CHAPTER XIX
"HOMEWARD BOUND"
Captain Starkweather had renamed his sloop. The old name had beenpainted out, and now, on each side of the boat, in gilt letters on awhite scroll the new name "Anne Nelson" could be seen.
The little craft was anchored off the Freeman wharf, and at earlytwilight Mr. Nelson and Anne said their good-byes to the Freemans, andput off in the sloop's tender. Captain Starkweather was on board thesloop, and as noiselessly as possible they made ready to start.
The favoring winds swept the little craft along, and as the sun camesmiling up from the far horizon Anne awoke, and was quite ready for thecrackers, boiled eggs and doughnuts that Mrs. Freeman had packed fortheir breakfast.
The long "arm" of land now stretched out as if to welcome the returningvoyagers, and the sloop ran in beside the little pier just as CaptainEnos and Jimmie Starkweather came down the beach.
"Been watching your craft since sunup," declared Uncle Enos. "What'skept you in Boston so long, Starkweather? We began to worry about you,John, and feared some ill news of our little maid."
Anne did not wait to hear her father tell the story of their greatadventure, but ran swiftly up the path toward home. Aunt Martha wasstanding in the doorway, and as Anne saw the loving smile and felt thekind arms encircle her she was indeed sure that this was home, and thatthe most fortunate thing that had ever befallen her had been the welcomeAunt Martha had given her two years before, when she had come to thatvery door asking for shelter.
How much there was to tell! And how Aunt Martha exclaimed over theadventures of her little maid, and thanked heaven that she was safelyback in Province Town.
Then when Uncle Enos and John Nelson came up the path, each wheeling abarrow filled with the fine gifts that Anne and her father had broughthome, then indeed did Mistress Stoddard declare that it was enough tomake one believe in good fairies. And that reminded Anne of Caroline'sstory, which she had written down in the book.
Captain Enos put on his glasses and looked the book over admiringly.
"It should be in print," he declared; "this book is the finest thing ofall, Anne. 'Twould be an excellent idea, Martha, for us to ask theneighborhood in to hear it read."
But Mrs. Stoddard shook her head, and said Anne must not think too wellof what, after all, was Miss Rose Freeman's book as much as it wasAnne's. "You must not overpraise our little maid," she warned CaptainEnos reprovingly. But the book was ever one of Mistress Stoddard's mostvalued treasures, and was kept with "Pilgrim's Progress" in the bigchest.
It was late in the afternoon before all the dishes, pewter, the fine newtable-cloths, and the pretty brown cloth for Mistress Stoddard's newgown, were unpacked.
"This package is for Amanda," Anne said, holding up a good-sized bundle.
"For Amanda, indeed!" exclaimed Mistress Stoddard. "I'm not too surethat she deserves it. 'Twas she that sent you out into the night,thinking your Aunt Martha hard-hearted and unfair. And now a finepresent for her--I do not know about it."
"Oh, Aunt Martha, Amanda didn't mean to," pleaded Anne, "and she cameand told you."
Anne picked up the bundle and sped away. Down past the spring and up thesandy path toward Amanda's home she ran, hoping to meet Amanda coming towelcome her. Amanda was on the door-step with her knitting. At the sightof Anne she started up as if to run indoors, but Anne's call made herhesitate, and in a moment Anne was beside her, saying: "Amanda! Amanda!Isn't it fine that I am home again! And see, I've brought you thesepresents from Boston. See, Amanda!" and she held up the silk sash, andspread out the pretty dimity.
But instead of exclaiming with delight, as Anne had expected, poorAmanda dropped her work, covered her face with her hands and began tocry.
"Stop crying, Amanda Cary! You'll get spots on your lovely sash," saidAnne, and Amanda's tears ceased in sudden terror lest she spoil thatwonderful length of shining blue silk.
"Taste of that barley sugar, Amanda," continued Anne, opening aheart-shaped box, and helping herself to a piece. Amanda obeyed almostunconsciously, and when Mrs. Cary came to the door a little later shefound the two girls sitting close together, talking and laughing.
That night after Anne was fast asleep in the little loft chamber, JohnNelson told his good friends that he wished all the little settlement toshare in his good fortune.
"My little maid and I have found a home and friends here," he said, "andI should like well to do some friendly thing for the people before Ireturn to Boston."
"'Twould be a pleasant thing for us all to have a day together, and agood dinner," suggested Mistress Stoddard, "with figs, dates, and someof those fine crackers and jellies, and of course, a good fish chowder;'twould be a treat indeed," and so it was decided that the neighborhoodshould be bidden to come as the guests of John Nelson and Anne for aday's pleasuring.
"We'll spread a sail in the yard to make a shelter from the sun,"suggested Captain Enos.
"I'll make the chowder myself," declared John Nelson. "Mistress Stoddardshall not be burdened with work, and I'll see that the Starkweatherboys earn a shilling by helping me," and it was settled that thefollowing Thursday should be the day.
Anne thought it the finest plan in the world, and she and Amanda broughtbranches of pine, and fragrant fir balsam to cover the ground under thebig sail. Mrs. Stoddard insisted on spreading her two new finetable-cloths over the rough table, and on using her tall pewterpitchers.
"And Elder Haven is to have a plate and cup of china," she said proudly.
Not a boat put out from harbor on that Thursday morning, and the day wasnot far advanced when the guests, all wearing their Sunday best, beganto come up the hill toward Captain Stoddard's house. John Nelson andAnne gave them all a warm welcome, and as they all stood together aroundthe white covered table and Elder Haven asked a blessing to rest on themall it seemed to Anne and Amanda that it was the happiest day thatProvince Town had ever known.
The Stories in this Series are:
A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author'swords and intent.
A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony Page 19
