CHAPTER XXII.
CHRISTMASTIDE.
Hal watched the hot-houses with strange delight. They seemed to him ona most magnificent scale. The boiler was put in, the pipes laid, theforce-pump and coal-bins arranged; then the stands of steps, risinghigher, the wide ledge by the window for small plants and slips,lattices for vines, hooks for hanging-baskets, and every thing incomplete order.
When Charlie rejoined Granny, Florence came back for a brief stay. Sheand Edmund went over to the cottage, and measured and consulted; andthe result was, that one morning it looked wonderfully as if some onewas moving in. Hal ran to inform them of their mistake.
The carpet-men said they had their orders, and wouldn't budge aninch. Down went carpets and oil-cloths. Such a hammering, andknocking-about, and unrolling! Kit stood it as long as he could: thenhe went out of doors, perched himself on a pile of stone, and played onhis beloved fiddle.
The next day there was another raid. This time it was furniture.Florence and Edmund soon made their appearance.
"Oh!" exclaimed Hal.
"It is to be our gift," began Edmund. "Florence wished it so much!She feels that she took her pleasure when you were all toiling andsuffering, and is better satisfied to make some amends. Besides, wehave an interest in Dot and grandmother."
"And I am only going to put in the principal things," explainedFlorence. "There are so many that you will prefer to select yourselves."
The parlor and library, or sitting-room, were carpeted alike. Thefurniture was in green, with here and there a bright article to relieveit; a pretty book-case and writing-table, a _console_ for Dot's smalltraps, easy-chairs in abundance, and every thing as pretty as it couldbe. The dining-room and kitchen were plain, but home-like, with anold-fashioned Boston rocker for Granny. But the three sleeping-rooms upstairs were perfect little gems,--Hal's in black-walnut, Granny's inquaint chestnut, and Dot's in pale green with a pretty green and whitecarpet to match.
"Why, I shall want them to come home right away!" exclaimed Hal. "OFlossy!"
"Dear, brave Hal! God has been good to us all. Only love me a little inreturn."
The last of August, Hal's household returned. He and Kit had providedfor them a gorgeous supper, with the best china, and a bouquet ateach plate. Granny could hardly believe her eyes or her senses. Dotand Charlie ran wild, and made themselves exclamation points in everydoorway.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!"
"And the surprise!"
"And so beautiful!"
"That I should ever live to see it!" said Granny.
They explored every nook and corner and closet.
"I like it so much," said old-fashioned little Dot, "because it isn'ttoo grand. For, after all, we are not rich. And it was so thoughtful ofFlorence to choose what was simply pretty instead of magnificent!"
"Look at the goblets," said Charlie with a solemn shake of the head."Dot, if any nice old gentleman comes along, be sure to give him adrink out of them, and put this K round where he can see it."
"The whole eighteen, I suppose, one after another," returned Dot drolly.
"I shall paint you some pictures," Charlie began presently; "and, Dot,when I get to earning money in good earnest, I'll buy a piano. I usedto think I did not care much about it, and I never _could_ learn; butsometimes, when Florence sits and plays like an angel, I can't helpcrying softly to myself, though you wouldn't believe I was such agoose. And, if you learn to play, it will be a great comfort to Hal."
"Yes," said Dot, crying out of pure sympathy.
They commenced housekeeping at once. Charlie was to remain with themuntil the term commenced.
"Isn't it a delight to have such splendid things to work with?"exclaimed Dot. "Why, Granny, don't you believe we have been spiritedaway to some enchanted castle?"
Granny laughed, and surely thought they had.
Hal, meanwhile, was stocking his green-houses. Loads of sand and loamhad to be brought; piles of compost and rubble standing convenient; andthe two boys worked like Trojans. And then the journeys to florists,that seemed to Hal like traversing realms of poesy and fragrance. Greatgeraniums that one could cut into slips, roses, heliotrope, heaths,violets, carnations, fuchsias; indeed, an endless mass of them. Hal'sheart was in his throat half the time with a suffocating sense ofbeauty.
It was such a pleasure to arrange them! He used to handle them as ifthey were the tenderest of babies. Watering and ventilation on so largea scale was quite new to him; and he went at his business with a littlefear and trembling, and devoted every spare moment to study.
Mr. Darol had paid the bills as they had been presented. One day Halasked to see them. The request was evaded for a while; but one evening,when he was dining with Mr. Darol, he insisted upon it.
"Very well," returned Mr. Darol smilingly. "Here they are: look themover and be satisfied. Very moderate, I think."
The hot-house had cost thirteen hundred dollars; soil, and variousincidentals, one hundred more; flowers, three hundred.
"Seventeen hundred dollars," said Hal in a grave and rather tremuloustone. "And seven thousand on the house."
"The mortgage is to remain any number of years, you know. Joehas arranged to pay part of the interest. And the conditions ofthese"--gathering them up, and turning toward Hal, who was leaningagainst the mantle, rather stupefied at such overwhelming indebtedness.
"Well?" he said with a gasp that made his voice quiver.
"This," and Mr. Darol laughed genially. Hal saw a blaze in the grate,and stood speechless.
"It is my gift to you. Not a very large business capital, to be sure;but you can add to it from time to time."
"O Mr. Darol!"
"My dear Hal, if you knew the pleasure it has been to me! I don't knowwhy I have taken such a fancy to you all, unless it is for the sake ofthe children I might have had; but that is an old dream, and the womanwho might have been their mother is in her grave. You deserve all this,and more."
The tears stood in Hal's eyes, and he could not trust his voice. Howdark every thing had looked only a little year ago! _Could_ he ever bethankful enough? And that it should all come through such a ridiculousthing as Charlie's running away!
"I am confident that you will prosper. And I expect you all to like mehugely, in return. When I take Dot and Charlie to operas, I shall lookto you to provide the flowers."
"A very small return," said Hal.
But he went home as if he had been a tuft of thistle-down on asummer-breeze. Ferry-boat and horse-car were absolutely glorified. Andwhen he reached the little cottage with lights in every window, and thedear ones awaiting him, he could only clasp his arms around them, andkiss them. But they knew the next morning what had flushed his face,and made his eyes so lustrous.
"Ah, I told you he was a prince!" declared Charlie in triumph.
And then Hal's work commenced in earnest. Every morning he spent inhis green-house, and began experiments of propagating, that were sointeresting to him. Kit assisted, and Dot ran in every hour or two, tosee how they prospered.
Kit had come across a German musician, hardly a square off, who wasgiving him lessons, and who used to wax very enthusiastic over him.There had been quite a discussion as to what should be done with him.
"Why, he must go to school," declared brother Edmund. "He's a merechild yet; but he has a wonderful talent for music, it must beadmitted."
"He might become an organist," said Florence. "That gives a man aposition." Somehow she did not take cordially to the violin.
Kit consented to go to school.
"But to give up my dear, darling old fiddle! It's mean, when the restof you have had just what you wanted,--been adopted, and gone tosea, and had green-houses, and all that!" said Kit, half-crying, andjumbling his sentences all together.
"You shall keep the fiddle," said Granny. "I like it."
Florence also proposed that Granny should have a servant. At thisGranny was dismayed.
"A servant! Why, do you suppose I am going to set up for a queen,beca
use Hal has his beautiful hot-house,--an old woman like me?"
"But Dot ought to go to school, and then it would be too much for you."
"I am going to study at home," returned Dot with much spirit. "Ihaven't any genius: so I shall keep house, and help Hal with hisflowers. And the work isn't any thing. A woman comes in to do thewashing and ironing."
"And Hal is handy as a girl. No: I'd rather stay as we are," Grannysaid, with more determination than she had shown in her whole life.
Florence had to leave them "as they were." The simple, homely duties ofevery-day life were not distasteful to them. If Granny could not havebeen useful, the charm would have gone out of life for her.
Joe was delighted with every thing, and told Granny that if he wasn'tso tall he should surely stand on his head, out of pure joy. He was tomake his head-quarters with them when he was at home.
Miss Charteris had been added to their circle of friends, and enjoyedthe quaint household exceedingly. Hal was an especial favorite withher, and she took a warm interest in his flowers.
In October, Hal began to have a little business. Baskets and standswere sent in to be arranged for winter; and now and then some onestrayed in, and bought a pot of something in bloom. He began to feelquite like a business-man. His five hundred dollars had served todefray incidental expenses, and put in coal and provisions for thewinter, leaving a little margin. If he could get his sales up toregular expenses, he thought he should be content for the present.
He took a trip to Madison one day. The cottage was nothing but a heapof crumbling boards. Had they ever lived there, and been so happy?
"It'll never be the same place again," said Granny, listening to thesummer's improvements. "I am glad we came away. I couldn't have seenthe old house torn down. Maybe it's the flowers here, and the children,that makes it seem like home to me; but most of all I think it must beyou, dear Hal. And so I'm satisfied, as the good Lord knows."
Her caps were a trifle more pretentious, and her gowns more in modernstyle; but she was Granny still, and not one of them would have had herchanged. When she sat in her rocking-chair, with her hands crossed inher lap, Hal thought her the prettiest thing in the house.
"Hooray!" exclaimed Kit, rushing home one evening out of breath, andcovered with snow. "What _do_ you think? Granny, you could never guess!"
"I never was good at guessing," returned Granny meekly.
"Something wonderful! Oh, a new fiddle!" said Dot.
"No: and Hal won't try. Well"--with a long breath--"I'm going--toplay--at a concert!"
"Oh!" the three exclaimed in a breath.
"And it's the oddest thing," began Kit, full of excitement. "You see,there's to be a concert given in New York, to help raise funds to givethe newsboys, and other homeless children, a great Christmas dinner.Mr. Kriessman has it in hand; and, because it's for boys, he wants meto play--all alone."
"O Kit! you can't," said Hal. "When you faced the audience, it wouldseem so strange, and you would lose your courage."
"No I wouldn't, either! I'd say to myself, 'Here's a dinner for ahungry boy,' and then I wouldn't mind the people. Mr. Kriessman is sureI can do it; and I've been practising all the evening. A real concert!Think of it. Oh, if Joe can only be here!"
Dot put her arms round his neck, and kissed him. Hal winked his eyeshard, remembering the old dreams in the garret.
He went to see Mr. Kriessman the next day.
"The boy is a genius, I tell you, Mr. Kenneth," said the enthusiasticprofessor. "He will be a great man,--you see, you see! He has the soul,the eyes, the touch. He fail!" and an expression of lofty scorn crossedthe fair, full face.
"But he has had so little practice"--
"It will all be right. You see, you see! Just leave him to me. And heis so little!"
Hal smiled. Kit did not bid fair to become the family giant, it wastrue.
Not a moment did the child lose. Dot declared that he could hardly eat.Charlie was in high delight when she heard of it; for Mr. Darol wasgoing to take her and Miss Charteris. Hal hardly knew whether he daredventure, or not.
But Joe did come just in the nick of time, and insisted that everybodyshould go, ordering a carriage, and bundling Dot and Granny into it;poor Granny being so confused that she could hardly make beginning orend of it. And, when they were seated in the great hall that was aslight as day, she glanced helplessly around to Joe.
"Never you mind, Granny! I'm not a bit afraid," he whispered. "He willfiddle with the best of them."
'The wonderful boy violinist,' it said on the programme. "If he shouldnot be so wonderful," thought Hal quietly, with a great fear in hissoul. He could not tell what should make him so nervous.
Mr. Darol came and spoke to them. "Isn't it odd?" he said with a laugh."Why, I never dreamed of it until Charlie told me! I wouldn't havemissed it for any thing."
The concert began. There was an orchestral overture, then a finequartet, a cornet solo, and so they went on. Hal followed the programmedown. Then he drew a long breath, and looked neither to the right northe left. That little chap perched up on the stage, Kit? making hisbow, and adjusting his violin, and--hark!
It was not the story of the child lost in the storm, but somethingequally pathetic. Mr. Kriessman had made a fortunate selection.Curiosity died out in the faces of the audience, and eagerness took itsplace. Ah, what soft, delicious strains! Was it the violin, or thesoul of the player? Not a faltering note, not a sign of fear; and Hallaughed softly to himself. On and on, now like the voice of a bird,then the rustle of leaves, the tinkle of waters, fainter, fainter, amere echo,--a bow, and he was gone.
There was a rapturous round of applause. It nearly subsided once, thenbegan so vehemently that it brought Kit out again. But this time he wasthe gayest little fiddler that ever played at an Irish fair. Peoplenodded and smiled to each other, and felt as if they must dance a jigin another moment.
Joe bent over to Granny.
"Isn't that gay?" he asked. "Kit has beaten the lot of us. Granny, ifyou are not proud of him, I'll take you straight home, and keep you onbread and water for a month."
Proud of him! Why, Granny sat there crying her old eyes out from purejoy. Her darling little Kit!
"Dot," exclaimed Mr. Darol as they were going out, "we shall hear ofyou as an actress next. I never knew of such wonderful people in mylife."
"Oh, it was magnificent!" said Charlie. "And the applause!"
"That I should have lived to see the day!"
"Why, Granny, it would have been very unkind of you if you had not,"declared Joe solemnly.
How they all reached home, they never exactly knew. They laughed andcried, and it was almost morning before they thought of going to bed.
But the notices next day were as good as a feast. There could be nodoubt now. Hal understood that from henceforth Kit and his fiddle wouldbe inseparable. It was "born in him," as Joe said. As for Kit, hehardly knew whether he were in the body, or out of the body.
Hal and Dot set about making up accounts the day before Christmas. Thethree-months' proceeds had been two hundred and sixty dollars; prettyfair for a beginning, and a whole green-house full of flowers cominginto bloom. He was on the high road to prosperity. So he fastened hisglasses, put on his coal, and arranged his heat cut-offs for the night,and came into the house. There were Dot and Kit and Charlie, and thesupper waiting.
"And there is the six-months' interest," said Hal. "Next year we canlet up a little on dear, generous Joe. And to-night is Christmas Eve."
Joe rushed in.
"What do you think, Granny? I've just come from Flossy's. They have abeautiful little boy named Hal Kenneth,--a real Christmas gift, and nomistake. Here's to your namesake, Hal; though, try his best, he cannever be half as good as you."
I do believe poor, foolish Hal had his eyes full of tears, thinkingof Flossy's great joy. But Charlie and Kit cheered in a tremendousfashion.
After the supper was cleared away, they sat in a little circle, andtalked. There always was so muc
h to say, and Joe liked nothing half sowell as to hear of every event that had transpired in his absence. Theyall kept such a warm interest in each other!
Somehow they strayed back to the last Christmas, and the "songs in thenight."
"Sing again," besought Granny.
Dot's birdlike voice was first to raise its clear notes. One hymn wasdearer than all the rest. The music quivered a little when they came tothis verse, as if tears and heart-throbs were not far off:--
"Wonderful night! Sweet be thy rest to the weary! Making the dull heart and dreary Laugh with a dream of delight. Wonderful, wonderful night!"
And then a tender silence fell over them. They clasped each other'shands softly, and the breaths had a strangled sound. Granny alive, Joeraised from the dead, Kit some day to be a famous musician!
Joe crept up to Granny, and kissed her wrinkled face. Somehow it seemedas if the furrows began to fill out.
"Oh," he said huskily, "there's nothing in the world so wonderful,nor so sweet, nor so precious as 'The Old Woman who lived in a Shoe!'When I think of her love, her patient toil, her many cares, and theuntiring devotion with which she has labored for us all, I feel that wecan never, never repay her. O Granny!"
"I've been glad to have you all, God knows. There wasn't one too many."
Not one of the loving arms that encircled her could have been spared.There she sat enthroned, a prouder woman to-night, poor old GrannyKenneth, than many a duchess in a blaze of diamonds. Fair Florence;laughing Joe, with his great, warm heart; sweet, tender Hal; racketingCharlie; Kit, with his scalp-lock waving in the breeze; and dear littleDot,--jewels enough for any woman, surely!
Ah, children! love her with the best there is in your fresh youngsouls. Make the paths smooth for her weary feet, remembering the yearsshe has trudged on the thorny highway of life for your sakes. When theeyes grow dim, bring the brightest in your lives to glorify her way.Cling to her, kiss warmth into the pale lips; for when she has gone toheaven it will seem all too little at the best. True, she will reap herreward there; but it is sweet to have a foretaste of it in your smiles,as well. Dear Granny, who has made toil heroic, and old age lovely, andout of whose simple, every-day existence have blossomed the roses thatstill render this old world bright and glorious,--Love, Labor, Faith!