Bessie on Her Travels

by Joanna H. Mathews

  IX.

  _KATE._

  It would take too long to follow Maggie and Bessie through all theirtravels, or to visit all the places visited by them, going from oneto another by easy stages, as best suited mamma; and staying a dayor two, or a week or two, according to the amount of interest andpleasure they found in each. Charleston and Richmond, Virginia Springs,the famous Natural Bridge, and many another spot, were described inMaggie’s letters to her friends at home; but the place of which shemost delighted to write, because there she found the most to describe,was Washington. Here is one of her letters from that city:--

  “MY BELOVED UNCLE HORACE,--I think Washington is the most interesting city I ever met with. It has so much to see and buildings which are quite surprising and such a credit to themselves and the people who built them that I am proud of the nation to which I belong. But the most interesting place I find is the _Pattern_ Office where are to be seen thousands and thousands of things one can never be tired of looking at. There are jewels and beautiful birds and butterflies, and very nasty bugs and spiders and oh! Uncle Horace an awful spider so large with his legs out he is as big as a dinner plate, I am thankful I do not live in that country, for he bites too and the people die, and I don’t see the use of spiders but I suppose some, or God would not have made them. And there are machines but we children did not care much for those and Indian things very interesting and all kinds of curiosities and beautiful toys. But the most interesting of all General Washington’s furniture and his clothes. But his furniture was very shabby and I think his grateful country ought to make him a present of some better and his coat--why, Uncle Horace it was all ragged and if it was not the father of his country’s I would say it looked like an old beggar man’s. But please do not think I am a traitor because I say this, for I would not be such a thing I hope, nor a Benedict Arnold either, I shan’t call him Mr. for he is not good enough, and I think he was the meanest man that ever lived not to take his own punishment but to let poor Mr. Andre be killed for him. And Bessie and I do think the father of his country might have let Mr. Andre off that once if he would promise never to do so again and we are afraid he forgot that time that Jesus wanted us to forgive one another as He forgave us. Papa says he had to make an example of Mr. Andre but I think he would have been a better example himself if he had showed mercy. And in the Pattern Office are some stufed animals some very pretty and some ugly as is in the nature of animals to be, for we all know they did not make themselves any more than people who are some ugly and some very handsome and they can’t help it. And so I don’t see why they have animals for patterns for no man nor woman either could make an animal but only God, but they are interesting to see though it must be disagreeable to stuff them.

  “We saw the President and we are very much disappointed for he looks just like another man, not a bit better, and we did not expect it of him but thought he would be very grand and somehow different. I don’t care a bit if I never see another President. I think it is real mean. But he has a very grand house and he lets people come in and see it which is very kind of him, for I would not like people I did not know to come in my house, and pass remarks about it; but Papa says Presidents and kings and things of that kind have to do a great many things they do not like very much, so I hope I will never be a President or his wife either and if he asks me to marry him I will certainly say no and Bessie will too.

  “There are a great many lovely toys in the Pattern Office but I will not say I wish they were mine because I cannot have them so it is of no use and it might be to break the tenth commandment. Papa says they belong to the government, but I don’t see what the government which is nothing but a lot of big men wants of playthings, and I think they would be much more use if children had them to take pleasure in them. If they were mine I would give the largest share to my Bessie, and then divide them with all my children friends and send some to the little cripples’ hospital.

  “To-morrow Papa is going to take us to the Smithsonian _Institude_ where they say are a great many curious and wonderful things and lots of animals dead ones I mean from all parts of the world. Which must be very instructif and if I do not improve my advantages I ought to be ashamed of myself and deserve to be a dunce. Mamma says it is time for us to go to bed, which I wish it was not and I wish there was no such place as bed but I do not tell dear Mamma so or she might think I did not honor her and I hope I may never be such an unnatural child. So good night dear Uncle Horace and Aunt May and May Bessie the same from your devoted till death do us part friend

  “MAGGIE.”

  They did not stay long in Washington; for the weather was growing warmand oppressive, and our party were anxious to hurry northward, whereit was cooler and pleasanter. We will not stop with them at Baltimoreor Philadelphia, where nothing particularly interesting occurred; oreven in their own city, where they stopped for a few days to rest andhave a sight of all the dear home-faces, as well as to leave all the“curiosities and wonderful memories,” as Maggie called them, which theyhad collected in their southern rambles: but start off with them oncemore on their further journeyings.

  They had parted from Mr. Powers and Belle: but Uncle Ruthven and AuntBessie had joined the party, adding much to the enjoyment of all; andthey were now on their way to beautiful Trenton and Niagara Falls.

  A young lady and two gentlemen were coming up the brass-coveredstaircase of the steamboat which was carrying our friends up the river.

  “Hallo!” said one of the latter as some small object fell at his feet.“What is this? Who is pelting me with flowers? No: it’s not a flowereither. What is it, Mary?” and he stooped and picked it up, turning itround and round very gingerly, as if afraid it would fall to pieces inhis fingers. “Looks like a small edition of that thing on your head.”

  “Just what it is,” replied his sister. “It is a doll’s hat. Ah! thereis the little owner, I suppose,” and she looked up at Bessie who waspeeping over the banisters with watchful, earnest eyes, and holdingMargaret Colonel Horace in her arms.

  “Are you the young lady who has been pelting me with dolls’ hats, andtrying to make me think they were flowers?” asked the young man as hecame to the top of the stairs.

  “It is only one hat, and I didn’t try to make you think it was aflower, and I didn’t pelt you with it, and I’m only a little girl,”answered Bessie, demurely. “It fell off my dolly’s head; but I’m veryglad you came up just then, before any one stepped on it.”

  The gentleman put the hat on the forefinger of one hand, and twirled itslowly round with the other, while Bessie looked on, rather aggravated.

  “Give it to her, George; aren’t you ashamed to tease her?” said theyoung lady.

  “What will you give me for it?” asked he.

  “I’ll give you ‘thank you,’ sir,” replied the child.

  “Nothing else?”

  “No, sir, nothing else,” answered Bessie, with as much dignity as anyyoung lady could have worn.

  He felt the silent reproof of the child’s manner; and, ashamed ofhaving teased her, he handed her the little hat, saying, almost withoutintending it,--

  “I beg your pardon.”

  “I am very much obliged to you, sir,” she said, now smiling again. “Iwas ’fraid it would be spoiled ’fore I could call some one to pick itup.”

  “Why didn’t you run down, and pick it up yourself?” asked the younglady.

  “I thought maybe mamma wouldn’t want me to,” said Bessie, putting onher doll’s hat. “She told me on the Savannah steamer never to go up anddown the stairs alone; and I didn’t know if she would like me to here.”

  “Here’s a match for Kate’s paragon of obedience andstraightforwardness,” said the young lady, laughing as she turned toth
e other gentleman who had not yet spoken.

  “What is your name, little lady?” he asked.

  Bessie looked up at him. Where had she seen that face before? Thosesparkling black eyes, the roguish curve of the lips, seemed veryfamiliar to her; and yet she was sure the gentleman was a stranger, asthe others were.

  But she had a fancy that these same strangers were making rather freewith her; and she put on her dignified air again as she answeredslowly,--

  “Bessie Bradford, sir,” and turned away. But her steps were againchecked as she heard her last questioner exclaim,--

  “Why, it is Kate’s pet! The paragon herself!”

  “Kate’s pet!” The old school-name so often given to her by the oldergirls at Miss Ashton’s, and now uttered by the owner of the black eyeswhich seemed so familiar, made it at once clear to her who it was.Perhaps it was just as well that she did not know what paragon meant:she only thought it rather an ugly-sounding name, and at another timeshe might have been displeased and thought it was intended to teaseher; but, as it flashed upon her who he was, vexation was lost inpleased surprise.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed, in the tone she sometimes used when she was bothgratified and astonished, and looking up at him with flushed andsparkling face.

  “Well?” said the gentleman, laughing; as did both of his companions.

  “I just believe you are Katie’s brother,” cried the child.

  “That is an accusation I cannot deny,” he said, much amused. “Yes; I amCharlie Maynard. But how did you know that?”

  “’Cause you look a great deal like her, sir,” answered Bessie; “and sheused to talk about you very often. She thinks you are very nice.”

  “That shows her good taste,” he said.

  “She is very, very nice herself,” said the little girl, no longerfeeling as if she were talking to a stranger; “and I am very fond ofher. But it is a great while since I have seen her. Will you please togive her my love when you see her, sir?”

  “On one condition,” he answered; “that you come with me now and let meshow you something. Something I think you will like to see,” he added,seeing that she hesitated.

  “I must ask mamma first,” she said. “She only gave me leave to waithere until Uncle Ruthven and Maggie came up.”

  She ran to where her mother sat, and eagerly asked if she might go withKatie Maynard’s brother to “see something.” Mamma gave permission; and,putting her hand confidingly in that of her new acquaintance, Bessiesuffered him to lead her to the other side of the boat.

  Like what he had brought her to see! Bessie thought so indeed, when shecaught sight of the “something;” and Margaret Colonel Horace nearlyfell from her mamma’s arms as the latter sprang into those of KatieMaynard herself.

  Kate was as much delighted and surprised as the child, and kissedBessie over and over again; while the loving little soul nestled closeto her, and looked up with eyes which left no need for words.

  Then Bessie had to be introduced to Katie’s father and mother, whowere with her; but her brother said there was no occasion for him togo through with this ceremony, since he and Bessie had already madeacquaintance; and he took a good deal of credit to himself for havingguessed that the demure little damsel, who was so careful about obeyingher mamma, might be his sister’s favorite and pet, whose name he had sooften heard. The other lady and gentleman were friends of the Maynards,and travelling with them; and the whole party were, like our friends,bound for Niagara.

  “And where is the honey-bee?” asked Kate, who had heard Colonel Rushcall Maggie by that name, and from that time used it for her. “We’ll goand bring her too.”

  But Maggie,--who had by this time come upstairs, having chosen to godown with Uncle Ruthven to buy some papers and “see what she could see”below, while Bessie preferred to wait above,--Maggie was by no means tobe persuaded to join a party consisting of so many strangers. So Kate,who was really rejoiced to see her little schoolmates, and wanted totalk to both, must needs accept Bessie’s invitation, and stay with themfor a while.

  “For you know you’re not a bit troubled with bashfulness,” said Bessie,innocently; “and poor Maggie is;” a speech which made Kate’s friendssmile, and Kate herself laugh outright.

  But Bessie was mistaken; for Kate, in spite of her laugh, was for once“a bit troubled with bashfulness” before Mrs. Bradford. For she had alittle feeling of consciousness in the presence of Bessie’s mother,which rose from the recollection of the affair of the clock at school,and the knowledge that Mrs. Bradford had heard of it. Mrs. Ashton hadtold Kate that she had thought it only right to tell Mrs. Bradfordof Bessie’s trial, and her steadfast resistance to temptation; andKate, who had not seen Mrs. Bradford since the day of the giving ofthe prizes, felt a little doubtful how she would be received. But thelady’s kind and friendly greeting soon put the young girl at her ease,and she felt there was no need for any feeling of embarrassment nowthat her own conscience was at rest. She had a pleasant talk with thelittle girls, hearing of their travels and adventures, and telling themin return of all that had taken place at school after they left.

  The acquaintance between the young folks brought about one betweentheir elders, which gave much pleasure all around; and, during the nexttwo or three weeks, the two parties saw a good deal of one another.

  The children took a great fancy to the younger Mr. Maynard, Kate’sbrother, as he did to them; and even Maggie was quite friendly withhim from the time that he came and took his place near his sister,as she sat a little apart with Bessie on her lap, and Maggie closebeside her, talking of all that had happened since they parted. Hewas very much amused with Bessie’s quaint ways and sayings, and withMaggie’s glowing descriptions of all they had seen and done duringtheir travels; but he did not let his amusement appear, and they talkedaway without restraint before him. Now and then he would join in theconversation, putting a question, or making a remark, as though he wereinterested in what they were saying, but not so as to embarrass them atall; and he was so kind and pleasant in his manner to them, that theyboth speedily honored him with their “approval,” and a place in theranks of their friends.

  Not so with Mr. Temple, Charlie Maynard’s companion. When, after atime, he sauntered up and joined the group, he soon put a check uponthe merry chatter of the little girls. Not intentionally, for he hadmore to say to them, and asked more questions than Mr. Maynard himself:but it was done with a tone and manner which they did not like; ina half-mocking way, which irritated Bessie, and brought on a fit ofshyness with Maggie. Indeed, the latter would not stand it long, butmoved away to her mamma.

  “What is it, dear?” asked her mother, seeing that something haddisturbed her.

  “That hateful man, mamma,” said Maggie, lowering her voice that shemight not be heard by the object of her displeasure.

  “Do not call names, dear,” said her mother. “What has he done to you?”

  “He talks disagreeable nonsense, mamma.”

  “I thought you liked nonsense once in a while,” said Mr. Stanton.

  “Oh! it’s not nice, amusing nonsense like yours, Uncle Ruthven. Hetalks compliments, and compliments he don’t mean either. He is horrid,and very silly, too.”

  “Perhaps he thinks you like it,” said Mr. Stanton.

  “He has no business to think so,” said Maggie, waxing more indignant.“We were having a very nice time with Miss Kate, and he made himselfa great interruption. He teased us about our dolls; and then he askedus a great many ridiculous questions, and talked a great many foolishthings about Bessie’s eyes and my hair. If it was grown ladies hetalked to that way they would say he was impertinent, and I don’t seewhat children have to stand it for. It is horrid nonsense.”

  Mamma thought it horrid nonsense too. She did not like to have suchthings said to her little girls, and was glad that they were too wiseto be pleased with such foolish flattery, which might otherwise havemade them vain.

  Meanwhile, Mr. Temple was continuing his “horrid nonsense�
� to Bessie,in spite of more than one reproof from Kate and her brother; but thelittle “princess” received it in the most disdainful silence, whichgreatly amused not only the two last, but also the offender himself.But at last it became more than Bessie could bear, and she too slippedfrom Kate’s hold and went back to her mother. From this time, thechildren avoided Mr. Temple as much as possible; and, if they couldhelp it, would not join the Maynards when he was with them.

  “What is the reason you don’t like George Temple?” asked Kate of Bessieone day.

  “I don’t know,” said Bessie, coloring: for she did not know she hadmade her dislike so plain; and she really found it difficult to putin words the cause of her annoyance. “I don’t know, Miss Kate; but I_don’t_ like him. I believe I don’t approve of young men,” she addeddoubtfully, as if she were not quite sure of the latter fact.

  “But you like Charlie, don’t you?” said Kate, smiling, “and he is ayoung man, younger than Mr. Temple.”

  “Yes,” answered Bessie, with an air of deep reflection, “but--then--Ib’lieve the reason is, that Mr. Temple is not so very gentleman as Mr.Maynard. Your brother plays with us, and makes fun for us, but he isjust as polite as if we were big ladies; but I think Mr. Temple is oneof those people who seem to think children don’t have feelings. Youknow there is such a kind of people, Miss Kate.”

  “She knows the ring of the pure metal,” said Kate afterwards to hermother, “and distinguishes the true gentleman in heart and feeling, aswell, or better than her elders. She did not mean her words for me,I am sure; but I could not but remember that it is not so long sinceI was myself one of that “kind of people who seem to think childrendon’t have feelings”;” and Kate laughed at the recollection of Bessie’ssolemn air, when she had pronounced her opinion of Mr. Temple. “PoorMaggie! how I used to tease her.”

  “Yes, indeed, Kate,” said Mrs. Maynard, “grown people, I fear, toooften forget how easily a child’s feelings are wounded; how the word,the look, or laugh, which to us is a matter of indifference, or somepassing moment’s amusement, may mortify and grieve some sensitivelittle heart, and leave there a sore spot long after we have forgottenit.”

  “Yes,” said Kate, regretfully, “my conscience is not at ease onthat point. And you may thank darling Bessie, mother, for giving memore than one innocent lesson in consideration and thoughtfulnessfor others, both old and young. The honey-bee, too, with all herheedlessness,--and she is naturally a careless little thing,--leavesno sting behind her, for she never forgets the rule which she calls,‘doing unto others.’”