Eight Cousins by Louisa M. Alcott

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"Steve looks as fierce as a game-cock; but don't you get excited,
my son, for it won't do a bit of good. Of course, everybody likes
the Chief best; they ought to, and I'll punch their heads if they
don't. So calm yourself, Dandy, and mend your own manners
before you come down on other people's."

Thus the Prince with great dignity and perfect good nature, while
Archie looked modestly gratified with the flattering opinions of his
kinsfolk, and Steve subsided, feeling he had done his duty as a
cousin and a brother. A pause ensued, during which Aunt Jane
appeared in the other room, accompanied by a tea-tray
sumptuously spread, and prepared to feed her big nestling, as that
was a task she allowed no one to share with her.

"If you have a minute to spare before you go, child, I wish you'd
just make Mac a fresh shade; this has got a berry stain on it, and he
must be tidy, for he is to go out to-morrow if it is a cloudy day,"
said Mrs. Jane, spreading toast in a stately manner, while Mac
slopped his tea about without receiving a word of reproof.

"Yes, aunt," answered Rose, so meekly that the boys could hardly
believe it could be the same voice which had issued the stern
command, "Out of this room, every one of you!" not very long ago.

They had not time to retire, without unseemly haste, before she
walked into the parlour and sat down at the work-table without a
word. It was funny to see the look the three tall lads cast at the
little person sedately threading a needle with green silk. They all
wanted to say something expressive of repentance, but no one
knew how to begin, and it was evident, from the prim expression
of Rose's face, that she intended to stand upon her dignity till they
had properly abased themselves. The pause was becoming very
awkward, when Charlie, who possessed all the persuasive arts of a
born scapegrace, went slowly down upon his knees before her,
beat his breast, and said, in a heart-broken tone

"Please forgive me this time, and I'll never do so any more."

It was very hard to keep sober, but Rose managed it and answered
gravely

"It is Mac's pardon you should ask, not mine, for you haven't hurt
me, and I shouldn't wonder if you had him a great deal, with all
that light and racket, and talk about things that only worry him."

"Do you really think we've hurt him, cousin?" asked Archie, with a
troubled look, while Charlie settled down in a remorseful heap
among the table legs.

"Yes, I do, for he has got a raging headache, and his eyes are as red
as as this emery bag," answered Rose, solemnly plunging her
needle into a fat flannel strawberry.

Steve tore his hair, metaphorically speaking, for he clutched his
cherished top-knot, and wildly dishevelled it, as if that was the
heaviest penance he could inflict upon himself at such short
notice. Charlie laid himself out flat, melodramatically begging
someone to take him away and hang him; but Archie, who felt
worst of all, said nothing except to vow within himself that he
would read to Mac till his own eyes were as red as a dozen emery
bags combined.

Seeing the wholesome effects of her treatment upon these culprits,
Rose felt that she might relent and allow them a gleam of hope.
She found it impossible to help trampling upon the prostrate
Prince a little, in words at least, for he had hurt her feelings oftener
than he knew; so she gave him a thimble-pie on the top of his
head, and said, with an air of an infinitely superior being

"Don't be silly, but get up, and I'll tell you something much better
to do than sprawling on the floor and getting all over lint."

Charlie obediently sat himself upon a hassock at her feet; the other
sinners drew near to catch the words of wisdom about to fall from
her lips, and Rose, softened by this gratifying humility, addressed
them in her most maternal tone.

"Now, boys, if you really want to be good to Mac, you can do it in
this way. Don't keep talking about things he can't do, or go and tell
what fun you have had batting your ridiculous balls about. Get
some nice book and read quietly; cheer him up about school, and
offer to help him study by and by; you can do that better than I,
because I'm only a girl, and don't learn Greek and Latin and all
sorts of headachy stuff."

"Yes, but you can do heaps of things better than we can; you've
proved that," said Archie, with an approving look that delighted
Rose, though she could not resist giving Charlie one more rebuke,
by saying, with a little bridling of the head, and a curl of the lip
that wanted to smile instead

"I'm glad you think so, though I am a 'queer chicken."'

This scathing remark caused the Prince to hide his face for shame,
and Steve to erect his head in the proud consciousness that this
shot was not meant for him. Archie laughed, and Rose, seeing a
merry blue eye winking at her from behind two brown hands, gave
Charlie's ear a friendly tweak, and extended the olive-branch of
peace.

"Now we'll all be good, and plan nice things for poor Mac," she
said, smiling so graciously that the boys felt as if the sun had
suddenly burst out from behind a heavy cloud and was shining
with great brilliancy.

The storm had cleared the air, and quite a heavenly calm
succeeded, during which plans of a most varied and surprising sort
were laid, for everyone burned to make noble sacrifices upon the
shrine of "poor Mac," and Rose was the guiding star to whom the
others looked with most gratifying submission. Of course, this
elevated state of things could not endure long, but it was very nice
while it lasted, and left an excellent effect upon the minds of all
when the first ardour had subsided.

"There, that's ready for to-morrow, and I do hope it will be
cloudy," said Rose, as she finished off the new shade, the progress
of which the boys had watched with interest.

"I'd bespoken an extra sunny day, but I'll tell the clerk of the
weather to change it. He's an obliging fellow, and he'll attend to it,
so make yourself easy," said Charlie, who had become quite perky
again.

"It is very easy for you to joke, but how would you like to wear a
blinder like that for weeks and weeks, sir?" and Rose quenched his
rising spirits by slipping the shade over his eyes, as he still sat on
the cushion at her feet.

"It's horrid! Take it off, take it off! I don't wonder the poor old boy
has the blues with a thing like that on"; and Charlie sat looking at
what seemed to him an instrument of torture, with such a sober
face that Rose took it gently away, and went in to bid Mac
good-night.

"I shall go home with her, for it is getting darkish, and she is rather
timid," said Archie, forgetting that he had often laughed at this
very timidity.

"I think I might, for she's taking care of my brother," put in Steve,
asserting his rights.

"Let's all go, that will please her"; proposed Charlie, with a burst
of gallantry which electrified his mates.

"We will!" they said with one voice, and they did, to Rose's great
surprise and secret contentment; though Archie had all the care of
her, for the other two were leaping fences, running races, and
having wrestling matches all the way down.

They composed themselves on reaching the door, however; shook
hands cordially all round, made their best bows, and retired with
great elegance and dignity, leaving Rose to say to herself, with
girlish satisfaction, as she went in

"Now, that is the way I like to be treated."

Chapter 13 - Cosey Corner

Vacation was over, the boys went back to school, and poor Mac
was left lamenting. He was out of the darkened room now, and
promoted to blue goggles, through which he took a gloomy view of
life, as might have been expected; for there was nothing he could
do but wander about, and try to amuse himself without using his
eyes. Anyone who has ever been condemned to that sort of
idleness knows how irksome it is, and can understand the state of
mind which caused Mac to say to Rose in a desperate tone one day

"Look here, if you don't invent some new employment or
amusement for me, I shall knock myself on the head as sure as you
live."

Rose flew to Uncle Alec for advice, and he ordered both patient
and nurse to the mountains for a month, with Aunt Jessie and
Jamie as escort. Pokey and her mother joined the party, and one
bright September morning six very happy-looking people were
aboard the express train for Portland two smiling mammas, laden
with luncheon baskets and wraps; a pretty young girl with a bag of
books on her arm; a tall thin lad with his hat over his eyes; and two
small children, who sat with their short legs straight out before
them, and their chubby faces beaming with the first speechless
delight of "truly travelling."

An especially splendid sunset seemed to have been prepared to
welcome them when, after a long day's journey, they drove into a
wide, green door-yard, where a white colt, a red cow, two cats,
four kittens, many hens, and a dozen people, old and young, were
gaily disporting themselves. Everyone nodded and smiled in the
friendliest manner, and a lively old lady kissed the new-comers all
round, as she said heartily

"Well, now, I'm proper glad to see you! Come right in and rest, and
we'll have tea in less than no time, for you must be tired. Lizzie,
you show the folks upstairs; Kitty, you fly round and help father in
with the trunks; and Jenny and I will have the table all ready by the
time you come down. Bless the dears, they want to go see the
pussies, and so they shall!"

The three pretty daughters did "fly round," and everyone felt at
home at once, all were so hospitable and kind. Aunt Jessie had
raptures over the home-made carpets, quilts and quaint furniture;
Rose could not keep away from the windows, for each framed a
lovely picture; and the little folks made friends at once with the
other children, who filled their arms with chickens and kittens, and
did the honours handsomely.

The toot of a horn called all to supper, and a goodly party,
including six children besides the Camp-bells, assembled in the
long dining-room, armed with mountain appetites and the gayest
spirits. It was impossible for anyone to be shy or sober, for such
gales of merriment arose they blew the starch out of the stiffest,
and made the saddest jolly. Mother Atkinson, as all called their
hostess, was the merriest there, and the busiest; for she kept flying
up to wait on the children, to bring out some new dish, or to banish
the live stock, who were of such a social turn that the colt came
into the entry and demanded sugar; the cats sat about in people's
laps, winking suggestively at the food; and speckled hens cleared
the kitchen floor of crumbs, as they joined in the chat with a
cheerful clucking.

Everybody turned out after tea to watch the sunset till all the lovely
red was gone, and mosquitoes wound their shrill horns to sound
the retreat. The music of an organ surprised the new-comers, and
in the parlor they found Father Atkinson playing sweetly on the
little instrument made by himself. All the children gathered about
him, and, led by the tuneful sisters, sang prettily till Pokey fell
asleep behind the door, and Jamie gaped audibly right in the
middle of his favourite

"Coo," said the little doves: "Coo," said she,
"All in the top of the old pine-tree."

The older travellers, being tired, went to "bye low" at the same
time, and slept like tops in home-spun sheets, on husk mattresses
made by Mother Atkinson, who seemed to have put some soothing
powder among them, so deep and sweet was the slumber that
came.

Next day began the wholesome out-of-door life, which works such
wonders with tired minds and feeble bodies. The weather was
perfect, and the mountain air made the children as frisky as young
lambs; while the elders went about smiling at one another, and
saying, "Isn't it splendid?" Even Mac, the "slow coach," was seen
to leap over a fence as if he really could not help it; and when
Rose ran after him with his broad-brimmed hat, he made the
spirited proposal to go into the woods and hunt for a catamount.

Jamie and Pokey were at once enrolled in the Cosey Corner Light
Infantry a truly superb company, composed entirely of officers, all
wearing cocked hats, carrying flags, waving swords, or beating
drums. It was a spectacle to stir the dullest soul when this gallant
band marched out of the yard in full regimentals, with Captain
Dove a solemn, big-headed boy of eleven issuing his orders with
the gravity of a general, and his Falstaffian regiment obeying them
with more docility than skill. The little Snow children did very
well, and Lieutenant Jack Dove was fine to see; so was Drummer
Frank, the errand-boy of the house, as he rub-a-dub-dubbed with
all his heart and drumsticks. Jamie had "trained" before, and was
made a colonel at once; but Pokey was the best of all, and called
forth a spontaneous burst of applause from the spectators as she
brought up the rear, her cocked hat all over one eye, her flag
trailing over her shoulder, and her wooden sword straight up in the
air; her face beaming and every curl bobbing with delight as her
fat legs tottered in the vain attempt to keep step manfully.

Mac and Rose were picking blackberries in the bushes beside the
road when the soldiers passed without seeing them, and they
witnessed a sight that was both pretty and comical. A little farther
on was one of the family burial spots so common in those parts,
and just this side of it Captain Fred Dove ordered his company to
halt, explaining his reason for so doing in the following words

"That's a graveyard, and it's proper to muffle the drums and lower
the flags as we go by, and we'd better take off our hats, too; it's
more respectable, I think."

"Isn't that cunning of the dears?" whispered Rose, as the little troop
marched slowly by to the muffled roll of the drums, every flag and
sword held low, all the little heads uncovered, and the childish
faces very sober as the leafy shadows flickered over them.

"Let's follow and see what they are after," proposed Mac, who
found sitting on the wall and being fed with blackberries luxurious
but tiresome.

So they followed and heard the music grow lively, saw the banners
wave in the breeze again when the graveyard was passed, and
watched the company file into the dilapidated old church that
stood at the corner of three woodland roads. Presently the sound of
singing made the outsiders quicken their steps, and, stealing up,
they peeped in at one of the broken windows.

Captain Dove was up in the old wooden pulpit, gazing solemnly
down upon his company, who, having stacked their arms in the
porch, now sat in the bare pews singing a Sunday-school hymn
with great vigour and relish.

"Let us pray," said Captain Dove, with as much reverence as an
army chaplain; and, folding his hands, he repeated a prayer which
he thought all would know an excellent little prayer, but not
exactly appropriate to the morning, for it was

"Now I lay me down to sleep."

Everyone joined in saying it, and it was a pretty sight to see the
little creatures bowing their curly heads and lisping out the words
they knew so well. Tears came into Rose's eyes as she looked; Mac
took his hat off involuntarily, and then clapped it on again as if
ashamed of showing any feeling.

"Now I shall preach you a short sermon, and my text is, 'Little
children, love one another.' I asked mamma to give me one, and
she thought that would be good; so you all sit still and I'll preach it.
You mustn't whisper, Marion, but hear me. It means that we
should be good to each other, and play fair, and not quarrel as we
did this very day about the wagon. Jack can't always drive, and
needn't be mad because I like to go with Frank. Annette ought to
be horse sometimes and not always driver; and Willie may as well
make up his mind to let Marion build her house by his, for she will
do it, and he needn't fuss about it. Jamie seems to be a good boy,
but I shall preach to him if he isn't. No, Pokey, people don't kiss in
church or put their hats on. Now you must all remember what I tell
you, because I am the captain, and you should mind me."

Here Lieutenant Jack spoke right out in meeting with the
rebellious remark

"Don't care if you are; you'd better mind yourself, and tell how you
took away my strap, and kept the biggest doughnut, and didn't
draw fair when we had the truck."

"Yes, and you slapped Frank; I saw you!" bawled Willie Snow,
bobbing up in his pew.

"And you took my book away and hid it 'cause I wouldn't go and
swing when you wanted me to," added Annette, the oldest of the
Snow trio.

"I shan't build my house by Willie's if he don't want me to, so
now!" put in little Marion, joining the mutiny.

"I will tiss Dimmy! and I tored up my hat 'tause a pin picked me,"
shouted Pokey, regardless of Jamie's efforts to restrain her.

Captain Dove looked rather taken aback at this outbreak in the
ranks; but, being a dignified and calm personage, he quelled the
rising rebellion with great tact and skill, by saying, briefly

"We'll sing the last hymn; 'Sweet, sweet good-by' you all know
that, so do it nicely, and then we will go and have luncheon."

Peace was instantly restored, and a burst of melody drowned the
suppressed giggles of Rose and Mac, who found it impossible to
keep sober during the latter part of this somewhat remarkable
service. Fifteen minutes of repose rendered it a physical
impossibility for the company to march out as quietly as they had
marched in. I grieve to state that the entire troop raced home as
hard as they could pelt, and were soon skirmishing briskly over
their lunch, utterly oblivious of what Jamie (who had been much
impressed by the sermon) called "the captain's beautiful teck."

It was astonishing how much they all found to do at Cosey Corner;
and Mac, instead of lying in a hammock and being read to, as he
had expected, was busiest of all. He was invited to survey and lay
out Skeeterville, a town which the children were getting up in a
huckleberry pasture; and he found much amusement in planning
little roads, staking off house-lots, attending to the water-works,
and consulting with the "selectmen" about the best sites for public
buildings; for Mac was a boy still, in spite of his fifteen years and
his love of books.

Then he went fishing with a certain jovial gentleman from the
West; and though they seldom caught anything but colds, they had
great fun and exercise chasing the phantom trout they were bound
to have. Mac also developed a geological mania, and went tapping
about at rocks and stones, discoursing wisely of "strata, periods,
and fossil remains"; while Rose picked up leaves and lichens, and
gave him lessons in botany in return for his lectures on geology.

They led a very merry life; for the Atkinson girls kept up a sort of
perpetual picnic; and did it so capitally, that one was never tired of
it. So their visitors throve finely, and long before the month was
out it was evident that Dr. Alec had prescribed the right medicine
for his patients.

Chapter 14 - A Happy Birthday

The twelfth of October was Rose's birthday, but no one seemed to
remember that interesting fact, and she felt delicate about
mentioning it, so fell asleep the night before wondering if she
would have any presents. That question was settled early the next
morning, for she was awakened by a soft tap on her face, and
opening her eyes she beheld a little black and white figure sitting
on her pillow, staring at her with a pair of round eyes very like
blueberries, while one downy paw patted her nose to attract her
notice. It was Kitty Comet, the prettiest of all the pussies, and
Comet evidently had a mission to perform, for a pink bow adorned
her neck, and a bit of paper was pinned to it bearing the words,
"For Miss Rose, from Frank."

That pleased her extremely, and that was only the beginning of the
fun, for surprises and presents kept popping out in the most
delightful manner all through the day, the Atkinson girls being
famous jokers and Rose a favourite. But the best gift of all came
on the way to Mount Windy-Top, where it was decided to picnic in
honour of the great occasion. Three jolly loads set off soon after
breakfast, for everybody went, and everybody seemed bound to
have an extra good time, especially Mother Atkinson, who wore a
hat as broad-brimmed as an umbrella, and took the dinner-horn to
keep her flock from straying away.

"I'm going to drive auntie and a lot of the babies, so you must ride
the pony. And please stay behind us a good bit when we go to the
station, for a parcel is coming, and you are not to see it till
dinner-time. You won't mind, will you?" said Mac, in a
confidential aside during the wild flurry of the start.

"Not a bit," answered Rose. "It hurts my feelings very much to be
told to keep out of the way at any other time, but birthdays and
Christmas it is part of the fun to be blind and stupid, and poked
into corners. I'll be ready as soon as you are, Giglamps."

"Stop under the big maple till I call then you can't possibly see
anything," added Mac, as he mounted her on the pony his father
had sent up for his use. "Barkis" was so gentle and so "willin',"
however, that Rose was ashamed to be afraid to ride him; so she
had learned, that she might surprise Dr. Alec when she got home;
meantime she had many a fine canter "over the hills and far away"
with Mac, who preferred Mr. Atkinson's old Sorrel.

Away they went, and, coming to the red maple, Rose obediently
paused; but could not help stealing a glance in the forbidden
direction before the call came. Yes, there was a hamper going
under the seat, and then she caught sight of a tall man whom Mac
seemed to be hustling into the carriage in a great hurry. One look
was enough, and with a cry of delight, Rose was off down the road
as fast as Barkis could go.

"Now I'll astonish uncle," she thought. "I'll dash up in grand style,
and show him that I am not a coward, after all."

Fired by this ambition, she startled Barkis by a sharp cut, and still
more bewildered him by leaving him to his own guidance down
the steep, stony road. The approach would have been a fine
success if, just as Rose was about to pull up and salute, two or
three distracted hens had not scuttled across the road with a great
squawking, which caused Barkis to shy and stop so suddenly that
his careless rider landed in an ignominious heap just under old
Sorrel's astonished nose.

Rose was up again before Dr. Alec was out of the carryall, and
threw two dusty arms about his neck crying with a breathless voice

"O uncle, I'm so glad to see you! It is better than a cart-load of
goodies, and so dear of you to come!"

"But aren't you hurt, child! That was a rough tumble, and I'm afraid
you must be damaged somewhere," answered the Doctor, full of
fond anxiety, as he surveyed his girl with pride.

"My feelings are hurt, but my bones are all safe. It's too bad! I was
going to do it so nicely, and those stupid hens spoilt it all," said
Rose, quite crestfallen, as well as much shaken.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I asked 'Where is Rose?' and Mac
pointed to the little Amazon pelting down the hill at such a rate.
You couldn't have done anything that would please me more, and
I'm delighted to see how well you ride. Now, will you mount again,
or shall we turn Mac out and take you in?" asked Dr. Alec, as Aunt
Jessie proposed a start, for the others were beckoning them to
follow.

"Pride goeth before a fall better not try to show off again, ma'am,"
said Mac, who would have been more than mortal if he had
refrained from teasing when so good a chance offered.

"Pride does go before a fall, but I wonder if a sprained ankle
always comes after it?" thought Rose, bravely concealing her pain,
as she answered, with great dignity

"I prefer to ride. Come on, and see who will catch up first."

She was up and away as she spoke, doing her best to efface the
memory of her downfall by sitting very erect, elbows down, head
well up, and taking the motion of the pony as Barkis cantered
along as easily as a rocking-chair.

"You ought to see her go over a fence and race when we ride
together. She can scud, too, like a deer when we play 'Follow the
leader,' and skip stones and bat balls almost as well as I can," said
Mac, in reply to his uncle's praise of his pupil.

"I'm afraid you will think her a sad tomboy, Alec; but really she
seems so well and happy, I have not the heart to check her. She has
broken out in the most unexpected way, and frisks like a colt; for
she says she feels so full of spirits she must run and shout whether
it is proper or not," added Mrs. Jessie, who had been a pretty
hoyden years ago herself.

"Good good! that's the best news you could tell me," and Dr. Alec
rubbed his hands heartily. "Let the girl run and shout as much as
she will it is a sure sign of health, and as natural to a happy child
as frisking is to any young animal full of life. Tomboys make
strong women usually, and I had far rather find Rose playing
football with Mac than puttering over bead-work like that affected
midget, Ariadne Blish."

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