CHAPTER XIV
AN UNINVITED GUEST
Paul and Mr. Weston started off at an early hour the next morning inPaul's canoe to bring home the honey. Beside a tub they took with them anumber of buckets, for the old stump had a rich store of honey.
It was a time of leisure for the lumbering settlement. The drives oflogs had all come down the river and were safely in the booms. The millscould not run as usual, for the conflict with England made it difficultto send lumber to Boston. The crops were now planted, so Mr. Weston,like other men of the settlement, had time for hunting and fishing orfor improving their simple homes. Some of the men passed a good part ofeach day lounging around the shores and wharves, looking anxiously downthe harbor hoping to see Captain Jones' sloops returning with thegreatly needed provisions.
Rebecca was up in season to see her father start, but Anna, tired fromthe adventure of the previous day, had not awakened.
"Is the liberty tree safe?" Rebby asked a little anxiously, as shehelped her mother about the household work that morning.
"Why, Rebby dear, what harm could befall it?" questioned her mother."The traitor who set it afloat will not dare cut it down. 'Tis a strangething that, search though they may, no trace can be found of therascals."
Rebecca's hands trembled, and she dared not look up. It seemed to thelittle girl that if her mother should look into her eyes she would atonce know that she, Rebecca Flora Weston, who had been born in Boston,and whose parents were loyal Americans, had committed the dreadful deed.She wished with all her heart that she could tell her mother all thatLucia Horton had said; but the promise bound her. She could never tellanyone. Rebecca knew that she could never be happy again. "Not unless Icould do some fine thing to help America," she thought, a littlehopelessly; for what could a little girl, in a settlement far away fromall the strife, do to help the great cause for which unselfish men weresacrificing everything?
Mrs. Weston was troubled about Rebecca. "The child has not really beenwell since her birthday," she thought, "although I cannot think what thetrouble can be."
"Your father says that the honey is really yours, Rebby dear," continuedMrs. Weston, "and that you may decide how it shall be disposed of."
"I don't care," Rebby responded, a little faintly. "Only, of course,Paul ought to have half, because he helped."
"Yes, of course; but even then your share will be a good quantity," saidMrs. Weston. Before Rebecca could speak Anna came running into the room,her brown eyes shining, and her curls, now long enough to dance abouther face, falling over her brown cheeks.
As she ate her porridge her mother questioned her about the adventure ofthe previous day, and for a time Rebby forgot her own worries inlistening to Anna's account of her journey in the leaking boat, and ofher leap to safety.
"It was not mischief, was it, Mother, to try and capture Trit?" sheconcluded.
"No, indeed, dear child. Who could foresee such an adventure?" repliedMrs. Weston. "And we are all proud that you did so well; that you didnot wander into the forest, where you would surely have been lost. I wasjust asking Rebby what use we would make of the honey. Of course we wantto share it with our neighbors. 'Tis rare good fortune to have such astore of sweets."
"Let's have a honey party," suggested Anna. "Could we not, Mother?"
"Why, that is a splendid idea!" declared Mrs. Weston. "'Twill cheer upthe whole settlement to be asked to a party. To be sure I can offer themonly honey; but perhaps 'twill take their minds from the _Polly_, andfrom England's injustice toward us. Rebecca, you and Anna shall startout at once and ask the neighbors as far as Mr. Lyon's house. That willbring as many as twenty people. And tell each one to bring a cup andspoon, as I have no extra dishes."
As soon as Anna had finished her breakfast the two girls put on theirsunbonnets and started on their pleasant errand. The neighbors were tobe asked to come the next afternoon for a taste of wild honey, and Mrs.Weston again cautioned them to be sure and speak of the cup and spoonthat each guest was to bring.
"I wish I could offer them a dish of tea," thought Mrs. Weston, and thenreproached herself for the thought, for was not the tea tax one ofEngland's sins against the colonies, and had not loyal women refused tobrew a single cup until America gained her rights?
Mr. Foster was busy in his blacksmith shop. The mill men could be idle,but Worden Foster hammered busily away day in and day out. His hay-forkswere always in demand, and he made many stout locks and keys, as well asdoor-latches and hooks.
"Shall we ask him first?" questioned Anna.
"Yes," replied Rebecca. "He is our best neighbor, so 'tis right to askhim first."
Rebecca and Anna stood in the open doorway for a moment watching theglow of the forge and the bright sparks that sprang from the red bar ofiron which Mr. Foster was shaping into a spearhead.
He nodded toward his little visitors smilingly, and listened withevident pleasure to Rebecca's invitation.
"But you tell me Paul is to have a good portion of the honey; 'tishardly fair we Fosters should come," he replied, and then addedquickly, "But why not let us have the neighbors, and divide the honeythat is left after the party?"
"Why, yes, sir; I think that will be a good plan," responded Rebbysoberly, "and perhaps Luretta will go with us to ask the neighbors."
Mr. Foster nodded again, whistling softly to himself, and as the littlegirls bade him a polite "Good-morning" and went on toward his house theycould hear his whistle ring above the sound of his hammer.
Luretta came running to meet them.
"I was just coming to your house to thank you for Trit. Oh, Anna! Youare the bravest girl in the settlement. Paul says you are. And to thinkyou caught the rabbit for me." Luretta, quite out of breath, with herarm across Anna's shoulders, looked admiringly at her friend.
"It's only fair," Anna replied, "because I lost yours." And then Annahad to tell again the story of her capture of Trit. Luretta listenedeagerly. "I do wish I could have been with you, Danna," she said. ButAnna shook her head. "The boat would have sunk," she responded soberly.
Mrs. Foster thought the plan for a honey party an excellent idea, andpromised to come in good season; and Luretta was greatly pleased to gowith her friends to invite the neighbors.
"Will not Lucia Horton be pleased when we tell her about the honey?"said Anna.
Rebecca stopped suddenly. "We are not to ask the Hortons," sheannounced.
"Not ask Lucia! Why not?" questioned Anna, while Luretta looked at Rebbywith wondering eyes.
"No," Rebecca declared firmly. "The Hortons have a cupboard filled withjellies, and candied fruits, and jars of syrups, and fine things fromthe West Indies and from far places, and 'tis not fair. We have only thewild bees' honey, a taste for each neighbor." Rebecca stopped with alittle sigh. She had not thought about not asking Lucia until Annaspoke, but now she realized that, if she could help it, she would neveragain go to the Hortons' house. Rebecca was old enough to realize thedifference between loyalty and selfish indecision, and she was sure thatthe Hortons were thinking more of their own comfort than of the good ofAmerica.
"But Lucia is your best friend," said Anna; "she gave you thosebeautiful silk mitts on your birthday."
Rebecca's face colored. She made no answer. The silk mitts, sheresolved, must be given back. Probably she would never have anotherpair; but never mind, if she gave up Lucia's friendship she must give upthe mitts.
For a few minutes the little girls walked on in silence, but Luretta waseager to talk about Trit, and very soon she and Anna were talkinghappily of plans to teach the captured rabbit, and were no longertroubled by Rebecca's decision not to ask the Hortons to the honeyparty. If they thought of it at all it was to agree with Rebby: thatpeople with a cupboard full of dainties, when their neighbors had onlythe coarsest fare, ought not to be asked to share the wild honey.
Mrs. Lyon welcomed the little girls in a most friendly manner, and Annawas made happy when the minister's wif
e said that she really believedthat Anna's stitches were as tiny and as neatly set as those of Melvinaherself.
"Melvina is out-of-doors," she continued; "I have decided that she ismuch stronger to be in the open air a portion of each day, and Londonhas made her a playhouse under the pines behind the house."
Both Anna and Luretta hoped that Mrs. Lyon would ask them to go and seeMelvina's playhouse, but as she did not they said their polite"Good-day, Mrs. Lyon," curtsied, and followed Rebecca down the path.
The invitations had now all been given and accepted, and Luretta waseager to get home, urging Anna to stop and see Trit, who was safe in thesame box that had been made for the other rabbits.
"You may both run ahead if you wish," said Rebby with quite a grown-upmanner, for she really felt a great deal older than her little sister,"and I will go straight home and tell Mother that everybody is coming."
"Everybody except the Hortons," Luretta reminded her.
"Yes; I meant everyone whom we had asked," Rebby rejoined.
Off ran the two younger girls, and Rebecca followed more slowly.Although she had intended to go directly home she now decided to takethe path along the bluff and see for herself that the liberty tree stoodsafe, defiant of all enemies. Rebby's thoughts were filled with acertain fear that Lucia Horton might contrive some new plan to make awaywith this emblem of freedom; and she gave an exclamation ofsatisfaction as she saw the handsome young pine, well braced with rocksand timber supports, standing on the bluff.
"The _Polly_ will see it first thing when she comes into harbor,"thought Rebby, "and nobody will dare fire on it," and vaguely comfortedby this thought she started on toward home.
Mr. Weston and Paul were just landing their load of honey, and Rebeccawent down to the shore to tell them of the plan for the honey party, ofwhich they both approved. The tubs and buckets were all carried to theWestons' and safely stored away in the big pantry.
Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Weston were talking over arrangements for the nextday. Mrs. Foster had suggested that they should each bake a quantity of"spider-cakes." "They are thin and crispy, and will relish well with thehoney," she said, and Mrs. Weston agreed, although both the womenrealized that by making these cakes they would diminish their householdstores of Indian meal almost to the danger point. But the _Polly_, withher cargo of wheat flour, sugar, and other necessities, was longoverdue; she must soon come to their relief, they thought hopefully;and if she failed to arrive why then they must do their best.
"The neighbors need something cheerful to think of," declared Mrs.Foster, "and I am sure a taste of honey will cheer us all."
The next day was clear and warm with a pleasant southerly wind. Mr.Weston decided to put up some seats under the tall elms, so that theguests could enjoy the spring air. Paul was quite ready to help him;they brought planks from the lumber yard, and long before the firstvisitor arrived the low comfortable seats were ready.
Anna and Rebby were busy all the morning making small plates ofbirch-bark, which they stripped from the big logs. These little plateswould each hold a square of "spider-cake" and a helping of honey; and asthe guests would bring their own cups, to be filled with clear springwater, and their own spoons, the Westons felt that all was ready.
Rebby and Anna both wore their Sunday best, but their dresses werecarefully covered by their long pinafores. For they would serve eachguest, and it would not do that any careless movement should send astream of honey over their best gowns. Luretta and Melvina would alsohelp, and had been warned to bring pinafores to wear.
There was a pleasant air of excitement all through the little settlementas the people, dressed in their simple best, walked along the pathleading to the Westons'. The minister and his wife, each holding Melvinaby the hand, were among the first comers.
"It was a friendly thought to ask your neighbors to share your goodfortune," said Mr. Lyon as he greeted Mrs. Weston.
"To tell the truth, 'twas Anna who first thought of it," she responded,and was well pleased when Mrs. Lyon declared that she was not surprisedto hear it, as she considered Anna a very thoughtful and generous child.
Rebecca had forgotten for the time her own sense of unworthiness, andwas smiling happily as friend after friend arrived, when suddenly hersmile vanished. For coming up the path in a fine dress of pale yellowmuslin and wearing a flower-trimmed hat was Lucia Horton. No one butRebecca, of course, was surprised to see Lucia. It was to be expectedthat she would be a guest at Rebecca's house. Anna and Luretta did notsee Lucia's arrival, but Rebby stood quite still, pale and angry, andwatched Lucia smiling and speaking to the neighbors. Then Lucia camestraight toward Rebecca, and, making an ugly face at her, exclaimed:
"Who is afraid of you, anyway, Rebecca Flora Weston?"