“And I can work like a Trojan to-morrow. Oh! mamma and Rose, there is something else—I hope you will think I have acted rightly about it.”
Then followed an account of the gift.
“I do not see how you could well have done differently. Miss Churchill was very kind and delicate.”
“Fan,” exclaimed papa as if waking out of a dream—“I think I do see the good seed. But some things are best to let grow by themselves. If you poke about the roots and snip off and tie up, you don’t get half the bloom and beauty. People like the Churchills might bring forth so much fruit. Perhaps it will come. The same God who made the gourd, made the century plant. Mother, couldn’t we have a quiet little hymn?”
It was a trick he had when there was any special thing on his mind. Mamma’s soft playing seemed to smooth out the tangles.
We sang with her, and then kissed each other good night.
The next day was ever so much better. Mamma had talked to both of the boys, and I think Louis did try to be patient and pleasant. Fan came in and helped entertain him while we both sewed. The dresses were sent with a note from Miss Churchill, and mamma thought them extremely pretty. We finished Fan’s pique all but the button holes, by night.
Just after tea Mrs. Day sent over. Mamma answered the summons and staid until ten, then she came home to tell us that the poor little life had gone out here, to blossom brighter elsewhere. She had washed it and dressed it for the last time, with her tender hands. Mrs. Downs had come to stay all night, for Mrs. Day was in violent hysterics.
Early Sunday morning the baby was buried. Three little graves in a row, and only Betty and Jem left. I stopped in Church just a moment to give thanks on my knees that our little flock were all alive and well.
“I wonder how you can take such an interest in everybody?” Louis said as I sat with him awhile that evening. “In one way your father and mother have a duty towards all in the parish, but—I don’t know as I can quite explain,—you seem to make their troubles and their pleasures your very own. And some of the people must be—very common, and quite ignorant—excuse me, but it is so all over the world.”