Nimpo's troubles

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OOITTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE.

I. GOING OUT TO BOARD 7

n. MRS. PRIMKINS 18

in. NIMPO DRESSES UP 29

IV. NIMPO MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT 38

V. THE FIRST SUNDAY 48

VI. MRS. PRIMKINS PUTS NIMPO TO WORK . . . . 51

Vn. AN ACCIDENT IN THE FAMILY 63

VIII. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY 73

IX. Sarah’s story 83

X. THE BATTERING-RAM CLUB 94

XL rush’s circus 103

xn. NIMPO MAKES CAKE 114

xni. RUSH MAKES HIS WILL 124

XIV. KEEPING HOUSE 130

XV. THE STORY OP THE TINY PIGS . . ... . . 137

XVI. RUSH RUNS AWAY 145

XVn. THE LITTLE HOUSE IN THE WOODS . . . . .155

XVin. MRS. PRIMKINS IS SURPRISED 163

XIX. SEWING SOCIETY AT MRS. PRIMKINS’ '. . . .178

XX. NIMPO RIDES HORSEBACK 193

Contents

CHAP, PAGE.

XXI. THE FATE OF NIMPO’s DOLL 205

XXII. THE STOVE-PIPE HOLE 213

Chapter 1. Going Out To Board

This is the story of a real girl, no wiser and no better than you are. I hope you’ll like her; and I’m sure you’ll be interested to hear about her troubles. They were many and grievous, but the greatest of all was, that she could not do as she pleased.

Now, I shouldn’t be surprised if that were your special trouble too; and I’m going to tell you what Nimpo did about it.

Nimpo wasn’t her real name, of course; it was one she had given herself before she could speak plainly, and she never had been able to get rid of it.

She had a habit of talking to herself, and the day my story begins, she had locked herself in her room, and was going on in a most passionate way::

“ I don’t believe any body has such a hard time as I have ! I never can do as I please ! Here I am, ’most thirteen, and I never did as I had a mind to, a single day! I just think it’s too bad!

“Mother never lets me go anywhere I want to, — at least, not unless every little thing is just so,” she added, to qualify the rather sweeping remark.

“ I think she’s horrid particular, anyway. Then she never lets me wear my new dress! I don’t see any use of having a dress if you can’t wear it, except just to church. Oh, dear! I do wish I could do as I please ! Wouldn’t I have a nice time?”

Having talked out her grief, though only to the unsympathizing walls, Nimpo felt better, and began to plan what she would do if that nice time should ever come. Her face brightened, and before long she was so deep in castle-building that slie forgot her troubles, and when the tea bbi. rang she went pleasantly down-stairs, not a bit like the abused damsel she thought herself.

Perhaps it was because “coming events cast, their shadows before,” for her nice time was much nearer than she thought. They were all at the table, when she took her place, and holding an animated discussion.

“Nimpo,” said her father, “I’m going to take your mother with me to New York next week. How shall you like to keep house?”

“Are you — is he, mother?” exclaimed Nimpo,

“ and may I keep house ? ”

“I’m thinking about it,” replied Mrs. Eievor, “ but I don’t see exactly how to arrange it. Sarah wants to go home for a month, or I could leave you with her. Perhaps I can get Mrs. Jackson to come and take care of you all.”

“ Oh, no ! I can’t bear Mrs. Jackson,” Nimpo broke in; “mayn’t I board somewhere?”

“That might do, Mary,” said Mr. Eievor. “Perhaps that would be best. You would feel easier about them.”

“ I don’t know who would take the care of three children on their hands,” said Mrs. Kievor.

“ Children ! ” said Nimpo, “ 1 should think 1 was old enough to take care of myself”

Mrs. Kievor looked curiously at Nimpo, a moment, and a light seemed to break in on her mind. She thought, perhaps, it would be well for her little daughter to take care of herself awhile. So she^said she would think of it.

Well, she did think of it, and she went out the next morning to see about it, and when Nimpo came home from school she was greeted with a shout from Rush, who was swinging on the front gate.

“ Oh, Nimpo ! It’s all settled, and we’re going to Mrs. Primkins’ to board. Ain’t you glad ? ”

“I guess you’ll have to learn better manners than to swing on a gate, if you’re going to board out,” said Nimpo, with great dignity. “ I should be mortified to have Mrs. Primkins see such rude manners ; ” and she went into the house to see if the delightful news was really true.

“ Oh, my ! don’t we feel grand ! ” shouted Rush,

GOING OUT TO BOARD.

who was just at the teasing age in boys — ;if you know what age that is. According to my experience, it begins at nine or ten years of age, and ends — when does it end, boys?

But, for once, Nimpo did not care what he said. She was too much elated with her brilliant prospects to listen to him.

“Mother, have you got us a boarding place?” she asked, eagerly.

Mrs. Eievor smiled.

“Yes, dear; at least, Mrs. Primkins says she will take you, if, on the whole, it is decided to be best.”

“ Oh, I hope it will, mother ! I don’t want to stay here with that poky old Mrs. Jackson, to order me around.”

“But you will find things very different there from what you are used to, my dear, and I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

“Of course, things’ll be different,” said Nimpo, loftily, “but I think I’d like a change. I don’t think it’s good for folks to live always in a rut.” She had read that expression in a grown-up book, and thought it sounded striking. But, seeing a peculiar smile on her mother’s face, she went on earnestly —

“I always did want to board out, mother, and I think it’ll be just splendid.”

“Well,” said Mrs. Kievor, “perhaps it will be good for you, and if you prefer, you may try it.”

So that was settled, and Nimpo thought her day of glory was coming in.

She went at once to her room, drew her trunk out of the closet, and began to look over her “things,” to see which she would take. It was delightful to select them, and pack them away in boxes, and it made her feel as if she were going on a journey.

Kush was excited, too, though of course — being a boy — he would not own it. Pretty soon he came in.

“What’r you doing, Nimp?” he asked.

“ Packing up,” said Nimpo, from the closet, where she had gone to get her best shoes, so as to be sure and not forget them.

“Then we’re to go, sure pop?”

GOING OUT TO BOARD.

Yes, we’re to go to Mrs. Primkins’ to board, but I do wish you’d leave ofi‘ such vulgar words,” answered Nimpo.

“I mean to pack up, too,”' said he, prudently not hearing her last remark. “ Nimp, would you take your skates?”

“ Skates ! — ^in the middle of summer ! ” said she scornfully. “I think you’d better take a little common sense — ^if you have any in your head. I wish you’d go out ; you’re in my way. I want to spread out my things on that bed.”

Nimpo’s room was a cosy bit of a place, with only room for a narrow bed, a little bureau, a stand, and one chair. So when Rush came in to see her, he always sat or lounged on the bed.

Before she went to sleep on that wonderful night, Nimpo had packed every thing, except her dresses, and as it was a week before she went, she had to live in the trunk all that time.

But that — though rather inconvenient — was part of the fun.

She was a heroine at school for that week, the envy of the girls^ and the happiest one of

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

all. Lessons were not very well learned, notes passed around, and in fact the whole school, which was not so large as schools are nowadays, was demoralized by her influence, because she was going to “board out,” that being considered the height of felicity among the girls of the village.

The airs she put on were wonderful to see. She did up her hair in a very tight knot behind, feeling too old for braids, and slily let down a tuck in her dress.

You see she wasn’t a bit like the good girls you read about; she was more like the girls you see — when you look in the glass.

Well, the week came to an end, as all weeks will if we’re only patient, and the morning came on which Mr. and Mrs. Eievor were to start.

“Now, Nimpo,” said her mother that morning, “I leave little Robbie to your tender care. Remember he’s a baby, and will miss his mother. I’m sure you’ll be kind to him, dear. And I want you to be more considerate with Rush. I know he is trying — ”

GOING OUT TO BOARD.

“I should think he was!” broke in Nimpo.

“Well, I know he is; but it’s only his rough way. Try to be patient with him. I want to speak to you of Mrs. Primkins, too. You’ll find some things you’re not used to, my dear, but I know she’ll be kind to you, and I hope you will be respectful to her, and do as she wishes you to.”

“Of course I shall be respectful, mother,” said Nimpo, putting on her high and mighty air, “ but I don’t see why I should mind her. I’m sure I’m old enough to know what’s right for me to do. I shall only be a boarder, any way.”

“Well, daughter,” were Mrs. Eievor’s last words, “I hope you will be as happy as you expect.”

“ There’s the stage 1 ” shouted Kush from the front gate; and, sure enough, the old red stage, with its four white horses, came sweeping around the corner, and stopped at the gate.

In a moment the trunks were strapped in the big “ boot ” behind. Father and mother said good-by, and were packed in, the driver climbed to his seat, cracked his whip, and off they went.

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

leaving Nimpo, Eush and Eobbie at the gate, and black Sarah at the door.

Eobbie began to cry, and even Ensh felt a slight choke in his throat, but Nimpo was too much taken up with her brilliant prospect to feel unhappy.

“ Now, Eobbie,” she began, in her most eldersisterly way, “don’t cry, dear; we’re going up to our boarding place, and you’ll see what fine times we’ll have ! ”

“ Hadn’t ye better stay here till arter dinner ? ” said Sarah. “I won’t get done clarin up ’fore the arternoon, an’ I kin jist as well cook y’r dinner.”

“No, I thank you, Sarah,” said Nimpo, loftily, “ I want to take possession of my new rooms this morning.”

Sarah smiled, but Eush shouted:

“ Nimp’s on her stilts again ! I say, Nimp, don’t forget to take the big dictionary up to old Primkins’. They’ll all have to study it if you keep on.”

Nimpo threw a most withering look on him.

but he didn’t wither a bit. He only laughed louder, and Sarah said quietly,

“Law, now! I reckon ye’ll git off that ar high hoss, ’fore you’ve been to Miss Primkins’ a week. She ain’t much like y’r ma, no ways.”

Nimpo disdained reply.

“You can leave the key of the house with Cousin Will, at the store, Sarah,” she said with dignity.

“Yes, Miss Eievor,” said Sarah, sarcastically. “ So y’r ma tole me. Lor’ I won’t she git took down a peg I ” she added, with a laugh to herself, the next minute, as Nimpo disappeared through the door.

The trunks had been removed the day before; so nothing remained but to walk up there.

Nimpo started off, leading Kobbie, and Kush, stopping to gather up a bow and arrow he was making, followed closely along behind.

CHAPTER IL

MRS. PRIMKINS.

Mrs. Primkins lived in a two-story brick house, a block or two above Mr. Rievor’s. It was the newest and most stylish-looking house on the street, and that was one reason Nimpo was pleased to go there.

Mrs. Primkins, however, was not stylish in the least. Her hair was cut short in her neck, her dress was short and scant, and in her whole figure there was a tightened-up ready-for-action look, that meant work. In fact, she was a kindhearted, uneducated woman, whose life was spent in her kitchen, and who knew very little out of it.

She consented to take the children to board, because she wanted money to furnish her halfempty rooms.

MRS. PRIMKINS.

When Nimpo reached the house, she went up to the front door, and finding no bell, gave a delicate, lady-like knock.

No reply.

She knocked again, louder this time. In a moment she heard a window opened, and Augusta Primkins put her head out.

“Go ’round the back way,” she screamed.

“Well, I never!” said Nimpo, tossing her head; but she went, and there she found Mrs. Primkins washing dishes.

“ Excuse me, Mrs. Primkins,” she said. “ I knocked at the front door, but could not make you hear.”

“ Laws I ” cried Mrs. Primkins, stopping to look at her. “Why didn’t you come right around? I don’t expect to make company of you;” and she returned to her dish-pan.

“Will you be kind enough to show me my rooms ? ” asked Nimpo, with her grandest, youngladylike air.

Mrs. Primkins stopped now in earnest, stood a moment looking at the pompous young figure

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

in the doorway, laughed a little to herself, Aviped her hands on her apron, and then went to a door which seemed to lead up-stairs.

“Ma’am,” came faintly down from the attic.

“ Them Rievor children’s come ; you show them their rooms.”

“Children, again!” thought poor Nimpo. “I’ll soon show them I’m no child.”

“I s’pose you’d ’s’lieves go up the back way?” said Mrs. Primkins, holding open the door.

“It makes no difference,” said Nimpo, haughtily, and up she went.

When she got to the head of the stairs, she looked around for Augusta, but a voice came from above —

“Come up-stairs, children.”

Nimpo hesitated, and Mrs. Primkins called from below—

“Take the little door at your left hand.”

Then Nimpo saw a narrow, unpainted door, which she opened. There was the next flight of stairs, regular garret stairs, narrow and steep.

MRS. PRIMKINS.

Up these she climbed, her heart boiling over with wrath.

“It can’t be possible!” she said to herself, “that that horrid woman means to put us in the attic 1 ” <•

But she did; for there stood Augusta at the head of the landing, and she pointed to two small, unpainted doors, on one side of the attic.

“ Those are your rooms. You can divide them as you like.”

“But I thought — but can’t we have rooms down-stairs?” stammered Nimpo, with tears of vexation in her eyes.

Augusta looked at her with surprise.

“There ain’t a stick of furniture in the chambers. This is my room,” and she opened the door of the front attic, showing a broad room, the whole width of the house, with a droll window half across the front. This window was in the peak of the roof, and, of course, it could not go up; so it was arranged with hinges, and hung down into the room. It was now open, and it looked as though half the wall was out.

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

Nimpo turned away, and with a swelling heart, opened one of the other doors.

The room was a small one, with sloping roof on

one side. A bed was pushed under this low part, and before it stood a cheap stand and one wooden chair. A window at the end looked out upon a roof, and the kitchen chimney smoked away only five or six feet from the sash.

There was an awful crash of air castles in Nimpo’s heart. She turned to look at the other room, but found it even worse ; for it had no washstand at all. She returned, drew Eobbie in, shut the door, sat down on the foot of the bed, and — burst into tears.

“ Don’t cry, Nimp,” said Eush, by way of consolation, while Eobbie climbed up by her and said:

“This room’s too up high; that wall’s going to fall down.”

“ It’s real mean, anyhow,” Eush went on, “ to put us up in the garret like this. It ain’t half so good as our house, for all it looks so grand!”

“Mean!” said Nimpo, who had recovered her voice. “ It’s horrid I the stingy old thing I I’ll

MRS. PRIMKINS.

bet she didn’t tell mother where she was going to put us! I’ll never stay here — never — I You see if I do.”

“What you going to do?” asked Eush, when he saw Nimpo jerk her bonnet from its peg.

“ I’m going straight to the store to see Cousin Will,” she answered; “I know he’ll help us somehow. I won’t stay here a minute.”

She stalked down-stairs, the two boys still following her. Mrs. Primkins was not in the kitchen, so they got out without being seen, and hastened to their father’s store.

“Cousin Will,” Nimpo began passionately the moment she saw him, “ I want you to get us another boarding place.”

“ Why, Nimpo, your mother made arrangements for you,” answered Will.

“I know it; but that horrid Mrs. Primkins gave us mean little rooms up in the attic, and I can’t bear them. They’re ever so much meaner than Sarah’s room at our house, and I can’t stand it, — so there 1 ”

Cousin Will looked puzzled.

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

“Well, I don’t see what I can do for you. Nobody takes boarders, you know, — except students, — and I don’t see but what you’ll have to stand it. It won’t be long anyway; and you needn’t stay much in your room, you know.”

“But why can’t I have Mrs. Jackson to keep house, as mother proposed?” asked Nimpo.

“Mrs. Jackson is taking care of Mrs. Smith, who is very sick. I know she wouldn’t leave her,” replied Cousin Will.

Nimpo’s face fell.

“ Oh, dear ! it’s too mean for any thing ! I never have any thing as I want it!”

“But I’m sure this plan is yours; you refused to have Mrs. Jackson, yourself.”

“So I did,” said poor Nimpo; “but I never thought of being treated so.”

“Well, I don’t see what you can do,” said Cousin Will, who evidently didn’t think it a killing matter to sleep in an attic room. “I guess you’ll have to ‘grin and bear it,’ as Sarah says.”

“ Let’s go home,” suggested Kush. “ Sarah’s there yet, and we’ll make her stay.”

MRS. PRIMKINS.

But Nimpo remembered tlie lofty airs she bad put on that very morning, and she couldn’t bear to come down to Sarah. So she called her pride to her aid, and made a resolve.

“No, Kush, we’ll go back there and stand it. It’s horrid mean of her; but we needn’t stay in the rooms, you know, and we’ll have some fun, anyway.”

So back they went.

They had not been there long before the lower door opened, and a shrill scream came up:

“Come to dinner, children!”

“ Children, again I ” said Nimpo. “ I’ll show her —

They found the dinner table in the kitchen, to Nimpo’s horror.

“You may set right down there,” said Mrs. Primkins, pointing to a chair on one side of the table, “and Kobbie can have the high chair next to you. You, Rush, set down by Augusty.”

They took their seats. Mr. Primkins was already in his place. Nimpo tied on Robbie’s bib, and looked around. I don’t suppose she would

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

really have cared much how her dinner was served, if she hadn’t dreamed so much, and worse yet, said so much, about the “style” of boarding. But the dishes of coarse crockery, with blue edges, such as they used at home to bake pies on, the big, awkward knives and two-tined forks, the unbleached table-cloth, the square table, with leaves propped up, so that you had to be careful not to hit the leg, or you might have your dinner in your lap — all these together were dreadful troubles just then.

Then there was the great piece of corned beef, — which she never could eat, and whole potatoes,— ^which she hated to peel, and boiled cabbage,— which she could just manage to swallow.

Mr. Primkins did not ask her what she would have. He piled a plate up with beef, potatoes, and cabbage, and handed it over to her in such a matter-of-course way, that she could not say a word. He did the same with Rush. Rush was hungry, — did you ever know a boy who wasn’t? — and he proceeded to dispose of his plateful; but Robbie began to fret.

MRS. PRIMKINS.

“ Nimpo, I don’t want that meat. I want some fat meat. I don’t like that potato; it’s a black potato.”

“Never mind!” whispered Nimpo, blushing;

“ ni fix it.”

“Don’t fix it! — take away that meat!” Kobbie went on, ready to cry.

Nimpo hastily slipped the meat upon her own plate, peeled Eobbie’s potato, and mashed it for him, gave him a piece of fat from her plate, and ^ after awhile, with burning cheeks, was ready to cram her own dinner down.

Meanwhile, Eush had emptied his plate, and passed it up for more, at which Mrs. Primkins, who was nibbling around the edge of hers, said :

“ Dear ! dear ! what an appetite boys do have ! ” — adding, as she saw Nimpo’s indignant face :

“What wouldn’t I give if I could eat like a boy!”

“Let him eat,” was Mr. Primkin’s reply, between two mouthfuls, “he’s a-growin’.”

That was the only remark he made. As soon as he had finished his meal, he pushed back his

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

chair, took his hat and went ont. Mrs. Primkins also left the table the moment she had finished, and, finally, Nimpo found herself left alone with Bobbie, who was very slow to eat, lingering as little folk will.

“ Come, bub, ain’t you through ? ” said Mrs. Primkins. “ I can’t dawdle round all day. I want to get the dishes done up.”

Nimpo hurried him off, and rushed up-stairs once more, in a blaze of indignation, while Mrs. Primkins said to herself, as she cleared the table —

“Too many airs for my time o’ day! the pert little huzzy! can’t eat corned beef! humph! I’ll have to take her down .a bit, ’fore I can live with her,” and by the way the table-cloth was jerked off, you’d think she meant to do it, too.

Chapter III. Nimpo Dresses Up

Climbing to the attic rooms again, Nimpo opened her trunk, and took out her dresses, which she hung on a row of nails at the foot of the bed.

Robbie looked on with great interest for a moment, then suddenly, to Nimpo’s dismay, began to cry.

“I don’t like it here,” he sobbed; “I want to go home to mamma.”

“Hush! Robbie,” said his sister, kissing and soothing him, hurriedly ; “ never mind, dear. We’ll dress up and go out to walk. We’ll have some fun, if things are horrid here.”

So, with another kiss, she put on his white suit and red boots, and then took down her new dress.

“Now I’ll have the good of this dress, and I’ll show mother that I can wear it other days besides Sunday, and not spoil it,” she said to herself.

The dress was of blue harege. She put it on, with her best cloth boots, and her blue sash.

“ What for you dressed all up ? ” ashed Eobbie, rubbing his eyes.

“ Because I’m going out to walk. Mother puts on her best dress when she goes out — sometimes,” she added, for she felt a little guilty; “I don’t see why 1 shouldn’t do so too.”

“ Ain’t you a very pretty girl ? ” asked Eobbie, earnestly, after studying the effect of the blue dress for some minutes.

“ Do you think I am ? ” asked Nimpo, laughing.

“ P’r’aps you are. I sink so,” said Eobbie.

“Well, you’re a darling little rose-bud!” said Nimpo, giving him a spasmodic hug.

“ Ain’t I a pretty big rose-bud ? ” asked Eobbie, seriously, “and ’sides, where’s my stem?”

“ Oh, you’re the kiiid of rose-bud that has legs, and don’t need a stem,” said Nimpo, starting down-stairs.

“I’m not going down the kitchen way,” said

NIMPO DRESSES UP.

she, when they reached the foot of the attic stairs. “ I guess I’m a boarder ! ” and feeling very haughty and fine, she went down the front stairs.

Mrs. Primkins heard them and opened the kitchen door.

“I don’t want you to go up and down that way,” she said, “tramping up my stair carpet. You can use the back stairs — ^like the rest of us.”

Nimpo made no reply, but started for the front door.”

“Don’t go out that way!” screamed Mrs. Primkins; “I can’t be running round to lock doors after a parcel of young ones, not by a jug-full I Come out the back door.”

Swelling with indignation, Nimpo turned.

“I am accustomed to go out the front door at home, Mrs. Primkins.”

“Wall, you ain’t to home now, and you needn’t tramp up my front hall. I can tell you that. I don’t wUnt every thing going to rack and ruin, and I hain’t got no servants to sweep out after you, as your ma has.”

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

So they went out the back door, and took their way down town.

Now, in that little western village set down in the woods of Ohio, children did not dress finely every day; so, when Nimpo appeared on the street in her blue barege., she attracted a good deal of notice. Every one said, “Why! where are you going, Nimpo?”

She enjoyed it for awhile, but finally she began to be annoyed.

“Just as if one couldn’t dress up without having every body act so! I do think the people in this town are dreadfully countrified ! ” she said to herself

When she came to the school-house the girls were out at recess.

“There’s Nimpo!” some one shouted, and in a moment ' she was surrounded by a crowd of eager schoolmates.

“Where’re you going?” was the first question, and then, “How do you like it?” “Are you having a nice time?” “Ain’t it splendid to do as you’re a mind to?” etc., etc.

NIMPO DRESSES UP.

“ 0, girls ! ” said Nimpo, “ it’s perfectly horrid there. They eat with two-tined forks ! and don’t have napkins ! Mrs. Primkins is a vulgar woman, and a tyrant. But I don’t care, I sha’n’t mind her. I have to sleep in the garret, and I ’most know there’s rats in the wall.”

“Oh my!” and “Oh it’s too bad!” and “Write to your mother to come home,” and other expressions of sympathy followed this announcement, until Nimpo suddenly felt that she was a heroine. She had read stories about those suffering individuals, and began to think since she couldn’t be stylish, she would be a persecuted heroine.

Now, you must know that Nimpo was very fond of reading, and read every book she could beg or borrow. And the books she borrowed of the school girls were not at all like yours; far from it! they were always in two or three small, dark-covered volumes, and the stories were the histories of interesting damsels who were persecuted and tormented from the title page to the very last leaf of the book.

Nimpo had read several of these — inside of her 3

NIMPO^S TROUBLES.

geograpliy, at school (for she knew her mother would object to them) — and she thought it would be interesting to adopt that role.