Brave little Peggy

Front matter

* CL ^ c^ i '' N

A qO z

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Contents

CHAPTER page

I Peggy 7

II The Changes Begin 27

Chapter I

I THINK it’s the most beautiful letter anybody ever had, don’t you, Dorothea ? ” There were tears of joy and pride in Peggy’s brown eyes, and her dark little face was flushed with excitement, as she tenderly folded her letter, and replaced it in her pocket, but Dorothea stared straight before her with her expressionless blue eyes, and made no response.

It’s very tiresome your being only a doll, Dorothea,” Peggy went on, with a sigh, lifting the big French doll from the bench beside her into her lap. If you could only talk there are so many questions I should like to ask you. You’ve seen her — just think, Dorothea, you’ve actually seen her — and yet you can’t tell me a single thing about her. I want so much to know what she said the day she bought you. 7

Vm sure she chose you because you were the prettiest doll in the store. She’s beautiful herself, I know that from her picture, but I do want to know how she talks, and whether she’s always smiling the way she does in the photograph. I suppose she always wears pretty dresses, though of course she didn’t have much money to buy them with till after Uncle Henry died. Grandma says it was very kind of Uncle Henry to take Harry and Edith to live with him after papa and mamma were drowned, but he didn’t believe in giving young people too much money to spend, so Edith had to make some of her own clothes. She’s got everything she wants now, because you know, Dorothea, Uncle Henry left all his money to Harry and Edith, and they’ve got a lovely home in Montclair, New Jersey. You never saw that because you came straight from the toy store in New York, but I shall see it some day when I go to visit them, and perhaps if you’re very good I’ll take you with me.

paused, but Dorothea’s countenance remained immovable, and after a moment she went on again.

I do wonder what Montclair, New Jersey, is like. It’s very different from California I

Q know, because grandma says so. Grandma doesn’t like the East, but my mamma always lived there, and so did I till I was four. I can’t remember much about it, but I know there weren’t any orange groves or palm trees, and sometimes it was very cold. O dear ! here comes Maud, and now I’ve got to amuse her. Maud is such a difficult person to amuse.”

Dorothea was gently replaced on the garden bench, and Peggy, not without reluctance, but mindful of her duties as hostess, went forward to meet her cousin, who was coming slowly across the lawn.

Maud had blue eyes and long yellow curls, and Peggy regarded her with secret envy, blue eyes and golden hair being the two things she desired most on earth, but just now Maud was not looking particularly happy. There was a discontented expression in the blue eyes, and her lips were drawn in an unmistakable pout.

‘‘ Fraulein says we mustn’t play near the house or make any noise,” she announced, as Peggy joined her. Grandma’s asleep, and they don’t want to have her disturbed.”

Peggy looked troubled.

She isn’t any worse, is she?” she inquired, anxiously.

** I don't know. Mamma and the nurse were whispering in the hall, and mamma told me to run away and play with you. I don't see what we're to play, though, if we're not to make any noise."

“ People don't always have to make a noise when they play," said Peggy, cheerfully. “ I know lots of nice quiet games."

Oh, you like to play with dolls and rubbish like that," retorted Maud, with a contemptuous glance in the direction of the unconscious Dorothea. ‘‘ I do think the way you sit and talk to that silly old doll, just as if she understood what you said, is too silly for anything. You're only six months younger than I am, and I haven't touched a doll in ever so many years."

“ You're not eleven yet," said Peggy, flushing, ‘‘ and I mean to play with dolls till I'm fourteen. Fraulein says little girls in Germany always play with dolls, and they embroider and do all kinds of fancy work while their mothers or their governesses read aloud to them."

“ Fraulein's an old stupid," returned Maud, stretching herself on the soft grass at the foot of a tall palm tree. ‘‘ I wouldn't have her for my governess for the world; she hasn't a bit of fun in her. She looks shocked if she sees me

II climb a fence. I wonder what she’d say if she saw some of the things the boys and I do at home.”

Does your governess let you climb fences ? ” Peggy inquired with interest.

She hasn’t anything to say about it. Papa and mamma never allow us to be interfered with. We never keep a governess very long, anyway; we had three last year.”

And aren’t you ever punished ? ” Peggy questioned, her brown eyes opening wide with astonishment.

‘‘ Hardly ever. Charlie did have to go without dessert the day he nearly put old Mrs. Jackson’s eye out with his bean shooter, but that was an exception. Mrs. Jackson is an old lady who lives next door to us, and she’s always fussing and making complaints about our boys, so one day when she was watering her flowers Charlie climbed the fence and aimed his bean shooter at her just for fun. Of course he didn’t mean to hit her in the eye, but she turned her head just at the wrong minute, and my, but there was a row !

I should think there would have been,” said Peggy, feelingly. Did Charlie feel dreadfully about it?”

’ Oh, he was pretty scared, and Miss Harris, the governess we had then, said if Mrs. Jackson went blind she might sue us for damages, but she got all right in a few days, and then we were rather glad it had happened, for we thought it served her right for being such a disagreeable old thing. Mamma said she made a great deal of unnecessary fuss, anyway ; she might have known Charlie didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“ I suppose one reason you don’t care about dolls is because you haven’t any sisters and always played with boys,” said Peggy, reflectively. She would have liked to express her opinion of Charlie’s conduct, but feared it would not be just the thing to do so. Maud was a visitor, and grandma had taught her always to be polite to visitors.

'' I hate girls’ games,” was Maud’s uncompromising answer. ‘‘ Say, what are we going to do this afternoon ? ” she added, impatiently.

Peggy hesitated.

‘‘We might go for a walk,” she suggested doubtfully. “ It’s lovely down in the grove, and grandma wouldn’t mind our going there by ourselves. We might find some ripe oranges.”

“ I’ve eaten so many oranges since I came here that I feel as if I never wanted to taste another one,” said Maud, discontentedly. ‘‘ I wish you had a pony I could ride.”

“ I wish I had,” said Peggy. Grandma is going to buy me a nice gentle pony this summer. Dr. Scott says it’s time I learned to ride, but grandma’s so afraid I might get hurt.”

Oh, what a fuss-cat ! ” exclaimed Maud in a tone of infinite scorn. “ Why, I’ve ridden ever since I was five. My pony threw me over his head once, 'and my arm was broken, but I was on his back again the very next day, driving with one hand.”

You must be very brave,” said Peggy, with a look of such genuine admiration that Maud looked quite mollified.

I guess we are a pretty brave family,” she remarked placidly, “ but then you are a dreadful coward, you know, so you can’t judge.”

The color deepened in Peggy’s cheeks and her eyes drooped.

“ I’m afraid I am,” she admitted reluctantly. ‘‘ I know it’s dreadfully silly, but I can’t help being afraid of a good many things; the dark, and fierce dogs, and earthquakes.”

‘‘ You come and stay with us and we’ll soon cure you,” said Maud, with a superior smile.

A boy visited us who was an awful coward, but Dick and Charlie never gave him a minute’s peace till they’d cured him. He’s really quite a decent sort of boy now.”

I don’t think I should like ” began

Peggy, then checked herself, and added hastily —

‘‘ Perhaps you would like to have me read Edith’s letter to you; it’s very interesting.”

‘‘ What, that old letter you got ever so many days ago! Haven’t you torn it up yet?”

I never tear up Edith’s letters,” said Peggy, indignantly. “ I’ve got every one she ever wrote me, all put away in a box. Why, just think, Maud, she’s my own precious sister, and I haven’t seen her since I»was four. If you hadn’t seen one of your brothers since you were four wouldn’t you keep all his letters ? ”

‘‘ I don’t believe he’d write. Boys hate writing, and so do 1.”

‘‘Yes I suppose they do hate it,” Peggy admitted. “ My brother never writes to me, but Edith does, such lovely letters.”

“ Does she write very often ? ” Maud inquired.

“ Ye-es, at least pretty often. You see, she’s a very fashionable young lady, and of course she has to be pretty busy.”

‘‘ Why doesn’t she ever come to see you, or have you go and stay with her ? ”

‘‘ I think she would like to see me very much, but it’s a very long way to Montclair, New Jersey, and it costs a great deal of money, too. Grandma says I shall go some day when I’m older, and it’s the loveliest thing to think about.”

‘‘ Why didn’t you all live together after your father and mother were drowned?” Maud inquired, with a yawn.

Don’t you know — didn’t you ever hear about it?”

No, I guess not, or if I did, I’ve forgotten.” ‘‘ Well,” said Peggy, settling herself comfortably by her cousin’s side, and charmed to have at last found a subject in which Maud seemed to be interested ; “ you see when my papa left college he went to live in New York. My mamma had always lived there and she didn’t think she’d like California, so after they were married papa always stayed in the East. They came here to see grandma sometimes, and once she went to New York to visit them, but that was before I was bom. Harry and Edith are a great deal older than I am, and so when I came every one was very glad. They used to pet me a great deal, and grandma says I was very much i6 BRAVE LITTLE PEGGY

spoiled. Then, when I was four papa and mamma went yachting with some friends, and there was a dreadful storm, and the yacht went on a rock, and they were both drowned. It was very sad, and every one was sorry for us. Uncle Henry — he was mamma’s uncle, who had brought her up when she was a little girl — said he would take Harry and Edith, but grandma wanted me, because I was the youngest and was named for her. She came all the way to New York for me herself and brought me home with her. My papa didn’t have very much money, and when he died there was only a very little left for us. Uncle Henry sent Edith to boarding-school, and Harry to college, and when he died last year he left them all his money.”

Do you suppose grandma will leave you all her money when she dies ? ” inquired Maud.

I don’t know, I’m sure, and I don’t care. Grandma isn’t very old; she won’t have to die for ever so many years.”

“ She isn’t so old, but she’s very ill, mamma says. I heard her telling Fraulein that she would never have come all the way from San Francisco, and left papa and the boys, if she hadn’t been so worried about grandma.”

The troubled expression came back into Peggy's face, and her lip trembled.

People don’t have to die just because they’re ill,” she said. ‘‘ I was very ill when I had the measles, and I got well all right. Grandma’s ever so much better, too; she told me so this morning.”

Well, they won’t let me go into her room, so I can’t tell whether she’s better or not. Mamma says she thinks it very strange that grandma never asks to see me.”

Peggy looked rather embarrassed.

Well, you see,” she said apologetically, “ I suppose grandma’s head aches, and that makes her nervous, and then, Maud, you know you are rather restless; you don’t like keeping still.”

‘‘ Of course I don’t, but mamma says that isn’t any reason why she shouldn’t be just as fond of me as she is of you. She’s my grandma the same as she’s yours, anyway.”

Peggy was silent; there really seemed nothing to say, and after a little pause Maud changed the subject by remarking —

Is that Edith’s photograph on your bureau ? ”

‘‘ Yes, she sent it to me for my birthday, in i8 BRAVE LITTLE PEGGY

that lovely silver frame. Isn’t she the prettiest young lady you ever saw? ”

‘‘ She’s pretty good-looking,” Maud admitted.

I don’t believe she’d want to be bothered with you, though. Grown-up young ladies don’t care much about children. My friend Olive Mortimer has two grown-up sisters, and they won’t let her come into their room for fear she’ll meddle with their things, and they make an awful fuss about her coming to the table when they have company.”

My sister isn’t like that,” declared Peggy, confidently. Do let me read you her letter, and you’ll see how sweet and dear she is.”

Oh, all right, go ahead,” returned Maud, indifferently, and Peggy, gladly availing herself of the permission, drew from her pocket the crumpled letter, the contents of which she already knew almost by heart.

“ ' Montclair, New Jersey,

, ‘ April Tenth.

'' ' My Precious Pussy-cat, —

She always calls me Pussy-cat in her letters,” Peggy explained. I think it’s a sweet name, don’t you ? ”

It sounds awfully silly but go on.”

‘‘ ‘ I am a real mean, unkind old sister to leave your dear little letter unanswered for such a long time, and I am really quite ashamed of myself. You ought to punish me by not writing again for ever so long, but I know you won’t do that, because you know, that even if I don’t write as often as I ought, I am loving you all the time.

' I am a very busy person in these days, for I have the housekeeping to attend to, as well as my social engagements to keep. We have such a dear little house. I am going to ask Harry to take a photograph of it for you. There is a pretty little yard in front, and a stable in the back. We haven’t any horse to keep in the stable as yet, but if Harry goes on doing as well as he is now, we may have one some day. The trees are budding now, and in a few weeks it will be beautiful here. I suppose it is always beautiful in California, so you don’t appreciate the Spring as much as we do. By the way, thank you for the pressed flowers you sent me. They are very nice, and I have put them in a book.

‘ I have the cushion you made me for Christmas on my bureau. I think you were very clever to make it all by yourself. I am sure

I couldn’t have done such fine work when I was ten. Harry was delighted with his handkerchief-case, too. He told me to be sure to thank you for him when I wrote.

‘‘ ‘ I am so glad you liked the doll I sent, and I think Dorothea is a very pretty name for her. There are not many children in this neighborhood, so I can’t tell you about the little girls I know, as you asked me to, but I like children very much, and I think they rather like me, too. Some day we must coax grandma to let you come and make us a visit, and then we will have such good times together.

‘‘ ‘ I must stop writing, as I am going out to luncheon, but I really will write again soon next time. Give our love to grandma, and tell her how sorry we are to hear she has not been well. And now good-bye, my Pussy-cat, with a big kiss, and a heart full of love from

“ ‘ Your naughty, neglectful, but ever-loving sister, ‘‘ ‘ Edith Lee.’

There,” said Peggy, triumphantly, ‘‘ isn’t that a beautiful letter?”

‘‘ It’s nice enough,” Mand admitted, but seems to me April’s rather late to thank people for their Christmas presents.”

Oh, well, you see, they were such little bits of presents, and she’s so very busy. She wrote just before Christmas, and she sent me Dorothea. Harry sent me a Christmas present, too, such a pretty pin. I thought it was lovely of him, and so did grandma. Oh, here comes Fraulein; sha’n’t we ask her to read to us? ”

I hate reading,” objected Maud. I never look at a book unless I have to, but it’s so stupid here I suppose I might as well listen as do anything else.”

But when Fraulein joined the children there was a look in her face which caused Peggy to forget all about everything else.

‘‘What’s the matter, Fraulein?” she demanded, anxiously, springing to her feet. “ Has anything happened ? ”

“ No, no, my child,” the governess answered, laying her hand gently on the little girl’s head, “ nothing has happened, but your grandmother is awake and has asked for you.”

“Does she want to see me too, Fraulein?” Maud inquired, eagerly.

Fraulein shook her head.

“Not just now, my dear,” she said; “perhaps by and by. Wait here for Peggy; she will only be a few moments away.”

Then she took Peggy’s hand, and led her quickly across the lawn and into the house. The little girl’s heart was beating fast, and at the foot of the broad oak staircase she drew back nervously.

“Is grandma worse, Fraulein?” she asked in a frightened whisper.

“ We hope not, my child. She has had a faint turn, and Miss Brown has telephoned for the doctor, but we trust it may be nothing serious.”

Peggy asked no more questions, but held Fraulein’s hand tight, and without another word they went upstairs, and entered the room which for as long as Peggy could remember had always been grandma’s.

Old Mrs. Lee was lying in her bed, breathing heavily. Her daughter, Mrs. Eliot — Maud’s mother — stood by the bedside fanning her, while Miss Brown, the trained nurse, held a glass of something to her lips. Grandma’s face looked white and drawn, but at sight of Peggy she smiled faintly, and tried to hold out her hand.

“ My little Peggy,” she murmured softly ; “ grandma’s own little girl.”

Aunt Mary and Miss Brown both moved aside, and with a heart beating so fast that she could scarcely breathe Peggy came close to the bed.

*‘Kiss her, dear,’’ Aunt Mary whispered, and the little girl bent down and pressed her warm rosy lips to the cold pale face on the pillow.

“ Do you feel better, grandma dear ? ” she asked in a shaking voice. Oh, I do hope you feel better.”

Yes, yes, my darling, I am better,” the old lady answered. God bless you, Peggy ; good night.”

Why, grandma, it isn’t nearly bedtime ; it’s only five o’clock.”

‘‘ Never mind, dear,” Miss Brown interrupted gently. Your grandma may be asleep when it is your bedtime. Now run away like a good child.”

But Peggy lingered.

‘‘ Wouldn’t you like to kiss Maud good night, too, grandma ? ” she asked, timidly.

But Mrs. Lee did not answer. She had closed her eyes, and turned her face to the wall, and before Peggy could speak again Fraulein had taken her hand, and was leading her from the room.

Once outside her grandmother’s room Peggy’s feelings found vent in a burst of tears.

“ Oh, Fraulein, Fraulein,” she sobbed, clinging convulsively to the governess, “ I know grandma’s worse. She says she’s better, but Fm quite sure she isn’t, and oh, Fm so dreadfully frightened ! ”

Fraulein sat down on the stairs, and taking Peggy in her kind arms, kissed and comforted her until her tears ceased, and she was able to smile again. Then Fraulein proposed that they should go to find Maud, who must be feeling lonely all by herself.

They found that young lady seated among the branches of a cherry tree, which she had climbed, but after a little persuasion on Fraulein’s part, she consented to descend to earth once more, and listen to a story book until supper time.

Neither Aunt Mary nor Miss Brown came down to supper, and the two little girls had it alone with Fraulein, who told them fairy stories, and did her best to keep them amused and happy. The doctor had arrived from town, and Peggy, who firmly believed that doctors could do anything in the way of curing people, was quite reassured about her grandmother’s condition, and by the time supper was over she had cheered up sufficiently to enjoy a game of dominoes with Fraulein and Maud.

I am sure grandma will be ever so much better in the morning,” were Peggy’s last words that night, as Fraulein was tucking her up in bed; to which assertion Fraulein made no answer, but turned her head away quickly that the little girl might not see the tears in her eyes.

Peggy’s first thought on waking next morning was of her grandmother, and she sat up in bed, listening anxiously for any unusual sounds in the house. But everything was very still and peaceful. Outside the birds were singing and twittering, and through the open window came the fragrance of blossoms.

Springing out of bed, Peggy ran across the floor in her bare feet, and knocked at the door of Fraulein’s room, which communicated with her own. There was no answer, and after waiting a moment, she softly turned the handle and peeped in. The room was empty; Fraulein was not there.

How very queer,” Peggy said to herself. ‘‘ She never likes to get up early, and I don’t believe it’s seven o’clock yet. I wonder where she can be.”

With a sudden determination to find out for herself, she hastened to the closet in quest of wrapper and bath slippers, and she had just finished putting them on when the door was pushed violently open from the outside, and Maud, still in her night-gown and bare feet, her eyes round with excitement, burst into the room.

Oh, Fm so glad you're awake," she exclaimed in an awed whisper, closing the door behind her, and springing into the warm bed her cousin had just vacated. ‘‘ Mamma says Fm to stay here, and we’re neither of us to come out till she or Fraulein tells us we can. Oh, Peggy, isn’t it awful? Fm so scared."

‘‘How’s grandma?” demanded Peggy, a sudden fear making her feel cold and faint.

Maud’s eyes opened wider still in her surprise.

“ Don’t you know ? ” she inquired incredulously. “ Haven’t they told you ? ”

“ No,” faltered Peggy; “ I just woke up. Oh, Maud, is grandma worse ? ” -

“ She’s dead,” said Maud solemnly. “ She died last night, but they didn’t want to wake us. They’ve telegraphed for papa, and the funeral’s to be day after to-morrow.”

CHAPTER II P EGGY, Peggy, where are you ? ’’

At the sound of Maud’s shrill voice Peggy lifted her head from the sofa cushion. She had been crying quietly for the past half-hour in a corner of the library sofa, and her head was beginning to ache.

“ I’m here,” she called, huskily, and next moment Maud came running into the room.

‘‘What have you been doing?” she demanded, impatiently. “ I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I’ve been — oh, I don’t know; I just came in here because it was quiet. I’ve got a headache.”

“ That’s too bad, but I guess it’ll be all right when you come outdoors. I’ve been having such larks with Li-Chang. He’s the funniest little China boy I ever saw. I bet I could beat him in a race down to the end of the grove, and I did, too. It was great fun, but mamma saw 27 me, and called me in. She said I oughtn’t to run races the day after grandma’s funeral, and then she told me the most interesting news. Guess what it is ! ”

“ I can’t,” said Peggy, indifferently. She was rather shocked at Maud’s frank admission of how she had been amusing herself. She did not feel in the least like romping that day.

We’re all coming here to spend the summer,” announced Maud, triumphantly.

Peggy gave a little gasp. This was news indeed, and for the moment she scarcely knew whether she ought to be glad or sorry. She rather liked Maud, in spite of her hoydenish ways, and Aunt Mary and Uncle George were

always kind, but Dick and Charlie She

remembered the one occasion when Aunt Mary had brought her two little boys for a visit, and how at the end of a week grandma — who was not very fond of boys — had requested that they should be sent home again.

‘‘ Mamma has been telling me all about it,” Maud went on, without observing her cousin’s dismay. '' She and papa are going home on Monday to pack, and I’m to stay here with you and Fraulein. Then at the end of the week mamma’s coming back with the boys and some of the servants, and papa will come as often as he can get away from his business.’^

“ Do you think you will like to stay here all summer?^' Peggy inquired anxiously, recalling her cousin’s oft-repeated complaints about the dullness of her grandmother’s home.

‘‘ Oh, yes, I guess so ; it will be all right when the boys come, and I can have some fun. Papa is going to send the ponies, and this isn’t such a bad place when you get used to it.”

Will your governess come too ? ” Peggy asked.

‘‘ Oh, Miss Leroy, the governess we have now, is going to leave. Papa had a row with her since mamma and I have been here. She shook Charlie — think of that; actually shook him — and papa and mamma never allow us to be punished in that way.”

Was Charlie very naughty ? ” Peggy inquired, with interest.

'' No, not very. He didn’t want to stay in the house and study, and when she told him he had to, he put out his tongue at her; that’s all. She hadn’t any business to shake him for a little thing like that. Papa told her he never allowed any one to punish us, and she said she would leave at the end of the month. Mamma isn’t very sorry. She says she never thought Miss Leroy was a very good teacher, and as long as Fraulein is here there won’t be any trouble, as she can just as well teach us all. I think that will be fine. Fraulein’s so meek, I don’t believe she could possibly boss any one.”

I don’t believe she would like it if Charlie put his tongue out at her, though,” said Peggy, doubtfully. ‘‘ Does he often do things like that?”

‘‘ Oh, no. Charlie’s very good, except when people won’t let him have his own way. We’re all like that; we can’t bear being made to do things.”

But don’t all children have to mind ? ” inquired Peggy, wonderingly. ‘‘ I always had to mind grandma and Fraulein.”

‘‘ Oh, of course they do sometimes ; in big things, you know, like running in front of trollies, or going in sail-boats when it’s rough; but not little nagging things, like washing hands and learning lessons. Papa says he won’t have us nagged.”

It must be very nice to always do just what you want to,” said Peggy, ‘‘ but grandma said children must be brought up to mind.”

‘‘ Grandma was an old fuss/' retorted Maud, cheerfully. “ Papa said she was."

“ She was not," cried Peggy, springing to her feet, with flashing eyes and burning cheeks. “ You sha’n't say such things about my own precious grandma. She was the very best lady in the world, and Pm glad she made me mind. I don't believe children who don't mind are at all nice, so there ! "

‘‘ Well, I declare, if you haven't got a temper ! " exclaimed Maud, her eyes opening wide in genuine astonishment. “ Pd be ashamed to fly out like that just for nothing at all."