Books: Elsie Dinsmore
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Martha Finley >> Elsie Dinsmore
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CHAPTER THIRTEENTH
"An angel face! its sunny wealth of hair,
In radiant ripples bathed the graceful throat
And dimpled shoulders."
--MRS. OSGOOD.
The cold gray light of a winter morning was stealing in through
the half-closed blinds as Elsie awoke, and started up in bed, with
the thought that this was the day on which several of her young
guests were expected, and that her papa had promised her a walk
with him before breakfast, if she were ready in time.
Aunt Chloe had already risen, and a bright fire was blazing and
crackling on the hearth, which she was carefully sweeping up.
"Good morning, mammy," said the little girl. "Are you ready to
dress me now?"
"What, you 'wake, darlin'?" cried the fond old creature, turning
quickly round at the sound of her nursling's voice. "Better lie
still, honey, till de room gets warm."
"I'll wait a little while, mammy," Elsie said, lying down again,
"but I must get up soon; for I wouldn't miss my walk with papa for
a great deal. Please throw the shutters wide open, and let the
daylight in. I'm so glad it has come."
"Why, my bressed lamb, you didn't lie awake lookin' for de
mornin', did you? You ain't sick, nor sufferin' any way?"
exclaimed Chloe, in a tone of mingled concern and inquiry, as she
hastily set down her broom, and came toward the bed, with a look
of loving anxiety on her dark face.
"Oh, no, mammy! I slept nicely, and feel as well as can be,"
replied the little girl; "but I am glad to see this new day,
because I hope it is going to be a very happy one. Carry Howard,
and a good many of my little friends are coming, you know, and I
think we will have a very pleasant time together."
"Your ole mammy hopes you will, darlin'," replied Chloe, heartily;
"an' I'se glad 'nough to see you lookin' so bright an' well; but
jes you lie still till it gets warm here. I'll open de shutters,
an' fotch some more wood for de fire, an' clar up de room, an' by
dat time I reckon you can get up."
Elsie waited patiently till Chloe pronounced the room warm enough,
then sprang up with an eager haste, asking to be dressed as
quickly as possible, that she might go to her papa.
"Don't you go for to worry yourself, darlin'; dere's plenty ob
time," said Chloe, beginning her work with all speed, however; "de
mistress had ordered de breakfast at nine, dese holiday times, to
let de ladies an' gen'lemen take a mornin' nap if dey likes it."
"Oh, yes, mammy! and that reminds me that papa said I must eat a
cracker or something before I take my walk, because he thinks it
isn't good for people to exercise much on an entirely empty
stomach," said Elsie. "Will you get me one when you have done my
curls?"
"Yes, honey, dere's a paper full in de drawer yonder," replied
Chloe, "an' I reckon you better eat two or three, or you'll be
mighty hungry 'fore you gits your breakfast."
It still wanted a few minutes of eight o'clock when Elsie's gentle
rap was heard at her papa's dressing-room door. He opened it, and
stooping to give her a good-morning kiss, said, with a pleased
smile, "How bright and well my darling looks! Had you a good
night's rest?"
"Oh, yes, papa! I never waked once till it began to be light," she
replied; "and now I'm all ready for our walk."
"In good season, too," he said. "Well, we will start presently;
but take off your hat and come and sit on my knee a little while
first; breakfast will be late this morning, and we need not hurry.
Did you get something to eat?" he asked, as he seated himself by
the fire and drew her to his side.
"Yes, papa, I ate a cracker, and I think I will not get very
hungry before nine o'clock; and I'm very glad we have so much time
for our walk," she replied, as she took her place on his knee.
"Shall we not start soon?"
"Presently," he said, stroking her hair; "but it will not hurt you
to get well warmed first, for it is a sharp morning."
"You are very careful of me, dear papa," she said, laying her head
on his breast, "and oh! it is so nice to have a papa to love me
and take care of me."
"And it is so nice to have a dear little daughter to love and to
take care of," he answered, pressing her closer to him.
The house was still very quiet, no one seeming to be astir but the
servants, as Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie went down the stairs and
passed out through the hall.
"O papa! it is going to be such a nice day, and I feel so happy!"
Elsie gayly exclaimed, as they started down the avenue.
"Do you, daughter?" he said, regarding her with an expression of
intense yearning affection; "I wish I could make you always as gay
and happy as you are at this moment. But alas! it cannot be, my
darling," he added with a sigh.
"I know that, papa," she said with sudden gravity, "'for man that
is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble,' the Bible
says; but I don't feel frightened at that, because it tells me,
besides, that Jesus loves me, _oh, so dearly!_ and will never
leave nor forsake me; and that He has all power in heaven and in
earth, and will _never_ let anything happen to me but what
shall do me good. O papa, it is such a _happy_ thing to have
the dear Lord Jesus for your friend!"
"It is strange how everything seems to lead your thoughts to Him,"
he said, giving her a wondering look.
"Yes, papa, it is because I love Him so," she answered, simply;
and the father sighed as the thought arose, "Better than she loves
me, even as she told me herself. Ah! I would I could be
_all_--_everything_ to her, as she is fast becoming to
me. I cannot feel satisfied, and yet I believe few daughters love
their fathers as well as she loves me;" and fondly pressing the
little hand he held, he looked down upon her with beaming eyes.
She raised hers to his face with an expression of confiding
affection; and, as though she had read his thoughts: "Yes, papa,"
she said, "I love _you_ dearly, dearly, too; better than all
the world besides."
Breakfast--always a plentiful and inviting meal at Roselands--was
already upon the table when they returned, and they brought to it
appetites sufficiently keen to make it very enjoyable.
Elsie spent the first hour after breakfast at the piano,
practising, and the second in her papa's dressing-room, studying
and reciting to him; then they took a long ride on horseback, and
when they returned she found that quite a number of the expected
guests had already arrived.
Among them was Caroline Howard, a favorite friend of Elsie's; a
pretty, sweet-tempered little girl, about a year older than
herself.
Caroline had been away paying a long visit to some friends in the
North, and so the two little girls had not met for nearly a year,
and of course they had a great deal to say to each other.
They chatted a few moments in the drawing-room, and then Elsie
carried her friend off with her to her own room, that they might
go on with their talk while she was getting dressed for dinner.
Caroline had much to tell of her Northern relatives, and of all
she had seen and heard, and Elsie of her new-found parent, and her
happiness in being so loved and cared for; and so the little
tongues ran very fast, neither of them feeling Chloe's presence
any restraint. But she soon completed her task, and went out,
leaving the two sitting on the sofa together, laughing and talking
merrily while awaiting the summons to dinner, which they were to
take that day along with their elders.
"How pretty your hair is, Elsie," said Caroline, winding the
glossy ringlets around her finger. "I wish you'd give me one of
these curls. I want to get a bracelet made for mamma, and she
thinks so much of you, and your hair is such a lovely color, that
I am sure she would be delighted with one made of it."
"A Christmas gift is it to be?" asked Elsie; "but how will you get
it done in time? for you know day after to-morrow is Christmas."
"Yes, I know; but if I could get into the city this afternoon, I
think I might get them to promise it by to-morrow night."
"Well, you shall have the curl, at any rate, if you will just take
the scissors and help yourself, and poor mammy will have the fewer
to curl the next time," Elsie answered, laughingly. "But mind,"
she added, as Caroline prepared to avail herself of the
permission, "that you take it where it will not be missed."
"Of course I will; I don't want to spoil your beauty, though you
are so much prettier than I," was Caroline's laughing rejoinder.
"There," she cried, holding up the severed ringlet, "isn't it a
beauty? but don't look scared, it will never be missed among so
many; I don't even miss it myself, although I know it is gone."
"Well," Elsie said, shaking back her curls, "suppose we go down to
the drawing-room now, and I will ask papa to take us to the city
this afternoon; or, if he is too busy to go himself, to let Pomp
or Ajax drive us in."
"I think it would be better fun to go alone, Elsie--don't you?"
asked Caroline, with some hesitation; adding quickly: "Don't be
vexed, but I must confess I am more than half afraid of your
father."
"Oh! you wouldn't be, Carry, if you knew him," Elsie answered, in
her eager way; "I was a little myself, at first, but now I love
him so dearly, I never want to go anywhere without him."
They found Mr. Dinsmore in the drawing-room, where most of the
guests and the older members of the family were assembled. He was
conversing with a strange gentleman, and his little girl stood
quietly at his side, patiently waiting until he should be ready to
give her his attention. She had to wait some moments, for the
gentlemen were discussing some political question, and were too
much engaged to notice her.
But at length her father put his arm around her, and with a kind
smile asked, "What is it, daughter?"
"Carry and I want to go to the city, this afternoon; won't you
take us, papa?"
"I wish I could, my dear, but I have an engagement, which makes it
quite impossible."
"Ah, I'm so sorry! but then, papa, we may have one of the
carriages, and Pomp or Ajax to drive us, may we not?"
"No, daughter; I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am afraid you
are too young to be trusted on such an expedition with only a
servant. You must wait until to-morrow, when I can take you
myself."
"But, papa, we want to go to-day. Oh! please do say yes; we want
to go so very much, and I'm sure we could do very nicely by
ourselves."
Her arm was around his neck, and both tone and look were very
coaxing.
"My little daughter forgets that when papa says no, she is never
to ask again."
Elsie blushed and hung her head. His manner was quite too grave
and decided for her to venture another word.
"What is the matter? what does Elsie want?" asked Adelaide, who
was standing near, and had overheard enough to have some idea of
the trouble.
Mr. Dinsmore explained, and Adelaide at once offered to take
charge of the little girls, saying that she intended shopping a
little in the city herself that very afternoon.
"Thank you," said her brother, looking very much pleased; "that
obviates the difficulty entirely. Elsie, you may go, if Mrs.
Howard gives Caroline permission."
"Thank you, dear papa, thank you so very much," she answered
gratefully, and then ran away to tell Carry of her success, and
secure Mrs. Howard's permission, which was easily obtained.
Elsie had intended buying some little present for each of the
house-servants, and had taken a great deal of pleasure in making
out a list of such articles as she thought would be suitable; but,
on examining her purse, she found to her dismay that she had
already spent so much on the miniature, and various gifts intended
for other members of the family, that there was very little left;
and it was with a very sober, almost sorrowful face, that she came
down to take her place in the carriage; it brightened instantly,
though, as she caught sight of her father waiting to see her off.
"All ready, my darling?" he said, holding out his hand; "I think
you will have a pleasant ride."
"Ah! yes, if you were only going too, papa," she answered
regretfully.
"Quite impossible, my pet; but here is something to help you in
your shopping; use it wisely;" and he put a twenty-dollar gold
piece in her hand.
"Oh, thank you, papa! how good and kind you are to me!" she
exclaimed, her whole face lighting up with pleasure; "now I can
buy some things I wanted to get for mammy and the rest. But how
could you know I wanted more money?"
He only smiled, lifted her up in his arms, and kissed her fondly;
then, placing her in the carriage, said to the coachman, "Drive
carefully, Ajax; you are carrying my greatest treasure."
"Nebber fear, marster; dese ole horses nebber tink ob running
away," replied the negro, with a bow and a grin, as he touched his
horses with the whip, and drove off.
It was growing quite dark when the carriage again drove up the
avenue; and Mr. Horace Dinsmore, who was beginning to feel a
little anxious, came out to receive them, and ask what had
detained them so long.
"Long!" said Adelaide, in a tone of surprise, "you gentlemen
really have no idea what an undertaking it is to shop. Why, I
thought we got through in a wonderfully short time."
"O papa, I have bought such quantities of nice things," cried
Elsie, springing into his arms.
"Such as tobacco pipes, red flannel, et cetera," remarked
Adelaide, laughing.
"Indeed, Miss Adelaide!" exclaimed Carry, somewhat indignantly,
"you forget the----"
But Elsie's little hand was suddenly placed over her mouth, and
Carry laughed pleasantly, saying, "Ah! I forgot, I mustn't tell."
"Papa, papa," cried Elsie, catching hold of his hand, "do come
with me to my room, and let me show you my purchases."
"I will, darling," he answered, pinching her cheek, "Here, Bill"--
to a servant--"carry these bundles to Miss Elsie's room."
Then, picking her up, he tossed her over his shoulder, and carried
her up-stairs as easily as though she had been a baby, she
clinging to him and laughing merrily.
"Why, papa, how strong you are," she said, as he set her down. "I
believe you can carry me as easily as I can my doll."
"To be sure; you are my doll," said he, "and a very light burden
for a man of my size and strength. But here come the bundles! what
a number! no wonder you were late in getting home."
"Oh! yes, papa see! I want to show you!" and catching up one of
them, she hastily tore it open, displaying a very gay handkerchief.
"This is a turban for Aunt Phillis; and this is a pound of tobacco for
old Uncle Jack, and a nice pipe, too. Look, mammy! won't he be pleased?
And here's some flannel for poor old Aunt Dinah, who has the rheumatism;
and that--oh! no, no, mammy! don't you open that! It's a nice shawl for
her, papa," she whispered in his ear.
"Ah!" he said, smiling; "and which is my present? You had better
point it out, lest I should stumble upon it and learn the secret
too soon."
"There is none here for you, sir," she replied, looking up into
his face with an arch smile. "I would give you the bundle you
carried up-stairs, just now, but I'm afraid you would say that was
not mine to give, because it belongs to you already."
"Indeed it does, and I feel richer in that possession than all the
gold of California could make me," he said, pressing her to his
heart.
She looked surpassingly lovely at that moment, her cheeks burning,
and her eyes sparkling with excitement; the dark, fur-trimmed
pelisse, and the velvet hat and plumes, setting off to advantage
the whiteness of her pure complexion and the glossy ringlets
falling in rich masses on her shoulders.
"My own papa! I'm so glad I do belong to you," she said, throwing
her arms around his neck, and laying her cheek to his for an
instant. Then springing away, she added: "But I must show you the
rest of the things; there are a good many more."
And she went on opening bundle after bundle, displaying their
contents, and telling him for whom she intended them, until at
last they had all been examined, and then she said, a little
wearily, "Now, mammy, please put them all away until to-morrow.
But first take off my things and get me ready to go downstairs."
"No, daughter," Mr. Dinsmore said in a gentle but firm tone; "you
are not ready to have them put away until the price of each has
been set down in your book."
"Oh! papa," she pleaded, "won't to-morrow do? I'm tired now, and
isn't it almost tea-time?"
"No; never put off till to-morrow what may as well be done to-day.
There is nearly an hour yet before tea, and I do not think it need
fatigue you much."
Elsie's face clouded, and the slightest approach to a pout might
have been perceived.
"I hope my little girl is not going to be naughty," he said, very
gravely.
Her face brightened in an instant. "No, papa," she answered
cheerfully, "I will be good, and do whatever you bid me."
"That is my own darling," said he, "and I will help you, and it
will not take long."
He opened her writing-desk as he spoke, and took out her account-
book.
"Oh! papa," she cried in a startled tone, springing forward and
taking hold of his hand, "please, please don't look! you know you
said I need not show you until after Christmas."
"No, I will not," he replied, smiling at her eagerness; "you shall
put down the items in the book, while I write the labels, and Aunt
Chloe pins them on. Will that do?"
"Oh! that's a nice plan, papa," she said gayly, as she threw off
her hat and pelisse, and seating herself before the desk, took out
her pen and ink.
Chloe put the hat and pelisse carefully away, brought a comb and
brush, and smoothed her nursling's hair, and then began her share
of the business on hand.
Half an hour's work finished it all, and Elsie wiped her pen, and
laid it away, saying joyously, "Oh! I'm so glad it is all done."
"Papa knew best, after all, did he not?" asked her father, drawing
her to him, and patting her cheek.
"Yes, papa," she said softly; "you always know best, and I am very
sorry I was naughty."
He answered with a kiss, and, taking her hand, led her down to the
drawing-room.
After tea the young people adjourned to the nursery, where they
amused themselves with a variety of innocent games. Quite early in
the evening, and greatly to Elsie's delight, her father joined
them; and, though some of the young strangers were at first rather
shy of him, they soon found that he could enter heartily into
their sports, and before the time came to separate for the night,
he had made himself very popular with nearly all.
Time flew fast, and Elsie was very much surprised when the clock
struck eight. Half-past was her bedtime; and, as she now and then
glanced up at the dial-plate, she thought the hands had never
moved so fast. As it struck the half hour she drew near her
father's side.
"Papa," she asked, "is the clock right?"
"Yes, my dear, it is," he replied, comparing it with his watch.
"And must I go to bed now?" she asked, half hoping for permission
to stay up a little longer.
"Yes, daughter; keep to rules."
Elsie looked disappointed, and several little voices urged, "Oh,
do let her stay up another hour, or at least till nine o'clock."
"No; I cannot often allow a departure from rules," he said kindly,
but firmly; "and to-morrow night Elsie will find it harder to go
to bed in season than to-night. Bid your little friends good-
night, my dear, and go at once."
Elsie obeyed, readily and cheerfully. "You, too, papa," she said,
coming to him last.
"No, darling," he answered, laying his hand caressingly on her
head, and smiling approvingly on her; "I will come for my good-
night kiss before you are asleep."
Elsie looked very glad, and went away feeling herself the happiest
little girl in the land, in spite of the annoyance of being forced
to leave the merry group in the nursery. She was just ready for
bed when her papa came in, and, taking her in his arms, folded her
to his heart, saying, "My own darling! my good, obedient little
daughter!"
"Dear papa, I love you so much!" she replied, twining her arms
around his neck, "I love you all the better for never letting me
have my own way, but always making me obey and keep to rules."
"I don't doubt it, daughter," he said, "for I have often noticed
that spoiled, petted children, usually have very little love for
their parents, or indeed for any one but themselves. But I must
put you in your bed, or you will be in danger of taking cold."
He laid her down, tucked the clothes snugly about her, and
pressing one more kiss on the round, rosy cheek, left her to her
slumbers.
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH
"You play the spaniel,
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me."
--SHAKESPEARE's _Henry Eighth_.
"These delights, if thou canst give,
Mirth, with thee I mean to live."
--MILTON's _L'Allegro_.
The young party at Roselands had now grown so large--several
additions having been made to it on Monday afternoon and evening--
that a separate table was ordered to be spread for them in the
nursery, where they took their meals together; Mrs. Brown, the
housekeeper, taking the head of the table, for the double purpose
of keeping them in order, and seeing that their wants were well
supplied.
Elsie came in to breakfast, from a brisk walk with her papa,
looking fresh and rosy, and bright as the morning; quite different
from some of the little guests, who had been up far beyond their
usual hours the night before, and, having just left their beds,
had come down pale and languid in looks, and in some instances
showing peevish and fretful tempers, very trying to the patience
of their attendants.
"O Elsie!" exclaimed Carry Howard, as the little girl took her
place at the table, "we were all so sorry that you had to leave us
so soon last night; we had lots of fun after you left. I think
your papa might have let you stay up a little longer; but he has
promised that tonight--as we are to have the Christmas-tree, and
ever so much will be going on--you shall stay up till half-past
nine, if you like. Aren't you glad? I'm sure I am."
"Yes, papa is very kind, and I know I feel much better for going
to bed early last night," said Elsie, cheerfully.
"Yes, indeed," remarked Mrs. Brown, "late hours and rich food are
very bad for little folks, and I notice that Miss Elsie has grown
a deal stronger and healthier-looking since her papa came home; he
takes such good care of her."
"Indeed he does," said Elsie heartily, thanking Mrs. Brown with
one of her sweetest smiles.
"What are we going to do to-day, Elsie?" asked Caroline.
"Whatever you all prefer," said Elsie. "If you like I will
practice that duet with you the first hour after breakfast, or do
anything else you wish; but the second hour I must spend with
papa, and after that I have nothing to do but entertain my company
all day."
"Do you do lessons in holidays?" asked Mary Leslie, a merry, fun-
loving child, about Elsie's own age, who considered lessons an
intolerable bore, and had some vague idea that they must have been
invented for the sole purpose of tormenting children. Her blue
eyes opened wide with astonishment when Elsie quietly replied that
her papa had kindly arranged to give her an hour every morning,
because he knew it would be so much pleasanter for her than
spending the whole day in play.
Elsie did keenly enjoy that quiet hour spent in studying and
reciting to her father, sitting on a low stool at his feet, or
perhaps oftener on his knee, with his arm around her waist.
She had an eager and growing thirst for knowledge, and was an apt
scholar, whom any one with the least love for the profession might
have delighted in teaching; and Mr. Dinsmore, a thorough scholar
himself, and loving knowledge for its own sake--loving also his
little pupil with all a father's fond, yearning affection--
delighted in his task.
When Elsie left her father she found that the Carringtons had just
arrived. She and Lucy had not seen each other since the week the
latter had spent at Roselands early in the summer, and both felt
pleased to meet.
Mrs. Carrington gave Elsie a warm embrace, remarking that she had
grown, and was looking extremely well; better than she had ever
seen her. But no one was more delighted to meet Elsie than
Herbert, and she was very glad to learn that his health was
gradually improving. He was not, however, at all strong, even yet,
and his mother thought it best for him to lie down and rest a
little after his ride. She promised to sit by him, and the two
little girls went in search of the rest of the young folks.
Several of the older boys had gone out walking or riding, but the
younger ones, and all the little girls, were gathered in a little
back parlor, where, by Adelaide's care and forethought, a variety
of story-books, toys, and games, had been provided for their
amusement. Elsie's entrance was hailed with delight, for she was a
general favorite.
"Oh! Elsie, can't you tell us what to play?" cried Mary Leslie;
"I'm so tired," and she yawned wearily.
"Here are some dissected maps, Mary," replied Elsie, opening a
drawer; "would you not like them?"
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