Under the Lilacs Page 19

  CHAPTER XIX

  SPEAKING PIECES

  The first of September came all too soon, and school began. Among theboys and girls who went trooping up to the "East Corner knowledge-box,"as they called it, was our friend Ben, with a pile of neat books underhis arm. He felt very strange, and decidedly shy; but put on a boldface, and let nobody guess that, though nearly thirteen, he had neverbeen to school before. Miss Celia had told his story to Teacher, andshe, being a kind little woman, with young brothers of her own, madethings as easy for him as she could. In reading and writing he did verywell, and proudly took his place among lads of his own age; but when itcame to arithmetic and geography, he had to go down a long way, andbegin almost at the beginning, in spite of Thorny's efforts to "tool himalong fast." It mortified him sadly, but there was no help for it; andin some of the classes he had dear little Betty to console with him whenhe failed, and smile contentedly when he got above her, as he soon beganto do,--for she was not a quick child, and plodded through First Partslong after sister Bab was flourishing away among girls much older thanherself.

  Fortunately, Ben was a short boy and a clever one, so he did not lookout of place among the ten and eleven year olders, and fell upon hislessons with the same resolution with which he used to take a new leap,or practise patiently till he could touch his heels with his head. Thatsort of exercise had given him a strong, elastic little body; this kindwas to train his mind, and make its faculties as useful, quick and sure,as the obedient muscles, nerves and eye, which kept him safe whereothers would have broken their necks. He knew this, and found muchconsolation in the fact that, though mental arithmetic was a hopelesstask, he could turn a dozen somersaults, and come up as steady as ajudge. When the boys laughed at him for saying that China was in Africa,he routed them entirely by his superior knowledge of the animalsbelonging to that wild country; and when "First class in reading" wascalled, he marched up with the proud consciousness that the shortest boyin it did better than tall Moses Towne or fat Sam Kitteridge.

  Teacher praised him all she honestly could, and corrected his manyblunders so quietly that he soon ceased to be a deep, distressful redduring recitation, and tugged away so manfully that no one could helprespecting him for his efforts, and trying to make light of hisfailures. So the first hard week went by, and though the boy's heart hadsunk many a time at the prospect of a protracted wrestle with his ownignorance, he made up his mind to win, and went at it again on theMonday with fresh zeal, all the better and braver for a good, cheerytalk with Miss Celia in the Sunday evening twilight.

  He did not tell her one of his greatest trials, however, because hethought she could not help him there. Some of the children rather lookeddown upon him, called him "tramp" and "beggar," twitted him with havingbeen a circus boy, and lived in a tent like a gypsy. They did not meanto be cruel, but did it for the sake of teasing, never stopping to thinkhow much such sport can make a fellow-creature suffer. Being a pluckyfellow, Ben pretended not to mind; but he did feel it keenly, because hewanted to start afresh, and be like other boys. He was not ashamed ofthe old life; but, finding those around him disapproved of it, he wasglad to let it be forgotten, even by himself; for his latestrecollections were not happy ones, and present comforts made pasthardships seem harder than before.

  He said nothing of this to Miss Celia; but she found it out, and likedhim all the better for keeping some of his small worries to himself.Bab and Betty came over Monday afternoon full of indignation at someboyish insult Sam had put upon Ben; and, finding them too full of it toenjoy the reading, Miss Celia asked what the matter was. Then bothlittle girls burst out in a rapid succession of broken exclamations,which did not give a very clear idea of the difficulty,--

  "Sam didn't like it because Ben jumped farther than he did--"

  "And he said Ben ought to be in the poor-house."

  "And Ben said he ought to be in it pigpen."

  "So he had!--such a greedy thing, bringing lovely big apples, and notgiving any one a single bite!"

  "Then he was mad, and we all laughed; and he said, 'Want to fight?'

  "And Ben said, 'No, thanky, not much fun in pounding a feather-bed.'"

  "Oh, he was awfully mad then, and chased Ben up the big maple."

  "He's there now, for Sam won't let him come down till he takes it allback."

  "Ben won't; and I do believe he'll have to stay up all night," saidBetty, distressfully.

  "He won't care, and we'll have fun firing up his supper. Nut cakes andcheese will go splendidly; and may be baked pears wouldn't get smashed,he's such a good catch," added Bab, decidedly relishing the prospect.

  "If he does not come by tea-time, we will go and look after him. Itseems to me I have heard something about Sam's troubling him before,haven't I?" asked Miss Celia, ready to defend her protege against allunfair persecution.

  "Yes,'m, Sam and Mose are always plaguing Ben. They are big boys, and wecan't make them stop. I won't let the girls do it, and the little boysdon't dare to, since Teacher spoke to them." answered Bab.

  "Why does not Teacher speak to the big ones?

  "Ben won't tell of them, or let us. He says he'll fight his ownbattles, and hates tell-tales. I guess he won't like to have us tellyou, but I don't care, for it is too bad!" and Betty looked ready to cryover her friend's tribulations.

  "I'm glad you did, for I will attend to it, and stop this sort ofthing," said Miss Celia, after the children had told some of thetormenting speeches which had tried poor Ben.

  Just then Thorny appeared, looking much amused, and the little girlsboth called out in a breath, "Did you see Ben and get him down?"

  "He got himself down in the neatest way you can imagine;" and Thornylaughed at the recollection.

  "Where is Sam?" asked Bab.

  "Staring up at the sky to see where Ben has flown to."

  "Oh, tell about it!" begged Betty.

  "Well, I came along and found Ben treed, and Sam stoning him. I stoppedthat at once, and told the 'fat boy' to be off. He said he wouldn't tillBen begged his pardon; and Ben said he wouldn't do it, if he stayed upfor a week. I was just preparing to give that rascal a scientificthrashing, when a load of hay came along, and Ben dropped on to it soquietly that Sam, who was trying to bully me, never saw him go. Ittickled me so, I told Sam I guessed I'd let him off that time, andwalked away, leaving him to hunt for Ben, and wonder where the dickenshe had vanished to."

  The idea of Sam's bewilderment amused the others as much as Thorny, andthey all had a good laugh over it before Miss Celia asked,--

  "Where has Ben gone now?"

  "Oh, he'll take a little ride, and then slip down and race home full ofthe fun of it. But I've got to settle Sam. I won't have our Ben hectoredby any one--"

  "But yourself," put in his sister, with a sly smile, for Thorny wasrather domineering at times.

  "He doesn't mind my poking him up now and then, it's good for him; and Ialways take his part against other people. Sam is a bully, and so isMose; and I'll thrash them both if they don't stop."

  Anxious to curb her brother's pugnacious propensities, Miss Celiaproposed milder measures, promising to speak to the boys herself ifthere was any more trouble.

  "I have been thinking that we should have some sort of merry-making forBen on his birthday. My plan was a very simple one; but I will enlargeit, and have all the young folks come, and Ben shall be king of the fun.he needs encouragement in well-doing, for he does try; and now the firsthard part is nearly over, I am sure he will get on bravely. If we treathim with respect, and show our regard for him, others will follow ourexample; and that will be better than fighting about it."

  "So it will! What shall we do to make our party tip-top?" asked Thorny,falling into the trap at once; for he dearly loved to get uptheatricals, and had not had any for a long time.

  "We will plan something splendid, a 'grand combination,' as you used tocall your droll mixtures of tragedy, comedy, melodrama and farce,"answered his sister, with her head already full of lively p
lots.

  "We'll startle the natives. I don't believe they ever saw a play in alltheir lives, hey, Bab?"

  "I've seen a circus."

  "We dress up and do 'Babes in the Wood,'" added Betty, with dignity.

  "Pho! that's nothing. I'll show you acting that will make your hairstand on end, and you shall act too. Bab will be capital for the naughtygirls," began Thorny, excited by the prospect of producing a sensationon the boards, and always ready to tease the girls.

  Before Betty could protest that she did not want her hair to stand up,or Bab could indignantly decline the role offered her, a shrill whistlewas heard, and Miss Celia whispered, with a warning look,--

  "Hush! Ben is coming, and he must not know any thing about this yet."

  The next day was Wednesday, and in the afternoon Miss Celia went to hearthe children "speak pieces," though it was very seldom that any of thebusy matrons and elder sisters found time or inclination for thesedisplays of youthful oratory. Miss Celia and Mrs. Moss were all theaudience on this occasion, but Teacher was both pleased and proud to seethem, and a general rustle went through the school as they came in, allthe girls turning from the visitors to nod at Bab and Betty, who smiledall over their round faces to see "Ma" sitting up "'side of Teacher,"and the boys grinned at Ben, whose heart began to beat fast at thethought of his dear mistress coming so far to hear him say his piece.

  Thorny had recommended Marco Bozzaris, but Ben preferred John Gilpin,and ran the famous race with much spirit, making excellent time in someparts and having to be spurred a little in others, but came out allright, though quite breathless at the end, sitting down amid greatapplause, some of which, curiously enough, seemed to come from outside;which in fact it did, for Thorny was bound to hear but would not comein, lest his presence should abash one orator at least.

  Other pieces followed, all more or less patriotic and warlike, among theboys; sentimental among the girls. Sam broke down in his attempt to giveone of Webster's great speeches, Little Cy Fay boldly attacked

  "Again to the battle, Achaians!"

  and shrieked his way through it in a shrill, small voice, bound to dohonor to the older brother who had trained him even if he broke a vesselin the attempt. Billy chose a well-worn piece, but gave it a newinterest by his style of delivery; for his gestures were so spasmodic helooked as if going into a fit, and he did such astonishing things withhis voice that one never knew whether a howl or a growl would come next.When

  "The woods against a stormy sky Their giant branches tossed;"

  Billy's arms went round like the sails of a windmill; the "hymns oflofty cheer" not only "shook the depths of the desert gloom," but thesmall children on their little benches, and the school-house literallyrang "to the anthems of the free!" When "the ocean eagle soared," Billyappeared to be going bodily up, and the "pines of the forest roared" asif they had taken lessons of Van Amburgh's biggest lion. "Woman'sfearless eye" was expressed by a wild glare; "manhood's brow, severelyhigh," by a sudden clutch at the reddish locks falling over the orator'shot forehead, and a sounding thump on his blue checked bosom told where"the fiery heart of youth" was located. "What sought they thus far?" heasked, in such a natural and inquiring tone, with his eye fixed on MamiePeters, that the startled innocent replied, "Dunno," which caused thespeaker to close in haste, devoutly pointing a stubby finger upward atthe last line.

  This was considered the gem of the collection, and Billy took his seatproudly conscious that his native town boasted an orator who, in time,would utterly eclipse Edward Everett and Wendell Phillips.

  Sally Folsom led off with "The Coral Grove," chosen for the expresspurpose of making her friend Almira Mullet start and blush, when sherecited the second line of that pleasing poem,

  "Where the purple mullet and gold-fish rove."

  One of the older girls gave Wordsworth's "Lost Love" in a pensive tone,clasping her hands and bringing out the "O" as if a sudden twinge oftoothache seized her when she ended.

  "But she is in her grave, and O, the difference to me!"

  Bab always chose a funny piece, and on this afternoon set them alllaughing by the spirit with which she spoke the droll poem, "Pussy'sClass," which some of my young readers may have read. The "meou" and the"sptzz" were capital, and when the "fond mamma rubbed her nose," thechildren shouted, for Miss Bab made a paw of her hand and ended with animpromptu purr, which was considered the best imitation ever presentedto an appreciative public. Betty bashfully murmurred "Little WhiteLily," swaying to and fro as regularly as if in no other way could therhymes be ground out of her memory.

  "That is all, I believe. If either of the ladies would like to say afew words to the children, I should be pleased to have them," saidTeacher, politely, pausing before she dismissed school with a song.

  "Please, 'm. I'd like to speak my piece," answered Miss Celia, obeyinga sudden impulse; and, stepping forward with her hat in her hand, shemade a pretty courtesy before she recited Mary Howitt's sweet littleballad, "Mabel on Midsummer Day."

  She looked so young and merry, and used such simple but expressivegestures, and spoke in such a clear, soft voice that the children sat asif spell-bound, learning several lessons from this new teacher, whoseperformance charmed them from beginning to end, and left a moral whichall could understand and carry away in that last verse,--

  "'Tis good to make all duty sweet, To be alert and kind; 'Tis good, like Littie Mabel, To have a willing mind."

  Of course there was an enthusiastic clapping when Miss Celia sat down,but even while hands applauded, consciences pricked, and undone tasks,complaining words and sour faces seemed to rise up reproachfully beforemany of the children, as well as their own faults of elocution.

  "Now we will sing," said Teacher, and a great clearing of throatsensued, but before a note could be uttered, the half-open door swungwide, and Sancho, with Ben's hat on, walked in upon his hind-legs, andstood with his paws meekly folded, while a voice from the entry sangrapidly,--

  "Benny had a little dog, His fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Benny went, The dog was sure to go.

  He went into the School one day, which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play To see a dog--"

  Mischievous Thorny got no further, for a general explosion of laughterdrowned the last words, and Ben's command "Out, you rascal!" sent Sanchto the right-about in double-quick time.

  Miss Celia tried to apologize for her bad brother, and Teacher tried toassure her that it didn't matter in the least, as this was always amerry time, and Mrs. Moss vainly shook her finger at her naughtydaughters; they as well as the others would have their laugh out, andonly partially sobered down when the Bell rang for "Attention." Theythought they were to be dismissed, and repressed their giggles as wellas they could in order to get a good start for a vociferous roar whenthey got out. But, to their great surprise, the pretty lady stood upagain and said, in her friendly way,--

  "I just want to thank you for this pleasant little exhibition, and askleave to come again. I also wish to invite you all to my boy's birthdayparty on Saturday week. The archery meeting is to be in the afternoon,and both clubs will be there, I believe. In the evening we are going tohave some fun, when we can laugh as much as we please without breakingany of the rules. In Ben's name I invite you, and hope you will allcome, for we mean to make this the happiest birthday he ever had."

  There were twenty pupils in the room, but the eighty hands and feet madesuch a racket at this announcement that an outsider would have thought ahundred children, at least, must have been at it. Miss Celia was ageneral favorite because she nodded to all the girls, called the boys bytheir last names, even addressing some of the largest as "Mr." which wontheir hearts at once, so that if she had invited them all to come and bewhipped they would have gone sure that it was some delightful joke. Withwhat eagerness they accepted the present invitation one can easilyimagine, though they never guessed why she gave it in that way, andBen's fa
ce was a sight to see, he was so pleased and proud at the honordone him that he did not know where to look, and was glad to rush outwith the other boys and vent his emotions in whoops of delight. He knewthat some little plot was being concocted for his birthday, but neverdreamed of any thing so grand as asking the whole school, Teacher andall. The effect of the invitation was seen with comical rapidity, forthe boys became overpowering in their friendly attentions to Ben. EvenSam, fearing he might be left out, promptly offered the peacefulolive-branch in the shape of a big apple, warm from his pocket, and Moseproposed a trade of jack-knives which would be greatly to Ben'sadvantage. But Thorny made the noblest sacrifice of all, for he said tohis sister, as they walked home together,--

  "I'm not going to try for the prize at all. I shoot so much better thanthe rest, having had more practice, you know, that it is hardly fair.Ben and Billy are next best, and about even, for Ben's strong wristmakes up for Billy's true eye, and both want to win. If I am out of theway Ben stands a good chance, for the other fellows don't amount tomuch."

  "Bab does; she shoots nearly as well as Ben, and wants to win even morethan he or Billy. She must have her chance at any rate."

  "So she may, but she won't do any thing; girls can't, though it 's goodexercise and pleases them to try."

  "If I had full use of both my arms I'd show you that girls can do agreat deal when they like. Don't be too lofty, young man, for you mayhave to come down," laughed Miss Celia, amused by his airs.

  "No fear," and Thorny calmly departed to set his targets for Ben'spractice.

  "We shall see," and from that moment Miss Celia made Bab her especialpupil, feeling that a little lesson would be good for Mr. Thorny, whorather lorded it over the other young people. There was a spice ofmischief in it, for Miss Celia was very young at heart, in spite of hertwenty-four years, and she was bound to see that her side had a fairchance, believing that girls can do whatever they are willing to strivepatiently and wisely for.

  So she kept Bab at work early and late, giving her all the hints andhelp she could with only one efficient hand, and Bab was delighted tothink she did well enough to shoot with the club. Her arms ached and herfingers grew hard with twanging the bow, but she was indefatigable, andbeing a strong, tall child of her age, with a great love of all athleticsports, she got on fast and well, soon learning to send arrow afterarrow with ever increasing accuracy nearer and nearer to the bull's-eye.

  The boys took very little notice of her, being much absorbed in theirown affairs, but Betty did for Bab what Sancho did for Ben, and trottedafter arrows till her short legs were sadly tired, though her patiencenever gave out. She was so sure Bab would win that she cared nothingabout her own success, practising little and seldom hitting any thingwhen she tried.