An odd little lass; a story for girls

Contents

CHAP. page

I Walnut Court 7

II A Good Beginning 17

Chapter I Walnut Court

Now who’d you s’pose she is ? What yon s’pose she gave us this for

The boy addressed, a rather thin, solemn-faced little fellow of about ten, shook his head doubtfully, but continued looking alternately at the alert young lady disappearing in the crowd, and at the five-cent piece she had smilingly bestowed on Lonnie.

Well,” said Lonnie, decisively, we’ll go straight and spend it this very minute before anybody gets it. Licorish ?”

Yep,” assented Ted, his face lighting up, and the two ran to the small grocery store steadily patronized by the Walnut Court infants in their times of plenty.

Lonnie was the one who had attracted the young lady with the five-ceiit piece. She was a child very likely to attract any one who cared for pretty children. There were shilling bronze and golden lights in her curly hair, her brown eyes snapped with fun, or gazed up at one with a somewhat misleading expression of innocence. City born and bred, her cheeks had the color of a wild rose, and she would have been regarded as a credit to the most hygienic upbringing — something that had never fallen to her lot. Her pretty little mouth had a way of uttering injmdence which won nothing but applause, partly because she was quite small for her age, and partly because an instinct of self-preservation taught her when she had gone far enough.

Ever since Lonnie could remember she had lived with Ted’s mother. She had worn clothes as warm, and had had as good food as Ted,

WALNUT COURT or as the other children in their neighborhood. Allowing for the willfulness of her disposition she had received no more ill-treatment than Ted. In many ways she had so far seemed the favorite one, for when it became necessary to Mrs. Lakin to show a comfortable, healthy, pretty child, Lonnie was all that could be desired.

Honest and kindly women with little girls of their own, in the various courts and alleys where Mrs. Lakin temporarily sojourned, shook their heads doubtfully over the future prospects of Lonnie. She’s too bright by half,” they would say, and no bringin’ up.” Ted was so unobtrusive, and spoke up so nicely when he was spoken to, that a far more favorable opinion was entertained of his moral qualities. His mother usually sent him to school, but he hated to go. He was a sensitive little fellow, and his clothes never suited his ideas of what was fitting. He was bright enough and did well in school when he went, but he was so incorrigibly tardy and so given to absence that he was far from being a favorite with any of bis teachers. But Lonnie, in the short intervals when she had attended a kindergarten or a primary school, though generally showing a skill amounting to genius for avoiding all duties, had won the interested attention of her teachers.

The two children, liberally supplied with the black succulent sticks they had purchased, returned to the doorstep in Walnut Court nearest Cambridge Street.

‘‘Why don't you talk, Lonnie?” said Ted, astonished at the unaccustomed silence of his companion.

I was thinking about that lady. Now wasn't she a nice lady ! She didn't look like a Cambridge Street lady, she looked like a Back Bay lady. Didn't she have, on a pretty dress and hat?”

“Yes, she did. But she wasn't your kind of a lady.”

“What you mean?” said Lonnie, hotly.

“ I meant what I said,” and Ted spoke with the air of a philosopher long accustomed to pondering on the deep things of life.

WALNUT COURT

“ She was a nice, quiet sort of a lady, that liked nice sort of things — the way I do,’’ with a teasing glance at Lonnie, and you’re all in for rows and that sort of thing.”

You’re a mean, horrid boy !” flamed Lonnie, “ and after I gave you all that licorish !”

‘‘It’s so, just the same. You’re always the very flrst in a stir-around and helping keep everybody by the ears.”

“ I wouldn’t have any good times at all if I didn’t. It’s just because I can do those ways that your mother don’t beat me all the time,” said Lonnie defensively.

Ted shrugged his shoulders. “Anyway, it’s what I said ; that lady’s difierent.”

“ How do you know ?”

“ Oh, I know. I watch people a lot.”

“ You’re no good yourself ; you don’t like to go to school.”

“ I wish I never had to go inside that school again, nor any school !”

After that Ted seemed to prefer the bitterness of his own reflections, for he would talk no more, and Lonnie found herself obliged to do what she did as seldom as possible — to think. She hated to think. To sit on a step the way Ted did and think was abhorrent to her. Action was more in her line.

Now she felt very uncomfortable. She was so cloyed with licorice that there was no more pleasure to be had in that quarter. Ted refused to talk. The court seemed to be singularly empty of available children.

Depressing incidents came crowding into her mind. Lately she had begun to feel uneasy with Mrs. Lakin ; and down in her heart she was ashamed of what the Walnut Court neighbors said of her noisy little ways.

She determined to go somewhere at once so that she could stop thinking. She could go down to the Charles River bridge and watch the wagons, and drays, and boats, and the Back Bay houses black against the sunset, and the steady sweep of the river. But she knew it would be chilly waiting for the sunset this late October day down on the bridge.

WALNUT COUET

She could go up any one of those steep streets past the State House and down to the Common to the Frog Pond. Somebody would be sure to be sailing a boat there. On the whole, that was the best, and Ted liked to go to the Common. He would sit mooning on that step until dark if she didn’t get him to do something.

‘‘ Ted, come on ; let’s go to the Common.”

‘‘ Too far.”

‘‘ Oh, pshaw ! come on !”

‘‘ Too late.”

’Tis not ; come on !”

And after sufficient persuasion, to which they were both well accustomed, the two children, with their licorice-smeared faces and hands, started off to the Common.

Where would you live, Ted, if you could ?” asked Lonnie.

Well, I wouldn’t live down here, sure,” was the unexpected lively response. “ I don’t like so much noise, and talk, and goings on. I’d live where it was pretty, and quiet, and everything nice.

My ! Walnut Court's too quiet to suit me. I'd like to live where something was going on all the time."

‘‘ What kind of goings on ?"

Oh ! parades, and processions, and funerals, and accidents, and the police patrol — everything!"

I like parades, but I don't like none of the other things."

Ted, do you suppose that pretty lady will go by any more ?"

I never saw her before."

Me neither, but she looked as if she knew where she was going."

What would you do if you saw her again, Lonnie ? Ask her for another five cents ?"

“No, I'd ask her where she lived."

“ She wouldn't tell you for fear you'd come and bother her."

“ Then I'd ask her what kind of a lady she was."

“ She wouldn't know what you meant."

They reached the Common and amused them-

WALNUT COURT selves at tlie Frog Pond until Lonnie, still thirsting for excitement, induced Ted to go with her to Tremont Street.

‘‘ I like to hear Tom and all the boys hollerin' their papers. Why don't you sell papers, Ted ?"

No license."

Why don't you get a license ?"

‘‘ No money."

“ Well, these boys can. Why can't you ?"

‘‘ Oh, I don't seem to be in such a rush someway. Mother says I needn't to sell 'em anyway."

“But you could get money and buy good clothes to go to school in."

Lonnie could always touch the quick ; her aim was sure, she never missed.

“I'd like that, sure."

They stood idly by the fountain when a confused noise arose, different from the accustomed noise of the street.

“ Thief, I guess !" shouted Lonnie, ecstatically, starting for the gathering crowd.

Accident cried Ted, rapidly following.

The excitement was about over when the children reached the spot. The crowd was dispersing and the wagon was just rounding the next corner.

What was it?” asked Lonnie, eagerly, of a newsboy. He looked at the dirty little flushed face and laughed.

“ Accident. Didn’t you see it was the ambulance ?”

‘‘ Wish we’d got here sooner,” rejoined Lonnie. Who was it ?”

A woman. Couldn’t seem to get out of the way of a wagon, and was run down, and got her leg broke, I guess. They took her to the hospital.”

Wish we’d been here ! Come on, Ted, it’s gettin’ cold. Let’s go on home.”

CHAPTEE II

The children were very slow about going home, and when they reached there they found Walnut Court in a commotion.

Immediately at the sight of the two cold, tired, and dirty cliildren, loud expressions of sympathy were heard.

The poor little things Pll supper ’em.’’

Ted can sleep with my Tom.” I’m willin’ to do for Ted while his mother’s down, but I won’t have Lonnie around.” Me neither, she’s too lively, poor child !”

It took but a very short time, indeed, for Lonnie to comprehend the situation. Mrs. Lakin had met with an accident in Tremont Street, and had been taken to the hospital. Her leg was broken, and it would probably be some time before she was around. To add to 2 17

AN Oi)D LITTLE LASS

the confusion the tenement agent had happened to be in the building, and as Mrs. Lakin was already owing him two months’ rent and under notice to leave, he claimed jDOssession of the rooms. The furniture, such as it was, had been received by two or three neighbors for safe-keeping, and Ted and Lonnie had ajipeared in time to keep up the excitement.

That nearly all the neighbors were willing to take Ted until his mother was better was very evident, but to her discomfiture Lonnie perceived that no one was willing to have her. It was dififtcult for her to believe — as she had always supposed that she was a far superior person to Ted, and in every way more desirable. She had always received more attention and compliments in ten minutes than Ted would receive in a month — and now no one wanted her.

'‘She’s bright, and she’s pretty, poor little thing, but I won’t have her with my children.”

"And I won’t have her, though I have no children ; she’d drive me crazy.”

"Well, I don’t want her goin’ along the street drinkin’ the milk out of my pitcher, I can tell you!’’ .

“ She’s too flyabout for me to put up with !”

‘‘ Well, friends, she’s no kin to Mrs. Lakin,” said one woman, ‘‘ and we all know Mrs. Lakin has no right to have her to her hurt. Now’s the time to help matters. I can make out to kee]3 her over night, and if some of you’ll mind my Benny to-morrow. I’ll take her down to the Associates, and get her into a Home, or somewheres, and we’ll be rid of her, and she’ll be better off a heap than with Mrs. Lakin.”

Lonnie had been angry enough to cry for some time past. Slie never had liked Mrs. Cook, because Mrs. Cook had not admired her, and because she would not let her ])\aj with Bennie, and now Mrs. Cook was the only one to offer any help.

Lonnie, with lightning rapidity, thought of the various things she might do on this occa- . sion. She might scream ; that was what she preferred ; but her unfailing instinct told her that screaming at that moment would only bring down more disapproval upon her unlucky head. She could fuss and refuse to go with Mrs. Cook; but that was useless, worse than useless. So she went very quietly, repressing a sob, to Mrs. Cook’s side, and, to her astonishment, received a smile of encouragement from that well-meaning woman.

It was so late that every one felt it necessary to get within doors as soon as possible.

Ted went with Tom, more taken up in the first excitement with his own change of location than with his mother’s misfortune.

Mrs. Cook led Lonnie to her rooms, the prettiest and neatest in the court, and congratulated herself that she would surely be rid of the child by the next noon. Lonnie was already wondering if she could in any way escape that terrible sentence of a Home. When they entered the room Bennie was roaring lustily ; the neighbor’s child, who had promised to stay with him, had left him, and he did not like his OAvn exclusive company. Mrs. Cook’s face lengthened ; there she was with Bennie in a temper, and the table not set, and little sign of supper to appease her husband’s annoyance when he should find Lonnie there, and Lonnie disgracefully dirty.

‘‘ There, take the basin and wash your face anyway, if you know how.” Then she picked up the struggling two-year-old and tried to make a start at setting the table.

Lonnie perceived the dilemma with real interest.. She washed herself as quickly and as well as she possibly could, and left things in the sink as she found them. Then in her pleasantest tones, — and never had a child a sweeter voice than Lonnie, — she said she could amuse Bennie.

Mrs. Cook set him down on the floor, expecting to be rewarded by a still louder scream ; but Lonnie was ready for him ; and in less than a minute his voice rang out with a shout of laughter. Mrs. Cook’s face brightened and her table setting and her supper sped along rapidly, so that by the time her husband came home things looked more comfortable than usual, Bennie was happy instead of fretting as he generally did at that time in the evening, and Mrs.

Cook, as a natural consequence, was minus her customary expression of weariness. The Walnut Court doings were detailed and listened to with relish as Mrs. Cook put on the supper, so that Lonnie took her place at the table beside Bennie somewhat with the air of the heroine of a tragedy. She did not permit even the mention of that despised Home to make her scowl, and she proved so entertaining to Bennie at the various crises of his meal that that function passed off without the ordinary uiDheaval.

Supper over, Mrs. Cook’s face again clouded. If Bennie was not very soon put to bed he would begin his nightly uproar, and if she left the supper dishes standing things looked so mussy her husband didn’t like it, and if she did the dishes and asked her husband to undress Bennie, he would acquiesce in such an injured way that she would feel depressed the whole evening.

I can clear up and do the dishes. I saw where you got everything,” said Lonnie, ‘‘ I can do it good.”

‘^You’re too little/’ said Mrs. Cook, looking doubtfully at the bit of a child.

“ Oh, I can do it !”

You’ll break things !”

No, I won’t break a thing. I’ve been learned better.”

Well, try it,” and Mrs. Cook sat down with a more comfortable feeling than she had experienced for months, to undress Bennie and even to take time to play with him, and have him show his tricks to his father, who admired the boy very much when some one else was responsible for him.

Lonnie exercised the greatest judgment. She made as little noise as possible. The things she could not guess what to do with she placed in an unobtrusive row on the back of a table and covered. She rubbed her dishes until they shone and climbed on a chair to put them away in the dish closet.

By the time Bennie was asleejD and Mr. Cook was dozing over his newspaper the dish department was so well arranged that it only took'

Mrs. Cook a very few minutes to finish up everything.

‘‘You certainly are a mighty smart little girl ! Why don’t you act as good all the time ?”

“ Mighty smart ” was a new phrase to Lonnie’s ears, and she meditated on it while she said she would be good all the time when anybody niade her. The answer seemed to Mrs. Cook to convey so delicate a compliment that she felt quite compassionate toward the child.

That night, after Lonnie was sound asleej) in her improvised bed on the floor, Mrs. Cook asked her husband to look at her.

“ Well, she is a pretty little thing,” he said. “I never noticed how pretty she was, though I knew she was sassy enough.”

“She’s the most aggravating child in the court,” said Mrs. Cook, “ but it’s just wonderful how Bennie does take to her, and how good she can work ; must be nature, for I’m sure Mrs. Lakin wouldn’t actually show anybody decent ways.”

“ I expect, now, if she had somebody like you to look after her she’d be a real nice child. If you want her to stay around to help you, and heed Bennie for a while, I sha’n’t mind.”

‘‘ I always thought she was too naughty to be near Bennie, but perhaps she would do better,” and Mrs. Cook in turn thought longingly of the relief it would be to have somebody quiet that awful noise Bennie could make when he wanted her to play with him and she was obliged to sew or work.

I can see how she does to-morrow. I s’pose I’m not obliged to trot her off first thing, like I planned.”

The next morning when Lonnie woke, roused by Mrs. Cook moving around, she felt a supreme satisfaction at hearing the rain splashing against the window.

If I’m useful as can be, I don’t believe she’ll take me to that Home in the rain,” and with notable care and dexterity she managed to pull her stockings on straight and get all her buttons buttoned ; her ablutions were quite searching, and her use of the fragment of comb unsparing.

‘‘ Well, you do look real neat, to be sure!’’ ejaculated Mrs. Cook ; and folded up your bedclothes, too. I don’t see why you don’t behave all the time when you know how so well. Folks would think a heap better of you.”

Well, I mean to turn over a new leaf — beginning with Monday,” was the satisfied answer. I can set the table for you.”

Then when Bennie called, his mother hastily brought him, wrapped in a shawl, to the kitchen stove, and Lonnie amused him instead of Mr. Cook being kept on the jump, to his disgust, while trying to dress himself; and between Lonnie’s watching the biscuits, and stirring the potatoes, and wheedling Bennie, the little fellow was entirely dressed without the hand-to-hand scuffle that ordinarily took place before breakfast could be eaten.

Lonnie’s tongue was of the rattling kind, but she was keeping it very silent ; . when it was impossible to prevent it entirely from breaking loose, she directed it with judgment.

“ Bennie is the prettiest little boy in Boston, isn’t he !”

How smart he is ! There isn’t another little boy in this street half so smart, and large, and nice as he is !”

“ How good he is ! I just love him !”

People did not ordinarily call Bennie good, and the words were as balm to Mrs. Cook’s soul, even though spoken by the good-for-nothing Lonnie.

Bennie’s conduct was so much ameliorated, and the comfort of breakfast time so much improved in consequence by Lonnie’s fascinating ways of diverting him, that when Mr. Cook, dinner-pail in hand, started for his work he privately advised his wife to wait until the next day at least before taking Lonnie away.

The neighbor who had agreed to take care of Bennie while Mrs. Cook went on her mission came to the door to see how soon she would start, and Lonnie, rocking Bennie to sleep in his basket cradle, listened with all her ears for the reply.

‘‘Seeing as it’s raining, I thought if she didn’t make me trouble,” replied the cautious Mrs. Cook, knowing Lonnie could hear, “ I’d keep her till this afternoon or mayhap to-morrow.”

“ It’s real good of you, I’m sure,” said the neighbor, “ and her so troublesome, too. I^hope she ain’t worried you all to death.”

“ No ; she’s been very good — good as any child.”

“ Do tell ! If she’d only be good she’d be a real help to some families, and be sure of a good home ; but nobody that knows her wants to try her. No, I can’t come in. Hope Bennie’s doing well. Good-by !”

“ I’ll just show what I can do when it comes to bein’ useful,” thought Lonnie vindictively.

Bennie was asleep and Mrs. Cook was preparing to get out her umbrella and rubbers.

' “ If you’re going to buy things you needn’t to go out in the rain. I can go all right. You tell me what you want, and you don’t have to write it down, nor nothing. I’ll get just what you want ; and Mrs. Lakin said I could buy better’ll she could.”

After some discussion Mrs. Cook, who hated to go out in the rain, handed over her purse and her directions.

‘‘Oh, do you pay money for your things?” asked Lonnie in astonishment. “ It’s easy enough to buy things with money !”

The small messenger trudged forth and returned later, red-cheeked and smiling, with every purchase exactly right, the change right to a cent, and withal with a budget of the most entertaining items relative to the court, which passed away a good share of the morning in the detailing and commenting thereupon.

“ Why, Lonnie, you’re real good company,” said Mrs. Cook as she looked at the clock ; “ I wouldn’t suppose you could be such a good talker ; that’s right, build up them blocks for Bennie ; he dearly loves to knock ’em down, and I must get his little coat finished.”

“ It’s such a pretty coat. You must be a wonderful sewer,” ventured Lonnie.

“ I like to sew. I wish Bennie was a little girl, so I could teach him to sew. If I wasn’t going to take you away I’d make you a dress and some nice gingham aprons.”

My ! I never had a new apron, I guess.”

‘‘ It’s a pity you’ve acted so noisy since Mrs. Lakin came to live in the court, so as t6 turn everybody against you. You could have a good home if it wasn’t for that.”

I had to do something. If somehody’d taught me to sew nice, and I’d had a new apron, p’r’aps I’d been nice.”

Mrs. Cook smiled, but said nothing.

Lonnie was ready to amuse the insatiable Bennie when he awoke, and his mother took real pleasure in finishing the little coat in peace. The few lunch dishes were turned over to Lonnie with success, and when Bennie was again asleep she voluntarily amused herself by polishing every tin, brass, copper or nickel object in the three rooms, and without making a muss.

That’s the smartest child I ever saw in my life/’ thought Mrs. Cook, and I haven’t had such peace since Bennie was born, tliat I haven’t.” She felt so cheerful that she prepared an extra treat for supper, the pleasure being enhanced by Lonnie’s outspoken interest. The second evening was, if anything, an improvement on the first, and Mr. Cook so appreciated the ability to delegate his position as evening nurse to Lonnie that he again said he thought they had better keep her for a while, and his wife secretly rejoiced.

Lonnie watched narrowly the next morning for signs of the trip to the Home, but nothing was said or done. It was a beautiful day and she begged to wheel Bennie in his wagon, promising to be ^^just as careful as could be.” Mrs. Cook rather reluctantly consented, but as she watched Bennie’s face grow bright and rosy in the fresh air, and saw the truly exemplary manner in which Lonnie paced decorously over the allotted stretch, she subsided into a feeling of relaxation and enjoyed another two hours of sewing.

rd get the sewing all clone uj) and have a beautiful time if she would just behave herself. I’ll tell her that I’ll try her and take her to get the aprons, and put her little duds through the wash-tub to-night while she’s in bed.”

So while they were having their lunch Mrs. Cook began with some solemnity : You’ve

been a real, good, industrious little girl this two days, Lonnie, and if you would keep on behaving so well I’d be willing to let you stay for a while. I was going to take you right off to a Home, but if you want to be a good girl and help me I’ll get you the aprons and let you stay here.”

Lonnie was in a tumult of joy ; exactly why she could not have told ; but uppermost in her thoughts were the escape from the Home, the aprons, and the firm belief that this would show everybody in Walnut Court that she was a very useful child, and that every one of them had missed something by not taking her.

There now, Ted, somebody does want me,” she said triumphantly to Ted the first time she saw him after their separation. Ihn not going to a Home at all ! The Cooks just couldn’t get along without me, and I’m to stay tliere !”

Mrs. Cook !” and Ted gave a low whistle.

He well knew that Mrs. Cook had the reputation of being the most unnecessarily particular person in all Walnut Court.

When did she tell you ?”

“ This afternoon.”

‘‘ Sho ! It won’t be two days before you think you own the earth again, and then where’ll you be ? I’m selling papers !”

‘‘ Oh !” enviously. “ I wish I did. I just hate staying in the house.”

Lonnie already loved Bennie with all her little warm heart ; he was so pretty, and so openly delighted with her, and his mother kept him so sweet and clean. But Lonnie was far from being satisfied with the way his mother treated him. Mrs. Cook had a great many good theories as to the way a baby should be brought up in regard to its food and sleep. The only babies Lonnie knew anything about slept when they 3 were sleepy, and ate when they were hungry whatever could be most easily procured at the moment. To see Bennie want things at the table and not get them seemed to Lonnie disgraceful. He did not have any candy, nor any cake. Lonnie quite boiled with wrath . at the thought of such stinginess. She had never seen a baby before whose caretaker was not 2:)erfectly willing to give it pie, and cake, and candy, and pickles, if such things were to be had.

I’ll feed him up good if I get a chance,” thought Lonnie. ‘‘Here I’ve been sent to buy this and that and the other every day, and paying cash ! Such a way to do ! and Bennie with never a bit of anything nice. I’ll just charge up something and take the money and feed him up. Then we’ll see !”

Chapter III An Unlucky Feast

The next clay Lonnie charged up fifteen cents’ worth of meat at the butcher’s, and, hurrying home with her meat and other purchases, began sympathetically to Mrs. Cook :

‘‘ Now, you want to go to the big stores to do your errands, and why don’t you go when you put the meat on? I’ll wheel Bennie in his wagon nice as can be, and it’s beautiful out. He’s looking real well since he rides out every day.”

Will you wheel him just where I tell you ?”

Don’t I always ? Do you think I’d hurt Bennie?”

Mrs. Cook believed her implicitly, thinking to herself, ‘‘ There’s one good thing about Lonnie, she just loves Bennie.”

So Mrs. Cook went on her errands and her last sight of Bennie was of a very joyful little boy indeed, in his new coat and cap, riding in his wagon, while Lonnie waved an encouraging good-by.

Then away went Lonnie and the wagon, and the fifteen cents, to the baker’s. She bought two cream-pufis, and, sitting on a convenient step, devoured one, while Bennie had the other.

Good, ain’t it, Bennie ? Your mother don’t know how to give you a good time. It’s lucky I fixed the bag on you or you’d be a pretty sight. Now, come on, and we’ll get a bottle of pop, and you can have half.”

And on another step further down Cambridge Street she managed to pour some of the delectable pop down his throat, and the rest down her own. My ! but that’s worth while !” she said. This beats everything !”