CHAPTER X.
A few moments before the breakfast hour on Monday morning, Captain Raymond, as usual, went into the apartments of his little girls to see how they were.
He found them in the sitting-room. Grace with a Bible in her hands, Lulu—greatly to his surprise, busily plying a needle.
“Good-morning, my darlings,” he said, bending down to bestow a fatherly caress upon each; then with a smiling glance at Lulu, “I am glad to see you so industrious, daughter.”
“Yes, papa; see it’s the dress for that little Jones girl. Christine basted the patches on for me Saturday, and showed me how to sew them; and I am nearly done now. Please look if I am doing it well.”
“Very nicely, I think,” he replied, examining the work; “your stitches are small and neat. Would you like to take it to the little girl yourself, this morning?”
“If there’s time, papa.”
“There will be; your young friends are not expected much before the dinner hour; so if the weather is pleasant, you and Gracie shallhave a little drive with me shortly after breakfast, and we will call at the Jones’ house and leave the dress.”
Both little girls exclaimed, “How nice, papa!” and Lulu added, “I shall enjoy giving it to her myself. And I’ll have time to go; for I got up quite early and have pretty nearly put my rooms in order already.”
“I like to see you industrious, daughter,” her father said, kindly, “but I do not want you to overdo the thing by being up too long, and taking too much exercise before eating; because that might injure your health.”
“Yes, sir; but I had a glass of milk when Gracie had hers; and now I’m just nicely hungry for my breakfast.”
“Well, I am glad to hear it,” he said, “for the bell will probably ring in about five minutes.”
Gracie had laid her book aside and taken possession of his knee.
“I’d like to get up early and work, too, if I could,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder.
“Yes, I know you would, my pet,” he responded, passing his hand caressingly over her soft curls, “but you are not strong enough yet.”
“But she’s useful, papa,” remarked Lulu, “she has been helping me to learn my text while I sewed, by reading it over and over to me, and we’ve learned hers, too, in the same way.”
“That was a very good plan,” he said.
“They are such nice verses, papa,” said Grace. “This is mine:
“‘He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.’”
“And this is mine,” said Lulu:
“‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.’ What does that last clause mean, papa?”
“That the love between the disciples of Christ must be great enough to make them willing to lay down their lives—die for each other if necessary.”
“It wouldn’t be many folks I could love so hard as that,” remarked Lulu, emphatically.
“Doesn’t the Bible say we must love every body, papa?” asked Grace.
“Yes; ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ ‘But I say unto you, love your enemies.’”
“There, I’m done!” exclaimed Lulu, breaking off her thread, throwing the mended dress over the back of a chair, and putting away her needle. “Papa,” coming close to his side and leaning up affectionately against him, “it’s just as easy as any thing to love you and Gracie, and Max, and Mamma Vi, and Grandma Elsie—and other people that are good and kind and pleasant, but I justcan’tlove every body; at leastnot a bit as I love you,” giving him a hug and kiss.
“No, dear child, that is not required; it is right that parents and children, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, should have a deeper, stronger love for each other than they can possibly feel for mere acquaintances or those whom they do not know personally; but we are to love every body with a love of benevolence, wishing them well and being willing to help them when in poverty or distress; if in our power to do so.
“Also we must be patient and forbearing under provocation; the love of benevolence, if we have it, will help us to be so, and make us willing to yield honors and pleasures to others, even though it seem to us that we ourselves have the best right to them.”
“Papa,” said Lulu, “I know you mean that for me; and I do intend to try hard to be unselfish toward all my little friends while they are here; I asked God to help me when I said my prayers this morning,” she added, in a lower key.
“I am glad to hear it,” he said, pressing his lips to her cheek; “it is only by his help that we can overcome in the fight with the evil of our natures.
“We will go down to breakfast now; for there’s the bell.”
The weather proved mild, the sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky, and the little girls greatly enjoyed the short drive with their father.
They called at the house where the Jones family lived, but were in too great haste to stay many minutes. Grace did not get out of the carriage at all; the captain and Lulu alighted, and went into the cabin, but declined to sit down. Lulu handed the dress, done up in a neat bundle, to the girl for whom she had intended it, and greatly enjoyed her look of astonishment as she received it, her eagerly impatient tug at the string that held it together, and her scream of delight when success crowned her efforts and the dress—a far better and prettier than she had ever owned before—met her astonished gaze.
“’Tain’t for me?” she cried; “say, miss, you didn’t never intend to gimme it, did ye?”
“Yes,” said Lulu; “I brought it on purpose for you. Papa told me I might.”
“Well now! I never was so s’prised in all my born days!” was the child’s half breathless exclamation. “It’s mighty good o’ ye; and yer pap too.”
“No, it wasn’t a bit generous in me,” said Lulu; “for I was quite done wearing it; and besides papa gives me new ones very often.”
The captain had brought a fresh supply ofdelicacies for the invalid, and had employed the moments while the children were talking in saying a few comforting words to her. He now bade her good-by, and taking Lulu’s hand led her back to the carriage, the young Joneses, grouped in the door-way, sending after them glances of mingled curiosity, admiration and envy.
“Papa,” said Grace, who was watching the slatternly, frowzy little crowd with a curiosity and interest quite equal to theirs, “I think those children want a ride ever so much.”
“Quite likely,” he returned, “and if they were clean and neat they should have it; but as they are, their occupation of this carriage even for a short time, would render it unfit for your mamma, or indeed any of us, to enter again.” He had lifted Lulu in and taken a seat by her side while he spoke, and now they were driving on their homeward way.
“I wish they could have a ride,” said Lulu. “Papa, couldn’t some kind of a vehicle be hired for them?”
“Perhaps so; but who is to pay for it?” he asked.
“I, papa; if the money I have left will be enough,” answered Grace.
“I’ll help,” said Lulu; “we haven’t spent all you gave us for Christmas, papa, and we have, this week’s allowance besides.”
“Well, I will see what can be done,” he said. “I am glad my little daughters care for the happiness of others as well as their own.”
“We’d be dreadfully selfish if he weren’t willing to help other folks to a little bit of good times when we are going to have so much ourselves,” said Lulu. “Oh, Gracie, aren’t you glad the day for our party to begin has come at last?”
“Yes,” answered Grace. “I b’lieve I’m beginning to be ’most as glad as you are, Lu; but I wouldn’t be if papa hadn’t said I may sit on his knee whenever I want to, and that he’ll take care of me and not let me get too tired.”
“I think my little feeble girl is feeling rather better and stronger to-day,” the captain remarked, bending down to caress and fondle her.
“Yes, papa; I do b’lieve I’m ’most well,” was the cheerful reply, “I feel just as happy!”
“I, too,” chimed in Lulu; “and I’m all ready for the girls; my pretty rooms are in perfect order. Papa, may I have Evelyn sleep with me?”
“Certainly, daughter, if it pleases her to do so. I think you could not have a safer friend than Evelyn.
“I am very glad to see my dear little girls so happy,” he went on, “but, my darlings, you must not expect to be entirely free from vexation and annoyance while entertainingyour young friends; there will be clashing of interests and differences of opinion; occasions when some will have to yield their wishes and preferences to those of others, and I shall be highly gratified if my three children show a readiness to do that, and do it cheerfully and pleasantly.”
“We’ll try, papa,” they both replied.
And now they seemed to forget every thing, but the pleasure close at hand, and were nearly wild over the prospect of the new delight of entertaining; quite new to them; for hitherto that privilege had never been accorded them.
Their father showed himself to be in full sympathy with them and allowed them to chatter and laugh to their hearts’ content.
Lulu’s good resolutions were, however, put to the test even before the coming of her guests.
Almost immediately on their arrival at home Christine, the housekeeper, sought an interview with the captain, and after a few minutes’ chat with her, he repaired to the apartments of his daughters.
“Lulu,” he said, “we find that it will be necessary for you to accommodate more than one of your young friends here at night.”
“O papa, please don’t say that?” she returned, coaxingly. “I thought it would be so nice to have just Eva, and nobody else, in herewith me nights and mornings; can’t it be managed somehow?”
“I am afraid not,” he said; “there will not be room for all unless we give you two companions.”
“But I have only one bed, papa, and it will crowd us very much to sleep three in a bed.”
“Yes; one will have to lie on the couch here, which will make a very comfortable bed: and that one, I think, should be my own little daughter, Lulu.”
“Papa, you said I might have Evelyn to sleep with me, and there wouldn’t be room for more than one on the couch.”
He sat down and drew her to him.
“Yes, I did make that promise—or rather give that permission, and I do not withdraw it; if you insist upon it, you and Evelyn may occupy the bed, and some one of your guests will have to content herself with the couch; but would it not be more polite and kind on your part if you resign your bed to her and Eva, and take the couch yourself?”
“Yes, sir; and I will if you say I must. I’ll have to, of course.”
“I don’t say you must; I only say I shall be far better pleased with you if you do: and that it will be the right and kind thing for you to do. But perhaps you do not care to please me?”he added, noticing the unwilling expression of her countenance.
“Yes, papa, I do! I’d do any thing to please you,” she cried, smiling up into his face, then putting her arm round his neck and laying her cheek lovingly to his.
“Thank you, dear child,” he said, holding her close to his heart. “And now you may choose which of your little friends you will have to share these rooms with you and Eva.”
“Lora Howard,” she said. “I’m better acquainted with her than with any of the others, except Rosie.”
“Rosie will share her mother’s room,” said the captain. “An excellent plan, I think.”
“And Rosie Lacy is to sleep with me,” remarked Grace; “mamma told me so; and I’m glad, for I like Rosie ever so much. Lu, may be you’ll find it’s good fun for so many of us to be so close together.”
“I dare say she will,” said their father; “and she may invite Evelyn almost any time to come and stay for days or weeks and share her bed.”
“Papa,” cried Lulu, delightedly, “you are just the very kindest of fathers.”
“I am well pleased that you think so,” he said contentedly, repeating his caresses; “while for my part, I verily believe no dearer or more lovable children than mine are anywhere to be found.”
Grace had come to his side, and he passed an arm round her as he spoke, bestowing upon her caresses as loving and tender as those Lulu had just received.
“Yes, my dears,” he went on, “I think you will find it quite enjoyable to have your little friends sharing your rooms for a while; but don’t allow yourselves to be so taken up with sport as to neglect your morning and evening devotions; never begin a new day, or lie down to sleep at night, without thanking your Heavenly Father for his goodness and mercy to you and yours, and asking to be kept from danger and from sin. Never be ashamed or afraid though the whole world should know that you do this. Jesus said, ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven.’”
“Papa,” said Lulu, “I don’t think I’d hesitate to say my prayers before others, even if I expected they’d laugh at me. I mean if I could not go by myself to do it; but when we can find a private place where no one but God can see or hear us, oughtn’t we to choose it for the purpose?”
“Yes; Jesus said, ‘When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; andthy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.’ You have a private place in that little tower room opening into Lulu’s bedroom, and there you and your guests can go by turns to pray in secret.”
Then he told them how Max had shown his moral courage while visiting at the Oaks.
“I’m proud of my brother!” exclaimed Lulu, when the tale was told, and her eyes shone as she spoke.
“I too,” said Grace. “I’m afraid I might not have been so brave. But Eva and Lora say prayers too; so we won’t have such a trial as Maxie had.”
At that moment there was a sound of wheels on the drive, and Lulu, running to the window, exclaimed in joyous tones, “It’s the Fairview carriage with Aunt Elsie Leland, little Ned and Eva in it. Oh I’m so glad they’ve come the very first!”
“We will go down and welcome them,” the captain said, taking Gracie’s hand. “Do you feel able to walk, daughter? or shall I carry you?”
“I’m a little tired, papa,” Grace answered, and he picked her up and carried her.
Meanwhile hasty, impetuous Lulu had flown to meet her friend, and as the captain appeared on the scene was embracing her with as much ardor and effusion as if they had been separatedfor months instead of only a day or two.
“O Eva,” she cried, “I do think we are going to have the most splendid time that ever was! You are to share my rooms, and we’ll go right up there, if you like.”
“I do like; or shall as soon as I have spoken to your father and your Mamma Vi,” returned Evelyn gayly, putting her small hand into the large one the captain held out to her.
“I am very glad to see you, my dear,” he said in a fatherly manner that made the quick tears spring to her eyes.
A sudden sense of her irreparable loss almost overwhelmed her for the moment, and she could not utter a word of reply.
He saw her emotion, drew her nearer, and bending down, kissed her as tenderly as if she had been his own.
“Lulu’s father may have the privilege may he not, daughter?” he asked in affectionate accents.
A grateful look was her only answer.
But now other carriages were driving up, and guests, old and young, pouring in so fast that there was a delightful confusion of affectionate embraces and merry greetings.
Lulu was in her element, playing hostess to her young girl-friends, showing them to their rooms and seeing that every thing necessaryfor their comfort was provided; while Max did likewise by the boys, with perhaps an equal sense of enjoyment, and Grace entertained her little mates in her own quiet fashion in the lower rooms of the mansion.
Rosie Travilla, coming down a little in advance of the others, met the captain in the lower hall.
“I’m expecting to have a lovely time, captain,” she remarked. “Zoe has been telling me about the magic cave.”
“Has she? and would you like to step into the conservatory and see the alterations we have made there?”
“Yes, indeed!” she answered, and he led the way.
They were quite alone, and after she had seen and made her comments upon what had been done, he asked:
“Would my little sister like to do her big, biggest brother, a favor?”
“Do you one, do you mean, captain? Certainly; if it’s in my power.”
“Thank you,” he said, then added with gravity, “I regret that you apparently consider me so fond of my title. Would it be difficult or disagreeable to you to say Brother Levis instead of captain?”
“Not very,” she returned, laughing; “but the title is more convenient; and it’s for thatreason I use it; not because I ever have imagined you to be proud or fond of it.”
“Well,” he said, “if I were in your place I think I’d use the other; especially if ever the tables should be turned so that I wanted to ask a favor of my biggest and oldest brother.”
“If you really care to have me do so, I might try,” she replied with a merry look up into his face. “But is that the only favor you have to ask?”
“No; there is another that I am still more desirous to have you grant.”
He paused for a moment, then went on:
“I have a very fiery-tempered little daughter whom I love so dearly that it gives me great pain to punish her for her outbursts of passion.”
Rosie’s cheeks grew suddenly very hot and her eyes were downcast.
“I am certain she is fighting hard against her besetting sin,” the captain continued, “and I am trying by every means in my power to help her; and the favor I ask is that you will join me in this by kindly refraining from provoking her even in sport.
“Please understand, my dear little sister, that I am not saying you ever have intentionally provoked her, and that I know and acknowledge that it is no difficult matter to rouse her temper.”
It cost Rosie a desperate effort to make theacknowledgment, but she forced herself to answer, “But if you did say it, ’twould be nothing but the truth; for I have teased her purposely more than once. But if you’ll forgive me this time, cap—brother Levis—I’ll try not to do it again. I never thought of it as an unkindness to you.”
“My children are very near and dear to me, Rosie,” he said; “so near and so dear that injury to them is much more trying than a personal one.
“But I am fond of my little sister, too; both for my wife’s sake and her own,” he added, in a kindly tone, and with an affectionate pressure of her hand which he had taken in his. “Of course I forgive the past, while thanking you heartily for your promise in regard to the future.”
“Does Lulu hate me?” she asked, half tearfully and blushing vividly.
“I trust not, indeed!” he said. “I have no reason to think so. It would distress me greatly if I thought she did; and you must not imagine that she has been telling tales; with all her faults, she is above that, I think.”
“Yes, I do believe she is,” acknowledged Rosie.
Just then the door opened and Lulu’s voice was heard saying, “Oh, here she is! Rosie, we were looking for you. We’re going to look atsome of the things for the tableux, and we thought you’d like to see them too.”
“Oh, yes, thank you!” cried Rosie; “those things are always interesting. You’re coming too, aren’t you, captain?” glancing back over her shoulder at him as she hurried toward the little group in the doorway.
He was about to say No, but an entreating look from Lulu caused him to change his mind and go with them.
And he made his presence welcome to them all by the interest he showed in what interested them, and the zest with which he entered into all their pleasures. Not at this time alone, but every day while the guests were there; always so far as concerned the children God had given him for his own.