CHAPTER III.
THE BIRTHDAY.
"What sort of an expedition did you have, Daisy?" her father asked at breakfast next morning. Company the evening before had prevented any talk about it.
"Oh, very good, papa! It was as good as a fairy tale."
"Was it?" said Mr. Randolph. "I wonder what pitch of excellence that is. I don't remember ever finding a fairy tale very good to me."
"Did you ever read any, papa?"
"I don't know! Were you not tired with your long drive?"
"Oh, no, papa!"
"Would you like to go again?"
"Yes, papa, very much."
"You may go as often as you like only always let Sam be along."
"Did you find out what Mrs. Parsons wants?" said Mrs.
Randolph.
"No, mamma she did not look as if she wanted anything, except to see me. And yet she is very poor, mamma."
At this speech Mr. Randolph burst into a round laugh, and even
Mrs. Randolph seemed amused.
"Did she look as if she wanted to see you, Daisy?"
"Papa, I think she did," said Daisy, colouring; "she said so at any rate; but I could not find out what else she would like."
"Daisy, I think she showed very good taste," said Mr. Randolph, drawing his little daughter into his arms; "but it would be safe to take something else with you when you go."
"Your birthday is next week, Daisy," said her mother; "and your aunt Gary and your cousins will be here. What would you like to have, to celebrate the day?"
"I don't know, mamma," said Daisy, returning her father's kisses.
"You may have what you please, if you will think and tell me."
"Mamma, may I talk to Nora Dinwiddie about it?"
"Nonsense! What for?"
"Only to consult, mamma."
"Consult Ransom. He would be a much better help to you."
Daisy looked sober, and said nothing.
"Why not?" said Mr. Randolph. "Why not consult your brother?"
"Papa," said Daisy slowly, "Ransom and I do not understand each other."
"Don't you," said her father, laughing; "what is the cause of that, Daisy?"
Daisy was not very willing to answer, but being pressed by both father and mother, she at length spoke. "I think, papa, it is because he understands so many other things."
Mr. Randolph was excessively amused. "Ransom!" he called out to the hall.
"Please, papa, don't!" said Daisy.
"Ransom! come here. What is this? your sister says you do not understand her."
"Well, papa," said Ransom, an exceedingly handsome and bright- looking boy, and a great pet of his mother, "there are things that are not deep enough to be understood."
Daisy's lips opened eagerly and then closed again.
"Girls always use magnifying glasses where themselves are concerned!" went on Ransom, whose dignity seemed to be excited.
"Hush, hush!" said his father, "take yourself off, it you cannot maintain civility. And your mother does not like fishing-tackle at the breakfast-table go! I believe," he said as Ransom bounded away, "I believe conceit is the normal condition of boyhood."
"I am sure," said Mrs. Randolph, "girls have enough of it and women too."
"I suppose it would be rash to deny that," said Mr. Randolph. "Daisy, I think I understand you. I do not require so much depth as is necessary for Ransom's understanding to swim in."
"If you do not deny it, it would be well not to forget it," said Mrs. Randolph; while Daisy, still in her father's arms, was softly returning his caresses.
"What shall we do on your birthday, Daisy." said her father, without seeming to heed this remark.
"Papa, I will think about it. Mamma, do you like I should talk to Nora about it?"
"By all means!" said Mr. Randolph; "send for her and hold a grand council. Your mother can have no objection."
Daisy did not feel quite so sure of that; but at any rate she made none, and a messenger was sent to ask Nora to come that afternoon. All the morning Daisy was engaged with her mother, going to make a visit to some friends that lived a long way off. It was not till the afternoon was growing cool and pleasant that she was released from dinner and dressing and free to go with her Bible to her favourite reading place; or rather one of her favourites; a garden seat under a thick oak. The oak stood alone on a knoll looking over a beautiful spread of grassy sward that sloped and rolled away to a distant edge of thicket. Other noble trees dotted the ground here and there; some fine cattle showed their red and white heads, standing or lying about in the shade. Above the distant thicket, far, far away, rose the heads of great blue mountains. The grass had just been mown, in part; and a very sweet smell from the hay floated about under the trees around the house. Daisy's tree however was at some distance from the house. In the absolute sweet quiet, Daisy and her Bible took possession of the place. The Bible had grown a wonderful book to her now. It was the book of the commandments of the Great King whose servant she felt herself. Now every word would tell her of something she must do, or not do; all sweet to Daisy; for she felt she loved the King, and His commandments were good to her. This time she got very much interested in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, in the parable of the talents. But she wished she could have had Mr. Dinwiddie to tell her a little better exactly what it meant. Some of its meaning she understood; and remembering Mr. Dinwiddie's words, she prayed with clasped hands and a very earnest little heart, that the Lord would "make her know what all her talents were and help her to make good use of them." Then Daisy went on studying.
In the midst of her studies, a light step bounded down through the shrubbery from the house, and Daisy had hardly raised her head when Nora was at her side. There was room for her on the seat, and after a glad greeting the children sat down together, to talk much joyful talk and tell childish news, in the course of which Daisy's perplexities came out, for which she had wanted Nora's counsel. She explained that she could have precisely what she chose, in the way of merry-making for her birthday. Daisy spoke about it seriously, as a weighty and important matter; and so Nora took it up, with a face of great eagerness.
"You can have just what you like, Daisy?" Daisy nodded. "Oh, what have you thought of, Daisy?"
"What would be nicest, Nora?"
"I'll tell you what I should have I should have a party."
"A party!"
"Yes, that is what I should have."
"I never thought of that. Who would you ask, Nora? I thought of a pic-nic; and of a great journey to Schroeder's Mountain; that would be nice; to spend the whole day, you know."
"Yes, that would be nice: but I should have a party. Oh, there are plenty to have. There is Kitty Marsden."
"I don't know Kitty Marsden, much" said Daisy.
"And Ella Stanfield."
"I like Ella Stanfield" said Daisy, sedately.
"And there are the Fishes."
"I don't like Mrs. Fish's children very well; when Alexander and Ransom get together, they make a great deal of disturbance!"
"Oh, we needn't mind their disturbance," said Nora; and she went on discussing the plan and the advantages of the party. Suddenly Daisy broke in with a new subject. "Nora, you know the story of the servants with the talents, in the New Testament?"
"Yes " said Nora, with open eyes; "I know."
"Do you know what it means? the talents, I mean; of course I know what the rest means; but do you know what the talents are? Is it just money? because then you and I have very little indeed; and all the servants had something."
"Why, Daisy, what made you think of that just now? we were talking about the party."
"I have been thinking of it all the while," said Daisy. "I was reading it do you know what it means, Nora?"
"But we were talking about the party!" said Nora.
"Yes, but I want to understand this; and then we will go on about the party. If you know what it means."
"I have heard Duke explain it," said Nora, unwillingly coming to the graver subject.
"Well, what does he say it is? the talents, you know."
"Duke says it is everything anybody has. Not money, everything Now don't you think we can make up a nice party?"
"Everything, Nora? Just wait a little I want to know about this. What do you mean by 'everything'?"
"Are you studying for Sunday-school, Daisy? that isn't the lesson."
"No," said Daisy sorrowfully; "if I was, I could ask Mr. Dinwiddie. That's why I want you to help me, Nora; so think, and tell me what he said."
"Well, that," said Nora, "he said that; he said the talents meant everything God has given people to work with for Him."
"What could they work with besides money?" said Daisy.
"Why, everything, Duke says; all they've got; their tongues and their hands and their feet, and all they know, and all their love for people; and even the way we do things, our studies and all, Marmaduke says. What do you want to know for, Daisy?"
"I was thinking about it," answered Daisy, evasively. "Wait a minute, Nora, I want to write it down, for fear I should forget something."
"What are you going to do?" exclaimed Nora. "Are you going to teach a class yourself?"
Daisy did not answer, while she was writing down with a pencil what Nora had said, and making her repeat it for that purpose. When she had done she looked a little dubiously off towards the woods, while Nora was surprised and disappointed into silence.
"I think perhaps I ought to tell you," was Daisy's slow conclusion. "I want to know what this means, that I may do it, Nora."
"Do it?"
"Yes," said Daisy, turning her quiet eyes full upon her companion "I want to try to please God. I love the Lord Jesus."
Nora was very much confounded, and looked at Daisy as if a gap in the ground had suddenly separated them.
"So," Daisy went on, "as I have talents to use, I want to know what they are, for fear I shouldn't use them all. I don't understand it yet, but I will think about it. Now we will go on about the party if you like."
"But, Daisy," said Nora.
"What?"
"Are you in earnest?"
"Certainly I am in earnest," said Daisy gravely. "What makes you ask me? Don't you think your brother is in earnest?"
"Marmaduke! oh yes, but you never told me of it before."
"I didn't know it till yesterday," said Daisy simply, "that I loved the Lord Jesus; but I know I do now, and I am very glad; and I am going to be His servant."
Her little face was very sweet and quiet as she looked at her little neighbour and said these words; but Nora was utterly confounded, and so nearly dismayed that she was silent; and it was not till several invitations in Daisy's usual manner had urged her, that she was able to get upon the subject of the party again, and to discuss it with any spirit. The discussion then did not come to any determination. Daisy was at least lukewarm in her fancy for that mode of spending her birthday; and separate plans of pic-nics and expeditions of pleasure were taken up and handled, sure to be thrown aside by Nora for the greater promise and splendour of the home entertainment. They broke up at last without deciding upon anything, except that Nora should come again to talk about it, and should at all events have and give her share in whatever the plan for the day might be.
Perhaps Daisy watched her opportunity, perhaps it came; but at all events she seized the first chance that she saw to speak with her father in private. He was sauntering out the next morning after breakfast. Daisy joined him, and they strolled along through the grounds, giving here and there directions to the gardener, till they came near one of the pleasant rustic seats, under the shade of a group of larches.
"Papa, suppose we sit down here for a moment and let us look about us."
"Well, Daisy," said her father, who knew by experience what was likely to follow.
"Papa," said Daisy as they sat down, "I want to ask you about something."
"What is it?"
"When I was in the chaise, driving Loupe the other clay, papa,
I heard something that I could not understand."
"Did you?"
"It was two men that passed me on the road; I heard one say to the other as I went by, that it was your carriage, and then he said that 'Randolph's folks were a good deal stuck up;' what did he mean, papa?"
"Nothing of any consequence, Daisy."
"But why did he say it, papa?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I did not understand it nor like it, papa; I wanted to know what he meant."
"It is hardly worth talking about, Daisy. It is the way those who have not enough in the world are very apt to talk of others who are better off than themselves."
"Why, papa?"
"They were poor men, I suppose, weren't they."
"Yes; papa working men."
"That class of people, my dear, are very apt to have a grudge against the rich."
"For what, papa?"
"For being able to live better than they do."
"Why, papa! do poor people generally feel so?"
"Very often, I think. They do not generally speak it out aloud."
"Then, papa," said Daisy, speaking slowly, "how do you know?
What makes you think they feel so?"
Her father smiled at her eagerness and gravity.
"I see it, Daisy, when they do not speak it. They show it in various ways. Besides, I know their habit of talking among themselves."
"But papa, that is very bad."
"What?"
"That poor people should feel so. I am sure rich people are their best friends."
Her father stroked her head fondly, and looked amused.
"They don't believe that, Daisy."
"But why don't they believe it, papa?" said Daisy, growing more and more surprised.
"I suppose," said Mr. Randolph, rising, "they would be better satisfied if I gave them my horses and went afoot." A speech which Daisy pondered and pondered and could make nothing of.
They walked on, Mr. Randolph making observations and giving orders now and then to workmen. Here a man was mowing under the shrubbery; there the gardener was setting out pots of greenhouse flowers; in another place there were holes digging for trees to be planted. Daisy went musing on while her father gave his orders, and when they were again safe out of hearing she spoke. "Papa, do you suppose Michael and Andrew and John, and all your own people, feel so about you?"
"I think it is likely, Daisy. I can't hope to escape better than my neighbours."
"But, papa, they don't look so, nor act so?"
"Not before me. They do not wish to lose their places."
"Papa, couldn't something be done to make them feel better."
"Why, Daisy," said her father laughing, "are you going to turn reformer!"
"I don't know what that is, papa."
"A thankless office, my dear. If you could make all the world wise, it would do, but fools are always angry with you for trying it."
The conversation ended, and left Daisy greatly mystified. Her father's people not liking him? the poor having ill-will against the rich, and a grudge against their pleasant things it was very melancholy! Daisy thought about it a great deal that day; and had a very great talk on the subject with Nora, who without a quarter of the interest had much more knowledge about it than Daisy. She had been with her brother sometimes to the houses of poor children, and she gave Daisy a high- coloured picture of the ways of living in such houses and the absence of many things by Daisy and herself thought the necessaries of life. Daisy heard her with a lengthening face, and almost thought there was some excuse for the state of feeling her father had explained in the morning. The question, however, was too long a one for Daisy; but she arrived at one conclusion, which was announced the next morning at the breakfast-table. Mrs. Randolph had called upon her to say what was determined upon for the birthday.
"Papa," said Daisy, "will there be a great plenty of strawberries next week?"
"Yes, I believe so. Logan says the vines are very full. What then?"
"Papa, you gave me my choice of what I would have for
Wednesday."
"Yes. Is it my strawberry patch?"
"Not for myself, papa. I want you to have a great table set out of doors somewhere, and give a feast to all your work people."
"Daisy!" exclaimed Mrs. Randolph. "I never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life!"
Daisy waited with downcast eyes for her father to speak. He was not in a hurry.
"Would that give you pleasure, Daisy?"
"Yes, papa."
"Did Nora Dinwiddie put that scheme in your head?" asked Mrs.
Randolph.
"She didn't like it at all, mamma. I put it into her head."
"Where did you get it?"
Daisy looked troubled and puzzled, and did not answer till her father said "Speak." Then, nestling up to him with her head on his breast, a favourite position, she said, "I got it from different sources, I think, papa."
"Let us hear, for instance."
"I think, partly from the Bible, papa and partly from what we were talking of yesterday."
"I wish you would show me where you found it in the Bible. I don't remember a strawberry feast there."
"Do you mean it in earnest, papa?"
"Yes."
Daisy walked off for a Bible not her own and after some trouble found a place which she showed her father; and he read aloud, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Mr. Randolph closed the book and laid it on the table, and drew his little daughter again within his arms.
"That child is in a way to get ruined!" said Mrs. Randolph, energetically.
"But Daisy, our work people are not lame or blind how will they do?" said her father.
"They are poor, papa. I would like to have the others too, but we can't have everybody."
Mr. Randolph kissed the little mouth that was lifted so near his own, and went on.
"Do you think then it is wrong to have our friends and neighbours? Shall we write to your aunt and cousins, and Gary McFarlane and Captain Drummond, to stay away?"
"No, papa," said Daisy, smiling, and her smile was very sweet, "you know I don't mean that. I would like to have them all; but I would like the feast made for the other people."
"You will let the rest of us have some strawberries?"
"If there are enough, papa. For that day, I would like the other people to have them."
Mr. Randolph seemed to find something as sweet as strawberries in Daisy's lips.
"It is the very most absurd plan I ever heard of!" repeated her mother.
"I am not sure that it is not a very good thing," remarked Mr.
Randolph.
"Is it expected that on that day we are to do without servants in the house, and wait upon ourselves? or are we expected to wait upon the party!"
"Oh, mamma," said Daisy, "it isn't the servants it's only the out-of-door people."
"How many will there be, Daisy?" said her father; "have you numbered them up?"
"Not yet, papa. There is Logan, and Michael, and Mr. Stilton, and the two under-gardeners "
"And four hay-makers."
"Hay-makers, papa?"
"Yes there will be four of them in the fields next week. And there is the herdsman and boy."
"And there is old Patrick at the gate. That is all, papa."
"And are the ladies of all these families to be invited?"
"Papa! What do you think?"
"I have no doubt there will be strawberries enough."
"But I am afraid there would be too many children. Logan has six, and Michael has four, and I believe the herdsman has some; and there are four at the Lodge. And Mr. Stilton has two."
"What shall we do with them, Daisy?"
"Papa, we can't have them. I should like to have the men and their wives come, I think, and send some strawberries home to the children. Wouldn't that do best?"
"Admirably. And you can drive over to Crum Elbow and purchase some suitable baskets. Take the chaise and Sam. I expect you to arrange everything. If you want help, come and consult me."
"If mamma will tell Joanna," said Daisy, looking somewhat doubtfully towards the other end of the table.
"I have nothing to do with it," said Mrs. Randolph. "I have no knowledge how to order such parties. You and Joanna may do what you please."
Daisy's eye went to her father.
"That will do, Daisy," said he. "You and Joanna can manage it.
You may have carte-blanche."
The earliest minute that she knew Joanna could attend to her, found Daisy in the housekeeper's room. Joanna was a tall, rather hard-featured woman, with skill and capacity in every line of her face however, and almost in every fold of her gown. She heard with a good deal of astonishment the project unfolded to her, and to Daisy's great delight gave it her unqualified approbation.
"It's a first-rate plan," said Joanna. "Now I like that. The men won't forget it. Where are you going to have the table set, Miss Daisy?"
"I don't know yet, Joanna. In some pretty, shady place, under the trees."
"Out-of-doors, eh!" said Joanna. " 'Well, I suppose that'll be as good a way as any. Now what are you going to have, Miss Daisy? what do you want of me?"
"Mamma and papa said I was to arrange it with you."
Joanna sat down and folded her arms to consider the matter.
"How many will there be?"
"I counted," said Daisy. "There will be about seventeen, with their wives, you know."
"Seventeen, wives and all?" said Joanna. "You'll have to get the carpenter or Mr. Stilton to make you a table."
"Yes, that's easy," said Daisy; "but Joanna, what shall we have on it? There will want to be a good deal, for seventeen people; and I want it handsome, you know."
"Of course," said Joanna, looking as if she were casting up the multiplication table "it'll have to be that, whatever else it, is. Miss Daisy, suppose you let me manage it and I'll see and have it all right. If you will give orders about the strawberries, and have the table made."
"I shall dress the table with flowers, Joanna."
"Yes well " said Joanna, "I don't know anything about flowers; but I'll have the cake ready, and everything else."
"And tea and coffee, Joanna?"
"Why, I never thought of that! yes, to be sure, they'll want something to drink who will pour it out, Miss Daisy?"
"I don't know. Won't you, Joanna?"
"Well I don't know " said the housekeeper, as if she were afraid of being taken on too fast by her little counsellor "I don't know as there's anything to hinder, as it's your birthday, Miss Daisy."
Away went Daisy delighted, having secured just what she wanted. The rest was easy. And Daisy certainly thought it was as promising an entertainment as she could have devised. It gave her a good deal of business. The table, and the place for the table, had to be settled with Mr. Stilton, and the invitations given, and many particulars settled; but to settle them was extremely pleasant, and Daisy found that every face of those concerned in the invitations wore a most golden glow of satisfaction when the thing was understood. Daisy was very happy. She hoped, besides the pleasantness of the matter, it would surely incline the hearts of her father's work-people to think kindly of him.