III.
_NELLIE A HOUSEKEEPER._
MR. RANSOM acted wisely in leaving what he had said to work its owneffect on his little girl. Nellie was such a sensible, thoughtfulchild--almost too thoughtful and quiet for her years--that she wassure to think it all over, to consider what was right, and, whenshe had decided that, to resolve to do what she believed to be herduty. She was honest with herself too, not making excuses for her ownshortcomings when she saw them, or trying to believe that what shewished was the right thing to do because she wished it. If she sawclearly that it was wrong, wrong for _her_, a temptation and a snare,though it might be right in other circumstances, she would be sure toput it from her, hard as it might be.
And her father thought that it would be easier for her to resolve ofher own accord to give up some of the tasks on which her heart was setthan it would be to do so at his command. It is generally pleasanter tobelieve that we are guided by our own will and resolution than by thatof another.
Mr. Ransom was right. Nellie did indeed think over in all seriousnessthe conversation she had had with her father; even more, she wentback in her own mind over past weeks and months, and acknowledged toherself that for some time she had found every thing but study irksomeand troublesome to her, that lately even this had lost its pleasure,though she would persevere and felt irritated and troubled at theleast interruption to the tasks she set herself. She was forced to seethat she did not feel "like herself" either in mind or body; thatafter hours of study her head ached and throbbed, she was weary andcross, finding every thing a burden, and having no wish or energy forplay or exercise. It had been especially so for the last two or threedays, ever since she had worked so hard over her "Bible subjects;" andhonestly, though unwillingly, with many tears, Nellie made up her mindto do what she saw to be right, and give up at least a portion of thetasks she had undertaken.
"For I do see I'm growing cross and hateful," she said to herself. "Ican't bear to have the children come and ask me to play, or to do anylittle favor for them, and I don't like it very much whenever mammawants me to help her. I know I _felt_ provoked when she asked me toroll the baby's wagon this morning, though I don't think I let her seeit. I believe I don't feel so happy or so good, or even so well, asI used to do, and I don't know--I'm afraid it is so much reading andstudying makes it so. I think I'll have to make up my mind not to knowas much, or to be so quick and clever as Maggie, and Gracie, and someof the others."
But this was a hard resolve for Nellie, and she fell to sleep in nohappy frame of mind.
She slept later than usual the next morning, for her mother,remembering how dull and languid she had seemed, would not let herbe awakened; and Mrs. Ransom and the children were just finishingbreakfast when she came downstairs.
"Why, where's papa?" asked Nellie, seeing his place was vacant.
"A telegram came this morning which called him to town veryunexpectedly," said her mother. "He went in and kissed you as you layasleep, and left his love and good-by for you, and told me to tell youhe hoped to see his own old Nellie back when he comes home in a week'stime."
Nellie knew what that meant, but she was sorry that papa hadgone,--sorry, not only that he should have been obliged to leave homesooner than he had expected, but also that she could not now talk morewith him on the matter of her studies.
However, there was her dear mother: she would listen to her, and giveher all the advice and help she needed.
The children asked permission to leave the table, which was granted;but Mrs. Ransom herself sat still while Nellie took her breakfast,talking cheerily to her, and trying to tempt her very indifferentappetite by offering a little bit of this or that.
"Nellie," said her mother, when they were alone, "I was thinking ofasking you how you would like to be my little housekeeper."
"Your housekeeper, mamma!" echoed Nellie, pausing in the act ofbuttering her biscuit, and looking at her mother with surprise.
"Yes," answered Mrs. Ransom, "or rather suppose we should behousekeeper together, you being feet and hands, and I being the head.Is that a fair division, think you?"
Nellie colored and laughed.
"Why, yes; but do you think I could, mamma?"
"I think there are a hundred little things you might do if you wouldlike," said her mother. "I'll give you the keys, and you may makethe store-room and sideboard your especial charge, keeping them inperfect order, giving out what is needed, seeing that the sugar-bowls,tea-caddy, cracker-basket, and so forth, are kept full, taking myorders to the cook, and other little things which will be a great helpto me, and which will give you some useful lessons. What do you say?"
"Why, I'd like it ever so much, mamma, but"--
"Well, but what?" said Mrs. Ransom, as Nellie hesitated.
"Mamma, I think I'm rather stupid about such things, and I might makeyou trouble sometimes."
"Not _stupid_, Nellie; and, if you are willing to learn, I shall bewilling to put up with a little trouble now and then, and to excusemistakes. If you undertake it, I believe you will be faithful andpainstaking, as you are about every thing, and that you can really be agreat help to me. Will you try it for a week, and see how you like it?By the time that papa comes home again, you will be accustomed to it,and he will not be apt to suffer from the little slips you may make atfirst."
"Yes, indeed, mamma; and, if you are not tired of such a funnyhousekeeper as I shall make, I don't think I shall be tired of doingit. Mamma, _do_ you think I could learn to make some cake? thoseginger-snaps papa likes?"
"I do not doubt it," said Mrs. Ransom, smiling back into the face thatwas eager and bright enough now.
"Mamma," said Nellie, "did papa tell you what we were talking aboutlast evening while we were out walking?"
"Yes, dear, he did; and he said he thought our Nellie had sense enoughto see what she ought to do, and courage and strength of mind enough tomake any sacrifice she felt to be right."
"Courage, mamma?"
"Yes, dear, it often needs much courage--what is called moralcourage--to resolve to do what we feel to be a duty, especially if itcalls for any sacrifice of our pride or vanity, or of the desire toappear well in the eyes of others."
Nellie knew that she was thinking of such a sacrifice, and it wasrather a consolation to have mamma speaking of it in this way.
"Moral courage" sounded very fine.
But she sat silent, slowly eating her omelet and biscuit, and feelingthat she had not quite made up her mind how far the sacrifice must go,or how much of her work she should decide to give up. But one thing shehad fully resolved,--that her studies should no longer interfere withwhat papa called "nearer and plainer duties," or cause needless injuryto her health and temper. She would help mamma, play with the children,walk and run as other little girls of her age did, and try hard to putfrom her all rebellious and impatient feelings at not being quite soclever as some among her schoolmates.
"Mamma," she said, after another pause, during which she had finishedher breakfast,--"mamma, how much do you think it would be wise for meto study every day?"
"Well," said Mrs. Ransom slowly, and as if she knew that she was aboutto give advice that would not be quite agreeable, "if you wish to knowwhat I think _wisest_, I should say give up study altogether for atleast a fortnight."
"For a whole fortnight, two weeks, mamma?" echoed Nellie, in dismay.She had expected that her mother would say she might well study twohours a day, hoped for three, wished that it might be four, and hadresolved to be content with the allowance proposed; but to give up herbooks altogether for two weeks! "It seems such a waste of time for sucha great girl as me, mamma," she added.
"Well, my great girl of ten years, suppose we say one week then," saidMrs. Ransom playfully. "Keep on with your practising as usual, and withyour half-hour of sewing these with your new housekeeping duties willtake up a good part of the morning without much 'waste of time,' Ithink; the rest of the day I would give entirely to play and amusement.If at the end of a week we do not find
that you are feeling better andhappier"--
"And not so cross," put in Nellie, with rather a shamefaced smile.
Her mother smiled, too, and took up her speech. "Then we will agreethat my plan was not needful, and that all this constant poring overbooks does not hurt your health, your temper, or your mind."
"Yes, mamma," said Nellie, with a sigh she could not suppress, thoughshe did try to speak cheerfully. Then she added, "O mamma, I should solike to be a very clever, bright girl, and to know a great deal!"
"A very good thing, Nellie, but not the first of all things, mydaughter," said Mrs. Ransom, putting her arm about the waist of herlittle girl, who had risen and come over to her side.
"No, mamma," said Nellie softly, "and you think I have made it thefirst of all things lately, do you not?"
Before Mrs. Ransom could answer, sounds of woe came from the piazzawithout, Daisy's voice raised in trouble once more.
Tears and smiles both lay near the surface with Daisy, and had theirway by turns. One moment she would be in the depth of despair, the nextdimpling all over with laughter and frolic; so that Nellie did not fearany very serious disaster when she ran to see what the matter was.
The great misery of Daisy's life was this,--that people were alwaystaking her for a boy, a mistake which she considered both unnatural andinsulting, and which she always resented with all her little might.
Nellie found her sitting at the head of the piazza steps, cryingaloud, with her straw hat pressed over her face by both hands.
"What's the matter, Daisy?" asked her sister.
"Oh! such a wicked butcher-man came to my house," answered Daisy, insmothered tones from beneath her hat.
"What did he do? What makes him wicked?" asked Nellie.
"He sweared at me," moaned Daisy; "oh! he sweared dreadful at me."
"Did he?" said Nellie, much shocked.
"Yes," said Daisy, removing the hat so far that she was able to peepout with one eye at her sister, "he did. He called me 'Bub,' and I'mnot a bub, now."
Nellie was far from wishing to wound Daisy's feelings afresh; but thismild specimen of _swearing_ struck her as so intensely funny that shecould not keep back a peal of laughter,--a peal so merry and heartythat it rejoiced her mother's heart, who had not heard Nellie laughlike that for several weeks.
Daisy's tears redoubled at this. She had expected sympathy andindignation from Nellie, and here she was actually laughing.
"You oughtn't to laugh," she said resentfully; "it is very naughty toswear bad names at little girls, and I shan't eat the meat that badbutcher-man brought."
Nellie sat down beside the insulted little one, and, smothering herlaughter, said coaxingly,--
"I wouldn't mind that, Daisy. Here, dry your eyes."
"Yes, you would," sobbed Daisy, taking down the hat, but rejecting thepocket handkerchief her sister offered; "I have a potterhancher of myown in my pottet;" and she pulled out the ten-inch square article inquestion, and mournfully obeyed Nellie's directions.
"He called me a fellow too, and he ought to see I don't wear boys'clothes," she added.
"How did he come to be talking to you?" asked Nellie, trying to keep agrave face. "What were you doing?"
"I was very good and nice, just sitting on the grass, and making awreaf of some clovers Carrie gave me," explained Daisy, piteously, "andhe brought the meat in, and said, 'Good-morning, bub; you're a nicelittle fellow!' and I'm not, now."
"Here he comes again," said Nellie, as a jolly, good-natured-lookingbutcher's boy came around from the other side of the house.
"I shan't let him see me," cried Daisy, and, scrambling to her feet,she rushed into the house before the disturber of her peace came nearher again.
A moment later Nellie heard her rippling laugh over some trifle whichhad taken her attention, and she knew that the April shower was over,and sunshine restored.
This little incident had so diverted Nellie's thoughts, and amused herso much, that for the time she forgot the subject of the conversationwith her mother, which had been so abruptly broken off; and when shereturned to her, she laughed merrily again as she related the cause ofDaisy's trouble, and her indignation at having been taken for a boy.
Mrs. Ransom did not return to it. She thought that enough had beensaid, and she agreed with her husband in thinking that Nellie wouldfeel a certain satisfaction in believing she exercised her own will andjudgment in the matter.
"Here are the keys, dear," she said, when she and Nellie had laughedover Daisy's tribulations; "and it is time Catherine had her orders forthe day. Go first to the kitchen and tell her"--and here Mrs. Ransomgave Nellie the necessary directions, which she in her turn was torepeat to the cook. Then she was to ask the woman what was needed fromthe store-room, and to give out such things.
"What's Nellie going to do?" asked Carrie, who had come in, and stoodlistening while her mother gave Nellie her directions.
"I'm going to be mamma's housekeeper," said Nellie, feeling at least ahead taller with the importance of all this responsibility.
"Oh!" said Carrie, looking at her with admiration, and quite as muchimpressed as she was expected to be.
"You can come with me, and see me, if you want to," said Nellie.
"And can I help her, mamma?" asked Carrie.
"Yes, if Nellie is willing, and can find any thing for you to do,"answered Mrs. Ransom.
Thoroughly interested now in her new undertaking, Nellie had for thetime quite forgotten lessons, "Bible subjects," and other tasks, tillCarrie said,--
"What are you going to do, Nellie, when you have finished keepinghouse?"
"I think it will take me a good while to do all the housekeeping,"replied Nellie. "When that is finished, I will see. Oh! I'll go down tothe beach with you, Carrie, if mamma says we may."
Carrie looked very much pleased.
"Then you're not going back to that old Bible lesson this morning?" sheasked.
"Why, Carrie! what a way to speak of the Bible!"
"Oh!" said Carrie, rather abashed, "but I didn't mean the Bible wasold, Nellie; only the long, long lessons you have been studying out ofit are so tiresome, and make you so busy."
Nellie understood by this how much Carrie had missed her company sinceshe had been so taken up with her self-chosen task; and again she feltthat she had been rather selfish in letting it occupy so much of hertime.
Here Daisy met them, and, asking where they were going, was toldof Nellie's new dignity. Of course she wanted to "help" too; and,permission being given, she marched first into the kitchen, andinformed the cook,--
"Me and Carrie and Nellie are going to keep the house."
Nellie gave her orders with great correctness, Daisy repeating themafter her, in order that the cook might be sure to make no mistake,except when Nellie told what was to be done with the meat, when shedeclared she should not "talk about the meat that wicked butcherbrought," and turned her back upon it with an air of offended dignity.
Her resolution held good throughout the day, for at dinner shepositively refused to eat of either the meat or poultry brought bythe "swearing butcher-man," and even held out against the charms of achicken's wish-bone which mamma offered.
Next to the store-room, where the two younger children looked onwith admiring approbation, while Nellie gave out to the cook sucharticles as were needed for the day, and then saw that tea-canisters,sugar-bowls, cake-basket, &c., were all in proper order. The filling ofthe cake-basket and sugar-bowls was a particularly interesting process,especially when Nellie, following mamma's daily practice, bestowed"just one lump of sugar" on each of her little sisters, taking careto select the largest, and then sweetening her own labors with a likechosen morsel.
It was great fun also to ladle out rice, break the long sticks ofmacaroni, and, best of all, to weigh out the pound of raisins requiredfor the pudding.
Daisy, however, permitted herself some liberties under the new reignwhich she would not have ventured upon under her mother's rule; and,not co
nsidering herself obliged to obey Nellie, was decoyed awayby the cook under the pretence of shelling peas for dinner. Havingopened about five pods, little white teeth as well as her ten fingersassisting at the operation, and letting about every other pea rollaway, she concluded that she was tired of helping Catherine, and wentback to Nellie, who was fortunately by this time quite through with herarrangements in the store-room.
"Mamma," said Nellie, when she had returned to her mother and reportedhow successfully she had fulfilled all her orders,--"mamma, I do notthink the store-room is in very good order."
"I know it is not, dear," replied Mrs. Ransom, "and I have beenwishing to have it properly arranged, but have not really felt able toattend to it."
"Couldn't I do it, mamma?" asked Nellie, full of zeal in her newcharacter.
"It would be rather hard work for you; but some day next week we willgo there together and overlook things; after which I will have itdusted and scrubbed, and then you shall arrange it as you please. Thepeople who hired this house before we had it were not as neat as myNellie, I fear. But I am thankful to find that there are no mice about;I have not heard one since we have been here."
Mrs. Ransom's dread of a mouse was a matter of great wonder to herchildren, who could not imagine how she could be so afraid of such"cunning little things;" and, although she really did try to controlit, it had the mastery over her whenever she saw or heard one, and wasa source of great and constant discomfort to her.