Eight Cousins by Louisa M. Alcott

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"But she cannot go on playing football very long, and we must not
forget that she has a woman's work to do by and by," began Mrs.
Jessie.

"Neither will Mac play football much longer, but he will be all the
better fitted for business, because of the health it gives him. Polish
is easily added, if the foundations are strong; but no amount of
gilding will be of use if your timber is not sound. I'm sure I'm right,
Jessie; and if I can do as well by my girl during the next six
months as I have the last, my experiment will succeed."

"It certainly will; for when I contrast that bright, blooming face
with the pale, listless one that made my heart ache a while ago, I
can believe in almost any miracle," said Mrs. Jessie, as Rose
looked round to point out a lovely view, with cheeks like the ruddy
apples in the orchard near by, eyes clear as the autumn sky
overhead, and vigour in every line of her girlish figure.

A general scramble among the rocks was followed by a regular
gypsy lunch, which the young folks had the rapture of helping to
prepare. Mother Atkinson put on her apron, turned up her sleeves,
and fell to work as gaily as if in her own kitchen, boiling the kettle
slung on three sticks, over a fire of cones and fir boughs; while the
girls spread the mossy table with a feast of country goodies, and
the children tumbled about in everyone's way till the toot of the
horn made them settle down like a flock of hungry birds.

As soon as the merry meal and a brief interval of repose were over,
it was unanimously voted to have some charades. A smooth, green
spot between two stately pines was chosen for the stage; shawls
hung up, properties collected, audience and actors separated, and a
word quickly chosen.

The first scene discovered Mac in a despondent attitude and
shabby dress, evidently much troubled in mind. To him entered a
remarkable creature with a brown paper bag over its head. A little
pink nose peeped through one hole in the middle, white teeth
through another, and above two eyes glared fiercely. Spires of
grass stuck in each side of the mouth seemed meant to represent
whiskers; the upper corners of the bag were twisted like ears, and
no one could doubt for a moment that the black scarf pinned on
behind was a tail.

This singular animal seemed in pantomime to be comforting his
master and offering advice, which was finally acted upon, for Mac
pulled off his boots, helped the little beast into them, and gave him
a bag; then, kissing his paw, with a hopeful gesture, the creature
retired, purring so successfully that there was a general cry of "Cat,
puss, boots!"

"Cat is the word," replied a voice, and the curtain fell.

The next scene was a puzzler, for in came another animal, on
all-fours this time, with a new sort of tail and long ears. A gray
shawl concealed its face, but an inquisitive sunbeam betrayed the
glitter as of goggles under the fringe. On its back rode a small
gentleman in Eastern costume, who appeared to find some
difficulty in keeping his seat as his steed jogged along. Suddenly a
spirit appeared, all in white, with long newspaper wings upon its
back and golden locks about its face. Singularly enough, the beast
beheld this apparition and backed instantly, but the rider evidently
saw nothing and whipped up unmercifully, also unsuccessfully, for
the spirit stood directly in the path, and the amiable beast would
not budge a foot. A lively skirmish followed, which ended in the
Eastern gentleman being upset into a sweet-fern bush, while the
better bred animal abased itself before the shining one.

The children were all in the dark till Mother Atkinson said, in an
inquiring tone

"If that isn't Balaam and the ass, I'd like to know what it is. Rose
makes a sweet angel, doesn't she?"

"Ass" was evidently the word, and the angel retired, smiling with
mundane satisfaction over the compliment that reached her ears.

The next was a pretty little scene from the immortal story of
"Babes in the Wood." Jamie and Pokey came trotting in, hand in
hand, and, having been through the parts many times before, acted
with great ease and much fluency, audibly directing each other
from time to time as they went along. The berries were picked, the
way lost, tears shed, baby consolation administered, and then the
little pair lay down among the brakes and died with their eyes wide
open and the toes of their four little boots turned up to the daisies
in the most pathetic manner.

"Now the wobins tum. You be twite dead, Dimmy, and I'll peep in
and see 'em," one defunct innocent was heard to say.

"I hope they'll be quick, for I'm lying on a stone, and ants are
walking up my leg like fury," murmured the other.

Here the robins came flapping in with red scarves over their
breasts and leaves in their mouths, which they carefully laid upon
the babes wherever they would show best. A prickly blackberry
leaf placed directly over Pokey's nose caused her to sneeze so
violently that her little legs flew into the air; Jamie gave a startled
"Ow!" and the pitying fowls fled giggling.

After some discussion it was decided that the syllable must be
"strew or strow" and then they waited to see if it was a good guess.

This scene discovered Annette Snow in bed, evidently very ill;
Miss Jenny was her anxious mamma, and her merry conversation
amused the audience till Mac came in as a physician, and made
great fun with his big watch, pompous manner, and absurd
questions. He prescribed one pellet with an unpronounceable
name, and left after demanding twenty dollars for his brief visit.

The pellet was administered, and such awful agonies immediately
set in that the distracted mamma bade a sympathetic neighbour run
for Mother Know-all. The neighbour ran, and in came a brisk little
old lady in cap and specs, with a bundle of herbs under her arm,
which she at once applied in all sorts of funny ways, explaining
their virtues as she clapped a plantain poultice here, put a pounded
catnip plaster there, or tied a couple of mullein leaves round the
sufferer's throat. Instant relief ensued, the dying child sat up and
demanded baked beans. The grateful parent offered fifty dollars;
but Mother Know-all indignantly refused it and went smiling
away, declaring that a neighbourly turn needed no reward, and a
doctor's fee was all a humbug.

The audience were in fits of laughter over this scene, for Rose
imitated Mrs. Atkinson capitally, and the herb cure was a good hit
at the excellent lady's belief that "yarbs" would save mankind if
properly applied. No one enjoyed it more than herself, and the
saucy children prepared for the grand finale in high feather.

This closing scene was brief but striking, for two trains of cars
whizzed in from opposite sides, met with a terrible collision in the
middle of the stage, and a general smash-up completed the word
catastrophe.

"Now let us act a proverb. I've got one all ready," said Rose, who
was dying to distinguish herself in some way before Uncle Alec.

So everyone but Mac, the gay Westerner, and Rose, took their
places on the rocky seats and discussed the late beautiful and
varied charade, in which Pokey frankly pronounced her own scene
the "bestest of all."

In five minutes the curtain was lifted; nothing appeared but a very
large sheet of brown paper pinned to a tree, and on it was drawn a
clock-face, the hands pointing to four. A small note below
informed the public that 4 A.M. was the time. Hardly had the
audience grasped this important fact when a long waterproof
serpent was seen uncoiling itself from behind a stump. An
inch-worm, perhaps, would be a better description, for it travelled
in the same humpy way as that pleasing reptile. Suddenly a very
wide-awake and active fowl advanced, pecking, chirping, and
scratching vigorously. A tuft of green leaves waved upon his crest,
a larger tuft of brakes made an umbrageous tail, and a shawl of
many colours formed his flapping wings. A truly noble bird, whose
legs had the genuine strut, whose eyes shone watchfully, and
whose voice had a ring that evidently struck terror into the
catterpillar's soul, if it was a catterpillar. He squirmed, he
wriggled, he humped as fast as he could, trying to escape; but all in
vain. The tufted bird espied him, gave one warbling sort of crow,
pounced upon him, and flapped triumphantly away.

"That early bird got such a big worm he could hardly carry him
off," laughed Aunt Jessie, as the children shouted over the joke
suggested by Mac's nickname.

"That is one of uncle's favourite proverbs, so I got it up for his
especial benefit," said Rose, coming up with the two-legged worm
beside her.

"Very clever; what next?" asked Dr. Alec as she sat down beside
him.

"The Dove boys are going to give us an 'Incident in the Life of
Napoleon,' as they call it; the children think it very splendid, and
the little fellows do it rather nicely," answered Mac with
condescension.

A tent appeared, and pacing to and fro before it was a little
sentinel, who, in a brief soliloquy, informed the observers that the
elements were in a great state of confusion, that he had marched
some hundred miles or so that day, and that he was dying for want
of sleep. Then he paused, leaned upon his gun, and seemed to
doze; dropped slowly down, overpowered with slumber, and
finally lay flat, with his gun beside him, a faithless little sentinel.
Enter Napoleon, cocked hat, gray coat, high boots, folded arms,
grim mouth, and a melodramatic stride. Freddy Dove always
covered himself with glory in this part, and "took the stage" with a
Napoleonic attitude that brought down the house; for the
big-headed boy, with solemn, dark eyes and square brow, was "the
very moral of that rascal, Boneyparty," Mother Atkinson said.

Some great scheme was evidently brewing in his mighty mind a
trip across the Alps, a bonfire at Moscow, or a little skirmish at
Waterloo perhaps, for he marched in silent majesty till suddenly a
gentle snore disturbed the imperial reverie. He saw the sleeping
soldier and glared upon him, saying in an awful tone

"Ha! asleep at his post! Death is the penalty he must die!"

Picking up the musket, he is about to execute summary justice, as
emperors are in the habit of doing, when something in the face of
the weary sentinel appears to touch him. And well it might, for a
most engaging little warrior was Jack as he lay with his shako half
off, his childish face trying to keep sober, and a great black
moustache over his rosy mouth. It would have softened the heart of
any Napoleon, and the Little Corporal proved himself a man by
relenting, and saying, with a lofty gesture of forgiveness

"Brave fellow, he is worn out; I will let him sleep, and mount
guard in his place."

Then, shouldering the gun, this noble being strode to and fro with
a dignity which thrilled the younger spectators. The sentinel
awakes, sees what has happened, and gives himself up for lost. But
the Emperor restores his weapon, and, with that smile which won
all hearts, says, pointing to a high rock whereon a crow happens to
be sitting, "Be brave, be vigilant, and remember that from yonder
Pyramid generations are beholding you," and with these
memorable words he vanishes, leaving the grateful soldier bolt
upright, with his hand at his temple and deathless devotion
stamped upon his youthful countenance.

The applause which followed this superb piece had hardly
subsided, when a sudden splash and a shrill cry caused a general
rush toward the waterfall that went gambolling down the rocks,
singing sweetly as it ran. Pokey had tried to gambol also, and had
tumbled into a shallow pool, whither Jamie had gallantly followed,
in a vain attempt to fish her out, and both were paddling about half
frightened, half pleased with the unexpected bath.

This mishap made it necessary to get the dripping infants home as
soon as possible; so the wagons were loaded up, and away they
went, as merry as if the mountain air had really been "Oxygenated
Sweets not Bitters," as Dr. Alec suggested when Mac said he felt
as jolly as if he had been drinking champagne instead of the
current wine that came with a great frosted cake wreathed with
sugar roses in Aunt Plenty's hamper of goodies.

Rose took part in all the fun, and never betrayed by look or word
the twinges of pain she suffered in her ankle. She excused herself
from the games in the evening, however, and sat talking to Uncle
Alec in a lively way, that both amazed and delighted him; for she
confided to him that she played horse with the children, drilled
with the light infantry, climbed trees, and did other dreadful things
that would have caused the aunts to cry aloud if they knew of
them.

"I don't care a pin what they say if you don't mind, uncle," she
answered, when he pictured the dismay of the good ladies.

"Ah, it's all very well to defy them, but you are getting so rampant,
I'm afraid you will defy me next, and then where are we?"

"No, I won't! I shouldn't dare; because you are my guardian, and
can put me in a strait-jacket if you like;" and Rose laughed in his
face, even while she nestled closer with a confiding gesture
pleasant to see.

"Upon my word, Rosy, I begin to feel like the man who bought an
elephant, and then didn't know what to do with him. I thought I
had got a pet and plaything for years to come; but here you are
growing up like a bean-stalk, and I shall find I've got a
strong-minded little woman on my hands before I can turn round.
There's predicament for a man and an uncle!"

Dr. Alec's comic distress was mercifully relieved for the time
being by a dance of goblins on the lawn, where the children, with
pumpkin lanterns on their heads, frisked about like
will-o'-the-wisps, as a parting surprise.

When Rose went to bed, she found that Uncle Alec had not
forgotten her; for on the table stood a delicate little easel, holding
two miniatures set in velvet. She knew them both, and stood
looking at them till her eyes brimmed over with tears that were
both sweet and sad; for they were the faces of her father and
mother, beautifully copied from portraits fast fading away.

Presently, she knelt down, and, putting her arms round the little
shrine, kissed one after the other, saying with an earnest voice, "I'll
truly try to make them glad to see me by and by."

And that was Rose's little prayer on the night of her fourteenth
birthday.

Two days later the Campbells went home, a larger party than when
they came; for Dr. Alec was escort and Kitty Comet was borne in
state in a basket, with a bottle of milk, some tiny sandwiches, and
a doll's dish to drink out of, as well as a bit of carpet to lie on in
her palace car, out of which she kept popping her head in the most
fascinating manner.

There was a great kissing and cuddling, waving of handkerchiefs,
and last good-byes, as they went; and when they had started,
Mother Atkinson came running after them, to tuck in some little
pies, hot from the oven, "for the dears, who might get tired of
bread and butter during that long day's travel."

Another start, and another halt; for the Snow children came
shrieking up to demand the three kittens that Pokey was cooly
carrying off in a travelling bag. The unhappy kits were rescued,
half smothered, and restored to their lawful owners, amid dire
lamentation from the little kidnapper, who declared that she only
"tooked um 'cause they'd want to go wid their sister Tomit."

Start number three and stoppage number three, as Frank hailed
them with the luncheon basket, which had been forgotten, after
everyone had protested that it was safely in.

All went well after that, and the long journey was pleasantly
beguiled by Pokey and Pussy, who played together so prettily that
they were considered public benefactors.

"Rose doesn't want to go home, for she knows the aunts won't let
her rampage as she did up at Cosey Corner," said Mac, as they
approached the old house.

"I can't rampage if I want to for a time, at least; and I'll tell you
why. I sprained my ankle when I tumbled off of Barkis, and it gets
worse and worse; though I've done all I know to cure it and hide it,
so it shouldn't trouble anyone," whispered Rose, knitting her brows
with pain, as she prepared to descend, wishing her uncle would
take her instead of her bundles.

How he did it, she never knew; but Mac had her up the steps and
on the parlour sofa before she could put her foot to the ground.

"There you are right side up with care; and mind, now, if your
ankle bothers you, and you are laid up with it, I am to be your
footman. It's only fair, you know; for I don't forget how good you
have been to me." And Mac went to call Phebe, so full of gratitude
and good-will that his very goggles shone.

Chapter 15 - Ear-Rings

Rose's sprain proved to be a serious one, owing to neglect, and Dr.
Alec ordered her to lie on the sofa for a fortnight at least; whereat
she groaned dismally, but dared not openly complain, lest the boys
turn upon her with some of the wise little sermons on patience
which she had delivered for their benefit.

It was Mac's turn now, and honourably did he repay his debt; for,
as school was still forbidden, he had plenty of leisure, and devoted
most of it to Rose. He took many steps for her, and even allowed
her to teach him to knit, after assuring himself that many a brave
Scotchman knew how to "click the pricks." She was obliged to
take a solemn vow of secrecy, however, before he would consent;
for, though he did not mind being called "Giglamps," "Granny"
was more than his boyish soul could bear, and at the approach of
any of the Clan his knitting vanished as if by magic, which
frequent "chucking" out of sight did not improve the stripe he was
doing for Rose's new afghan.

She was busy with this pretty work one bright October afternoon,
all nicely established on her sofa in the upper hall, while Jamie
and Pokey (lent for her amusement) were keeping house in a
corner, with Comet and Rose's old doll for their "childerns."

Presently, Phebe appeared with a card. Rose read it, made a
grimace, then laughed and said

"I'll see Miss Blish," and immediately put on her company face,
pulled out her locket, and settled her curls.

"You dear thing, how do you do? I've been trying to call every day
since you got back, but I have so many engagements, I really
couldn't manage it till to-day. So glad you are alone, for mamma
said I could sit awhile, and I brought my lace-work to show you,
for it's perfectly lovely." cried Miss Blish, greeting Rose with a
kiss, which was not very warmly returned, though Rose politely
thanked her for coming, and bid Phebe roll up the easy chair.

"How nice to have a maid!" said Ariadne, as she settled herself
with much commotion. "Still, dear, you must be very lonely, and
feel the need of a bosom friend."

"I have my cousins," began Rose, with dignity, for her visitor's
patronising manner ruffled her temper.

"Gracious, child! you don't make friends of those great boys, do
you? Mamma says she really doesn't think it's proper for you to be
with them so much."

"They are like brothers, and my aunts do think it's proper," replied
Rose, rather sharply, for it struck her that this was none of Miss
Blish's business.

"I was merely going to say I should be glad to have you for my
bosom friend, for Hatty Mason and I have had an awful quarrel,
and don't speak. She is too mean to live, so I gave her up. Just
think, she never paid back one of the caramels I've given her, and
never invited me to her party. I could have forgiven the caramels,
but to be left out in that rude way was more than I could bear, and
I told her never to look at me again as long as she lived."

"You are very kind, but I don't think I want a bosom friend, thank
you," said Rose, as Ariadne stopped to bridle and shake her flaxen
head over the delinquent Hatty Mason.

Now, in her heart Miss Blish thought Rose "a stuck-up puss," but
the other girls wanted to know her and couldn't, the old house was
a charming place to visit, the lads were considered fine fellows,
and the Campbells "are one of our first families," mamma said. So
Ariadne concealed her vexation at Rose's coolness, and changed
the subject as fast as possible.

"Studying French, I see; who is your teacher?" she asked, flitting
over the leaves of "Paul and Virginia," that lay on the table.

"I don't study it, for I read French as well as English, and uncle and
I often speak it for hours. He talks like a native, and says I have a
remarkably good accent."

Rose really could not help this small display of superiority, for
French was one of her strong points, and she was vain of it, though
she usually managed to hide this weakness. She felt that Ariadne
would be the better for a little crushing, and could not resist the
temptation to patronise in her turn.

"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Blish, rather blankly, for French was not
her strong point by any means.

"I am to go abroad with uncle in a year or two, and he knows how
important it is to understand the languages. Half the girls who
leave school can't speak decent French, and when they go abroad
they are so mortified. I shall be very glad to help you, if you like,
for, of course, you have no one to talk with at home."

Now Ariadne, though she looked like a wax doll, had feelings
within her instead of sawdust, and these feelings were hurt by
Rose's lofty tone. She thought her more "stuck up" than ever, but
did not know how to bring her down, yet longed to do it, for she
felt as if she had received a box on the ear, and involuntarily put
her hand up to it. The touch of an ear-ring consoled her, and
suggested a way of returning tit for tat in a telling manner.

"Thank you, dear; I don't need any help, for our teacher is from
Paris, and of course he speaks better French than your uncle."
Then she added, with a gesture of her head that set the little bells
on her ears to tingling: "How do you like my new ear-rings? Papa
gave them to me last week, and everyone says they are lovely."

Rose came down from her high horse with a rapidity that was
comical, for Ariadne had the upper hand now. Rose adored pretty
things, longed to wear them, and the desire of her girlish soul was
to have her ears bored, only Dr. Alec thought it foolish, so she
never had done it. She would gladly have given all the French she
could jabber for a pair of golden bells with pearl-tipped tongues,
like those Ariadne wore; and, clasping her hands, she answered, in
a tone that went to the hearer's heart

"They are too sweet for anything! If uncle would only let me wear
some, I should be perfectly happy."

"I wouldn't mind what he says. Papa laughed at me at first, but he
likes them now, and says I shall have diamond solitaires when I
am eighteen," said Ariadne, quite satisfied with her shot.

"I've got a pair now that were mamma's, and a beautiful little pair
of pearl and turquoise ones, that I am dying to wear," sighed Rose.

"Then do it. I'll pierce your ears, and you must wear a bit of silk in
them till they are well; your curls will hide them nicely; then,
some day, slip in your smallest ear-rings, and see if your uncle
don't like them."

"I asked him if it wouldn't do my eyes good once when they were
red, and he only laughed. People do cure weak eyes that way, don't
they?"

"Yes, indeed, and yours are sort of red. Let me see. Yes, I really
think you ought to do it before they get worse," said Ariadne,
peering into the large clear eye offered for inspection.

"Does it hurt much?" asked Rose, wavering.

"Oh dear, no; just a prick and a pull, and it's all over. I've done lots
of ears, and know just how. Come, push up your hair and get a big
needle."

"I don't quite like to do it without asking uncle's leave," faltered
Rose, when all was ready for the operation.

"Did he ever forbid it?" demanded Ariadne, hovering over her prey
like a vampire.

"No, never!"

"Then do it, unless you are afraid," cried Miss Blish, bent on
accomplishing the deed.

That last word settled the matter, and, closing her eyes, Rose said
"Punch!" in the tone of one giving the fatal order "Fire!"

Ariadne punched, and the victim bore it in heroic silence, though
she turned pale and her eyes were full of tears of anguish.

"There! Now pull the bits of silk often, and cold-cream your ears
every night, and you'll soon be ready for the rings," said Ariadne,
well pleased with her job, for the girl who spoke French with "a
fine accent" lay flat upon the sofa, looking as exhausted as if she
had had both ears cut off.

"It does hurt dreadfully, and I know uncle won't like it," sighed
Rose, as remorse began to gnaw. "Promise not to tell, or I shall be
teased to death," she added, anxiously, entirely forgetting the two
little pitchers gifted with eyes as well as ears, who had been
watching the whole performance from afar.

"Never. Mercy me, what's that?" and Ariadne started as a sudden
sound of steps and voices came up from below.

"It's the boys! Hide the needle. Do my ears show? Don't breathe a
word!" whispered Rose, scrambling about to conceal all traces of
their iniquity from the sharp eyes of the Clan.

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