A SUNDAY WALK AND ITS RESULTS
Ruth was out-of-doors early the following morning, enjoying the sweet, crisp breeze with its odor of dew-laden meadows. After sniffing delightedly for a few moments, she skipped up and down the long veranda, calling to the birds and snapping her fingers at some curious squirrels. Sally heard the joyous child and came out to bid her a good-morning.
“Sally, what a beautiful farm Aunt Selina has! It looks lovelier this morning than ever, but it makes me sad when I think that no one can enjoy it except the folks that live here,” said Ruth, in a tone of regret.
“Ya’as, Chile, I feels sorry dat Miss S’lina had dem high board fences put up to keep anjoyin’ eyes from de propaty. An’ den agin, I kin s’cuse de little chillern dat sneak fru de back fences jus’ to pick wilets an’ paddle in de brok up dere;” and Sally looked toward the inviting woodland, whence came the sound of running water.
“If Aunt Selina is to be a really truly Blue Bird she will remove whatever keeps others from enjoying what she has,” commented Ruth, seriously.
A bell, tinkling from an upper room, summoned Sally hurriedly indoors, so Ruth sat down in a large wicker rocker to await her aunt’s coming.
Sally soon came and told Ruth breakfast was ready and there sat Miss Selina welcoming her with a cheery smile!
“Do you feel as happy and free as a Blue Bird, Flutey?” asked Ruth, giving Aunt Selina a hearty embrace.
Unaccustomed to such healthy demonstrations of affection, she suffered her lace cap to be pulled over one ear while her other was uncomfortably doubled under Ruth’s plump little arm.
“Yes, Fluff, I feel unusually well this morning. I slept like a babe all night,” replied her aunt.
“That’s the way all Blue Birds sleep. Not one of us would stay in bed a minute just because something tried to make us feel too tired or sick to get up early in the morning! You know, the Camp Fire Girls receive honors for keeping free from illness, and some day the Blue Birds expect to join the bigger girls in their Camp Fires. So we begin to practice good health now,” explained Ruth.
The breakfast passed quickly with not a sound or sigh from Aunt Selina about rheumatism. Sally was the most astonished of all, for it had become second nature with her mistress to talk about her pains and woes at all times.
“While I was waiting on the piazza, this morning, I planned to take you for a nice long walk,” said Ruth.
“Why, my dear, I simply cannot walk out of doors. I could hardly hobble about the house this morning.”
“Oh, I s’pose you couldn’t walk very well, but I can walk and you can ride in the wheel-chair. I will push it, and we will go down the meadow path toward the summer-house,” said Ruth.
Aunt Selina looked dubiously at Sally, but the latter was very busy placing some of the family silver in the chest, and her back was turned.
After a few moments’ hesitation she said, “I never take that chair off of the porch, and I am afraid you are too little to push it.”
“Oh, no, indeed I’m not. It won’t hurt the chair, and even if it did, your pleasure just now is better than ten chairs!” decided Ruth.
After several weak attempts to turn Ruth from her purpose, Aunt Selina surrendered with a sigh.
As Sally left the room just then she chuckled to herself, “Dat chile will shorely ’juvenate Miss S’lina!”
After breakfast aunt and grand-niece went out on the veranda and Ruth soon had the chair down the steps and waiting for her aunt.
Aunt Selina felt a bit conscious at being wheeled like a baby, but Ruth was too merry to permit anything but joy to prevail.
Ruth turned the chair into a path that ran along the brook, and chatted merrily until Aunt Selina forgot herself in listening. At the end of the path stood a rustic summer-house from which could be seen the wide expanse of meadow and woodland. Having reached this spot, Ruth placed the chair so her aunt could look about and admire her beautiful lands.
“Flutey, don’t you ever go to church on Sunday mornings?” asked Ruth.
“The only church is so far away that I would have to drive for half an hour to reach it; then, too, it is not a denomination that I approve of,” she replied, coolly.
But a little thing like a cold reply or a curt tone never daunted Ruth when she was after any particular information.
“What is the difference between one denomination and another? I don’t exactly know the meaning of that word, but I know it means something about churches.”
“Well, some churches believe in worshipping God one way and some in another. These different beliefs are called ‘denominations.’ Now, all of our family were brought up to believe the Baptist manner of worship to be the only true one, and this church at Greenfields is Presbyterian. Of course, everyone knows that pre-destination is all wrong,” said Aunt Selina emphatically.
Ruth’s eyes opened wider and wider as she listened, for she had been taught a very simple faith. She had been told that to live and follow the “Golden Rule” was the highest form of obedience, and that it was true worship. So she answered quietly:
“I love Jesus, and I believe he taught everyone the same way, and I believe he just loved everybody the same way.”
“We will not discuss religion, Ruth. Just keep on thinking and doing as Mother has taught you.”
“Well, I was only going to say, that as we cannot go to church such a lovely morning, we might sit here and thank God for all these fields,” explained Ruth.
Aunt Selina looked about the land in the light of a new revelation.
“I was thinking,” continued Ruth, “how I should love to have this farm near Oakdale. I could come over so often to tell you what we are doing, and then, too, you could use all of that wonderful woodland for Blue Birds’ Camps in the summer.”
Aunt Selina looked across the fields and woods but said nothing, so Ruth continued.
“When the two Ferris children came out to Mrs. Mason’s farm, they were so happy to see real flowers and grass that they soon got well and strong. That made me wish that I had hundreds of farms just like it where sick children could go and get well. That was one thing that made the Oakdale folks help get the hundred city poor children out to our country for a few weeks in August and the lovely time the children had made everyone wish to do bigger things this next summer. Nothing has really been planned yet, but everyone is trying to think of some way to do something. This morning when I saw this wonderful farm and so few folks to live on it, I just wished it was near Oakdale so a big crowd of poor children could enjoy it next summer.”
As Ruth concluded and looked wistfully over the fertile land, her aunt sat thinking for a time, then answered.
“Fluff, I determined to be a Blue Bird with all of my heart and soul. Now, we can’t move this farm over to Oakdale, but the city children can be moved out to this farm! You can do the planning from Oakdale, and I can look after them when they get here.”
Ruth gasped in amazement at the splendid idea, then jumped up and down with delight while she shouted aloud.
“Oh, oh! Flutey! that is great! Why, just think of all the streets full of poor children who can enjoy these wonderful woods!”
Aunt Selina winced at the word “street children,” but she spoke with determination.
“I suppose we would have to build some sort of little houses, or temporary camps for them to sleep in, and a long shed in which to serve the meals. It will need a lot of planning.”
“Dear me, I wish we could run and ask mother about it,” murmured Ruth, impatiently. “Now, if you were only visiting me instead of me being here with you!”
“If I had gone to you, you might never have had the idea of using these woods for the children,” ventured her aunt.
“No, that’s so,” admitted Ruth. “And we can go back to the house and write all our plans down on paper and send them to mother, can’t we?”
Aunt Selina consenting, Ruth wheeled the chair back to the house. When they reached the steps the invalid felt so strong that she lifted herself out of the chair and climbed up the low steps with only Ruth to lean upon.
“Why, I never felt a twinge in my joints all this time! I never knew rheumatism to disappear so quickly as it has this time,” she said, as she sank down in a low chair.
“Let’s hope it won’t come back again,” added Ruth. “If it stays away you could pack up and go to Oakdale with me, couldn’t you?”
Aunt Selina, who never visited and seldom left her home, looked horrified for a moment. But Ruth continued innocently,
“We could get all of mother’s advice for the farm plans besides seeing father and being home with him!”
Sally, who had seen Miss Selina coming up the steps without a cane, thought some miracle had been performed. So, wishing to hear all about it, she hurried out with the announcement that dinner was almost ready.
“Dinner! Why, Sally, we just finished breakfast. I’m sure I don’t want anything to eat so soon,” replied Miss Selina.
“It’s pas’ one o’clock, Miss S’lina, an’ you allus likes de meals to be on time,” ventured Sally.
“I’m sure I feel as if it was dinner time, ’cause I’m so hungry,” added Ruth, who always had a healthy appetite.
Aunt Selina laughed indulgently as she rose and limped slowly indoors.
Immediately after dinner Ruth hurried to the library and brought forth a pencil and paper. Meeting her aunt in the hall she said, “Now, we’ll sit down and put all of our plans on paper.”
The greater part of the afternoon was passed in this engrossing work.
That night Aunt Selina again sought her bed with a great sense of gratitude that she could enjoy the rest without any pain. She slept all through the night and awoke in the morning feeling strong and energetic. Almost every trace of her lameness had disappeared.
The mail lay upon a silver tray beside her plate, and she smiled as she handed two letters to Ruth.
“May I read them, Flutey?” asked Ruth, as soon as she had peeped at the post marks.
Aunt Selina nodded, and Ruth tore open the one from the Blue Birds first, saying in an explanatory tone, “I like to leave the best for the last.”
The Blue Birds had written her because they promised to do so, but there had not been time for anything of importance to happen, so Ruth laid aside their short note and took up her mother’s letter. The first sentence made her gasp, and at the second, she giggled outright. Aunt Selina waited patiently to hear the news.
“Just think, Flutey, I didn’t miss father, anyway—and just see all we have accomplished by my coming here to you! Mother writes that she had a telegram from father late Saturday night, saying the steamer was detained at quarantine on account of some suspects in the steerage who seemed to have symptoms of yellow fever. He is not sure when they will get off, but he will wire mother each day they are detained.”
Aunt Selina nodded understandingly, and Ruth continued: “Wish you and I could be there to welcome father when he comes! Flutey, you are so well this morning, don’t you think you could go with me in our automobile, if we traveled very carefully?”
Her aunt was so aghast at the proposition that she failed to answer, and Ruth continued, believing that she was thinking it over.
“You see, Flutey, we really need to get to the Blue Birds and mother to talk over this fine farm plan, and I am sure the visit will do you a heap of good, for I have heard folks say that a change is a great thing when you have been sick and tired of the same things about you.”
Still Aunt Selina said not a word, so Ruth returned to her letter to read it aloud. As she did so, her aunt sent a covert glance at Sally’s direction to see what effect Ruth’s invitation had had upon the old servant. But Sally, the wise, appeared not to have overheard a word.
Later, as Ruth stood beside her aunt’s rocker on the veranda, she again broached the subject.
“Flutey, the air is so warm and balmy like it always is in Indian summer, and our car is so comfy, you wouldn’t know but what you were in an easy chair. I don’t see why you can’t come home with me.”
“Fluff, do you know, that I could almost say ‘Yes, I will go,’ for I think I would like to see all of your little friends, but I really wouldn’t know what to do with the house if I went away on a visit,” said Aunt Selina.
“Goodness me! The house won’t run away. What does it do when you are sick in bed and can’t walk about to look after it? It can go on just the same when you are in Oakdale as when you are in bed,” replied practical Ruth.
Never before had Aunt Selina been brought face to face with the fact that Sally was the actual manager. She began to feel a certain resentment against her faithful old servant, and then she thought what a relief it was to have someone upon whom she could depend.
“I never did ride in one of those machines, dearie. I have said that I never would. I always use my victoria, or coupé,” she observed.
“You never rode in an automobile! Why, Flutey, you have the treat of your life waiting, then,” exclaimed Ruth, surprised. “It only goes to show how careful we should be about saying things we are not sure of; now, you see, you are going to ride in an auto and so prove to yourself that you were wrong.”
Ruth took for granted that the visit and method of traveling had been decided upon, and, after some more futile excuses, Aunt Selina was won over to considering going the next day if it were clear.
“But the sky looks cloudy, Fluff, and your mother may not spare the car to-morrow,” she objected, making a last brave stand against the persistent little girl.
“Oh, no, those clouds are not rain clouds—they are wind and mother would borrow Mrs. Catlin’s car if she had to go anywhere rather than disappoint me by not sending Ike with ours,” replied Ruth, very certain of her mother’s loving coöperation.
“Well, I shall have to break the news to Sally and see if she can spare me for a few days,” sighed her aunt, tingling with anticipation at the unusual event, but loath to forego the hope that her presence was necessary at home.
“I’ll run and ask her to come here at once, so we can telegraph mother about the car,” said Ruth, as she ran to call Sally.
One never had to go far to find Sally, for wherever Miss Selina was, there would Sally be found hovering about, also. Ruth caught hold of the plump brown hand and dragged her out to the piazza.
When the important question was put before her, Sally was diplomatic enough to stand considering whether the household could possibly be managed without the mistress. After some time, she said, “If it t’want dat dis wisit is jus’ what you need to put you on yer feet, I would say, ‘I don’ see how we’all kin manage.’ But, seein’ dat all de fruit is dun up an’ de fall house-cleanin’ not yet due, I adwise you to be shore an’ go an’ fin’ healin’ in de change of air.”
Aunt Selina was so pleased at Sally’s answer that she told her to help Ruth telegraph at once for the car. Sally bowed and hurried away to the telephone where the message was sent to Greenfields to be wired to Mrs. Talmage.
The rest of the day was spent in pleasant excitement, with Ruth and her aunt wondering what to pack in the small steamer trunk, while the whole household felt the unusual stir of their mistress’ going away for a visit.
That evening an answering telegram came saying that Ike would leave Oakdale at dawn in the morning so as to get to Happy Hills by noon. If they were ready to start back at once they could arrive at Mossy Glen before night set in.
Ruth was so joyous over the happy termination of her visit that she could hardly stand still long enough for Sally to tie her hair ribbon. As for Aunt Selina, she looked from her bedroom windows before retiring, anxiously scanning the sky for any possible rain clouds. She felt as excited as a child over its first journey away from home. Seeing the sky a deep blue with myriads of stars gleaming down at her, she smiled and turned out the light.
Ike arrived earlier than expected, for he made record time from Oakdale.
“Ike, do the Blue Birds know I’m coming?” she asked.
“Sure thing, Miss Ruth,” replied Ike.
“And Ned—did he miss me?” queried the little girl.
“Master Ned, he went ’round like a bear wid a sore head. He was just lost without the head of the Blue Birds,” grinned Ike.
“And mother—and Ike, father? Did father wonder why I left without seeing him,” half-whispered Ruth.
Ike dropped his wrench and stood up.
“Why, Miss Ruth, I forgot to tell you! Mr. Ta’mage ain’t home yet. A wire came late last night saying he expected to get off the boat to-day, so they are looking for him this noon.”
“Oh, oh, Ike! how could you keep such grand news from me all this time!” exclaimed Ruth, racing indoors to tell her aunt.
When Ike said he was ready to start, Aunt Selina and Ruth were helped to the comfortable seat and robes were tucked in about them, while the servants stood in a semi-circle about the car, smiling and nodding good-byes.
Ike honked the siren for the benefit of the servants, then started the easy-running machine.
Aunt Selina felt so very comfortable that she admitted the fact to Ruth.
“I never knew these cars were so easy-riding.”
After passing a stretch of bad road Ike put on more speed and Aunt Selina leaned forward to admonish him.
“Don’t go fast enough to be dangerous! Are we going about eight miles an hour?”
Ike smiled to himself as he heard the question.
“We’re travelin’ a bit more than eight, ma’am. I s’pose you are ’customed to that speed from drivin’ horses?”
“Yes, that’s it. I never like to go faster than that rate, but you are not going too fast, yet. Be sure to slow up going around corners—we might run into someone,” she returned, settling herself comfortably back in the robes.
Ike promised to be most careful, but dared not hint at the actual speed they were traveling, and would have to keep up, to enable them to reach Oakdale before night.
With the sun shining brightly, and the beautiful autumn coloring in the foliage, the journey was most enjoyable.
About six o’clock the car reached Mason’s farm and Ruth told her aunt that there the first little city children lived all summer. Next, the car passed Betty’s home, but no one was in sight, although Ruth watched for Betty to appear. Mrs. Catlin’s beautiful home on the hill was pointed out to the interested old lady, and then Ike turned off of the main road and drove along the woodland road that ran by the swimming pool. Ruth told all about it, and hoped the Nest in the cherry-tree could be seen in the twilight.
Ike stopped under the old tree and Ruth spied all of the Blue Birds in the Nest. She jumped out to greet them and they ran down the steps to crowd about her. Aunt Selina was introduced and received a quaint little curtsey from each child. Then the children said good-night and Ike drove on to the house.
There, on the lower step, stood the long-looked-for father, and the moment Ruth saw him, she gave a cry of joy. Mrs. Talmage and Ned stood back in the shadow to enjoy Ruth’s first sight of her father.
After the greetings were over, Aunt Selina was made to feel quite at home in the cheery library until dinner was announced. The travelers were too tired to dress for dinner, so they were soon seated about the table and the conversation naturally turned to Blue Bird talk.
Ruth went to bed soon after dinner, for the day had been tiresome, and Aunt Selina also felt the need of rest. She admitted that she enjoyed the trip very much, but her old bones felt the strain of the long day.