Jack and Jill

by Louisa May Alcott

  Chapter XVII. Down at Molly's

  "Now, my dears, I've something very curious to tell you, so listenquietly and then I'll give you your dinners," said Molly, addressing thenine cats who came trooping after her as she went into the shed-chamberwith a bowl of milk and a plate of scraps in her hands. She had taughtthem to behave well at meals, so, though their eyes glared and theirtails quivered with impatience, they obeyed; and when she put the foodon a high shelf and retired to the big basket, the four old cats satdemurely down before her, while the five kits scrambled after her andtumbled into her lap, as if hoping to hasten the desired feast by theirinnocent gambols.

  Granny, Tobias, Mortification, and Molasses were the elders. Granny, agray old puss, was the mother and grandmother of all the rest. Tobiaswas her eldest son, and Mortification his brother, so named because hehad lost his tail, which affliction depressed his spirits and cast ablight over his young life. Molasses was a yellow cat, the mamma of fourof the kits, the fifth being Granny's latest darling. Toddlekins, thelittle aunt, was the image of her mother, and very sedate even at thatearly age; Miss Muffet, so called from her dread of spiders, was a timidblack and white kit; Beauty, a pretty Maltese, with a serene little faceand pink nose; Ragbag, a funny thing, every color that a cat could be;and Scamp, who well deserved his name, for he was the plague of MissBat's life, and Molly's especial pet.

  He was now perched on her shoulder, and, as she talked, kept peepinginto her face or biting her ear in the most impertinent way, while theothers sprawled in her lap or promenaded round the basket rim.

  "My friends, something very remarkable has happened: Miss Bat iscleaning house!" and, having made this announcement, Molly leaned backto see how the cats received it, for she insisted that they understoodall she said to them.

  Tobias stared, Mortification lay down as if it was too much for him,Molasses beat her tail on the floor as if whipping a dusty carpet, andGranny began to purr approvingly. The giddy kits paid no attention, asthey did not know what house-cleaning meant, happy little dears!

  "I thought you'd like it, Granny, for you are a decent cat, and knowwhat is proper," continued Molly, leaning down to stroke the old puss,who blinked affectionately at her. "I can't imagine what put it intoMiss Bat's head. I never said a word, and gave up groaning over theclutter, as I couldn't mend it. I just took care of Boo and myself, andleft her to be as untidy as she pleased, and she is a regular old----"

  Here Scamp put his paw on her lips because he saw them moving, but itseemed as if it was to check the disrespectful word just coming out.

  "Well, I won't call names; but what shall I do when I see everything inconfusion, and she won't let me clear up?" asked Molly, looking round atScamp, who promptly put the little paw on her eyelid, as if the roll ofthe blue ball underneath amused him.

  "Shut my eyes to it, you mean? I do all I can, but it is hard, when Iwish to be nice, and do try; don't I?" asked Molly. But Scamp was readyfor her, and began to comb her hair with both paws as he stood on hishind legs to work so busily that Molly laughed and pulled him down,saying, as she cuddled the sly kit.

  "You sharp little thing! I know my hair is not neat now, for I've beenchasing Boo round the garden to wash him for school. Then Miss Bat threwthe parlor carpet out of the window, and I was so surprised I had to runand tell you. Now, what had we better do about it?"

  The cats all winked at her, but no one had any advice to offer, exceptTobias, who walked to the shelf, and, looking up, uttered a deep,suggestive yowl, which said as plainly as words, "Dinner first anddiscussion afterward."

  "Very well, don't scramble," said Molly, getting up to feed her pets.First the kits, who rushed at the bowl and thrust their heads in,lapping as if for a wager; then the cats, who each went to one of thefour piles of scraps laid round at intervals and placidly ate theirmeat; while Molly retired to the basket, to ponder over the phenomenataking place in the house.

  She could not imagine what had started the old lady. It was not theexample of her neighbors, who had beaten carpets and scrubbed paintevery spring for years without exciting her to any greater exertionthan cleaning a few windows and having a man to clear away the rubbishdisplayed when the snow melted. Molly never guessed that her own effortswere at the bottom of the change, or knew that a few words not meant forher ear had shamed Miss Bat into action. Coming home from prayer-meetingone dark night, she trotted along behind two old ladies who weregossiping in loud voices, as one was rather deaf, and Miss Bat was bothpleased and troubled to hear herself unduly praised.

  "I always said Sister Dawes meant well; but she's getting into years,and the care of two children is a good deal for her, with her cookingand her rheumatiz. I don't deny she did neglect 'em for a spell, butshe does well by 'em now, and I wouldn't wish to see better-appearingchildren."

  "You've no idee how improved Molly is. She came in to see my girls, andbrought her sewing-work, shirts for the boy, and done it as neat andcapable as you'd wish to see. She always was a smart child, but dreadfulcareless," said the other old lady, evidently much impressed by thechange in harum-scarum Molly Loo.

  "Being over to Mis Minot's so much has been good for her, and up to MisGrant's. Girls catch neat ways as quick as they do untidy ones, and themwild little tykes often turn out smart women."

  "Sister Dawes _has_ done well by them children, and I hope Mr. Bemissees it. He ought to give her something comfortable to live on when shecan't do for him any longer. He can well afford it."

  "I haven't a doubt he will. He's a lavish man when he starts to do athing, but dreadful unobserving, else he'd have seen to matters longago. Them children was town-talk last fall, and I used to feel as if itwas my bounden duty to speak to Miss Dawes. But I never did, fearing Imight speak too plain, and hurt her feelings."

  "You've spoken plain enough now, and I'm beholden to you, though you'llnever know it," said Miss Bat to herself, as she slipped into her owngate, while the gossips trudged on quite unconscious of the listenerbehind them.

  Miss Bat was a worthy old soul in the main, only, like so many of us,she needed rousing up to her duty. She had got the rousing now, andit did her good, for she could not bear to be praised when she had notdeserved it. She had watched Molly's efforts with lazy interest, andwhen the girl gave up meddling with her affairs, as she called thehousekeeping, Miss Bat ceased to oppose her, and let her scrub Boo, mendclothes, and brush her hair as much as she liked. So Molly had workedalong without any help from her, running in to Mrs. Pecq for advice, toMerry for comfort, or Mrs. Minot for the higher kind of help one oftenneeds so much. Now Miss Bat found that she was getting the credit andthe praise belonging to other people, and it stirred her up to try anddeserve a part at least.

  "Molly don't want any help about her work or the boy: it's too late forthat; but if this house don't get a spring cleaning that will make itshine, my name ain't Bathsheba Dawes," said the old lady, as sheput away her bonnet that night, and laid energetic plans for a grandrevolution, inspired thereto not only by shame, but by the hint that"Mr. Bemis was a lavish man," as no one knew better than she.

  Molly's amazement next day at seeing carpets fly out of window, ancientcobwebs come down, and long-undisturbed closets routed out to the greatdismay of moths and mice, has been already confided to the cats, and asshe sat there watching them lap and gnaw, she said to herself,--

  "I don't understand it, but as she never says much to me about myaffairs, I won't take any notice till she gets through, then I'll admireeverything all I can. It is so pleasant to be praised after you've beentrying hard."

  She might well say that, for she got very little herself, and her trialshad been many, her efforts not always successful, and her reward seemeda long way off. Poor Boo could have sympathized with her, for he hadsuffered much persecution from his small schoolmates when he appearedwith large gray patches on the little brown trousers, where he had wornthem out coasting down those too fascinating steps. As he could notsee the patches himself, he fancied them invisible, and came home
muchafflicted by the jeers of his friends. Then Molly tried to make him anew pair out of a sack of her own; but she cut both sides for the sameleg, so one was wrong side out. Fondly hoping no one would observe it,she sewed bright buttons wherever they could be put, and sent confidingBoo away in a pair of blue trousers, which were absurdly hunchy behindand buttony before. He came home heart-broken and muddy, having beenaccidentally tipped into a mud-puddle by two bad boys who felt that suchtailoring was an insult to mankind. That roused Molly's spirit, and shebegged her father to take the boy and have him properly fitted out,as he was old enough now to be well-dressed, and she wouldn't have himtormented. His attention being called to the trousers, Mr. Bemis had agood laugh over them, and then got Boo a suit which caused him to be theadmired of all observers, and to feel as proud as a little peacock.

  Cheered by this success, Molly undertook a set of small shirts, andstitched away bravely, though her own summer clothes were in a sadstate, and for the first time in her life she cared about what sheshould wear.

  "I must ask Merry, and may be father will let me go with her and hermother when they do their shopping, instead of leaving it to MissBat, who dresses me like an old woman. Merry knows what is pretty andbecoming: I don't," thought Molly, meditating in the bushel basket, withher eyes on her snuff-colored gown and the dark purple bow at the end ofthe long braid Muffet had been playing with.

  Molly was beginning to see that even so small a matter as the choice ofcolors made a difference in one's appearance, and to wonder why Merryalways took such pains to have a blue tie for the gray dress, a rosy onefor the brown, and gloves that matched her bonnet ribbons. Merry neverwore a locket outside her sack, a gay bow in her hair and soiled cuffs,a smart hat and the braid worn off her skirts. She was exquisitely neatand simple, yet always looked well-dressed and pretty; for her love ofbeauty taught her what all girls should learn as soon as they beginto care for appearances--that neatness and simplicity are their bestornaments, that good habits are better than fine clothes, and the mostelegant manners are the kindest.

  All these thoughts were dancing through Molly's head, and when she lefther cats, after a general romp in which even decorous Granny allowed herfamily to play leap-frog over her respectable back, she had made upher mind not to have yellow ribbons on her summer hat if she got a pinkmuslin as she had planned, but to finish off Boo's last shirt before shewent shopping with Merry.

  It rained that evening, and Mr. Bemis had a headache, so he threwhimself down upon the lounge after tea for a nap, with his silkhandkerchief spread over his face. He did get a nap, and when he wakedhe lay for a time drowsily listening to the patter of the rain, andanother sound which was even more soothing. Putting back a corner of thehandkerchief to learn what it was, he saw Molly sitting by the fire withBoo in her lap, rocking and humming as she warmed his little bare feet,having learned to guard against croup by attending to the damp shoesand socks before going to bed. Boo lay with his round face turned up tohers, stroking her cheek while the sleepy blue eyes blinked lovingly ather as she sang her lullaby with a motherly patience sweet to see. Theymade a pretty little picture, and Mr. Bemis looked at it with pleasure,having a leisure moment in which to discover, as all parents do sooneror later, that his children were growing up.

  "Molly is getting to be quite a woman, and very like her mother,"thought papa, wiping the eye that peeped, for he had been fond of thepretty wife who died when Boo was born. "Sad loss to them, poor things!But Miss Bat seems to have done well by them. Molly is much improved,and the boy looks finely. She's a good soul, after all;" and Mr. Bemisbegan to think he had been hasty when he half made up his mind to geta new housekeeper, feeling that burnt steak, weak coffee, and raggedwristbands were sure signs that Miss Bat's days of usefulness were over.

  Molly was singing the lullaby her mother used to sing to her, and herfather listened to it silently till Boo was carried away too sleepy foranything but bed. When she came back she sat down to her work, fancyingher father still asleep. She had a crimson bow at her throat and one onthe newly braided hair, her cuffs were clean, and a white apron hid theshabbiness of the old dress. She looked like a thrifty little housewifeas she sat with her basket beside her full of neat white rolls, herspools set forth, and a new pair of scissors shining on the table. Therewas a sort of charm in watching the busy needle flash to and fro, theanxious pucker of the forehead as she looked to see if the stitches wereeven, and the expression of intense relief upon her face as she surveyedthe finished button-hole with girlish satisfaction. Her father was wideawake and looking at her, thinking, as he did so,--

  "Really the old lady has worked well to change my tomboy into that nicelittle girl: I wonder how she did it." Then he gave a yawn, pulled offthe handkerchief, and said aloud, "What are you making, Molly?" for itstruck him that sewing was a new amusement.

  "Shirts for Boo, sir. Four, and this is the last," she answered, withpardonable pride, as she held it up and nodded toward the pile in herbasket.

  "Isn't that a new notion? I thought Miss Bat did the sewing," said Mr.Bemis, as he smiled at the funny little garment, it looked so like Boohimself.

  "No, sir; only yours. I do mine and Boo's. At least, I'm learning how,and Mrs. Pecq says I get on nicely," answered Molly, threading herneedle and making a knot in her most capable way.

  "I suppose it is time you did learn, for you are getting to be a greatgirl, and all women should know how to make and mend. You must take astitch for me now and then: Miss Bat's eyes are not what they were,I find;" and Mr. Bemis looked at his frayed wristband, as if heparticularly felt the need of a stitch just then.

  "I'd love to, and I guess I could. I can mend gloves; Merry taught me,so I'd better begin on them, if you have any," said Molly, much pleasedat being able to do anything for her father, and still more so at beingasked.

  "There's something to start with;" and he threw her a pair, with nearlyevery finger ripped.

  Molly shook her head over them, but got out her gray silk and fell towork, glad to show how well she could sew.

  "What are you smiling about?" asked her father, after a little pause,for his head felt better, and it amused him to question Molly.

  "I was thinking about my summer clothes. I must get them before long,and I'd like to go with Mrs. Grant and learn how to shop, if you arewilling."

  "I thought Miss Bat did that for you."

  "She always has, but she gets ugly, cheap things that I don't like. Ithink I am old enough to choose myself, if there is someone to tell meabout prices and the goodness of the stuff. Merry does; and she is onlya few months older than I am."

  "How old are you, child?" asked her father, feeling as if he had losthis reckoning.

  "Fifteen in August;" and Molly looked very proud of the fact.

  "So you are! Bless my heart, how the time goes! Well, get what youplease; if I'm to have a young lady here, I'd like to have her prettilydressed. It won't offend Miss Bat, will it?"

  Molly's eyes sparkled, but she gave a little shrug as she answered, "Shewon't care. She never troubles herself about me if I let her alone.

  "Hey? what? Not trouble herself? If _she_ doesn't, who does?" and Mr.Bemis sat up as if this discovery was more surprising than the other.

  "I take care of myself and Boo, and she looks after you. The house goesany way."

  "I should think so! I nearly broke my neck over the parlor sofa in thehall to-night. What is it there for?"

  Molly laughed. "That's the joke, sir, Miss Bat is cleaning house, andI'm sure it needs cleaning, for it is years since it was properly done.I thought you might have told her to."

  "I've said nothing. Don't like house-cleaning well enough to suggest it.I did think the hall was rather dirty when I dropped my coat and took itup covered with lint. Is she going to upset the whole place?" asked Mr.Bemis, looking alarmed at the prospect.

  "I hope so, for I really am ashamed when people come, to have them seethe dust and cobwebs, and old carpets and dirty windows," said Molly,with a sigh, tho
ugh she never had cared a bit till lately.

  "Why don't you dust round a little, then? No time to spare from thebooks and play?"

  "I tried, father, but Miss Bat didn't like it, and it was too hard forme alone. If things were once in nice order, I think I could keep themso; for I do want to be neat, and I'm learning as fast as I can."

  "It is high time someone took hold, if matters are left as you say. I'vejust been thinking what a clever woman Miss Bat was, to make such a tidylittle girl out of what I used to hear called the greatest tomboy intown, and wondering what I could give the old lady. Now I find _you_ arethe one to be thanked, and it is a very pleasant surprise to me."

  "Give her the present, please; I'm satisfied, if you like what I'vedone. It isn't much, and I didn't know as you would ever observe anydifference. But I did try, and now I guess I'm really getting on," saidMolly, sewing away with a bright color in her cheeks, for she, too,found it a pleasant surprise to be praised after many failures and fewsuccesses.

  "You certainly are, my dear. I'll wait till the house-cleaning isover, and then, if we are all alive, I'll see about Miss Bat's reward.Meantime, you go with Mrs. Grant and get whatever you and the boy need,and send the bills to me;" and Mr. Bemis lighted a cigar, as if thatmatter was settled.

  "Oh, thank you, sir! That will be splendid. Merry always has prettythings, and I know you will like me when I get fixed," said Molly,smoothing down her apron, with a little air.

  "Seems to me you look very well as you are. Isn't that a pretty enoughfrock?" asked Mr. Bemis, quite unconscious that his own unusual interestin his daughter's affairs made her look so bright and winsome.

  "This? Why, father, I've worn it all winter, and it's _frightfully_ugly, and almost in rags. I asked you for a new one a month ago, and yousaid you'd 'see about it'; but you didn't, so I patched this up as wellas I could;" and Molly showed her elbows, feeling that such masculineblindness as this deserved a mild reproof.

  "Too bad! Well, go and get half a dozen pretty muslin and ginghamthings, and be as gay as a butterfly, to make up for it," laughed herfather, really touched by the patches and Molly's resignation to theunreliable "I'll see about it," which he recognized as a household word.

  Molly clapped her hands, old gloves and all, exclaiming, with girlishdelight, "How nice it will seem to have a plenty of new, neat dressesall at once, and be like other girls! Miss Bat always talks abouteconomy, and has no more taste than a--caterpillar." Molly meant to say"cat," but remembering her pets, spared them the insult.

  "I think I can afford to dress my girl as well as Grant does his. Geta new hat and coat, child, and any little notions you fancy. Miss Bat'seconomy isn't the sort I like;" and Mr. Bemis looked at his wristbandsagain, as if he could sympathize with Molly's elbows.

  "At this rate, I shall have more clothes than I know what to do with,after being a rag-bag," thought the girl, in great glee, as she bravelystitched away at the worst glove, while her father smoked silently for awhile, feeling that several little matters had escaped his eye which hereally ought to "see about."

  Presently he went to his desk, but not to bury himself in businesspapers, as usual, for, after rummaging in several drawers, he took outa small bunch of keys, and sat looking at them with an expression onlyseen on his face when he looked up at the portrait of a dark-eyed womanhanging in his room. He was a very busy man, but he had a tender placein his heart for his children; and when a look, a few words, a moment'sreflection, called his attention to the fact that his little girl wasgrowing up, he found both pride and pleasure in the thought that thisyoung daughter was trying to fill her mother's place, and be a comfortto him, if he would let her.

  "Molly, my dear, here is something for you," he said; and when she stoodbeside him, added, as he put the keys into her hand, keeping both in hisown for a minute,--

  "Those are the keys to your mother's things. I always meant you to havethem, when you were old enough to use or care for them. I think you'llfancy this better than any other present, for you are a good child, andvery like her."

  Something seemed to get into his throat there, and Molly put her armround his neck, saying, with a little choke in her own voice, "Thankyou, father, I'd rather have this than anything else in the world, andI'll try to be more like her every day, for your sake."

  He kissed her, then said, as he began to stir his papers about, "Imust write some letters. Run off to bed, child. Good-night, my dear,good-night."

  Seeing that he wanted to be alone, Molly slipped away, feeling that shehad received a very precious gift; for she remembered the dear, deadmother, and had often longed to possess the relics laid away in the oneroom where order reigned and Miss Bat had no power to meddle. As sheslowly undressed, she was not thinking of the pretty new gowns in whichshe was to be "as gay as a butterfly," but of the half-worn garmentswaiting for her hands to unfold with a tender touch; and when she fellasleep, with the keys under her pillow and her arms round Boo, a fewhappy tears on her cheeks seemed to show that, in trying to do the dutywhich lay nearest her, she had earned a very sweet reward.

  So the little missionaries succeeded better in their second attempt thanin their first; for, though still very far from being perfect girls,each was slowly learning, in her own way, one of the three lessons allare the better for knowing--that cheerfulness can change misfortune intolove and friends; that in ordering one's self aright one helps others todo the same; and that the power of finding beauty in the humblest thingsmakes home happy and life lovely.