Little Men Read online

  CHAPTER IX. DAISY'S BALL

  "Mrs. Shakespeare Smith would like to have Mr. John Brooke, Mr. ThomasBangs, and Mr. Nathaniel Blake to come to her ball at three o'clocktoday.

  "P.S. Nat must bring his fiddle, so we can dance, and all the boys mustbe good, or they cannot have any of the nice things we have cooked."

  This elegant invitation would, I fear, have been declined, but for thehint given in the last line of the postscript.

  "They have been cooking lots of goodies, I smelt 'em. Let's go," saidTommy.

  "We needn't stay after the feast, you know," added Demi.

  "I never went to a ball. What do you have to do?" asked Nat.

  "Oh, we just play be men, and sit round stiff and stupid like grown-upfolks, and dance to please the girls. Then we eat up everything, andcome away as soon as we can."

  "I think I could do that," said Nat, after considering Tommy'sdescription for a minute.

  "I'll write and say we'll come;" and Demi despatched the followinggentlemanly reply,

  "We will all come. Please have lots to eat. J. B. Esquire."

  Great was the anxiety of the ladies about their first ball, because ifevery thing went well they intended to give a dinner-party to the chosenfew.

  "Aunt Jo likes to have the boys play with us, if they are not rough;so we must make them like our balls, then they will do them good," saidDaisy, with her maternal air, as she set the table and surveyed thestore of refreshments with an anxious eye.

  "Demi and Nat will be good, but Tommy will do something bad, I know hewill," replied Nan, shaking her head over the little cake-basket whichshe was arranging.

  "Then I shall send him right home," said Daisy, with decision.

  "People don't do so at parties, it isn't proper."

  "I shall never ask him any more."

  "That would do. He'd be sorry not to come to the dinner-ball, wouldn'the?"

  "I guess he would! we'll have the splendidest things ever seen, won'twe? Real soup with a ladle and a tureem [she meant tureen] and a littlebird for turkey, and gravy, and all kinds of nice vegytubbles." Daisynever could say vegetables properly, and had given up trying.

  "It is 'most three, and we ought to dress," said Nan, who had arranged afine costume for the occasion, and was anxious to wear it.

  "I am the mother, so I shan't dress up much," said Daisy, putting on anight-cap ornamented with a red bow, one of her aunt's long skirts, anda shawl; a pair of spectacles and large pocket handkerchief completedher toilette, making a plump, rosy little matron of her.

  Nan had a wreath of artificial flowers, a pair of old pink slippers, ayellow scarf, a green muslin skirt, and a fan made of feathers from theduster; also, as a last touch of elegance, a smelling-bottle without anysmell in it.

  "I am the daughter, so I rig up a good deal, and I must sing and dance,and talk more than you do. The mothers only get the tea and be proper,you know."

  A sudden very loud knock caused Miss Smith to fly into a chair, and fanherself violently, while her mamma sat bolt upright on the sofa, andtried to look quite calm and "proper." Little Bess, who was on a visit,acted the part of maid, and opened the door, saying with a smile, "Wartin, gemplemun; it's all weady."

  In honor of the occasion, the boys wore high paper collars, tallblack hats, and gloves of every color and material, for they were anafterthought, and not a boy among them had a perfect pair.

  "Good day, mum," said Demi, in a deep voice, which was so hard to keepup that his remarks had to be extremely brief.

  Every one shook hands and then sat down, looking so funny, yet so sober,that the gentlemen forgot their manners, and rolled in their chairs withlaughter.

  "Oh, don't!" cried Mrs. Smith, much distressed.

  "You can't ever come again if you act so," added Miss Smith, rapping Mr.Bangs with her bottle because he laughed loudest.

  "I can't help it, you look so like fury," gasped Mr. Bangs, with mostuncourteous candor.

  "So do you, but I shouldn't be so rude as to say so. He shan't come tothe dinner-ball, shall he, Daisy?" cried Nan, indignantly.

  "I think we had better dance now. Did you bring your fiddle, sir?" askedMrs. Smith, trying to preserve her polite composure.

  "It is outside the door," and Nat went to get it.

  "Better have tea first," proposed the unabashed Tommy, winking openlyat Demi to remind him that the sooner the refreshments were secured, thesooner they could escape.

  "No, we never have supper first; and if you don't dance well you won'thave any supper at all, not one bit, sir," said Mrs. Smith, so sternlythat her wild guests saw she was not to be trifled with, and grewoverwhelmingly civil all at once.

  "I will take Mr. Bangs and teach him the polka, for he does not know itfit to be seen," added the hostess, with a reproachful look that soberedTommy at once.

  Nat struck up, and the ball opened with two couples, who wentconscientiously through a somewhat varied dance. The ladies did well,because they liked it, but the gentlemen exerted themselves from moreselfish motives, for each felt that he must earn his supper, and laboredmanfully toward that end. When every one was out of breath they wereallowed to rest; and, indeed, poor Mrs. Smith needed it, for her longdress had tripped her up many times. The little maid passed roundmolasses and water in such small cups that one guest actually emptiednine. I refrain from mentioning his name, because this mild beverageaffected him so much that he put cup and all into his mouth at the ninthround, and choked himself publicly.

  "You must ask Nan to play and sing now," said Daisy to her brother, whosat looking very much like an owl, as he gravely regarded the festivescene between his high collars.

  "Give us a song, mum," said the obedient guest, secretly wondering wherethe piano was.

  Miss Smith sailed up to an old secretary which stood in the room,threw back the lid of the writing-desk, and sitting down before it,accompanied herself with a vigor which made the old desk rattle as shesang that new and lovely song, beginning

  "Gaily the troubadour Touched his guitar, As he was hastening Home from the war."

  The gentlemen applauded so enthusiastically that she gave them "BoundingBillows," "Little Bo-Peep," and other gems of song, till they wereobliged to hint that they had had enough. Grateful for the praisesbestowed upon her daughter, Mrs. Smith graciously announced,

  "Now we will have tea. Sit down carefully, and don't grab."

  It was beautiful to see the air of pride with which the good lady didthe honors of her table, and the calmness with which she bore the littlemishaps that occurred. The best pie flew wildly on the floor when shetried to cut it with a very dull knife; the bread and butter vanishedwith a rapidity calculated to dismay a housekeeper's soul; and, worst ofall, the custards were so soft that they had to be drunk up, instead ofbeing eaten elegantly with the new tin spoons.

  I grieve to state that Miss Smith squabbled with the maid for the bestjumble, which caused Bess to toss the whole dish into the air, and burstout crying amid a rain of falling cakes. She was comforted by a seat atthe table, and the sugar-bowl to empty; but during this flurry a largeplate of patties was mysteriously lost, and could not be found. Theywere the chief ornament of the feast, and Mrs. Smith was indignant atthe loss, for she had made them herself, and they were beautiful tobehold. I put it to any lady if it was not hard to have one dozendelicious patties (made of flour, salt, and water, with a large raisinin the middle of each, and much sugar over the whole) swept away at onefell swoop?

  "You hid them, Tommy; I know you did!" cried the outraged hostess,threatening her suspected guest with the milk-pot.

  "I didn't!"

  "You did!"

  "It isn't proper to contradict," said Nan, who was hastily eating up thejelly during the fray.

  "Give them back, Demi," said Tommy.

  "That's a fib, you've got them in your own pocket," bawled Demi, rousedby the false accusation.

  "Let's take 'em away from him. It's too bad to make Daisy cry,"suggested Nat, w
ho found his first ball more exciting than he expected.

  Daisy was already weeping, Bess like a devoted servant mingled her tearswith those of her mistress, and Nan denounced the entire race of boys as"plaguey things." Meanwhile the battle raged among the gentlemen, for,when the two defenders of innocence fell upon the foe, that hardenedyouth intrenched himself behind a table and pelted them with the stolentarts, which were very effective missiles, being nearly as hard asbullets. While his ammunition held out the besieged prospered, but themoment the last patty flew over the parapet, the villain was seized,dragged howling from the room, and cast upon the hall floor in anignominious heap. The conquerors then returned flushed with victory, andwhile Demi consoled poor Mrs. Smith, Nat and Nan collected the scatteredtarts, replaced each raisin in its proper bed, and rearranged the dishso that it really looked almost as well as ever. But their glory haddeparted, for the sugar was gone, and no one cared to eat them after theinsult offered to them.

  "I guess we had better go," said Demi, suddenly, as Aunt Jo's voice washeard on the stairs.

  "P'r'aps we had," and Nat hastily dropped a stray jumble that he hadjust picked up.

  But Mrs. Jo was among them before the retreat was accomplished, and intoher sympathetic ear the young ladies poured the story of their woes.

  "No more balls for these boys till they have atoned for this badbehavior by doing something kind to you," said Mrs. Jo, shaking her headat the three culprits.

  "We were only in fun," began Demi.

  "I don't like fun that makes other people unhappy. I am disappointed inyou, Demi, for I hoped you would never learn to tease Daisy. Such a kindlittle sister as she is to you."

  "Boys always tease their sisters; Tom says so," muttered Demi.

  "I don't intend that my boys shall, and I must send Daisy home if youcannot play happily together," said Aunt Jo, soberly.

  At this awful threat, Demi sidled up to his sister, and Daisy hastilydried her tears, for to be separated was the worst misfortune that couldhappen to the twins.

  "Nat was bad, too, and Tommy was baddest of all," observed Nan, fearingthat two of the sinners would not get their fair share of punishment.

  "I am sorry," said Nat, much ashamed.

  "I ain't!" bawled Tommy through the keyhole, where he was listening withall his might.

  Mrs. Jo wanted very much to laugh, but kept her countenance, and saidimpressively, as she pointed to the door,

  "You can go, boys, but remember, you are not to speak to or play withthe little girls till I give you leave. You don't deserve the pleasure,so I forbid it."

  The ill-mannered young gentlemen hastily retired, to be receivedoutside with derision and scorn by the unrepentant Bangs, who wouldnot associate with them for at least fifteen minutes. Daisy was soonconsoled for the failure of her ball, but lamented the edict that partedher from her brother, and mourned over his short-comings in her tenderlittle heart. Nan rather enjoyed the trouble, and went about turning upher pug nose at the three, especially Tommy, who pretended not to care,and loudly proclaimed his satisfaction at being rid of those "stupidgirls." But in his secret soul he soon repented of the rash act thatcaused this banishment from the society he loved, and every hour ofseparation taught him the value of the "stupid girls."

  The others gave in very soon, and longed to be friends, for now therewas no Daisy to pet and cook for them; no Nan to amuse and doctor them;and, worst of all, no Mrs. Jo to make home life pleasant and life easyfor them. To their great affliction, Mrs. Jo seemed to consider herselfone of the offended girls, for she hardly spoke to the outcasts, lookedas if she did not see them when she passed, and was always too busy nowto attend to their requests. This sudden and entire exile from favorcast a gloom over their souls, for when Mother Bhaer deserted them,their sun had set at noon-day, as it were, and they had no refuge left.

  This unnatural state of things actually lasted for three days, thenthey could bear it no longer, and fearing that the eclipse might becometotal, went to Mr. Bhaer for help and counsel.

  It is my private opinion that he had received instructions how to behaveif the case should be laid before him. But no one suspected it, and hegave the afflicted boys some advice, which they gratefully accepted andcarried out in the following manner:

  Secluding themselves in the garret, they devoted several play-hours tothe manufacture of some mysterious machine, which took so much pastethat Asia grumbled, and the little girls wondered mightily. Nan nearlygot her inquisitive nose pinched in the door, trying to see what wasgoing on, and Daisy sat about, openly lamenting that they could notall play nicely together, and not have any dreadful secrets. Wednesdayafternoon was fine, and after a good deal of consultation about wind andweather, Nat and Tommy went off, bearing an immense flat parcel hiddenunder many newspapers. Nan nearly died with suppressed curiosity, Daisynearly cried with vexation, and both quite trembled with interest whenDemi marched into Mrs. Bhaer's room, hat in hand, and said, in thepolitest tone possible to a mortal boy of his years,

  "Please, Aunt Jo, would you and the girls come out to a surprise partywe have made for you? Do it's a very nice one."

  "Thank you, we will come with pleasure; only, I must take Teddy withme," replied Mrs. Bhaer, with a smile that cheered Demi like sunshineafter rain.

  "We'd like to have him. The little wagon is all ready for the girls; youwon't mind walking just up to Pennyroyal Hill, will you Aunty?"

  "I should like it exceedingly; but are you quite sure I shall not be inthe way?"

  "Oh, no, indeed! we want you very much; and the party will be spoilt ifyou don't come," cried Demi, with great earnestness.

  "Thank you kindly, sir;" and Aunt Jo made him a grand curtsey, for sheliked frolics as well as any of them.

  "Now, young ladies, we must not keep them waiting; on with the hats, andlet us be off at once. I'm all impatience to know what the surprise is."

  As Mrs. Bhaer spoke every one bustled about, and in five minutes thethree little girls and Teddy were packed into the "clothes-basket," asthey called the wicker wagon which Toby drew. Demi walked at the head ofthe procession, and Mrs. Jo brought up the rear, escorted by Kit. It wasa most imposing party, I assure you, for Toby had a red feather-dusterin his head, two remarkable flags waved over the carriage, Kit had ablue bow on his neck, which nearly drove him wild, Demi wore a nosegayof dandelions in his buttonhole, and Mrs. Jo carried the queer Japaneseumbrella in honor of the occasion.

  The girls had little flutters of excitement all the way; and Teddy wasso charmed with the drive that he kept dropping his hat overboard, andwhen it was taken from him he prepared to tumble out himself, evidentlyfeeling that it behooved him to do something for the amusement of theparty.

  When they came to the hill "nothing was to be seen but the grassblowing in the wind," as the fairy books say, and the children lookeddisappointed. But Demi said, in his most impressive manner,

  "Now, you all get out and stand still, and the surprise party with comein;" with which remark he retired behind a rock, over which heads hadbeen bobbing at intervals for the last half-hour.

  A short pause of intense suspense, and then Nat, Demi, and Tommy marchedforth, each bearing a new kite, which they presented to the three youngladies. Shrieks of delight arose, but were silenced by the boys, whosaid, with faces brimful of merriment, "That isn't all the surprise;"and, running behind the rock, again emerged bearing a fourth kite ofsuperb size, on which was printed, in bright yellow letters, "For MotherBhaer."

  "We thought you'd like one, too, because you were angry with us, andtook the girls' part," cried all three, shaking with laughter, for thispart of the affair evidently was a surprise to Mrs. Jo.

  She clapped her hands, and joined in the laugh, looking thoroughlytickled at the joke.

  "Now, boys, that is regularly splendid! Who did think of it?" she asked,receiving the monster kite with as much pleasure as the little girls didtheirs.

  "Uncle Fritz proposed it when we planned to make the others; he saidyou'd like it
, so we made a bouncer," answered Demi, beaming withsatisfaction at the success of the plot.

  "Uncle Fritz knows what I like. Yes, these are magnificent kites, andwe were wishing we had some the other day when you were flying yours,weren't we, girls?"

  "That's why we made them for you," cried Tommy, standing on his head asthe most appropriate way of expressing his emotions.

  "Let us fly them," said energetic Nan.

  "I don't know how," began Daisy.

  "We'll show you, we want to!" cried all the boys in a burst of devotion,as Demi took Daisy's, Tommy Nan's, and Nat, with difficulty, persuadedBess to let go her little blue one.

  "Aunty, if you will wait a minute, we'll pitch yours for you," saidDemi, feeling that Mrs. Bhaer's favor must not be lost again by anyneglect of theirs.

  "Bless your buttons, dear, I know all about it; and here is a boy whowill toss up for me," added Mrs. Jo, as the professor peeped over therock with a face full of fun.

  He came out at once, tossed up the big kite, and Mrs. Jo ran off with itin fine style, while the children stood and enjoyed the spectacle. Oneby one all the kites went up, and floated far overhead like gay birds,balancing themselves on the fresh breeze that blew steadily over thehill. Such a merry time as they had! running and shouting, sending upthe kites or pulling them down, watching their antics in the air, andfeeling them tug at the string like live creatures trying to escape.Nan was quite wild with the fun, Daisy thought the new play nearly asinteresting as dolls, and little Bess was so fond of her "boo tite,"that she would only let it go on very short flights, preferring tohold it in her lap and look at the remarkable pictures painted on it byTommy's dashing brush. Mrs. Jo enjoyed hers immensely, and it acted asif it knew who owned it, for it came tumbling down head first when leastexpected, caught on trees, nearly pitched into the river, and finallydarted away to such a height that it looked a mere speck among theclouds.

  By and by every one got tired, and fastening the kite-strings to treesand fences, all sat down to rest, except Mr. Bhaer, who went off to lookat the cows, with Teddy on his shoulder.

  "Did you ever have such a good time as this before?" asked Nat, as theylay about on the grass, nibbling pennyroyal like a flock of sheep.

  "Not since I last flew a kite, years ago, when I was a girl," answeredMrs. Jo.

  "I'd like to have known you when you were a girl, you must have been sojolly," said Nat.

  "I was a naughty little girl, I am sorry to say."

  "I like naughty little girls," observed Tommy, looking at Nan, who madea frightful grimace at him in return for the compliment.

  "Why don't I remember you then, Aunty? Was I too young?" asked Demi.

  "Rather, dear."

  "I suppose my memory hadn't come then. Grandpa says that different partsof the mind unfold as we grow up, and the memory part of my mind hadn'tunfolded when you were little, so I can't remember how you looked,"explained Demi.

  "Now, little Socrates, you had better keep that question for grandpa, itis beyond me," said Aunt Jo, putting on the extinguisher.

  "Well, I will, he knows about those things, and you don't," returnedDemi, feeling that on the whole kites were better adapted to thecomprehension of the present company.

  "Tell about the last time you flew a kite," said Nat, for Mrs. Jo hadlaughed as she spoke of it, and he thought it might be interesting.

  "Oh, it was only rather funny, for I was a great girl of fifteen, andwas ashamed to be seen at such a play. So Uncle Teddy and I privatelymade our kites, and stole away to fly them. We had a capital time, andwere resting as we are now, when suddenly we heard voices, and saw aparty of young ladies and gentlemen coming back from a picnic. Teddy didnot mind, though he was rather a large boy to be playing with a kite,but I was in a great flurry, for I knew I should be sadly laughed at,and never hear the last of it, because my wild ways amused the neighborsas much as Nan's do us.

  "'What shall I do?' I whispered to Teddy, as the voices drew nearer andnearer.

  "'I'll show you,' he said, and whipping out his knife he cut thestrings. Away flew the kites, and when the people came up we werepicking flowers as properly as you please. They never suspected us, andwe had a grand laugh over our narrow escape."

  "Were the kites lost, Aunty?" asked Daisy.

  "Quite lost, but I did not care, for I made up my mind that it would bebest to wait till I was an old lady before I played with kites again;and you see I have waited," said Mrs. Jo, beginning to pull in the bigkite, for it was getting late.

  "Must we go now?"

  "I must, or you won't have any supper; and that sort of surprise partywould not suit you, I think, my chickens."

  "Hasn't our party been a nice one?" asked Tommy, complacently.

  "Splendid!" answered every one.

  "Do you know why? It is because your guests have behaved themselves,and tried to make everything go well. You understand what I mean, don'tyou?"

  "Yes'm," was all the boys said, but they stole a shamefaced look at oneanother, as they meekly shouldered their kites and walked home, thinkingof another party where the guests had not behaved themselves, and thingshad gone badly on account of it.