CHAPTER XVII.
THE NEW HOME.
Many weeks passed by after Johnny’s death, during which several important changes took place in the Greyson family, but Hesper was unconscious of them all, for she was very sick. Her youthful strength had been so overburdened with care and anxiety, that she sank beneath it, and a long and dangerous illness was the result. She knew nothing of the comforts and conveniences by which she was surrounded, or who they were that watched so faithfully by her bed-side. To her the passing time was one long, dark, troubled dream to which she saw no ending.
It happened at last, however, that one clear, bright, winter morning, she awoke from a peaceful slumber, and opened her eyes as it were on a new life. She gazed about her in silent wonder, but saw nothing that would remind her of the past. The neat and prettily furnished room which she occupied, was altogether new to her. The bed, with its covering and curtains of beautifully flowered chintz—the nice carpet—the cozy fire burning in the grate, and the picture of Christ with Mary sitting at his feet, above the chimney-piece, all seemed like objects in a dream. There was only one thing which had a familiar look, and that was a great rose-bush, in full bloom, which stood in the window seat, with the morning sunshine falling brightly upon it.
“O dear!” sighed Hesper, “I fear that this will all vanish, and the dark, terrible night come again.” Then she remembered of having heard said—when and where she could not tell—that some people believe that when they die, they come into a world where everything is so much like the one they have left, that they cannot realize they have passed through the change called death. So Hesper thought perhaps this had happened to her, for she could scarce recollect anything of the past.
The sound of some one moving near her, attracted her attention, and she was about to stretch out her arm to draw the bed-curtain aside, when she found that she was scarce able to move, and the sight of her own hand, so pale and wasted, greatly surprised her. In a few moments a door was opened, and some one asked, in a low tone—
“How is she this morning?”
“More comfortable, I think,” was the reply. “Father says that this sleep she has fallen into, is very refreshing, and he hopes she will be rational when she comes out of it.” The curtains were then drawn aside, and Hesper saw Kate Smiley’s fair, sweet face, bending over her, while near by stood Mrs. Grimsby with her bonnet and shawl on. She had her old wash gown under her arm, as usual, for she was going out to work, and had only stopped in a moment to inquire about Hesper.
“Where am I?” said Hesper, “and where are all the folks, and what has happened to me?”
“O!” exclaimed Kate, “she is wide awake, and quite herself again! Dear girl! How glad I am! Do you know that you have been very sick—so that we scarce thought you would live? Father said you would certainly die if you stayed where you were, so he had you and the family brought to this house, where you could be more comfortable, and Alice and I could care for you. Now I am so glad that you are better that I must run and tell father directly.”
She left the room, and Mrs. Grimsby sat down on the side of the bed.
“Hesper,” said she, “I cannot tell you how lonely we have been since your folks moved from our house. Juliana cries every day about it, and I never felt so sorry for anything in my life, for now I suppose since you have got into such a nice place, and have such fine friends to care for you, that you will forget all about us.”
“O Mrs. Grimsby!” said Hesper, “wasn’t you a friend to me in my greatest need? and didn’t you do for me what no one else could? No: I never shall forget you as long as I live”—and with her slender white fingers, she affectionately clasped the great toil-hardened hand which rested on the bed beside her, Mrs. Grimsby raised her checked apron and wiped away the tears which were flowing freely down her cheeks.
“There!” she said, as she started up with an effort to be cheerful, and drew her shawl around her, “I won’t be a child! but really, Hesper, I care more about such little things than any one would suppose.”
“Then don’t let that thought trouble you any longer” said Hesper, “but send Juliana and the boys to see me, and kiss little Tommy for me, for I shall always love you, and shall come to see you as soon as I am able.”
“That is all I ask,” said Mrs. Grimsby. “Good bye, darling. Be very careful of yourself”—and she left the room with a light step and smiling countenance.
Although Hesper was very much better, the doctor would scarce allow any one to enter the room for several days. Her mother stole in now and then, and Hesper was astonished to see how, fast she had improved under the doctor’s good, management, though she was still very weak and feeble. The poor girl thought she would like to see her father, and yet she dared not ask to, for he always appeared so cold and distant, and had so often spoken unkindly to her, that she had a secret dread of meeting him.
One evening, however, when she felt much brighter than usual, and was sitting up in bed, supported by her pillows, her mother came and told her that if she felt able, her father would like to speak with her. Hesper assented, and her heart beat violently, when, in a few moments after, she heard the sound of his approaching footsteps. With a half frightened look, she glanced up at his face as he bent over her. There were tears in his eyes, and his voice trembled as he spoke.
“God bless you, my precious child!” he said—“I cannot tell you how impatiently I have been waiting to see you, for I never knew how dear you were until I feared you would be taken from me.” He raised her gently in his arms, and drawing her close to his bosom, kissed her again and again. Hesper felt that the cup of her happiness was full. How pleasant it was to be resting in her father’s arms, while his tears mingled with her own. It seemed as if the prayer which she had so often repeated—“Let thy kingdom come”—was now fully answered, for the peace and joy of heaven was in her heart, and all her father’s past unkindness was forgotten.
“Hesper,” he said, “I have prayed night and day that God would spare you; for often, when I have observed your faith and patience, I have longed that you should love me as you did others, and I want to show how much I can love you in return.” Hesper’s pale cheek was pressed close to his—
“Father, I always have loved you,” she said, “but I never could say so till now.”
“I do not doubt it, my dear child,” he replied. He laid her gently upon her pillow again, and taking a seat beside her, he talked to her a long time about little Johnny—the letters they had received from Mose—their new home, with the fine large garden in the rear, which they would all take so much pleasure in cultivating when the spring opened, and many other things, to which Hesper listened with the deepest interest; and when he left her, she felt so tranquil and happy, that she sank into a pleasant sleep, which seemed to do her more good than all the medicine she had taken.
After this, she improved so rapidly that she was soon able to talk with all who visited her, and she was astonished to find how many kind friends she had. Among others, George and Benny Grimsby made their appearance, with their clothes neatly brushed, and their faces as clean and bright as soap and water could make them. At first the boys were very awkward, and scarce knew what to say, but Hesper soon touched an answering chord.
“Well, George,” said she, “I had a letter from Mose to-day, and he wrote that I must tell you, he had bought a real Guinea monkey.”
George opened wide both mouth and eyes, as he gazed at her in breathless attention, and Benny immediately drew his thumb from his mouth, where it had been, ever since he entered.
“He says, too,” continued Hesper, “that he means to teach him a great many comical tricks before he comes home, and then, if you have been good boys, you shall have him for your own.”
“Don’t you think we have been?” exclaimed George—“we did all we could to help your father when he moved, and we have been up here every day since you were sick to see how you were, and mother says she doesn’t know what she should do without us.”
“Yes,” said Hesper, “I don’t know of any better boys in town, and I will tell Mose so when he comes home.”
The boys looked very much gratified, and they continued talking about their expected present with great animation, until aunt Betsey came in, who looked so sharply at them, that they thought it was time to be going. They lingered at the door however, and in a whisper begged of Hesper a parting kiss. With many a side-long glance at aunt Betsey, they received the favor, which was readily granted, and departed perfectly satisfied.
“Fie!” said aunt Betsey, as she took off her moccasins and shook the snow from them against the grate—“I wouldn’t have such great lubberly boys kiss me; besides, I don’t think it will do you any good, listening to their noisy talk.”
“O,” said Hesper, “it is a real pleasure, now that I am so much better.”
“Well,” said aunt Betsey, “I am glad if you are, though I am sure, the night I watched with you, I hadn’t the least idea you would live till morning. I didn’t watch with you but one night, Hesper, for I was obliged to hurry so fast on my bed-quilt, that I could attend to nothing else.”
“Is it done yet?” asked Hesper.
“Done!” repeated aunt Betsey, as she closed her eyes, and leaning back in her chair, rocked nervously to and fro—“yes; don’t you know about it?”
“No;” said Hesper. “What is it?”
“Well, after working night and day, I finished it just in time for the great Exhibition. But, don’t you think! Mrs. Larkin sent in one which was considered a great deal the handsomest, and won the highest prize, while mine was hardly noticed. It was made of pieces only half as large as mine, put together in all sorts of fanciful figures. I said, when I looked at it, that it was a sin and a shame for people to waste so much time upon things which were of so little use. Mrs. Larkin had much better been making garments for the poor, or improving her mind by useful reading.”
“It is too bad,” said Hesper, in a sympathizing tone, for she knew that aunt Betsey must be greatly disappointed.
“So it is,” she replied, “for after all the time I have spent upon that bed-quilt, it is just good for nothing. I can’t bear the sight of it; and, Hesper, if you should ever live to be married, I will give it to you for a wedding present.”
Hesper thanked her for her good intentions, but she thought to herself that it was not at all likely she should ever marry, and if she did, she should not want a satin bed-quilt.