Mother put away to be used when we needed it. Such funny bundles as we used to have sometimes, odd shoes, bonnets without crowns, stockings without heels or toes, and old finery of all sorts. We used to rush when a bundle came, and sit round while Mother opened it. The boys always made fun of the things, though they were as grateful, really, as any of us.
Will made a verse one day which we thought pretty well for a little chap: 'To poor country folks Who have n't any clothes, Rich folks, to relieve them, Send old lace gowns and satin bows.''
'I think that Will is going to be as nice a poet as Mr. Shakespeare,' remarked Maud in a tone of serious conviction.
'He is already a Milton; but I don't believe he will ever be anything but a poet in name,'
said Polly, working away while she talked.
'Did n't your mother ever let you wear the nice things that came?' asked Maud.
'No, she thought it was n't the thing for a poor minister's girls to go flourishing about in second-hand finery, so she did what I 'm doing now, put away what would be useful and proper for us by and by, and let us play with the shabby, silk bonnets and dirty, flounced gowns. Such fun as we used to have up in our big garret! I remember one day we 'd been playing have a ball, and were all rigged up, even the boys. Some new neighbors came to call, and expressed a wish to see us, having been told that we were pattern children. Mother called us, but we had paraded out into the garden, after our ball, and were having a concert, as we sat about on the cabbages for green satin seats, so we did n't hear the call, and just as the company was going, a great noise arrested them on the doorstep, and round the corner of the house rattled Ned in full costume, wheeling Kitty in a barrow, while Jimmy, Will, and I ran screaming after, looking like Bedlamites; for we were playing that Lady Fitz Perkins had fainted, and was being borne home senseless in a cab. I thought mother would kill herself with laughing; and you can imagine what a fine impression the strangers received of the model children.'
Maud was so tickled with this youthful prank that she unguardedly sat down to laugh on the edge of an open trunk, immediately doubled up, fell in, and was with difficulty extricated.
'People in the country have great deal nicer times than we do. I never rode in a wheelbarrow, I never sat on cabbages, and I don't think it 's fair,' she said with an injured expression. 'You need n't save any old silk gowns for me; I don't mean to be a fine lady when I grow up, I 'm going to be a farmer's wife, and make butter and cheese, and have ten children, and raise pigs,' she added in one enthusiastic burst.
'I do believe she will if she can find a farmer anywhere,' said Fanny.
'Oh, I 'm going to have Will; I asked him and he said, 'All right.' He 's going to preach Sundays, and work on the farm the rest of the time. Well, he is, so you need n't laugh, for we 've made all our plans,' said Maud with comical dignity as she tried the effect of an old white bonnet, wondering if farmers' wives could wear ostrich feathers when they went to meeting.
'Blessed innocence! Don't you wish you were a child, and dared tell what you want?'
murmured Fanny.
'I wish I had seen Will's face when Maud proposed,' answered Polly, with a nod which answered her friend's speech better than her words.
'Any news of anybody?' whispered Fan, affecting to examine a sleeve with care.
'Still at the South; don't think late events have been reported yet; that accounts for absence,' answered Polly.
'I think Sir Philip was hit harder than was supposed,' said Fan.
'I doubt it, but time cures wounds of that sort amazing quick.'
'Wish it did!'
'Who is Sir Philip?' demanded Maud, pricking up her ears.
'A famous man who lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth,' answered Fan, with a look at Polly.
'Oh!' And Maud seemed satisfied, but the sharp child had her suspicions nevertheless.
'There will be an immense deal of work in all this fixing over and I hate to sew,' said Fanny, to divert a certain person's thoughts.
'Jenny and I are going to help. We are your debtors, as well as Belle, and demand the privilege of paying up. Blessings, like curses, come home to roost, Fan.'
'Mine come home a good deal bigger than they went,' answered Fanny, looking pleased that little favors should be so faithfully remembered.
'The interest on that sort of investment rolls up beautifully, you know. Now rip that dress for Jenny to put in order, and I 'll toss you up a bonnet in less than no time,' said Polly, determined to have things go smoothly, for she knew Fan's feelings had been a good deal tried lately, in many ways.
'I must have something to match my dress, and blue inside,' said Fanny, bringing out her ribbon boxes.
'Anything you like, my dear; when it comes to bonnets, I am usually inspired. I have it!
There we are! And nothing could be nicer,' cried Polly, making a dive among the silks Fan was turning over with a lost expression. 'This bit of silver-gray is all I ask, here 's enough for a killing bonnet, and those forget-me-nots are both pretty and appropriate.'
'You wretch, be still!' cried Fanny, as Polly looked up at her with a wicked laugh in her eyes.
'It will be done in time, and the dress likewise, so look your prettiest, and accept my blessing,' continued Polly, seeing that Fan liked her raillery.
'Time for what?' asked Paulina Pry.
'Your wedding, dear,' sweetly answered Fan, for Polly's pleasant hints and predictions put her in a charming humor, and even made old clothes of little consequence.
