A Yankee girl in old California; a story for girls

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I THE SHADOWS OF COMING EVENTS 5

II AN ASTONISHING ANNOUNCEMENT 24

Chapter I

Having finished her note, Miss Comfort Hale stepped to the kitchen door of the parsonage and called :

“ Eli ! E-li Johnson ! ”

The cry elicited no response ; and, after a moment’s wait, the lady drew her shoulder-shawl up over her head and crossed the graveled driveway between the house and the stable. Peering in, she again summoned :

“E-li ! E-l-i ! Mr. John — son !”

w Ma’am ? ” said a voice so close to Miss Comfort that she jumped.

“Well, of all things! Didn’t you hear me before?”

“Yes, ma’am,” answered Eli, who scorned a falsehood.

“ Why didn’t you answer, then ? ”

“Well, because 1 wasn’t ready then, if you want to know the exact why and wherefore.”

The mistress of the house caught her breath. The man’s audacity was almost unbearable ; yet — she was the minister’s daughter and it would not do to show the indignation she felt. Besides that, “ help ” was difficult to secure, in that small village, where each man served himself and real poverty was unknown. To retain the assistance — she would never presume to call it service — of this capable Eli she had to ignore much that was unpleasant. She ignored his independence at that moment, and replied very calmly :

“ When you have finished your chores I’d like to have you carry a letter to Mary Foster, Edith’s friend, near the town hall ; and bring back an answer.”

“I guess I know where the Fosters live. I was brought up here in Sissmissit, wasn’t I ? ”

Miss Hale vouchsafed no further speech, but, reflecting upon the contrariness of men in general and of Eli Johnson in particular, hurried back through the sharp January air into the warm kitchen.

THE SHADOWS OP COMING EVENTS 7

Left to his own devices, Eli proceeded to kick the cat, which had thrust its nose into the pail of milk which he had just set down.

“ Scat ! scat, I say ! Never saw the wa} r things go ! Life’s one long burden and I shan’t be sorry when the turmile’s over and I’m at rest. Go to the village, eh ? Thinks I need directin’ on my way, ’s if I was a four-year-old. Silly women — silly women.”

There was nobody to hear Eli’s grumbling except Daisy, the cow, and the long-suffering Ma’am Puss. Both were well accustomed to it and understood its sound if not its sense. Also both seemed to realize that while one was being corrected it was the other one’s chance to enjoy herself ; therefore, since the cat was skurryingout of the way, Daisy promptly nosed her hay over and out of the manger, in pursuit of a sweeter morsel than ordinary. Being a well-trained cow, she knew perfectly that this was misbehavior on her part and that the rejected food would be immediately forked up and thrust back under her stall. But Daisy was young and giddy and cared not for the future so long as she could enjoy the present.

Still she kept a wary eye upon her master’s movements, which, owing to his trials with his mistress, were less methodical and decided than usual. He wandered about the great, sweetsmelling place, which his absolute neatness kept like a parlor ; dusting off the harness that was already speckless ; straightening boxes and barrels, that even then stood compact and orderly, and conducting himself generally like one whose thoughts wander from the task his hands are doing. To all, there was the steady running accompaniment of his grumbling.

“ Must think I’m made of iron. I’ve been to the village once to-day. Why couldn’t she be a mite considerate and write all her letters in the morning? Just like women. Pshaw! She flustered me up, cornin’ over here and yellin’ at me that way so’t I forgot to bed Daisy. Hi ! Get over, there ! Get over, I say ! ” and he thumped the pretty Alderney with the handle of his hayfork.

Daisy, being a creature of spirit, remonstrated by switching Eli’s face with her tail, as she moved across her stall. But her delicate nostrils still sought among her fodder for the tidbit she craved, and her brown eyes remained placidly innocent.

Eli forked and patted tlie straw bedding, still lamenting :

“ I’ll bet my old hat that Maria, too, will have some sort of mean job laid by for me now. Chopping mince-meat, or cracking shell -barks ; — I see she had a pan of ’em set out on the table when I went in to warm my feet. She didn’t say nothin’, though, not then. She knew ’twa’n’t the right time. That’s one consolation, if Maria is a botherer she’s learned the time£ an’ seasons for try in’ it. Sho ! you creatur’ ! If I haven’t got to go ’round front now an’ clean up that hay you’ve messed. Oh ! dear ! if I wasn’t minister’s folks I believe — I’d — say — words ! ”

But being both a professor and a member of the ministerial household, Eli’s most vicious expletive was an occasional : “ Zach-a-ri-as ! ” This burst from him, presently, as in passing along the dim aisle between Daisy’s manger and the haymow, he stumbled over Ma’am Puss, who had returned to the milk-pail, and, in the rapidly increasing dimness of the barn, was unseen by him.

Just then the stable door again opened and a girlish voice came in with the rush of frosty air. A bright, uncovered head followed the voice and a burst of laughter echoed Eli’s exclamation :

“ Oh ! Eli — Eli ! do I hear or am I dreaming ? Maria says supper is ready and that you’re so cross to-day she’s afraid to come herself and tell you.”

“Hmm ! She is, is she ? Well, it’s rather late in life for her to be getting scared of her own husband, I think. Scared ! If she hasn’t had the whip-hand of me ever since we was married, I’ll lose my guess. You go right back and tell her I say I won’t come till I’m notified. If a man ain’t good enough to be called to his victuals he’s too good to eat ’em.” Whereupon, the crabbed old fellow stuck his fork into the mow with such force that its handle cracked.

u Oh ! .Eli, Eli ! Is this the way I’ve brought you up ? What’s the matter with my poor dear ? ” demanded Edith, laughing and running * to throw her arms about the bent shoulders of the old man. This familiarity was perfectly natural to these two, though to others it might have seemed out of place. But Eli boasted that the Johnson blood was “ as good as anybody’s in Sissmissit and a little better, too,” while his position in the pastor’s household was one of equality. He and his wife, Maria, always ate at the family table, nor were their voices silent during any discussion that might arise there, lie had carried Edith in his arms when she was a baby and loved her well enough to do so still had she desired it. Next to her grandfather, the old clergyman, she was dearer to him than any human being, and his countenance softened visibly under the spell of her caressing touch upon his shoulders.

“Well, it’s a shame, I say. A burnin’ shame for a man’s folks to treat him so.”

u So it is, poor Eli ! Waffles, though ? Waffles and maple syrup ! Syrup from the West Hill farm. Umm.” She smacked her lips, tantalizingly.

“S’pose I can overlook it for once. Women ain’t to blame for being silly as I know of. I

suppose the Lord made ’em, but ”

“You don’t see why. Eh? Well, isn’t it nice out here ? It’s the dearest, sweetest, cleanest barn in all the neighborhood. I know, for I’ve been in every one, I reckon. I love it. Aunty Comfort says you’re more than fastidiously neat, you’re fuss-tidious. By the way, Eli, do you know what to-morrow will be ? ”

“Indeed, I do. Don’t suppose I’d forget that, do you ? ”

The old man’s face was now bright and cheerful ; that is, as nearly so as it ever could become ; for while she talked the girl had moved about the barn floor, helping give the finishing touches to Eli’s chores, and making him understand without words that, no matter how little others might care for him, she, at least, loved him sincerely.

When nothing more could be done, she ordered him to pick up his pail and accompany her to the house. He lifted it promptly enough, but grumblingly explained that its contents must all go into the pig-trough.

“ Ma’am puss, again ? ”

“ Yes. The pesky creatur’. I’m going to get rid of her before I sleep.”

“You’re going to do nothing of the kind. You wouldn’t hurt a hair of her beautiful coat for all the milk Miss Daisy would give this winter ! Whew ! Isn’t it cold ! If the snow doesn’t come there’ll be lovely skating to-morrow. Fora treat I mean to ask Aunty Comfort to let me go for a little while, if she can spare me.”

The hired man cast a curious glance upon the fair face and then turned his own aside rather hastily. He suggested that she should “run in ” while he locked the stable door and his voice was no longer harsh, though it had become a trifle husky.

“Lock the stable door ! Lock the stable door? Why, you never did such a thing in your life, Eli Johnson. Why should you begin it at this late day? ”

“ You go in, honey. I’d better. There was a horse stole, over to Concord, not long ago.” He pronounced it “ Cawnco’d.”

“ Old Derry isn’t worth stealing, even if there were anybody round who didn’t -love Grandpa too well to do it. Heigho ! 4 1 had a little dog, his name was Buff ! I sent him to the corner for a ha’porth of snuff ! ’ ” cried the girl, as at that instant the house door again opened and a homely yellow cur came bounding out toward her.

Then there was a moment’s frolic between Buff and his mistress, to which Eli put an end, with the remark :

“ It won’t pay to play around in this cold, bareheaded. You’ll be getting the pneumonia, and that’ll give you the consumption and ”

Eclith clapped her hands over her ears, laughing as she did so, yet obeyed instantly. She was a perfectly strong and vigorous girl, but the word “ consumption ” had been the bane of her short life. She had heard it from kinsfolk and neighbors ever since she could remember, and had been reminded that her parents had both died victims of the scourge ; till there had roused and matured within her the fierce determination that “ If die I must I never will of that hateful disease.”

As far as she had been permitted she had early begun to harden herself against her hereditary ailment ; and was, probably, the only girl in Sissmissit who knew the luxury of a daily cold plunge, or the enjoyment of a long walk each day, no matter what the weather.

Rather to silence Eli’s remonstrance than from any fear of taking cold she hastily ran indoors and thereby disappointed Buff of his evening’s fun.

“ Where’s the milk, Eli ? ” asked Maria, who was Miss Comfort’s household assistant.

u Wliere ’tis about half the time. In the pig trough.”

“ Eli — J ohnson ! again ? ”

“ Yes. Again. I ain’t given to joking, am I ? ”

Miss Hale protested, sternly :

“ If you aren’t man enough, or haven’t gumption enough, to keep a cat out of your milk-pail you ought to get rid of the cat.”

“ I’m goin’ to get rid of her this very night. You don’t s’pose I enjoy wastin’ good stuff, do you ? ”

u Here’s Grandpa,” announced Edith, interposing the minister’s gracious presence between these opponents. Then she ran to put his chair ready at the table’s head and to stand beside it till he should come.

Indeed, the whole household stood while the clergyman uttered the simple grace before meat, which was, perhaps, all the more deeply felt because of its brevity. Then Maria served the waffles and Miss Comfort poured the tea, and there ensued the customary household talk over the events of the day. But it was noticeable that after a brief time the speech flagged and the minister relapsed into an abstracted mood, unusual to him. His daughter, also, soon left the conversation to Edith and Eli, who kept it up for a time till, influenced by the example of the others, they, too, became silent.

But when Mr. Hale absently turned the syrup into his teacup and vainly tried to spread lump sugar on his waffles, the astonished girl exclaimed :

“ Why, what has happened ! what’s making everybody so serious ? One would think that something far more dreadful than my sixteenth birthday was coming to-morrow. Any bad news from anywhere, Grandfather, dear ? ”

“ It is no news, child. No, it is nothing new.”

He glanced across toward Comfort, sitting grimly behind her teapot, but she shook her head negatively. So the gentle old man sheltered himself afresh in his silence and, much sooner than was his habit, rose from the suppertable and returned to his study.

“ Why, Aunty Comfort ! Is Grandpa going to write any more to-night ? I didn’t know he was especially busy. Shan’t I take my lessons in there to study ? ”

“ No. You’d better stay in the sitting-room — I guess.”

Miss Hale’s u guesses ” were decisions. Her niece, picking up her school-books, crossed the hall to the lamp-lighted corner near the open fire and began her evening’s tasks.

Buff followed her, of course, and it may have been his playful presence that made application so difficult. He seemed possessed by a spirit of restlessness and would frequently rise from the rug, to poke his cold nose into Edith’s palm, beseeching her attention to himself. Then he would sit upon his haunches and throw his head back, sniffing the air viciously* as when he suspected an enemy near.

His behavior was peculiar and distracting, and his mistress fancied that he had missed his supper ; so led him back to the kitchen, where Eli was just tying his woolen tippet over his ears, preparatory to his walk village ward. A letter Jay upon the table, whose superscription he was closely scanning. The envelope was unsealed and the gruff carrier fully intended to master its contents before it reached the person for whom it was designed. Yet he already surmised its message and felt no malice toward anybody. He would have been truly amazed if his purposed action should have been construed as impertinent, and himself considered it but part of his burdensome care of the household he served.

As he knotted the tippet and pushed his moleskin cap tight over that, he nodded toward the pan of uncracked nuts and inquired, testily :

“Like to have me smash my fingers off at them ’ere, I s’pose ? ”

“ Yes,” meekly replied Maria, carefully polishing a teacup.

u Any other little job to tackle when that’s done ? ”

“Well, there are — some raisins to stun ; an’ I ’lowed, maybe, you’d like to help slice the citron and wash the curr’n’s. The last time, as ’tis ”

u Sh-h-h ! ” admonished Eli, jerking his head significantly, and she stopped short. There stood Edith close beside them, looking with unfeigned surprise at the store oi good things spread out on the wide shelf.

“ Why, Maria ! making fruit cake again ? I thought you and aunty had finished your year’s supply long ago. Before Thanksgiving, indeed. What’s on foot?”

“ I am ! ” answered Eli, with clumsy facetiousness. Then as he passed out he called his wife after him and the girl heard them whispering loudly together in the entry.

This was out of common in their simple household, where nobody had any secrets, and it puzzled her. But she was not unduly curious ; and, having satisfied herself that Buff had had a good meal offered him though he declined to eat it, she returned to her books.

Miss Comfort had gone up-stairs to her own room and would not be apt to come down again till time for evening worship. The complete quietude of the place should have helped Edith to study, yet a second time she found herself unable to do so. Buff still kept close to her, lying heavily upon her skirt and frequently lifting his head to lick her hand.

It was a relief when she heard her grandfather’s call :

“ My dear, aren’t you coming to sit with me ? It’s very lonely without you.”

“ I wanted to, but Aunty Comfort seemed to think best not.”

“Did she ? Well, well ! I suppose she fancied that I — never mind. Come near. Close to the fire. I want to talk with you, grandchild.”

Whenever he said “ grandchild,” Edith knew that matter of import was to be discussed ; and when he did not at once begin the talk she re viewed the events of the past few days and her

'own conduct, wondering if in any or what respect she had failed. For, like all the household, she, too, realized that minister’s folks are candles set on a hill j and, as Eli often lamented .

“ It’s powerful hard on short-sighted human natur’ to keep one’s light a-burnin’ constant.”

Yet she could recall nothing especially worthy of censure, and her grandfather soon sank into a profound reverie. She, also, fell to dreaming, but her visions were of the happy sort that conie to all young folk ; while, judging by the inexpressible sadness of his fine countenance the old man’s were somber retrospect.

At last, Buff grew quiet and went to sleep, still with his ungainly body curled upon the hem of his mistress’s gown. The trio were thus motionless as well as silent when Miss Hale entered, to place a lamp upon the “ Bible table.”

The father roused and looked up, half -guiltily :

“ Why, daughter, is it nine o’clock already ? ”

“ It has 4 warned ’ to strike the hour,” she answered, regarding the pair before her critically.

Then they heard Eli stamping his chilled feet in the kitchen beyond ; and presently the whole family had arranged themselves in their ordinary manner for the last worship of the day.

That night it seemed to Edith that there was a strange atmosphere in the familiar home ; and that everybody around her was looking positively unhappy. She was more convinced of this when, at parting for the night, her grandsire laid his hand upon her sunny head and repeated the blessing of Moses. After which he put his arms about her and stroked her cheek caressingly.

“ So, to-'morrow you will be sweet sixteen ! You have been a good child, my Edith. Indeed, the blessing of the Lord will shine upon you in all your wanderings. Good night, good night.”

Then he took his bedroom candle and went quickly away, while Aunt Comfort handed the girl hers. She was never a demonstrative woman, yet that night she, too, drew her niece into a momentary embrace and kissed her tenderly.

“Father is right, dear. You have been far more of joy than care to us. I hope your coming new year may be full of peace and happiness.”

Suddenly, a lump rose in the girl’s throat and choked her. She glanced hastily through the kitchen doorway and saw Maria actually wiping her eyes upon her apron ; while Eli had folded his hands behind his back and stood warming himself before the fire in an attitude of utter dejection.

“ He looks as if he were going to a funeral ! ” thought Edith ; and depressed by the gloom of everybody around her, she darted a hasty kiss toward her aunt’s cheek and hurried away to her own cosy room, wondering, as she went :

u I would like to know what mystery’s afoot ! One w’ould think I were on the eve of departure for some unknown land ! yet it’s only another birthday that is coming. Is it so solemn to be sixteen instead of fifteen-and-ninety-nine-onehundredths ? ”

Just then Buff, who had been banished to his bed in the lean-to, set up a dismal howl, and a moment later she heard Eli’s indignant remonstrance with the unhappy dog.

This was so natural and commonplace a sound that it promptly restored the girl’s spirits and she was soon asleep, and quite unconscious of the startling fact that Miss Hale, with her two helpers, spent almost all that night toiling in the kitchen.

Ordinarily, ten o’clock saw the last light extinguished in the parsonage ; but the old. timepiece on the shelf struck one before Maria took a monster loaf of cake from the oven and remarked :

“ There ! that’s the last, and it’s morning ! Well, well, well, poor innocent! I wonder if she’ll ever again taste decent food ! ”

“ Hush, Maria ! ” retorted Miss Hale, sharply. u Get to bed, at once.?’

Chapter II

After lier walk before breakfast, it was Edith Hale’s custom to call at the post-office for her grandfather’s mail, which was usually in excess of that of any other villager except Squire Saunders.

When she appeared before the little window among the glass pigeon-holes, on her birthday morning, the postmaster greeted her with a look of surprise, and the exclamation :

“ Bless my soul ! I didn’t expect to see you here to-day ? ”

“ Indeed ? Why not ? It’s just grand out-ofdoors ! The air is full of sparkling crystals and the trees are covered with them till they are fairly dazzling! I hate to go indoors. The skating will be fine and I mean to get up a party to go down to the pond this afternoon. May Letty join us ? ”

“Hum! I don’t know. We’re pretty busy, these days. But seein’ it’s the last time — I guess I’ll strain a point an’ spare her — that is ”

Fearful that the hard taskmaster would withdraw his permission, Edith ran through the back door of the office and general store, into a dingy kitchen where a delicate, stoop-shouldered girl was washing dishes.

“ Oh ! Letty ! it’s my birthday, and I’m going to celebrate by asking all the girls and boys to come and skate with me this afternoon. Your father says you may come, too ! Won’t it be lovely ? ”

“ You’re lovely, any way, girlie ! ” returned the dish-washer, affectionately, “ and it would be fun. Though do you suppose he meant it ? ”

“ Of course he meant it. Pie said something about it’s being the last time, but that doesn’t matter until the next time comes. Then we’ll hope he’ll be willing again. I do wish he didn’t make you work so hard.”

“ I suppose he thinks it’s his duty. I wouldn’t mind so much if I didn’t care about an education. Well, I guess I’m not intended to have a very good time in this world and I must be content.”

u Oh ! you dear old dismal ! Why so doubtful of good ? It’s Deacon Squibbett’s fault that you are denied the chance you ought to have. His, and — Letty Squib’s herself! So there ! ’tis out ! and if it’s treason, why treason it is. But, Letty, child, why don’t you spunk up ? With your fine mind you’ve a right to an education and I would just demand it. Say that you must have it and you’ll get it. Fact.”

Letty smiled sadly.

“ You don’t know my father. He loves a dollar better than — his own child, I guess. But never mind. I’ll get a little pleasure out of to-day and let to-morrow take care of its own trouble.”

“ Exceeding wise young woman. If you’d only stick to that principle you’d be as jolly as I am. But, Letty, it is true. You’re so afraid of your own father that I believe you make him more stingy — beg pardon — than he would be otherwise. Did you ever tell him you wanted a college course ? ”

“ I should as soon think of jumping off the roof ! ”

Edith tilted her gray Tam sidewise and critically regarded a frost-covered shed visible through the window.

2 1

“ Well, since tlie roof isn’t high and you’re dying for want of out-of-door exercise, I should call that an excellent plan. It would set your blood circulating faster and warm the cockles of your heart. I wonder what heart cockles are, anyway. If Shakespeare were alive I’d write and ask him.”

“ Edith Hale ! how you do go on ! you say the oddest things, and more of them in a minute than I would in a day. How can you be so merry, when — even if father is — I should be broken-hearted.”

“ Upon my word ! Are you, too, like the rest of the folks, struck riddle-mad ? Last night everybody at home talked enigmas, and this morning the few I’ve met have done the same. What is it all about ? But, never mind. I’m off. Grandfather will want his mail and Aunty Comfort will look volumes if I’m late to breakfast. After that’s over and my work done I’ll run around and see the other girls. Y ou speak to anybody who comes in about the skating, too, will you t Two o’clock, sharp ! Good-by.”

Edith hurried back into the office and Letty watched her go, with a sudden mist blinding her blue eyes.

u If it’s true, what will my life be without her ! ” she exclaimed, in sorrowful foreboding.

Much richer than with her, had she but known it. For as the minister’s grandchild passed once more through the store and found its master alone, she was inspired to free her mind concerning the aspirations of her timid schoolmate. Going to where the deacon stood, straightening a row of tin cans, she laid her hand upon his rusty shoulder.

u Deacon Squibbett, please send Letty to college.”

The request might have been a bomb, exploding at his feet, he staggered backward so suddenly.

“ Send — Letty — to — college ! Are you crazy ? ”

“Not a bit. As sound as a nut. A good nut. But you’ll be if you don’t. That girl has the finest mind of anybody in Sissmissit, and she’ll make the old town famous if you give her a chance.”

“ Why, Edith ! Why — E-dith ! How you do talk ! ”

“ I know it. Always to the point, Grandpa says. But I can’t help it. Somehow, I feel as if I must show you how it looks to me, just this once. If it does any good I shall be forever thankful, and if not — why, then it will be your fault.”

The merchant finished his task and returned to his place as postmaster behind the pigeon-holes. It was against governmental rules for Edith Hale to follow him into that sacred precinct, but she did, and he did not reprove her. He took up a bundle of letters and re-sorted them idly, while she waited for him to speak.

“ She ain’t never said anything to me about it,” he finally observed.

“ Of course not. She was too afraid.”

“ Afraid ! ” he exclaimed, testily. “ Did she get you to do it for her ? ”

“ No, indeed, Deacon Squibbett. She doesn’t dream that I would dare do such a thing. But it just came into my mind that, maybe, you didn’t realize how brilliant a daughter you have. Do you know that she has been studying nights, and coming whenever she had a chance to Grandpa to get his help in her Latin and Greek .? Yes, sir, Greek. Greek with a capital G ! ”

Apparently, for the time being, Edith forgot the waiting birthday breakfast and the minister’s desire for news ; for she quielly seated herself upon a convenient table and resumed her argument :

u I wish you could hear my dear old grandfather talk about her knowledge-hungry soul, and then see him look at me over his specs. I’m not knowledge-hungry at all. I hate a book — that has sums in it ; but I do love folks. I love Letty as well, I believe, as if she were my own sister. I suppose that’s because you and papa were such chums when you were boys. Don’t you ? ”

The other looked at her cpiestioningly. But there was no sophistry in the frank young face opposite him, and Edith had spoken out of the full conviction of her great heart. She knew that her dead father, whom she had never known, but who had always seemed to her as a saint, had been raised with Silas Squibbett and had loved him truly. She had always fancied that the attraction between herself and Letty was but a survival of their parents’ boyish friendship, since there was as little in common between the two girls as there had been between the two men — after they became such. All the other young people stood in awe of the stern, close-fisted deacon, but she had never feared him at all. She feared nobody, greatly, and now all her interest was roused on Letty’s behalf.