XI.
_BLIND WILLIE._
"Maggie and Bessie," said Mrs. Bradford, one day soon after this, "I amgoing to send Jane over with some work to Mrs. Granby. Would you liketo go with her and see the policeman's children?"
Bessie answered "Yes," readily enough, but though Maggie would haveliked the long walk on this lovely day, she was rather doubtful ofthe pleasure of calling on those who were entire strangers to her.But after some little coaxing from Bessie, who said she would not gowithout her, she was at last persuaded, and they set out with Jane,taking Flossy with them.
The children had their hooples, which they trundled merrily before themand Flossy went capering joyously along, sometimes running ahead,for a short distance, and then rushing back to his little mistresses,and if any rough boys made their appearance, keeping very close attheir side till all danger was past. For since Flossy was stolen, hehad been very careful as to the company he kept, and looked with avery suspicious eye upon any one who wore a ragged coat, which was notvery just of Flossy, since a ragged coat may cover as true and honesta heart as ever beat; but as the poor puppy knew no better, and hadreceived some hard treatment at the hands of those whose miserablegarments covered hard and cruel hearts, he must be excused for thinkingthat the one was a sign of the other.
Flossy had turned out quite as pretty a little dog as he had promisedto be. His coat was long, soft, and silky, and beautifully marked inbrown and white; his drooping ears hung gracefully on each side of hishead, while his great black eyes were so knowing and affectionate thatit was hard to believe no soul looked out of them. It was no wonderthat almost every child they passed turned to take a second look, andto wish that they, too, had such a pretty merry pet. Flossy was ingreat favor that day on account of a droll trick which he had played,much to the amusement of the children. Harry and Fred were very anxiousto teach him all manner of things, such as standing on his head,pretending to be dead, and so forth; but Maggie and Bessie declared hewas too young to be taught anything except "to be good and polite," andwould not have him teased. Beside, he had funny tricks and ways of hisown which they thought much better than those, and was as full of playand mischief as a petted doggie could be.
Harry had a weak ankle, which in his boyish frolics he was constantlyhurting, and now, having given it a slight sprain, he was laid up onthe sofa. On the day before this, his dinner had been sent to him,but as it did not exactly suit him, he called Flossy, and writingon a piece of paper what he desired, gave it to the dog, and toldhim to take it to mamma. He was half doubtful if the creature wouldunderstand; but Flossy ran directly to the dining-room with the paperin his mouth, and gave it to Mrs. Bradford. As a reward for doing hiserrand so well, she gave him a piece of cake, although it was againsther rules that he should be fed from the table.
On this day, Harry had been able to come down-stairs; and while thechildren were at their dinner, Flossy was heard whining at the door.Patrick opened it, and in he ran with a crumpled piece of paper, onwhich Franky had been scribbling, in his mouth, and going to Mrs.Bradford held it up to her, wagging his tail with an air which saidquite plainly, "Here is your paper, now give me my cake."
"Poor little doggie! He did not know why one piece of paper was notas good as another, and Mrs. Bradford could not refuse him, while allthe children were quite delighted with his wisdom, and could not makeenough of him for the remainder of the day."
Maggie and Bessie were rather surprised at the appearance of thepoliceman's house. It was so different from those which stood aroundit, or from any which they were accustomed to see in the city; but itlooked very pleasant to them with its green shutters, old-fashionedporch, and the little courtyard and great butternut tree in front.The small plot of grass behind the white palings was quite green now,and some of the buds on the hardier bushes were beginning to unfoldtheir young leaves. Altogether it looked very nice and homelike, nonethe less so that Jennie Richards and her three younger brothers wereplaying around, and digging up the fresh moist earth, with the fancythat they were making a garden. But their digging was forgotten whenthey saw Jane with her little charge.
"Does Mrs. Granby live here?" asked Jane, unlatching the gate.
"Yes, ma'am," answered Jennie. "Will you please to walk in?" andopening the doors, Jennie showed the visitors into the sitting-room.
Mrs. Richards sat sewing, with Willie, as usual, beside her, rockingceaselessly back and forth in his little chair; while good Mrs. Granby,who had been seated close by the window, and had seen Jane and thechildren come in, was bustling about, placing chairs for them.
On Willie's knee was a Maltese kitten purring away contentedly; but themoment she caught sight of Flossy, she sprang from her resting-place,and, scampering into a corner, put up her back, and began spitting andhissing in a very impolite manner. If Miss Pussy had been civil, Flossywould probably have taken no notice of her; but when she drew attentionupon herself by this very rude behavior, he began to bark and jumpabout her, more with a love of teasing than with any idea of hurtingher. It was quite a moment or two before these enemies could bequieted, and then it was only done by Maggie catching up Flossy in herarms, and Mrs. Granby thrusting the kitten into a bureau drawer with acuff on its ear.
The commotion being over, with the exception of an occasional spit fromthe drawer, as if kitty were still conscious of the presence of herfoe, Bessie walked up to Mrs. Richards, and politely holding out herhand, said, "We came to see you and your fam'ly, ma'am, and we're sorryto make such a 'sturbance."
"Well," said Mrs. Richards, smiling at what she afterwards calledBessie's old-fashioned ways,--"well, I think it was the kitten was toblame for the disturbance, not you, nor your pretty dog there; and I'msure we're all glad to see you, dear. Are you the little girl that waslost and taken up to the station?"
"Yes, I am," said Bessie; "but I was not taken up 'cause I was naughty,but 'cause I could not find my way home. Is my policeman pretty well?"
"He's very well, thank you, dear; but he'll be mighty sorry to hearyou've been here, and he not home to see you."
"Mother," said Willie, "what a sweet voice that little girl has! Willshe let me touch her?"
"Would you, dear?" asked Mrs. Richards; "you see it's the only way hehas now of finding what anybody is like."
"Oh! he may touch me as much as he likes," said Bessie, and comingclose to the blind boy, she put her hand in his, and waited patientlywhile he passed his fingers up her arm and shoulder, then over hercurls, cheek, and chin; for Willie Richards was already gaining thatquick sense of touch which God gives to the blind.
The mother's heart was full as she watched the two children, and sawthe tender, pitying gaze Bessie bent upon her boy.
"Poor Willie!" said the little girl, putting her arm about his neck, "Iam so sorry for you. But perhaps our Father will let you see again someday."
"I don't know," said Willie, sadly; "they used to say I would be betterwhen the spring came, but the spring is here now, and it is no lighter.Oh, it is so very, very dark!"
Bessie's lip quivered, and the tears gathered in her eyes as she raisedthem to Mrs. Richards. But Mrs. Richards turned away her head. Shesometimes thought that Willie had guessed that the doctor had had hopesof curing them in the spring, but she had not the courage to ask him.Nor could she and his father bear to excite hopes which might again bedisappointed, by telling him to wait with patience till next year.
But Bessie did not know what made Mrs. Richards silent, and wonderingthat she did not speak, she felt as if she must herself say somethingto comfort him.
"But maybe next spring you will see, Willie," she said.
"Maybe so," said Willie, piteously, "but it is so long to wait."
Bessie was silent for a moment, not quite knowing what to say; thenshe spoke again. "Wouldn't you like to come out and feel the spring,Willie? It is nice out to-day and the wind is so pleasant and warm."
"No," answered Willie, almost impatiently, "I only want to stay herewith mother. I know it fee
ls nice out; but the children come and say,'_See_ the sky, how blue it is!' and '_Look_ at this flower,' whenI can't see them, and it makes me feel so bad, so bad. I know thegrass is green and the sky is blue, and the crocuses and violets arecoming out just as they used to when I could see, but I don't wantthem to tell me of it all the time; and they forget, and it makes mefeel worse. But I wouldn't mind the rest so much if I could only seemother's face just a little while every day, then I would be good andpatient all the time. Oh! if I only could see her, just a moment!"
"Don't, don't, sonny," said his mother, laying her hand lovingly on hishead.
It was the ceaseless burden of his plaintive song,--"If I only couldsee mother's face! If I only could see mother's face!"
"And maybe you will some day, Willie," said Bessie; "so try to thinkabout that, and how she loves you just the same even if you don't seeher. And don't you like to know the blue sky is there, and that Jesusis behind it, looking at you and feeling sorry for you? None of us cansee Jesus, but we know he sees us and loves us all the same; don't we?Couldn't you feel a little that way about your mother, Willie?"
"I'll try," said Willie, with the old patient smile coming back again.
Poor Willie! It was not usual for him to be impatient or fretful. Buthe had been sadly tried that day in the way he had spoken of, and thelonging for his lost sight was almost too great to be borne. But nowMrs. Granby, suspecting something of what was going on on that side ofthe room, came bustling up to Willie and Bessie, bringing Maggie withher. Maggie had been making acquaintance with Jennie while Bessie wastalking with the blind boy.
"Willie," said Mrs. Granby, "here's just the prettiest little dog thatever lived, and he is as tame and gentle as can be. If Miss Maggiedon't object, maybe he'd lie a bit on your knee, and let you feel hisnice long ears and silken hair."
"Yes, take him," said Maggie, putting her dog into Willie's arms.
Flossy was not usually very willing to go to strangers; but now,perhaps, his doggish instinct told him that this poor boy had need ofpity and kindness. However that was, he lay quietly in Willie's clasp,and looking wistfully into his sightless eyes, licked his hands andface.
Maggie and Bessie were delighted, and began to tell Willie of Flossy'scunning ways. The other children gathered about to listen and admiretoo, and presently Willie laughed outright as they told of his cutetrick with the crumpled paper.
And now, whether Miss Kitty saw through the crack of the drawer thather young master was fondling a new pet, or whether she only guessed atit, or whether she thought it hard that fun should be going on in whichshe had no share, cannot be told; but just then there came from herprison-place such a hissing and sputtering and scratching that everyone of the children set up a shout of laughter. Not since his blindnesscame upon him had his mother heard Willie's voice sound so gleeful, andnow in her heart she blessed the dear little girl who she felt had donehim good. Then as the children begged for her, kitty was released; butas she still showed much ill-temper, Mrs. Granby was obliged to put herin the other room.
Soon after this our little girls, with their nurse, took leave, havingpresented Willie with a new book, and his mother with some usefulthings mamma had sent, and giving Willie and Jennie an invitation tocome and see them.
They did not go back as joyfully as they had come. Somehow, in spite ofthe good laugh they had had, the thought of blind Willie made them feelsad, and giving Jane their hooples to carry, they walked quietly by herside, hand in hand.
Bessie was half heart-broken as she told her mamma of the blind boy'slonging to see his mother's face, and neither she nor Maggie quiterecovered their usual spirits for the remainder of the day. Mamma wasalmost sorry she had allowed them to go.
"And what makes my princess so sad this evening?" asked Uncle Ruthven,lifting Bessie upon his knee.
"Don't you think you'd be very sad, sir, if you were blind?"
"Doubtless I should, dear. I think, of all my senses, my sight is theone I prize most, and for which I am most thankful. But you are notgoing to lose your sight; are you, Bessie?"
"No," said Bessie; "but Willie Richards has lost his. He is quite,quite blind, uncle, and can't see his mother's face; and they can'tlet the doctor cure him, 'cause they are too poor. Maggie and I wishedto help them very much, and we wanted to ask them to take all theglove-money we have,--that is what mamma lets us have to do charitywith,--but mamma says it would not be much help, and she thinks we hadbetter keep it to buy some little thing Willie may need. And we arevery grieved for him."
"Poor little princess!" said Mr. Stanton. "And why did you not come tome for help? What is the good of having an old uncle with plenty ofmoney in his pockets, if you do not make him 'do charity' for you? Letme see. How comes on the history of the 'Complete Family,' Maggie?"
"Oh! it's 'most finished," said Maggie. "At least, that book is; but weare going to have another volume. Mamma likes us to write it. She saysit is good practice, and will make it easy for us to write compositionsby and by."
"Very sensible of mamma," said Mr. Stanton. "But I think you said youwished to sell it when it was finished, so that you might help thepoor."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, you know I am going away to-morrow morning,--going to take AuntBessie to Baltimore to see her sister. We shall be gone about a week.If your book is finished when we come home, I shall see if I cannotfind a purchaser for it. And you might use the money for the blind boyif you like."
Just at this moment nurse put her head in at the door with "Come along,my honeys. Your mamma is waiting up-stairs for you, and it's yourbed-time."
"In one instant, mammy," said Mr. Stanton. "Is it a bargain, littleones? If I find a man to buy your book, will you have it ready, andtrust it to me, when I come back?"
The children were willing enough to agree to this; and Maggie onlywished that it was not bed-time, so that she might finish the bookthat very night. Uncle Ruthven said they would talk more about it whenhe returned, and bade them "Good-night."
"My darlings," said mamma, when they went up-stairs, "I do not want youto distress yourselves about blind Willie. When the time comes for thedoctor to perform the operation on his eyes, I think the means will befound to pay him. But you are not to say anything about it at present.I only tell you because I do not like to see you unhappy."
"Are you or papa going to do it, mamma?" asked Bessie.
"We shall see," said Mrs. Bradford, with a smile.
"Perhaps we can help you a little," said Maggie, joyfully; and she toldher mother of her uncle's proposal about the book.
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