The twelfth of October was Rose's birthday, but no one seemed toremember that interesting fact, and she felt delicate aboutmentioning it, so fell asleep the night before wondering if shewould have any presents. That question was settled early the nextmorning, for she was awakened by a soft tap on her face, andopening her eyes she beheld a little black and white figure sittingon her pillow, staring at her with a pair of round eyes very likeblueberries, while one downy paw patted her nose to attract hernotice. It was Kitty Comet, the prettiest of all the pussies, andComet evidently had a mission to perform, for a pink bow adornedher neck, and a bit of paper was pinned to it bearing the words,"For Miss Rose, from Frank."That pleased her extremely, and that was only the beginning of thefun, for surprises and presents kept popping out in the mostdelightful manner all through the day, the Atkinson girls beingfamous jokers and Rose a favourite. But the best gift of all cameon the way to Mount Windy-Top, where it was decided to picnic inhonour of the great occasion. Three jolly loads set off soon afterbreakfast, for everybody went, and everybody seemed bound tohave an extra good time, especially Mother Atkinson, who wore ahat as broad-brimmed as an umbrella, and took the dinner-horn tokeep her flock from straying away.
"I'm going to drive auntie and a lot of the babies, so you must ridethe pony. And please stay behind us a good bit when we go to thestation, for a parcel is coming, and you are not to see it tilldinner-time. You won't mind, will you?" said Mac, in aconfidential aside during the wild flurry of the start.
"Not a bit," answered Rose. "It hurts my feelings very much to betold to keep out of the way at any other time, but birthdays andChristmas it is part of the fun to be blind and stupid, and pokedinto corners. I'll be ready as soon as you are, Giglamps.""Stop under the big maple till I call then you can't possibly seeanything," added Mac, as he mounted her on the pony his fatherhad sent up for his use. "Barkis" was so gentle and so "willin',"however, that Rose was ashamed to be afraid to ride him; so shehad learned, that she might surprise Dr. Alec when she got home;meantime she had many a fine canter "over the hills and far away"with Mac, who preferred Mr. Atkinson's old Sorrel.
Away they went, and, coming to the red maple, Rose obedientlypaused; but could not help stealing a glance in the forbiddendirection before the call came. Yes, there was a hamper goingunder the seat, and then she caught sight of a tall man whom Macseemed to be hustling into the carriage in a great hurry. One lookwas enough, and with a cry of delight, Rose was off down the roadas fast as Barkis could go.
"Now I'll astonish uncle," she thought. "I'll dash up in grand style,and show him that I am not a coward, after all."Fired by this ambition, she startled Barkis by a sharp cut, and stillmore bewildered him by leaving him to his own guidance downthe steep, stony road. The approach would have been a finesuccess if, just as Rose was about to pull up and salute, two orthree distracted hens had not scuttled across the road with a greatsquawking, which caused Barkis to shy and stop so suddenly thathis careless rider landed in an ignominious heap just under oldSorrel's astonished nose.
Rose was up again before Dr. Alec was out of the carryall, andthrew two dusty arms about his neck crying with a breathless voice"O uncle, I'm so glad to see you! It is better than a cart-load ofgoodies, and so dear of you to come!""But aren't you hurt, child! That was a rough tumble, and I'm afraidyou must be damaged somewhere," answered the Doctor, full offond anxiety, as he surveyed his girl with pride.
"My feelings are hurt, but my bones are all safe. It's too bad! I wasgoing to do it so nicely, and those stupid hens spoilt it all," saidRose, quite crestfallen, as well as much shaken.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I asked 'Where is Rose?' and Macpointed to the little Amazon pelting down the hill at such a rate.
You couldn't have done anything that would please me more, andI'm delighted to see how well you ride. Now, will you mount again,or shall we turn Mac out and take you in?" asked Dr. Alec, as AuntJessie proposed a start, for the others were beckoning them tofollow.
"Pride goeth before a fall better not try to show off again, ma'am,"said Mac, who would have been more than mortal if he hadrefrained from teasing when so good a chance offered.
"Pride does go before a fall, but I wonder if a sprained anklealways comes after it?" thought Rose, bravely concealing her pain,as she answered, with great dignity"I prefer to ride. Come on, and see who will catch up first."She was up and away as she spoke, doing her best to efface thememory of her downfall by sitting very erect, elbows down, headwell up, and taking the motion of the pony as Barkis canteredalong as easily as a rocking-chair.
"You ought to see her go over a fence and race when we ridetogether. She can scud, too, like a deer when we play 'Follow theleader,' and skip stones and bat balls almost as well as I can," saidMac, in reply to his uncle's praise of his pupil.
"I'm afraid you will think her a sad tomboy, Alec; but really sheseems so well and happy, I have not the heart to check her. She hasbroken out in the most unexpected way, and frisks like a colt; forshe says she feels so full of spirits she must run and shout whetherit is proper or not," added Mrs. Jessie, who had been a prettyhoyden years ago herself.
"Good good! that's the best news you could tell me," and Dr. Alecrubbed his hands heartily. "Let the girl run and shout as much asshe will it is a sure sign of health, and as natural to a happy childas frisking is to any young animal full of life. Tomboys makestrong women usually, and I had far rather find Rose playingfootball with Mac than puttering over bead-work like that affectedmidget, Ariadne Blish.""But she cannot go on playing football very long, and we must notforget that she has a woman's work to do by and by," began Mrs.
Jessie.
"Neither will Mac play football much longer, but he will be all thebetter fitted for business, because of the health it gives him. Polishis easily added, if the foundations are strong; but no amount ofgilding will be of use if your timber is not sound. I'm sure I'm right,Jessie; and if I can do as well by my girl during the next sixmonths as I have the last, my experiment will succeed.""It certainly will; for when I contrast that bright, blooming facewith the pale, listless one that made my heart ache a while ago, Ican believe in almost any miracle," said Mrs. Jessie, as Roselooked round to point out a lovely view, with cheeks like the ruddyapples in the orchard near by, eyes clear as the autumn skyoverhead, and vigour in every line of her girlish figure.
A general scramble among the rocks was followed by a regulargypsy lunch, which the young folks had the rapture of helping toprepare. Mother Atkinson put on her apron, turned up her sleeves,and fell to work as gaily as if in her own kitchen, boiling the kettleslung on three sticks, over a fire of cones and fir boughs; while thegirls spread the mossy table with a feast of country goodies, andthe children tumbled about in everyone's way till the toot of thehorn made them settle down like a flock of hungry birds.
As soon as the merry meal and a brief interval of repose were over,it was unanimously voted to have some charades. A smooth, greenspot between two stately pines was chosen for the stage; shawlshung up, properties collected, audience and actors separated, and aword quickly chosen.
The first scene discovered Mac in a despondent attitude andshabby dress, evidently much troubled in mind. To him entered aremarkable creature with a brown paper bag over its head. A littlepink nose peeped through one hole in the middle, white teeththrough another, and above two eyes glared fiercely. Spires ofgrass stuck in each side of the mouth seemed meant to representwhiskers; the upper corners of the bag were twisted like ears, andno one could doubt for a moment that the black scarf pinned onbehind was a tail.
This singular animal seemed in pantomime to be comforting hismaster and offering advice, which was finally acted upon, for Macpulled off his boots, helped the little beast into them, and gave hima bag; then, kissing his paw, with a hopeful gesture, the creatureretired, purring so successfully that there was a general cry of "Cat,puss, boots!""Cat is the word," replied a voice, and the curtain fell.
The next scene was a puzzler, for in came another animal, onall-fours this time, with a new sort of tail and long ears. A grayshawl concealed its face, but an inquisitive sunbeam betrayed theglitter as of goggles under the fringe. On its back rode a smallgentleman in Eastern costume, who appeared to find somedifficulty in keeping his seat as his steed jogged along. Suddenly aspirit appeared, all in white, with long newspaper wings upon itsback and golden locks about its face. Singularly enough, the beastbeheld this apparition and backed instantly, but the rider evidentlysaw nothing and whipped up unmercifully, also unsuccessfully, forthe spirit stood directly in the path, and the amiable beast wouldnot budge a foot. A lively skirmish followed, which ended in theEastern gentleman being upset into a sweet-fern bush, while thebetter bred animal abased itself before the shining one.
The children were all in the dark till Mother Atkinson said, in aninquiring tone"If that isn't Balaam and the ass, I'd like to know what it is. Rosemakes a sweet angel, doesn't she?""Ass" was evidently the word, and the angel retired, smiling withmundane satisfaction over the compliment that reached her ears.
The next was a pretty little scene from the immortal story of"Babes in the Wood." Jamie and Pokey came trotting in, hand inhand, and, having been through the parts many times before, actedwith great ease and much fluency, audibly directing each otherfrom time to time as they went along. The berries were picked, theway lost, tears shed, baby consolation administered, and then thelittle pair lay down among the brakes and died with their eyes wideopen and the toes of their four little boots turned up to the daisiesin the most pathetic manner.
"Now the wobins tum. You be twite dead, Dimmy, and I'll peep inand see 'em," one defunct innocent was heard to say.
"I hope they'll be quick, for I'm lying on a stone, and ants arewalking up my leg like fury," murmured the other.
Here the robins came flapping in with red scarves over theirbreasts and leaves in their mouths, which they carefully laid uponthe babes wherever they would show best. A prickly blackberryleaf placed directly over Pokey's nose caused her to sneeze soviolently that her little legs flew into the air; Jamie gave a startled"Ow!" and the pitying fowls fled giggling.
After some discussion it was decided that the syllable must be"strew or strow" and then they waited to see if it was a good guess.
This scene discovered Annette Snow in bed, evidently very ill;Miss Jenny was her anxious mamma, and............