Felicia visits

Introduction

The two previous books of the series, “ Felicia,” and “ Felicia’s Friends,” have told the story of little Felicia Lane’s life in Blackberry Hill, and w the friends she and her father, the new minister, make. Felicia’s mother is out in Colorado, trying to get well, but many of the good neighbors in Blackberry Hill are ready to help and advise Felicia. She has an “ intimate friend,” Winifred Harlow, and many other friends, old and young, among whom is Carina Lotti, a wonderful little violinist whom strange circumstances take to Blackberry Hill. There is also Miss Shaw, the young teacher, who plans and helps on many good times for the girls and boys who are her pupils. More about Felicia and Blackberry Hill will be found in “ Felicia’s Folks.”

CHAPTER

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XX. A Waking Dream

. 192

I t i t

Illustrations

“ When Did You Do All This ? ”

“ It was Such Fun ! ”

There was a Pause

The Wonderful Plan was Told A Little Girl was Getting Off the Train

Frontispiece ^ . 46^

. 78 ^

. 1 16 ^ s

CHAPTEK I Washington’s birthday

Over the porch of the schoolhouse in Blackberry Hill was draped a strip of bunting, red, white and blue, with a great rosette in the exact centre, and long floating ends ; from the ridge-pole a stout stick reared itself, not quite erect, but flaunting a bright flag in the February wind, while over the two doors which led to the right and left from the porch were crossed flags.

The decorations had been put up by Hate Horner, but not without a great deal of advice from his schoolmates and casual passers-by, on the afternoon of the twentieth of February ; and this was the morning of the twenty-first, when the celebration of Washington’s Birthday was to be held at the schoolhouse. The next day, of course, was to be a holiday.

The children were standing in the road, gazing at the bunting rosette and streamers with admiration.

“ It looks ever so much better than it did last night,” said Felicia, who had been Hate’s chief assistant, standing on a chair beside his ladder, and handing hammer 9 io and tacks at the required moment; “ you know we were afraid it was just a little bit — bunchy — in the middle.”

“ It was bunchy,” said Winifred Harlow, with her usual frankness ; “ the wind has torn out some of the tacks and loosened it up, so it looks graceful. Anyway it looked better than if I had done it,” she added handsomely. “ I wonder if Miss Shaw will be perfectly surprised and delighted.”

“ Here she comes,” said Felicia, as the teacher’s pretty face and slender figure appeared ; she was rounding the corner with her brisk step, humming to herself.

She waved her hand in greeting to the children, and the boys’ hats came off as if by a signal. She was surprised that Felicia and Winifred did not run forward and claim her arms as usual, but in a moment she saw the reason ; all the eyes in the group were fixed on the schoolhouse, and Miss Shaw turned to look at it, too, as she walked along.

“ Why, you dear children ! ” she cried. “ When did you do all this ? How fine our schoolhouse looks ! ”

“We did it yesterday afternoon,” came in a chorus, and Winifred added, “We thought you never would go home, so we could come back and do it.”

Miss Shaw laughed, but Felicia Lane looked at Winifred reproachfully, and then slid her hand into the young teacher’s clasp.

“ It’s the first time we ever haven’t wanted you,” said Felicia, “and ’twas only because we thought if we

II

W ishington s Birthday

could surprise you, and show you how patriotic we felt, you would be pleased, after all the pains you’ve taken with us.”

“ Of course,” and Miss Shaw looked so smiling that Felicia had no more regrets. “ I am just as pleased as you could possibly have thought I would be. I hope there will be a great many visitors this morning to see our decorations.”

“ Oh, everybody is coming,” said Winifred, “ except mother, for of course she can’t leave the station on a plain day like this, she says, when the express agent is busy so he can’t take her place ; but she told me to tell you that she has put a flag in every window, and has one for Mr. Wadleigh’s buttonhole when his train comes through, for the day before is just as good to celebrate in a railroad station as a schoolhouse ; it’s just the spirit, she says, and she intends to repeat 4 Hail Columbia ’ and a number of other poems all by herself while we are having our exercises.”

“ I don’t believe anybody but you could have reeled that off in one breath,” teased Ned Hilliard, but Winifred paid no attention to him beyond lifting the shoulder nearest him in a disdainful shrug.

“ I should like to stay out here longer to admire your work,” said Miss Shaw, “ but it is nearly nine o’clock, and we must have a little rehearsal before the visitors arrive, at ten.”

“ I think Mrs. Cope will be one of the first,” said Felicia, as they entered the schoolroom, “ for she gave us the bunting, and it was a piece she’d kept for a real special occasion like this, she told me. And Mr. Fosdick gave us the small flags and the tacks, and we all bought the big flag, together, and each one of us had a tap with the hammer to fasten it on the stick, — it’s part silk, Miss Shaw ; did you notice the shine on it ? ” “ I did,” the teacher assured her ; 44 I knew nothing could shine that way unless there was a good deal of silk in it, Felicia.”

“ They told us it was more than half,” said Winifred, 44 and that’s the way it feels. Oh, our mottoes haven’t faded one bit, have they ? ”

“ If they had faded, after my arms being dragged nearly out of my shoulders putting them up, I’d have been mad enough,” said Nate Horner. “ That 4 Our Country Forever ’ looks pretty fair, doesn’t it ? And so does that 4 First in Peace ’ ; but seems to me the 4 First in War ’ and 4 First in the Hearts of His Countrymen ’ aren’t so good ; the evergreen lopped over on some of those words ; ” and the decorative artist surveyed his work with a disapproving gaze.

44 There couldn’t anybody else have done it half so well,” came in little Ted Hilliard’s voice, as he looked up at his special hero, and sidled close to big Nate.

44 It is all as well done as if you’d had a great deal of experience, Nate,” said Miss Shaw, and the big boy and the little one flushed with pride at her words — for Miss Shaw had come from the city — she knew what decorations ought to be.

Washington s Birthday 13

The old schoolroom had never looked so attractive before to the fathers and mothers, aunts and uncles, and unconnected but interested visitors, who appeared by twos and threes, from ten o’clock until quarter after ; they all exclaimed over the decorations in loud whispers, as they took their seats on the long benches borrowed from the Town Hall, and placed against the walls ; the school board, consisting of Mr. Topham, Mr. Fosdick and Mr. Hilliard, sat in three straight-backed chairs on the platform, and surveyed the room and its occupants with great satisfaction.

“ I ’most wish little Ben was here to see this,” said Mr. Fosdick to Mr. Topham, just before Miss Shaw gave the signal for beginning the program ; “ but he’s sent a letter to the school; I’ve brought it in my pocket.”

“Good idea,” said Mr. Topham approvingly. “I guess the little chap’s contented there in the city with Mr. Ledyard, isn’t he ? ”

Before Mr. Fosdick could reply, the bell on Miss Shaw’s desk rang sharply, and the scholars and visitors alike sat “ at attention.”

First came a patriotic song by the whole class, led by Miss Shaw.

“ You hear Felicia’s voice, I suppose,” whispered Mr. Fosdick under cover of the music. “ You notice she doesn’t sing out louder than the others, but she has the kind of voice that’s clearer and sweeter than the general run.”

»4

Mr. Topham nodded ; the two old friends were well agreed about the minister’s little girl.

“ Why don’t you whistle ? ” suggested Mr. Hilliard, nudging Mr. Topham with his elbow. “ I can’t carry a tune, so I don’t dare join in, but that’s a stirring piece of music.”

“ Don’t you know an official position like this calls for a good deal of dignity ? ” whispered Mr. Topham. “ You two stop nudging me, or I shall disgrace the school board right here and now.”

“We are allowed to clap right out in meeting, anyway, I reckon,” said Mr. Fosdick, as the chorus of the last verse came to a joyous end ; and the school board lent six generous hands to the applause of the visitors on the benches.

JSText there was a platform exercise.

“ Great and lasting is his fame,” said little Ted Hilliard as loudly and clearly as he could possibly speak ; and as he mounted the platform and faced the audience, he held before him a square of pasteboard on which was a big red “ G.”

“ Ever honored is his name,” chanted Donald French, as he took his stand beside little Ted, displaying an “ E ” which matched Ted’s letter in size and color.

“They’re going to spell out his name,” said Mrs. Cope to Mrs. Markham who sat next her on one side. “ I knew it from some things Miss Shaw let drop, about rhymes and so on. Spelling out his name,

Washington' s Birthday 15

you see,” she said, turning to Mrs. Topham, on her other side.

“ So they are,” said Mrs. Topham good-naturedly ; “ I’d begun to suspect as much.”

“ It does seem as if Mrs. Cope thought nobody but herself could see things without being told,” Miss Ellen Markham said in her mother’s ear, but Mrs. Markham only smiled at her and whispered, “ Listen,” and the exercise went on, till it ended with :

u On our hero’s natal day,”

“ Never fail his name to say,”

the last line falling to Nate Horner.

“ They composed this poem with scarcely any help,” said Miss Shaw when the applause had died away, and the scholars had returned to their seats. “ I only suggested one or two rhymes.”

“ I didn’t know it was in my Nate to write poetry,” said Mrs. Horner to Mrs. French, “ but I feel quite proud of him.”

“ I think Donald did real well,” said Mrs. French complacently, “ and so does his father. What comes next ? — ‘ Hail Columbia ! ’ — well, I can join in that with the best.”

“ This is my one tune that I’m sure of,” said Mr. Hilliard to Miss Shaw as she turned to ask the school board if it would rise and join with the others. “ If I don’t hoarse up I can get through all right.”

But before two lines had been sung it became i6 evident that something was wrong. Mrs. Hilliard made frantic signs across the room to her husband, but he paid no heed ; with head well back, he sang on, louder and louder, till at the end of the verse, Mr. Fosdick reached behind Mr. Topham and touched the singer.

“ You haven’t hoarsed up,” he said, “ but you’ve mislaid the tune somewhere ; supposing you and I kind of hum along, and let James here do the singing out.”

“ I guess it would be safer,” admitted Mr. Hilliard, whose gaze had just fallen on his wife ; and the second verse went much better than the first.

There were recitations, more songs, and speeches by Mr. Hilliard and Mr. Topham, but when it was Mr. Fosdick’s turn to address the school, he adjusted his spectacles and took from his pocket an envelope addressed in a large round hand to “ Mr. Fosdick, Esquire, Blackberry Hill.”

“Well,” he said, “I guess I can’t do better than read you a letter from a little chap who would be happy right here if he wasn’t busy bein’ happy off in the city. This is from our friend Benny Kingman.” From the envelope he took a sheet of paper, and then, putting his left hand in his pocket, he began to read :

“ ‘ Dear Mr. Fosdick : I hope you will tell all the boys and Felicia and Winifred ’ (ought to have put the ladies first, but he’s young yet,” interpolated the reader) “ 4 that I am glad they are having a celebration of

Washington' s Birthday 17

Washington’s Birthday, the day before, for he was a grand man, the best anybody could want, Mr. Ledyard says, and we are going to a celebration with bands on the morning of his birthday. I am having a fine time, and will write you next week as usual, but this is extra. Please give my best rememberings to Miss Shaw and all

the scholars, and take ’ Well, the rest is personal

and it might make you all jealous,” said Mr. Fosdick, as he folded the letter and replaced it in its envelope. “ But what I wanted to say in conclusion is, that while we have no regular bands in Blackberry Hill as yet, there’s plenty of talent to make one, right here in our midst, and if my friend Miss Shaw would approve, I’m pretty sure that by Memorial Day we could have a band that would do us credit, and be ready for all occasions. Meanwhile I wish to compliment Miss Shaw and all concerned on the success of this entertainment, and wishing you all a Happy Washington’s Birthday I will make way for a distinguished guest who’s trying to hide in the back of the room, after refusing a seat on the platform.”

“ There ! ” said Mrs. Cope to Mrs. Topham, leaning back with a sigh of relief. “I was afraid nobody’d have enough sense of propriety to ask the minister to speak. Look at Felicia ! ”

It was a face flushed and dimpled with pleasure at which they looked as the minister made his way to the platform, and while he spoke his few wise, friendly words.

i8

“ I consider he’s a real honor to us, on every occasion,” said Mrs. Cope, as she drew her wraps around her, and prepared to leave the schoolroom, among the last of the visitors. “ Felicia, you step into my house when you come along. I want to show you something.”

“ I want to show you something first,” said Winifred eagerly. “Oh, Felicia, the most splendid thing for you and me has happened ! Just wait till I get my coat on, and I’ll tell you, as we walk along. I do hope you can do it with me — but of course you can ! ”

“Can what?” begged Felicia. “Please hurry, Winifred ! ”

“There! I’ve got one sleeve wrong side out,” cried Winifred, “ and I’ll have to turn it ! Now — let’s start quick as we can, and I’ll tell you.”

Chapter II

The stream of visitors had passed out of sight around the corner, and Miss Shaw was still receiving the congratulations of the school board when the two little girls stepped out on the hard trodden path, on each side of which the snow was heaped high.

“ This is what I have to show you,” said Winifred ; “it’s a letter from Mrs. Hargate, my beautiful rich lady ; and what do you suppose she wants ? ”

“ I can’t imagine ; ” and Felicia’s eyes were big with wonder.

Winifred opened the letter, turned to the second page, and read in a solemn voice :

“ ‘ And I should be delighted to have your friend Felicia come with you for the two weeks.’ ”

Felicia’s breath came quickly.

“For what two weeks? What does she mean, Winifred ? ”

“ She means two weeks of the spring vacation, next month,” said Winifred; “she wants us to visit her in her big city house where there’s a grand piano and an elevator, and a conservatory, and oh ! I can’t think of half the wonderful things the little city girl 19 that was at Sweetbriar Lodge last summer told me — but won’t it be perfectly beautiful, Felicia ?”

“It sounds lovely,” said Felicia, slowly, “if father thinks I may go.”

“ Why, of course he will,” said Winifred. “ That’s just what mother said, but of course he couldn’t bear to have you lose such a chance, and beside, here’s a special note for him, see, to ask for the pleasure of your company,” and she drew from her pocket a small envelope addressed to “ The Reverend Mr. Lane.” “ It came in mine, and she left it unsealed ; mother says that’s for politeness, but of course we haven’t read it. Oh, Felicia, just think ! Shall we run ahead now and catch up with your father, and ask him, just as soon as Mrs. Cope lets go of him ? ”

“I don’t know as he’d like to decide in such a hurry,” said Felicia; “but I’ll tell you what you might do, Winifred ; you might go home with father, and tell him, and then as soon as I’ve seen what Mrs. Cope wants to show me, I’ll run home, and then if it’s all right, we can begin to plan.”

“ I don’t see what there is to decide,” said Winifred impatiently, “ but that’s what I’ll do ; and don’t stay long at Mrs. Cope’s, please, Felicia, for I shall be just about crazy waiting for you.”

The children hurried on, and reached Mrs. Cope and the minister just as they were saying good-bye at Mrs. Cope’s gate.

“ I’m going home with you, Mr. Lane, if you’ll let me, for I have a very important message to deliver,” said Winifred, “ and I’d like to wait for Felicia.”

“I feel much honored,” said the minister, with a fine bow to Winifred, and they walked on together, while Mrs. Cope led the way to her door, with Felicia close behind her.

“What kind of a message has she got for your father, I’d like to know?” said Mrs. Cope, as she turned the key in the lock and opened the door ; “ but there, I presume it’s nothing but some of her nonsense! She delights in pretending to have mysteries and secrets, that child does.”

Mrs. Cope was too satisfied w r ith her own explanation, and too full of what she wished to show Felicia, to notice that the little girl made no reply. Felicia was glad, for although Mrs. Cope was such a kind friend, she liked to know everything that went on in Blackberry Hill as soon as it happened, if not a little beforehand.

“ This is why I asked you to come in,” she said to Felicia, drawing her along the hall to the dining-room, and through that room into the kitchen, at last stopping in the pantry. “ I got these for to-morrow’s dinner — for the table — and I want you to come with your father, and I shall invite Mrs. Harlow to bring Winifred, and have Henry Fosdick, he being a lone man, and I should ask Mr. Gregg, only I hear he’s gone to the city for a few days — something about books, I believe — though I must say I should think his eyes and head would give out reading what he owns, already. I shall step down to the station this afternoon to invite the Harlows, and I asked Henry Fosdick this morning.”

“ You do have such splendid parties, Mrs. Cope,” said Felicia. “ Oh, what are those ? Real cherries ? ”

“ Ho, they are just make-believes,” said Mrs. Cope, “ but aren’t they natural ? And you see these hatchets ? How what I want to know is, would you put one in front of each plate, or pile them up in the middle, or how ? You see it’s to be a surprise to Miss Shaw, so I don’t wish to consult her a mite. How would it be if you ran over to-morrow morning about eleven, and helped me get ready ? Could you spare the time, not having any dinner to get ? ”

“ Yes, indeed,” said the minister’s little housekeeper. “ Winifred is coming for a while about ten, and Miss Shaw too, for Winifred and me to play over our five finger duet. You’d laugh to hear us, Mrs. Cope, but we love to do it.”

“ I don’t see any call to laugh at young folks doing the best they can,” said Mrs. Cope. “ Why can’t you two children play it over here in the afternoon ? I’ll engage not to have any laughs going on while you do it.”

“ Oh, but we shouldn’t mind if you did laugh,” and Felicia put her arm around Mrs. Cope, whose face instantly softened ; “ we know it’s funny. We’ll play it if you’d like to have us ; I’d just as soon, and I know Winifred would, too.”

“ That’s good,” said Mrs. Cope ; “ and now you may run along home, if you like, for Winifred is probably on pins and needles by this time, thinking you’ve been gone all day.”

When Felicia opened the study door she found her father and Winifred, one on each side of the fireplace, looking, she thought, as if they were a little disturbed about something.

She went to her father’s chair, and Mr. Lane put his arm around her, drawing her close to his side. She looked at him questioningly, and he shook his head.

“ I’m afraid not, Felicia,” he said gently ; “ you know how much I like to have you enjoy all the good things that come your way, but I shall have to say 6 no ’ this time, sorry as I am to do it.”

Winifred’s face was shadowed by disappointment. It was evident that only her slight awe of the minister checked her speech.

- “ Winifred can’t quite understand my reasons,” said Mr. Lane, smiling across at her sober face ; “ but she says she 6 supposes she’ll have to believe I know best ’ — I appreciate that.”

Winifred’s cheeks grew red.

“ I — of course a minister must know,” she said, winking rapidly ; “ but it did seem as if it would be just the best thing in the world for Felicia and me to

H have that visit together ; it seemed like what mother calls a rare opportunity.”

“ I’m sorry to disappoint you both,” said Mr. Lane kindly, “ but I think you’ll find your mother understands my position, Winifred. You know Mrs. Hargate well, but Felicia has never seen her, and much as I appreciate her wishing to give you both pleasure, I think it would not be wise to let my little girl accept her invitation. I shall have to see if I cannot help her enjoy the vacation at home. I think her mother would like that best. ’ ’

There had been a faint shade on Felicia’s bright face, as she looked from her father to Winifred, but at his last words it vanished.

“Why, we’ll have a splendid time, father dear,” she said, nestling closer to him ; “ and Winifred will write me, and then when she comes home, she’ll have a great deal to tell. I consider you a remarkable visitor,” and she crossed the hearth to sit on the arm of Winifred’s chair. “ You see everything and hear everything, and you remember it all. I’ve never visited anywhere except at grandmother’s ; often I’ve wondered what it would be like to visit — stay over night away from home.”

“ It isn’t any different after you get to sleep,” said Winifred in her most matter-of-fact tone. “ I’ve been at Sweetbriar Lodge, and at the Wadleighs’, and with a cousin of mother’s in Nashua ; it’s queer when you go to bed the first night, and when you wake up — but after that you don’t mind it.”

After a few minutes Winifred went home. She shook hands with Mr. Lane, and kissed Felicia at the gate in a subdued way, walking slowly down the road from the parsonage. But at Mrs. Cope’s dinner party the next day she had fully recovered her spirits.

“ You’ll miss her considerable, while she’s gone, I suppose,” said Mrs. Cope to Mrs. Harlow, who was seated at her left hand ; “ Felicia was over helping me a little this morning, and she told me all about it. I think Mr. Lane showed his usual judgment in deciding not to let Felicia go — of course it’s different with Winifred.”

“ Certainly it is,” said Mrs. Harlow, smiling to herself over Mrs. Cope’s tone of superiority, for they had known each other all their lives. “ I realize that I can’t give Winifred as much liberty nor as many advantages, living where we do, as I could in a regular house-home. And seeing so many folks as she does, conductors, brakemen and all that come to take the trains, and everybody making much of her, and encouraging her to talk, she’s liable to get a mite pert once in a while. Being cooped up in a city house where she has to behave pretty from morning till night, will do her good — besides what she’ll enjoy in the way of sights.”

Winifred was at the minister’s left, and her awe of the day before seemed quite departed as she leaned across him to speak to Miss Shaw.

“ Are there four cherries on your imitation tree ? ”

she asked. “ Then that’s special, on account of the exhibition yesterday, for the rest of us have only three ; I’ve counted them all. Did you ever see such darling little flower pots, all ruffled green paper ? and it’s only pasteboard inside ; I felt sure that was it, for it was so light^but I squeezed mine till it cracked, so now I know for certain. Have you seen that plate of candy hatchets in front of Felicia ? ”

“ I think I’ve seen everything,” said Miss Shaw, across the minister.

“ I must say you’ve outdone yourself, ma’am,” Mr. Fosdick remarked to his hostess ; he had the seat of honor at her right hand that day, the minister being seated opposite. “ What with a flag for each buttonhole, a cherry tree for a window-piece for each living-room, and an abundance of hatchets and mottoes, I don’t see but what we’re fully up to the mark of these millionaire entertainments you read about in the papers. I never looked to hear of such fashionable goings on in Blackberry Hill, much less be a part of ’em.”

The company laughed, but when the merriment was over Mrs. Cope spoke with decision.

“ I don’t know any reason why folks should sit right down back to everything, and let all new notions pass by, just because they don’t live in a noisy, overcrowded spot,” she said. “ Felicia, will you step into the kitchen and bring in the dessert, same as we planned, soon as I get these plates out of the way ? Ho, all keep your sitting now, please — I have it planned, so I don’t need assistance. Though I do miss Loreena Parks, I’m glad she’s taking a few days’ vacation ; still I don’t know as she’d hardly call it that, entertaining her cousin that she’s never seen before.”

When Felicia came in, bearing a tray on which were seven saucers each containing a mammoth cherry, with a stout green stem sticking straight up into the air, there was a chorus of “ Oh’s ” from the guests.

“ This is the cap sheaf,” announced Mrs. Harlow. “ You never made those, now did you, Lydia Cope ? ” “They came by express way from the city,” answered Mrs. Cope, trying to speak carelessly, as if such things were every-day matters to her. Then her pride got the better of her desire to appear indifferent. “ I’ll show you how they were packed, after dinner,” she said ; “ and you can eat every mite, even the stems.”

When these last wonders of domestic art had been consumed, and the dinner came to an end, Mrs. Cope was pleased to show the curious little tin moulds in which the ices had been packed. Then the company left the spotless kitchen and adjourned to the parlor.

“ I understand the two youngest members of this party are about to favor us with a duet,” said Mr. Fosdick ; “ or does that come later on in the program, after Miss Shaw has performed ? ”