CHAPTER XVII.
Those were very bright faces which gathered about Mrs. Baker's breakfasttable one morning early in the next June.
"Father's coming home from the war to-day!" cried the childrenexultingly; "the fighting is all done and father's coming home to stay."
"Yes," returned their mother, tears of mingled joy and thankfulnessshining in her eyes. "Oh, how thankful I am that he has never beenwounded or taken prisoner--to starve and freeze to death, as so many ofour poor, dear soldiers did. Oh, children, let us thank God every day ofour lives for that!"
"Yes, yes, indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Ray. "You will all want to go and seethe train come in with the soldiers," she added, "but I'll stay at homeand get the best dinner for John that he ever had in his life."
"Thank you for that kind offer, mother, dear," said Mrs. Baker. "I'll bevery glad to go and take the children." Then turning to Ethel, "And whatare you going to do, young woman?" she asked in a sprightly tone.
"To go to the station to meet my cousins and the Keiths, if I can bespared," returned Ethel, with a smile that told of a light and happyheart.
"Yes, indeed, you are at liberty to go," was the kindly rejoinder; "Iwas sure you would wish to, and so have engaged your friend Carry Brownto take your place in the store here for to-day."
Ethel expressed her warm thanks, adding, "I will see that everythingabout the store is in perfect order before I go, and will show Carry theplaces of things likely to be called for."
"That will be well," returned Mrs. Baker, as they left the tabletogether.
Ethel was flitting about the store, dusting and putting things in place,humming a tune in the gladness of her heart at the thought that the warwas over and the poor, weary, homesick soldiers about to be restored totheir dear ones--particularly that her cousins George and Albert, wereexpected among the arrivals that day--when, glancing through the window,she saw the postman coming.
She ran to the door to meet him. He handed her a letter bearing her ownname in the well-known handwriting of her kind friend, Mrs. DonaldKeith. Ethel hastened to break the seal and read the enclosed note.
It was a brief one, telling her that they--Mr. and Mrs. Keith--would be inPhiladelphia that morning in time to meet the train from Washington onwhich their brother, Colonel Rupert Keith, and his wife and two nephews,Stuart Ormsby and Percy Landreth, were expected to arrive. They wouldprobably be at the depot for an hour or more before the Washington trainwould come in, and would be pleased to have Ethel spend that hour therewith them, if she could be spared from the store.
This was good news to Ethel, who had not for months seen Mrs. Keith, oneof the best and kindest friends she and her orphan brother and sistershad ever known.
She made haste with what must be done before leaving the store to MissBrown's care, then hurried to the depot, reaching it some minutes erethe train from New Jersey was due; so that she and Mrs. Keith had timefor a good long chat before the arrival of that from Washington,bringing their homeward bound soldier friends and relatives.
It came at last, there was a joyous meeting between the Keith brothersand other relatives, then the young men shook hands with Ethel,remembering having met her before on their way to the seat of war.
As they told each other in after years, Ethel and Percy Landreth eachnoted a change in the other; both had grown in stature, she nearingbeautiful womanhood, he thought, while the impression she gained of him,in the few minutes of their brief interview, was that he was becoming anoble-looking man, one of whom his parents, sisters, and other relativesmight well feel proud; and she rejoiced for him and them, that he hadescaped wounds and imprisonment in any one of those earthlyhells--Andersonville, Libby, Belleisle, Danville, Charleston,Salisbury--and other notorious rebel prison-pens.
They were all eager for home and could not be persuaded to miss thefirst train that would carry them on their westward way; therefore theinterview was brief.
Mr. and Mrs. Keith returned to their home by a train that left only afew minutes later, and Ethel, after a short but very joyful interviewwith her returned soldier cousins, went back to her work at the store.
She found the Baker family rejoicing over their returned soldier withjoy too deep, on the part of the older ones, for anything but tears.
Mr. Baker proved a pleasant-tempered, kindly-mannered man, and in no wayinterfered with Ethel's comfort as a member of the family. He was amechanic, and in a few days was working busily at his trade again, whilehis wife, with Ethel's assistance, still carried on her business.
Thus a year passed away during which Ethel gained in stature, inself-reliance, and knowledge of the work by which she hoped one day tosupport herself, and her brother and sisters. Her day-dreams wereconstantly of the little home she longed and hoped to provide for themand herself.
Her friend Carry Brown had similar aspirations, and finally they decidedto go into business together. Their means were not large, but their planwas to buy goods in small quantities and on short credit, paying forthem partly by sales, partly by doing a good deal of machine-sewing;Ethel also to continue her fine needlework as time and opportunity wereafforded.
They found a suitable place only a few squares distant from Mrs.Baker's, a small house with one room back of the store, which theydecided should be their parlor, three bedrooms in the second story withan attic over them, a basement kitchen, a cellar, and a small diningroom.
The house was in pretty good repair. They rented it, freshened theappearance of the rooms with some cheap but delicately tinted paper onthe walls, putting it on themselves to save expense, bought a scantsupply of cheap, second-hand furniture, oilcloths and carpets for thefloors, and the necessary utensils for the kitchen and dining room. Thehouse and its furnishings were indeed small and mean in comparison withthose of Ethel's uncles, yet she, her friend, brother, and sisters tookvery joyful possession of it one summer afternoon, feeling that at lastthey had a home of their own, and the next morning the store was openfor customers.
Blanche, now in her sixteenth year, undertook the housekeeping under herolder sister's direction and superintendence. They would decide thenight before what they might spend on their three meals and what theywanted that would come within their means, and the next morning wouldmake the purchases. Blanche liked doing the marketing, and she soonlearned to economize and to prepare dainty little dishes at smallexpense, developing quite a talent for cookery.
They could not afford to keep a servant, and most of the house-work aswell as the cooking fell to her share; Ethel and Carry devotingthemselves to making articles for sale in the store and waiting uponcustomers.
Harry and Nannette too made themselves very useful out of school hours,doing errands and helping with the work about the house.
But Ethel did more than anyone else, so anxious was she to succeed inpaying her way and making a living for them all. She was cheerful andhappy, but greatly overworked; always very glad of the Sabbath rest, asthey all were indeed, but eager to begin her labors again on Mondaymorning.
There was no one to watch over and warn her of the danger of overtaskingher strength. Her uncles were so displeased that she was so determinedto earn her own living and that of her younger brother and sisters, thatthey would not visit or assist her in any way, and naturally it was thesame with their wives and children.
They saw nothing of each other on the Sabbath, Ethel choosing to attenda nearer church of the same denomination. They were all regularattendants upon the church services and at Bible-class andSunday-school. Ethel and Blanche were in the same class and soon becamegreatly attached to their teacher, Miss Seldon, a lovely Christian womanwho was deeply interested in all her scholars, but especially in thislittle family of orphans, struggling so hard to make their own way inthe world. It soon became no unusual thing for her to call at theirhumble little home, invite their confidence, and, being a woman ofmeans, in the kindest and most delicate manner render them assistancewhen she discovered that they were in any financial difficulty. But ofthat E
thel, in her pride of independence, would accept very little.
Miss Seldon did not know how hard and constantly the young girl worked,therefore did not warn her, as she certainly would had she known.
So things went on for nearly a year--all working industriously, but Ethelbearing the heaviest end of the burden, both physical and mental; for itwas she who must plan how to meet all necessary payments. Often onwaking in the morning she found it required a great effort to rise,dress, and resume her daily duties, and at last there came a time whenthe effort to do so was utterly vain; she could scarcely stir, and torise from her couch was an impossibility.
She called to Blanche, and with her assistance finally succeeded ingetting into her clothes and crawling downstairs to the store. Herbreakfast was brought to her there, and having eaten it she took up herneedlework, but it required a great exertion of will-power to do eventhat, while to run the sewing-machine was impossible.
"Oh, what ails me? what shall I do?" she exclaimed at length, droppingthe work into her lap and clasping her hands together with a gesture ofdespair.
"You have been working too hard and constantly," said Carry, "and willjust have to take a rest."
"I can't; there's too much to do," groaned Ethel.
"You'll have to have a doctor," said Blanche, her eyes full of tears."But you must; you shall," in reply to Ethel's mournful, dissentingshake of the head. "I'll go this minute for that one round thecorner--Dr. Jones; I've heard people say he's a good one."
"We can't afford it," sighed Ethel.
"We certainly can't afford to let you die, or break down so that youcan't do anything; so I'm going for him now, this minute," returnedBlanche, snatching up her hat and putting it on as she went.
She was so fortunate as to find the doctor in and was back again in avery few minutes, bringing him with her. After examining andcross-questioning his patient, he pronounced the trouble utterexhaustion from overwork, and ordered entire rest for weeks to come. Shemust go at once to her bed and stay there, refraining from any exertionof mind or body.
He was very kind and sympathetic, half carried her up to her roomhimself, and saw her comfortably established there; then repeating hisorder to her to refrain from every kind of exertion of body or mind, andpromising to call again the following day, he left her.
"Is there much the matter, doctor?" asked Carry, as he passed throughthe store on his way out.
"She is utterly worn out," was the reply. "With absolute rest she may,and I hope will, recover completely in time; but it is very importantthat she should be relieved from all care and anxiety."
"I don't see how we are to manage that," sighed Carry to herself, as hepassed out, and she said the same thing to Blanche when she came intothe room a few moments later.
"I don't know either," returned Blanche, tears filling her eyes,"unless--unless my uncles will help us a little."
"I'd go to see them and tell them all about it, if I were you," saidCarry.
"To be sure; that's just what I will do," exclaimed Blanche,brightening. "I've got to do some errands out anyway, and, afterattending to them, I'll go right on to my uncles' store and tell--'mytale of woe,'" she concluded with a vain attempt at mirthfulness.
With that she ran up to her room and hastened to attire herself neatlyfor her errand. She had left Ethel in bed and alone, the physicianhaving enjoined it upon her to go to sleep as speedily and soundly aspossible.
Blanche found her uncles in their office. They looked somewhat surprisedat sight of her, but greeted her kindly, asking if she and her brotherand sisters were all well.
At that Blanche burst into tears and sobbed hysterically for a moment.
"What is it, dear child?" asked her Uncle Albert, taking her hand anddrawing her to a seat upon his knee. "I fear you are having a hard timeof it, trying to support yourselves. Is some one of you ill?"
"Yes, sir; Ethel--Ethel has--has broken down," sobbed the little girl."Oh, uncle, I'm so afraid she'll die! The doctor says she's all wornout; for she has just worked, and worked, and worked from early in themorning till late at night every day but Sunday; and she can't get outof her bed now--and--and oh, I don't know what we will do, for she's thehead one that directs all the rest of us."
"Ah, she should not be so wilful," remarked Mr. George Eldon grimly."However, you needn't fret, child; of course we, your uncles, will seethat you do not come to want; that you are provided with all necessarythings."
"Of course we will," said Uncle Albert, "and Ethel must do as the doctoradvises--not exert herself in the least till he pronounces her entirelyrecovered. I will go back with you, Blanche, see Ethel, and do what liesin my power to make her easy in body and mind. And you may feel surethat none of you will be allowed to want for anything your uncles cansupply."
"Yes, that will be well," said his brother, "and tell Ethel from me thatI shall be round to see her before long, probably either this evening orto-morrow morning. But she is not to stay awake expecting me," he addedwith a slight smile. "Come here, Blanche, and give your old uncle a kissbefore you go. There," putting an arm about her as she stood at hisside, and kissing her affectionately, "don't fret, little girl, whileyou have two uncles able and willing to provide you and the others withwhatever may be needful to make you comfortable."
At that moment his son George coming in exclaimed: "Why, is this you,Blanche? I have not seen you for months; and how you have grown, child!"and he bent down and kissed her cheek. "Why, you have been crying! Isanything wrong with you or the others?" he asked. "I hope not, I amsure. I was thinking only this morning that I must hunt you up and seehow you were getting along."
"Thank you, Cousin George," returned the little girl in tremulous tones;"we were doing right nicely till--till now that Ethel has broken downbecause--the doctor says it is because she's been working too constantlyand hard."
"Ah! why, she shouldn't do that when we're all able and willing to helpher. But don't fret, little coz; she'll probably be all right in a fewdays, and we'll tell her she must not work so hard any more."
"You're very kind, Cousin George," returned Blanche, smiling through hertears, "and so are my uncles, but we don't like to be a burden to themwhen they have so many children of their own to provide for, and it hasseemed very pleasant for us to be all together in a little home of ourown, even though it is very plain and humble."
"Well, yes, that's a very right sort of feeling," he said, "and makesone all the more willing to help you."
"There, that must do for the present, George," said his father. "You cancall round to see Ethel and the rest any time after business hours, butyour uncle is going to take Blanche home now and see what is needed.Good-by, child," taking her hand for a moment and giving her a partingcaress, "and don't ever be afraid to come to your Uncle George for helpwhen you are in trouble."
"Good-by and thank you, uncle. Good-by, Cousin George, and do come tosee us," she said, and slipping her hand into that of her Uncle Albert,they went out together.
Ethel had just waked from a comfortable nap when Blanche returnedbringing their Uncle Albert with her.
The interview was a pleasant one, for Mr. Eldon was very kind,sympathetic and appreciative of the efforts his young niece had putforth in order to earn a living for herself and her sisters and brother;he praised her for it, yet added: "But now you see, Ethel, that you aretoo young and feeble for so great an undertaking. However," noting withconcern the cloud of care and disappointment his words called to hertell-tale countenance, "we will not talk any more of that to-day. Try,my dear child, just to dismiss all vexing thoughts; trust to your unclesto ward off from you, your brother, and sisters, all danger from want ofmeans, and with a mind at ease get well and strong again as soon aspossible. When you have accomplished that it will be time enough tothink of those other matters."
"You are very, very kind, uncle," she returned with tears shining in hereyes. "I will try to put away anxious and vexing thoughts and trust inyou--but still more in the Lord--till I'm able to wo
rk again."
"Only till you are able to work again?" he said with a slight smile."Really I fear my niece Ethel has some obstinacy in her nature; yet thatis not altogether a bad thing; it is much to be preferred tovacillation, I think; yet young people should be willing to be guidedand controlled to some extent at least by older ones who have claims totheir respect and obedience."
"Yes, sir, I acknowledge that," she said with a slight sigh, "and Iintend to try to obey you and Uncle George in all that I can."
"That is right," he responded with a pleased look, "and remember youhave no need to be troubled with anxious cares, for your Uncle Georgeand I will see that you and the rest are provided with all necessarythings. Now I will leave you to take another nap. Good-by, dear child,"giving her a parting kiss; "I shall be in again in a day or two to seehow you are getting along. Now, Blanche," as he and his younger nieceleft the room together, "show me about the house and let me see howcomfortable you have managed to make yourselves."
Blanche obeyed very willingly, for she was right proud of Ethel'ssuccess in making so good and comfortable a home for them all, and UncleAlbert noted and commended all that was worthy of it, and made noremarks about the defects that he perceived. He said truly that hethought they had done wonders, while at the same time he mentallyresolved that if they persisted in staying there, many a comfort andconvenience should be added to their slender store.
In taking leave he put some money into Blanche's hand, bidding her seethat Ethel was well fed, for he was sure she needed nourishing food andrest more than anything else.
"Oh, uncle, thank you!" Blanche exclaimed, her eyes sparkling withdelight. "Yes, indeed, I'm sure she does, and I'll see that she has it."
At that moment Nannette came rushing in through the store, Harryfollowing.
"Oh, Uncle Albert!" they cried at sight of him, Nannette springingforward and holding up her face for a kiss, adding, "It's such a longwhile that I haven't seen you, and I'm so glad you've come to see us atlast."
"Ah, little one! I thought you had forgotten all about Uncle Albert," hereturned, giving the caress with hearty good will. "But how you havegrown! Harry also," shaking the boy's hand heartily. "Well, I am justgoing, but I hope we will see each other oftener in the future."
With that he was hastening toward the outer door, when seemingly struckby a second thought he turned toward them again, saying: "Harry, my boy,put down your satchel of books and come with me. I want you to act as myerrand boy for once in a way."
"Do you, uncle? Oh, I'd like to," cried the boy, hastening to obey.
"It strikes me that you are growing out of your clothes, laddie," hisuncle remarked, with a scrutinizing glance down at Harry as they walkedbriskly along the street.
"Yes, sir," Harry returned, blushing, "I can't help growing fast, and ofcourse Ethel can't make enough money to be always buying new clothes forme. But I can stand it," he added cheerfully, "and I hope one of thesedays I'll be able to make enough to dress myself and all my sisters,too."
"Great expectations, my boy," his uncle said with a smile; "but if youmake use of all your advantages I dare say they may be realized someday. And by the way, Harry, if you do make yourself fit for the place,I'll take you into the store one of these days, should you happen tofancy the business."
"Oh, uncle, will you?" cried the boy. "I'd like it so much, and I'll trymy very best to qualify myself for it."
While this conversation was going on between Mr. Eldon and Harry,Blanche was giving Nannette a detailed account of the doings of thatafternoon--her calling in of the doctor, the visit she had afterward paidto her uncles at their place of business and their Uncle Albert's callupon them, his talk with Ethel and then with herself as she conductedhim over the house. Nannette listened to it all with intense interest,then, after a moment's silence, burst out:
"It's just too bad that Uncle Albert doesn't know how Ethel and I werealways treated by his daughters--as if we weren't their equals; if he didhe wouldn't blame Ethel for trying to make a home for us and herself.But she couldn't tell him, of course."
"No, no, indeed! I'm sure neither Ethel nor any of the rest of us wouldbe willing to give him the pain of knowing about it; yet it does seemright hard that for that reason we can't show him the reasonableness ofour desire for a home of our very own."
"Yes," sighed Nannette, "it does seem hard, because it looks as if wewere ungrateful to him for all his kindness; but maybe some day they'llfeel sorry for treating us so and tell him of it themselves."
"I hope so," said Blanche, but her tone and the accompanying sigh seemedto indicate that the hope was but faint.
"I think I'll go up now to see Ethel," said Nannette. "I hope she'sfeeling better for uncle's visit."
"Yes, so do I," returned Blanche; "but I wouldn't go up just yet, shemay be asleep; besides it's time for us to be getting supper. You'll setthe table, won't you, while I make the toast and tea?"
"Yes, indeed," answered Nannette cheerfully, and they set to work.
Just as everything was ready for the meal, Harry came rushing in with ajoyful little shout.
"Hello, girls! look at me!" and he danced about the kitchen, clappinghis hands and acting like one fairly wild with delight. His sisterslooked up and uttered simultaneous exclamations of surprise and delight.
"O Harry, how fine--how nice you look! Why, where did you get that newsuit?"
"It's a present from Uncle Albert!" exclaimed the boy half breathlessly,"coat and pants; and aren't they splendid? And this isn't all; he'sgiven me a handsomer suit than this for Sunday. Oh, but he's a brick!now isn't he? And see what he's bought for Ethel and the rest of us," headded, stepping to the door and bringing in a good-sized basket. "Ididn't show it at first, because I wanted your undivided attention givento my clothes."
"Oh! oh! such elegant grapes and peaches and pears!" cried Nannette,peeping into the basket; "and--and what's that at the bottom?"
"Why, what do you think?" laughed Harry.
"We'll have to take it out of the basket and the paper it's wrapped in,before we can tell," replied Blanche, proceeding to lift out the fruitand place it carefully on a large dish. "Oh, birds picked and cleanedall ready for the gridiron! They must be for Ethel; and how good ofuncle to buy them for her."
"He said they were for all of us," returned Harry, "that there would beenough for each of us to have one, and leave one for Ethel's breakfast;and to-morrow he's going to send us some more or something else quite asgood."
"He's just as kind as he can be!" was Nannette's rejoinder, Blancheadding, "Indeed he is! I do love him and wish everybody had as good andkind an uncle."
"Some folks have fathers, and I suppose they do just as well as uncles,"laughed Harry.