CHAPTER THIRTEENTH
"An angel face! its sunny wealth of hair, In radiant ripples bathed the graceful throat And dimpled shoulders." --MRS. OSGOOD.
The cold gray light of a winter morning was stealing in through thehalf-closed blinds as Elsie awoke, and started up in bed, with thethought that this was the day on which several of her young guests wereexpected, and that her papa had promised her a walk with him beforebreakfast, if she were ready in time.
Aunt Chloe had already risen, and a bright fire was blazing andcrackling on the hearth, which she was carefully sweeping up.
"Good morning, mammy," said the little girl. "Are you ready to dress menow?"
"What, you 'wake, darlin'?" cried the fond old creature, turningquickly round at the sound of her nursling's voice. "Better lie still,honey, till de room gets warm."
"I'll wait a little while, mammy," Elsie said, lying down again, "but Imust get up soon; for I wouldn't miss my walk with papa for a greatdeal. Please throw the shutters wide open, and let the daylight in. I'mso glad it has come."
"Why, my bressed lamb, you didn't lie awake lookin' for de mornin', didyou? You ain't sick, nor sufferin' any way?" exclaimed Chloe, in a toneof mingled concern and inquiry, as she hastily set down her broom, andcame toward the bed, with a look of loving anxiety on her dark face.
"Oh, no, mammy! I slept nicely, and feel as well as can be," repliedthe little girl; "but I am glad to see this new day, because I hope itis going to be a very happy one. Carry Howard, and a good many of mylittle friends are coming, you know, and I think we will have a verypleasant time together."
"Your ole mammy hopes you will, darlin'," replied Chloe, heartily; "an'I'se glad 'nough to see you lookin' so bright an' well; but jes you liestill till it gets warm here. I'll open de shutters, an' fotch somemore wood for de fire, an' clar up de room, an' by dat time I reckonyou can get up."
Elsie waited patiently till Chloe pronounced the room warm enough, thensprang up with an eager haste, asking to be dressed as quickly aspossible, that she might go to her papa.
"Don't you go for to worry yourself, darlin'; dere's plenty ob time,"said Chloe, beginning her work with all speed, however; "de mistresshad ordered de breakfast at nine, dese holiday times, to let de ladiesan' gen'lemen take a mornin' nap if dey likes it."
"Oh, yes, mammy! and that reminds me that papa said I must eat acracker or something before I take my walk, because he thinks it isn'tgood for people to exercise much on an entirely empty stomach," saidElsie. "Will you get me one when you have done my curls?"
"Yes, honey, dere's a paper full in de drawer yonder," replied Chloe,"an' I reckon you better eat two or three, or you'll be mighty hungry'fore you gits your breakfast."
It still wanted a few minutes of eight o'clock when Elsie's gentle rapwas heard at her papa's dressing-room door. He opened it, and stoopingto give her a good-morning kiss, said, with a pleased smile, "Howbright and well my darling looks! Had you a good night's rest?"
"Oh, yes, papa! I never waked once till it began to be light," shereplied; "and now I'm all ready for our walk."
"In good season, too," he said. "Well, we will start presently; buttake off your hat and come and sit on my knee a little while first;breakfast will be late this morning, and we need not hurry. Did you getsomething to eat?" he asked, as he seated himself by the fire and drewher to his side.
"Yes, papa, I ate a cracker, and I think I will not get very hungrybefore nine o'clock; and I'm very glad we have so much time for ourwalk," she replied, as she took her place on his knee. "Shall we notstart soon?"
"Presently," he said, stroking her hair; "but it will not hurt you toget well warmed first, for it is a sharp morning."
"You are very careful of me, dear papa," she said, laying her head onhis breast, "and oh! it is so nice to have a papa to love me and takecare of me."
"And it is so nice to have a dear little daughter to love and to takecare of," he answered, pressing her closer to him.
The house was still very quiet, no one seeming to be astir but theservants, as Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie went down the stairs and passed outthrough the hall.
"O papa! it is going to be such a nice day, and I feel so happy!" Elsiegayly exclaimed, as they started down the avenue.
"Do you, daughter?" he said, regarding her with an expression ofintense yearning affection; "I wish I could make you always as gay andhappy as you are at this moment. But alas! it cannot be, my darling,"he added with a sigh.
"I know that, papa," she said with sudden gravity, "'for man that isborn of woman is of few days, and full of trouble,' the Bible says; butI don't feel frightened at that, because it tells me, besides, thatJesus loves me, _oh, so dearly!_ and will never leave nor forsake me;and that He has all power in heaven and in earth, and will _never_ letanything happen to me but what shall do me good. O papa, it is such a_happy_ thing to have the dear Lord Jesus for your friend!"
"It is strange how everything seems to lead your thoughts to Him," hesaid, giving her a wondering look.
"Yes, papa, it is because I love Him so," she answered, simply; and thefather sighed as the thought arose, "Better than she loves me, even asshe told me herself. Ah! I would I could be _all_--_everything_ to her,as she is fast becoming to me. I cannot feel satisfied, and yet Ibelieve few daughters love their fathers as well as she loves me;" andfondly pressing the little hand he held, he looked down upon her withbeaming eyes.
She raised hers to his face with an expression of confiding affection;and, as though she had read his thoughts: "Yes, papa," she said, "Ilove _you_ dearly, dearly, too; better than all the world besides."
Breakfast--always a plentiful and inviting meal at Roselands--wasalready upon the table when they returned, and they brought to itappetites sufficiently keen to make it very enjoyable.
Elsie spent the first hour after breakfast at the piano, practising,and the second in her papa's dressing-room, studying and reciting tohim; then they took a long ride on horseback, and when they returnedshe found that quite a number of the expected guests had alreadyarrived.
Among them was Caroline Howard, a favorite friend of Elsie's; a pretty,sweet-tempered little girl, about a year older than herself.
Caroline had been away paying a long visit to some friends in theNorth, and so the two little girls had not met for nearly a year, andof course they had a great deal to say to each other.
They chatted a few moments in the drawing-room, and then Elsie carriedher friend off with her to her own room, that they might go on withtheir talk while she was getting dressed for dinner. Caroline had muchto tell of her Northern relatives, and of all she had seen and heard,and Elsie of her new-found parent, and her happiness in being so lovedand cared for; and so the little tongues ran very fast, neither of themfeeling Chloe's presence any restraint. But she soon completed hertask, and went out, leaving the two sitting on the sofa together,laughing and talking merrily while awaiting the summons to dinner,which they were to take that day along with their elders.
"How pretty your hair is, Elsie," said Caroline, winding the glossyringlets around her finger. "I wish you'd give me one of these curls. Iwant to get a bracelet made for mamma, and she thinks so much of you,and your hair is such a lovely color, that I am sure she would bedelighted with one made of it."
"A Christmas gift is it to be?" asked Elsie; "but how will you get itdone in time? for you know day after to-morrow is Christmas."
"Yes, I know; but if I could get into the city this afternoon, I thinkI might get them to promise it by to-morrow night."
"Well, you shall have the curl, at any rate, if you will just take thescissors and help yourself, and poor mammy will have the fewer to curlthe next time," Elsie answered, laughingly. "But mind," she added, asCaroline prepared to avail herself of the permission, "that you take itwhere it will not be missed."
"Of course I will; I don't want to spoil your beauty, though you are somuch prettier than I," was Caroline's laughing rejoinder.
"There," shecried, holding up the severed ringlet, "isn't it a beauty? but don'tlook scared, it will never be missed among so many; I don't even missit myself, although I know it is gone."
"Well," Elsie said, shaking back her curls, "suppose we go down to thedrawing-room now, and I will ask papa to take us to the city thisafternoon; or, if he is too busy to go himself, to let Pomp or Ajaxdrive us in."
"I think it would be better fun to go alone, Elsie--don't you?" askedCaroline, with some hesitation; adding quickly: "Don't be vexed, but Imust confess I am more than half afraid of your father."
"Oh! you wouldn't be, Carry, if you knew him," Elsie answered, in hereager way; "I was a little myself, at first, but now I love him sodearly, I never want to go anywhere without him."
They found Mr. Dinsmore in the drawing-room, where most of the guestsand the older members of the family were assembled. He was conversingwith a strange gentleman, and his little girl stood quietly at hisside, patiently waiting until he should be ready to give her hisattention. She had to wait some moments, for the gentlemen werediscussing some political question, and were too much engaged to noticeher.
But at length her father put his arm around her, and with a kind smileasked, "What is it, daughter?"
"Carry and I want to go to the city, this afternoon; won't you take us,papa?"
"I wish I could, my dear, but I have an engagement, which makes itquite impossible."
"Ah, I'm so sorry! but then, papa, we may have one of the carriages,and Pomp or Ajax to drive us, may we not?"
"No, daughter; I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am afraid you aretoo young to be trusted on such an expedition with only a servant. Youmust wait until to-morrow, when I can take you myself."
"But, papa, we want to go to-day. Oh! please do say yes; we want to goso very much, and I'm sure we could do very nicely by ourselves."
Her arm was around his neck, and both tone and look were very coaxing.
"My little daughter forgets that when papa says no, she is never to askagain."
Elsie blushed and hung her head. His manner was quite too grave anddecided for her to venture another word.
"What is the matter? what does Elsie want?" asked Adelaide, who wasstanding near, and had overheard enough to have some idea of thetrouble.
Mr. Dinsmore explained, and Adelaide at once offered to take charge ofthe little girls, saying that she intended shopping a little in thecity herself that very afternoon.
"Thank you," said her brother, looking very much pleased; "thatobviates the difficulty entirely. Elsie, you may go, if Mrs. Howardgives Caroline permission."
"Thank you, dear papa, thank you so very much," she answeredgratefully, and then ran away to tell Carry of her success, and secureMrs. Howard's permission, which was easily obtained.
Elsie had intended buying some little present for each of thehouse-servants, and had taken a great deal of pleasure in making out alist of such articles as she thought would be suitable; but, onexamining her purse, she found to her dismay that she had already spentso much on the miniature, and various gifts intended for other membersof the family, that there was very little left; and it was with a verysober, almost sorrowful face, that she came down to take her place inthe carriage; it brightened instantly, though, as she caught sight ofher father waiting to see her off.
"All ready, my darling?" he said, holding out his hand; "I think youwill have a pleasant ride."
"Ah! yes, if you were only going too, papa," she answered regretfully.
"Quite impossible, my pet; but here is something to help you in yourshopping; use it wisely;" and he put a twenty-dollar gold piece in herhand.
"Oh, thank you, papa! how good and kind you are to me!" she exclaimed,her whole face lighting up with pleasure; "now I can buy some things Iwanted to get for mammy and the rest. But how could you know I wantedmore money?"
He only smiled, lifted her up in his arms, and kissed her fondly; then,placing her in the carriage, said to the coachman, "Drive carefully,Ajax; you are carrying my greatest treasure."
"Nebber fear, marster; dese ole horses nebber tink ob running away,"replied the negro, with a bow and a grin, as he touched his horses withthe whip, and drove off.
It was growing quite dark when the carriage again drove up the avenue;and Mr. Horace Dinsmore, who was beginning to feel a little anxious,came out to receive them, and ask what had detained them so long.
"Long!" said Adelaide, in a tone of surprise, "you gentlemen reallyhave no idea what an undertaking it is to shop. Why, I thought we gotthrough in a wonderfully short time."
"O papa, I have bought such quantities of nice things," cried Elsie,springing into his arms.
"Such as tobacco pipes, red flannel, et cetera," remarked Adelaide,laughing.
"Indeed, Miss Adelaide!" exclaimed Carry, somewhat indignantly, "youforget the----"
But Elsie's little hand was suddenly placed over her mouth, and Carrylaughed pleasantly, saying, "Ah! I forgot, I mustn't tell."
"Papa, papa," cried Elsie, catching hold of his hand, "do come with meto my room, and let me show you my purchases."
"I will, darling," he answered, pinching her cheek, "Here, Bill"--to aservant--"carry these bundles to Miss Elsie's room."
Then, picking her up, he tossed her over his shoulder, and carried herup-stairs as easily as though she had been a baby, she clinging to himand laughing merrily.
"Why, papa, how strong you are," she said, as he set her down. "Ibelieve you can carry me as easily as I can my doll."
"To be sure; you are my doll," said he, "and a very light burden for aman of my size and strength. But here come the bundles! what a number!no wonder you were late in getting home."
"Oh! yes, papa see! I want to show you!" and catching up one of them,she hastily tore it open, displaying a very gay handkerchief. "This isa turban for Aunt Phillis; and this is a pound of tobacco for old UncleJack, and a nice pipe, too. Look, mammy! won't he be pleased? Andhere's some flannel for poor old Aunt Dinah, who has the rheumatism;and that--oh! no, no, mammy! don't you open that! It's a nice shawl forher, papa," she whispered in his ear.
"Ah!" he said, smiling; "and which is my present? You had better pointit out, lest I should stumble upon it and learn the secret too soon."
"There is none here for you, sir," she replied, looking up into hisface with an arch smile. "I would give you the bundle you carriedup-stairs, just now, but I'm afraid you would say that was not mine togive, because it belongs to you already."
"Indeed it does, and I feel richer in that possession than all the goldof California could make me," he said, pressing her to his heart.
She looked surpassingly lovely at that moment, her cheeks burning, andher eyes sparkling with excitement; the dark, fur-trimmed pelisse, andthe velvet hat and plumes, setting off to advantage the whiteness ofher pure complexion and the glossy ringlets falling in rich masses onher shoulders.
"My own papa! I'm so glad I do belong to you," she said, throwing herarms around his neck, and laying her cheek to his for an instant. Thenspringing away, she added: "But I must show you the rest of the things;there are a good many more."
And she went on opening bundle after bundle, displaying their contents,and telling him for whom she intended them, until at last they had allbeen examined, and then she said, a little wearily, "Now, mammy, pleaseput them all away until to-morrow. But first take off my things and getme ready to go downstairs."
"No, daughter," Mr. Dinsmore said in a gentle but firm tone; "you arenot ready to have them put away until the price of each has been setdown in your book."
"Oh! papa," she pleaded, "won't to-morrow do? I'm tired now, and isn'tit almost tea-time?"
"No; never put off till to-morrow what may as well be done to-day.There is nearly an hour yet before tea, and I do not think it needfatigue you much."
Elsie's face clouded, and the slightest approach to a pout might havebeen perceived.
"I hope my little girl is not going to be naughty," he said, verygravely. r />
Her face brightened in an instant. "No, papa," she answered cheerfully,"I will be good, and do whatever you bid me."
"That is my own darling," said he, "and I will help you, and it willnot take long."
He opened her writing-desk as he spoke, and took out her account-book.
"Oh! papa," she cried in a startled tone, springing forward and takinghold of his hand, "please, please don't look! you know you said I neednot show you until after Christmas."
"No, I will not," he replied, smiling at her eagerness; "you shall putdown the items in the book, while I write the labels, and Aunt Chloepins them on. Will that do?"
"Oh! that's a nice plan, papa," she said gayly, as she threw off herhat and pelisse, and seating herself before the desk, took out her penand ink.
Chloe put the hat and pelisse carefully away, brought a comb and brush,and smoothed her nursling's hair, and then began her share of thebusiness on hand.
Half an hour's work finished it all, and Elsie wiped her pen, and laidit away, saying joyously, "Oh! I'm so glad it is all done."
"Papa knew best, after all, did he not?" asked her father, drawing herto him, and patting her cheek.
"Yes, papa," she said softly; "you always know best, and I am verysorry I was naughty."
He answered with a kiss, and, taking her hand, led her down to thedrawing-room.
After tea the young people adjourned to the nursery, where they amusedthemselves with a variety of innocent games. Quite early in theevening, and greatly to Elsie's delight, her father joined them; and,though some of the young strangers were at first rather shy of him,they soon found that he could enter heartily into their sports, andbefore the time came to separate for the night, he had made himselfvery popular with nearly all.
Time flew fast, and Elsie was very much surprised when the clock struckeight. Half-past was her bedtime; and, as she now and then glanced upat the dial-plate, she thought the hands had never moved so fast. As itstruck the half hour she drew near her father's side.
"Papa," she asked, "is the clock right?"
"Yes, my dear, it is," he replied, comparing it with his watch.
"And must I go to bed now?" she asked, half hoping for permission tostay up a little longer.
"Yes, daughter; keep to rules."
Elsie looked disappointed, and several little voices urged, "Oh, do lether stay up another hour, or at least till nine o'clock."
"No; I cannot often allow a departure from rules," he said kindly, butfirmly; "and to-morrow night Elsie will find it harder to go to bed inseason than to-night. Bid your little friends good-night, my dear, andgo at once."
Elsie obeyed, readily and cheerfully. "You, too, papa," she said,coming to him last.
"No, darling," he answered, laying his hand caressingly on her head,and smiling approvingly on her; "I will come for my good-night kissbefore you are asleep."
Elsie looked very glad, and went away feeling herself the happiestlittle girl in the land, in spite of the annoyance of being forced toleave the merry group in the nursery. She was just ready for bed whenher papa came in, and, taking her in his arms, folded her to his heart,saying, "My own darling! my good, obedient little daughter!"
"Dear papa, I love you so much!" she replied, twining her arms aroundhis neck, "I love you all the better for never letting me have my ownway, but always making me obey and keep to rules."
"I don't doubt it, daughter," he said, "for I have often noticed thatspoiled, petted children, usually have very little love for theirparents, or indeed for any one but themselves. But I must put you inyour bed, or you will be in danger of taking cold."
He laid her down, tucked the clothes snugly about her, and pressing onemore kiss on the round, rosy cheek, left her to her slumbers.