both
country places were so large, the houses were some distance apart.
Next beyond Stella's house, Marjorie remembered, was where Molly Moss
lived, and so the outlook seemed to promise plenty of pleasant company.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the train reached Morristown, and
springing out on the platform, Marjorie soon spied Grandma Sherwood's
carriage there to meet them. Old Moses was still in charge of the
horses, as he had been ever since Marjorie could remember, and in a
moment she heard a hearty voice cry, "Oh, there you are!" and there was
Uncle Steve waiting for them on the platform.
Uncle Steve was a great friend of Marjorie's, and she flew to greet him
almost before he had time to welcome her mother. Then in a few moments
the luggage was looked after, and they were all in the carriage,
rolling away toward Haslemere.
Marjorie chatted away like a magpie, for she had many questions to ask
Uncle Steve, and as she was looking out to renew acquaintance with old
landmarks along the road, the drive to the house seemed very short, and
soon they were turning in at the gate.
Haslemere was not a large, old-fashioned farm, but a fair-sized and
well-kept country place. Grandma Sherwood, who had been a widow for
many years, lived there with her son Stephen. It was like a farm,
because there were chickens and ducks, and cows and horses, and also a
large garden where fresh vegetables of all sorts were raised. But there
were no grain fields or large pasture lands, or pigs or turkeys, such
as belong to larger farms. The drive from the gate up to the house was
a long avenue, shaded on both sides by beautiful old trees, and the
wide expanse of lawn was kept as carefully mowed as if at a town house.
There were flower beds in abundance, and among the trees and shrubbery
were rustic seats and arbors, hammocks and swings, and a delightful
tent where the children loved to play. Back of the house the land
sloped down to the river, which was quite large enough for delightful
boating and fishing.
The house was of that old-fashioned type which has two front doors and
two halls, with large parlors between them, and wings on either side. A
broad veranda ran across the front, and, turning both corners, ran
along either side.
As they drove up to the house, Grandma Sherwood was on the piazza
waiting for them. She was not a very old lady, that is, she was not of
the white-haired, white-capped, and silver-spectacled variety. She was
perhaps sixty years old, and seemed quite as energetic and enthusiastic
as her daughter, if perhaps not quite so much so as her granddaughter.
Marjorie sprang out of the carriage, and flew like a young whirlwind to
her grandmother's arms, which were open to receive her.
"My dear child, how you have grown!"
"I knew you'd say that, Grandma," said Marjorie, laughing merrily,
"and, indeed, I have grown since I was here last. Just think, that was
three years ago! I'm almost twelve years old now."
"Well, you are a great girl; run in the house, and lay off your things,
while I speak to your mother."
Marjorie danced into the house, flung her coat and gloves on the hall
rack, and still holding her kitten, went on through to the kitchen, in
search of Eliza the cook.
"The saints presarve us!" cried Eliza. "An' is it yersilf, Miss Midget!
Why, ye're as big as a tellygraft pole, so ye are!"
"I know I am, Eliza, but you're just the same as ever; and just look at
the kitten I have brought! Have you any here now?"
"Cats, is it? Indade we have, then! I'm thinkin' there do be a hundred
dozen of thim; they're undher me feet continual! But what kind of a
baste is thot ye have there? I niver saw such a woolly one!"
"This is a Persian kitten, Eliza, and her name is Puff. Isn't she
pretty?"
"I'll not be sayin' she's purty, till I see how she doos be behavin'.
Is she a good little cat, Miss Midget dear?"
"Good! Indeed she is a good kitty. And I wish you'd give her some milk,
Eliza, while I run out to see the chickens. Is Carter out there?"
But without waiting for an answer, Marjorie was already flying down
through the garden, and soon found Carter, the gardener, at his work.
"Hello, Carter!" she cried. "How are you this summer?"
"Welcome, Miss Midge! I'm glad to see you back," exclaimed the old
gardener, who was very fond of the Maynard children.
"And I'm glad to be here, Carter; and I have some seeds to plant; will
you help me plant them?"
"That I will. What are they?"
"I don't know; King gave them to me, but he wouldn't tell me what they
were."
"Ah, the mischievous boy! Now, how can we tell where to plant them when
we don't know if they'll come up lilies of the valley or elephant's
ears?"
Marjorie laughed gayly. "It doesn't matter, Carter," she said; "let's
stick them in some sunny place, and then, if they seem to be growing
too high, we can transplant them."
"It's a wise little head you have, Miss; we'll do just that."
Humoring Marjorie's impatience, the good-natured gardener helped her
plant the seeds in a sunny flowerbed, and raked the dirt neatly over
them with an experienced touch.
"That looks lovely," said Marjorie, with a satisfied nod of approval;
"now let's go and see the chickens."
This proved even more interesting than she had anticipated, for since
her last visit an incubator had been purchased, and there were hundreds
of little chickens of various sizes, in different compartments, to be
looked at and admired.
"Aren't they darlings!" exclaimed Marjorie, as she watched the little
yellow balls trying to balance themselves on slender little brown stems
that hardly seemed as if they could be meant for legs. "Oh, Carter, I
shall spend hours out here every day!"
"Do, Miss Midge; I'll be glad to have you, and the chickens won't mind
it a bit."
"Now the horses," Marjorie went on, and off they went to the stables,
where Moses had already unharnessed the carriage team, and put them in
their stalls. Uncle Steve had a new saddle horse, which came in for a
large share of admiration, and the old horse, Betsy, which Grandma
Sherwood liked to drive herself, was also to be greeted.
Marjorie loved all animals, but after cats, horses were her favorites.
"Are there any ducks this year, Carter?" she inquired.
"Yes, Miss Midge, there is a duck-pond full of them; and you haven't
seen the new boathouse that was built last year for Master Kingdon."
"No, but I want to see it; and oh, Carter, don't you think you could
teach me to row?"
"I'm sure of it, Miss Midge; but I hear your grandmother calling you,
and I think you'd better leave the boathouse to see to-morrow."
"All right; I think so too, Carter." And Marjorie ran back to the
house, her broad-brimmed hat in one hand and her hair ribbon in the
other, while her curls were, indeed, in a tangled mop.