Amy Brooks

“ Waiting for a pretty girl to—’
“Oh, Miss Dayton, don’t you think Jotham’s ’most as nice as a prince? I do,” said Prue, without waiting for an answer, although she looked up in Miss Dayton’s face expectantly.
Helen took Prue’s little dimpled hand in her own as she said: “All princes are not good, although many of them are very, very good indeed. Jotham has a good face, and I am sure when I really know him I shall like him very much. If he grows to be a good, brave, true man, that is worth much more than being a prince.” ”

“ Randy spoke so earnestly that Prue stopped throwing pebbles at the water-spiders and throwing her arms around Randy, she said, “Oh, Randy! don’t look that way. When your eyes get big, and you just think and think, it makes me lonesome. Do begin to read the fairy stories.”
So Randy roused herself from her dream about the brook, and sat down, with Prue close beside her, on a rough plank which spanned the tiny stream. ”

“ While she was talking, a little book which lay upon Miss Dayton’s lap fell to the floor and flew open, showing a page of bright little sketches, and Randy and Prue stared at it in wonder. “My sketch book,” said Miss Dayton. “I am not an artist, but I have a bit of talent and have studied a little, and when I go out for a walk I jot down a part of a birch tree, a few wild flowers, or some tall weeds beside an old wall. ”

“ Who ever heard of shoeing a horse with gold! Land knows it costs enough to shoe them with iron; and as for running faster than the wind, why, anybody’d know better. You give me the book till I ask your father what he thinks of it. I’ll put it up on the mantel, back of the clock, and show it to him to-night and see what he says.”
As Mrs. Weston usually meant what she said, Randy was forced to submit; but she could not help thinking it a trial to have to do without the wonderful book until her father should have time to read it.
“Now,” said Mrs. Weston, “come in and help me make these pies.” ”

“ Why, she just made me wild to find something to give to every one, if giving made such pleasure. I remember that I said I often wished I had 201 more to give, and she showed me, oh, so plainly, that a smile or a pleasant word was worth the giving that I felt at once as if I were rich; for any one can say a pleasant word and all of us can smile. Oh, she’s done us ‘a world of good,’ as the parson’s wife said.”
While Randy dreamed at her window, Helen stood in the doorway at Mrs. Gray’s, and she, too, was thinking of the summer so happily spent. ”

“ Randy had escaped to the barn where, on the hay, she had laughed until she was tired; all the time feeling guilty, for she knew that, funny as the sight had been, Prue had been very naughty. Prue was a little captive in the house that afternoon, a great trial for her, and at night her father had talked with her and told her that she must always be kind to every one, especially to old people, and Prue had 14 promised, at the same time saying that, “if Aunt Prudence was always good, it was easier for grown-up people to be good.” ”

“ But the little girl looked bewildered; so, closing the book, Randy sought other means to amuse her. “Let’s play this is a beautiful bridge, this plank we’re sitting on, and this brook, a great big river,” said Randy, “and we’re princesses waiting for a prince to come and save us—I mean rescue us,” she corrected.
Again little Prue showed her lack of imagination. “Save us from what?” said she.
“Oh, dragons that live in this big, roaring river.”
“It don’t roar much,” said Prue, doubtfully; “but,” she added, “we can play it does.” ”

“ I am not a princess,” and Randy hastened to explain. She told all about the fairy book, and how on Sunday in church little Prue had felt sure that Miss Dayton was the princess of the fairy tales.
“Well, of all things!” said Helen; “now I must assure you, little one, that I am not a princess, only Helen Dayton of Boston.” ”

“ When Sandy and Nathan Lawton stopped to rest and regain their breath, the young people crowded around them to thank them and to examine the fine Scotch costume which Sandy wore.
“That’s a pretty dress and jacket,” said little Prue, admiringly, “and you’ve got such a long sash, too.”
The child’s admiration for his costume pleased the old man, and it was of small consequence to him that she called his kilt a dress. Lifting Prue upon his knee, he stroked her short fair curls, telling her how like the little lass she was who used to be his playmate in bonnie Scotland. ”

“ So sweet are loving lips, all the year round.”
“Hooray for the apple-bee! Hooray for Miss Dayton!” shouted Reuben Jenks, “Hooray for the bagpipes and the dance!” Every one cheered, and Jotham, laughing at his friend’s enthusiasm, shouted, “Hooray for every one and everything!” and they even cheered that; so, laughing and cheering, with lively chatter and snatches of song, wraps were donned and good nights said.
After the last guest had departed, Randy turned from the doorway, and going back into the house she sat down opposite her father, a happy smile upon her lips. ”

“ You gave up your pleasure to do the right thing at the right time; as I said that day, I’ve got a daughter to be thankful for.”
“Oh, father,” said Randy, “it seemed a little thing to do, but I was so anxious to reach you in time that I forgot everything else, even Miss Dayton and the tea at Mrs. Gray’s.”
“Well, ye did yer duty, Randy, even when ye feared the men would find ye listening and be angry. Always be brave to do right, as ye did that time, and ye’ll make a fine woman.” ”

“ Soon the apples were pared, cored, and sliced, and away Randy hurried to the closet, getting the sifter, sugar-bucket and rolling pin, the spice box, and last of all, a lot of plates.
Running back to the closet she brought out the lard and began to grease the plates in furious haste, so determined was she to show her mother that she was really willing to be helpful. How she admired the deft manner in which her mother rolled out the crust, stretched it over the plate, and inserted her knuckles to make it fit the hollow of the dish. ”

“ Mrs. Weston folded the garment which she had been mending, and saying, kindly, “That was a long story for a little girl to try to tell,” she went out to the kitchen to make preparation for tea, leaving Prue still looking at the pictures in the fairy book. Randy stole out to the kitchen.
“Oh, mother,” she said, looking up wistfully, “I know you think it funny that I can like fairy stories almost as well as Prue does; but, truly, Prue does not tell them straight. They’re not true, of course, but they do sound pretty when you read them straight through instead of ‘mixed up’ as she gets them.” ”

“ And, Tabby, she loves little girls and big girls, like my Randy, and she loves big womens and old womens and old mens, like Sandy McLeod; and, Tabby, I b’lieve, I most b’lieve she loves you, and I’m going to ask her.
“She prob’ly does love you; she seems to love everybody. This isn’t all in the book, Tabby, but what I tell you that isn’t in the book is true. I’m most glad the fairy stories ain’t true; for if things did happen like what’s in the book, maybe you’d turn into a frog, and then, Tabby, I couldn’t hug you.”
Here Tabby rubbed her head against Prue’s little arm. ”

“ On the following day, true to her promise, Helen gave Randy a cordial welcome, and trimmed the hat with some gay ribbons which, although not new, were very pretty, and to Randy seemed nothing short of gorgeous.
On the day of the picnic no happier heart than Randy Weston’s beat fast with anticipation; and with Prue’s hand held tightly in her own she started, as they had planned, for Mrs. Gray’s house to join Helen. ”

“ Half an hour later Randy chanced to hear Prue talking to Tabby, just under the kitchen window.
“Now, Tabby,” she was saying, “if you lie real still while I drag you ’round, you’ll get a lovely ride and nobody’ll ever know it; but if you squirm and act naughty, I’ll put the basket right back in Aunt Prudence’s room, and I won’t give you any ride at all.”
Randy waited to hear no more, for upon looking out over the wide window-sill she espied naughty little Prue dragging Miss Prudence’s best cap basket around the dooryard. ”

“ So the girls rushed out to the barn to find Mr. Weston and ask permission to use the corn.
“Land, yes,” he said when approached, “use anything within reach, I say, so long as it helps to make the house look pooty;” so, laughing gayly, the girls filled their aprons with corn, and running to the house commenced, in furious haste, to tie the husks together.
All the young friends had called that morning in a body to offer their help to Randy, and she had most gladly accepted it. ”

“ Weston wiped her eyes with a corner of her apron, then, turning to Randy, she kissed her, saying: “Why, Randy, it does me good to hear you say it, and, child, ye must know I’m all bound up in you and Prue. We busy folks sometimes forget to show how much we really feel.” ”

“ So Randy hurried on her own clothing, and Prue amused herself while waiting by 21 counting the buttons on Randy’s best gingham dress as it hung on the first hook in the closet, and this is the way she half said and half sung it:—
“Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer,—Randy, what’s a lawyer? Your last button is a lawyer.” ”

“ Randy was far from pleased to be taking this long walk in the dust and heat. She had been sitting upon the rough, wooden seat just outside the kitchen door, reading the beloved fairy book, when her mother had stepped briskly to the doorway, calling her back from fairyland abruptly, saying: “Come, Randy, you must go down to the store after some sugar. I’ve got my cookies ’bout half 53 done and my sugar’s given out, so you must put on your sunbonnet and take Prue, and go as quick as you can. Ye needn’t run, only don’t waste time.” ”

“ I laughed ter myself, an’ I said right out loud, as I drove off, ‘Matilda Jenks, this is the last time any one will have a chance ter call ye stingy.’
“I commenced this mornin’ by givin’ Reuben a lot of maple sugar to treat the boys with, and I tell you Miss Dayton’s ’bout right, it does feel good to give. We’ve been prospered, and from this time forth I ain’t goin’ ter be foolish with this world’s goods; but I vow I won’t be mean; so I’ve come ter say that if there’s anythin’ I can offer ter help make the bee a success, jest say the word an’ you shall have it.” ”

“ While Prue looked for berries Randy was critically inspecting her own and her little sister’s costume. How ugly they looked! 55 The girl who, up to that time, had never seen any one arrayed in anything more beautiful than a print or gingham gown, varied by a long apron of blue-checked cotton, or a dark, chocolate-colored calico, now looked with startling dislike upon that style of apparel.
“Only think,” mused Randy, “if we wore white dresses and fine shoes, and big hats, ’twouldn’t seem near as hot doing errands. ”

“ Mrs. Weston was a hard-working woman who loved her husband and children dearly, but so busy was she, that she forgot to say the encouraging word, or give the bit of praise, justly won, which seems a reward to the husband for his care and toil, and to the child for “being good.”
When the hot forenoon’s work was done, and the dinner dishes put away, Randy and Prue started for the brook, Randy carrying the wonderful book very carefully, and little Prue skipping along beside her. ”

“ Everybody in that splendid book was handsome, and they all had little white hands and tiny feet, too.” Here she stopped and took a long survey of her own feet, encased in coarse, cowhide boots, with leather lacings.
“The shoes and slippers in the pictures,” mused Randy, “have beautiful bows on the toes, and they have tiny little heels. I wonder how they ever managed to walk on them.” So still she stood, looking down at her shoes, the broom held listlessly in her hand, that her mother turned to see where she had gone.
“Why, Randy Weston, what ails you? ”

“ Sandy McLeod says that if Nathan Lawton gives the use of his best room for a schoolroom to the children, he isn’t going to have Nathan outdo him, so he’s offered a prize of a five-dollar gold piece to be given to the best scholar at the school this winter. I am glad that you spoke your mind before you knew about the prize. I’m willing you should try for it, but I’m glad to know that you intended to study before you had any idea of a prize to be won.”
“I’ll make myself a good scholar,” said Randy, “and I’ll get the prize, too.” Randy never forgot that morning. ”