VII.
_MABEL'S NEW WHIM._
"Please give me my puf-folio, Daphne," were Belle's first words in themorning before she was up.
"Puf-folio" stood for port-folio in Belle's English; and the one inquestion was greatly prized by her, as were also the contents. It hadbeen given to her by Harry Bradford, who had also presented one to eachof his little sisters; and was formed of large sheets of pasteboard,bound and tied together with bright-colored ribbons; Belle's with red,Bessie's with blue, and Maggie's with purple. To be sure, the bindingand sewing had all been done by Aunt Annie; but the materials had beenfurnished from Harry's pocket-money, and the portfolios were regardedas the most princely gifts, and treasured with great care.
Within were "proverb-pictures" of every variety and in great number,also many a scrap of paper, and--treasure beyond price!--whole sheetsof fool's-cap for future use.
One of these last Belle drew forth, and sitting up in her bed beganto compose another picture. She was busy with it till Daphne took herup; and even while the old woman was dressing her she kept makinglittle rushes at it, putting in a touch here and there till she had itfinished to her satisfaction.
Mabel did not come to breakfast with her uncle and cousin that morning,but chose to take it with her mamma in her own room.
So little Belle, when the meal was over, asked her papa if she might goto her cousin.
"No, dear, I think not," said her father. "You and Mabel are betterapart."
"Oh, no, papa!" said Belle; "for I am going to have love-charity forMabel, and ask her to have some for me, 'cause maybe I need a littletoo. I want to make up with her; and here's a new picture for her thatI b'lieve she will like better than that old, naughty one I oughtn't tohave made last night. Can't I go and be friends?"
Her father examined the picture, to make sure that it could give nocause for new offence; and, satisfied with her explanation, allowed herto go with it to Mrs. Walton's room.
Belle knocked, and being told to come in, obeyed. Her aunt was on thecouch, Mabel beside her playing with a doll, and the scowl and poutwith which the latter greeted her cousin were not very encouraging.
But Belle, feeling that she had been wrong herself, was determinedto persevere in "making up" with Mabel; and she said, though rathertimidly,--
"I made you another proverb-picture, Mabel, and"--
"No, no," said Mrs. Walton before she had time to finish her speech:"we have had trouble enough with your 'proverb-pictures,' Belle: youand Mabel cannot agree, it seems; and you had better each keep to yourown rooms."
Belle was very much hurt, although she felt this was partly her ownfault; and she turned to go with the tears in her eyes.
When Mrs. Walton saw she was grieved, she was sorry for what she hadsaid; and she called to the child,--
"Come here then, Belle: I want to speak to you."
Belle hesitated a moment, holding the doorknob, and twisting it backand forth; but at last she ran over to Mrs. Walton's side, and put herhand in that which was held out to her.
"I'm sorry I teased Mabel, Aunt Fanny," she said; "and I didn't makethis picture for a lesson to her, but for a lesson to myself, and tolet her see I did want to make up. It's 'most all about me doingthings I ought to Mabel; and I'm going to try to have love-charity, anddo 'em."
"Let's see," said Mabel, slipping off the couch and coming to hercousin's side, curiosity getting the better of her resentment.
Belle spread out her picture, and explained all its beauties to Mabel.
"That's me, with ugly, naughty lips like I had yesterday, making you,"she said; "and I oughtn't to do it when I am often very spoiled myself."
"No," said Mabel, gazing with rapt interest upon the drawing, andalready considerably mollified by finding that Belle put her ownfailings also in her "proverb-pictures."
"But I don't mean to do it any more, Mabel; but just to try to make yoube good and love me by living good my own self. And now there's youand me: me letting you have my carved animals, and not being mad evenif you broke one a little bit; but you wouldn't if you could help it,would you?"
"No, indeed, I wouldn't," said Mabel, very graciously: "let's befriends again, Belle."
So the quarrel was once again made up, and this time with more goodwill on both sides.
"You are a dear child," said Mrs. Walton, and she looked thoughtfullyand lovingly at the warm-hearted little girl, who, when she knewshe had been wrong, was ready to acknowledge it, and to try to makeamends; "and Mabel and I should have been more patient with you in thebeginning. Poor child! It was a sad thing for you to lose your motherso early."
"Oh! I didn't _lose_ her," said Belle, looking up in her aunt's facewith eyes of innocent surprise.
"How, dear! What do you mean?" asked Mrs. Walton, wondering in herturn. "Your mamma has gone away from you."
"Yes, but she went to Jesus," answered the child, simply. "You don'tlose something when you know it is in a very safe, happy place withsome one very dear and good to take care of it, even if you can't seeit any more: do you, Aunt Fanny?"
"No, I suppose not," said Mrs. Walton.
"Well, you know mamma has gone to heaven to stay with Jesus, and He'staking care of her; and by and by papa and I will go there too, andthen we'll see her again; so we didn't _lose_ her, you know. But thenI have to be very good and try to please Jesus, and mind what He says;and so I know He wants me to have love-charity for Mabel, and try tonot care very much if she does things I don't like. And mamma will beglad too. Oh, no, Aunt Fanny! I didn't lose my dear mamma: I know whereshe is, all safe."
Mrs. Walton drew her to her and kissed her; while Mabel, wondering atthe new softness and sweetness in Belle's face and voice, had forgottenthe picture and stood looking at her.
"All safe!"
Five little graves lay side by side in an English churchyard far away;and of those who rested beneath, the mother had always spoken as her"lost darlings." She never called them so again; for were they not"all safe"? Others had told her the same, others had tried to bringcomfort to her grieving and rebellious heart; but from none had it comewith such simple, unquestioning faith as from the innocent lips ofthe unconscious little one before her. Her own loved ones, as well asBelle's dear mother, were not lost, but "all safe."
She kissed the child again, this time with tears in her eyes.
"You see," continued Belle, encouraged to fresh confidence by thenew kindness of her aunt's manner,--"you see, Aunt Fanny, that makesanother reason for me to try to be good. I have a good many reasons toplease Jesus; 'cause dear mamma in heaven would want me to be good, andI would like to do what she wants me to, even more when she is awaythan if she was here; and 'cause I have to be papa's little comfort.That's what he always says I am, and he says I am his sunbeam too."
"I think I must call you that too, darling. You have brought a littleray of sunshine here this morning."
"Maggie says when we're good it's always like sunshine, but when we'renaughty it's like ugly, dark clouds," said Belle. "I'm sorry I was acloud yes'day, and that other day, Aunt Fanny. But I b'lieve it's timefor me to go to school now."
"Do you like school?" asked Mrs. Walton.
"Oh, I guess I do!" said Belle. "Why, you don't know what nice times wehave! and Miss Ashton is so kind."
"I want to go to school too," said Mabel.
"Not this morning, dear," said her mother.
"Yes, I shall,--I shall too, now! If Belle goes, I will. I shan't stayhere with nobody to play with me."
Mrs. Walton coaxed and promised, but all to no purpose. Mabel wasdetermined to see for herself the "nice times" which Belle described:school suddenly put on great attractions for her, and nothing would dobut that she must go at once. So, taking her by the hand, Mrs. Waltonfollowed Belle to Mr. Powers' parlor, and asked him what he thought ofMabel's new whim.
Now, to tell the truth, Mr. Powers had believed that the best possiblething for Mabel would be to go to school, and be under the firm butgentle rule of Mis
s Ashton; but he had not yet proposed it to hermother, knowing that the mere mention of it from another person wouldbe quite enough to make the froward child declare she would never go.Therefore he thought well of Mabel's wish, although he was not preparedto take Miss Ashton by surprise on this very morning.
But he knew there was one vacancy in her little school, and that shewould probably consent to let Mabel fill it; and he thought it was bestto take advantage of the little girl's sudden fancy, or, as MaggieBradford would have said, to "strike while the iron was hot."
Accordingly he told his sister that he would himself walk to schoolwith the two children, and learn what Miss Ashton had to say on thematter; and Mabel, being made ready with all speed, set forth with heruncle and cousin.
Miss Ashton agreed to take the new-comer; and Mabel was at once putinto the seat formerly occupied by Bessie Bradford. Maggie and Bessiehad belonged to Miss Ashton's class; but their mother taught them athome now.
Belle could not help a little sigh and one or two longing thoughts asshe remembered her dear Bessie who had formerly sat beside her there,but she did not say a word of her regret to Mabel.
Mabel behaved as well as possible during the whole of school-time;whether it was that she was well amused, or that she was somewhatawed by the novelty of the scene, and all the new faces about her,certainly neither Miss Ashton nor Belle had the least cause ofcomplaint against her when the time came for school to be dismissed.
And this good mood continued all that day, with one or two smallexceptions. It is true that on more than one of these occasions theremight have been serious trouble between the little cousins, but forBelle's persevering good-humor and patience; and she would have thoughtherself "pretty naughty," if she had behaved as Mabel did. But sheexcused and bore with her, because it was Mabel for whom she was tohave that charity which "suffereth long and is kind."
It was hard work too for little Belle; for, though naturally moregenerous and amiable than her cousin, she was pretty much accustomed tohaving her own way in all things reasonable. At home her every wish waslaw with her papa and nurse; Maggie and Bessie Bradford could not doenough to show their love and sympathy; and all her young playfellowsand school-mates followed their example, and petted and gave way to her"because she had no mother." So "giving up" was rather a new thing forBelle, not because she was selfish, but because she was seldom calledupon to do it.
However, she had her reward; for, thanks to her own sweetness and goodtemper, there was peace and sunshine throughout the day. She saw thather father and aunt were pleased with her; and once even Mabel, seemingtouched and ashamed when Belle had quietly yielded her own rights,turned around in a sudden and unwonted fit of penitence, and said,--
"There, take it, Belle: you had the best right; and I won't be mean toyou again, 'cause you're real good to me."
"My darling has been such a good girl to-day!" said Mr. Powers, as hetook her on his knee when they were alone, and she came for the littletalk they generally had before her bed-time: "she has been trying topractise the lesson she learned last night, and so has made all abouther happy."
"And been a little sunbeam, papa, have I?"
"Yes, indeed, love,--a true sunbeam."
"And did I make you pleased, papa?"
"Very much pleased, and truly happy, dear."
"And mamma will be pleased too, papa; and mamma's Jesus; and it makesHim my Jesus when I try to be His sunbeam and shine for Him, don't it?I guess everybody would be a sunbeam if they always had 'love-charity.'Tell me it over again, papa, so I will remember it very well, ands'plain to me a little more about it."
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