Five Little Peppers and How They Grew

by Margaret Sidney

  GETTING READY FOR MAMSIE AND THE BOYS

  "And I'll tell you, Marian, what I am going to do."

  Mr. King's voice was pitched on a higher key than usual; and extremedetermination was expressed in every line of his face. He had met Mrs.Whitney at the foot of the staircase, dressed for paying visits. "Oh,are you going out?" he said, glancing impatiently at her attire. "AndI'd just started to speak to you on a matter of great importance! Of thegreatest importance indeed!" he repeated irritably, as he stood with onegloved hand resting on the balustrade.

  "Oh, it's no matter, father," she replied pleasantly; "if it's reallyimportant, I can postpone going for another day, and--"

  "Really important!" repeated the old gentleman irascibly. "Haven't Ijust told you it's of the greatest importance? There's no time to belost; and with my state of health too, it's of the utmost consequencethat I shouldn't be troubled. It's very bad for me; I should think youwould realize that, Marian."

  "I'll tell Thomas to take the carriage directly back," said Mrs. Whitneystepping to the door. "Or stay, father; I'll just run up and send thechildren out for a little drive. The horses ought to be used too, youknow," she said lightly, preparing to run up to carry out the changedplan.

  "Never mind that now," said Mr. King abruptly. "I want you to give meyour attention directly." And walking towards the library door, gettinga fresh accession of impatience with every step, he beckoned her tofollow.

  But his progress was somewhat impeded by little Dick--or rather, littleDick and Prince, who were standing at the top of the stairs to see Mrs.Whitney off. When he saw his mother retrace her steps, supposing heryielding to the urgent entreaties that he was sending after her to stayat home, the child suddenly changed his "Good-byes" to vociferous howlsof delight, and speedily began to plunge down the stairs to welcome her.

  But the staircase was long, and little Dick was in a hurry, and besides,Prince was in the way. The consequence was, nobody knew just how, thata bumping noise struck into the conversation that made the two below inthe hall look up quickly, to see the child and dog come rolling over thestairs at a rapid rate.

  "Zounds!" cried the old gentleman. "Here, Thomas, Thomas!" But as thatindividual was waiting patiently outside the door on the carriage box,there was small hope of his being in time to catch the boy, who wasalready in his mother's arms, not quite clear by the suddenness of thewhole thing, as to how he came there.

  "Oh! oh! Dicky's hurt!" cried somebody up above--followed by everyone within hearing distance, and all came rushing to the spot to ask athousand questions all in the same minute.

  There sat Mrs. Whitney in one of the big carved chairs, with little Dickin her lap, and Prince walking gravely around and around him with thegreatest expression of concern on his noble face. Mr. King was stormingup and down, and calling on everybody to bring a "bowl of water, andsome brown paper; and be quick!" interpolated with showers of blame onPrince for sitting on the stairs, and tripping people up! while Dickmeanwhile was laughing and chatting, and enjoying the distinction ofmaking so many people run, and of otherwise being the object of so muchattention!

  "I don't think he was sitting on the stairs, father," said Jasper, who,when he saw that Dicky was really unhurt, began to vindicate his dog."He never does that; do you Sir?" he said patting the head that waslifted up to him, as if to be defended.

  "And I expect we shall all be killed some day, Jasper," said Mr. King,warming with his subject; and forgetting all about the brown paper andwater which he had ordered, and which was now waiting for him at hiselbow, "just by that creature."

  "He's the noblest--" began Jasper, throwing his arms around his neck; anexample which was immediately followed by the Whitney boys, and the twolittle Peppers. When Dick saw this, he began to struggle to get down toadd himself to the number.

  "Where's the brown paper?" began Mr. King, seeing this and whirlingaround suddenly. "Hasn't any body brought it yet?"

  "Here 'tis sir," said Jane, handing him a generous supply. "Oh, I don'twant to," cried little Dick in dismay, seeing his grandfather advancewith an enormous piece of paper, which previously wet in the bowl ofwater, was now unpleasantly clammy and wet--"oh, no, I don't want to beall stuck up with old horrid wet paper!"

  "Hush, dear!" said his mamma, soothingly. "Grandpapa wants to put iton--there--" as Mr. King dropped it scientifically on his head, and thenproceeded to paste another one over his left eye.

  "And I hope they'll all drop off," cried Dick, savagely, shaking hishead to facilitate matters. "Yes, I do, every single one of 'em!" headded, with an expression that seen under the brown bits was anythingbut benign.

  "Was Prince on the stairs, Dick?" asked Jasper, coming up and peeringunder his several adornments. "Tell us how you fell!"

  "No," said little Dick, crossly, and giving his head another shake."He was up in the hall--oh, dear, I want to get down," and he began tostretch his legs and to struggle with so much energy, that two or threepieces fell off, and landed on the floor to his intense delight.

  "And how did you fall then?" said Jasper, perseveringly. "Can't youremember, Dicky, boy?"

  "I pushed Princey," said Dick, feeling, with freedom from some ofhis encumbrances, more disposed for conversation, "and made him goahead--and then I fell on top of him--that's all."

  "I guess Prince has saved him, father," cried Jasper, turning aroundwith eyes full of pride and love on the dog, who was trying as hard ashe could to tell all the children how much he enjoyed their caresses.

  And so it all came about that the consultation so summarily interruptedwas never held. For, as Mrs. Whitney was about retiring that evening,Mr. King rapped at her door, on his way to bed.

  "Oh," he said popping in his head, in response to her invitation to comein, "it's nothing--only I thought I'd just tell you a word or two aboutwhat I've decided to do."

  "Do you mean what you wanted to see me about this afternoon?" asked Mrs.Whitney, who hadn't thought of it since. "Do come in, father."

  "It's no consequence," said the old gentleman; "no consequence at all,"he repeated, waving his hand emphatically, "because I've made up my mindand arranged all my plans--it's only about the Peppers--"

  "The Peppers?" repeated Mrs. Whitney.

  "Yes. Well, the fact of it is, I'm going to have them here for avisit--the whole of them, you understand; that's all there is to it.And I shall go down to see about all the arrangements--Jasper and I--dayafter to-morrow," said the old gentleman, as if he owned the wholePepper family inclusive, and was the only responsible person to beconsulted about their movements.

  "Will they come?" asked Mrs. Whitney, doubtfully.

  "Come? of course," said Mr. King, sharply, "there isn't any other way;or else Mrs. Pepper will be sending for her children--and of course youknow, Marian, we couldn't allow that--well, that's all; so good night,"and the door closed on his retreating footsteps.

  And so Polly and Phronsie soon knew that mamsie and the boys were tobe invited! And then the grand house, big as it was, didn't seem largeenough to contain them.

  "I declare," said Jasper, next day, when they had been laughing andplanning till they were all as merry as grigs, "if this old dungeondon't begin to seem a little like 'the little brown house,' Polly."

  "Twon't," answered Polly, hopping around on one toe, followed byPhronsie, "till mamsie and the boys get here, Jasper King!"

  "Well, they'll be here soon," said Jappy, pleased at Polly's exultationover it, "for we're going to-morrow to do the inviting."

  "And Polly's to write a note to slip into Marian's," said Mr. King,putting his head in at the door. "And if you want your mother to come,child, why, you'd better mention it as strong as you can."

  "I'm going to write," said Phronsie, pulling up after a prolonged skip,all out of breath. "I'm going to write, and beg mamsie dear. Then she'llcome, I guess."

  "I guess she will," said Mr. King, looking at her. "You go on, Phronsie,and write; and that letter shall go straight in my coat pocket alone byitself."r />
  "Shall it?" asked Phronsie, coming up to him, "and nobody will take itout till you give it to mamsie?"

  "No, nobody shall touch it," said the old gentleman, stooping to kissthe upturned face, "till I put it into her own hand."

  "Then," said Phronsie, in the greatest satisfaction, "I'm going to writethis very one minute!" and she marched away to carry her resolve intoimmediate execution.

  Before they got through they had quite a bundle of invitations andpleadings; for each of the three boys insisted on doing his part, sothat when they were finally done up in an enormous envelope and put intoMr. King's hands, he told them with a laugh that there was no use forJappy and himself to go, as those were strong enough to win almostanybody's consent.

  However, the next morning they set off, happy in their hopes, andbearing the countless messages, which the children would come up everynow and then to intrust to them, declaring that they had forgotten toput them in the letters.

  "You'd had to have had an express wagon to carry the letters if you hadput them all in," at last cried Jasper. "You've given us a bushel ofthings to remember."

  "And oh! don't forget to ask Ben to bring Cherry," cried Polly, the lastminute as they were driving off although she had put it in her letter atleast a dozen times; "and oh, dear! of course the flowers can't come."

  "We've got plenty here," said Jasper. "You would not know what to dowith them, Polly."

  "Well, I do wish mamsie would give some to kind Mrs. Henderson, then,"said Polly, on the steps, clasping her hands anxiously, while Jaspertold Thomas to wait till he heard the rest of the message, "and tograndma--you know Grandma Bascom; she was so good to us," she saidimpulsively. "And, oh! don't let her forget to carry some to dear, dearDr. Fisher; and don't forget to give him our love, Jappy; don't forgetthat!" and Polly ran down the steps to the carriage door, where shegazed up imploringly to the boy's face.

  "I guess I won't," cried Jasper, "when I think how he saved your eyes,Polly! He's the best fellow I know!" he finished in an impulsive burst.

  "And don't let mamsie forget to carry some in to good old Mr. and Mrs.Beebe in town--where Phronsie got her shoes, you know; that is, ifmamsie can," she added, remembering how very busy her mother would be.

  "I'll carry them myself," said Jasper; "we're going to stay over tillthe next day, you know."

  "O!" cried Polly, radiant as a rose, "will you, really, Jappy? you're sogood!"

  "Yes, I will," said Jasper, "everything you want done, Polly; anythingelse?" he asked, quickly, as Mr. King, impatient to be off, showedunmistakable symptoms of hurrying up Thomas.

  "Oh, no," said Polly, "only do look at the little brown house, Jasper,as much as you can," and Polly left the rest unfinished. Jasper seemedto understand, however, for he smiled brightly as he said, looking intothe brown eyes, "I'll do it all, Polly; every single thing." And thenthey were off.

  Mamsie and the boys! could Polly ever wait till the next afternoon thatwould bring the decision?

  Long before it was possibly time for the carriage to come back from thedepot, Polly, with Phronsie and the three boys, who, improving Jasper'sabsence, had waited upon her with the grace and persistence of cavaliersof the olden time, were drawn up at the old stone gateway.

  "Oh, dear," said Van with an impatient fling; "they never will come!"

  "Won't they, Polly?" asked Phronsie, anxiously, and standing quitestill.

  "Dear me, yes," said Polly, with a little laugh, "Van only means they'llbe a good while, Phronsie. They're sure to come some time."

  "Oh!" said Phronsie, quite relieved; and she commenced her caperingagain in extreme enjoyment.

  "I'm going," said little Dick, "to run down and meet them." Accordinglyoff he went, and was immediately followed by Percy, who started with thelaudable desire of bringing him back; but finding it so very enjoyable,he stayed himself and frolicked with Dick, till the others, hearing thefun, all took hold of hands and flew off to join them.

  "Now," said Polly, when they recovered their breath a little, "let's allturn our backs to the road; and the minute we hear the carriage we mustwhirl round; and the one who sees 'em first can ask first 'Is mamsiecoming?"

  "All right," cried the boys.

  "Turn round, Dick," said Percy, with a little shove, for Dick wasstaring with all his might right down the road. And so they all flewaround till they looked like five statues set up to grace the sidewalk.

  "Suppose a big dog should come," suggested Van, pleasantly, "and snap atour backs!"

  At this little Dick gave a small howl, and turned around in a fright.

  "There isn't any dog coming," said Polly. "What does make you say suchawful things, Van?"

  "I hear a noise," said Phronsie; and so they all whirled around inexpectation. But it proved to be only a market wagon coming at a furiouspace down the road, with somebody's belated dinner. So they all had towhirl back again as before. The consequence was that when the carriagedid come, nobody heard it.

  Jasper, looking out, was considerably astonished to see, drawn up insolemn array with their backs to the road, five children, who stood asif completely petrified.

  "What in the world!" he began, and called to Thomas to stop, whoseenergetic "Whoa!" reaching the ears of the frozen line, caused it tobreak ranks, and spring into life at an alarming rate.

  "Oh, is she coming Jappy? Is she? Is she?" they all screamed together,swarming up to the carriage door, and over the wheels.

  "Yes," said Jasper looking at Polly.

  At that, Phronsie made a little cheese and sat right down on thepavement in an ecstasy.

  "Get in here, all of you;" said Jasper merrily; "help Polly in first.For shame Dick! don't scramble so."

  "Dick always shoves," said Percy, escorting Polly up with quite an air.

  "I don't either," said Dick; "you pushed me awful, just a little whileago," he added indignantly.

  "Do say awfully," corrected Van, crowding up to get in. "You leave offyour lys so," he finished critically.

  "I don't know anything about any lees," said little Dick, who, usuallyso good natured, was now thoroughly out of temper; "I want to get inand go home," and he showed evident symptoms of breaking into a perfectroar.

  "There," said Polly, lilting him up, "there he goes! now--one, two,three!" and little Dick was spun in so merrily that the tears changedinto a happy laugh.

  "Now then, bundle in, all the rest of you," put in Mr. King, who seemedto be in the best of spirits. "That's it; go on, Thomas!"

  "When are they coming?" Polly found time to ask in the general jumble.

  "In three weeks from to-morrow," said Jasper. "And everything's allright, Polly! and the whole of them, Cherry and all, will be here then!"

  "Oh!" said Polly.

  "Here we are!" cried Van, jumping out almost before the carriage doorwas open. "Mamma; mamma," he shouted to Mrs. Whitney in the doorway,"the Peppers are coming, and the little brown house too!--everything andeverybody!"

  "They are!" said Percy, as wild as his brother; "and everything's justsplendid! Jappy said so."

  "Everything's coming," said little Dick, tumbling up the steps--"and thebird--and--and--"

  "And mamsie!" finished Phronsie, impatient to add her part--while Pollydidn't say anything--only looked.

  Three weeks! "I can't wait!" thought Polly at first, in countingover the many hours before the happy day would come. But on Jasper'ssuggesting that they should all do something to get ready for thevisitors, and have a general trimming up with vines and flowersbeside--the time passed away much more rapidly than was feared.

  Polly chose a new and more difficult piece of music to learn to surprisemamsie. Phronsie had aspired to an elaborate pin-cushion, that wasnearly done, made of bits of worsted and canvas, over whose surfaceshe had wandered according to her own sweet will, in a way charming tobehold.

  "I don't know what to do," said Van in despair, "cause I don't know whatshe'd like."

  "Can't you draw her a little picture?" asked Polly. "She'
d like that."

  "Does she like pictures?" asked Van with the greatest interest.

  "Yes indeed!" said Polly, "I guess you'd think so if you could see her!"

  "I know what I shall do," with a dignified air said Percy, who couldn'tdraw, and therefore looked down on all Van's attempts with the greatestscorn. "And it won't be any old pictures either," he added.

  "What is it, old fellow?" asked Jasper, "tell on, now, your grand plan."

  "No, I'm not going to tell," said Percy, with the greatest secrecy,"until the very day."

  "What will you do, sir?" asked Jasper, pulling one of Dick's ears, whostood waiting to speak, as if his mind was made up, and wouldn't bechanged for anyone!

  "I shall give Ben one of my kitties--the littlest and the best!" hesaid, with heroic self-sacrifice.

  A perfect shout greeted this announcement.

  "Fancy Ben going round with one of those awful little things," whisperedJappy to Polly, who shook at the very thought.

  "Don't laugh! oh, it's dreadful to laugh at him, Jappy," she said, whenshe could get voice enough.

  "No, I sha'n't tell," said Percy, when the fun had subsided; who,finding that no one teased him to divulge his wonderful plan, kepttrying to harrow up their feelings by parading it.

  "You needn't then," screamed Van, who was nearly dying to know. "I don'tbelieve it's so very dreadful much, anyway."

  "What's yours, Jappy?" asked Polly, "I know yours will be justsplendid."

  "Oh, no, it isn't," said Jasper, smiling brightly, "but as I didn't knowwhat better I could do, I'm going to get a little stand, and then begsome flowers of Turner to fill it, and--"

  "Why, that's mine!" screamed Percy, in the greatest disappointment."That's just what I was going to do!"

  "Hoh, hoh!" shouted Van; "I thought you wouldn't tell, Mr. Percy! hoh,hoh!"

  "Hoh, hoh!" echoed Dick.

  "Hush," said Jappy. "Why, Percy, I didn't know as you had thought ofthat," he said kindly. "Well, then, you do it, and I'll take somethingelse. I don't care as long as Mrs. Pepper gets 'em."

  "I didn't exactly mean that," began Percy; "mine was roots and littleflowers growing."

  "He means what he gets in the woods," said Polly, explaining; "don'tyou, Percy?"

  "Yes," said the boy. "And then I was going to put stones and things inamong them to make them look pretty."

  "And they will," cried Jasper. "Go ahead, Percy, they'll look realpretty, and then Turner will give you some flowers for the stand, Iknow; I'll ask him to-morrow."

  "Will you?" cried Percy, "that'll be fine!"

  "Mine is the best," said Van, just at this juncture; but it was said alittle anxiously, as he saw how things were prospering with Percy; "formy flowers in the picture will always be there, and your old roots andthings will die."

  "What will yours be, then, Jappy?" asked Polly very soberly. "The standof flowers would have been just lovely! and you do fix them so nice,"she added sorrowfully.

  "Oh, I'll find something else," said Jappy, cheerfully, who had quiteset his heart on giving the flowers. "Let me see--I might carve her abracket."

  "Do," cried Polly, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "And do carve alittle bird, like the one you did on your father's."

  "I will," said Jasper, "just exactly like it. Now, we've got somethingto do, before we welcome the 'little brown house' people--so let's flyat it, and the time won't seem so long."

  And at last the day came when they could all say--To-morrow they'll behere!

  Well, the vines were all up; and pots of lovely climbing ferns, and allmanner of pretty green things had been arranged and re-arranged a dozentimes till everything was pronounced perfect; and a big green "Welcome"over the library door, made of laurel leaves, by the patient fingersof all the children, stared down into their admiring eyes as much as tosay, "I'll do my part!"

  "Oh, dear," said Phronsie, when evening came, and the children were, asusual, assembled on the rug before the fire, their tongues running wildwith anticipation and excitement, "I don't mean to go to bed at all,Polly; I don't truly."

  "Oh, yes, you do," said Polly laughing; "then you'll be all fresh andrested to see mammy when she does come."

  "Oh, no," said Phronsie, shaking her head soberly, and speaking in aninjured tone. "I'm not one bit tired, Polly; not one bit."

  "You needn't go yet, Phronsie," said Polly. "You can sit up half an houryet, if you want to."

  "But I don't want to go to bed at all," said the child anxiously, "forthen I may be asleep when mamsie comes, Polly."

  "She's afraid she won't wake up," said Percy, laughing. "Oh, there'll beoceans of time before they come, Phronsie."

  "What is oceans," asked Phronsie, coming up and looking at him,doubtfully.

  "He means mamsie won't get here till afternoon," said Polly, catchingher up and kissing her; "then I guess you'll be awake, Phronsie, pet."

  So Phronsie allowed herself to be persuaded, at the proper time, to becarried off and inducted into her little nightgown. And when Polly wentup to bed, she found the little pin-cushion, with its hieroglyphics,that she had insisted on taking to bed with her, still tightly graspedin the little fat hand.

  "She'll roll over and muss it," thought Polly; "and then she'll feel badin the morning. I guess I'd better lay it on the bureau."

  So she drew it carefully away, without awaking the little sleeper, andplaced it where she knew Phronsie's eyes would rest on it the firstthing in the morning.

  It was going on towards the middle of the night when Phronsie, whoseexciting dreams of mamsie and the boys wouldn't let her rest quietly,woke up; and in the very first flash she thought of her cushion.

  "Why, where--" she said, in the softest little tones, only half awake,"why, Polly, where is it?" and she began to feel all around her pillowto see if it had fallen down there.

  But Polly's brown head with its crowd of anticipations and busyplans was away off in dreamland, and she breathed on and on perfectlymotionless.

  "I guess I better," said Phronsie to herself, now thoroughly awake, andsitting up in bed, "not wake her up. Poor Polly's tired; I can find itmyself, I know I can."

  So she slipped out of bed, and prowling around on the floor, felt allabout for the little cushion.

  "'Tisn't here, oh, no, it isn't," she sighed at last, and getting up,she stood still a moment, lost in thought. "Maybe Jane's put it outin the hall," she said, as a bright thought struck her. "I can get itthere," and out she pattered over the soft carpet to the table at theend of the long hall, where Jane often placed the children's playthingsover night. As she was coming back after her fruitless search, shestopped to peep over the balustrade down the fascinating flight ofstairs, now so long and dark. Just then a little faint ray of light shotup from below, and met her eyes.

  "Why!" she said in gentle surprise, "they're all down-stairs! I guessthey're making something for mamsie--I'm going to see."

  So, carefully picking her way over the stairs with her little bare feet,and holding on to the balustrade at every step, she went slowly down,guided by the light, which, as she neared the bottom of the flight, shesaw came from the library door.

  "Oh, isn't it funny!" and she gave a little happy laugh. "They won'tknow I'm comin'!" and now the soft little feet went pattering over thethick carpet, until she stood just within the door. There she stoppedperfectly still.

  Two dark figures, big and powerful, were bending over something thatPhronsie couldn't see, between the two big windows. A lantern on thefloor flung its rays over them as they were busily occupied; and thefirelight from the dying coals made the whole stand out distinctly tothe gaze of the motionless little figure.

  "Why! what are you doing with my grandpa's things?"

  The soft, clear notes fell like a thunderbolt upon the men. With a startthey brought themselves up, and stared--only to see a little white-robedfigure, with its astonished eyes uplifted with childlike, earnest gaze,as she waited for her answer.

  For an instant they were powe
rless to move; and stood as if frozen tothe spot, till Phronsie, moving one step forward, piped forth:

  "Naughty men, to touch my dear grandpa's things!"

  With a smothered cry one of them started forward with arm uplifted; butthe other sprang like a cat and intercepted the blow.

  "Stop!" was all he said. A noise above the stairs--a rushing soundthrough the hall! Something will save Phronsie, for the household isaroused! The two men sprang through the window, having no time to catchthe lantern or their tools, as Polly, followed by one and another,rushed in and surrounded the child.

  "What!" gasped Polly, and got no further.

  "STOP, THIEF!" roared Mr. King, hurrying over the stairs. The children,frightened at the strange noises, began to cry and scream, as theycame running through the halls to the spot. Jasper rushed for themen-servants.

  And there stood Phronsie, surrounded by the pale group. "Twas twonaughty men," she said, lifting her little face with the grieved,astonished look still in the big brown eyes, "and they were touching mygrandpa's things, Polly!"

  "I should think they were," said Jasper, running over amongst the fewscattered tools and the lantern, to the windows, where, on the floor,was a large table cover hastily caught up by the corners, into which avast variety of silver, jewelry, and quantities of costly articles weregathered ready for flight. "They've broken open your safe, father!" hecried in excitement, "see!"

  "And they put up their hand--one man did," went on Phronsie. "And theother said 'Stop!'--oh, Polly, you hurt me!" she cried, as Polly, unableto bear the strain any longer, held her so tightly she could hardlybreathe.

  "Go on," said Jasper, "how did they look?"

  "All black," said the child, pushing back her wavy hair and looking athim, "very all black, Jasper."

  "And their faces, Phronsie?" said Mr. King, getting down on his oldknees on the floor beside her. "Bless me! somebody else ask her, I can'ttalk!"

  "How did their faces look, Phronsie, dear?" asked Jasper, taking one ofthe cold hands in his. "Can't you think?"

  "Oh!" said Phronsie--and then she gave a funny little laugh, "two bigholes, Jasper, that's all they had!"

  "She means they were masked," whispered Jasper.

  "What did you get up for?" Mrs. Whitney asked. "Dear child, what madeyou get out of bed?"

  "Why, my cushion-pin," said Phronsie looking worried at once. "Icouldn't find it, and--"

  But just at this, without a bit of warning, Polly tumbled over in a deadfaint.

  And then it was all confusion again.

  And so, on the following afternoon, it turned out that the Peppers,about whose coming there had been so many plans and expectations, justwalked in as if they had always lived there. The greater excitementcompletely swallowed up the less!