CHAPTER XVII.
So many changes had been brought about since the society started that a large number had leased land for a long term of years, building their own houses or cottages near the colony after they saw the advantages of the society. They did not like to live in the apartment houses or hotels, nor did they care to have their children in the boarding schools, but did like the system of revenue that came so regularly from the factories, stock farms, cotton plantations, etc., and the short hours that all the members had to give to the society’s industries. These people lived where they liked. Their shares were placed in the different industries. As they already owned their homes it secured them a regular income. It also provided for the future of each member of their family, instead of an insurance; all saw its advantages and appreciated the fact that they could become honored members of the society. It gave them rank that nothing else could, because the members wouldn’t allow dishonest people to be called Honorables. All sorts of discussions took place for and against the idea of having children under a system of government. It generally came from the older people or from those with large incomes. It had caused a prejudice to arise among many and naturally they talked it over. One lady, a Mrs. Holmes, had pronounced it a breaking up of homes, and her father had written several articles about it in the papers. He was coming on a visit. When he arrived he looked into the subject.
“Yes, indeed, you may count upon me in opposing allsuch ideas as that. Our little children should be right in the home with us.”
So they arranged to have a party come to discuss the matter, for and against it. He had only been with them a few days when it was arranged to have the meeting. The hour was to be at three o’clock in the afternoon. Now it was just two when Mrs. Holmes came into the library where her father was sitting and said:
“Papa, would you like to have the care of the little ones for half an hour or so? I will have to go to the dressmaker.”
“Certainly,” he answered, “I would be delighted to have them all to myself.”
She replied, “I let the nurse go out this afternoon, not knowing that I would have to try on my dress, and tomorrow will be my reception day. The baby is asleep and these two little ones will keep you company. Cook will attend the door if any one comes, so I will go now and be back in time for the meeting.” As she waved her hands, saying, “Bye-bye, precious ones, be good children and amuse grandpa,” she closed the door and was gone.
Grandpa held a child on each knee. This was an event in their lives, to have grandpa all to themselves.
“Well,” he says, “what shall we do while mamma is away?”
“Oh,” says five-year-old May, “let’s play horse and let me ride onyour back.”
“No, me,” cried Roy, while May climbed the quickest and got there. Roy pulled her feet and they quarreled until grandpa decided that he would get down on all fours, then both could get on, while May held on to her doll. Away they went, in and out of the two rooms, the children laughing and screaming as they lurched from side to side in danger of falling, while grandpa enjoyed the funalmost as much as they, even though he was puffing and blowing. When that failed to amuse they played hide and seek. Grandpa soon discovered that he is not so young as he used to be and laid back in the big arm chair to rest.
“Now, children, you play a little while by yourselves,” he said, as he put his hands to his head.
“Now you amused us,” said May, “so it is our turn and we will amuse you. Want your head rubbed? I can do it like mamma rubs papa’s when he’s all tired out.” She looked at him so coaxingly that he said:
“Yes, to be sure.”
“All right,” she consented, climbing to the back of his chair and running her fingers through his hair. She did it so quietly and soothingly as she scratched gently back and forth, that he thought to himself, “What a little fairy she is!” He got no further, for sleep had claimed him and May soon discovered this.
Grandpa had nice long hair, so here was her opportunity, for she loved to braid hair. She would do it so gently and “My! wouldn’t he be glad when he saw how pretty she had made it!” Then she espied some wool in a work basket of her mother’s. Such pretty colors—blue, green, yellow, red and white! “What a lot,” she said in glee. In a little while she had gone all over his head and fine little braids were standing out in all directions tied with wool. As she stood admiring her handiwork, her eye detected Roy in the next room teasing her kitten. He saw by her glance what was coming. In two seconds he had bounded up the back stairs, flying madly on and on until he reached the nursery, then he fell. She grabbed the kitten. Roy set up a howl and baby awakened. May quieted baby, took it up and set it on thefloor, then started after Roy again, who had made off with the kitten.
At this moment the door bell rang. The cook ushered in several strangers. It was three o’clock and the committee had arrived. The confusion awakened the old gentleman asleep in the chair. Just as the door opened, he straightened down his vest, smoothed his trousers and believed he was all right. He advanced to explain that his daughter would be in in a moment, and noticed that they were looking at him strangely and laughing so hard they could not speak. He rushed into the hall only to see his daughter acting worse than those in thelibrary. She was stealthily running up stairs, and as he looked up to the top step he saw the eight months’ old baby kicking his heels and seeming to be enjoying the situation, as the mother cried, “Wait for mother, darling, wait—” Just then the baby sprang forward and she caught him only in time to keep him from going head first to the bottom of the stairs. There she sat the tears streaming down her face while she hugged her baby. She looked down upon hearing her father’s voice and roared with laughter. He, thinking that she was hysterical, begged her to calm herself. It was all she could do between screaming and laughing to hold her child, he looked so funny. By this time every one was in the hall, roaring as they looked at the staid old gentleman. His daughter led him to the mirror. It is needless to say that there was no meeting. Their arguments were answered before begun. Children are safer when certain people are responsible for their care and welfare. The society heard no more about families growing apart.