XII.
_THE FAIR._
The next day was Saturday, when there was no school, so that Mrs.Howard was able to see Miss Ashton and tell her the sad story, quiteearly in the morning.
Miss Ashton was much grieved and surprised; for, as she told Mrs.Howard, although she had known that Gracie's high thoughts of herselfand belief that she was wiser and better than any of her companionsoften led her into exaggeration, yet she could not have believed hercapable of any thing that was really mean and dishonorable.
She was distressed, too, at the thought of the exposure andmortification which must follow; for it seemed necessary, for Nellie'ssake, that not only Grandmamma Howard, but the whole school shouldknow the truth. She and Mrs. Howard talked it all over for some time,but neither of the two ladies saw any way to avoid this disgracefor Gracie. They would willingly have spared her the punishment, ifpossible, for she had already suffered severely, and she seemed sotruly humble and repentant that her mother did not believe there wasmuch fear she would again fall into this sin.
Mrs. Howard had thought last night that perhaps she ought to depriveGracie of any share in the fair; but that must make her disgracevery well known, and now she hoped that there was no need of furtherpunishment to make her see and feel her great fault.
And now Grandmamma Howard must be seen and told the sad story. Mrs.Howard knew that she would be much distressed that her kind plan shouldturn out so badly. Neither Gracie's mamma nor Miss Ashton had quiteapproved of that plan; especially on Gracie's account, but they couldnot well say so and cross the good old lady.
It was as they had feared. Grandmamma was very much grieved anddisturbed to know that what she had intended to be a help and akindness, had only proved a source of trouble, and an encouragement toGracie's besetting sin.
There yet remained to Mrs. Howard the still more painful task oftelling Nellie how she had been wronged. She would have thought itright to make Gracie do this herself, had it not been that the childwas really ill that morning, and in no state for further excitement;and it was not just to Nellie to put off the confession any longer.
Nellie was filled with amazement. Much as she had wondered over theunfortunate spot upon the mat she supposed to be hers, she had neverdreamed of a thing like this, nor had she the least suspicion of thetruth. Indeed, how should she?
She was a quiet child, with a more wise and thoughtful little headthan those who did not know her well would have given her credit for;but words did not come to her very readily, and, after the firstsurprise was over, she only said to Mrs. Howard, with the tears in hereyes,--
"Please tell Gracie I am not angry with her, and hope she will befriends with me once more. Let's try not to think about it any morethan we can help; will you, Mrs. Howard?"
Generous, forgiving Nellie! How ashamed Gracie felt when her mothertold her this, and she contrasted Nellie's conduct with her own.
She lay upon her little bed that afternoon, feeling wretched bothin mind and body, though it was a relief to remember that she hadconfessed all to mamma, and that she had set her face toward the rightway once more, when Mrs. Howard came in bringing Nellie with her.
Poor Gracie gave a low sob, and covered her face with her hands inutter shame and distress, feeling as if she could not bear to haveNellie look at her.
But in a moment Nellie was beside her, saying,--
"Don't, Gracie; please don't. You needn't feel so very badly about itnow. I don't care much, and we'll make it all up."
"Oh, Nellie, Nellie! I don't deserve you to be so kind to me," sobbedGracie. "I was so hateful to you and so jealous, and it seemed as if Icould not bear to have you go before me in any thing. I know I've beenjust too hateful to you."
"Well, never mind now," said Nellie.
Mrs. Howard had gone out and left the two children together.
"I can't help minding," said Gracie; "and, only think, Nellie, allthe other girls in the school will have to know, and it will shame mealmost to death. I hope, I hope mamma will never make me go back toschool, and I mean to stay away from the fair, any way."
"That is what I came to see you about," said Nellie. "The girls neednot know, Gracie. You see my--your--the mat with the ink-spot on it isnearly finished now, so I have done about as much work on one as on theother. And I don't care so very much about having mine called the best,for the money will do Jessie and her grandfather just as much good, nomatter who earns it. So if each of us finishes the one she has now, itwill be all the same, and the rest of the children need never know it.I am sure, Gracie, I should feel just as you do, and never want to comeback to school again or see any of our class if I had done this, and Iknow just how badly you must feel. So I thought about it, and it seemedto me it would come right again if we just went on with the work as ifthis had not been found out; I mean if you had not told. I'd rather noone would know it but just those who know now. Don't you think we couldarrange it so, Gracie? Your mother gave me leave to tell you this, andsays she would be very glad for you if it can be done, and she thinksMiss Ashton will be willing."
To hear the earnest, wistful voice one might have supposed thatgenerous, great-hearted Nellie was pleading for some great boon forherself.
But she could not tell all that Gracie felt. No, indeed; she did notknow what coals of fire she was heaping on her head; how perfectlyhumbled and remorseful she felt as she remembered all the hard thoughtsshe had cherished toward her; the unkind words and unjust actions ofwhich she had been guilty; all forgotten now, it seemed, by Nellie, whowas only anxious to make the path of repentance as easy as possible toher, and to avoid all unnecessary shame and exposure to the one who hadso greatly injured her.
With many sobs and broken words she told Nellie all that was in herheart, beseeching her forgiveness, and thanking her over and over forher consideration and sweet thoughtfulness; not that she put it in justsuch words, but in those that were very simple and very touching toNellie.
So peace was made between them,--a peace that was sure to be lastingand true where there was such sincere repentance on one side, such goodwill and hearty forgiveness on the other.
Grandmamma Howard was only too glad on Gracie's account to acceptNellie's generous proposal.
Miss Ashton also agreed that the matter should go no further, and soit was arranged, and further disgrace to Gracie avoided, although theweight of shame and remorse was not readily lifted from her heart, andshe felt as if her schoolmates must know her secret and that she daredscarcely look them in the face.
They all wondered at the new humility and modesty which she now beganto show; but the change was an agreeable one, and drew forth no unkindremarks.
A prettier sight than Miss Ashton's garden and piazza on that lovelyJune afternoon when the long-talked-of fair took place, would have beenhard to find. Kind friends had decked the spot tastefully; flowerswere everywhere in abundance; the tables conveniently and becominglyarranged; and the display of articles upon them was not only tempting,but such as had been manufactured by the children did them wonderfulcredit. Flags, ribbons, wreaths, and festoons, all joined to make thescene gay; and in and out, among and below them flitted the white-robed"little sunbeams," who lent the fairest life and brightness to thescene.
"Sunbeams" they all were that day, indeed. No cloud appeared to darkentheir happiness, no ill-temper, jealousy, or desire to outvie oneanother was heard or seen. Even Gracie and Hattie, who were each ratheroppressed with the sense of past naughtiness, and the feeling of whatthe others would say and think if they knew all, could not but bebright and gay amid this pleasant companionship.
Gracie had told Hattie that she had confessed her sin to her mother,and the latter knew that some share of blame must have fallen to her;so, although she did not look upon it in as serious a light as Graciedid, she had an uncomfortable and conscious feeling. Miss Ashton hadtalked to her more seriously than she had ever done before, and hadalso informed her parents of what had taken place, telling them thatshe did not wish to disgrace
Hattie, and so, as it was near the closeof school, she would not ask them to remove her now; but that she couldnot take her back in the fall. Hattie's utter disregard of truth hadalready brought too much trouble into her little flock for her to riskany further mischief from that source.
Hattie's parents had been much mortified and displeased, and the childherself had been severely punished; but I doubt if the punishment hadbeen altogether just; for how was the child who saw equivocation anddeceit used at home as a means of family government when conveniencedemanded it, to learn the value of the jewel thus sullied, or to judgeof the line where it was believed that falsehood must stop and truthand uprightness begin?
As for generous Nellie, she seemed to have no recollection of what hadpassed, unless it was in the new and caressing tenderness of her mannertoward Gracie; not a patronizing manner, but one full of encouragementand helpfulness.
The other children wondered not only at Gracie's new gentleness andmodesty, but also at the sudden intimacy which seemed to have sprung upbetween these two.
"Maybe," said Lily privately, "it is because Gracie is learning tothink better of herself"--which was just the opposite from what Lilymeant--"and Nellie's trying to help her."
"Yes," said Maggie; "perhaps Gracie is learning it is 'never too lateto mend,' which would make her much more agreeable, and other peoplewould think more of her. I do think she is improved."
Maggie had yielded not alone to the persuasions of Miss Ashton, butalso to an earnest appeal from Gracie, and accepted once more thetitle of Queen. And very well she became it, standing in front of herthrone--which she could not be persuaded to occupy--within the prettybower into which one end of the piazza had been turned, according toher ideas. Bessie, Belle, and Lily were her "maids of honor," andhelped her to sell the bouquets and baskets of flowers with which shewas bountifully supplied; and they drove a thriving trade; for so manysweet smiles, bright looks, and winning words went with the flowersthat the stock within the "Queen's Bower" was much in demand. She hadher band of music too, for half a dozen canary-birds hung within andaround the bower, and, excited by the laughter and chatter about them,seemed to try which could sing the loudest and sweetest.
Jessie's parrot was on exhibition, lent by his present owner for theoccasion, down in the old summer-house at the end of the garden, whereJessie herself took the ten cents admission fee, and made him displayall his accomplishments.
And the Doll! She must have a capital letter to do justice to herperfections. Of all the dolls that ever were seen or heard or thoughtof, that doll surely took the lead. It would be of no use for me todescribe her or her toilet, for if you should ever see her, you wouldsurely tell me that I had not told one half.
It was nearly the hour at which the fair was "to begin," and thechildren were all gathered about the table on which she was displayed,when there came a ring at the front door-bell.
Away fluttered every little saleswoman to her appointed stand, hopingthat this might be the first customer.
And so it proved; for it was no less a person than old Mrs. Howard, whohad purposely timed her arrival so that she might be there before anyother person.
"Well, my dears," she said, looking round upon the smiling young facesabout her, "this is a pretty sight. And, industrious as I know you havebeen, and kind as your friends have been, I should hardly have thoughtit possible that you should have made such a fine show on your tables.But you know I have some especial business with you, and I have comeearly that we may have it over before the rush begins."
This was very encouraging. Mrs. Howard thought it probable they wouldhave "a rush" of customers, and who should know better than she?
"You remember I offered six prizes for different articles to be workedfor me," continued the old lady, "but there are only four finished,as you know. My little grand-daughter, Gracie, felt that she had notdisplayed a proper spirit about them, and she decided not to finishhers for the fair, but to leave it and complete it for me afterwards."
This had been Gracie's own proposal to her mother and grandmother,and they had allowed her to have her own way, thinking that thiswillingness to put herself behind the others, and to give up even theshow of strife with Nellie, told of a spirit of true repentance, asindeed it did. When the other children had asked with much surprisewhere her mat was, she had answered quietly that she could not finishit. This had not proved any loss to the fair, because the time shewould have devoted to the mat had been given to other articles.
"Here, then," continued Mrs. Howard, "are two toilet sets and two matsfor me to judge between. Of the latter, the one Nellie Ransom brings iscertainly the best in point of work; but it has unfortunately receiveda bad ink-stain. Now those of us who know Nellie are very sure thatthis has not come through any neglect or carelessness of her own, andsince she did not do it herself it seems hard that she should sufferfor it. I should be quite willing to overlook it, for this is reallythe best piece of work among the four; but I cannot do so unless theothers are willing. Those among you who think Nellie ought not to be aloser by this misfortune, raise your hands."
Instantly every little hand was raised, and if one were before anotherit was Gracie's.
"Very well; that is satisfactory," said Mrs. Howard. "Nellie, my dear,here are ten dollars for your mat, the first money taken in for yourfair. The second sum, I think, must go to Maggie's toilet set--ah!yes, Maggie's and Bessie's, I should have said," as she saw the lookwhich Maggie turned upon her sister, as if wishing that she should haveher full share of credit--"the third to Dora's mat, and the fourthto Hattie's toilet set. You are all satisfied, I trust, with thisarrangement."
There was a murmur of assent, and this part of the business was settled.
"And now," said Mrs. Howard, "I want to say that I think I made amistake in offering these rates of prices, and so exciting you tooutvie one another. I meant to give you a motive for trying to improveyourselves, but I believe it was not a good principle to set you thusone against the other, and I know that it has led to some hard feelingand unkindness. But that, I trust, is now all healed, and I shall takecare not to put such temptation in your way again."
The children all thought they knew what Mrs. Howard meant, and withtrue courteousness they all avoided looking at Gracie.
But this was as much as was ever known by any of them, save the twoor three who had been in the secret, of Gracie's temptation and fall.That she had been jealous and unkind to Nellie, they had all seen; thatshe had gone further and been led into deceit and meanness, they neverheard. Hattie, for her own sake, held her peace for once; and penitentGracie had not to face the scorn and wonder of all her schoolmates.
After this Mrs. Howard went about from table to table, purchasingnot only one article, but generally two or three, from each littlesaleswoman; but she said she would not remove them till the fair wasover, so that they might still add to the appearance of their tables.They were all marked SOLD in enormous, staring letters, that theremight be no possibility of mistake.
And now, customer after customer began to flock in, and among theearlier arrivals came Mr. Powers, who was immediately seized upon byBelle, and led to the table where the baby doll lay in her glory.
Now it had been announced that whoever offered the highest price forthis famous infant was to have her, and it was not to be told till theclose of the fair who had done this. The names of would-be purchasers,with the amount each offered, were written down by Miss Annie Stanton,who still held the doll in charge, lest too eager little hands shouldmar her beauties.
"Please offer a whole lot, papa; I do want her so," said Belle. "Isn'tshe lovely? Did you ever see such a doll?"
Mr. Powers expressed all the admiration he thought needful, whichdid not nearly satisfy Belle, who was only half consoled by what shethought a want of proper interest by Maggie's whispered assurance thatmen "never did appreciate dolls, and it was quite useless to expect itof them. It did not seem to be born in them."
However, Mr. Powers put down his nam
e and the sum he would give, whichlast remained for the present a secret between him and Miss AnnieStanton.
Mamie Stone was as eager about the doll as Belle, and her mamma wascalled upon also to offer a high price for the treasure.
But my "Sunbeam" would lengthen itself far beyond its sister rays ifI should tell you all that took place at the fair. Enough to say thatit was a great success, and that a sum was taken in that was morethan sufficient to purchase Jessie's parrot back and to provide acomfortable home for herself and her grandfather for at least a year tocome. That is, with what the little girl might hope to make herself bythe further sale of her wares.
Evening came, bringing with it the great interest of the day, theannouncement of the munificent purchaser of the doll, and every littleheart beat high with hope that it might be some friend of her own, whowould bestow the coveted prize upon her.
It proved to be Grandmamma Howard.
Belle stood in an agony of expectation, squeezing her father's hand andscarcely breathing in the hush that came before the name was spoken;and when she heard "Mrs. Howard," a rush of color dyed her face, and alook of blank disappointment overspread it. She looked up and caughther father's gaze fixed anxiously upon her. She dashed her little handacross her eyes to scatter the tears that would well up, and, forcing asmile, said with a trembling lip, "Never mind, papa, you meant me tohave it, so it was just as good of you."
Her father stooped and kissed her, rejoicing in her sweetness anddetermined good temper. A little more than a year since, a tempestof tears and sobs would have broken from his over-indulged child;but now she had learned to control herself and to be contented andpleasant even when things did not go quite her own way. She was allsmiles and brightness again in a few minutes, nearly consoled for herdisappointment by her papa's caress and his few whispered words ofblessing.
All believed that Gracie or one of her little sisters would bepresented with the doll by her grandmother; and great, therefore, wasthe amazement of the circle of young friends when the next day it wasrumored, then made certain, that Mrs. Howard had sent it to NellieRansom.
Every child wondered "why," and so did more than one grown person; forthe Howards and the Ransoms were not, as Maggie said, "very intimate,and it was rather surprising Mrs. Howard should think of giving such apresent to Nellie. But she seems to have taken a great fancy to her,and Nellie quite deserves it," she added.
"I wonder if she gave it to her because of the mat," said Mamie Stone.
"I think it was because she is such a serious child," said Lily. "Ifind old people like _seriosity_, and Nellie has a great deal of it."
So they judged, these little ones. Nellie, gentle, unobtrusive "littlesunbeam" that she was, went on her quiet way, shedding light and warmthin many an unsuspected nook and corner, and bringing now and then somehidden seed to blossom in beauty and fragrance.
Only one of her schoolmates ever suspected that it was her thoughtfulcare for Gracie's character and feelings, her sweet forgiving spiritwhich led her to forget past injuries, which had won for her the giftof the much coveted doll, and given her a high place in the love andadmiration of the few who knew all the story.
Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Son.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Obvious printer errors have been corrected. Otherwise, the author'soriginal spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been left intact.
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