Old-Fashioned Girl (Version 3 Dramatic Reading) — Chapter 6: Grandma

CHAPTER VI. GRANDMA

“WHERE'S Polly?

” asked Fan one snowy afternoon, as she came into the dining-room where Tom was reposing on the sofa with his boots in the air, absorbed in one of those delightful books in which boys are cast away on desert islands, where every known fruit, vegetable and flower is in its prime all the year round; or, lost in boundless forests, where the young heroes have thrilling adventures, kill impossible beasts, and, when the author's invention gives out, suddenly find their way home, laden with tiger skins, tame buffaloes and other pleasing trophies of their prowess.

“Dun no,” was Tom's brief reply, for he was just escaping from an alligator of the largest size.

“Do put down that stupid book, and let's do something,” said Fanny, after a listless stroll round the room.

“Hi, they've got him!

” was the only answer vouchsafed by the absorbed reader.

“Where's Polly?

” asked Maud, joining the party with her hands full of paper dolls all suffering for ball-dresses.

“Do get along, and don't bother me,” cried Tom exasperated at the interruption.

“Then tell us where she is.

I'm sure you know, for she was down here a little while ago,” said Fanny.

“Up in grandma's room, maybe.

” “Provoking thing!

you knew it all the time, and did n't tell, just to plague us,” scolded Maud.

But Tom was now under water stabbing his alligator, and took no notice of the indignant departure of the young ladies.

“Polly's always poking up in grandma's room.

I don't see what fun there is in it,” said Fanny as they went up stairs.

“Polly's a verwy queer girl, and gwandma pets her a gweat deal more than she does me,” observed Maud, with an injured air.

“Let's peek and see what they are doing,” whispered Fan, pausing at the half-open door.

Grandma was sitting before a quaint old cabinet, the doors of which stood wide open, showing glimpses of the faded relics treasured there.

On a stool, at the old lady's feet, sat Polly, looking up with intent face and eager eyes, quite absorbed in the history of a high-heeled brocade shoe which lay in her lap.

“Well, my dear,” grandma was saying, “she had it on the very day that Uncle Joe came in as she sat at work, and said, 'Dolly, we must be married at once.'

'Very well, Joe,' says Aunt Dolly, and down she went to the parlor, where the minister was waiting, never stopping to change the dimity dress she wore, and was actually married with her scissors and pin-ball at her side, and her thimble on.

That was in war times, 1812, my dear, and Uncle Joe was in the army, so he had to go, and he took that very little pin-ball with him.

Here it is with the mark of a bullet through it, for he always said his Dolly's cushion saved his life.

” “How interesting that is!

” cried Polly, as she examined the faded cushion with the hole in it.

“Why, grandma, you never told me that story,” said Fanny, hurrying in, finding the prospect was a pleasant one for a stormy afternoon.

“You never asked me to tell you anything, my dear, so I kept my old stories to myself,” answered grandma, quietly.

“Tell some now, please.

May we stay and see the funny things?

” said Fan and Maud, eyeing the open cabinet with interest.

“If Polly likes; she is my company, and I am trying to entertain her, for I love to have her come,” said grandma, with her old-time politeness.

“Oh, yes!

do let them stay and hear the stories.

I've often told them what good times we have up here, and teased them to come, but they think it's too quiet.

Now, sit down, girls, and let grandma go on.

You see I pick out something in the cabinet that looks interesting, and then she tells me about it,” said Polly, eager to include the girls in her pleasures, and glad to get them interested in grandma's reminiscences, for Polly knew how happy it made the lonely old lady to live over her past, and to have the children round her.

“Here are three drawers that have not been opened yet; each take one, and choose something from it for me to tell about,” said Madam, quite excited at the unusual interest in her treasures.

So the girls each opened a drawer and turned over the contents till they found something they wanted to know about.

Maud was ready first, and holding up an oddly shaped linen bag, with a big blue F embroidered on it, demanded her story.

Grandma smiled as she smoothed the old thing tenderly, and began her story with evident pleasure.

“My sister Nelly and I went to visit an aunt of ours, when we were little girls, but we did n't have a very good time, for she was extremely strict.

One afternoon, when she had gone out to tea, and old Debby, the maid, was asleep in her room, we sat on the doorstep, feeling homesick, and ready for any thing to amuse us.

“'What shall we do?'

said Nelly.

“Just as she spoke, a ripe plum dropped bounce on the grass before us, as if answering her question.

It was all the plum's fault, for if it had n't fallen at that minute, I never should have had the thought which popped into my mischievous mind.

“'Let's have as many as we want, and plague Aunt Betsey, to pay her for being so cross,' I said, giving Nelly half the great purple plum.

“'It would be dreadful naughty,' began Nelly, 'but I guess we will,' she added, as the sweet mouthful slipped down her throat.

“'Debby's asleep.

Come on, then, and help me shake,' I said, getting up, eager for the fun.

“We shook and shook till we got red in the face, but not one dropped, for the tree was large, and our little arms were not strong enough to stir the boughs.

Then we threw stones, but only one green and one half-ripe one came down, and my last stone broke the shed window, so there was an end of that.

“'It's as provoking as Aunt Betsey herself,' said Nelly, as we sat down, out of breath.

“'I wish the wind would come and blow'em down for us,' panted I, staring up at the plums with longing eyes.

“'If wishing would do any good, I should wish'em in my lap at once,' added Nelly.

“'You might as well wish'em in your mouth and done with it, if you are too lazy to pick'em up.

If the ladder was n't too heavy we could try that,' said I, determined to have them.

“'You know we can't stir it, so what is the use of talking about it?

You proposed getting the plums, now let's see you do it,' answered Nelly, rather crossly, for she had bitten the green plum, and it puckered her mouth.

“'Wait a minute, and you will see me do it,' cried I, as a new thought came into my naughty head.

“'What are you taking your shoes and socks off for?

You can't climb the tree, Fan.'

” 'Don't ask questions, but be ready to pick'em up when they fall, Miss Lazybones.'

“With this mysterious speech I pattered into the house bare-footed and full of my plan.

Up stairs I went to a window opening on the shed roof.

Out I got, and creeping carefully along till I came near the tree, I stood up, and suddenly crowed like the little rooster.

Nelly looked up, and stared, and laughed, and clapped her hands when she saw what I was going to do.

“'I'm afraid you'll slip and get hurt.'

” 'Don't care if I do; I'll have those plums if I break my neck doing it,' and half sliding, half walking I went down the sloping roof, till the boughs of the tree were within my reach.

“Hurrah!

” cried Nelly, dancing down below, as my first shake sent a dozen plums rattling round her.

“'Hurrah!

” cried I, letting go one branch and trying to reach another.

But as I did so my foot slipped, I tried to catch something to hold by, but found nothing, and with a cry, down I fell, like a very big plum on the grass below.

“Fortunately the shed was low, the grass was thick and the tree broke my fall, but I got a bad bump and a terrible shaking.

Nelly thought I was killed, and began to cry with her mouth full.

But I picked myself up in a minute, for I was used to such tumbles; and did n't mind the pain half as much as the loss of the plums.

“'Hush!

Debby will hear and spoil all the fun.

I said I'd get'em and I have.

See what lots have come down with me.'

” So there had, for my fall shook the tree almost as much as it did me, and the green and purple fruit lay all about us.

“By the time the bump on my forehead had swelled as big as a nut, our aprons were half full, and we sat down to enjoy ourselves.

But we did n't. O dear, no!

for many of the plums were not ripe, some were hurt by the birds, some crushed in falling, and many as hard as stones.

Nelly got stung by a wasp, my head began to ache, and we sat looking at one another rather dismally, when Nelly had a bright idea.

“'Let's cook'em, then they'll be good, and we can put some away in our little pails for to-morrow.'

” 'That will be splendid!

There's a fire in the kitchen, Debby always leaves the kettle on, and we can use her saucepan, and I know where the sugar is, and we'll have a grand time.'

“In we went, and fell to work very quietly.

It was a large, open fire-place, with the coals nicely covered up, and the big kettle simmering on the hook.

We raked open the fire, put on the saucepan, and in it the best of our plums, with water enough to spoil them.

But we did n't know that, and felt very important as we sat waiting for it to boil, each armed with a big spoon, while the sugar box stood between us ready to be used.

“How slow they were, to be sure!

I never knew such obstinate things, for they would n't soften, though they danced about in the boiling water, and bobbed against the cover as if they were doing their best.

“The sun began to get low, we were afraid Debby would come down, and still those dreadful plums would n't look like sauce.

At last they began to burst, the water got a lovely purple, we put lots of sugar in, and kept tasting till our aprons and faces were red, and our lips burnt with the hot spoons.

“'There's too much juice,' said Nelly, shaking her head wisely.

'It ought to be thick and nice like mamma's.' “'I'll pour off some of the juice, and we can drink it,' said I, feeling that I'd made a mistake in my cooking.

“So Nelly got a bowl, and I got a towel and lifted the big saucepan carefully off.

It was heavy and hot, and I was a little afraid of it, but did n't like to say so.

Just as I began to pour, Debby suddenly called from the top of the stairs, 'Children, what under the sun are you doing?'

It startled us both.

Nelly dropped the bowl and ran.

I dropped the saucepan and did n't run, for a part of the hot juice splashed upon my bare feet, and ankles, and made me scream with dreadful pain.

“Down rushed Debby to find me dancing about the kitchen with a great bump on my forehead, a big spoon in my hand, and a pair of bright purple feet.

The plums were lying all over the hearth, the saucepan in the middle of the room, the basin was broken, and the sugar swimming about as if the bowl had turned itself over trying to sweeten our mess for us.

“Debby was very good to me, for she never stopped to scold, but laid me down on the old sofa, and bound up my poor little feet with oil and cotton wool.

Nelly, seeing me lie white and weak, thought I was dying, and went over to the neighbor's for Aunt Betsey, and burst in upon the old ladies sitting primly at, their tea, crying, distractedly, 'Oh, Aunt Betsey, come quick!

for the saucepan fell off the shed, and Fan's feet are all boiled purple!'

Nobody laughed at this funny message, and Aunt Betsey ran all the way home with a muffin in her hand and her ball in her pocket, though the knitting was left behind.

“I suffered a great deal, but I was n't sorry afterward, for I learned to love Aunt Betsey, who nursed me tenderly, and seemed to forget her strict ways in her anxiety for me.

“This bag was made for my special comfort, and hung on the sofa where I lay all those weary days.

Aunt kept it full of pretty patchwork or, what I liked better, ginger-nuts, and peppermint drops, to amuse me, though she did n't approve of cosseting children up, any more than I do now.

” “I like that vewy well, and I wish I could have been there,” was Maud's condescending remark, as she put back the little bag, after a careful peep inside, as if she hoped to find an ancient ginger-nut, or a well-preserved peppermint drop still lingering in some corner.

“We had plums enough that autumn, but did n't seem to care much about them, after all, for our prank became a household joke, and, for years, we never saw the fruit, but Nelly would look at me with a funny face, and whisper, 'Purple stockings, Fan!'

” “Thank you, ma'am,” said Polly.

“Now, Fan, your turn next.

” “Well, I've a bundle of old letters, and I'd like to know if there is any story about them,” answered Fanny, hoping some romance might be forthcoming.

Grandma turned over the little packet tied up with a faded pink ribbon;

a dozen yellow notes written on rough, thick paper, with red wafers still adhering to the folds, showing plainly that they were written before the day of initial note-paper and self-sealing envelopes.

“They are not love-letters, deary, but notes from my mates after I left Miss Cotton's boarding-school.

I don't think there is any story about them,” and grandma turned them over with spectacles before the dim eyes, so young and bright when they first read the very same notes.

Fanny was about to say, “I'll choose again,” when grandma began to laugh so heartily that the girls felt sure she had caught some merry old memory which would amuse them.

“Bless my heart, I have n't thought of that frolic this forty years.

Poor, dear, giddy Sally Pomroy, and she's a great-grandmother now!

” cried the old lady, after reading one of the notes, and clearing the mist off her glasses.

“Now, please tell about her; I know it's something funny to make you laugh so,” said Polly and Fan together.

“Well, it was droll, and I'm glad I remembered it for it's just the story to tell you young things.

“It was years ago,” began grandma, briskly, “and teachers were very much stricter than they are now.

The girls at Miss Cotton's were not allowed lights in their rooms after nine o'clock, never went out alone, and were expected to behave like models of propriety from morning till night.

“As you may imagine, ten young girls, full of spirits and fun, found these rules hard to keep, and made up for good behavior in public by all sorts of frolics in private.

“Miss Cotton and her brother sat in the back parlor after school was over, and the young ladies were sent to bed.

Mr. John was very deaf, and Miss Priscilla very near-sighted, two convenient afflictions for the girls on some occasions, but once they proved quite the reverse, as you shall hear.

“We had been very prim for a week, and our bottled up spirits could no longer be contained; so we planed a revel after our own hearts, and set our wits to work to execute it.

“The first obstacle was surmounted in this way.

As none of us could get out alone, we resolved to lower Sally from the window, for she was light and small, and very smart.

“With our combined pocket-money she was to buy nuts and candy, cake and fruit, pie, and a candle, so that we might have a light, after Betsey took ours away as usual.

We were to darken the window of the inner chamber, set a watch in the little entry, light up, and then for a good time.

“At eight o'clock on the appointed evening, several of us professed great weariness, and went to our room, leaving the rest sewing virtuously with Miss Cotton, who read Hannah More's Sacred Dramas aloud, in a way that fitted the listeners for bed as well as a dose of opium would have done.

“I am sorry to say I was one of the ringleaders; and as soon as we got up stairs, produced the rope provided for the purpose, and invited Sally to be lowered.

It was an old-fashioned house, sloping down behind, and the closet window chosen by us was not many feet from the ground.

“It was a summer evening, so that at eight o'clock it was still light;

but we were not afraid of being seen, for the street was a lonely one, and our only neighbors two old ladies, who put down their curtains at sunset, and never looked out till morning.

“Sally had been bribed by promises of as many'goodies' as she could eat, and being a regular madcap, she was ready for anything.

“Tying the rope round her waist she crept out, and we let her safely down, sent a big basket after her, and saw her slip round the corner in my big sun bonnet and another girl's shawl, so that she should not be recognized.

“Then we put our night-gowns over our dresses, and were laid peacefully in bed when Betsey came up, earlier than usual; for it was evident that Miss Cotton felt a little suspicious at our sudden weariness.

“For half an hour we lay laughing and whispering, as we waited for the signal from Sally.

At last we heard a cricket chirp shrilly under the window, and flying up, saw a little figure below in the twilight.

“'O, quick!

quick!'

cried Sally, panting with haste.

'Draw up the basket and then get me in, for I saw Mr. Cotton in the market, and ran all the way home, so that I might get in before he came.'

Up came the heavy basket, bumping and scraping on the way, and smelling, O, so nice!

Down went the rope, and with a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together, we hoisted poor Sally half-way up to the window, when, sad to tell, the rope slipped and down she fell, only being saved from broken bones by the hay-cock under the window.

“'He's coming!

he's coming!

O pull me up, for mercy sake!'

cried Sally, scrambling to her feet unhurt, but a good deal shaken.

“We saw a dark figure approaching, and dragged her in with more bumping and scraping, and embraced her with rapture, for we had just escaped being detected by Mr. John, whose eyes were as sharp as his ears were dull.

“We heard the front-door shut, then a murmur of voices, and then Betsey's heavy step coming up stairs.

“Under the bed went the basket, and into the beds went the conspirators, and nothing could have been more decorous than the appearance of the room when Betsey popped her head in.

“'Master's an old fidget to send me travelling up again, just because he fancied he saw something amiss at the window.

Nothing but a curtain flapping, or a shadder, for the poor dears is sleeping like lambs.'

We heard her say this to herself, and a general titter agitated the white coverlets as she departed.

“Sally was in high feather at the success of her exploit, and danced about like an elf, as she put her night-gown on over her frock, braided her hair in funny little tails all over her head, and fastened the great red pin-cushion on her bosom for a breast-pin in honor of the feast.

“The other girls went to their rooms as agreed upon, and all was soon dark and still up stairs, while Miss Cotton began to enjoy herself below, as she always did when'her young charges' were safely disposed of.

“Then ghosts began to walk, and the mice scuttled back to their holes in alarm, for white figures glided from room to room, till all were assembled in the little chamber.

“The watch was set at the entry door, the signal agreed upon, the candle lighted, and the feast spread forth upon a newspaper on the bed, with the coverlet arranged so that it could be whisked over the refreshments at a moment's notice.

“How good everything was, to be sure!

I don't think I've eaten any pies since that had such a delicious flavor as those broken ones, eaten hastily, in that little oven of a room, with Sally making jokes and the others enjoying stolen sweets with true girlish relish.

Of course it was very wicked, but I must tell the truth.

“We were just beginning on the cake when the loud scratching of a rat disturbed us.

“'The signal!

fly!

run!

hide!

Hush, don't laugh!'

cried several voices, and we scuttled into bed as rapidly and noiselessly as possible, with our mouths and hands full.

“A long pause, broken by more scratching; but as no one came, we decided on sending to inquire what it meant.

I went and found Mary, the picket guard half asleep, and longing for her share of the feast.

“'It was a real rat; I've not made a sound.

Do go and finish; I'm tired of this,' said Mary, slapping away at the mosquitoes.

“Back I hurried with the good news.

Every one flew up, briskly.

We lighted the candle again, and returned to our revel.

The refreshments were somewhat injured by Sally's bouncing in among them, bit we did n't care, and soon finished the cake.

“'Now let's have the nuts,' I said, groping for the paper bag.

“'They are almonds and peanuts, so we can crack them with our teeth.

Be sure you get the bag by the right end,' said Sally.

“'I know what I'm about,' and to show her that it was all right, I gave the bag a little shake, when out flew the nuts, rattling like a hail-storm all over the uncarpeted floor.

“'Now you've done it,' cried Sally, as Mary scratched like a mad rat, and a door creaked below, for Miss Cotton was not deaf.

“Such a flurry as we were in!

Out went the candle, and each one rushed away with as much of the feast as she could seize in her haste.

Sally dived into her bed, recklessly demolishing the last pie, and scattering the candy far and wide.

“Poor Mary was nearly caught for Miss Cotton was quicker than Betsey, and our guard had to run for her life.

“Our room was the first, and was in good order, though the two flushed faces on the pillows were rather suspicious.

Miss Cotton stood staring about her, looking so funny, without her cap, that my bedfellow would have gone off in a fit of laughter, if I had not pinched her warningly.

“'Young ladies, what is this unseemly noise?'

No answer from us but a faint snore.

Miss Cotton marched into the next room, put the same question and received the same reply.

“In the third chamber lay Sally, and we trembled as the old lady went in.

Sitting up, we peeped and listened breathlessly.

“'Sarah, I command you to tell me what this all means?'

But Sally only sighed in her sleep, and muttered, wickedly, 'Ma, take me home.

I'm starved at Cotton's.' 'Mercy on me!

is the child going to have a fever?'

cried the old lady, who did not observe the tell tale nuts at her feet.

“'So dull, so strict!

O take me home!'

moaned Sally, tossing her arms and gurgling, like a naughty little gypsy.

“That last bit of acting upset the whole concern, for as she tossed her arms she showed the big red cushion on her breast.

Near-sighted as she was, that ridiculous object could not escape Miss Cotton, neither did the orange that rolled out from the pillow, nor the boots appearing at the foot of the bed.

“With sudden energy the old lady plucked off the cover, and there lay Sally with her hair dressed, la Topsy, her absurd breast-pin and her dusty boots, among papers of candy, bits of pie and cake, oranges and apples, and a candle upside down burning a hole in the sheet.

“At the sound of Miss Cotton's horrified exclamation Sally woke up, and began laughing so merrily that none of us could resist following her example, and the rooms rang with merriment far many minutes.

I really don't know when we should have stopped if Sally had not got choked with the nut she had in her mouth, and so frightened us nearly out of our wits.

” “What became of the things, and how were you punished?

” asked Fan, in the middle of her laughter.

“The remains of the feast went to the pig, and we were kept on bread and water for three days.

” “Did that cure you?

” “Oh, dear, no!

we had half a dozen other frolics that very summer; and although I cannot help laughing at the remembrance of this, you must not think, child, that I approve of such conduct, or excuse it.

No, no, my dear, far from it.

” “I call that a tip-top story!

Drive on, grandma, and tell one about boys,” broke in a new voice, and there was Tom astride of a chair listening and laughing with all his might, for his book had come to an end, and he had joined the party unobserved.

“Wait for your turn, Tommy.

Now, Polly, dear, what will you have?

” said grandma, looking, so lively and happy, that it was very evident “reminiscing” did her good.

“Let mine come last, and tell one for Tom next,” said Polly, looking round, and beckoning him nearer.

He came and sat himself cross-legged on the floor, before the lower drawer of the cabinet, which grandma opened for him, saying, with a benign stroke of the curly head, “There, dear, that's where I keep the little memorials of my brother Jack.

Poor lad, he was lost at sea, you know.

Well, choose anything you like, and I'll try to remember a story about it.

” Tom made a rapid rummage, and fished up a little broken pistol.

“There, that's the chap for me!

Wish it was n't spoilt, then we'd have fun popping away at the cats in the yard.

Now, then, grandma.

” “I remember one of Jack's pranks, when that was used with great effect,” said grandma, after a thoughtful pause, during which Tom teased the girls by snapping the lock of the pistol in their faces.

“Once upon a time,” continued Madam, much flattered by the row of interested faces before her, “my father went away on business, leaving mother, aunt, and us girls to Jack's care.

Very proud he was, to be sure, of the responsibility, and the first thing he did was to load that pistol and keep it by his bed, in our great worriment, for we feared he 'd kill himself with it.

For a week all went well; then we were startled by the news that robbers were about.

All sorts of stories flew through the town (we were living in the country then); some said that certain houses were marked with a black cross, and those were always robbed;

others, that there was a boy in the gang, for windows, so small that they were considered safe, were entered by some little rogue.

At one place the thieves had a supper, and left ham and cake in the front yard.

Mrs. Jones found Mrs. Smith's shawl in her orchard, with a hammer and an unknown teapot near it.

One man reported that some one tapped at his window, in the night, saying, softly, 'Is anyone here?'

and when he looked out, two men were seen to run down the road.

“We lived just out of town, in a lonely place; the house was old, with convenient little back windows, and five outside doors.

Jack was the only man about the place, and he was barely thirteen.

Mother and aunt were very timid, and the children weren't old enough to be of any use, so Jack and I were the home-guard, and vowed to defend the family manfully.

” “Good for you!

Hope the fellows came!

” cried Tom, charmed with this opening.

“One day, an ill-looking man came in and asked for food,” continued grandma, with a mysterious nod; “and while he ate, I saw him glance sharply about from the wooden buttons on the back-doors, to the silver urn and tankards on the dining-room sideboard.

A strong suspicion took possession of me, and I watched him as a cat does a mouse.

“'He came to examine the premises, I'm sure of it, but we will be ready for him,' I said, fiercely, as I told the family about him.

“This fancy haunted us all, and our preparations were very funny.

Mother borrowed a rattle, and kept it under her pillow.

Aunt took a big bell to bed with her; the children had little Tip, the terrier, to sleep in their room; while Jack and I mounted guard, he with the pistol, and I with a hatchet, for I did n't like fire-arms.

Biddy, who slept in the attic, practised getting out on the shed roof, so that she might run away at the first alarm.

Every night we arranged pit-falls for the robbers, and all filed up to bed, bearing plate, money, weapons, and things to barricade with, as if we lived in war times.

“We waited a week and no one came, so we began to feel rather slighted, for other people got'a scare,' as Tom says, and after all our preparations we really felt a trifle disappointed that we had had no chance to show our courage.

At last a black mark was found upon our door, and a great panic ensued, for we felt that now our time had come.

“That night we put a tub of water at the bottom of the back-stairs, and a pile of tin pans at the top of the front stairs, so that any attempt to come up would produce a splash or a rattle.

Bells were hung on door handles, sticks of wood piled up in dark corners for robbers to fall over, and the family retired, all armed and all provided with lamps and matches.

“Jack and I left our doors open, and kept asking one another if we did n't hear something, till he fell asleep.

I was wakeful and lay listening to the crickets till the clock struck twelve; then I got drowsy, and was just dropping off when the sound of steps outside woke me up staring wide awake.

Creeping to the window I was in time to see by the dim moonlight a shadow glide round the corner and disappear.

A queer little thrill went over me, but I resolved to keep quiet till I was sure something was wrong, for I had given so many false alarms, I did n't want Jack to laugh at me again.

Popping my head out of the door, I listened, and presently heard a scraping sound near the shed.

“'There they are; but I won't rouse the house till the bell rings or the pans fall.

The rogues can't go far without a clatter of some sort, and if we could only catch one of them we should get the reward and a deal of glory,' I said to myself, grasping my hatchet firmly.

“A door closed softly below, and a step came creeping towards the back-stairs.

Sure now of my prey, I was just about to scream 'Jack!'

when something went splash into the tub at the foot of the back-stairs.

“In a minute every one was awake and up, for Jack fired his pistol before he was half out of bed, and roared 'Fire!'

so loud it roused the house.

Mother sprung her rattle, aunt rang her bell, Jip barked like mad, and we all screamed, while from below came up a regular Irish howl.

“Some one brought a lamp, and we peeped anxiously down, to see our own stupid Biddy sitting in the tub wringing her hands and wailing dismally.

“'Och, murther, and it's kilt I am!

The saints be about us!

how iver did I come forninst this say iv wather, just crapin in quiet afther a bit iv sthroll wid Mike Mahoney, me own b'y, that's to marry me intirely, come Saint Patrick's day nixt.'

We laughed so we could hardly fish the poor thing up, or listen while she explained that she had slipped out of her window for a word with Mike, and found it fastened when she wanted to come back, so she had sat on the roof, trying to discover the cause of this mysterious barring out, till she was tired, when she prowled round the house till she found a cellar window unfastened, after all our care, and got in quite cleverly, she thought;

but the tub was a new arrangement which she knew nothing about; and when she fell into the'say,' she was bewildered and could only howl.

“This was not all the damage either, for aunt fainted with the fright, mother cut her hand with a broken lamp, the children took cold hopping about on the wet stairs, Jip barked himself sick, I sprained my ankle, and Jack not only smashed a looking-glass with his bullets, but spoilt his pistol by the heavy charge put in it.

After the damages were repaired and the flurry was well over, Jack confessed that he had marked the door for fun, and shut Biddy out as a punishment for'gallivanting,' of which he did n't approve.

Such a rogue as that boy was!'

” “But did n't the robbers ever come?

” cried Tom, enjoying the joke, but feeling defrauded of the fight.

“Never, my dear; but we had our'scare,' and tested our courage, and that was a great satisfaction, of course,” answered grandma, placidly.

“Well, I think you were the bravest of the lot.

I'd like to have seen you flourishing round there with your hatchet,” added Tom, admiringly, and the old lady looked as much pleased with the compliment as if she had been a girl.

“I choose this,” said Polly, holding up a long white kid glove, shrunken and yellow with time, but looking as if it had a history.

“Ah, that now has a story worth telling!

” cried grandma; adding, proudly, “Treat that old glove respectfully, my children, for Lafayette's honored hand has touched it.

” “Oh, grandma, did you wear it?

Did you see him?

Do tell us all about it, and that will be the best of the whole,” cried Polly, who loved history, and knew a good deal about the gallant Frenchman and his brave life.