Kitabı oku: «Mildred's New Daughter», sayfa 6

CHAPTER XII

It was some days before Ethel’s prayers seemed to be answered or the kind plans of Mrs. Keith and her mother could be carried out, for the children were forbidden to go over there. They were permitted to be out for only a short time each day for exercise, and were under strict orders to keep to the side of the parsonage grounds farthest from Mr. Keith’s, though no reason was assigned.

But at last, it having occurred to Mrs. Coote that the very fact of the children being so suddenly and entirely deprived of the privilege of paying frequent visits to the home of little Mary – their favorite resort – would tend to confirm any evil report that might have reached the Keiths, she gave them leave, one afternoon, to go over there for an hour or two; a permission of which they promptly availed themselves.

They received a hearty welcome from both, the ladies and little Mary, accompanied with kind enquiries in regard to their health and why they had stayed away so long.

“We weren’t allowed to come,” replied Harry; “they ordered us to stay over there in their yard ever since that horrid man gave me such an awful beating for just nothing at all ’cept that I couldn’t study; ’twas so hot, you know, and I wanted to be out-doors under the trees.”

“Ah, you were lazy, were you, Harry?” said Mrs. Weston, with difficulty repressing an inclination to smile.

“Yes, ma’am, I s’pose so,” returned the little lad, “but boys can’t help that sometimes when it’s warm and they’re tired of lessons and the birds are singing and the bees humming and all the little creatures out-doors having such a good time.”

“Ah, but the bees are gathering honey and the birds building their nests, hatching their eggs, or rearing their young; they catch worms and insects for them to eat, don’t you know? I think all the creatures God has made have something to do.”

“But they don’t work all the time, do they?” he queried. “And oughtn’t boys to have some time to play?”

“Oh, yes, indeed! some time – after the lessons have been learned and recited.”

“Well, I believe I’ll go and play now with the girls out there under the trees,” he said, and ran out whistling and laughing.

But Ethel lingered behind. She had brought no work with her, but seemed inclined to stay with the ladies.

“Sit down in this low rocking-chair, dear, and tell us what you have been doing with yourself for the last week or two, that you have not been in to see us,” said Mrs. Keith, in a kindly, caressing tone.

“Oh, thank you, ma’am, I have wanted to come over here so badly! But it is just as Harry said, we weren’t permitted,” said Ethel, taking the offered chair. “Mrs. Coote always ordered us to stay on the other side of the garden. She didn’t say why, and we are never allowed to ask that question.”

“And that has been ever since the day we heard such dreadful screams from Harry and saw people running to the parsonage door and windows to find out what ailed him,” said Mrs. Keith. “We were told that Mr. Coote was beating him, and it seems it was true?”

“Yes, ma’am,” replied Ethel, tears springing to her eyes. “Oh, I thought he was just killing him! and for next to nothing. He’s such a little fellow, and wanted to play when he was told to study his lesson. It was hot and close in the house, you know, and looked so pleasant out of doors!”

“Yes. The little fellow ought to have attended better to his work, it is true, and taken his recreation when school hours were over,” said Mrs. Keith, “but I cannot think he deserved treatment so severe as was given him, and if I were in your place, Ethel, I should write to my uncles and tell them all the facts. I think they would manage in some way to prevent a repetition of such severe punishment, especially for so slight an offence.”

“Yes, ma’am, I have been wanting to write to my uncles and tell them everything about it, but I couldn’t, because I have no pen, ink, or paper, no postage stamp, no money to buy anything with, and even if I had I wouldn’t be permitted to send a letter without Mr. or Mrs. Coote reading it first. And if they found I’d written all that to my uncles they’d whip me for doing it and tear my letter up instead of sending it, or maybe put it in the fire.”

“Well, dear child, if you want to write such a letter, I will furnish you now with all the materials needed, and mail it for you when it is done; because your uncles ought to be informed of the cruel treatment received by their nephew and nieces.” Mrs. Keith rose as she spoke, opened her writing desk, took from it pen, paper, and stamped envelope, and made Ethel seat herself at the table.

Ethel’s eyes sparkled. She took from her pocket the envelope containing the address of the Eldon brothers, and was about to seat herself before the desk; but a sudden thought seemed to strike her.

“Oh, Mrs. Keith,” she exclaimed, “I can’t write fast, and I’m ever so afraid that Mrs. Coote will call us to come home before I could possibly get the letter done!”

“Well, then, suppose I write it at your dictation, and you sign it when finished,” said the lady.

Ethel gave a joyful assent, dictated quite rapidly, telling of Harry’s sore punishment for his slight fault, and the severity to which they were all subjected more or less, and begging that they might be taken from the care of those who treated them so ill; adding that she was almost sure Harry would be a good boy if he were with someone who would be kind and patient with him; but Mr. Coote was never that.

“There, I believe that is all I need to say, Mrs. Keith,” concluded the little girl.

“Well, dear child,” said Mrs. Keith, “suppose you sit down here and add in your own handwriting that this has been, written at your dictation, and sign your name to it.”

Ethel did so, Mrs. Keith directed an envelope, enclosed the letter in it, and sent it by a trusty messenger directly to the post-office.

“Oh,” asked Ethel, “do you think, Mrs. Weston and Mrs. Keith, that my uncles can be angry with me for doing this?”

“No, dear, I am very sure they would never be willing to have their brother’s orphan children so ill treated,” said Mrs. Weston, “and I think they will not let many days pass before they come to see about it.”

Mrs. Keith expressed the same opinion and the little girl gave a sigh of relief; then her face clouded.

“But oh, I shall be so sorry to go away where I can never see you dear ladies!” she exclaimed, looking lovingly into their faces, while tears gathered in her eyes – “or little Mary again.”

“Don’t worry about that, dear child,” said Mrs. Keith kindly; “we are not so very far from Philadelphia, and I think your uncles will let you come sometimes to see us.”

That comforted Ethel and she grew quite cheerful.

The Eldon brothers entered their office together the next morning and as usual found a pile of letters, brought by the early mail, awaiting them.

“Ah, where does this come from, I wonder!” remarked Mr. George, taking up one directed in a delicate female hand.

He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. “Ah!” he exclaimed, “a post-script signed by our little niece Ethel. The letter was written by her dictation, she says, because she cannot write very fast, and every word in it is true. Dear, dear, what a wretch is that Coote!” Then he read the missive aloud to his brother.

“The scoundrel! the unfeeling monster!” exclaimed Mr. Albert in hot indignation. “He shall not be allowed another opportunity to abuse those poor little ones. I’ll go for them at once and have them safe in my own house before night. I shall take them out of his clutches without a moment’s delay.” He drew out his watch as he spoke, and glancing at it, “There is barely more than time for me to catch the first train,” he said, “but I need no preparation.”

“Except some money, I presume,” said his brother, handing him a roll of bank-bills which he had just taken from the safe.

“Ah, yes! that is very essential!” he returned, pocketing them and taking up his hat. “Good-by; you may look for my return this afternoon with the four children.”

“Yes, I hope so,” said his brother, “and in the meantime I shall do what I can to prepare our wives to receive the poor little things and give them a kind and cordial welcome.”

Ethel and her little brother and sisters had just finished their dinner when the door bell rang and their Uncle Albert’s voice was heard in the hall asking for them.

Ethel’s heart beat fast with mingled hope and fear. Had he come in response to her letter? and if so was it in anger toward her oppressors? Her eyes turned enquiringly upon the face of Mrs. Coote, where she read both surprise and suppressed wrath.

“Is this some of your doing?” she muttered menacingly; but before the frightened child could reply the door opened and Mr. Coote put in his head, saying:

“Mr. Eldon is here, asking to see the children. Let them come right in. No help for it, Sarah,” he added in a lower tone and with a look of suppressed anger and apprehension. “I can’t say yet whether it’s any tale-telling that’s brought him; but if that’s the case somebody’ll have to suffer for it.” And he too looked menacingly at poor trembling little Ethel.

“There then, go along all o’you,” said Mrs. Coote, who had just finished wiping their hands and faces, “and mind what you say and do, or you may get yourselves into trouble.”

Then Ethel spoke up bravely, “Don’t be afraid, Nan,” for the little one looked sadly frightened and ready to cry; “we needn’t any of us be afraid of our own dear kind Uncle Albert,” and with that they all hastened into his presence.

He received them most affectionately, hugging and kissing them in turn.

“I have come to take you home with me,” he said, “and we will start just as soon as you and your luggage can be got ready. You may go and pack all your belongings, for you shall never spend another night in this house.”

Then turning to Coote:

“And you, sir, may be thankful that after your brutal treatment of my little nephew I allow you to escape with no greater punishment than the loss of the salary that is due you for the care – such care as it has been too! of these poor little helpless children – my deceased brother’s orphans. My blood boils with indignation when I think of it, and I feel that it would be a satisfaction to thrash you within an inch of your life. But I have decided simply to take the children where it will be out of your power to torment and ill-use them as you have been doing, leaving your punishment to Him who has said: ‘Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless children. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath shall wax hot and I will kill you with the sword.’ I wonder you are not afraid of God’s judgments lighting upon you, for in His Word He is called the deliverer of the fatherless, their judge, their helper, and their father. And you who profess to be His minister ought to be well acquainted with His Word.”

“And you who are only a layman, should not dare to so accuse and abuse me – one of the clergy!” exclaimed Coote wrathfully, yet paling visibly as he spoke. “Pray, sir, what proof can you bring of your insulting accusations? which I declare to be false, for I have – according to promise – treated these ill-behaved, rebellious children with all the lenity and fatherly kindness I should had they been my own offspring.”

The children were still lingering in the room listening in round-eyed wonder to the strange and excited colloquy between the two men.

“Ethel, dear child,” said her uncle turning to her, “do not fear to speak out and tell me in the presence of this man how he has beaten and abused you all, particularly your brother.”

“You are going to take us away, uncle?” she asked, with a timid glance at the wrathful countenance of Coote.

“Yes, at once; so that he will never again have an opportunity to ill-use any one of you.”

“He has been very cruel to us, uncle,” Ethel said in reply; “to poor Harry most of all. I’m afraid he would have killed him that last time if the people hadn’t come to the doors and windows and made him stop. Poor Harry could hardly walk for days afterward,” she added with a burst of sobs and tears.

“Yes, uncle, he ’most killed me, and I’ve got some of the marks on me yet,” said Harry, pulling up his coat-sleeve and displaying some marks on his arm. “Guess he would have killed me if folks hadn’t come and stopped him. But I’m going to pay him back well when I’m a big man. I’ll just thrash him till he can’t stand.”

“I think you’ll forget about the smart and be willing to forgive him before that,” returned Mr. Eldon with a half smile, drawing the little fellow to him and smoothing his hair caressingly.

Coote was striding angrily to and fro across the floor, clenching his fists, grinding his teeth, and scowling at the little group as though fairly aching to knock them all down.

Mrs. Coote was not there; she had lingered but a moment in the hall, then, having heard the announcement of Mr. Eldon that he had come to take the children away, had hastened to their room and set to work with much energy and despatch to gather together and pack up all that belonged to them.

“There now, my dears, go and get ready for your journey,” said Mr. Eldon, releasing Harry from his embrace and smiling kindly upon all four. “Gather up all your possessions – at least all that you care to keep. No doubt Mrs. Coote will help you with the work, and as soon as you are ready we will start for the station.” Then noting the look of apprehension on each young face, he said: “Harry and Nannette may as well stay here with me; so many of you would only be in Mrs. Coote’s way, and their hats and coats can be put on here.”

“But they don’t look so very well dressed, uncle,” said Ethel hesitatingly; “and wouldn’t you like them to have their best clothes on?”

“Ah, yes; that is well thought of,” he replied. “Well, get them ready first and send them down here to me; then follow as soon as you and the trunk are ready.”

At that all four hurried obediently from the parlor and up to the room in which most of their time had been passed since their coming to the house. Mrs. Coote was there, down on her knees, packing their trunk with great expedition. She turned her head and looked grimly at them as they entered.

“Somebody’s been telling tales, I reckon,” she remarked gruffly. “Well, it’ll rid me of a good deal of care and bother. I shall breathe freer when you’re gone, for you’ve been no end of trouble.”

“I’m sorry if we have, ma’am,” said Ethel. “I’ve really tried to be good and helpful.”

“Yes, you have, Ethel, and I’ve been fonder of you than I ever thought to be of any child,” returned Mrs. Coote, her voice softening. “But I’ve got to give you up now, and there’s no use fretting. There, children, I’ve laid out all your best clothes on the bed. Get into them as fast as you can while I finish packing your trunk.”

They made haste to obey, Ethel and Blanche helping the younger two, and in a very short time they and their trunk were ready.

In the meanwhile Mr. Eldon had settled with Mr. Coote in full for all that was owing on the children’s account; a carriage was waiting at the gate, and the moment they appeared for their journey, he rose, told them to say good-by, then took his leave, leading Nannette, while the other three followed.

Mrs. Weston, Mrs. Keith, and little Mary were out on their own porch, watching with interest what was going on next door, fearing they were about to lose their little friends.

“Oh,” cried Blanche, “there are our friends who’ve been so good to us and whom we love dearly. Uncle Albert, mayn’t we run over and say good-by to them before we go?”

“Yes, certainly,” he said. “I will go too and thank them for helping Ethel to send me word that you were not well treated or happy here.”

It had been a hasty farewell, as it was near train time, and some tears were shed, but Mr. Eldon tried to comfort them all with the hope that the separation need not be for so very long, inviting the ladies and little Mary to visit his nephew and nieces at his house, and promising some day to bring Ethel, Blanche, Harry, and Nannette to see them.

CHAPTER XIII

For more than an hour after his brother’s departure Mr. George Eldon was very busy in his office, buying and selling; then came a lull for a short space, giving him time to think again of Ethel’s letter and what might be done to secure a kindly welcome for the little orphans at his own house and that of his brother.

“Albert will be back with them before night, and our wives ought to have warning that they are coming. It would be hardly fair to take them entirely by surprise. I promised my brother too, that I would endeavor to prepare them for the unexpected arrival,” he mused. “Well, I think I can spare the time now as easily as later.”

At that instant the door into the counting room opened and his eldest son came in.

“Ah, George,” said the father, “I was just about to call you. I am going up home to see your mother and aunt, to tell them of the contents of this letter,” handing Ethel’s missive to him as he spoke.

George took it, glanced rapidly over the contents, then turning to his father with flushing cheeks and flashing eyes, “The inhuman scoundrel!” he exclaimed, “You will take the poor little things away from him as soon as possible, I hope.”

“Yes; your Uncle Albert has gone for them and will doubtless have them here before night. I must go up home at once with the news, leaving matters here in your care until I get back.”

“Yes, sir, I think I can attend to them to your satisfaction,” returned the son. “And I hope you will find mother and Aunt Augusta entirely willing to take those poor little orphans in to share our homes. That Coote has always seemed to me a fawning hypocrite, and I am sure of it now.”

“I am of pretty much the same opinion, and he shall never again, with my consent, have an opportunity to abuse those little ones, or any child committed to my care.”

There had been some changes in Mr. George Eldon’s family in the last two years. A fall on the icy pavement one winter day had so injured Mrs. Eldon’s spine as to make her a cripple for life, never able to leave her room unless carried from it. At first she felt the trial well-nigh unendurable, but gradually she had grown submissive; gentle, patient, and resigned; thankful too for the blessings still hers – a good home, kind and affectionate husband, sons, and niece, a competent and efficient housekeeper and abundant means. Also that she still had the use of all her senses, her hands and eyes, so that she could read, sew, and crochet, making herself useful to her family and helpful to the needy.

In the family of Mr. Albert Eldon there had been little change except such as time inevitably brings to all; the boys and girls were growing up, Albert and Arabella were beginning to go into society, and the younger ones had a governess, Miss Annie West, who also gave lessons in music and the languages to Dorothy Dean, Mrs. George’s niece.

Mrs. Augusta still devoted much of her time to novel-reading and what she deemed the claims of society, yet paid a little more attention to those of household, husband, and children.

Mrs. George, in an easy-chair and propped up with cushions, was busily crocheting when she heard the front door open and shut, then her husband’s step on the stairs.

“Ah! I wonder what brings George home at this time of day?” was her mental exclamation, and as he entered by the open door of her room she turned toward him with a welcoming smile.

“A pleasant surprise, my dear!” she said.

“Yes, to me as well as yourself,” he said, returning the smile. “How are you now? Free from pain, I hope.”

“Yes, quite comfortable, thank you. Ah, I see you have a letter,” as he drew it from his pocket, at the same time taking possession of a chair close at her side.

“Yes, from my little niece Ethel.” And without further preface he began reading it aloud.

“Why, the poor little things!” she exclaimed when he had finished. “We must send for them, George, and provide them with a better home, either here or elsewhere. I never thought the Cootes could be so cruel.”

“No, nor I. The letter came this morning. My brother and I were roused to indignation by its perusal, and he has gone for the children – will have them here, I confidently expect, sometime this afternoon.”

“They shall be welcome,” she returned. “Fortunately Mrs. Wood is fond of children, and I dare say, being two years older, and having been so cowed and kept down, they will be much more easily managed than they were before.”

“Yes, I hope so; and you need have no trouble whatever with them; our good housekeeper and Dorothy can certainly do all that is needed. Will you order the necessary preparations, or shall I?”

“I do not want to take too much of your valuable time,” she replied, “so, if you like to trust Mrs. Wood and me, I will talk matters over with her and get her to do what is necessary.”

“Very well, then, I will go at once to Augusta with the news, that she, too, may have time for needed preparations.”

He found Augusta in her dressing room, the older three of her daughters and Dorothy Dean engaged in examining fashion plates and discussing weighty questions in regard to what materials they should purchase for their fall dresses, and in what style they should have them made up.

“Ah, I see I am interrupting a solemn council,” said Mr. Eldon with playful look and tone, “but do not be too much distressed; I shall take but a very few minutes of your precious time, my own being equally valuable.” With that he opened and read aloud Ethel’s letter.

All present seemed excited to indignation, Dorothy perhaps the most of any.

“The poor little things!” she exclaimed. “Uncle, do have them brought here at once, even if we must take the whole four.”

“We’ll not let you do that. We’ll do our share,” said Mrs. Augusta. “I should never have been in favor of sending them to the Cootes if I had dreamed they could be guilty of treating the poor little creatures with such barbarous cruelty.”

“No, nor would any of us,” said Arabella. “Has papa gone for them, Uncle George?”

“Yes, and will probably have them here in a few hours. I did not want you or my wife taken by surprise, Augusta, so came up to forewarn you of their expected arrival. And now I must hurry back to my business; so good-morning to you all,” and with the last word he bowed himself out of the room.

“Dear me, what a shame it is!” exclaimed Dorothy. “I’d just enjoy having that cruel wretch of a Coote thrashed within an inch of his life.”

“I, too,” said Olive. “How I wish papa and Uncle George had found him out long ago; still more that they had never given him a chance to abuse those poor children.”

“I’m afraid we were none of us quite so kind to them as we might have been,” said Arabella, “but now we are going to have a chance to make it up to them.”

“Yes, remember that, all of you,” said their mother. “Minnie, go and tell Miss Norris I wish to see her at once if she is at leisure.” Minnie hastened to do the errand, the housekeeper came, listened with evident interest to the story of the little orphan nephew and nieces expected to arrive that afternoon, received Mrs. Eldon’s directions in regard to the necessary preparations, and at once set to work to carry them out.

So the little party, arriving in due time, received a hearty welcome in both families and were made very comfortable, very happy; for though domiciled in the two houses, they were together a great deal through the day. Also they enjoyed their studies under the tuition of the kindest and most patient of governesses.

Mrs. Wood too was very kind to Blanche and Harry; so were their uncles, Cousins George and William, and Dorothy Dean. They seldom saw their Aunt Sarah, but when they did, found her far kinder than she had been when they were with her before. So were the relatives in the other house also, and to the four young orphans life was far more enjoyable than it had been since the death of their parents.

Yet there were days when things went wrong with them and they longed for a home of their own where they could all be together. Ethel in especial looked forward to such a time, and tried to learn all she could that would enable her to earn money to make a home and support herself and the others; and when any one of them was in trouble, she tried to cheer and comfort that one with the hope that some day the bright dream would become a reality.

She still indulged a faint hope that some day they would find, or be found by their maternal grandparents; but lest they should not, she was careful not to slacken her exertions to prepare for self-support. She was obliging and helpful by nature, and her older cousins soon fell into the habit of calling upon her to do their errands about the house, then occasionally at the stores, and to assist them in dressing for parties and calls, at length making quite a Cinderella of her. Her dress was simple and inexpensive, while they wore silks and rich laces and diamonds. She bore it all without murmur or complaint, making herself as useful as she could, never confiding her plans and wishes to them, but using her spare moments for the beautiful needlework taught her by Mrs. Coote, hoping that at some future time she would be able to dispose of it for money which would help in the carrying out of her plans for the future of herself and dear brother and sisters.

Thus two years passed, bringing no remarkable event. Then one October day – it was in the year 1859 – Ethel, who had continued to feel a great interest in the history of the country she now esteemed her own, was much excited by the conversation she heard going on among her older relatives, who were discussing the exciting topic of the raid of John Brown into Virginia, and his seizure of the United States arsenal at Harper’s Ferry.

She was only a listener to the talk, but afterward she searched the newspapers for information on the subject, and felt very sorry for John Brown because he lost his life in trying to set men free, which she thought was a noble thing to do – for to be a slave must be very dreadful, and surely God had given everyone a right to freedom, unless he had forfeited that right by some dreadful crime.

It was a time of great excitement among the Eldons as well as others; the sons, who had been born in America, feeling it even more than their fathers, who were but naturalized citizens. But they, as well as their boys, were opposed to slavery and anxious for the preservation of the Union.

George and William, the sons of the older Mr. Eldon, were frequently in at their Uncle Albert’s, talking over the subject with him and his oldest son Albert; and George at length noticed the deep interest taken by Ethel in all they were saying.

“Well, little coz,” he said at length, “what do you think of it all?”

“Oh,” she returned excitedly, “I do hope this great, grand big Union won’t be broken up! Do you think it will, Cousin George?”

“Oh, no,” he said with a reassuring smile. “The Southerners are only talking, I think; they would hardly be so foolish as to begin a war when the far greater part of the Union would be opposed to them.”

“Oh, I am glad to hear that!” she said with a sigh of relief, “for war must be a dreadful thing.”

“Yes; especially a civil war.”

“Civil?” she returned in a tone of surprise. “I thought civil – was – was – I understood that it was right and good manners to be civil to people.”

“Ah, yes,” he said, smiling and patting the small hand she had laid on his knee, while gazing earnestly and enquiringly into his face; “it sometimes means to be courteous, polite, well-bred, but when applied to war it means a fight between people of the same race and country.”

“And a dreadful kind of war it is when brother fights against brother,” sighed his father, sitting near. “But I can hardly think it will come to that in this case. I think there are few besides the leaders in the South, who would be willing to imbrue their hands in the blood of their brethren.”

“And they are not oppressed, uncle?”

“No, not by any means; they have been having only too much, of their own way and domineering over the rest of the nation. Slavery has had by no means a good effect upon them; it has made them proud, haughty, heartless, selfish, and cruel.”

“No,” said her Uncle Albert, “they have been the oppressors rather than the oppressed; caring only for getting and keeping wealth and power for themselves, and treating their fellow-citizens of the North as beneath them; ‘the mud-sills of the North,’ they are calling us.”

“It is easy to call names,” remarked William; “that sort of warfare requires neither courage nor talent; and so long as they content themselves with that the North will, I think, let them alone severely; but let them secede and attempt to set up a separate government and it is at least doubtful if the loyal North will continue to let them alone.”

Ethel listened eagerly and her fears were relieved for a time. But the very next day came the news that South Carolina had seceded, and it seemed no one could tell what would follow. The daily papers were read with eager interest. The Southern leaders seemed to be crazed, and whirled their States out of the Union one after another without pausing to learn the wishes of the rest of the people; many of whom were strongly opposed to their action and certainly had as indisputable a right to remain in the Union as those leaders to go out.

Ethel hardly understood what was going on, but continued to read the papers and listen to the talk of her elders with a dazed and confused feeling that a great danger was drawing near.

But one Saturday evening, April 13, 1861, news came flashing over the wires that almost struck the hearers dumb with astonishment and dismay. This was the despatch: “Fort Sumter has fallen after a terrific bombardment of thirty-six hours.”

People heard it with sinking of hearts. Was the Union to be destroyed? Was it, could it be possible, that those who should have loved and honored the dear old flag – the beautiful, starry emblem of our liberties – had so insulted it? It was a bitter thought, and men wept as at the loss of a dear and honored friend.