Her eye wandered to and fro, and brightened as it went; for though apoor, plain room it was as neat as hands could make it, and soglorified with sunshine that she thought it a lovely place, in spiteof the yellow paper with green cabbage roses on it, the gorgeousplaster statuary on the mantel-piece, and the fragrance ofdough-nuts which pervaded the air. Every thing suggested home life,humble but happy, and Christie's solitary heart warmed at the sightsand sounds about her.

 

　　A half open closet-door gave her glimpses of little frocks andjackets, stubby little shoes, and go-to-meeting hats all in a row.

 

　　From below came up the sound of childish voices chattering, childishfeet trotting to and fro, and childish laughter sounding sweetlythrough the Sabbath stillness of the place. From a room near by,came the soothing creak of a rocking-chair, the rustle of anewspaper, and now and then a scrap of conversation common-placeenough, but pleasant to hear, because so full of domestic love andconfidence; and, as she listened, Christie pictured Mrs. Wilkins andher husband taking their rest together after the week's hard workwas done.

 

　　"I wish I could stay here; it's so comfortable and home-like. Iwonder if they wouldn't let me have this room, and help me to findsome better work than sewing? I'll get up and ask them," thoughtChristie, feeling an irresistible desire to stay, and strongrepugnance to returning to the room she had left, for, as Racheltruly said, it was haunted for her.

 

　　When she opened the door to go down, Mrs. Wilkins bounced out of herrocking-chair and hurried to meet her with a smiling face, sayingall in one breath:

 

　　"Good mornin', dear! Rested well, I hope? I'm proper glad to hearit. Now come right down and have your dinner. I kep it hot, for Icouldn't bear to wake you up, you was sleepin' so beautiful.""I was so worn out I slept like a baby, and feel like a newcreature. It was so kind of you to take me in, and I'm so grateful Idon't know how to show it," said Christie, warmly, as her hostessponderously descended the complaining stairs and ushered her intothe tidy kitchen from which tubs and flat-irons were banished oneday in the week.

 

　　"Lawful sakes, the' ain't nothing to be grateful for, child, andyou're heartily welcome to the little I done. We are country folksin our ways, though we be livin' in the city, and we have a reg'larcountry dinner Sundays. Hope you'll relish it; my vittles is cleanef they ain't rich."As she spoke, Mrs. Wilkins dished up baked beans, Indian-pudding,and brown bread enough for half a dozen. Christie was hungry now,and ate with an appetite that delighted the good lady who vibratedbetween her guest and her children, shut up in the "settin'-room.""Now please let me tell you all about myself, for I am afraid youthink me something better than I am. If I ask help from you, it isright that you should know whom you are helping," said Christie,when the table was cleared and her hostess came and sat down besideher.

 

　　"Yes, my dear, free your mind, and then we'll fix things up rightsmart. Nothin' I like better, and Lisha says I have considerable ofa knack that way," replied Mrs. Wilkins, with a smile, a nod, and anair of interest most reassuring.

 

　　So Christie told her story, won to entire confidence by thesympathetic face opposite, and the motherly pats so gently given bythe big, rough hand that often met her own. When all was told,Christie said very earnestly:

 

　　"I am ready to go to work to-morrow, and will do any thing I canfind, but I should love to stay here a little while, if I could; Ido so dread to be alone. Is it possible? I mean to pay my board ofcourse, and help you besides if you'll let me."Mrs. Wilkins glowed with pleasure at this compliment, and leaningtoward Christie, looked into her face a moment in silence, as if totest the sincerity of the wish. In that moment Christie saw whatsteady, sagacious eyes the woman had; so clear, so honest that shelooked through them into the great, warm heart below, and lookingforgot the fuzzy, red hair, the paucity of teeth, the faded gown,and felt only the attraction of a nature genuine and genial as thesunshine dancing on the kitchen floor.

 

　　Beautiful souls often get put into plain bodies, but they cannot behidden, and have a power all their own, the greater for theunconsciousness or the humility which gives it grace. Christie sawand felt this then, and when the homely woman spoke, listened to herwith implicit confidence.

 

　　"My dear, I'd no more send you away now than I would my Adelaide,for you need looking after for a spell, most as much as she doos.

 

　　You've been thinkin' and broodin' too much, and sewin' yourself todeath. We'll stop all that, and keep you so busy there won't be notime for the hypo. You're one of them that can't live alone withoutstarvin' somehow, so I'm jest goin' to turn you in among themchildren to paster, so to speak. That's wholesome and fillin' foryou, and goodness knows it will be a puffect charity to me, for I'mgoin' to be dreadful drove with gettin' up curtins and all manner ofthings, as spring comes on. So it ain't no favor on my part, and youcan take out your board in tendin' baby and putterin' over themlittle tykes.""I should like it so much! But I forgot my debt to Mrs. Flint;perhaps she won't let me go," said Christie, with an anxious cloudcoming over her brightening face.

 

　　"Merciful, suz! don't you be worried about her. I'll see to her, andef she acts ugly Lisha 'll fetch her round; men can always settlesuch things better'n we can, and he's a dreadful smart man Lisha is.

 

　　We'll go to-morrer and get your belongins, and then settle rightdown for a spell; and by-an'-by when you git a trifle more chipperwe'll find a nice place in the country some'rs. That's what youwant; nothin' like green grass and woodsy smells to right folks up.

 

　　When I was a gal, ef I got low in my mind, or riled in my temper, Ijest went out and grubbed in the gardin, or made hay, or walked agood piece, and it fetched me round beautiful. Never failed; so Icome to see that good fresh dirt is fust rate physic for folk'sspirits as it is for wounds, as they tell on.""That sounds sensible and pleasant, and I like it. Oh, it is sobeautiful to feel that somebody cares for you a little bit, and youain't one too many in the world," sighed Christie.

 

　　"Don't you never feel that agin, my dear. What's the Lord for ef Heain't to hold on to in times of trouble. Faith ain't wuth much efit's only lively in fair weather; you've got to believe hearty andstan' by the Lord through thick and thin, and He'll stan' by you asno one else begins to. I remember of havin' this bore in upon me bysomethin' that happened to a man I knew. He got blowed up in apowder-mill, and when folks asked him what he thought when the bustcome, he said, real sober and impressive: 'Wal, it come through me,like a flash, that I'd served the Lord as faithful as I knew how fora number a years, and I guessed He'd fetch me through somehow, andHe did.' Sure enough the man warn't killed; I'm bound to confess hewas shook dreadful, but his faith warn't."Christie could not help smiling at the story, but she liked it, andsincerely wished she could imitate the hero of it in his piety, nothis powder. She was about to say so when the sound of approachingsteps announced the advent of her host. She had been ratherimpressed with the "smartness" of Lisha by his wife's praises, butwhen a small, sallow, sickly looking man came in she changed hermind; for not even an immensely stiff collar, nor a pair of bootsthat seemed composed entirely of what the boys call "creak leather,"could inspire her with confidence.

 

　　Without a particle of expression in his yellow face, Mr. Wilkinsnodded to the stranger over the picket fence of his collar, lightedhis pipe, and clumped away to enjoy his afternoon promenade withoutcompromising himself by a single word.

 

　　His wife looked after him with an admiring gaze as she said:

 

　　"Them boots is as good as an advertisement, for he made every stitchon 'em himself;" then she added, laughing like a girl: "It'sredick'lus my bein' so proud of Lisha, but ef a woman ain't a rightto think wal of her own husband, I should like to know who has!"Christie was afraid that Mrs. Wilkins had seen her disappointment inher face, and tried, with wifely zeal, to defend her lord from evena disparaging thought. Wishing to atone for this transgression shewas about to sing the praises of the wooden-faced Elisha, but wasspared any polite fibs by the appearance of a small girl whodelivered an urgent message to the effect, that "Mis Plumly was downsick and wanted Mis Wilkins to run over and set a spell."As the good lady hesitated with an involuntary glance at her guest,Christie said quickly:

 

　　"Don't mind me; I'll take care of the house for you if you want togo. You may be sure I won't run off with the children or steal thespoons.""I ain't a mite afraid of anybody wantin' to steal them littletoads; and as for spoons, I ain't got a silver one to bless myselfwith," laughed Mrs. Wilkins. "I guess I will go, then, ef you don'tmind, as it's only acrost the street. Like's not settin' quiet willbe better for you 'n talkin', for I'm a dreadful hand to gab when Igit started. Tell Mis Plumly I'm a comin'."Then, as the child ran off, the stout lady began to rummage in hercloset, saying, as she rattled and slammed:

 

　　"I'll jest take her a drawin' of tea and a couple of nut-cakes:

 

　　mebby she'll relish 'em, for I shouldn't wonder ef she hadn't had amouthful this blessed day. She's dreadful slack at the best oftimes, but no one can much wonder, seein' she's got nine children,and is jest up from a rheumatic fever. I'm sure I never grudge ameal of vittles or a hand's turn to such as she is, though she doesbeat all for dependin' on her neighbors. I'm a thousand timesobleeged. You needn't werry about the children, only don't let 'emgit lost, or burnt, or pitch out a winder; and when it's done give'em the patty-cake that's bakin' for 'em."With which maternal orders Mrs. Wilkins assumed a sky-blue bonnet,and went beaming away with several dishes genteelly hidden under herpurple shawl.

 

　　Being irresistibly attracted toward the children Christie opened thedoor and took a survey of her responsibilities.

 

　　Six lively infants were congregated in the "settin'-room," and chaosseemed to have come again, for every sort of destructive amusementwas in full operation. George Washington, the eldest blossom, wasshearing a resigned kitten; Gusty and Ann Eliza were concocting mudpies in the ashes; Adelaide Victoria was studying the structure oflamp-wicks, while Daniel Webster and Andrew Jackson were draggingone another in a clothes-basket, to the great detriment of the oldcarpet and still older chariot.

 

　　Thinking that some employment more suited to the day might beintroduced, Christie soon made friends with these young persons,and, having rescued the kitten, banished the basket, lured the eldergirls from their mud-piety, and quenched the curiosity of thePickwickian Adelaide, she proposed teaching them some little hymns.

 

　　The idea was graciously received, and the class decorously seated ina row. But before a single verse was given out, Gusty, being of ahouse-wifely turn of mind, suggested that the patty-cake might burn.

 

　　Instant alarm pervaded the party, and a precipitate rush was madefor the cooking-stove, where Christie proved by ocular demonstrationthat the cake showed no signs of baking, much less of burning. Thefamily pronounced themselves satisfied, after each member had pokeda grimy little finger into the doughy delicacy, whereon one largeraisin reposed in proud pre-eminence over the vulgar herd ofcaraways.

 

　　Order being with difficulty restored, Christie taught her flock anappropriate hymn, and was flattering herself that their youthfulminds were receiving a devotional bent, when they volunteered asong, and incited thereunto by the irreverent Wash, burst forth witha gem from Mother Goose, closing with a smart skirmish of arms andlegs that set all law and order at defiance. Hoping to quell theinsurrection Christie invited the breathless rioters to calmthemselves by looking at the pictures in the big Bible. But,unfortunately, her explanations were so vivid that her audience werefired with a desire to enact some of the scenes portrayed, and nopersuasions could keep them from playing Ark on the spot. Theclothes-basket was elevated upon two chairs, and into it marched thebirds of the air and the beasts of the field, to judge by the noise,and all set sail, with Washington at the helm, Jackson and Websterplying the clothes and pudding-sticks for oars, while the youngladies rescued their dolls from the flood, and waved their hands toimaginary friends who were not unmindful of the courtesies of lifeeven in the act of drowning.

 

　　MRS. WILKINS' SIX LIVELY INFANTS.

 

　　Finding her authority defied Christie left the rebels to their owndevices, and sitting in a corner, began to think about her ownaffairs. But before she had time to get anxious or perplexed thechildren diverted her mind, as if the little flibberty-gibbets knewthat their pranks and perils were far wholesomer for her just thenthan brooding.

 

　　The much-enduring kitten being sent forth as a dove upon the watersfailed to return with the olive-branch; of which peaceful emblemthere was soon great need, for mutiny broke out, and spread withdisastrous rapidity.

 

　　Ann Eliza slapped Gusty because she had the biggest bandbox; Andrewthreatened to "chuck" Daniel overboard if he continued to trample onthe fraternal toes, and in the midst of the fray, by some unguardedmotion, Washington capsized the ship and precipitated thepatriarchal family into the bosom of the deep.

 

　　Christie flew to the rescue, and, hydropathically treated, theanguish of bumps and bruises was soon assuaged. Then appeared theappropriate moment for a story, and gathering the dilapidated partyabout her she soon enraptured them by a recital of the immortalhistory of "Frank and the little dog Trusty." Charmed with hersuccess she was about to tell another moral tale, but no sooner hadshe announced the name, "The Three Cakes," when, like an electricflash a sudden recollection seized the young Wilkinses, and with onevoice they demanded their lawful prize, sure that now it must bedone.

 

　　Christie had forgotten all about it, and was harassed with secretmisgivings as she headed the investigating committee. With skippingof feet and clapping of hands the eager tribe surrounded the stove,and with fear and trembling Christie drew forth a melancholy cinder,where, like Casablanca, the lofty raisin still remained, blackened,but undaunted, at its post.

 

　　Then were six little vials of wrath poured out upon her devotedhead, and sounds of lamentation filled the air, for the irateWilkinses refused to be comforted till the rash vow to present eachmember of the outraged family with a private cake produced a lull,during which the younger ones were decoyed into the back yard, andthe three elders solaced themselves with mischief.

 

　　Mounted on mettlesome broomsticks Andrew and Daniel were ridingmerrily away to the Banbury Cross, of blessed memory, and little Viewas erecting a pagoda of oyster-shells, under Christie'ssuperintendence, when a shrill scream from within sent horsemen andarchitects flying to the rescue.

 

　　Gusty's pinafore was in a blaze; Ann Eliza was dancing franticallyabout her sister as if bent on making a suttee of herself, whileGeorge Washington hung out of window, roaring, "Fire!" "water!""engine!" "pa!" with a presence of mind worthy of his sex.

 

　　A speedy application of the hearth-rug quenched the conflagration,and when a minute burn had been enveloped in cotton-wool, like agem, a coroner sat upon the pinafore and investigated the case.

 

　　It appeared that the ladies were "only playing paper dolls," whenWash, sighing for the enlightenment of his race, proposed to make abonfire, and did so with an old book; but Gusty, with a firm beliefin future punishment, tried to save it, and fell a victim to herprinciples, as the virtuous are very apt to do.

 

　　The book was brought into court, and proved to be an ancient volumeof ballads, cut, torn, and half consumed. Several peculiarlydeveloped paper dolls, branded here and there with large letters,like galley-slaves, were then produced by the accused, and the judgecould with difficulty preserve her gravity when she found "JohnGilpin" converted into a painted petticoat, "The Bay of Biscay, O,"situated in the crown of a hat, and "Chevy Chase" issuing from themouth of a triangular gentleman, who, like Dickens's cherub,probably sung it by ear, having no lungs to speak of.

 

　　It was further apparent from the agricultural appearance of the roomthat beans had been sowed broadcast by means of the apple-corer,which Wash had converted into a pop-gun with a mechanical ingenuityworthy of more general appreciation. He felt this deeply, and whenChristie reproved him for leading his sisters astray, he resentedthe liberty she took, and retired in high dudgeon to the cellar,where he appeared to set up a menagerie,--for bears, lions, andunknown animals, endowed with great vocal powers, were heard tosolicit patronage from below.

 

　　Somewhat exhausted by her labors, Christie rested, after clearing upthe room, while the children found a solace for all afflictions inthe consumption of relays of bread and molasses, which infantilerestorative occurred like an inspiration to the mind of theirguardian.

 

　　Peace reigned for fifteen minutes; then came a loud crash from thecellar, followed by a violent splashing, and wild cries of, "Oh, oh,oh, I've fell into the pork barrel! I'm drownin', I'm drownin'!"Down rushed Christie, and the sticky innocents ran screaming after,to behold their pickled brother fished up from the briny deep. Aspectacle well calculated to impress upon their infant minds theawful consequences of straying from the paths of virtue.

 

　　At this crisis Mrs. Wilkins providentially appeared, breathless, butbrisk and beaming, and in no wise dismayed by the plight of herluckless son, for a ten years' acquaintance with Wash's dauntlessnature had inured his mother to "didoes" that would have appalledmost women.

 

　　"Go right up chamber, and change every rag on you, and don't comedown agin till I rap on the ceilin'; you dreadful boy, disgracin'

 

　　your family by sech actions. I'm sorry I was kep' so long, but MisPlumly got tellin' her werryments, and 'peared to take so muchcomfort in it I couldn't bear to stop her. Then I jest run round toyour place and told that woman that you was safe and well, along'rfriends, and would call in to-morrer to get your things. She 'd benso scart by your not comin' home that she was as mild as milk, soyou won't have no trouble with her, I expect.""Thank you very much! How kind you are, and how tired you must be!

 

　　Sit down and let me take your things," cried Christie, more relievedthan she could express.

 

　　"Lor', no, I'm fond of walkin', but bein' ruther hefty it takes mybreath away some to hurry. I'm afraid these children have tuckeredyou out though. They are proper good gen'lly, but when they do taketo trainen t............