May Flowers, Page 3
Louisa May Alcott
mankle-shelf," the "cowcumber,"and the wooden pippins. Then Anna continued, with an air of calmsatisfaction, quite sure now of her audience and herself,--
"It was a great success. So I went on, and when the journals were done,I used to read other things, and picked up books for their library, andhelped in any way I could, while learning to know them better and givethem confidence in me. They are proud and shy, just as we should be, butif you _really_ want to be friends and don't mind rebuffs now and then,they come to trust and like you, and there is so much to do for them onenever need sit idle any more. I won't give names, as they don't likeit, nor tell how I tried to serve them, but it is very sweet and goodfor me to have found this work, and to know that each year I can do itbetter and better. So I feel encouraged and am very glad I began, as Ihope you all are. Now, who comes next?"
As Anna ended, the needles dropped and ten soft hands gave her a heartyround of applause; for all felt that she had done well, and chosen atask especially fitted to her powers, as she had money, time, tact, andthe winning manners that make friends everywhere.
Beaming with pleasure at their approval, but feeling that they made toomuch of her small success, Anna called the club to order by saying,"Ella looks as if she were anxious to tell her experiences, so perhapswe had better ask her to hold forth next."
"Hear! hear!" cried the girls; and, nothing loath, Ella promptly began,with twinkling eyes and a demure smile, for _her_ story endedromantically.
"If you are interested in shop girls, Miss President and ladies, youwill like to know that _I_ am one, at least a silent partner andco-worker in a small fancy store at the West End."
"No!" exclaimed the amazed club with one voice; and, satisfied with thissensational beginning, Ella went on.
"I really am, and you have bought some of my fancy-work. Isn't that agood joke? You needn't stare so, for I actually made that needle-book,Anna, and my partner knit Lizzie's new cloud. This is the way it allhappened. I didn't wish to waste any time, but one can't rush into thestreet and collar shabby little girls, and say, 'Come along and learn tosew,' without a struggle, so I thought I'd go and ask Mrs. Brown how tobegin. Her branch of the Associated Charities is in Laurel Street, notfar from our house, you know; and the very day after our last meeting Iposted off to get my 'chore.' I expected to have to fit work for poorneedlewomen, or go to see some dreadful sick creature, or wash dirtylittle Pats, and was bracing up my mind for whatever might come, as Itoiled up the hill in a gale of wind. Suddenly my hat flew off and wentgayly skipping away, to the great delight of some black imps, who onlygrinned and cheered me on as I trotted after it with wild grabs andwrathful dodges. I got it at last out of a puddle, and there I was in anice mess. The elastic was broken, feather wet, and the poor thing allmud and dirt. I didn't care much, as it was my old one,--dressed for mywork, you see. But I couldn't go home bareheaded, and I didn't know asoul in that neighborhood. I turned to step into a grocery store at thecorner, to borrow a brush, or buy a sheet of paper to wear, for I lookedlike a lunatic with my battered hat and my hair in a perfect mop.Luckily I spied a woman's fancy shop on the other corner, and rushed inthere to hide myself, for the brats hooted and people stared. It was avery small shop, and behind the counter sat a tall, thin,washed-out-looking woman, making a baby's hood. She looked poor and blueand rather sour, but took pity on me; and while she sewed the cord,dried the feather, and brushed off the dirt, I warmed myself and lookedabout to see what I could buy in return for her trouble.
"A few children's aprons hung in the little window, with some knit lace,balls, and old-fashioned garters, two or three dolls, and a very poordisplay of small wares. In a show-case, however, on the table that wasthe counter, I found some really pretty things, made of plush, silk, andribbon, with a good deal of taste. So I said I'd buy a needle-book, anda gay ball, and a pair of distracting baby's shoes, made to look likelittle open-work socks with pink ankle-ties, so cunning and dainty, Iwas glad to get them for Cousin Clara's baby. The woman seemed pleased,though she had a grim way of talking, and never smiled once. I observedthat she handled my hat as if used to such work, and evidently liked todo it. I thanked her for repairing damages so quickly and well, and shesaid, with my hat on her hand, as if she hated to part with it, 'I'mused to millinaryin' and never should have give it up, if I didn't havemy folks to see to. I took this shop, hopin' to make things go, as sucha place was needed round here, but mother broke down, and is a sight ofcare; so I couldn't leave her, and doctors is expensive, and times hard,and I had to drop my trade, and fall back on pins and needles, and soon.'"
Ella was a capital mimic, and imitated the nasal tones of the Vermontwoman to the life, with a doleful pucker of her own blooming face, whichgave such a truthful picture of poor Miss Almira Miller that those whohad seen her recognized it at once, and laughed gayly.
"Just as I was murmuring a few words of regret at her bad luck,"continued Ella, "a sharp voice called out from a back room, 'Almiry!Almiry! come here.' It sounded very like a cross parrot, but it was theold lady, and while I put on my hat I heard her asking who was in theshop, and what we were 'gabbin' about.' Her daughter told her, and theold soul demanded to 'see the gal;' so I went in, being ready for fun asusual. It was a little, dark, dismal place, but as neat as a pin, and inthe bed sat a regular Grandma Smallweed smoking a pipe, with a big cap,a snuff-box, and a red cotton handkerchief. She was a tiny, dried-upthing, brown as a berry, with eyes like black beads, a nose and chinthat nearly met, and hands like birds' claws. But such a fierce, lively,curious, blunt old lady you never saw, and I didn't know what would bethe end of me when she began to question, then to scold, and finally todemand that 'folks should come and trade to Almiry's shop afterpromisin' they would, and she havin' took a lease of the place onaccount of them lies.' I wanted to laugh, but dared not do it, so justlet her croak, for the daughter had to go to her customers. The oldlady's tirade informed me that they came from Vermont, had 'been wal on't till father died and the farm was sold.' Then it seems the women cameto Boston and got on pretty well till 'a stroke of numb-palsy,' whateverthat is, made the mother helpless and kept Almiry at home to care forher. I can't tell you how funny and yet how sad it was to see the poorold soul, so full of energy and yet so helpless, and the daughter sodiscouraged with her pathetic little shop and no customers to speak of.I did not know what to say till 'Grammer Miller,' as the children callher, happened to say, when she took up her knitting after the lecture,'If folks who go spendin' money reckless on redic'lous toys forChristmas only knew what nice things, useful and fancy, me and Almirycould make ef we had the goods, they'd jest come round this corner andbuy 'em, and keep me out of a Old Woman's Home and that good,hard-workin' gal of mine out of a 'sylum; for go there she will ef shedon't get a boost somehow, with rent and firin' and vittles all on hershoulders, and me only able to wag them knittin'-needles.'
"'I will buy things here and tell all my friends about it, and I have adrawer full of pretty bits of silk and velvet and plush, that I willgive Miss Miller for her work, if she will let me.' I added that, for Isaw that Almiry was rather proud, and hid her troubles under a grimlook.
"That pleased the old lady, and, lowering her voice, she said, with amotherly sort of look in her beady eyes: 'Seein' as you are so friendly,I'll tell you what frets me most, a layin' here, a burden to my darter.She kep' company with Nathan Baxter, a master carpenter up toWestminster where we lived, and ef father hadn't a died suddin' they'd aben married. They waited a number o' years, workin' to their trades, andwe was hopin' all would turn out wal, when troubles come, and here webe. Nathan's got his own folks to see to, and Almiry won't add to _his_load with hern, nor leave me; so she give him back his ring, and jestbuckled to all alone. She don't say a word, but it's wearin' her to ashadder, and I can't do a thing to help, but make a few pin-balls, knitgarters, and kiver holders. Ef she got a start in business it wouldcheer her up a sight, and give her a kind of a hopeful prospeck, for oldfolks can't live forever, and Nathan is a waitin', faithful and true.' br />
"That just finished me, for I am romantic, and do enjoy love storieswith all my heart, even if the lovers are only a skinny spinster and amaster carpenter. So I just resolved to see what I could do for poorAlmiry and the peppery old lady. I didn't promise anything but my bits,and, taking the things I bought, went home to talk it over with Mamma. Ifound she had often got pins and tape, and such small wares, at thelittle shop, and found it very convenient, though she knew nothing aboutthe Millers. She was
"It was a great success. So I went on, and when the journals were done,I used to read other things, and picked up books for their library, andhelped in any way I could, while learning to know them better and givethem confidence in me. They are proud and shy, just as we should be, butif you _really_ want to be friends and don't mind rebuffs now and then,they come to trust and like you, and there is so much to do for them onenever need sit idle any more. I won't give names, as they don't likeit, nor tell how I tried to serve them, but it is very sweet and goodfor me to have found this work, and to know that each year I can do itbetter and better. So I feel encouraged and am very glad I began, as Ihope you all are. Now, who comes next?"
As Anna ended, the needles dropped and ten soft hands gave her a heartyround of applause; for all felt that she had done well, and chosen atask especially fitted to her powers, as she had money, time, tact, andthe winning manners that make friends everywhere.
Beaming with pleasure at their approval, but feeling that they made toomuch of her small success, Anna called the club to order by saying,"Ella looks as if she were anxious to tell her experiences, so perhapswe had better ask her to hold forth next."
"Hear! hear!" cried the girls; and, nothing loath, Ella promptly began,with twinkling eyes and a demure smile, for _her_ story endedromantically.
"If you are interested in shop girls, Miss President and ladies, youwill like to know that _I_ am one, at least a silent partner andco-worker in a small fancy store at the West End."
"No!" exclaimed the amazed club with one voice; and, satisfied with thissensational beginning, Ella went on.
"I really am, and you have bought some of my fancy-work. Isn't that agood joke? You needn't stare so, for I actually made that needle-book,Anna, and my partner knit Lizzie's new cloud. This is the way it allhappened. I didn't wish to waste any time, but one can't rush into thestreet and collar shabby little girls, and say, 'Come along and learn tosew,' without a struggle, so I thought I'd go and ask Mrs. Brown how tobegin. Her branch of the Associated Charities is in Laurel Street, notfar from our house, you know; and the very day after our last meeting Iposted off to get my 'chore.' I expected to have to fit work for poorneedlewomen, or go to see some dreadful sick creature, or wash dirtylittle Pats, and was bracing up my mind for whatever might come, as Itoiled up the hill in a gale of wind. Suddenly my hat flew off and wentgayly skipping away, to the great delight of some black imps, who onlygrinned and cheered me on as I trotted after it with wild grabs andwrathful dodges. I got it at last out of a puddle, and there I was in anice mess. The elastic was broken, feather wet, and the poor thing allmud and dirt. I didn't care much, as it was my old one,--dressed for mywork, you see. But I couldn't go home bareheaded, and I didn't know asoul in that neighborhood. I turned to step into a grocery store at thecorner, to borrow a brush, or buy a sheet of paper to wear, for I lookedlike a lunatic with my battered hat and my hair in a perfect mop.Luckily I spied a woman's fancy shop on the other corner, and rushed inthere to hide myself, for the brats hooted and people stared. It was avery small shop, and behind the counter sat a tall, thin,washed-out-looking woman, making a baby's hood. She looked poor and blueand rather sour, but took pity on me; and while she sewed the cord,dried the feather, and brushed off the dirt, I warmed myself and lookedabout to see what I could buy in return for her trouble.
"A few children's aprons hung in the little window, with some knit lace,balls, and old-fashioned garters, two or three dolls, and a very poordisplay of small wares. In a show-case, however, on the table that wasthe counter, I found some really pretty things, made of plush, silk, andribbon, with a good deal of taste. So I said I'd buy a needle-book, anda gay ball, and a pair of distracting baby's shoes, made to look likelittle open-work socks with pink ankle-ties, so cunning and dainty, Iwas glad to get them for Cousin Clara's baby. The woman seemed pleased,though she had a grim way of talking, and never smiled once. I observedthat she handled my hat as if used to such work, and evidently liked todo it. I thanked her for repairing damages so quickly and well, and shesaid, with my hat on her hand, as if she hated to part with it, 'I'mused to millinaryin' and never should have give it up, if I didn't havemy folks to see to. I took this shop, hopin' to make things go, as sucha place was needed round here, but mother broke down, and is a sight ofcare; so I couldn't leave her, and doctors is expensive, and times hard,and I had to drop my trade, and fall back on pins and needles, and soon.'"
Ella was a capital mimic, and imitated the nasal tones of the Vermontwoman to the life, with a doleful pucker of her own blooming face, whichgave such a truthful picture of poor Miss Almira Miller that those whohad seen her recognized it at once, and laughed gayly.
"Just as I was murmuring a few words of regret at her bad luck,"continued Ella, "a sharp voice called out from a back room, 'Almiry!Almiry! come here.' It sounded very like a cross parrot, but it was theold lady, and while I put on my hat I heard her asking who was in theshop, and what we were 'gabbin' about.' Her daughter told her, and theold soul demanded to 'see the gal;' so I went in, being ready for fun asusual. It was a little, dark, dismal place, but as neat as a pin, and inthe bed sat a regular Grandma Smallweed smoking a pipe, with a big cap,a snuff-box, and a red cotton handkerchief. She was a tiny, dried-upthing, brown as a berry, with eyes like black beads, a nose and chinthat nearly met, and hands like birds' claws. But such a fierce, lively,curious, blunt old lady you never saw, and I didn't know what would bethe end of me when she began to question, then to scold, and finally todemand that 'folks should come and trade to Almiry's shop afterpromisin' they would, and she havin' took a lease of the place onaccount of them lies.' I wanted to laugh, but dared not do it, so justlet her croak, for the daughter had to go to her customers. The oldlady's tirade informed me that they came from Vermont, had 'been wal on't till father died and the farm was sold.' Then it seems the women cameto Boston and got on pretty well till 'a stroke of numb-palsy,' whateverthat is, made the mother helpless and kept Almiry at home to care forher. I can't tell you how funny and yet how sad it was to see the poorold soul, so full of energy and yet so helpless, and the daughter sodiscouraged with her pathetic little shop and no customers to speak of.I did not know what to say till 'Grammer Miller,' as the children callher, happened to say, when she took up her knitting after the lecture,'If folks who go spendin' money reckless on redic'lous toys forChristmas only knew what nice things, useful and fancy, me and Almirycould make ef we had the goods, they'd jest come round this corner andbuy 'em, and keep me out of a Old Woman's Home and that good,hard-workin' gal of mine out of a 'sylum; for go there she will ef shedon't get a boost somehow, with rent and firin' and vittles all on hershoulders, and me only able to wag them knittin'-needles.'
"'I will buy things here and tell all my friends about it, and I have adrawer full of pretty bits of silk and velvet and plush, that I willgive Miss Miller for her work, if she will let me.' I added that, for Isaw that Almiry was rather proud, and hid her troubles under a grimlook.
"That pleased the old lady, and, lowering her voice, she said, with amotherly sort of look in her beady eyes: 'Seein' as you are so friendly,I'll tell you what frets me most, a layin' here, a burden to my darter.She kep' company with Nathan Baxter, a master carpenter up toWestminster where we lived, and ef father hadn't a died suddin' they'd aben married. They waited a number o' years, workin' to their trades, andwe was hopin' all would turn out wal, when troubles come, and here webe. Nathan's got his own folks to see to, and Almiry won't add to _his_load with hern, nor leave me; so she give him back his ring, and jestbuckled to all alone. She don't say a word, but it's wearin' her to ashadder, and I can't do a thing to help, but make a few pin-balls, knitgarters, and kiver holders. Ef she got a start in business it wouldcheer her up a sight, and give her a kind of a hopeful prospeck, for oldfolks can't live forever, and Nathan is a waitin', faithful and true.' br />
"That just finished me, for I am romantic, and do enjoy love storieswith all my heart, even if the lovers are only a skinny spinster and amaster carpenter. So I just resolved to see what I could do for poorAlmiry and the peppery old lady. I didn't promise anything but my bits,and, taking the things I bought, went home to talk it over with Mamma. Ifound she had often got pins and tape, and such small wares, at thelittle shop, and found it very convenient, though she knew nothing aboutthe Millers. She was
