THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 Canterbury Bells.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 in ify IHnwnt 
 
 '**0 lady ! leave thy silken thread 
 
 And flowery tapestrie : 
 There's living roses on the bush, 
 
 And blossoms on the tree ; 
 Stoop where thou wilt, thy careless hand 
 
 Some random bud will meet ; 
 Thou canst not tread, but thou wilt find 
 
 The daisy at thy feet." 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 r>. in. 
 
 770 BROADWAY, CORNER OF 9TH ST. 
 
 1868.
 
 ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year I860, by 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 
 
 Q the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Southern District of New-York. 
 
 JOHN A. GRAY 
 
 PRINTER & STEREOTTPZR, 
 
 16 and IS Jacob St.
 
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS ; 
 
 OB, 
 
 in t|e 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IT lias been perhaps some sixty years, 
 since, on an afternoon late in the winter, Mr. 
 Ludwell rode up the long, winding road lead- 
 ing to his elegant and happy country home, 
 Belmont ; which was beautifully situated on 
 the north-western bank of the Potomac, with 
 the Virginia range of the Blue Eidge Moun- 
 tains on one side, and the sharp peak of 
 the Sugar Loaf on the other. When he had 
 reached the marble lion which stood between 
 two stately cedars, and was intended to serve 
 the purpose of a horse-rack, he dismounted, 
 and tossing carelessly the reins of his fine 
 
 "* 567095
 
 6 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 blooded steed to a young groom in livery, 
 said: 
 
 " There Milo ! see her well rubbed down 
 before she's fed." Then turning, with an 
 eager hurried step, he ascended the smooth 
 green terrace ; but paused again, as he ap- 
 proached the house, and looking back, gazed, 
 with something of sadness in his face, through 
 the long avenue of elms he had just passed. 
 In a few moments stealthy footsteps advan- 
 ced towards him, and he was aroused from 
 his reverie, by the pressure of two little 
 plump white arms, in fall crimson merino 
 sleeves, looped at the shoulder, which clasp- 
 ed him tightly round the neck, while a merry 
 laugh rang in his ear and a sweet familiar 
 voice exclaimed triumphantly : 
 
 " Ah ! papa, /caught you this time, sir." 
 " And so you did, little gipsy close 
 enough prisoner you've made of me, too," 
 he said, laughing, as he looked down proud- 
 ly and fondly on the fair young face uplift- 
 ed towards his own ; then clasping affection- 
 ately the little maiden in his arms, he 
 kissed warmly both lips and forehead.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 7 
 
 Clara took possession first, of her father's 
 riding- whip, and then of the hand which had 
 held it, caressing the latter again and again 
 as she tripped by his side answering and ask- 
 ing questions. 
 
 " What were you thinking of, papa, I won- 
 der, just now, when I took you so nicely by 
 surprise? I saw you from Aunt Annie's 
 window, and slipped down, without saying a 
 single word to any body, because I was de- 
 termined I would have the first kiss." 
 
 " I was thinking, daughter, of poor sick 
 mamma, and cousin Alice. Dr. Thompson 
 says I must take them both on a sea-voy- 
 age, and I have to try to gain mamma's con- 
 sent ; yet we shall both be very sorry to leave 
 our precious children for so many months." 
 
 Clara looked grave, instantly ; but as they 
 reached the front portico her face brightened 
 again, and with a mischievous smile she 
 said: 
 
 " papa ! I have such a good plan in 
 my head, if you'll only help me about it ! 
 Won't you just pull your hat over your fore- 
 head, and turn up your cloak-collar, so that
 
 8 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 it will hide your face a little ? There, that's 
 it exactly ! only stoop a little more. Now, J 
 don't think they'll know you at first, and 1 
 want to give mamma and the children a good 
 surprise, for they don't expect you at all. 
 You'll have to stand near this pillar when 
 Uncle Simon comes to the door, and I'll ring 
 the bell for him after I get in the hall 
 myself." 
 
 Mr. Ludwell smilingly followed all her 
 directions, and the little girl noiselessly open- 
 ed the front-door and closed it behind her, 
 then pulled the bell- wire until it gave a loud, 
 long ring, which echoed through the house. 
 Her mother, a very pale and delicate lady, 
 started at this sound from her reclining pos- 
 ture on a settee, drawn up near the wide fire- 
 place with its roaring wood-fire, and glanced 
 around the room with a look of nervous 
 timidity ; while the children, who had been 
 busily at play, were no less suddenly hushed 
 and began to gather close about her. Clara 
 entered almost at the same moment, and, 
 with a look of mock surprise and wonder, 
 whispered :
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 9 
 
 " Mamma, there's a gentleman at the door, 
 and I'm sure he's asking for you. Yet there's 
 no horse at the rack where could he have 
 come from?" As she finished speaking, a 
 keen observer might have noticed the smile 
 she was trying to suppress, and guessed that 
 some roguish trick was about to be played 
 off ; but her mother did not, and was already 
 becoming quite agitated as the steps of the 
 supposed stranger were heard approaching the 
 dining-room door. The arrival of a visitor 
 at Belmont during the winter months was 
 a rare occurrence, and the good lady felt very 
 diffident of her powers of entertaining a gen- 
 tleman guest in the absence of her husband, 
 and in her very feeble health. In addition to 
 this, her mind had seized upon the hint which 
 Clara had thrown out respecting his mysterious 
 advent. She, however, assumed as much as 
 possible her usual dignity and composure of 
 manner, and rose as Uncle Simon, opening 
 very wide the door of the apartment, made 
 one of his profound bows and announced : 
 
 " Capt. Peters ! Madam." 
 
 No sooner, however, was the hat raised
 
 10 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 from the visitor's head, than loud exclama- 
 tions of joyful surprise were heard on all 
 sides; and Uncle Simon stretched his eyes 
 and gave a very broad grin, as Mr. Ludwell, 
 throwing him his cloak, rushed by him in 
 eager haste to reach his lady's side. " Ex- 
 cuse me, my darling" he said bending over 
 her fragile form and holding tenderly the 
 white, cold hands which trembled in his. 
 " This was all Clara's trick, but I ought to 
 have been more thoughtful and remembered 
 how easily your poor nerves are shocked 
 now that you are so sick. daughter ! 
 you see we've done wrong," he added, look- 
 ing gravely at poor Clara, upon whose lips 
 the bright smile had faded as soon as she 
 saw how much her mother suffered, and the 
 effort she was obliged to make to control her 
 hysterical excitement. 
 
 " I am so sorry 1" said the little girl softly, 
 and stooping down beside her mother, she 
 commenced bathing her temples with co- 
 logne, stopping every now and then to 
 imprint a tender and penitent kiss. 
 
 "Never mind, my dear," said Mrs. Lud-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 11 
 
 well, as soon as she could speak; "it's over 
 now. I am sure you did not mean to distress 
 me, but I'm such a poor foolish creature at 
 present that you'll have to be more careful 
 another time. However, it is such a very 
 pleasant surprise to have dear papa back so 
 much sooner than we expected, that it's not 
 strange you forgot yourself. But how does 
 it happen, Mr. Ludwell ? Your last letter 
 led me to suppose you would certainly not 
 get off in less than a week, so it is really no 
 wonder that your sudden appearance should 
 have startled me." 
 
 " I am sure I am almost as much surprised 
 myself, and quite overjoyed too; for it was 
 hard to be away so long and leave you sick 
 at home. An important witness in the case 
 died, however, poor fellow! very suddenly 
 day before yesterday, and the other side 
 called for a postponement, in order to collect 
 fresh evidence. I should have been here last 
 night, but remained another day to see the 
 doctor again about you and Allie. It only 
 remains now for us to make some provision 
 for these well members of the family, and
 
 12 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 then you invaliis are to be carried off nolens 
 vokns. Clara tells me that my poor dear 
 little Alice has been suffering more than 
 usual during the last few days." 
 
 " Yes but her mother thinks she's better 
 again to-day. Annie is very anxious, how- 
 ever, about her, and has scarcely left her an 
 hour at a time for the last two weeks." 
 
 " Bun up, Clara, my darling, and tell your 
 aunt that I am here, and will come up to see 
 her as soon as she is ready to admit me and 
 do bring little Annie and Tommy down ; 
 those poor children, at least, should not stay 
 so much in that sick-room," said Mr. Ludwell. 
 
 " Why, what's this young rogue after with 
 his hands in my pocket ?" he continued catch- 
 ing hold of Charlie, who had been busily 
 engaged for some moments ransacking his 
 father's coat-pockets. "You are a perfect 
 little pick-pocket, sir. Here ! give me back 
 all those packages you've rifled me of, and if 
 you wish to see what's for you, go tell Jack* 
 son to bring in my portmanteau." 
 
 " I'll bring it myself, in a trice !" said 
 George, running after Charlie.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 13 
 
 "And I'll help," said Henry, following 
 more slowly. 
 
 "When Clara had returned, bringing Annie 
 and Tommy with her, the children gathered 
 eagerly around the portmanteau ; which Mr. 
 Ludwell opened with affected precision, and 
 Charlie watched him, as he slowly removed 
 his own clothing, scarcely able to restrain his 
 impatience for the expected signal for a 
 general ransack. But just at this moment 
 the heavy front-door creaked again on its 
 hinges, and steps were heard in the hall. 
 
 " I do believe some body is coming, sure 
 enough I" said George. " It's too bad 1 who 
 can be going to interrupt us, I wonder?" 
 
 " Oh 1 fie for shame, Greorgie !" said Clara, 
 springing up. " Of course it can be no body 
 but dear grandpa." A venerable old gentle- 
 man now entered, whom they all affectionate- 
 ly saluted as "grandpa," seeming delighted 
 to see him too. 
 
 " It never rains but that it pours !" said 
 Henry. " "We are especially glad to see you, 
 sir for papa's just come, and you see we are 
 3
 
 14 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 searching his portmanteau to find what he 
 has brought us from Washington." 
 
 " "Well, my boy, I wish you a successful 
 search," said the old gentleman kindly. 
 
 " But, Edward, how did you get off from 
 your business in Washington ? The case is 
 not ended surely ?" 
 
 "No; only interrupted by the death of 
 poor Sawkins, the principal witness on the 
 other side." 
 
 " Now, dear grandpa," said little Susy, 
 " you must have your cocoa, and Pll make 
 it, mayn't I? And then, while you smoke 
 your pipe there by mamma, we'll go on un- 
 packing papa's things." 
 
 "Why, you thoughtful little woman of 
 let me see, how many years, five or six?' 1 * . 
 
 "Why, grandpa! you know that Char- 
 lie and Emmy are six ! I'm eight years old 
 and a little more," Answered Susy almost in- 
 dignantly. 
 
 " Eighty ! did you say, my dear ? I have 
 made a grand mistake, then, and beg your 
 pardon for having considered you among the 
 children. Why, you are old enough to be
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 15 
 
 Charlie's great-grandmother instead of his 
 playmate." 
 
 "0 grandpa! you're so fond of teas- 
 ing me. I didn't say eighty, I said eight, 
 sir but you won't tell me, if you'll have the 
 cocoa." 
 
 Grandpa reached out his arm and caught 
 the kind-hearted little creature whom he held 
 for a moment or two between his knees, 
 stroking her head, and calling her "poor 
 old woman," whilst the others laughed 
 heartily. 
 
 " Do make her tell how much more than 
 eight she is, grandpa," said Henry, who 
 prided himself 011 being eleven. 
 
 "One week, two days, five hours, and ten 
 minutes, I guess," said grandpa. 
 
 "You've most said it right, hasn't he, 
 Susy? Just one day more, and, I expect, 
 half an hour and a quarter of a minute, and 
 it would be exactly right," said Henry. 
 
 Susy only blushed, and hung her head. 
 
 ""Well, you are a nice, kind old soul at 
 least, my dear, and I'll be much obliged if 
 you'll get my tobacco-pouch out of my sur-
 
 16 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 tout-pocket, and tell Peter to fill my pipe 
 and bring it in. The cocoa we'll put off for 
 the present, and go immediately into that 
 important investigation of a certain port- 
 manteau, which has been waiting so long." 
 As the old gentleman released Susy, he gave 
 her a warm kiss, and stroked her smooth rosy 
 cheek, saying, as she left the room : 
 
 "I'll tell you what, there are not many 
 little Grandmother Susies in this cold, hard 
 world." 
 
 " Here, grandpa, you shall have all these 
 mean red-tape bundles to keep," said George 
 presently. "You see, sir, papa has been 
 cheating us dreadfully, making us choose 
 which hand we'll take, when all the time he 
 has nothing in either, except Somebody or 
 other vs. Somebody else. ISTow I want to put 
 all law stuff out of the way." 
 
 "Very well, Georgie, I'll help you. But 
 what has that little rogue, Tommy Lee, got 
 hold of to delight his sober little soul so 
 much?" 
 
 " grandpa ! it's a soldier, this like my dear 
 father used to be ! Does you wemember when
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 1 1 
 
 he was a soldier, and had a sword like this 
 one ? It's np-stairs now in mother's closet, 
 with his tane and umbwella, and all those 
 things, that'll be mine one of those days, 
 when I'm a bid man and a soldier of the 
 twoss. Thafs what my mother says I must 
 be ; for my dear papa was that before he died." 
 
 " He was a brave man, my son, and died 
 in his country's service," replied the old gen- 
 tleman sadly. 
 
 "He did something tesides too, grandpa. 
 I think he was two tinds of a soldier. Don't 
 you know he loved Jesus and went to heaven 
 when he died ?" 
 
 " That's where all brave, honest men go, 
 my child." 
 
 " Does bwave mean that they loves God, 
 sir?" 
 
 " Not exactly." 
 
 " Oh ! then ; but they must do that too, 
 sir !" said Tommy, shaking his head solemnly. 
 "Indeed they must ; for mother says our hea- 
 venly Father will not take any body to live 
 with him that doesn't love him." 
 
 " Your mother is going to make a Puritan 
 2*
 
 18 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 preacher of you, poor child, I'm afraid 1" said 
 his grandfather, rising with a look of some- 
 thing like displeasure in his face as he walk- 
 ed to the window, where he stood for some 
 moments looking out upon the surrounding 
 landscape. 
 
 " Clara ! try this dressy little cap upon 
 mamma, and let us see if it does not become 
 her pale face. I bought it of a little French 
 milliner, who was sure * if de lady was sick, 
 she would just become dis cap exactly.' Yes, 
 I believe she was right, mamma sets off the 
 pretty cap. Now, daughter, here is a brooch 
 for yourself; how does it suit? Amethyst 
 and pearl." 
 
 " Oh ! it's perfectly lovely, papa. I'm so 
 much obliged to you, for it's just what I want- 
 ed. See, mamma! isn't it a beauty? But 
 here's another just like it in the same box. 
 Ah! I know that's for Annie. Isn't it, sir?" 
 
 " Yes ; I thought you would like to have 
 them alike, as you are to be sisters now." 
 
 "So we would, wouldn't we, Annie ? 
 Here, let me put yours in your collar, to 
 see how pretty it looks !"
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 19 
 
 " Thank you, dear uncle ; you are so kind 
 to us always !" said Annie, putting up her 
 mouth for a kiss. Her uncle patted her cheek 
 and kissed her, saying: "You are a sweet, 
 proper little girl ; and now you may go with 
 me to see your mother and my poor little 
 Allie." 
 
 " Sister Allie was going to play on her 
 dwitar," said Tommy. 
 
 " Here, Annie. You shall take her present 
 up; it has probably just come in time," said 
 Mr. Ludwell, putting into her hand a small 
 parcel wrapped in soft blotting-paper. 
 
 " What is it ?" asked Clara eagerly, laying 
 her hand on her cousin's arm. " Papa, I'm 
 going to peep in. Oh ! a beautiful musical- 
 box, all inlaid with mother-of-pearl. How 
 exquisite it is I Alice will be perfectly charm- 
 ed, I am sure." 
 
 " Yes, indeed she will ; for she is so devot- 
 ed to music," said Annie. "Dear uncle, you 
 couldn't have chosen better if you'd looked 
 the whole world over, and I am so much 
 obliged for us both," she added, her eyes fill- 
 ing with grateful tears as she spoke.
 
 20 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 The children gathered round to express 
 their admiration, and beg for just one tuno 
 before it was carried up-stairs. 
 
 " No, no ; Alice must hear it first," answer- 
 ed their father ; " and she will let it play for 
 you sometimes, when you go up to see her." 
 
 Grandpa said he must be present when 
 she received it ; so Annie got his cane and 
 led the way through the long corridor and up 
 the staircase, leading to her mother's chamber, 
 which was in a wing of the house, and imme- 
 diately over what the servants called " The 
 Haunted Parlor." Mrs. Lee had for some 
 reason selected this apartment for herself; but 
 to Mr. Ludwell, the associations were so sad 
 with this part of his house, that until his 
 widowed sister came with her sick child to 
 occupy it, he had not entered it for many 
 years. And now, he heaved a deep sigh, as 
 Annie, after first tapping gently, opened the 
 door. Yet every thing looked bright and 
 cheerful in there. The walls were painted 
 blue, and from its many windows hung cur- 
 tains of blue chintz, with small crimson 
 figures and white muslin ones beneath. There
 
 THE CANTEKBUKY BELLS. 21 
 
 was a rich Turkey carpet of corresponding 
 colors on the floor. Upon the high-carved 
 mantle-piece were arranged several antique 
 ornaments ; the portrait of a handsome officer 
 in uniform hung just over these. A screen 
 drawn across one side of the room, did not 
 entirely conceal the high-carved bedstead with 
 its snowy counterpane and valance; before 
 the blazing hickory fire was standing a vacant 
 rocking-chair, and near this a round table, 
 with a rich cloth cover, containing books, 
 a writing-desk, and an unfinished drawing, 
 which Annie had just left. In the recess of 
 a bow- window, not far from the fire, there was 
 a lounge, on which was reclining a lovely girl 
 of some fifteen or sixteen summers. She was 
 supported by several pillows, and leaning 
 with her face turned towards the window, 
 resting thoughtfully upon one hand. In the 
 other she held a small book with one of her 
 slender white fingers inserted between its 
 leaves. The light of the setting sun came 
 streaming in upon the locks of golden hair 
 which hung about her face and neck, and 
 kicdled a soft glow on her pale cheeks ;
 
 22 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 while in her countenance shone a spiritual 
 radiance which rivalled even this. There had 
 been perfect stillness in the room for several 
 minutes, and Mrs. Lee sat watching hei 
 daughter's face with deep emotion, having 
 suffered her knitting to fall quietly in her 
 lap. As soon, however, as Annie knocked, 
 she rose and stepped forward to meet her 
 father-in-law and brother. But Alice was so 
 occupied with her own thoughts, that she was 
 not conscious of their entrance, until Annie 
 had touched her and said : 
 
 " Sister, grandpa and uncle have come up 
 to see you, and you don't take any notice of 
 them." Then she turned upon them a bright, 
 beaming smile, and said playfully : 
 
 " That's only because they caught me 
 dreaming ; but dear grandpa and uncle kno\v 
 that I am always charmed to see them. Such 
 a pleasant surprise too it is this evening ! So 
 you are both doubly welcome," she added, 
 bending her slender, graceful throat to salute 
 them. 
 
 " The rocking-chair is all ready for you, 
 grandpa, so let me lay your cane here by my
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 23 
 
 guitar, while you rest after your long journey 
 to our room." 
 
 After silently smoothing the locks on her 
 temple, and watching her for a few moments 
 with a look of the tenderest affection, the old 
 gentleman began with forced gayety to rally 
 her upon the sober expression of her counte- 
 nance when he entered. 
 
 "What in the world is this you've been 
 reading, my child ? why, it made you look as 
 thoughtful as if you were trying to penetrate 
 the mysteries of the worlds beyond our own 
 studying Astronomy, I suppose," he said, 
 taking as he spoke the book from her hand. 
 r< German ! An old musty German book, I 
 declare ! No wonder you were puzzled. Ah ! 
 yes, I understand it all now." 
 
 Alice laughed a little, and then said seri- 
 ously : " If you really wish me to, I will tell 
 you, grandpa, what I was thinking of." 
 
 " Certainly I do, my dear ; but in Eng- 
 lish, if you please 1" 
 
 " Mamma has been reading to me this even- 
 ing, in this old book of Tauler's; and one 
 sweet but very simple thought of his seemed
 
 24: THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 to fasten itself upon my mind, and set my 
 .heart to longing for some of those good things 
 which are to come by and by. He says : 
 1 To a man who looks long at the sun, the 
 sun imprints itself on every thing he sees ; so 
 is it with a man who looks much at God.' 
 Now, while I was looking out here where 
 the sunlight is making every thing so beau- 
 tiful, I began to think how blessed it would 
 be if we could keep looking up so steadily to 
 the Sun of Eighteousness as to have our 
 hearts filled with the rays of his spiritual 
 sunshine, and be constantly reflecting them to 
 others. How bright our own pathway home 
 would be, and how many would be enticed 
 to join us on the way ! But it made me sad 
 when I began to remember how the shadows 
 will keep creeping up between us and our sun, 
 until I thought again of by and ~by, when God 
 will be our light all the time ; when the glory 
 of his visible presence will be continually 
 shining before our eyes. I may have looked 
 grave, but I was very, very happy as I thought 
 of these things. Perhaps we don't always 
 chow it when we are most happy ; for I almost
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 25 
 
 realized, I do believe, just now, the joy of 
 being in heaven. However, it is too soon 
 yet, and it was only a dream. So, as I had 
 to come back to this world again, it is very 
 sweet to do so in the midst of kind and loving 
 friends." 
 
 As she spoke she looked up as if for 
 sympathy, with one of her peculiarly win- 
 ning smiles, to the faces of those who were 
 near her, but none seemed able to meet her 
 eye. They turned sadly away, and there was 
 a pause, until Annie, unfolding her little 
 parcel, displayed the musical-box, saying : 
 
 " Look, sister, what uncle has brought you. 
 Now you won't care so much about your 
 guitar ' until you are stronger. See ! it's all 
 inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Clara and I 
 think it's a beauty/" 
 
 Alice took it in her hand, and held it up 
 with a look of delight. 
 
 " Now, uncle, you must tell me how I can 
 show you how grateful I feel ; for you so 
 often make me say, ' Thank you, sir,' that 
 I am afraid you are tired of hearing it," 
 she said, smiling archly; then added more 
 3
 
 26 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 seriously : " But I am most deeply grateful 
 for your kindness, and love to remember who 
 has promised to reward those who are kind 
 to the widow and the fatherless." 
 
 Annie now wound up the little box and 
 placed it on a small stand by her sister's 
 couch, which held her Bible, Prayer-Book, 
 a copy of the Olney Hymns, a glass of exqui- 
 site flowers, and, concealed by a snowy napkin, 
 the vial and little china cup for her medicine. 
 While it played, Alice leaned forward to catch 
 its soft notes with a look of keen enjoyment, 
 then turning to her uncle, she said : 
 
 " My heart will always sing a grateful 
 accompaniment, dear uncle, and sometimes 
 when I feel one of my long coughs coming on, 
 I shall wind it up for dear mother's benefit ; 
 for I think she must get sadly wearied out 
 with such ugly music."
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 IT had been arranged that a grand family- 
 council should be held the next evening, to 
 determine what measures were to be taken 
 for the care and protection of the children, 
 during their parents' absence from home; 
 Their happiness being so much concerned in 
 the question those of them who were old 
 enough to understand the proceeding, were 
 promised that they should be present, and 
 help the decision with their votes. As Mrs. 
 Ludwell's indisposition confined her very 
 much t'o her couch, which stood beside the 
 great wide fire-place in the dining-room, this 
 had become the usual place of general family 
 resort. It was a large, cozy, comfortable, old- 
 fashioned room, with a heavy cornice round 
 the ceiling, and a centre-piece of rich mould- 
 ing ; the walls were painted green, with white 
 chair and wash-boardings. There were four 
 windows, from which hung curtains of green
 
 28 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 and gold. The two in front were double, 
 and commanded a beautiful view of the dis- 
 tant river, with the broad meadows spread 
 out before it, and still further off, the moun- 
 tain tops which bounded the horizon ; while 
 the remaining two at the side of the room 
 opened up from the floor and led into the 
 conservatory, where there was a choice col- 
 lection of rare and beautiful exotics. 
 
 The mantle-piece, according to the fashion 
 of the day, was very high, painted black 
 and elaborately carved ; on it stood a pair of 
 tall silver candelabras, filled with candles 
 of different colored wax, a pair of vases of 
 exquisite china, some mineralogical speci- 
 mens, and two miniature representations, in 
 variegated marble, of the pyramids, or obe- 
 lisks. Just over these curiosities was sus- 
 pended an heirloom of great value ; one of 
 the Henries, said to be painted by Yan Dyck. 
 The features were singularly life-like in their 
 expression, and the dress, of course, looked 
 antique and fantastic enough. The .servants 
 were firmly fixed in their conviction, that it 
 could talk, and that it had more than once
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 29 
 
 quitted its old black frame, and walked to 
 the side-board to regale itself with the con- 
 tents of the punch-bowl scarcely a servant 
 or child would, if they could help it, stay 
 alone in the room with the "scarey old thing" 
 even in broad daylight. Besides this, 
 there was hung around the walls, a double 
 row of family portraits, and, conspicuously 
 placed in the midst of them, a large and 
 handsomely framed copy of the "Declaration 
 of Independence." 
 
 Next in importance came the great old 
 mahogany side-board, with its high carved 
 and pointed back. On this, in regular and 
 methodical order, were placed first, a pair of 
 handsome japanned knife-and-fork cases on 
 each side ; and between them a massive sil- 
 ver water-pitcher, perfectly plain, except on 
 the side, where a little chased wreath en- 
 circled the family initials, with the crest and 
 motto. In front of this was a small oval 
 silver waiter, filled with goblets of cut glass ; 
 then came the famous punch-bowl, of richly 
 colored India china, set in a wrought silver 
 frame, holding also small cups cf the same
 
 30 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 metal, lined with. gold. Another corner was 
 occupied by a pair of decanters with some 
 wine-glasses. And then, with the large sil- 
 ver tea and coffee-urns, the appointments of 
 the side-board were complete. 
 
 An antique secretary stood in a corner of 
 the room, and opposite to it the old parlor 
 organ, with a high, round music-stool, cov 
 ered with red leather, and thickly studded 
 round with brass-headed nails. 
 
 The chairs had tall, straight backs, and 
 wide, square seats covered with green cloth ; 
 two of larger dimensions than the rest were 
 furnished with arms, surmounted with curi- 
 ously wrought ebony knobs, and were placed 
 on each, side of the fire-place for grandpa 
 and papa when they felt inclined to occupy 
 them. Before grandpa's stood a wide screen 
 of gay-colored tapestry in a mahogany frame, 
 inlaid with ebony and satin-wood. 
 
 On the evening of the grand discussion, 
 which was to take place immediately after 
 tea, the bright round table was drawn at 
 early candle-light, into the middle of the 
 floor. It had no cloth, but its polished sur-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 31 
 
 face reflected back like a mirror its comforta- 
 ble arrangements for 'tea. A vase of fresh 
 flowers occupied the centre, with silver can- 
 dle-sticks, holding candles of colored wax on 
 each side. The tea-waiter glittered with its 
 beautifully kept utensils ; the coffee-urn sent 
 forth its aromatic steam, and the wrought- 
 silver kettle hissed over the soap-stone heater. 
 
 Clara, with her hand resting upon its han- 
 dle, had made more than one smiling gesture 
 of impatience at being detained from perform- 
 ing the duties of her deputed office at the 
 head of the table, of which she was not a 
 little proud, by the political discussion which 
 engrossed her father and grandfather, making 
 them entirely disregardful of their summons 
 to the tea-table. 
 
 Uncle Simon, in his grave livery and de- 
 mure countenance, was duly posted at the 
 back of her chair, ready also at a moment's 
 warning, to begin his official duties: while 
 Jackson stood at the lower end, evidently on 
 the qui vive to place the little blue India 
 china plates which were in the plate- warmer 
 at the fire. And "Mammy" awaited, with
 
 82 THE CANTEKBURY BELLS. 
 
 baby Phebe in her arms and the child's well- 
 filled plate and silver mug in her hand, an 
 opportunity for the little lady to bid good 
 night ! and retire gloriously from the field. 
 
 Little black Dinah was seated on a low 
 stool against the wall, knitting with steady 
 and careful precision, in spite of the sly and 
 waggish Charlie who was playing all manner 
 of mischievous tricks on her, snapping her 
 yarn, throwing his kitten in her face, or try- 
 ing to jerk the long stocking from her fin- 
 gers, only eliciting, however, a grummer look 
 with a toss of the head, and the occasional 
 threatening exclamation : " Mas' Charlie, bet- 
 ter be done dat now ! I tell missus, mun !" 
 
 Mrs. Lee's entrance into the room presently 
 put an end to the suspense of all who were 
 anxious for the evening meal to begin ; for, 
 recognizing the claim which her past sorrow 
 and that which now threatened her afresh, 
 gave her to their peculiar tenderness and re- 
 spect, both gentlemen instantly ceased their 
 spirited dialogue, and moved back to make 
 room for her at the fire.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 33 
 
 "We are always glad to welcome you 
 down-stairs, my dear I" said General Lee. 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Ludwell, with affectionate 
 playfulness ; "for she is determined we shall 
 find that her moments in our society are like 
 angel's visits in more than one sense." 
 
 " Oh ! I hope you have not waited tea for 
 me!" she answered glancing at the vacant 
 table. "I was detained unavoidably; but 
 sent to beg you would not wait, and expected 
 to take mine quite alone by this time." 
 
 " No," said Mrs. Ludwell, smiling. " You 
 are indebted to father and Mr. Ludwell for 
 your disappointment. They have been so 
 much .engaged with their Federalism, that it 
 was impossible to make them aware of the 
 facts, that we were waiting, and the bread was 
 spoiling ; but we shall certainly all sit down 
 with more zest for having you with us." 
 
 " Well, well ; we won't deserve your scold 
 ing any longer, my love," said Mr. Ludwell, 
 leading his sister to her seat at Clara's right 
 hand. 
 
 As soon as grandpa had taken his place, 
 the children all followed his example, and
 
 84 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 with graceful vivacity tlie merry jest aiia 
 lively chat were soon passing round the hap- 
 py circle, only one heart pausing to acknow- 
 ledge from whose bountiful goodness so many 
 blessings had proceeded. 
 
 " Where is Tommy to-night, Aunt ?" asked 
 the thoughtful little Susy, as Mrs. Lee raised 
 her head, after her silent thanksgiving. 
 
 "I left him singing hymns to his sister 
 Alice, and telling her stories ; very much en- 
 chanted with the notion of entertaining her 
 during our absence." 
 
 " Dear little fellow ! It would be hard to 
 find a sweeter companion, I think," said Mrs. 
 Ludwell. 
 
 . " Yery clever little boy, certainly ;" said 
 General Lee ; " but Annie, I am afraid you 
 are putting too much cant into the child's 
 mouth. Don't, m I beseech you, overdo the 
 matter of his religious education, which you 
 think of such vast importance." 
 
 " I shall certainly try not to overdo it, sir, 
 though I am not sure that we should agree 
 as to the amount required first," said Mrs. 
 Lee with a sweet yet serious smile.
 
 THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 35 
 
 " Why, I would have a child brought up 
 to reverence his Maker, of course ; to be 
 obedient and dutiful to his parents ; and with, 
 the highest standard of truth and integrity 
 in his dealings with the world at large. But 
 to have his memory burdened with texts of 
 Scripture which he doesn't understand, and 
 verses of rhyme which have precious little 
 poetry in them are, in short, mere vehicles 
 for insipid moralizing or frightful denuncia- 
 tion is, in my opinion, little calculated to 
 strengthen his mental faculties or fit him for 
 the actual duties of life. I tell you what, 
 Master Tommy would have done you credit 
 in the days of Cromwell ; but times are 
 changed much for the better now, and men 
 feel that they were intended for something 
 more practical than whining and canting 
 iway their lives." 
 
 " I don't think this is exactly the place or 
 lime for a discussion of this question, father ; 
 but I must say that I think you do not treat 
 the matter with your usual justice." 
 
 " I hope I have not said any thing rude, 
 my dear Annie, for certainly, as far as you
 
 36 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 and some others are concerned, religion seems 
 fair enough, only you cheat yourselves of 
 much enjoyment in this life by over-strict 
 notions of duty, which seems a great pity. 
 Still, when one is governed by the honest 
 convictions of his own mind, no one can say 
 a word. What I dislike is, this educating 
 a child into hypocrisy of which, we all 
 know, there's enough without by allow- 
 ing him to talk constantly of things he can 
 not possibly understand, evidently with the 
 idea that it makes him quite superior to 
 the rest of the world." 
 
 "It is wonderful how much they can un- 
 derstand, sir, and delightful to see with what 
 simple faith they often lay hold of religious 
 truth. Still of course, I agree with you that 
 we can not guard them too much against any 
 thing like hypocrisy and spiritual pride, but 
 I have always thought these not so often dis- 
 cernible in children as in those who are older, 
 humility and docility being the distinguish- 
 ing traits, we are most apt to attribute to 
 them. With regard to early religious educa- 
 tion, we have surely great encouragement in
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 37 
 
 the promise : ' Train up a child in the way 
 he should go, and when he is old he will not 
 depart from it.' " 
 
 " Yes, yes ; I don't question the propriety 
 of bringing children up well; all that I ob- 
 ject to is, clouding their young lives with 
 gloomy terrors of an hereafter, they, poor 
 innocent lambs, have no cause to dread, or 
 with thoughts of death before their time, 
 Eeligion is a very sober thing, not much cal- 
 culated to make any one happy in this world, 
 you must admit, and it seems to me wholly 
 unfitted for the young. Indeed, my dear 
 child, I have been intending to beg you to 
 try to divert our sweet Alice's thoughts from 
 it somewhat. Depend upon it, it does her 
 harm! I 'wish you would gratify me by 
 making the experiment. Put away her Bible 
 and prayer-book, together with those other 
 religious books she is so fond of reading, 
 and replace them with amusing comedies, or 
 diverting games and young company.^ I 
 believe in less than a week she would forget 
 her cough, and her cheeks begin to plump 
 4
 
 38 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 out again, and yours too, perhaps, if you will 
 join her." 
 
 "0 father! father! how I wish I could 
 tell you the degree of happiness which such 
 a course would deprive my dear child of! 
 She must tell you herself how very sweet 
 she finds the joys of religion, and how little 
 the pleasure she derived from other sources, 
 in the days of health, in her bright and joy- 
 ous girlhood, can compare with that peace 
 * which passeth all understanding,' found in 
 the fellowship she has enjoyed, in her sick- 
 room, with her blessed Saviour. You speak 
 of religion as a ' sober, gloomy thing, at best, 
 for any one in this world.' Indeed, it is a 
 mistaken idea ! Why, without referring to 
 the hopes we cherish of the life which is to 
 come, there is not a day of my life that it 
 does not make me ready to exclaim: 'The 
 lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, 
 yea I have a goodly heritage !' " 
 
 As Mrs. Lee ceased speaking, the old gen- 
 tleman looked up with some surprise at her 
 kindling eye and the glow of deep, earnest, 
 hopeful feeling which flushed her usually
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 39 
 
 calm, pale face ; lie murmured something 
 about religious enthusiasm, but was evidently 
 touched and softened. Presently he said 
 somewhat abruptly : 
 
 " Well, well ; I have no business quarrel- 
 ling with the faith of others, although my 
 own bitter experience has rather injured my 
 capability of believing any thing that is not 
 very plain and direct. Oh ! 
 
 ' Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks 
 Invisible, except to God alone,' 
 
 shows so hideous a face when the vail is 
 once lifted, that it's scarcely a wonder. I 
 should live in dread of a second sight of her 
 forever after ! But you almost make me be- 
 lieve, while I'm talking with you, that real 
 sincere religion is a freer and a happier thing 
 than I have accustomed myself to regard it." 
 
 " And I, on my part, feel the fullest as- 
 surance that there is light yet in store for 
 you, sir. Yes, I know that your sun is not 
 to set in darkness" she replied. 
 
 General Lee gave her an earnest, searching 
 look of inquiry as he asked with evident 
 emotion :
 
 40 THE CANTEEBUKY BELLS. 
 
 " How can you say tliat you know this, my 
 dear?" 
 
 " ( If ye abide in me and my words abide 
 in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall 
 be done unto you !' is my pledge, father. Too 
 many faithful prayers have been offered, to 
 leave me room for a moment's doubt." 
 
 The old gentleman brushed a tear from 
 his eye, and quickly assuming a light and 
 cheerful tone, turned to Mr. Ludwell, saying: 
 
 "I did not mean to occupy so much of 
 the time you had intended to employ dif- 
 ferently. Let us go without further delay, 
 therefore, to the proper business of the even- 
 ing. I move, in the first place, that I, grand- 
 pa, be elected chairman of the committee. All 
 in favor of this motion please to say ay." 
 
 "Ay! ay! ay!" was shouted out with 
 great animation. 
 
 " Now all not in favor of it will signify 
 the same by saying, ' No !' " said grandpa, 
 
 "No!" called out Frank, " our eldest son, 1 
 a manish boy of fifteen. "I move that the 
 proceeding is irregular, and that grandpa 
 let us name our own chairman."
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 41 
 
 " Hey-day ! that's a pretty republican spirit 
 to manifest towards your elders, young man ; 
 however, to encourage you in your ideas of 
 regularity, etc, I withdraw and allow you 
 to have the election over," said grandpa. 
 
 Frank then nominated grandpa, himself, 
 and the votes were this time unanimous. 
 
 "I move,' 7 said Mr. Ludwell, "that little 
 Emmy and Charlie be given into mammy's 
 keeping for the night, they showing evident 
 signs of unfitness for the consideration of the 
 important matter we liaye at this time be- 
 fore us." 
 
 This was also promptly seconded and car- 
 ried without a dissenting voice. Accordingly 
 mammy soon appeared, accompanied by her 
 adjunct Marion, and the two sleeping child- 
 ren were carried off to the nursery. After 
 various suggestions and much discussion, it 
 was at length agreed that good old Mrs. 
 Banks should be pressed, if possible, into the 
 service. Mrs. Banks was an old and attached 
 friend of the family, who had lived with Mr. 
 Lad-well's father and mother when he was a 
 boy, and had nursed most of his children when 
 4*
 
 42 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 they were babies. The children were all 
 devoted to her, and highly delighted at the 
 prospect of being placed under her motherly 
 care instead of being sent to spend the time 
 with different relations or placed at boarding- 
 schools. There were two objections to this 
 plan which must, however, be obviated ; first, 
 Mrs. Banks was growing very old, and could 
 scarcely be expected to consent to leave her 
 quiet, snug little cottage-home in "Washing- 
 ton, at her time of life, to take entire charge 
 of a large family of children and servants. 
 The* young people looked so disappointed, 
 when this difficulty was represented, that 
 grandpa, whose delight it was to gratify their 
 every wish, said : " Never mind, my children ; 
 don't be troubled about that. I know how 
 to set a trap for the old woman that will be 
 sure to catch her ; leave it to me to manage 
 my own way, and mother Banks will be sure 
 to come." 
 
 " How will you do it, grandpa ? Do please 
 tell us." 
 
 u Xo, no, not to-night. I've got a little 
 surprise on foot for more than one of you."
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 43 
 
 The other difficulty was about their educa- 
 tion. Mr. Ludwell thought of a tutor ; but 
 not knowing a suitable person to employ, 
 disliked the thought of intrusting them to a 
 perfect stranger in his absence. Finally, he 
 concluded that the best plan would be to send 
 the elder girls to Frank's schoolmaster, an 
 Irish gentleman named McLeod, who taught 
 in the family of a widow lady, Mrs. Brown, 
 living about two and a half miles from Bel- 
 mont. " In good weather the walk will do 
 the lassies good, and when it's bad they must 
 ride," he said. 
 
 Mrs. Ludwell looked very much discon- 
 certed, however, at this arrangement. 
 
 " I don't think it will answer at all, Mr. 
 Ludwell," she said. "I never could allow 
 our girls to attend a mixed school of that 
 kind ; for, in the first place, I should be so 
 nervous about their contracting some conta- 
 gious disease; and then, I know such asso- 
 ciation can not fail to make them rude and 
 unpolished." 
 
 Mr. Ludwell laughed merrily. 
 
 " Is there more danger of contag'on for the
 
 44 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 girls than the boys, then, my dear Emma? 
 I'll warrant you, Mrs. Banks will take pre- 
 cautions enough about that too. Do you re- 
 member, Annie, those two years we spent in 
 Washington in our school-days ? How anx- 
 ious the old lady would become at every 
 rumor of small-pox or scarlet-fever having 
 broken out, and the little camphor-bags we 
 wore round our necks to charm them off ?" 
 
 " Oh ! perfectly ; and what implicit faith I 
 placed in mine ; but you were always skep- 
 tical, much to Mrs. Banks's annoyance. I 
 confess, however, upon the other point, I 
 agree with Emma. It does not seem very 
 desirable to have the children placed under 
 just such influences." 
 
 " I'll be bound for you aristocrats I Why, 
 I'll ask Mrs. Brown to keep an eye upon our 
 children ; and, if you think it best, to put them 
 all to themselves on a different side of the 
 room from the rest. I believe there's some- 
 thing in the Bible about saying : ' Stand thou 
 there, for I am holier than thou.' Isn't 
 there?" 
 
 " Yes ; but I don't think it is applicable in
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 45 
 
 this case, brother. We are only for guard- 
 ing the young from temptation ; not, I hope 
 and believe, exclusively from any spirit of 
 pride, but simply for prudence's sake." 
 
 " This would not be my choice, if I saw any 
 thing less objectionable to be done ; but, as we 
 have so little time for our preparations, I can 
 not possibly look round for a trusty and re- 
 sponsible tutor for a few months only I am 
 ^ure no harm can be done to the children's 
 Dolish and refinement." 
 
 Accordingly, after a little more discussion 
 of the question, this arrangement was decided 
 upon. 
 
 "0 papal what a different thing Annie 
 and I will find it, to study our lessons for 
 Mr. McLeod, from saying them to you in 
 your nice library, and having you to talk to 
 us about them afterwards, and make them so 
 interesting," said Clara despondingly. 
 
 " Now, Miss, not one word, if you please, 
 in disparagement of our l Academy? " said 
 Frank. " I wish you could just have seen 
 that tall young gent from Richmond, who ar- 
 rived day before yesterday. He had seen in
 
 46 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 the papers the advertisement of ' Cedar Grove 
 Classical Academy,' and thought he was 
 coming to some grand institution of learning 
 no doubt. But he does not believe in our lit- 
 tle log school-house, with the benches and 
 desks all cut and hacked, and two little dingy 
 windows with dimity curtains, being the 
 place for him to spout his Thucydides and 
 Sophocles. You never saw any thing so 
 blank as his face when he stared round the 
 room. As for Mr. McLeod and the rest of 
 us, he concluded at once we could be nothing 
 better than a set of numskulls. In my opin- 
 ion, however, he never had half as good a 
 teacher in his life as Mr. McLeod ; and when 
 he was pretending he wouldn't read the pass- 
 age which was given him in Horace, it was 
 only because he couldn't. He actually asked 
 me how Mr. McLeod learned to speak Eng- 
 lish so well, since he has only been in this 
 country a year? I took the greatest plea- 
 sure in putting on a knowing, important 
 look, and asking him if he did not know 
 that all educated Irish people speak "Eng- 
 lish?"
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 47 
 
 "But, Frank," asked his mother, "does 
 Mr. McLeod permit the boys to tell him 
 they won't?" 
 
 " No, indeed, ma'am ; and this young 
 man is going right back to his uncle. Mrs. 
 Brown was quite imposed on by his preten- 
 tious ways, and tried very hard to please 
 him about his accommodations ; but when 
 he came into Mr. McLeod's department, he 
 soon showed him how much lie thought of 
 him." 
 
 "I'm very glad he is going away, I'm 
 sure. But now, tell me, Frank, which are 
 the nicest little girls there ?" 
 
 " Oh ! . there's one who will suit Clara's 
 taste, I know, exactly ; her name is Jose- 
 phine Ball. I expect she is just Clara's age, 
 and very pretty, with light curling hair and 
 rosy cheeks, and dresses so nicely, too, in 
 a dark brown merino with a white linen 
 apron, coming up high in the neck, and a 
 ruffle round the throat ; but she makes such 
 simple mistakes about her lessons that every 
 body laughs at her. To-day it was a little 
 worse than usual, though. She was saying
 
 48 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 her history lesson about the silver mines in 
 South- America, that the Indian discovered 
 as he was going up the mountain, by 
 pulling up a weed and finding silver cling- 
 ing to the roots. Mr. McLeod was trying 
 to make Miss Josephine give the account 
 of it in her own words; but she stut- 
 tered and stammered so that he had to 
 help her out witTi every word. "Very 
 good, Miss Josey," he said in the kindest 
 tone, to encourage her. "You said that 
 the Indian caught hold of something to keep 
 him from falling. Can't you remember what 
 it was ? You know it came up in his hand, 
 and he found silver clinging to the roots. 
 Now, what was it ?" 
 
 " His nose, sir !" Josephine drawled out 
 with her face as red as crimson, and look- 
 ing as simple as I don't know what. Oh ! 
 there was such a laugh in the school ! Mr, 
 McLeod couldn't help laughing himself, 
 though he tried not, because Josey looked 
 so ashamed, and cried very much about it ; 
 but little Jack Brown had no mercy on her, 
 for he would keep slipping up to her after
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 49 
 
 school, and, putting his finger on his nose, 
 wonder if Miss Josey wouldn't please find 
 a silver-mine at his roots. Poor little Josey 
 was so teased by him that I had to stop him 
 by asking how he spelt butterfly, which he 
 had made luttifly one day in his spelling- 
 class. Mr. McLeod made us all laugh too, 
 once,' with his Irish brogue. He gave the 
 boys i obsthreperous" 1 to spell, instead of ob- 
 streperous, and was all out of patience be- 
 cause the boys would put in the ' h.' They 
 did it on purpose too, most of them." 
 
 "Fie I fie! Frank!" said grandpa, inter- 
 rupting him and laughing heartily, "have 
 you no conscience about telling tales out of 
 school ? I wish some of your school-fellows 
 were here to turn the tables upon you, for 
 I'll be bound you have twisted your Latin 
 sentences out of shape, many and many a 
 time. I should not wonder, indeed, to hear 
 of something as laughable as the little Irish 
 boy's translation of that beautiful passage 
 in Yirgil, when, according to Gerald Griffin 
 he made, Acri gaudet equo, ' rejoices upon 
 his bitther horse.' ' Oh ! murther alive T 
 5
 
 50 THE CAXTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 says the poor masther an Irishman too, 
 you see, Frank, 'his bitther horse? Erra, 
 what would make a horse be bitther, Jim ? 
 Sure 'tis not of sour beer he is speaking! 
 Rejoicin' upon a bitther horse ! Dear knows 
 what a show he was ! What raison he had 
 for it. Acri equo, upon his metthelsome steed I 
 that's the construction.' Can you beat that, 
 master Frank? I think at last our anec- 
 dotes have reconciled Clara to your aca- 
 demy, if we may judge by her merriment. 
 Such immoderate laughter, my daughter, 
 is hardly dignified enough for 'Miss Lud- 
 well,' the deputy head of the family. See ! 
 we shall have to depose you, miss, if you 
 do not compose yourself instantly, and try 
 that demure little grandmother Susy ; but 
 no ! that won't do either, for I have a com- 
 plaint against her too. She promised at 
 dinner that I should have my cocoa when I 
 waked from my afternoon nap." 
 
 " grandpa ! I am so sorry I forgot all 
 about it. Harry and George kept me busy 
 until dark, covering their balls. Ts it too 
 late now, sir ?"
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 51 
 
 " Too late ? "Why, yes, my dear ; for once 
 at least the old adage, ' Better late than never, 
 is out of place. Go call Peter to light my 
 pipe, and then, as an especial reward for 
 your excellent memory, I mean to submit to 
 the house a capital motion, which, I am per- 
 fectly sure, will not call forth a single dis- 
 senting vote from you young commoners, 
 whatever the executive committee may find 
 to say on the subject." 
 
 "Now, grandpa," said Susy, shaking her 
 finger reproachfully at him, " what did you 
 say that part about my memory for ?" and 
 then, having quickly discharged her errand, 
 she came running back to rejoin the eager 
 young group, who were already quite impa- 
 tient for the announcement of this great 
 scheme of grandpa's which proved noth- 
 ing less than that -their cousins Thomas 
 snd Susan Forrest should be asked to let 
 Alfred, Lizzie, and Fanny come to stay at 
 Belmont, and go with them to school. 
 Grandpa said he thought the youngsters 
 ought to have some more cheerful and con- 
 genial society than that of a rheumatic old
 
 52 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 woman and an Irish pedagogue, especially 
 as they were not to associate very intimately 
 with their school-fellows. 
 
 "What a grand idea that is, grandpa! 
 I'm heartily obliged to you for my part, I'm 
 sure," said Frank. 
 
 " Dear papa !" said Clara, with her cheeks 
 glowing and her eyes sparkling. "I know 
 you will not make any objection ; you know 
 how we will miss you and dear mamma, and 
 not even Lizzie and Fannie can take your 
 places ; but it will help" to keep us from 
 being so very lonesome. Annie will like it, 
 too, so much, for she does not know the 
 girls yet so well as we do, and she wants 
 to, very much. 
 
 " You little witch !" said the father, pat- 
 ting affectionately her rosy cheeks. " You 
 think you can coax papa into any thing 
 when you put on that pleading face, and 
 speak in those persuasive tones, but grand- 
 pa will have, first, to promise to keep you 
 all out of mischief when you put your wild 
 heads together." 
 
 " No, no !" said the old gentleman, laugh-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 53 
 
 ing heartily. " To tell the truth, I'd scarce- 
 ly like to venture a peep at Belmont while 
 the cats are away and the mice at play." 
 
 " Oh ! I trust they will not be very wild 
 and ungovernable," said Mrs. Ludwell anx- 
 iously. 
 
 MI have no fear on that score," said 
 her husband ; " for I rely on their self-re- 
 spect and sense of honor ; they will surely 
 not let us regret having placed our confi- 
 dence in these. The elder ones, I mean, and 
 the little ones Mrs. Banks will keep nnder 
 due restraint." 
 
 " To be sure, to be sure 1" said General 
 Lee. "No doubt they will be twice as well 
 behaved and proper, as when you are at 
 home. I intend, however, going abroad too 
 Alice and her mother shall be under my 
 charge, for I think It will be better that the 
 two invalids should not depend upon each 
 other's movements." 
 
 In vain Mrs. Lee remonstrated against 
 this arrangement ; knowing the old gentle- 
 man's abhorrence, hitherto, of a sea-voyage, 
 
 she tried to convince him that she would be 
 5*
 
 54 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 able to manage every thing very well for 
 her dear child. "You know, dear father, 
 that the power of a mother's love can sup- 
 ply experience, skill and strength," she said. 
 But he would not yield his point, and she 
 rose to leave the room, saying she was en- 
 tirely discomposed at finding all her argu- 
 ments unavailing. Mrs. Ludwell stopped 
 her, however, as she was bidding her good- 
 night to ask, which she did with some hesi- 
 tation of manner, if she would not let the 
 children sing with her that beautiful hymn 
 she had taught them. 
 
 " Yes, Aunt, do ! here is your place at 
 the old organ, and I want you to tell us if 
 we have not improved some," said Clara* 
 
 Mrs. Lee seated herself promptly, and 
 the children gathered round her, while she 
 played a spirited accompaniment and led 
 the little choir in Bishop Ken's beautiful 
 evening hymn : 
 
 " Glory to thee, my God, this night 
 For all the blessings of the light." 
 
 Sweet voices and fine musical powers were
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 55 
 
 inherited gifts in the united families of the 
 Lees and Ludwells, and as the rich notes 
 rose and fell, General Lee laid aside the 
 pamphlet he had at first taken up, and keep- 
 ing time with his foot, listened with undis- 
 guised delight ; while Mr. Ludwell, car- 
 ried back to those by-gone years, when in 
 the same room, the same old organ had re- 
 sounded beneath his honored father's touch 
 and his own voice had been united with 
 those of his mother and two gentle and 
 beautiful sisters, in their Sunday-evening 
 hymns, was much moved ; and, after look- 
 ing very tenderly for a few moments at 
 Mrs. Lee, the only surviving one of those 
 beings arouftd whoiB his earliest affections 
 had been so closely entwined, yielded at 
 length to the inspiration of the moment 
 and joined in the animated chorus : 
 
 "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
 Praise him, all creatures here below ; 
 Praise him, above, ye angelic host, 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " AXXIE ! isn't this a nice ' trap ' that 
 grandpa has set to catch Mrs. Banks in? 
 And won't we have a delightful time travel- 
 ling with him to the city ? He is the very 
 kindest, dearest grandfather in the world," 
 said Clara, on the second morning after the 
 evening described in the last chapter, as her 
 cousin and herself, left the breakfast-table to- 
 gether, looking both pleased and excited. 
 
 " Indeed it is, Clara, a very nice trap ; but 
 suppose after all it don't catch Mrs. Banks. 
 Suppose she doesn't mind our begging as 
 much as grandpa expects she will? Any 
 how, it is just like him to plan this little trip 
 for us, and I know we will enjoy ourselves 
 very much. Yes, indeed, dear grandpa 
 knows how to make us happy. I do love 
 him so much 1" 
 
 " You've been to "Washington as often as 
 I have, I expect, Annie, for papa never
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 57 
 
 hardly lets us go away from home ; lie says 
 lie wants us to stay here and have our young 
 friends to come and see us, so we may love 
 it better than any other place and be happy 
 among ourselves." 
 
 " I wonder if every body doesn't love their 
 home the very best, and wouldn't be glad to 
 stay there always, except just sometimes for 
 a little while to see what other people are 
 doing? But I expect uncle must know 
 some people who don't, or he wouldn't be so 
 very particular," answered Annie. 
 
 " Yes, papa says that children who are 
 allowed to go about much after strangers 
 sometimes get tired of their best friends, and 
 don't take as much pains to make them 
 happy as they do other people. I don't 
 know how they can feel so though, for I 
 never saw any one I could love as much as 
 I do my relations if I were to try. Next to 
 Aunt Annie and you all, I love our cousin 
 Forrests, and I know you will like them ever 
 so much, too, when you know them well." 
 
 " I expect I will, but I never saw them 
 except those two days we spent in "Washing-
 
 58 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 ton on our way home after we came to see 
 you that time, when, you know, my dear 
 father and little Lucy were alive." 
 
 " Oh ! I remember that time so well, and 
 how much I admired Alice for being such a 
 little lady as she seemed to me when she 
 used to rock Lucy to sleep and sing to her, 
 4 By a baby buntin' ! Daddy's gone a hunt- 
 in', to get a rabbit's skin to wrap the baby 
 buntin' in.' I thought it so very pretty, that 
 I was very anxious to imitate her with our 
 little Alice, as she was the baby then, but 
 somehow I couldn't make Alice love me as 
 Lucy did her sister Alice. At last what do 
 think happened one day ? I'll tell you if 
 you'll promise not to tell any body else. 
 dear! I can't help laughing, though I feel 
 ashamed too, when I think of it! Mamma 
 had company staying here, Marion was sick, 
 and mammy was wanted for something down- 
 stairs while the family were at dinner. So 
 she told me, if E chose, I might stay in the 
 nursery and have the baby all to myself to 
 take care of and amuse her. As I was going 
 out of the room 'Cousin Jane Gray said:
 
 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 59 
 
 ' ISTow, Clara, let's see what a good little 
 nurse you'll make, and when you get your 
 little child to sleep, come back to us.' 
 This made me in a great hurry to send poor 
 little Alice off to the land of Nod ; but she 
 was teething and cross, and kept on fretting 
 until I got out of patience, because I thought 
 I never would get back to .the parlor before 
 the company were gone, and besides, I was 
 afraid they would think I wasn't a good 
 nurse. At last, in despair, I took her and 
 laid her in the deep lower -drawer of the bu- 
 reau, and shut it up tight, thinking she'd 
 soon get tired of crying in there and go to 
 sleep. I was going down-stairs after this, 
 very much pleased with my clever trick, 
 when Alice Lee came up to help me to 
 nurse the baby, she said; but not seeing 
 the child, only hearing its smothered cries, 
 she looked very much frightened, and asked 
 me where she was. I smiled and pointed to 
 the drawer. Alice ran to open it and took 
 Allie out, telling me I might have killed my 
 little baby-sister. You may depend upon it 
 I was frightened i/ien-j and begged her not to
 
 60 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 tell mamma. Alice looked very grave and 
 said: 
 
 " ' No, Clara, I will not if you don't wish 
 it, and will promise never to do any thing of 
 the kind again ; but if I were you I would 
 go right to Aunt Emmy and tell her all 
 about it myself. Nothing would make my 
 mother so sorry as to find us hiding things 
 from her, and I expect Aunt Emmy feels 
 so too.' So then I went to mamma and 
 told her what I had done." 
 
 "And what did. Aunt Emmy say?" asked 
 Annie, who had listened with breathless in- 
 terest to the story. 
 
 "Oh! she said very little, but looked so 
 shocked! She never told any one, even 
 papa about it, and can't bear to think, even 
 to this day, of what might have happened 
 she says it makes her nervous and almost 
 sick. It was a long, long time I can tell 
 you, before she ever let any of us play in a 
 room by ourselves with the little children." 
 
 "You were so very small, Clara, that I 
 can not understand how you managed at all." 
 
 "Well, you see, mammy had put little
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 61 
 
 Allie on a sheep-skin mat to play with her 
 shells, right close to the bureau, and I 
 thought if your Alice, who was two years 
 older than me, could carry Lucy about in 
 her arms, I might certainly just move Allie 
 that far. But, please, Annie, don't forget 
 and tell any body of me. Frank would 
 never be done teasing me about being in 
 such a hurry to be a woman, if he was to 
 know it." 
 
 "Come, girls, are you most ready? The 
 roads are not very fine at this season, so 
 we've no time to lose," called their grand- 
 father's voice from below-stairs. 
 
 " Yes, sir, we'll hurry on with our bonnets 
 in a few minutes," answered Clara. 
 
 "Yery well; tell mammy to be quick 
 with the little ones too they are all to go ; 
 down to lady-bird Phebe." 
 
 At this news Clara gave Annie rather a 
 disconcerted look, and said with a thought- 
 ful, troubled air : 
 
 " I'm very sorry so many are going. I'm 
 afraid they'll be very much in the way."
 
 62 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Oh ! no, Clara, they won't," said Annie; 
 " we can sit up close together, and they'll 
 enjoy it so much, we won't mind crowding 
 for them." 
 
 " I don't mind the crowding the least bit in 
 the world ; but I don't like going to the city 
 in such a troop. I'm afraid it will make the 
 people laugh to see such a quantity of child- 
 ren, and as we are strangers, they won't know 
 that we are genteel people either. The car- 
 riage will look like a show-nursery, or like 
 Cousin Jeffs little cage full of Java spar- 
 rows," replied Clara. 
 
 Her grandfather had approached by this 
 time sufficiently near to hear this remark 
 without being perceived by the two girls, 
 until he said, with some haughtiness in his 
 tones : 
 
 " I should really think that Miss Ludwell 
 might sufficiently respect herself and her 
 family to be unaffected by any remarks from 
 passing strangers. Let them laugh ! What 
 have you to do with their laugh ? Is it not 
 enough that you are born in a position which 
 makes you independent of the frowns or
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 63 
 
 smiles of society. Leave those to whom they 
 can be of any consequence to be governed by 
 such puerile reasoning. I insist upon the 
 show-nursery and the cage of Java sparrows." 
 It was not long now before the large fam- 
 ily coach was waiting for them. Tom, the 
 driver, was mounted on the box, dressed in 
 his trimmest suit and laden with commissions 
 from his fellow-servants, which made him 
 feel exceedingly important as he drew the 
 large bearskin over his limbs, and nodded 
 knowingly in answer to the last demand 
 made upon his time in the city. The pam- 
 pered grays were arching their beautiful 
 necks, and snorting impatiently, while Gen- 
 eral Lee's groom was holding the bridles of 
 his own and his master's horse, and caressing 
 the creatures to keep them quiet, when the 
 old gentleman appeared at the head of his 
 little troop. First came Clara, in a pelisse of 
 rich dark blue silk and a black velvet bon- 
 net, imitating as closely as possible a grown 
 lady's. She had little occasion for these her 
 best things, in the country in winter, and ac- 
 cordingly this unexpected opportunity of dis-
 
 6i THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 playing them in the city was hailed with pe- 
 culiar pleasure. 
 
 u If mamma would only have lent me her 
 black lace vail, I should have looked so 
 nicely, and I think she might, as I am thir- 
 teen now, and tall of my age, too, every body 
 says," she thought to herself as she walked 
 on with a dignified step and holding her 
 head very high ; but she felt quite contented 
 again as she glanced at Annie's mouse-colored 
 merino, trimmed with velvet, and her modest 
 little velvet bonnet with a simple child-like 
 cap, which was extremely becoming to her 
 full fresh young face. Little Tommy, in his 
 rich plaid winter clothes, and dark blue vel- 
 vet cap over his long light auburn ringlets, 
 looked " like a picture," the children said, as 
 he clung close to Annie's side. Then came 
 the two boys, Harry and George one eleven 
 and the other nine years of age, in suits 
 of dark green cloth. And the little sisters, 
 Susy and Alice, with only one year between 
 them, and twins in size, dressed in pelisses of 
 fine scarlet cloth, trimmed with a rich bor- 
 dering of dark blue aad gold, with arms
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 65 
 
 twined round each others' waists, whispered 
 mysteriously, and bobbed their little chin- 
 chilla fur hats together like "two little ponies 
 in harness," as Frank used to call them. 
 Last of all came the real twins, Emma and 
 Charlie. It was so established a rule in the 
 nursery that they were to dress alike, that 
 the children often puzzled themselves about 
 what should be done when Charlie got to 
 be a big boy; but as they were only six 
 at present, both appeared in blue with 
 swan's-down borders. Mammy, a portly 
 old mulatto woman, followed the children 
 in her dress frock of invisible green stuff, 
 white apron, large warm shawl, and a spot- 
 less turban under her comfortable hood. 
 On one arm she carried a very large cov- 
 ered basket, containing a suit of clothes 
 apiece for the whole party. On the other, 
 a smaller one of biscuits and cakes for lun- 
 cheon. Mammy felt the responsibility of 
 her charge, notwithstanding "grandpa's" 
 presence, and was very uneasy lest the child- 
 ren should do something beneath the family 
 dignity. She had coaxed and petted Charlie 
 6*
 
 66 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 into promising to be good and obedient, but 
 Beemed still very unbelieving in those pro- 
 mises ; the rest she entertained with long 
 legends of their family grandeur, and how 
 beautiful their "ma" always behaved herself 
 when she was young, deducing the moral of 
 how much "is 'spected fromgentlemun's child- 
 ren when they goes abroad." The carriage 
 being wide and roomy, by dint of close pack- 
 ing and squeezing, and sitting some upon 
 the others' laps, the children all found places, 
 the large basket being mounted with Tom on 
 the box, and the smaller one sharing mam- 
 my's lap with Emma. The footman was dis- 
 pensed with, General Lee's attendant, Peter, 
 being found sufficient for all. As they were 
 about to start, the old gentleman rode up to 
 the carriage-window and looked in with an 
 air of satisfaction ; then tapping Clara on the 
 shoulder, said with a mischievous laugh: 
 "It's a fine brood, my dear does credit to 
 the mother hen," glancing at mammy. After 
 which he touched his steed with his spur, 
 which he still wore, and was soon at some 
 distance in advance of them, while Peter held
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 67 
 
 in his horse and rode between the two parties. 
 For the first half-hour excitement subdued 
 all the children, and they rode peacefully on. 
 Clara and Annie unfolding to the rest all 
 their plans, how they were sent expressly to 
 ask Mrs. Banks to come and stay with them 
 and Mr. and Mrs. Forrest to let their cousins 
 come. 
 
 " Mrs. Banks never nursed me when I was 
 a baby, and I an't going to mind her," said 
 Charlie. 
 
 " Oh ! but you must, Charlie, or mother 
 and father will be angry. If she didn't nurse 
 you, it's only because she was very sick her- 
 self and couldn't, but she nursed papa even, 
 and all of us down to you and Emma," said 
 Susy. 
 
 " Don't care ; I am going to bite her I" an- 
 swered Charlie, at the same time pulling tufts 
 out of Emma's swan's-down trimming, and 
 blowing them off out of the window, pleas- 
 ing himself with an imaginary flock of white 
 geese, until Emma discovered his depreda- 
 tions, and made loud complaints to mammy,
 
 68 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 showing at the same time the bartl spots 
 with great indignation. 
 
 " JSTow, Mas' Charles !" said mammy with 
 unusual mildness and patience, " don't trouble 
 yer sister any more, please, that's a good boy ; 
 jes' see how ugly you made her cloak look 
 aready." 
 
 But Charlie didn't feel inclined to oblige 
 her ladyship ; so with a sly mischievous look 
 in his face he grabbed out a larger handful 
 and sent it flying through the air with a great 
 puff; Emma cried at this outrage, and mam- 
 my shook him, saying : 
 
 " Oh ! you is certainly the greatest torment 
 ever any body seed. Mas' Charles ! ef you 
 can't behave like a gentleman's son, I'll make 
 Tom put you out in them woods for the run- 
 aways to catch." 
 
 " Don't, mammy," said Annie. " Mothei 
 says its such a bad plan to frighten children. 
 Come, Charlie, sit over here by sister Clara 
 and me, and be a good boy and I'll tell you 
 and Tommy a story." 
 
 Charlie changed places with George, and 
 there was peace again while Annie told him
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 69 
 
 about a poor little Indian boy who was found 
 in the woods, not far from her father's plan- 
 tation in the South how Cousin Alice used 
 to teach him to read and be good, and how 
 fast he learned, and was a very good, obe- 
 dient little boy; but he died after a while 
 and went to heaven. But every, body was 
 sorry to lose him, because he was kind and 
 obliging, and loved every body. 
 
 " Well ! I don't care if he did. I'm not 
 going to die, and go to heaven. I'm going 
 to grow up to be a man, and fight the In- 
 dians with a gun," said Charlie ; and soon 
 after this, little Tommy who had been winc- 
 ing and moving about on Annie's lap, whis- 
 pered very low in her ear, while the tears 
 stood in his large blue eyes : 
 
 " Sister, he hurts me so bad, tant he stop 
 pincing me?" The color rose in Annie's 
 cheek, and her eye flashed indignantly as 
 she looked down and saw several large pur- 
 ple spots on her dear little brother's white 
 arm and shoulder. 
 
 "You naughty, naughty boyJ" she
 
 70 THE CAOTERBURY BELLS/ 
 
 turning to Charlie and pushing him impa- 
 tiently off the seat ; " how could you do so ?'' 
 
 "Charlie!" said Clara, "I shall get Tom 
 to ask grandpa to come here with Ms riding- 
 whip and make you behave, and I shall ask 
 mamma not to let you come next time. You 
 ought to be ashamed to treat your little cou- 
 sin so." 
 
 Charlie looked defiantly at her, and with- 
 out making any answer raised his hand and 
 struck Tommy a hard blow in the face. 
 The little fellow struggled bravely for some 
 moments, but it was in vain ; the tears would 
 flow, and he hid his head in Annie's bosom 
 and sobbed. The color left Annie's cheek 
 as quickly as it had come. She was too 
 angry to speak at first, but at length regain- 
 ing somewhat her composure, she said : 
 
 "Clara, I must speak to grandpa about 
 this, for you see Charlie will not behave, 
 and I can not let Tommy be hurt." 
 
 The suddenness of Charlie's attack had 
 taken every one by surprise, and at first 
 they all seemed stunned ; but now there was 
 a general outcry, and Tom was ordered to
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 71 
 
 stop the carriage and call Peter, who came 
 riding back to see what the matter was. 
 Upon being informed, he looked at Charlie 
 fiercely, and began talking about his large 
 knife, and threatening to cut off the young 
 gentleman's head; but Annie stopped him, 
 saying quietly : 
 
 "Just tell grandpa, if you please, Peter, 
 that Charlie is very naughty, and we can 
 not ride with him in the carriage until he is 
 made to behave." 
 
 "What!" said General Lee, when he had 
 investigated the matter. "What! has the 
 little preacher been in a fight ? Fie ! for 
 shame, you young belligerents ! I must 
 separate you, and bind you over to keep 
 the peace, must I ?" 
 
 " Grandpa, it was all Charlie's fault, indeed 
 it was. Tommy did not do one thing to 
 him he didn't even touch him," exclaimed 
 a great many little voices at once. "You 
 ought just to know how bad Charlie is, 
 sometimes" they added. 
 
 "Well, but I'm afraid master Tommy is
 
 72 THE CANTEEBUKY BELLS. 
 
 a cry-baby. He'd better have fought it oat 
 like a man, and have done with it." 
 
 " Mamma says I never must fight, sir. 
 God won't tate me up to heaven if I do. I 
 twied to teep fwom twying, but Charlie hurt 
 me so I tould not help it. I'm afwaid some- 
 thing will happen to him if he don't tate 
 tare," said Tommy, holding up his head and 
 wiping away the tears from his little swollen 
 face. 
 
 " Why, you benevolent little rascal, was it 
 that made you cry? Here Peter, take this 
 young scapegrace and put him up before 
 you on the saddle see that you hold him 
 tight, and if that impertinent 'something' 
 makes another grab for him let me know. 
 Don't be uneasy, master Tommy, he shan't 
 get him if hard blows will prevent," said 
 his grandfather with mock seriousness. 
 
 There was an expression of relief and 
 pleasure, as Charlie was withdrawn from 
 the carriage. He smiled, also, and looked 
 quite pleased at the prospect of charge. 
 Mounted up before Peter, he took posses- 
 sion of his whip and amused himself tick-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 73 
 
 ling the horse's ears, or cutting at the leafless 
 branches as they passed. Every now and 
 then, too, he attempted by some question or 
 remark, to attract his grandfather's atten- 
 tion: but the old gentleman, after eyeing 
 him keenly for a few minutes, left him en- 
 tirely unnoticed, preserving an unbroken si- 
 lence and an imperturbable countenance, for 
 he was in fact far more displeased at his con- 
 duct than he had thought fit to manifest 
 publicly, and was meditating such an act of 
 discipline as Charlie little dreamt of. 
 
 The equestrians being some miles in ad- 
 vance of the carriage, reached the half-way 
 house a small country inn at which they 
 were to dine, about an hour before the rest 
 of the party, The host of the " Franklin 
 Hotel " was an honest Pennsylvanian demo- 
 crat who held in high regard the memory 
 of the Patriarch, whose portrait in strong 
 colors waved backward and forward in front 
 of his door. An old copy of " Poor Kichr 
 ard's Almanac," which had been his fa- 
 ther's before him, and had received more 
 than one new brown cover, still adorned the 
 7
 
 74 THE CAXTEKBUKY BELLS. 
 
 three-cornered shelf, in "his best parlor, made 
 to hold his large, old, leather-backed Bible 
 and hymn book. And he was never weary 
 of quoting on all occasions its pithy sayings. 
 
 When Mr. Gunnel saw from the window, 
 General Lee and his body-servant approach- 
 ing, he instantly began to make preparations 
 for his reception, calling first in a stentorian 
 voice to Judy, the house-maid, to have a 
 roaring fire, to air the chamber above ; and 
 to Jack, the ostler, to be ready to " tend to 
 the GrineraTs horses." He then stationed him- 
 self in waiting on the long portico, holding 
 in his hand the rough cob-pipe, just taken 
 from his lips ; and tucked under his arm, his 
 unfinished newspaper. With a broad grin 
 on his red-whiskered face, he made at 
 length his profoundly respectful salutations 
 to his guest, and took Charlie down from 
 the horse, patting him heartily as he did so, 
 and saying : " Fine little boy, Gineral one 
 of Mrs. Ludwell's, I calculate." 
 
 " Yes !" said General Lee, laconically. 
 Then having given directions for dinner to 
 be prepared for his party, he ordered Peter
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 75 
 
 to carry up-stairs a tub of water and a stout 
 bunch of rods the last of which directions 
 made his little companion start and look up 
 in his face with a wondering expression. 
 
 Peter, as he started off with alacrity to 
 execute his master's orders, gave the child 
 a significant and most unsympathizing wink. 
 The General being naturally of a gentle and 
 kind disposition, loving to indulge those 
 around him, and often, at the expense of 
 his own personal comfort, had scarcely ever 
 in his life been known to inflict corporal 
 punishment, but he had his theory on this 
 as well as other subjects, and when he once 
 felt called upon to show the Spartan side of 
 his character, went through the business 
 systematically and thoroughly the tub of 
 water being the indispensable accompani- 
 ment to the bunch of rods. 
 
 In the present instance he had been roused 
 to indignation by the wanton cruelty of 
 Charlie's attack upon his gentle and un- 
 offending little fatherless cousin a fault 
 which to his chivalrous and generous na- 
 ture, seemed too shocking to pass unno-
 
 76 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ticed, and he had accordingly resolved to 
 give him a lesson not soon to be forgotten. 
 The cowardly meanness of his conduct was 
 most eloquently enlarged upon to the child, 
 and then a sound flogging was administered, 
 with the utmost coolness and precision, after 
 which he was delivered up to Peter to be 
 soused in cool water until his passion had 
 subsided, and good humor was restored. 
 The success of this mode of operation was 
 fully proved, by the radiant smiles and 
 glowing cheeks with which Charlie, cling- 
 ing fondly to his grandfather's coat-tails, 
 presented himself at the tavern-door to 
 meet the carriage, when it drove up half 
 an hour afterwards. 
 
 Whilst the horses were resting and din- 
 der was preparing, he pointed out to Tom- 
 my and Emma the picture of Franklin on 
 the swinging sign, and other wonders which 
 he had discovered about the place before 
 their arrival. But he was particularly assi- 
 duous in his attentions to Tommy, and even 
 shared with him the handful of chestnuts, 
 which the good-natured Judy had given
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 77 
 
 him in pity for his whipping. The child- 
 ren wondered at this marvellous change in 
 his conduct, but it was not long before the 
 secret of it crept out, being communicated, 
 with humorous circumstantiality, by Peter 
 to George and Harry, while they were su- 
 perintending Tom rubbing down the horses ; 
 and from them it was passed round in con- 
 fidential whispers to the rest, who were not 
 less surprised than Charlie himself, at this 
 new phase of grandpa's character. 
 
 When the journey was resumed, Charlie 
 was very willing to take a seat in the car- 
 riage, and with his head resting on mam- 
 my's shoulder, took a long nap. Indeed 
 the whole party were nodding their heads 
 long before they reached Mr. Forrest's, it 
 being quite dark when they drove up to 
 his door. Grandpa with his man, went im- 
 mediately to the hotel, promising to come 
 round to breakfast the next morning 
 
 The little country cousins received a cla- 
 morous welcome from their city relatives, 
 and scarcely had they taken breath before 
 the object of their visit was stated and the
 
 78 THE CANTEBBURY BELLS. 
 
 promise obtained that they would beg their 
 father and mother to send them to Belmont 
 to school, and before bed-time came they 
 had actually gained "Cousin Thomas and 
 Susan's" consent as much to the delight of 
 the young Forrests, as of the little Lees and 
 Ludwells. The three youngest children 
 were very glad to take an early supper and 
 retire to their snug little beds, but the others 
 were too excited and happy to feel sleepy. 
 Many a merry game was played first, and 
 many a long story told, and childish secret 
 communicated ; but at last the time came 
 for pairing off, and having each chosen a 
 congenial friend, they all went off up-stairs 
 to enjoy each others society, to the last 
 waking moment. 
 
 Fannie, Lizzie, and Clara, having tried in 
 vain to induce Annie to let Tommy share the 
 apartment prepared for the little ones, under 
 mammy's guardianship, were at length ob- 
 liged to be contented with having him also 
 in their room, even at the risk of his over- 
 hearing and betraying their most confiden- 
 dential communications.
 
 CHAPTEE IY. 
 
 BEFOKE any of her young room-mates 
 were awake next morning, Annie had risen, 
 noiselessly dressed herself, and said her 
 prayers; then she went to her little brother 
 and kissing his little pouting lips, waked 
 him that they might have a quiet time to- 
 gether ; when he had said his morning hymn 
 and prayer to her, she read a chapter in the 
 Bible aloud, just as her mother was in the 
 habit of doing every day with her children. 
 She selected the healing of the nobleman's 
 son, and Tommy's eyes were fastened ear- 
 nestly upon her, as if he was drinking in 
 every word. When she had finished and laid 
 the book down, she still held him thought- , 
 fully on her lap. 
 
 "Sister," said the child, " Mustn't that 
 little boy's father have felt glad when he 
 came back and found his son well again ?"
 
 80 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, Tommy ! for lie legged Jesus 
 to come and cure him. Didn't he ?" 
 
 " If I was to see him, my ! I would 
 bed him so hard to tome and ture my sister 
 Allie, and I'd ast him to do it very tuick, too, 
 BO that mother won't have to do away and 
 tate her from you and me, sister Annie." 
 
 " But, dear little brother, don't you re- 
 member that mother says he hears us when 
 we pray just as much as if we were looking 
 at him ?" 
 
 " Yes, I wemember, but I teep fordetting 
 it," said the little fellow looking thoughtful 
 and serious. " Well, I'll ast him all over 
 adain, please, please to tome now this minute." 
 So he knelt once more at his sister's knee, 
 and putting his hands over his eyes which he 
 closed tightly, in his own lisping, childish 
 language, " poured out his heart before the 
 Lord," entreating the same good Saviour who 
 had so kindly healed the little sick boy of whom 
 lie had just been reading, to come quickly 
 and cure his dear sister Allie, and not to 
 bring such a sad trouble upon Annie and 
 himself as to send their mother and sister far
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 81 
 
 away from them over the great wide sea. 
 Little Tommy, in thus looking with simple, 
 fervent trust to the great Physician, the 
 Healer of soul and body, was early practising 
 the lessons learned from his pious mother's 
 example as well as precept ; and as again and 
 again he had heard her annex to her suppli- 
 cation for some greatly desired blessing the 
 clause, " Thy will, not mine be done," he 
 now closed with these words his own petition,, 
 although of course he had but a child's 
 imperfect comprehension of their meaning. 
 
 Oh ! that all those who govern and teach 
 might ever thus lead the little ones to the 
 only true Source of consolation in the hours 
 of suffering and sorrow. 
 
 When he had finished his little prayer he 
 rose, and with a happy, confident look, threw 
 his arms round Annie's neck, and kissing her 
 several times, said : " Now, darling sister, 
 we'll be dlad too, won't we ?" 
 
 By this time his cousins were all awake, 
 and Fannie Forrest springing up, caught him 
 in her arms, and kissing him, said :
 
 82 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Tommy ! you are too sweet and 
 the funniest child I ever saw." 
 
 Tommy drew back and opened his eyes 
 with a look of surprise, as if wondering what 
 was sweet and funny in what he had just been 
 doing. Mammy now appeared at the door 
 with Charlie and Emmy by the hand, whose 
 toilet she had made with scrupulous care, and 
 had intended offering her services to " Mas 
 Tommy," if Annie had not anticipated her ; 
 but nothing remained for her now except to 
 propose his going down with his little cou- 
 sins to the dining-room, to play until break- 
 fast-time. Annie quickly decided to go too, * 
 as she was determined to keep a watchful 
 eye on her little pet when " Mas Charles" 
 was at hand. Q-randpa, true to his word, 
 joined them at breakfast, and happy and 
 bright was each little face, as he planned for 
 them the proceedings of the day. Scarcely 
 could steady, deliberate old Mammy hurry 
 herself enough in getting them ready, after 
 they left the table. There seemed so much 
 to be done and so much to be seen, that they 
 were sure the day would not be long enough
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 83 
 
 for all, unless they began very early. At 
 last, .however, they were off. Grandpa 
 holding Charlie and Tommy by the hand, 
 headed the phalanx, and Mammy with her 
 pet Emmy, brought up the rear. Now, 
 young readers, you must remember that 
 sight-seeing in the great capital, was not, 
 fifty or sixty years ago, exactly what it is to- 
 day. Still there was a great deal there to 
 astonish and interest a set of little country 
 children who had scarcely ever before been 
 so far from home. And the shops which 
 stood at wide intervals from each other, dis- 
 played in their windows many coveted toys 
 and bons bons for the palms which were 
 burning to spend the contents of their little 
 purses. Fannie and Lizzie, however, more 
 experienced shoppers, laughed at their eager- 
 ness, and restrained the rest from many an 
 injudicious bargain. As for grandpa, he 
 never seemed to get tired of indulging their 
 whims ; indeed, the odder they were, the 
 more amused he appeared to be, and would 
 dodge in and out of the stores, with the great- 
 est patience and good humor. At last, as
 
 84 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 they were passing an apothecary's store at 
 the corner of a street, Susy came running up 
 to him, and touching his elbow, begged him 
 to let her go in and buy " one of those great 
 large red and blue things in the window." 
 
 " What in the world will you do with it, 
 child?" he asked, laughing heartily, "and 
 what do you take it for?" 
 
 "I don't know what it is, grandpa, and 
 that's just what I want it for. Mammy says 
 they look witchified, and I want one to play 
 with, so much." 
 
 " Count your money first, then, my lady, 
 and let's see how the funds will hold out for 
 such a speculation." 
 
 Susy took out a very small purse of red 
 and green silk, which her sister Clara had 
 knit for her, and exhibited with great satis- 
 faction five little silver coins ; not doubting 
 that grandpa would think that sum sum- 
 cient for any purchase. 
 
 " Let me see, five four-pences I" said he 
 counting them very demurely. " Well, now 
 let's ask Mr. Shopkeeper his price," and to 
 Lizzie and Fannie's unspeakable astonish*
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 85 
 
 ment in lie walked, making a signal for his 
 troop to follow. While they were waiting 
 for the store -keeper to come in, the two girls 
 could not forbear stepping up and saying : 
 
 "Why, Uncle! are you really going to 
 offer to buy one of those bottles ? They are 
 not for sale, sir, and the man will laugh at us 
 if you do." 
 
 " Nevertheless, cousins, I shall buy it ; if I 
 can / if not, the man may laugh, and my 
 poor little Susy will be disappointed, which 
 is of much more consequence," he answered 
 with a quiet smile. 
 
 Dr. Elliott now entered, and bowed and 
 smiled at the crowd of young customers, 
 while he secretly wondered what they could 
 want in his store, not usually' so popular 
 with young people. Grandpa motioned little 
 Susy forwards ; while the elder girls retreat- 
 ed to the other end of the store, and turned 
 their backs, to avoid seeming to have any 
 concern in the transaction. Susy blushed 
 deeply, and spoke so diffidently that it was 
 some time before she made Dr. Elliott under- 
 stand what she wanted; and, when she had
 
 86 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 at length succeeded, he laughed and looked 
 at General Lee, to see if a grave answer was 
 expected. Grandpa then took the matter in 
 hand, and, after some laughing remarks be- 
 tween himself and the store-keeper, the pur- 
 chase was presently made, and Susy became 
 the happy possessor of a large glass bottle of 
 colored water. The next difficulty was, how 
 it should be carried. It was hard to induce 
 Susy to relinquish her treasure; yet, there 
 was scarcely a doubt of its being broken, if 
 she attempted to carry it herself. At length 
 mammy succeeded in persuading her to give 
 it to her, promising to be very careful with 
 it; she fully shared Susy's admiration and 
 delight, and as they walked on together, 
 would hold it up to see the sun shining 
 through the great orange-colored stopper, 
 and the large, bright blue, globe-shaped 
 bottle. After spending nearly all the morn- 
 ing in going from place to place, grandpa 
 and his young charge returned home to rest 
 and prepare for dinner. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Forrest were very much 
 amused at Susy's fancy for her bottle, which
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 87 
 
 with great difficulty she lugged into the par- 
 lor for exhibition, amongst the lot of toys 
 which were displayed as the result of that 
 morning's shopping. 
 
 It was nearly five o'clock before dinner 
 was over ; then grandpa laid down for an 
 evening nap, and Susy combed out his long 
 white cue, which hung in a silvery plat 
 down his neck, and talked him to sleep, with 
 her plans of future fun and frolic, when the 
 grown people should all be gone from Bel- 
 mont, except Mrs. Banks. "When convinced 
 that she was no longer heard, she left him to 
 enjoy his repose, and joined her young com- 
 panions in their games of blind-man's buff, 
 last tag, etc., and this evening passed away, 
 as merrily as their first in "Washington. 
 ' Next morning, Thomas had the carriage 
 ready at the door, quite soon after breakfast ; 
 and under mammy's care they drove to see 
 Mrs. Banks. Grandpa had business to keep 
 him from going with them ; and Lizzie and 
 Fannie staid to take a music-lesson. 
 
 "What a tiny little house!" exclaimed 
 George, as the carriage stopped at her door.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Yes ; I don't see how any bocty could 
 turn round in it," said Clara; "but it must 
 be very sweet in the summer, when those- 
 vines are green and blooming ; see how that 
 sweet-briar covers nearly one side of the 
 house, just leaving room for that cunning 
 little window to peep out. I'm glad Mrs. 
 Banks lives there !" 
 
 Thomas gave a loud, important rap on the 
 low green door; and almost instantly was 
 answered by a tidy, light-haired, freckle- 
 faced little girl of about nine or ten years 
 old, who stared very hard at the stylish 
 carriage, full of " strange children" as she 
 waited to usher them into the house. The 
 front-door opened directly into Mrs. Banks's 
 sitting-room; which you reached, by first 
 descending two steps. The children gazed 
 round upon the picture of order, comfort, 
 and neatness, which presented itself, without 
 allowing the minutest article to escape their 
 observation. The floor was covered with a 
 grave-colored Scotch carpet, and a bright, 
 warm fire glowed in the small, well-blacked 
 Franklin stove, with its shining brass knoba
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 89 
 
 There was a lounge on one side of the room, 
 with a neat chintz cover; on another, a 
 semi-circular table of mahogany, darkened 
 by use and time, bordered with narrow slips 
 of satin-wood ; there was a tea-chest on this, 
 and a large Bible, covered neatly with 
 brown paper, besides several books of de- 
 votion. Behind the door stood a tall, nar- 
 row press, containing the household stock 
 of china and glass, the two upper shelves 
 being reserved for the books of a more 
 secular character. An alabaster urn, a pair 
 of plain old silver candlesticks, and some 
 boxes of shells and sea-weed, adorned the 
 mantle-piece, while a good many highly- 
 colored Scripture prints were hung on the 
 walls. There was the Madonna and Child ; 
 Peter, with a large, open-mouthed cock, ap- 
 parently in the act of crowing, beside him ; 
 and one or two more. While, placid and 
 still as any picture, sat good old Mrs. Banks 
 herself in the chimney-corner, dressed in hex 
 neat, black stuff gown, white checked muslin 
 apron, handkerchief of sheer muslin crossed 
 over her full bust; and on her head a
 
 90 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 spotless cap, broad finely-plaited frills, and 
 a band of black ribbon round the front. A 
 lock of smooth gray hair peeped out on 
 each temple, and her mild yet intelligent 
 blue eyes, beamed lovingly on all around 
 her. She was knitting, when the children 
 enntered; with her favorite tortoise-shell 
 cat purring at her feet, and a saucepan sim- 
 mering on the fire. Eliza, the little girl who 
 had opened the door for them, had been 
 spelling her lesson ; her book was lying still 
 open on the cricket, where she had been 
 seated, and near this, on the floor, her work- 
 basket filled with calico quilt-pieces. For a 
 moment or two, Mrs. Banks looked up with 
 amazement, at the crowd of unexpected little 
 visitors: but her face was soon lightened 
 up with a glad, bright smile as she held 
 up her hand, exclaiming: 
 
 " Bless me ! is it possible these are 
 me children from Belmont come to see 
 me?" 
 
 Then one after the other was folded in a 
 warm motherly embrace. 
 
 " These two are me dear Miss Hanny's,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 91 
 
 I suppose. Poor little dears!" she said, 
 looking tenderly at the fatherless little Tom- 
 my and Annie. 
 
 She embraced and kissed Tommy, as she 
 did the rest, and was about, more respect- 
 fully to offer her hand to his sister; but 
 Annie stepped quickly forward, and throw- 
 ing her arms round the old lady's neck 
 said: 
 
 " Dear Mrs. Banks, mother has taught us 
 to love you for her sake, and I must have 
 my kiss, too." 
 
 ''Bless you, my child! -God bless you!" 
 answered she, smiling through her tears and 
 looking inexpressibly gratified. After this, 
 followed the introduction of the twins, 
 whom Mrs. Banks had never seen before; 
 and Alice and Susy she said, had grown 
 quite beyond her recollection; Alice being 
 only two months old when she was last at 
 Belmont, 
 
 "Well, to be sure! and how me buys 
 have grown tool and George is amost 
 as tall as Harry! Little Susy, I suppose, 
 can him a henkerchief for me by this time,"
 
 92 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 she said, turning each one of them round to 
 the light, and putting on her spectacles for a 
 thorough scrutiny. 
 
 " Miss Clara, I think you look a little 
 pale, me dear, and seem to have a cold, too. 
 Come close to the fire, and put your feet on 
 the fender to warm. Now, tell me all 
 about ma and pa, and all the dear people 
 at Belmont. I've longed to look upon me 
 dear Miss Anny's face, ever since I heard 
 that she had come again to this part of the 
 world. She has seen sorrow, I know, 
 djear Miss Anny; but it's long since her 
 trust was placed upon Him who has prom- 
 ised to take care of the widow and the 
 orphan." 
 
 When many questions relating to the 
 family, had been asked and answered, Mam 
 my undertook to explain the object of then 
 visit; and the children clamorously urged 
 her to consent to their parents' request. 
 Smiling at their earnestness, and looking 
 thoughtful, Mrs. Banks promised, "to see 
 about it." " But you must say you will before 
 we go away from here," said Alice softly.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 93 
 
 " Dear children, I never expected to leave 
 here again, till I'm carried to my narrow 
 house, and I'll tell you how it is with me. 
 You see, I'm growing very old now, and 
 am not at all like I used to be when, your 
 papa was a buy, or even when you were 
 babies. What can an old woman, full of 
 aches and pains, do for you. and what would 
 you do with me if I should get sick ?" 
 
 "I'm sure you won't be sick at Belmont, 
 Mrs. Banks ; and if you should be, we'll send 
 for the doctor, and mammy will nurse you," 
 said Alice. 
 
 " Thank you, little Alice, but what would 
 become of me little children then ?" 
 
 " Oh ! we could all be very good and mind 
 mammy for just -two or three days." 
 
 "Well, but, Alice, I've got other reasons 
 yet. Here is me house, which I would hev 
 to leave, with no body to take care of it. 
 What would poor pussy here do without 
 her mistress, and that little girl Eliza, 
 that just went out of the room she hes no 
 father nor mother who shall I leave her
 
 94 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 with? And then, there's a poor little 
 buy named Johnny, who hes a very sore 
 foot, which he comes every day to have 
 dressed with me salves; and a great many 
 sick people come for me physic, which does 
 them more good, a great deal, than the doc- 
 tor's. When me neighbors meet with any 
 accident, they always come right to me for 
 me ointments ; now if it was only the summer 
 time, I'd show you my little Aerb garden, and 
 the rose bushes, where I get roses for me 
 rose-water." 
 
 " Is Eliza's father and mother loth dead, 
 and Johnny's too ?" Alice asked, seemingly 
 so much interested in their history that she 
 could not at present give any thought to 
 pussy, or the house and garden. 
 
 "I do not know, me child, whether 
 Eliza's parents are dead or not, for I 
 never knew even who they were. John- 
 ny's mother's living ; but she's a poor, 
 sickly creature. His foot has been very 
 bad; but is getting better now, and I 
 hope, by God's blessing, to make him well
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 95 
 
 enough to be of some use to her one of these 
 days." 
 
 "And where did Eliza come from?" in- 
 quired Susy. 
 
 "I found her one morning, Susy, when 
 she was a little baby, in a basket, at me 
 door." 
 
 " How did she get there, I wonder ? did 
 her mother lose her ? I expect she must'a," 
 chimed in little Emmy, who had observed a 
 shy silence up to this time. 
 
 " Some bad mothers, my dear, do not love 
 their poor little children, or wish to be 
 troubled with the care of them ; so they 
 take them in the night, and leave them at 
 somebody else's door." 
 
 " But suppose ^'something was to come by 
 and Tiurt the poor little things! "Was the 
 weather cold when they left Eliza ?" asked 
 Susy. 
 
 "Yes, much colder than it now is, and 
 she, poor child, looked pinched and blue 
 enough, and had taken a bad cold too, 
 but I cured her up, and now she's very 
 strong."
 
 96 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 "Mrs. Banks, haven't you ever had any 
 children of your own?" asked George ab- 
 ruptly. 
 
 " Yes, Georgie, and I've two now in 
 heaven : one of them was just about 
 your age, when he was taken there. It 
 hes been a long time since I saw him with 
 these bodily eyes, but almost every day, 
 when I'm sitting here alone, he comes to 
 me, whistling or singing, and sits himself 
 down in his own little chair, where Emmy 
 is now, and when we meet in our Father's 
 house, it will seem but yesterday since we 
 parted." 
 
 "Do you live here all by yourself, Mrs. 
 Banks ?" asked Susy. 
 
 " Oh ! no, me child, I trust not, for I 
 ask the blessed Saviour to come and dwell 
 under me roof with me ; and, you know, 
 he hes promised to come when we ask him ; 
 so I trust he is always here. Then there's 
 little Eliza ; and sometimes our Heaven- 
 ly Father sends some of his poor people to 
 me, who perhaps, like the Lord Jesus, hev 
 not where to lay their heads. So I'm very
 
 THE CANTERBURY' BELLS. 97 
 
 glad to give them a place in me house, 
 and part of me food, as well. as some of 
 the good words out of this big Bible, I 
 sometimes hev a. good many visitors,, too, 011 
 Saturdays and holidays, the young ladies 
 and gentlemen I hev nursed, or known 
 when they were babies ; my children, you 
 know, I call them, and I hev a big family,, 
 hevn't I ? So you see, my dears, I'm not all 
 alone in the world." 
 
 " Will any children come to see you 
 to-day?' 1 . 
 
 "No, I think not ; but shall I tell you 
 how I entertain them when they do. 
 come?" 
 
 " Oh !. yes, indeed, ma'am, please do !" said 
 George. 
 
 "Eliza has gone for some of me beer, 
 which you must taste, then, for I always 
 give that to my visitors." 
 
 Eliza now entered,, bringing in one hand 
 a small stone jug, and in the other a waiter 
 of cups and tumblers, to which was added by 
 Mrs. Banks some o her little cakes, shaped 
 like dogs, horses, men/ etc. Then the foam- 
 9
 
 98 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ing beer was pressed upon the company most 
 hospitably, while its wholesome properties 
 were dwelt upon at large; neither mam- 
 my nor Tom the driver were neglected in 
 the entertainment. The older girls looked 
 amused, the little ones and mammy pleased. 
 Tom wiped his wide mouth quizzically and 
 made a wry face, before his low bow. 
 
 Besides this fondness for dosing her guests, 
 Mrs. Banks had a certain peculiarity in her 
 mode of speech, calculated to amuse them 
 quite as much. The letter h she invariably 
 prefixed to words to which it did not belong, 
 and dropped it again, where it had a perfect- 
 ly lawful right to appear ; several other let- 
 ters also she misplaced or mispronounced, 
 according to the custom of the lower classes 
 in England. But the good old lady had 
 made the very best use of every opportunity 
 for improving herself, and storing her mind 
 with useful knowledge and pious sentiments, 
 so that her conversation was always both in- 
 structive and interesting to the young in 
 spite of this defect. "We have therefore 
 thought it worth while for the convenience
 
 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 99 
 
 of the reader, to translate it into me re pro- 
 nounceable English. 
 
 While some of the children were amusing 
 themselves with the specimens of shells and 
 sea-weed, and Charlie was playing with 
 pussy, Tommy pointed to one of the Bible- 
 pictures on the wall, and asked Mrs. Banks 
 what it was. 
 
 " That's poor Peter, my children," said the 
 old lady. " And there you see, is the cock 
 that crowed when Peter had three times de- 
 nied his Master. Do you remember that? 
 Poor Peter! but I don't expect, master 
 Tommy, that he wore a bright yellow cloak 
 exactly like this one." 
 
 "I know what this one is, Emmy," said 
 Tommy, turning from Peter, when he had 
 looked long enough to satisfy himself about 
 the yellow cloak. "This is our blessed 
 Saviour, and the little children when Jesus 
 said : ' Suffer little children to tome unto me, 
 and forbid them not.' Don't you love the 
 tind Jesus, Emmy ?" 
 
 "Yes; but I wish I could see him," re- 
 plied Emmy.
 
 1$0 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 AVhile the little ones prattled over the pic- 
 tures, Clara and Annie were no less inter- 
 ested in Mrs. Banks's smallcolleetion of books, 
 which she prized so highly. " That's 'Her- 
 vey's Meditations,' Miss Annie, a very good 
 book indeed, though it's too sad, I believe 
 for some people. Many a time, when I 
 was a young girl, I walked through the 
 same old churchyard reading that book. 
 Ah ! it's a very solemn place for medita- 
 tion there, among so many dead whose poor 
 bodies hev been resting there under the 
 .ground so many long years ; but who shell 
 all arise and stand with us before God, 
 when the last trumpet sounds. Yes ; and I 
 once heard Mr. Wesley, who wrote that 
 book of sermons in Miss Clara's hand, preach 
 about the last trumpet sounding to the poor 
 ^colliers in Kingswood. I was a giddy 
 young creature until that time, and was 
 on a visit to me aunt in Bristol. There 
 was a riot among these poor colliers, be- 
 cause times were very hard grain was scarce 
 and high, and their wages very low ; so it 
 was hard for them to get their daily bread.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 101 
 
 Mr. Wesley liad been preaching io them, 
 and some had been converted through his 
 means. It grieved him, therefore, very much 
 to find things going so wrong, and he walked 
 out to reason with them about their violence. 
 He was so loving and kind and gentle to 
 them, that they could not refuse to hear him. 
 Once they turned back when they met him, 
 .though they were all armed, marching to 
 Bristol to make an attack on the officers 
 of government. When matters had become 
 more quiet, after this, I went one evening 
 to hear him preach, and to see the colliers. 
 Oh ! it was a sight, my children, you 
 would not soon have forgotten, to see these 
 poor men, as they came crowding up, many 
 of them just out of the deep coal-pits, to hear 
 the voice they loved so much. The pulpit 
 was only a rough plank laid over a barrel ; 
 but the word was not less powerful for that. 
 His text was: 'The trumpet shall sound, 
 and the dead shall be raised.' 
 
 " The tears came streaming down those 
 poor grimed and blackened faces when he 
 said something like this though I can't re-
 
 102 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 member exactly his words, I shall never 
 forget the meaning of What he said : ' The 
 dead, yea, all the dead must arise, my 
 friends ! and we must each one of us 
 stand in the immediate presence of the 
 great and holy God, to answer for the deeds 
 we have done whilst in the body. Moun- 
 tains can not cover ye then, nor rocks hide 
 ye from the wrath of God! But Jesus can 
 throw over ye the robe of; his righteousness ; 
 and he stands now full of love in our very 
 midst, waiting with outstretched arms, to re- 
 ceive ye, if ye will but turn to him ; oh ! then, 
 now, while ye may go and be saved, surely 
 ye will not refuse to hear the call of a waiting 
 Saviour / Ye could not be so ungracious as 
 to let him call and wait and plead in vain 
 only for your poor sinful hearts.' My 
 own heart was melted, dear children, for the 
 first time. I could not stand against such 
 an appeal as that. I went home to weep 
 and pray, and at last found the peace 
 which nothing has ever disturbed, as long 
 as I keep my eyes fixed where Mr. Wesley 
 pointed them upon Him who has invited
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 103 
 
 us to put our trust under the shadow of bis 
 wing. Trouble only comes when we turn 
 away from Him." 
 
 These recollections of the past had greatly 
 excited and animated good old Mrs. Banks. 
 The children ceased from their different oc- 
 cupations, to watch with interest her earnest 
 countenance, and listen to her thrilling de- 
 scriptions which seemed to bring the whole 
 scene vividly before them. She next took up 
 a small volume in a bright cover, saying : 
 "This is a little book me niece sent me 
 ' Montgomery's Poems.' He was born near 
 me old home, and I saw him many times 
 as an infant in the arms. I hev seen, 
 too, and spoken to. the mother of the young 
 lady that they tell me he's been sad a long 
 time about. He's a great '^<fet^4he greatest 
 of poets in affliction! And yet he knows 
 how to praise too.' I ghmild never get tired 
 if you young ladies were to begiti reading 
 his pieces to me, so I'd better not ask for 
 any. But may be Miss Clara or Miss Annie 
 you'd read me this little scrap I've cut from 
 a newspaper ; my eyes are too dim now
 
 104: THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 
 
 except for big print ; but I keep this for my 
 young friends to read to me sometimes, not 
 hoften though, for hit's most more than I can 
 bear." 
 
 As Annie was standing next her, she put 
 the paper in her hand, and she read as she 
 was desired, Campbell's piece on visiting the 
 home of his forefathers. Her voice was sin- 
 gularly sweet, and her reading always very 
 touching and beautiful ; but of late a new 
 chord had been struck in her young heart, 
 which added a deeper pathos to her tones ; 
 and she had not proceeded far, before good 
 old Mrs. Banks bowed her head upon her 
 breast and sobbed aloud. The home of her 
 childhood was passing before her, and the 
 desolation of years in one moment swept over 
 her soul ! But why should that home so long 
 viewed through the dim vista of years and 
 the softening shadows of the past rise so 
 vividly and with such poignant regret before 
 those eyes which must, ere many more length- 
 ening shadows can have fallen round her 
 pathway, open upon the glories of the hea- 
 venly inheritance ? Surely after so many
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 10.5. 
 
 years of calm endurance and patient waiting, 
 Satan can not tempt that meek spirit to repine, 
 or cease looking towards that beautiful city 
 which is every day drawing nearer and nearer. 
 There was only a moment's struggle, how- 
 ever, before the aged pilgrim, with an : evi- 
 dent effort, regained her composure, and, tak- 
 ing up the words of the last stanza, in a sub- 
 dued voice repeated : 
 
 " Be hushed, my dark spirit ! for wisdom condemns 
 
 When the faint and the feeble deplore ; 
 Be strong as the rock of the ocean which stems 
 A thousand wild waves on the shore. 
 To bear Is to conquer our fate." 
 
 | 
 
 "Mrs. Banks," said Annie, after a few 
 minutes' silence, looking at the old woman 
 with gentle sympathy : " Would you not like 
 me to read for you now, my mother's favorite 
 chapter about our new home ?" She took up 
 the Bible, as she asked this question, and open- 
 ed it at the chapter in Eevelation to which 
 she referred. Mrs. Banks gladly assented; 
 and when it was finished, said, with her usual 
 placid smile : 

 
 106 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 "Thank you, dear, sweet child. It is a 
 blessed thing to look forward to a home 
 where we shall meet no more sad changes, 
 and from whence we shall go no more out 
 forever}' 1 
 
 Mammy now suggested that it was time 
 for them to go, and they bade the kind old 
 nurse good-by. Alice whispered in her ear : 
 
 " I don't know what you must do with the 
 house and garden, but you can bring Eliza 
 and Pussy to Belmont, and indeed you must 
 corne and take care of us while mamma and 
 papa are away." 
 
 The next morning our little friends left the 
 city, delighted with their trip, and impatient 
 to tell of all the wonders they had seen and 
 heard.
 
 CHAPTEK Y. 
 
 Two weeks of busy preparation had passed 
 since the children's visit to the city. Mrs. 
 Banks had come, and the farewells of friends 
 and neighbors were over. To-morrow the 
 travellers were to start, and nothing now 
 remained but the packing of a few last things. 
 The children in Mrs. Ludwell's nursery were 
 sound asleep, and " mammy" was snoring in 
 her soft, feather bed, close to little Phebe's 
 cradle. 
 
 "Poof little things! how soundly they 
 sleep, all unconscious of the anxiety and 
 suffering which it costs their poor mother to 
 leave them, or how they may miss her while 
 she's gone," said Mrs. Ludwell, as she walked 
 round from one little bed to another, having 
 risen from her own restless couch, and come, 
 full of maternal love and solitude, to take a 
 last look at them before she composed her- 
 self for sleep. " Gtod ! protect, and bless,
 
 108 THE CANTERBURY BLLLS. 
 
 and keep all my little ones safely," she ex- 
 claimed, throwing herself upon her knees 
 and weeping violently, after a long pause, 
 during which the workings of her agitated 
 countenance showed how many apprehen- 
 sions and anticipations of evil were conjured 
 up before her anxious mind; and, weeping 
 still, she returned, and laid herself down to 
 pass a long wearisome night, struggling with 
 hope and fear, duty and inclination; for 
 although she was learning to look unto the 
 Lord for help in time of trouble, she was 
 wholly ignorant of the great secret of leav- 
 ing with him the burdens which she brought, 
 and waiting in quiet faith and patience for 
 him to fulfill his promise : " Cast thy bur- 
 den upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee. n 
 Nevertheless, He, who has also promised 
 not to "break the bruised reed, or quench 
 the smoking flax," listened with forbearing 
 tenderness to these first faint utterances of 
 her dawning faith and received into his 
 faithful keeping the little flock so doubtfully 
 intrusted to his care. 
 
 Calmlv and steadily Mrs. Lee had em-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 109 
 
 ployed herself with her arrangements, with- 
 out a wavering thought, after having once 
 decided that duty to her sick child, de- 
 manded this sacrifice of her own feelings 
 in leaving the other two, who were not less 
 dear to her heart. 
 
 March had set in mildly, and Alice had 
 felt the good effects of the balmy air. But 
 the unavoidable excitement of this last day 
 had brought back, to-night, the flush of 
 fever to her cheek, and held her eyes wak- 
 ing till a late hour. The door leading into 
 Annie and Tommy's little room was open, 
 and they had apparently both been long 
 sound asleep. But still her mother sat by 
 her bedside, softly stroking her throbbing 
 temples, and talking gently, or singing 
 hymns to soothe her agitated nerves. 
 
 "If I do ever get well, dear mother !" 
 said Alice at length, "how shall I repay 
 you, or ever thank you half enough for all 
 these tedious hours of the night which you 
 have spent by my sick-bed. You do not 
 know how strong your love makes these 
 verses seem, ' When my father and my mo- 
 10
 
 110 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ther forsake me, then the Lord will take 
 me up;' and: 'Yea, they may forget, yet 
 will not / forget thee.' mother ! how in- 
 exhaustible that love must be I" 
 
 " ' It passes all understanding, 7 does it 
 not, my daughter ?" 
 
 " Indeed it does. I love sometimes to lie 
 perfectly still, and just try to think of some- 
 thing with which to compare it, but I'm lost in 
 its hight and depth and length and breadth." 
 As she said this, she closed her eyes and 
 lay as if in deep thought, and after a while 
 her mother, finding that she had fallen 
 asleep in this position, rose, and having un- 
 dressed, took her- little Bible and read a few 
 verses upon which she pondered carefully, 
 then humbly kneeling before her Heavenly 
 Father, prayed long and fervently making 
 mention of his goodness and mercy, confess- 
 ing her sin and weakness, and her rebellion 
 in times past, when in order to make her 
 meet for his glorious kingdom, he had seen 
 fit to employ upon her hard heart the sharp 
 tool of suffering, she asked for grace now 
 to trust herself and children wholly in his
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. Ill 
 
 hands, and in every trial to be taught to 
 to say : " Not my will, but thine be done." 
 When she had finished praying for herself 
 and for the world at large, she went, as she 
 was accustomed every night, to offer at the 
 pillow of each sleeping child petitions for 
 especial blessings and mercies for them, ac- 
 cording to their several necessities. 
 
 Annie was lying still awake, and waiting, 
 with a full heart, for her mother to come 
 to her bedside, for she had discovered 
 this to be her habit some weeks before, and 
 had felt so deeply impressed by this great 
 anxiety for her spiritual welfare, that she 
 had herself awakened to a sense of the 
 value of her immortal soul, and the com- 
 parative unimportance of every other con- 
 cern in life. Day after day her prayers as- 
 cended with increasing earnestness, and day 
 by day she felt more deeply her own de- 
 pravity, and need of a Saviour's reconciling 
 blood. Still there came no sweet sense of 
 pardon ; her heart was troubled and her 
 mind clouded by a consciousness of guilt 
 and a fear of God's anger. Yet she could
 
 112 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 not at first find courage to open her heart 
 upon this subject, even to that tender mother 
 to whom she confided all else so entirely ; but 
 had tried, as far as she could, to conceal 
 from every one her depression of spirits, and 
 when this was observed, it had always been 
 attributed to anxiety on account of Alice, to 
 whom she was devotedly attached. But to- 
 night she felt that she could no longer sus- 
 tain alone the heavy burden which weighed 
 her spirit down, and as she listened to her 
 mother's whispered prayer for her, she sobbed 
 aloud, and rising, threw her arms around her 
 neck, saying: 
 
 " Dear, dear mother ! how I wish that God 
 would hear your prayers and make me a 
 child of grace ; but it seems hardly worth 
 while for me to pray ; my heart grows more 
 hardened and sinful every day, and I am so 
 full of evil passions and unholy thoughts. 
 Do tell me what I must do, for I have prayed 
 and prayed, but I fear God does not hear 
 me." 
 
 Mrs. Lee was much touched, and pressed
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 113 
 
 her weeping child to her heart, saying slow- 
 ly and solemnly : 
 
 " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
 shalt be saved ! In whose name, my child, 
 have those prayers been offered ? and whose 
 merits have you pleaded to procure the favor 
 of your offended but merciful Father in 
 Heaven? Are you looking to yourself or 
 Jesus for salvation ?" 
 
 " I try, mother, to look only to Jesus, but 
 I can not love and trust him. I can not 
 cease sinning against him, and I am afraid 
 he has given me up, and will not save me." 
 
 " If you do not love and trust him, Annie, 
 must it not be because you do not believe ail- 
 that the Bible tells you of his love to you f 
 Can you believe that he so loved you as to 
 give his own life to save you from the pun- 
 ishment which your sins have deserved, and 
 yet withhold from him that confiding love 
 which he claims from you in return ?" 
 
 " I know, mother, that he died for sinners, 
 
 and that if we repent and believe, he will 
 
 save us that is what I have been trying to 
 
 do, but it must be that I do not repent 
 
 10*
 
 114 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 enough; for I can not feel that God has 
 pardoned me, and I believe I am more 
 wicked than I ever was before, although I 
 am sure that I want to do right, and I con- 
 stantly pray to be made pure and holy." 
 
 " The Bible, my dear, tells us of two classes, 
 the self-righteous, who think they need no 
 repentance and desire no Saviour, and the 
 lost, whom Jesus came to seek and to save 
 but it does not speak of any poor lost ones 
 who are trying to come to Jesus, and who 
 desire his salvation, but can not obtain it. 
 If you really feel yourself lost, remember 
 that he is seeking to save you, not because 
 there is any thing in you worthy of the love 
 which moves him to deal so graciously with 
 you, but because that love is so free, full, 
 and infinitely great, that it reaches even one 
 so hardened, thankless, and sinful as your- 
 self, and he really desires to bestow upon 
 you the blessings of pardon and peace with 
 the gift of eternal life, far more than you 
 have ever craved them for yourself. Do you 
 suppose, then, that when you come to him 
 in prayer, as he has told you to do, and ask
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 115 
 
 him to wasli you with his blood, and cleanse 
 you. from those sins which make you so im- 
 happy and separate you from your Heavenly 
 Father, whom you desire to love and serve, 
 that he will turn away from you because 
 you do not repent enough f Is it not God's 
 own Spirit which is now convincing you of 
 sin, and is not this Spirit the gift which 
 Jesus died to purchase for us ? and if he has 
 already of his grace and free will bestowed 
 thus much upon you, be assured that he will 
 not fail to add abundantly to what he has 
 already done, if you thankfully receive, and 
 perse veringly ask and believe. His blood 
 and his atonement you must remember, my 
 child, are not purchased -by our repentance ; 
 they are freely offered to us we have only 
 to wash and be clean. Without repentance 
 of course we can feel no desire for this 
 cleansing, but as soon as we have the de- 
 sire, there is the fountain open for all sin 
 and uncleanness. Now, my child, deal hon- 
 estly with yourself, search and try your own 
 heart, and see if you have indeed this de- 
 sire to be cleansed from all evil and to lead
 
 116 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 an entirely new and holy^ife, then you will 
 know certainly whether your repentance is 
 of the right kind that it is enough, I can not 
 say, for like every other fruit of the Spirit, 
 it needs to be increased, and like every of- 
 fering which we present unto the Lord, it 
 needs to be purified ; nevertheless, persevere 
 in prayer, and 'He who has begun a good 
 work in your heart, will make it perfect in 
 the end.' " 
 
 " Mother," answered Annie, after a silence 
 of some moments, " I am very sure that I 
 do desire, above every thing, to be rid of 
 my sins. I can not tell you how I some- 
 times loathe myself on account of them." 
 
 " Then, my child, you have only to believe 
 and to accept the free gift ; and can you re- 
 fuse the poor return of your polluted heart 
 to Jesus, who has asked for it again and 
 again, and is asking for it now ? Are you 
 willing to make the surrender, and renounc- 
 ing yourself and every other dependence, to 
 become wholly his for time and for eter- 
 nity ?" 
 
 "0 mother ! most gladly and thankfully,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 117 
 
 if lie will really accept me; for I long to 
 feel that he is my Saviour, and I am weary 
 of my sins, weary of my strivings, and weary 
 of myself? 
 
 " Go then, my dear child, on the faith of 
 his own words, * Him that cometh unto me, 
 I will in no wise cast out :' tell him all this ; 
 and hold nothing back, but offer all body, 
 soul, and spirit, and see if he will not accept 
 the gift, unworthy as it is." 
 
 Annie knelt, and in the solemn stillness 
 of that midnight hour, made an entire con- 
 secration of herself to God. As she prayed, 
 a deep peace, such as she had never known 
 before, stole upon her heart, and she felt that 
 God was affixing his seal to the bond which 
 made her his forever. Her mother's silent 
 prayer ascended for her, at the same time, 
 mingled with devout thanksgiving, as she 
 acknowledged that God had in this case 
 already fulfilled to her his promise : " While 
 they are yet speaking, I will hear." And 
 when at length both had laid them down 
 to rest, sweet, quiet, and refreshing sleep 
 soon closed their eyes.
 
 118 THE CANTEKBUBY BELLS. 
 
 Annie was indeed, for a few moments, 
 disquieted, as she thought of the approach- 
 ing separation from her mother, with fears 
 lest, when left to herself, she should not 
 always be able to see things in the same 
 clear light in which they had just been pre- 
 sented to her. 
 
 " "What should I do if I am overcome by 
 the temptation to doubt God again, or how 
 shall I know just what I ought to do when 
 I am trying to choose the right ?" she asked 
 herself tremblingly. But the question seemed 
 to be answered by a voice softly whispering 
 within : 
 
 " Jesus, my strength, my hope, 
 
 On thee I cast my care, 
 With humble confidence look up, 
 
 And know thou hearest my prayer; 
 Give me on thee to wait, 
 
 Till I can all things do ; 
 On thee, Almighty to create, 
 
 Almighty to renew."
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 THE weather was as fine next morning as 
 could have been desired for the travellers, and 
 great was the excitement among the child- 
 dren when the bustle commenced of bring, 
 ing down the baggage. Charlie found full 
 scope for the exercise of his energies in 
 moving carpet-bags and bandboxes, and 
 in running on messages for the servants. 
 Clara stepped out earlv into the conserva- 
 tory and cut two bouquets, which were 
 placed on the breakfast-table, at her mo- 
 ther's and Alice's place, and one beautiful 
 white rose-bud was reserved for her Aunt 
 Annie. With forced cheerfulness the family 
 seated themselves at the richly laden board, 
 seeming determined to drown in bright an- 
 ticipations and kind attentions to each other 
 the saddening reflection that they were tak- 
 ing the last meal which they should enjoy 
 together for many months. Alice was not
 
 120 THE CANTERBUEY BELLS. 
 
 often well enough to be down so early, but 
 this morning she felt stronger, and had made 
 an unusual effort. "With fond admiration, 
 every eye followed her as she moved grace- 
 fully round, bidding good morning, and 
 adding some little playful remark to each 
 in her bright, winning manner. And then 
 having claimed a seat at her uncle's right 
 hand, she sat by him in her neat travelling 
 dress, with her golden hair falling in light 
 ringlets around her head and shoulders, and 
 her dark blue eyes, with their peculiarly 
 lovely expression of deep, tranquil thought- 
 fulness fixed gravely upon him, as he dis- 
 cussed some plan referring to their future 
 route, or beaming with kindly light as she 
 turned to caress one of the little ones, who, 
 climbing on the back of her chair, claimed 
 a morning kiss before they eat their break- 
 fast. There was a faint tinge in one small 
 spot on her pale cheeks, which deepened or 
 faded with her slightest motion, adding an 
 indescribable charm to her frail, shadowy 
 loveliness. A tear stole into her uncle's eye, 
 as he watched it coming and going, and
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 121 
 
 thought : "Even so flickering, so uncertain 
 is her own precious life. Let but one rough 
 blast blow upon this sweet flower, and it 
 must perish forever from our sight." Alice 
 saw the tear, but was wholly unconscious 
 of having caused it. She thought he was 
 saddened as the time drew nearer for him 
 to leave his own little ones, and rose quickly 
 from the table, taking up her flowers, and 
 put her arms caressingly round his neck, as 
 if to hold them up before his face, as she 
 said aloud playfully : 
 
 " Uncle, you haven't admired my lovely 
 flowers half enough ! I'm afraid you are a 
 little jealous because Clara did not gather 
 them for you; but you shall smell them until 
 your heart is softened, when you remember 
 how much your poor little sick niece enjoys 
 them." 
 
 And then as she withdrew them, after hav- 
 ing succeeded in fascinating him into a smile, 
 she imprinted a fond kiss on his cheek, whis- 
 pering very softly in his ear : " Trust them 
 all, dear uncle, in our Heavenly Father's 
 hand. He will keep them safely for you." 
 11
 
 122 THE CAXTERBUEY BELLS. 
 
 Mr. Ludwell looked up, and was quite 
 overcome as he met the sweet look of sym- 
 pathy in her face, and gradually understood 
 her meaning. Rising from the table, he put 
 his arm round her waist and led her to- 
 wards the fire. 
 
 " O my child !" he said, pressing her 
 closely to his heart, " how you do bring back 
 to me my poor lost sister my sweet, sweet 
 Alice! But I must not allow myself to 
 think of her now. There, you are beginning 
 to cough keep in this little corner close to 
 the fire, and don't use your voice any more 
 at present. I must go and see what your 
 aunt is after." 
 
 And seating her in an arm-chair, he left 
 the room, but stood some moments after he 
 had closed the door behind him, listening, 
 with a sharp pang, to the hard cough which 
 seemed as if it must rend in pieces her deli- 
 cate frame. And when this ceased, she was 
 so exhausted, that her mother laid her on 
 the sofa, where, pale as a marble statue, she 
 slept until the carriages were ready. 
 
 They were going only as far as General
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 123 
 
 Lee's this first day, in order to divide the 
 journey to Washington, where they were to 
 spend a night, proceeding from thence, by 
 easy stages, to Baltimore, and embark there 
 in a sailing packet for Liverpool, and after- 
 wards to the south of France, and Italy, or 
 Switzerland. 
 
 At last the hour for parting came, and 
 amidst tears and sobs, loving farewells were 
 uttered. Then the precious invalids, sur- 
 rounded by every comfort which the most 
 tender thoughtfulness could provide, set off 
 on their long and perilous journey. On the 
 steps of the portico, or behind the stone col- 
 umns, crowded servants and children, to 
 catch the last glimpse of the two carriages, 
 as they drove through the long winding 
 avenue of elms. Clara was still weeping 
 bitterly, but already the tears were almost 
 dry upon the cheeks of the younger child- 
 ren. Frank having a short holiday at this 
 time, had gained his father's consent to ac- 
 company him to Washington, to escort his 
 cousins who were to come in the carriage 
 as it returned, after having deposited the tra-
 
 12-i THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 vellers in Baltimore. Mounted on his sleek 
 little pony, he galloped off, turning occa- 
 sionally to remind his sisters and brothers 
 that it would be only a short time before 
 he returned with their cousins. Annie Lee 
 was at her mother's window, supporting 
 with her arm her lovely little blue-eyed 
 brother, who was standing on the deep old 
 fashioned window-seat, to get a good view. 
 It had required her utmost self-command to 
 suppress her feelings whilst bidding adieu 
 to her beloved sister, whom her mother had 
 cautioned her not to agitate. ISfow, as she 
 leaned her head on Tommy's shoulder, 
 floods of tears came to relieve her aching 
 heart. The little fellow regarded her for 
 a while with the deepest concern, stroking 
 and kissing her face by turns. At last he 
 whispered softly : 
 
 " Sister Annie, don't twy so, please ! I 
 am afwaid you'll make Jesus andwy with 
 you. Mother said it was his will for sister 
 Allie to be sit and do away from us, and 
 that we must twy to want his will to be 
 done, if we want to please him."
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 125 
 
 " Thank you, sweet little brother, for put- 
 ting me in mind. I'll try to behave better ; 
 but I'm sure Jesus is sorry for me, too, and 
 if he was here, he would weep with me, and 
 comfort me, as he did Mary and Martha," 
 answered Annie, forcing back her tears, and 
 returning her little brother's endearments. 
 
 "But, sister," said the child again, look- 
 ing up in her face, thoughtfully, "an't it 
 vewy stwange that Jesus makes people 
 sorwy when he don't like to? I should 
 think he wouldn't do so." 
 
 "Tommy, darling, you mustn't forget 
 that mother said it was for our good ; that 
 just like the doctor has to give physic to 
 dear sister Allie to make her body well, 
 Jesus sends us trials to cure our souls of 
 sin ; that he is a wise physician, and knows 
 just what every body needs ; and as he 
 wants us all to go to heaven, and is very 
 good and loving, he does what is really 
 best for us, though that often makes us suffer 
 at the time, and though he does not take 
 pleasure in giving us pain. Now you don't 
 think it ' stwange,' do you ?" 
 11*
 
 126 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " No ; I thint thafs just wight, betause 
 we never, never tould do to heaven if he 
 didn't turn our souls and mate us dood." 
 
 This little talk with Tommy had quite 
 calmed Annie, and now she turned her 
 thoughts entirely to him. Trying to amuse 
 him so that he would not feel lonesome, she 
 took out his blocks and helped him to build 
 houses, and then to float little paper-boats 
 in the basin of water, until, tired of play, he 
 asked her to tell him a good long pretty 
 story while she sewed; and while she was 
 doing this, he dropped asleep in his little 
 arm-chair, with his h'ead lying in her lap. 
 She then took him up tenderly and laid him 
 on his bed. 
 
 "He will be just like my own child now, 
 and will love me so dearly. And oh ! how 
 .careful I shall be of him to keep him from 
 being sick or from missing dear mother in 
 any way," she thought, as she smoothed 
 down his short frock and arranged his pil- 
 low, with a heart full of the fondest affection. 
 Then, as she was about to leave him and 
 take up her work again, she turned once
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 127 
 
 more, drawn by an irresistible impulse, and 
 kissed repeatedly his white dimpled shoul- 
 ders and coral lips, until he turned, though 
 unconsciously, from her, with a sweet smile 
 which put in play the dimples in his cheek, 
 and made it doubly hard to tear herself 
 away. 
 
 Meanwhile some of Mrs. Banks's young 
 charge down-stairs were growing rather un- 
 manageable. As soon as the first burst of 
 sorrow was over, even before their tears 
 were well dried on their cheeks, the spirit of 
 mischief had revived, and they began looking 
 round for some unusual mode of amusement, 
 which would at the same time have the 
 charm of novelty, and indicate their freedom 
 from restraint and authority. George, seeing 
 Uncle Lemuel, the dignified, pompous old 
 gardener, very busy moving some of his 
 large green-house plants with the assistance 
 of Milo, seized the end of the garden-hose, 
 and mounting a hogshead, surprised him with 
 a sudden and violent shower upon himself 
 and his assistant. Setting the tree down 
 quick 1 y, Uncle Lemuel started back to avoid
 
 128 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 the wetting, which for a moment he supposed 
 accidental ; but George, enjoying highly his 
 discomfiture, turned the water again upon 
 him, and wherever he moved the stream pur- 
 sued him. Highly indignant, at length the 
 old man drew himself up to his full height, 
 which was not inconsiderable, presenting 
 quite an imposing figure, dressed in his 
 favorite holiday suit, a pair of " ol massa's " 
 shorts and tight long stockings, which he 
 had put on, as he said, " in honor of seeing 
 mas' Edward and Miss Emma sit out on dere 
 gret journey." So he stood erect to receive 
 another shower, eyeing George with a look 
 which might have annihilated a less hardy 
 subject, saying at the same time, in the tone 
 of a martyr : 
 
 " Go on, my young massa ; play out your 
 mischif, pon an ol servant what never 
 done you no harm ; but worked for you, 
 and them ware before yer, too, night and 
 day, in cole an' hot, wet an' dry. But I 
 jes wish mas' Edward war back to see yer 
 at it. Never mine, young massa, yer day 
 got to come yit. You got to grow ol and
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 129 
 
 stiff, and yer heare to whiten ; and de time's 
 comin', too, for yer to lie down in yer grave. 
 Den, I boun', de worms gwine to show yer 
 how much dey respecs yer body 'case it 
 ' white P Dere's one to show yer, too, mas' 
 George, dat white people's got a master well 
 as black. And what yer gwine to do, I'd 
 like to know, when dat time come ?" 
 
 George's hand slackened now through 
 sheer merriment, and he threw himself back 
 to laugh at Uncle Lemuel's tirade, when, 
 the old man, taking advantage of his being 
 off his guard, sprung forward in an instant, 
 and dragging him down from his elevation, 
 carried him off to Mrs. Banks, with com 
 plaints of his ill-treatment. Clara had wit- 
 nessed the proceeding from the window 
 above, and could not help laughing to see 
 Uncle Lemuel's pomposity for once taken 
 down ; and as he was by no means a favor- 
 ite with his fellow-servants, they too enjoyed 
 the scene, and tittered audibly as he passed 
 them on his way to Mrs. Banks, dripping 
 like any water-dog, and with George submit-
 
 130 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ting to be led by the hand, because his 
 laughter made him too weak to resist. 
 
 U fie! fie! George; I did not think 
 ye'd hev been so little of a gentleman," 
 said Mrs. Banks reproachfully. 
 
 " Why, Mrs. Banks, I was only ducking 
 him ; he believes in washing, and's very fond 
 of parading himself before folks, so I thought 
 I'd just take him down a little," replied 
 George, with a right saucy laugh. 
 
 "Now, I spose, mas' George, yer tink 
 yer've improved yer conduc by talkin' so. 
 boy ! I tell yer, yer's got to learn." 
 
 " There, Lemuel, you had better go now 
 quickly and dry yourself. I am sorry 
 Mister George should hev treated you so, 
 and I dare say he's sorry by this time him- 
 self, or at any rate will be by and by," said 
 Mrs. Banks. 
 
 " Now, Mister George," she added, turn- 
 ing to George, after Uncle Lemuel had re- 
 tired from the scene, "you had better stay 
 here in the house with me for a little 
 while, for you Lev done very wrong to
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 131 
 
 A faithful old servant of your father's 
 so -unkindly. I did not expect it from you, 
 and I think you did not know how much 
 harm you might hev done. It's no trifle, 
 I can tell you, for such an old man to be 
 wet to the skin so, while heated with his 
 work, too. If he should be very sick from 
 it, you would not enjoy thinking of your fun 
 much, I'm sure." 
 
 " He's not so easy to make sick, Mrs. 
 Banks ; he's too tough for that /" answered 
 George, beginning to look sheepish, and 
 whittling a piece of wood. 
 
 "Mrs. Banks ! I'se brought mas 7 Henry 
 to you, ma'am, to show what he been doin' 
 in his ma's room. Did you ever see sich a 
 a thing as this ma'am ?" broke in Marion at 
 this moment, as she entered, bringing in her 
 hand the fragments of a large and beautiful 
 vase, and with a countenance expressing the 
 greatest vexation. 
 
 " Dear me ! how did that happen, Mar- 
 ion ?" asked Mrs. Banks, despairingly. 
 
 "Jus' by mas' Henry's mischief, ma'am," 
 replied the angry maid : I was cleanin' up
 
 132 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 missus' room thoroughly, as you told me, an' 
 while I was a sweepin' down cobwebs from 
 the ceilin 7 and the walls, mas' Henry stept 
 up behind me and knockt the brush clear 
 out of my hand, so it fell right accrost de 
 mantel-piece an' throwed dis off. I does 
 wisht master and missus never had gone 
 away from dis house, or dey'd come straight 
 back agin. Little dey'd see of tother side de 
 worl, ef I could a kept 'em here, / know /" 
 
 " Mister Henry I Mister Henry ! what's to 
 be done ? Your mother valued that pretty 
 vase for some especial reasons ; and only to 
 think of your having broken it before she'd 
 been gone a good hour from the house. I 
 don't know what kind of a letter I must 
 write her, nor how long I shall be able to 
 stay in such a mischievous house, I am sure ! 
 You must stay here now along with George 
 until you can behave better," said poor, dis- 
 comforted Mrs. Banks. 
 
 After a little while Susy and Alice came 
 in, looking tired and restless. 
 
 "Mrs. Banks, how far has mother got bj 
 this time?" they asked.
 
 THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 133 
 
 " It's only a bit after ten, my dears, and 
 they travel slowly ; so I expect she won't 
 get to your grandpa's for an hour yet." 
 
 " dear ! and it will be so long before she 
 comes back again ! I'm so tired of being with- 
 out her already," said Alice. 
 
 "So am I," said Susy; "nothing seems 
 about the place like it used to." 
 
 " I am very sorry for you, me dear child- 
 ren ; but you must try to cheer up and to be 
 useful ; thafs the way to make time fly. Do 
 you remember what the little hymn says ? 
 * Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands 
 to do.' You had better come help me to 
 work, for I've got a great deal to do, putting 
 away the nice things that you might break 
 or spoil in your play, and by and by, your 
 things must be moved out of the nursery 
 into the great octagon parlor, where you 
 are going to sleep now, right next to me ; 
 then Cousin Annie and all will be close 
 together." 
 
 "In the octagon parlor, Mrs. Banks! 
 Why, how can we sleep there?" 
 12
 
 184 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " And why not, children, if jour beds are 
 made there for you, j tist as they are in the 
 nursery ?" 
 
 " Why, Mrs. Banks ! don't you know it's 
 haunted?" 
 
 " Haunted by what, I should like to 
 know?" 
 
 " By Aunt Alice's ghost I Mammy and 
 all the servants say that she comes in the 
 night, and plays on her harp that's in that 
 room." 
 
 " my dear children ! that is all an idle 
 tale I You must not let the servants fill 
 your minds with such stuff. They are poor 
 ignorant creatures, and don't know any 
 better. You wouldn't have any reason, I 
 can tell you to be afraid of your Aunt Alice 
 if she could come back ; but she's at rest 
 in heaven, and depend upon it, nothing 
 in this world would tempt her to come 
 back here again. You shalt go with me 
 into the room, and I will show you her sweet 
 picture. When you hear me tell how sweet 
 and lovely she used to be, you can not be 
 afraid any more. 1 '
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 TIMIDLY, still with their curiosity and in- 
 terest fully awakened, the children followed 
 Mrs. Banks into that mysterious apartment, 
 which for many years had never been opened, 
 except at long intervals, to be cleaned and 
 aired ; these times being carefully chosen when 
 their father was away from home. Near its 
 threshold they had rarely ventured ; and if by 
 chance they found themselves approaching it 
 in their plays, they hastened frightened from 
 the spot. 
 
 Mammy and another servant were now 
 employed in fitting it up for their use. There 
 was a great deal of richly -gilded and carved 
 furniture in the room, and in the recess of 
 the bow-window stood the harp of which they 
 had heard so much; near it was a small 
 music-stand with a piece of music open upon 
 it, as if the performer had just left her place, 
 expecting to return in a moment to her occu
 
 136 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 pation there. And so it had remained for 
 sixteen years just as when the last notes of 
 the plaintive ballad died upon the lips of the 
 child-like bride when she was leaving the 
 home where her bright spirit had cheered the 
 declining years of her venerable parents. 
 'With eyes riveted upon this instrument, the 
 children at first clung closely to the side of 
 their old friend, whose composed and quiet 
 manner soon, however, somewhat reassured 
 them. She advanced into the room and 
 stood before a large painting reaching almost 
 to the ceiling, and filling up a large portion 
 of the length of the wall 
 
 It represented a family scene. The father, 
 a middle-aged man of noble appearance, seat- 
 ed in a large arm-chair before a round table 
 by the blazing fire, with books piled carelessly 
 by his elbow, rested on the table, as he held 
 up his newspaper to the light. His eyes, 
 however, were evidently wandering from his 
 paper to the opposite part of the room, where, 
 glancing above his spectacles with a look full 
 of amusement and pleasure, he watched the 
 movements of a group who occupied the
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 137 
 
 corner of a great high-backed sofa. This 
 group consisted of a lady simply yet elegantly 
 dressed, surrounded by her three children. 
 The eldest, a handsome youth of about fifteen 
 years, with a full face, florid complexion, and 
 an abundance of waving brown hair, was 
 resting on the arm of the sofa and looking up 
 into his mother's face with an expression of 
 earnest entreaty, while seated at her mother's 
 side was a dark-haired little girl of twelve, 
 dressed in a white slip with a broad blue sash 
 and sleeve-ribbons ; her face turned towards 
 her brother's, and with one hand resting on 
 her mother's shoulder, and the other extend- 
 ed, as if for something the mother held be- 
 hind her, who, with a mild and gentle coun- 
 tenance, seemed to be smilingly refusing the 
 request which her two children were pressing 
 so eagerly. 
 
 A little fairy-like creature, with laughing 
 blue eyes, golden curls, a forehead smooth 
 and pure as the whitest marble, fall red lips, 
 just parted enough to show two little pearly 
 white teeth, and dimpled cheeks, glowing 
 with the bright flush of youth and health, 
 12*
 
 138 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 stood in front of the rest, with her hands glee* 
 fully clasped together as she laughed merrily 
 at the jest lurking in her mother's quiet yet 
 mischievous smile. She seemed several years 
 younger than her sister, though they were 
 dressed exactly alike. 
 
 " Oh ! what a beautiful picture ; what sweet 
 little girls! and such a pretty boy! just as 
 old as brother Frank, I do believe ! and he's 
 got eyes almost exactly like his too ! Mrs. 
 Banks, please tell us who they are ?" 
 
 " Did you ever see any body like that little 
 girl with the dark hair?" 
 
 " Yes, I have. It's very much like Cousin 
 Annie, but a good deal prettier," said George. 
 
 "Perhaps, Georgie, that's because it's a 
 painting; it is Cousin Annie's mother, how- 
 ever." 
 
 "Is that Aunt Annie? Doesn't it seem* 
 funny that she was a little girl like that, once 
 on a time ? I must go and call Cousin Annie 
 and Clara down to see it," said Susy. 
 
 " Here's sister, now, coming by herself 1" 
 said little Alice, as Clara presented herself at 
 the open door, plainly questioning with her
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 139 
 
 face the meaning of this assemblage in the 
 octagon parlor. She was quickly informed 
 of the new plan, and had her attention drawn 
 to the picture. 
 
 " I suppose that must be Aunt Annie, when 
 she was a little girl, and grandpa and grand- 
 ma Ludwell, with poor Aunt Alice ; and dear 
 papa I'd know any where," she said, looking 
 up where the others pointed. 
 
 " How nice they all look ! I wish I had 
 been alive then, and could have known them !" 
 said Alice. 
 
 " Known who, Alice ? You silly little 
 thing! How could you have known them, 
 when you warn't even born ! Why, child, 
 you are hardly out of your egg-shell yet !" 
 said Henry, looking very wise and patriarchal. 
 
 " Well, Henry, I only said I wish I had 
 been born then ; that an't any thing," said 
 Alice timidly. 
 
 "Where was I, then, Mrs. Banks, and 
 Alice, and all of us ? Was we at grandpa's 
 house with mamma ?" asked little Emmy. 
 
 " No, my child, you were not in this world 
 at all."
 
 140 THE CAXTERBUEY BELLS. 
 
 " Oli ! then I must have been in heaven 1 
 wasn't I?" 
 
 " Your heavenly Father had not made you 
 yet, so you were no where." 
 
 " I do not see how that can be ! and I don't 
 know how God can see us and hear us all the 
 time, and get into places where the windows 
 and doors are all shut, without making a hole 
 or any thing," said Susy, with a thoughtful, 
 puzzled look ; " but now," she added, moving 
 towards the door, "I must run and bring 
 Cousin Annie and Tommy down." 
 
 The noise she made in opening and shut- 
 ting the door wakened Tommy up. Annie 
 quickly brushed over his curls, and they 
 went down with Susy to join their young 
 companions. 
 
 " Oh ! what a sweet wittle mamma !" said 
 Tommy, as Susy showed him his mother. 
 
 "Will she ever be wittle like that again ?" 
 
 "No, Tommy! How could she be ?" She's 
 grown up now, and people don't grow little 
 again," said Susy. 
 
 " I believe I'm as silly as Alice," said 
 Clara; "but I can't help having a kind of
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 141 
 
 feeling as if I should like so much to have 
 known papa years ago, when he was young. 
 I wonder what he and aunt Annie are beg- 
 ging grandpa for in the picture ? I think I 
 can see now how he thanked her, if she did 
 it at last. I believe I would do any thing in 
 the world papa was to ask me, just to hear 
 him say, 'Thank you,' with his sweet, kind 
 smile." 
 
 " "Well, my children, come to dinner now, 
 and I will tell you while we are at the 
 table about this picture ; and afterwards 
 we will come back to see something else 
 IVe got to show you in here," said Mrs. 
 Banks. 
 
 Dinner was much earlier than they were 
 accustomed to have it, and the meal a very 
 simple one. 
 
 " Dear children," said Mrs. Banks, when 
 they were all seated, "don't you think it 
 is very good in our heavenly Father to 
 give us so many blessings? Look at your 
 beautiful home and think that our Lord 
 Jesus had not where to lay his head, and re- 
 member how many of you there are to love
 
 142 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 each other, while but a very few poor peo- 
 ple cared any thing for him ; he was often 
 very lonely and sad for our sakes, and 
 went for days without tasting food fasting 
 and praying for us, while he gives us every 
 day our daily bread. Now, won't you fold 
 your hands, and help me to thank him for his 
 great goodness ?" 
 
 There was a moment's pause, and some lit- 
 tle hesitation among the children; but it 
 would have been almost impossible to refuse 
 any thing asked so persuasively, and with 
 such a kind, affectionate countenance "by the 
 friend who was always doing something for 
 their gratification, so that each of them pre- 
 sently folded their hands and looked down 
 while they repeated after her, as she desired 
 them, the simple grace: "We thank thee, 
 our kind heavenly Father for all our mercies, 
 for our beautiful home, dear parents, and bro- 
 thers and sisters to love and comfort one an- 
 other ; and for wholesome food to strengthen 
 our bodies. We pray God to bless and feed 
 the poor, and make us very kind to those
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 143 
 
 who are not so well taken, care of as we are., 
 for Jesus' sake, Amem." 
 
 Mrs. Banks had Charlie placed on one side 
 of her, and little Phebe, who was brought to 
 table for the first time, on the other. The 
 little lady was infinitely delighted at this 
 elevation, and contributed not a little to the 
 amusement and pleasure of her admiring 
 young relatives, as she made quizical faces at 
 mammy, who was stationed at the back of her 
 high-chair to cut up her food, and show her 
 how to use her little ivory knife and fork 
 like sister Clara and cousin Annie dropping 
 many hints at the same time about soiling the 
 spotless Marseilles bib which was fastened 
 round her neck. By dint of keeping Charlie 
 busy and amused, he was prevented from 
 occasioning as much disturbance as it was his 
 wont to do. 
 
 He was a chubby-faced, rosy-cheeked, 
 little fellow, with mischief and fun lurking 
 in every line of his countenance, and a bold, 
 defiant air, indicating the dauntless spirit 
 which no threats or persuasions could ever, 
 subdue ; his disposition required the firmest
 
 144 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 and most skillful management, and Mrs. 
 Banks's interest had already awakened for 
 him, in a peculiar degree ; next to the little 
 helpless Phebe, she seemed to love him more 
 than any of her young charge, and took 
 especial pains to divert and please him. 
 She had more than once predicted that he 
 would "make a remarkable man, one of 
 these days, when he had sobered down a 
 little, and sowed his wild oats." 
 
 " Kemarkable bad one then, I boun,' " 
 was mammy's rejoinder to herself, when she 
 happened, on one occasion, to hear this pre- 
 diction. Emmy was according to the nur- 
 sery phrase, "the very apple of her eye,'' 
 and her wrath was often drawn out towards 
 Charlie, for his merciless persecutions of his 
 little sister, who was the most frequent vic- 
 tim of his unaccountable propensity to pinch 
 and bite. Owing to his mother's ill-health, 
 and his father's constant occupation, he had 
 been left very much to the care and control 
 of the elder servants, who not at all under- 
 standing his character, usually found him 
 intractable and rebellious. They often dis-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 145 
 
 cussed his future prospects among them- 
 selves, deciding that he was a " young tiger 
 now, and gwine to be somethin' wuss, some 
 of these days." At other times, they would 
 be won to a much more favorable judgment 
 by his irrestible waggery or generous im- 
 pulses. The good effects of grandpa's dis- 
 cipline had proved more lasting than was at 
 first expected, and Mrs. Banks was very 
 anxious to take advantage of this favorable 
 opportunity of making the reformation, if 
 possible, complete. Accordingly she spent a 
 great deal of time in trying to study his 
 character, and gain his affections, patiently 
 bearing many inconveniences to which he 
 subjected her by his Caliban tricks. 
 
 "Now about the picture, Mrs. Banks,"' 
 said Clara, " you promised to tell why papa 
 is looking so beseechingly at grandpa, you 
 know." 
 
 Mrs. Banks in reply, gave the children the- 
 
 following recollections of their father's 
 
 family, and of the scene which they saw 
 
 pictured upon the canvas ; we shall beg 
 
 13
 
 146 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 however, to transcribe it without the pecu- 
 liarities of her English pronunciation. 
 
 " Miss Clara ! I remember that evening 
 very well. The picture, you see, was paint- 
 ed by a cousin of your grandfather's, from 
 Old England : he had lost his wife, to whom 
 he was exceedingly attached, and being very 
 unhappy at home, came over to this country 
 just after the Revolution, to stay awhile with 
 your grandfather, whom he had known at 
 college, and loved as a brother. I don't 
 think you have ever heard your father speak 
 of him, for he does not like to talk of those 
 bygone days, when Mr. William Ludwell was 
 here, because of the sad, sad events which 
 followed. But this Mr. William Ludwell 
 was a very smart man, a poet, a musician, 
 and a great painter ; and one evening as he 
 was sitting near the chimney-corner, with his 
 head bowed down, thinking about something 
 very deep and strange, I suppose, as he often 
 did, all of a sudden he started up, and clap- 
 ping your grandfather on the shoulder, 
 exclaimed: 'Now I have got you all just to 
 suit me, and must take this family-group.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 147 
 
 It will make a charming scene for your de- 
 scendants ; nothing could be more admirable, 
 if you had purposely arranged yourselves for 
 my brush. 7 Your grandfather smiled, and 
 said he must remember that the family circle 
 would be incomplete without having himself 
 in too ; they bantered each other and jested 
 a bit about it, but it was at length decided 
 that Mr. Ludwell should paint the picture, 
 and so he took that winter evening scene, 
 which I am going to describe to you. 
 
 u Your grandmother had the sweetest 
 voice, to my ear, that ever I heard, and her 
 children used to love to gather round her to 
 hear her sing old ballads, which she accom- 
 panied with her lute that very old-fashion- 
 ed-looking lute which is put away now, on 
 the top-shelf in your father's cabinet.' 
 
 " Oh ! I have seen it there, and wondered 
 what kind of an instrument it was," said 
 Clara, " but how very different it is from the 
 guitars we use now ! 
 
 "Why, but sister, it's a lute, not & guitar, 
 Mrs. Banks says," said Henry.
 
 148 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " And Mr. Wisdom, isn't a lute the same 
 thing as a guitar ?" 
 
 " No ; is it Mrs. Banks ?" 
 
 " I don't think Harry, you'll find any 
 difference, except in the name; it is old- 
 fashioned to call it lute, nowadays, that's 
 all ; but the reason you think it so strange- 
 lookiDg, Clara, is because you have only seen 
 the Spanish guitar used. This is a very soft, 
 sweet instrument, however, and I think it's 
 a great pity it should go out of fashion. I 
 love it all the better perhaps, because it 
 reminds me of the days of my youth. It is 
 this that your grandma is holding behind 
 her in the picture. If you look closely, you 
 can see the end with the little keys in it, 
 peeping out from under her elbow," said 
 Mrs. Banks. 
 
 " Yes, I did see something like that," said 
 Susy. 
 
 " She had been playing," continued the 
 old nurse, " and singing the ballad which, 
 of all others, her children loved the most. It 
 was taken from the Italian story of a young 
 bride who in the midst of the marriage-feast,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 149 
 
 went off in play to hide herself, and was 
 never found till many years after, when her 
 skeleton fell from a moldering old chest, 
 which was being removed from her father's 
 castle : for the lid had closed upon her with 
 a spring-lock, and her old father as well as 
 the young husband, had searched and search 
 ed for her in vain, and, at length, gone 
 sorrowing to their graves. Poor Miss Annie 
 used always to cry when her mother sang 
 that song, and Master Edward and merry 
 little Alice would turn pale and look sad. 
 Yet they would all three beg for it over and 
 over again, but your grandmother thought it 
 was a bad plan to sing it too often, and some- 
 times would refuse them ; this time she was 
 putting them off, laughing and pretending to 
 think they asked for something else. When 
 you see her, she had put the lute behind her, 
 and would every now and then, touch the 
 notes of l Auld lang SyneJ which made 
 Master Edward quite impatient. Little 
 Alice, however, laughed aloud, to see her 
 mother so determined not to understand her 
 sister and brother; and this made your 
 13*
 
 150 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 grandfather look up from his paper to see 
 what was the matter. It was as pretty a 
 scene as any family circle ever made, I am 
 sure, and I was glad enough when your 
 cousin proposed to paint it." 
 
 "Was it in this very house, Mrs. Banks, 
 sure enough ?" said George. 
 
 " Yes, Georgie, and in this very dining- 
 room, which was your grandfather's library. 
 There is the same sofa, and may be you did 
 not notice the organ in the picture." 
 
 " No, / didn't," said Clara meditatively. 
 " Mrs. Banks ! tell us how you came to live 
 with grandpa so long, won't you ?" she con- 
 tinued. 
 
 "I suppose, Miss Clara, the reason I staid 
 so long was, because I loved himself and his 
 family, so dearly. We got acquainted in the 
 time of the Bevolution. Your grandfather's 
 and grandmother's marriage would make 
 a pretty story if it was written out. They 
 had been a long time engaged to each other ; 
 but your grandmother's father was a Tory, 
 and very bitter against Mr. Ludwell's party, 
 so he would never consent to the marriage
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 151 
 
 of his daughter. He was a harsh, stern old 
 man when his will was disputed, and it dis- 
 pleased him. that his child should continue to 
 cherish a regard for any one whom he dis- 
 approved of, though she never meant to 
 marry without his consent ; only she did not 
 marry at all, which was not his wish, as he 
 thought he would like to leave her with a 
 protector at his death, her only brother hav- 
 ing died among the Indians ; there were 
 suitors enough for her hand too, to whom he 
 would have made no objection. He grew 
 more and more irrascible and harsh with her, 
 in proportion as he thought she grew more 
 obstinate ; but she was a dutiful and loving 
 daughter to him, notwithstanding, as long as 
 he lived, never showing by word or look, 
 ne pain she could not help feeling at his 
 treatment of her. On his death-bed he ac- 
 knowledged all this, and asked her forgive- 
 ness, I've heard. Then she married the man 
 of her choice, Mr. Francis Ludwell, but they 
 were neither of them young by that time. 
 This was just before the battle of Lexington, 
 and while your grandfather was engaged in
 
 152 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 the great war that followed, your grand- 
 mother found me out in Kichmond, and 
 came to board with me, this place not being 
 thought a safe asylum. You know it was 
 taken possession of by the British afterwards. 
 She staid with me two years, and Master 
 Edward was born in my house. "When it 
 pleased God to take away my husband, 
 your grandfather and herself would not hear 
 that I should live any where but with them, 
 so I came here, and we never parted until 
 death came to separate us. Grod knows how 
 kind they were to me in my affliction, and 
 how dearly I loved them and theirs. They 
 were kind to every one, and beloved by all 
 who knew them. But we have sat a long 
 time at the dinner-table, and you know 
 there's another picture and story yet to 
 come." 
 
 "Yes, that's about Aunt Alice! an't it 
 Mrs. Banks?" asked Susy. 
 
 Mrs. Banks assented, and they all very 
 soon announced themselves ready to accom- 
 pany her back to the Haunted Parlor. 
 Leading them into the dark recess where the
 
 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 153 
 
 harp was standing, Mrs. Banks opened the 
 glass doors and closed blinds, which led out 
 to the green terrace, and pointed up to the 
 wall, where just opposite the harp, hung a 
 beautiful painting they had not noticed 
 before, in consequence of its position and the 
 darkness of the recess. It was the picture 
 of a fair and graceful young creature, in her 
 bridal dress. Orange flowers were mingled 
 with her light ringlets, and a soft lace-veil 
 shaded modestly one side of her sweet, child- 
 like face, which was suffused with a deep 
 blush, and the laughing blue eyes were bent 
 now upon the ground, drooping beneath the 
 long dark lashes which rested on her cheek. 
 For some moments there was perfect silence 
 in that great room, and the children gazed 
 with mingled admiration and awe, upon the 
 lovely picture, which they had heard often 
 described, and with the touching story of 
 which they were imperfectly acquainted. 
 Tears filled the eyes of good Mrs. Banks, and 
 at length she murmured in tones of mournful 
 affection : 
 
 " Dear, dear child! Oh ! she was indeed as
 
 154 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 dear to me as my own ! How tenderly we 
 all loved thee, sweet one ! And yet not so 
 well as He who lias taken thee to himself 
 God's holy will be ever done !" 
 
 "And that is Aunt Alice; how very 
 beautiful she must have been!" whispered 
 Clara. 
 
 "Yes," said Annie in a very low, soft 
 voice, shading at the same time her eyes 
 with her hand, "almost as beautiful as 
 my precious sister, and so much like 
 her." 
 
 " Every one is struck with the resem- 
 blance, Miss Annie," said Mrs. Banks ; then 
 turning to the children, she continued : " Do 
 tell me now, my dear children, how you can 
 be afraid of any thing as pure and beautiful 
 as that ? Does your Aunt Alice look as if 
 she would have hurt you while living? 
 And if not then, you may be sure she could 
 not now, when if she were to come to you at 
 all, it must be from heaven /" 
 
 "Oh! but Mrs. Banks, her ghost! It's 
 her ghost we are afraid of," said Susy. 
 
 " I have never felt so at all," said Annie.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 155 
 
 " Mamma lias talked to us a great deal about 
 dear Aunt Alice, because she wants us to 
 love her memory ; but I never saw her pic- 
 ture before." 
 
 " What is her ghost, Susy, my child, but 
 her spirit, which is now with God, and 
 would not leave his presence for all that the 
 world could offer her ? It was God's spirit 
 talking with hers, which made her, while 
 she was here, as you see she looks, pure, 
 gentle, and good, so that no creature could 
 help loving her dearly; when I have told 
 you about her sweet young life and its sad 
 ending, you will try, I hope, to be like her, 
 and will never again feel any thing but love 
 for her memory, and sorrow for her early 
 death," said Mrs. Banks, seating herself upon 
 a low ottoman, with a crimson damask 
 covering, while the children gathered round 
 to hear her relation. 
 
 " Never was there, my dears," she com- 
 menced, " a family who loved each othei 
 more tenderly, than that of your grandpa- 
 rents ; it always seemed to be the study of 
 each, to make the rest happy I don't know
 
 156 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 why it was, though, unless there are some ol 
 his creatures, whom our heavenly Father 
 marks from their birth with his own seal, 
 and makes more exactly after his own image, 
 that our dear little Alice never seemed, at 
 home or abroad, just like any body else. 
 She was the youngest in our house, four or 
 five years younger than Miss Annie; her 
 parents were growing old when she came to 
 them, bringing such a light in her sweet face, 
 as if angels had been smiling through her 
 eyes, and though sometimes her laugh would 
 ring merrily through the house, and she 
 would trip lightly about, singing like any 
 bird, and as if she had never heard of sorrow, 
 yet only let her think that any one was sick 
 or in trouble, that minute her lashes would 
 droop, and her voice would soften until you 
 felt as if she was talking to you with her 
 very heart itself, instead of her tongue ; hei 
 words too, seemed so wise and thoughtful, 
 they made you forget she was only a child. 
 Your grandfather's cousin "William, who I 
 told you, staid for several years here, and 
 painted the other picture, used to say it
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 157 
 
 seemed to him. so strange that it almost made 
 his heart ache to hear her. I remember well 
 one evening, when he looked at her for a 
 long time, without saying any thing ; then 
 shook his head, and muttered to himself : 
 ' Too ripe ! she is too ripe to be left here 
 long !' But as for the rest of us, I believe 
 nobody else ever thought of her being taken 
 away. She was never sick, never complain- 
 ed, or seemed to have any troubles of her 
 own, but only seemed sent to bless and com- 
 fort others. Well, time wore on ' Cousin 
 William ' went home when she was ten years 
 old, but he laughed and said : 'Alice, I must 
 have you for my child, one of these days. 
 I am going to send my boy Frank over 
 in a few years, to see if he can't 
 persuade you to come and live with 
 us in England ; how long must he wait ?' 
 And she laughingly answered, ' In six years 
 I'll be sixteen,' and cat a beautiful white 
 rose-bud for him to carry to her promised 
 bridegroom. In two years from that time, 
 dear Mister Edward was married, though 
 he was barely twenty-one, and went to li ye 
 14
 
 158 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 at Lee Hall with your grandpa, who was a 
 widower, and did not wish to part with his 
 daughter. And it was not eighteen months 
 before Miss Annie, too, left us, and went 
 with your uncle Henry Lee, to live at the 
 South. We found it very hard to give her 
 up, and there were tears a plenty shed when 
 she bade good-by. The two sisters seemed 
 as if they never could separate, when they 
 were clasped in .each other's arms. It was 
 a long way off, and a new country, to which 
 dear, sweet Miss Annie was going, and Miss 
 Alice felt very anxious about her, and was 
 always thinking of something to do for her, 
 as well as to cheer the old people up, for it 
 seemed lonely enough when she was all that 
 was left to them ; but she was always speak- 
 ing so hopefully of the time when her sister 
 would come back, and planning changes and 
 improvements to surprise her, that it seemed 
 to cheat her parents into a sort of forgetful- 
 ness that her home was here no more ; and 
 then, too, Miss Alice never once forgot any 
 thing that would please them. Every season 
 she had something to entertain them with-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 159 
 
 flowers in the spring and summer, and sweet 
 music on her harp as she sat here, with the 
 moonlight shining on her through the glass 
 door. And the winter evenings passed 
 quickly away with her reading and songs, 
 until before they knew it, two years were 
 gone since Miss Annie went to her new home, 
 and five and half since Mr. "William Ludwell 
 returned to England, when, one day he ar- 
 rived again, bringing with him his son 
 Francis. 
 
 "I believe every one had forgotten the 
 childish jest of Miss Alice, about her being 
 sixteen, except myself, and I used to wonder 
 what sort of a young man this ' Francis ' was, 
 and had a misgiving that Mr. William Lud- 
 well meant more seriously than he seemed ; 
 but I don't think dear Miss Alice ever 
 thought of it, except at first, when her Cou- 
 sin William used to write letters to her fa- 
 ther, which he said Alice must answer, and 
 he would tell her what Francis was doing, 
 and send some message from him, which 
 the dear child at first used to answer, but 
 after Miss Annie went away, and she began
 
 160 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 to feel, more of a woman, she would not 
 write, except a short note sometimes, to tell 
 how the family were. But now, when Mr. 
 Ludwell brought in a handsome and ele- 
 gant young man and introduced him as, ' my 
 son Frank, whom I promised to bring in 
 six years,' laughing and kissing Alice's 
 cheek as he said it ; the sweet young crea- 
 ture blushed and bowed to her young cousin, 
 and then ran frightened out of the room, 
 and it was hard to persuade her to go back ; 
 she would not, until her mother came and 
 told her that she was behaving rudely in her 
 own house. Then she came in, but looked 
 pale and was very still all the first day ; but 
 her cousin was gentle, modest, and retiring 
 in his manners, and kept out of her way. 
 But I watched him, and found that his eyes 
 followed her wherever she moved; and it 
 made my heart bitter to sea this, for the very 
 reason that I could find no other fault with 
 him. And, oh ! it was hard not to keep a 
 jealous guard over that precious jewel. 
 After a while Alice knew him better, and 
 would let him accompany her harp with
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 161 
 
 his flute, and they read and walked together; 
 his father seeming always so pleased to see 
 this, while her parents were quite blind to 
 the danger I was dreading, for they seemed 
 never to let the thought of parting with this 
 their last child, come near to them. At last, 
 however, their Cousin William told them 
 that his jest was a sober fact, and that Frank 
 wanted to ask their Alice's hand. It was 
 not a pleasant thing to hear, you may sup- 
 pose. Still they hoped that she would her- 
 self say no. But she did not ; the sweet 
 flower was won, and on her sixteenth birth- 
 day she was married in this Very room to 
 her cousin Francis Ludwell. It was strange 
 to see how her parents schooled themselves 
 to bear it. Miss Annie came from her dis- 
 tant home, bringing her first little infant 
 daughter, whom she named after her sister. 
 The child was baptized, and her aunt stood 
 for her just a week before the marriage. 
 And in the pleasure of welcoming home their 
 absent daughter, they tried to forget the sad 
 parting that was coming with the other. 
 14*
 
 162 THE CAXTEEBURY BELLS. 
 
 But as for me, my heart sank within me aa 
 we made preparations for the bridal feast. 
 
 "The wax lights which were burning all 
 over the house seemed rather to make all 
 darkness around me ; and I could not but 
 begrudge Mr. William Ludweli the happiness 
 he felt. It seemed to me as if he had not 
 dealt quite fairly with us. Three days they 
 staid at Belmont after the marriage, and then 
 they left us for New- York, where they re- 
 mained only long enough for this portrait to 
 be taken. It was done by Mr. Stewart, who 
 was a friend of Mr. "William Ludweli, and 
 was present at the marriage, so he was able 
 to give the very expression of our darling 
 child's face at that time. 
 
 " The morning after the bridal party left, 
 your poor grandmother was wandering 
 through the house with a desolate, sad 
 heart, when she happened to come in here 
 and find Alice's harp just as she had risen 
 from it the evening before, and she said : 
 ' Let it stay as it is until she comes again to 
 take her own place there ; perhaps it will 
 help me to forget that my child is so very
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 163 
 
 far off.' Miss Annie staid as long as she 
 could with her parents to comfort them, but 
 her own heart was very sad ; for a shadow 
 had taken her sister's place at the hearth- 
 stone the shadow of a coming sorrow, 
 which we felt without understanding. None 
 of us told the others of our misgivings and 
 our troubled dreams, yet every letter went 
 full of fresh charges to be very careful, and 
 to send tidings as soon as the ship sailed 
 then we heard that she was off. Your 
 grandmother's chamber was the one just 
 above this, which dear Miss Annie is using 
 now, and one night she was lying awake, 
 thinking of her child, and trembling at the 
 loud gust which was blowing, when suddenly 
 she heard the sound of music, which seemed 
 to come from the harp in the room below. 
 At first it was very faint and low, but pre- 
 sently became louder, then died almost away ; 
 but the next minute grew stronger again. 
 Your grandfather tried to comfort her, say- 
 ing it was only the wind coming in through 
 some open window. Taking a light they 
 7 mt to see, and found that this was so.
 
 164: THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Some one having left the glass-doors Tin* 
 bolted, the high wind had blown them open, 
 and as the harp was just in front of them, it 
 swept across the strings, making a soft, 
 mournful kind of music as it rose and fell. 
 Nothing could remove the painful impression 
 which this accidental circumstance produced 
 upon your poor grandmother. Indeed we 
 all felt it more or less, and longed and 
 prayed for tidings that our darling was safely 
 landed on the other side of that great deep 
 she was to cross. But week after week 
 passed after we should have heard, bring- 
 ing no word of hope or comfort, till at last 
 the ship was given up for lost, and dreadful 
 rumors came that she had fallen into the 
 hands of pirates. Then some of the servants 
 began to tell how they had seen Miss Alice 
 all in white, glide through the glass doors 
 and leave them open behind her the night 
 their mistress heard the music ; but we all 
 knew that it was only one of their idle, su- 
 perstitious tales, for every creature had been 
 sound asleep except your poor grandmother,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 165 
 
 and if they had not been, we should have 
 known that it was impossible. 
 
 " Mr. Stewart had taken the picture in 
 New- York, and it was not sent home until 
 we had heard that our darling was lost. The 
 sweet child had left a little note to come 
 with it the first part all so playful and like 
 herself; but at the end a few last lines had 
 been added which were blotted with several 
 larga tears. 'I see by your letters,' they 
 said, 'that you all feel very anxious about 
 me. I trust it may please our Heavenly 
 Father to permit me once more to behold 
 your dearly loved faces, but if not, I wish 
 you to know how tenderly I love you all, 
 and how much I thank you for your love to 
 me, especially my dear parents ; and most of 
 all I thank them for my Christian education. 
 All my trust is in our dear Lord Jesus, 
 and I know that whatever he shall do with 
 me will be both good and right, so I am 
 willing either to live or die, whichever 
 pleases him best.' 
 
 " The last order which your grandmother 
 gave, was fry the picture to be placed where
 
 166 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 it hangs to-day. Then the room was closed, 
 and only visited as a place of weeping. Never, 
 never, have I seen such grief so deep and 
 still, wearing, day by day, the life away. 
 Hand in hand your grandparents glided like 
 shadows to their graves. The work of years 
 was done in a few days. Mister Edward 
 came to live with them, and Miss Annie 
 staid, too, but nothing could keep them here 
 more than a few months. Your grandfather 
 was the first, and in three weeks his poor, 
 heart-broken widow followed him. Our 
 Heavenly Father knows what poor Mister 
 Edward suffered, and may he show him 
 mercy for his tdo bitter grief poor fellow, he 
 could see no love or pity in One who so 
 afflicts his creatures. With dear Miss Annie 
 it was different; God's spirit sanctified her 
 sorrow, and every stroke seemed to soften 
 her heart and draw it nearer to himself; her 
 example and her conversation with your 
 father I trust may be blessed ; he has given 
 his consent that this part of the house should 
 be opened again. And it was thought best 
 to occupy it first while he was gone : I have
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 167 
 
 for my part, but one wish, and that is, before 
 I die to see this once more a Christian house- 
 hold honoring and fearing God, loving his 
 name, and walking in his ways cherishing 
 no bitter resentment against Him who is in- 
 deed the fountain of love or refusing sub- 
 mission when he but does what He will with 
 his own." 
 
 With subdued faces the children listened, 
 so absorbed in the thrilling realities of the 
 haunted room that they quite forgot their 
 former superstitious terrors. When her ac- 
 count was finished, Mrs. Banks retired for 
 nearly an hour to her own room. At sunset, 
 however, she came out again and called her 
 young friends to accompany her in a walk 
 to see "Mister Sun" put his night-cap on. 
 This summons soon gathered the little crowd 
 about her, the younger ones, understanding 
 her words literally, and being impatient to 
 see the novel operation, while the elder ones 
 smiled slightly with an evident consciousness 
 of superior wisdom ; but were not less curi- 
 ous to see what the old lady could mean. 
 
 She led them to a picturesque spot on
 
 168 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 the western side of the house called " Mistle* 
 toe hill" from the luxuriant growth of this 
 pretty plant which hung in rich drapery 
 around the branches of two or three gnarled 
 and twisted old oaks left standing on the top 
 of the hill, the sides of which were embedded 
 with uneven masses of blue granite covered 
 with moss and lichen. The place com- 
 manded a beautiful view of the setting sun, 
 and when they had reached it the children 
 laughed merrily at finding that the "night- 
 cap " was only a rich purple cloud fringed 
 with gold, with which the sun seemed to 
 cover his head as he suddenly dropped be- 
 hind the mountain-tops, veiled with their 
 light azure haze, now converted by his re- 
 flected beams into a sea of light. Then Mrs. 
 Banks bade them all sit still awhile and 
 watch the ever-varying clouds, reminding 
 them that the great God by whom they were 
 made, is also our Father I and that he has 
 thus made all things beautiful in order that 
 his children may delight in his works. 
 
 After repeating slowly and solemnly a 
 verse or two of Scripture, she called upon
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 169 
 
 the children to join with her in singing ; 
 " The day is past and gone," and then bade 
 them kneel down with her upon the rocks, 
 and repeat together the Lord's Prayer, re- 
 membering as they did so that they were 
 praying to him who made the clouds as the 
 curtains of his chamber, and holds the wind 
 in the hollow of his hand. When this sim- 
 ple form of family prayer was ended she 
 said : 
 
 " Now, my dears, it is almost time for my 
 little people to go to bed. You will find 
 hens and chickens, ducks and geese going 
 to roost, and the little birds snugging up in 
 their nests. Uncle Lemuel, too, could show 
 you some of his sweetest flowers shutting up 
 their pretty eyes ; and you know what the 
 old proverb says : ' Early to bed and early 
 to rise, makes young folks healthy, wealthy 
 and wise.' Let us go home, therefore, and 
 see what good food our Heavenly Father has 
 provided for us ; then the little ones must go 
 straight to bed, and in the morning we shall 
 see who will be ready to go with me to see 
 15
 
 170 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Mister Sun take off that pretty night -cap lie 
 has just put on." 
 
 " I will ! I will I" shouted several voices 
 at once. 
 
 When supper was ended, they all went 
 with Mrs. Banks to the new comfortably ar- 
 ranged nursery. One corner with a small 
 bedstead in it, was screened off for George 
 and Harry side by side stood the two ap- 
 propriated to the couples, Susy and Alice, 
 Charlie and Emmy, mammy's soft feather 
 bed rising up between the latter and little 
 Phebe's crib bedstead. They looked as nice 
 and tempting as possible with their snowy 
 counterpanes and pillows. The bright fire- 
 light was reflected on the gayly painted walls, 
 and the children amused themselves playing 
 with their own shadows, until Mrs. Banks 
 called them to see her room, which opened 
 into the nursery, promising that the door 
 should remain wide open all night. Then, 
 when she had heard each of them their 
 evening prayer, she left them with mammy, 
 who took her knitting and seated herself on 
 a low stool by the fire, to wait until they
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS, 171 
 
 were asleep. Clara, Annie, and Tommy 
 were to sleep in Mrs. Lee's room just over 
 the nursery, while Annie's, which was over 
 Mrs. Banks, was set apart for Lizzie and 
 Fannie Forest. Clara and Annie took little 
 Tommy up to put him to bed themselves, 
 and for a long time he sat on his sister's lap, 
 looking out at the bright stars, while she 
 sang him hymns and told him Bible stories." 
 
 " Sister, I wonder what does make the 
 stars shine so b wight ? May be they are 
 wittle angels' eyes," said Tommy; "and 
 that mates my hymn say, ' May angels duard 
 us while we sleep till morning light 'ap- 
 pears,' " he continued as if thinking aloud. 
 
 Annie and Clara exchanged a smiling 
 glance at this childish notion. 
 
 "No, Tommy," said Clara; "they are 
 not angels' eyes. They are little worlds like 
 this we live in. What could have made you 
 think they are angels' eyes ?" 
 
 ""Well, betause I was thinting a dood 
 deal about there being so many, many of 
 .'em, shining wight up over us like they 
 tould see, till I thought the wittle ones
 
 172 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 might be the wittle angels' eyes, and the bid 
 ones Dod's eyes. But I don't know what 
 you mean by wittle worlds lite this dreat 
 bid one. Sister Annie, won't you tell me 
 what that means ?" 
 
 "I'll try to, Tommy. You know this 
 world we live in shines very brightly with 
 the light it gets from the sun, and so do the 
 stars, but they are very, very far away, and 
 so they just look like little specks to us." 
 
 Tommy looked very wonderingly in her 
 face for some minutes, and then he said : 
 
 "Oh! my: I tant tell what that is, and 
 I believe I'll do to bed; but I wish they 
 was what I thought they was." 
 
 "Well, little brother! I think you had 
 better go to bed, and to sleep, too," said 
 Annie laughing, as she kissed him and laid 
 him down. 
 
 Clara and she then seated themselves at 
 the round table before the fire, with their 
 sewing and drawing, and talked together 
 over their mutual anxieties about their dear 
 invalid travellers, until Marion came to un- 
 dress them and put out the light. Annie
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 173 
 
 told her she might go when Clara was in 
 bed, and with her little Bible in her hand, 
 she stood thoughtfully before the window, 
 recalling her last night's conversation with 
 her mother, and the solemn covenant into 
 which she had entered with her Heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 Marion stopped when she had reached the 
 door, and watched her face with apparent 
 interest for a few .moments, then stepping up 
 to her, said in a kind yet humble voice : 
 
 1 Miss Annie, I feels very sorry for you, 
 and wisht I could do something to comfort 
 you, miss. Don't you think it mought help 
 you ef you was to read some o' them chap- 
 ters in Job, you used to read to me last win- 
 ter, .when poor George died, and I was in 
 sich trouble and sick besides ?" 
 
 " Thank you, Marion ; perhaps it would," 
 said Annie very kindly. And, bidding her 
 good-night, the maid left the room, much 
 gratified at having, as she hoped, returned in 
 some measure, " Miss Annie's" kind atten- 
 tions to herself. 
 
 15*
 
 CU.A PTEE VIII. 
 
 " WELL, here we are, Alf, almost at the 
 gate," said Frank, as his cousin Alfred and 
 himself rode in advance of the carriage con- 
 taining Alfred's two sisters. 
 
 " Yes ; and we've had a famously brisk 
 ride, for it's only half -past two," answered 
 Alfred, taking out a small silver watch. " I 
 wonder when Tom ever made his nags go so 
 -before 1 However, it was a light load no 
 baggage, you know, and it couldn't hurt 
 them. Uncle Simon lags way behind with 
 the trunks ; I shouldn't be surprised if he 
 didn't come before sun-down. What royal 
 times we are going to have, old fellow, with 
 our guns, dogs, and horses doing just as we 
 please except the time we are in school 
 every day." 
 
 " We've got some body else to please though, 
 you know good old Mrs. Banks ; and to tell
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 175 
 
 you the truth, I'm not sure that I like being 
 tied to an old woman's apron-string." 
 
 " Pugh ! she'll not interfere with us she's 
 only a housekeeper, isn't she ?" 
 
 "Why, she is something more than a com- 
 mon housekeeper ; she's a very old friend of our 
 family, and we are put upon our honor about 
 regarding her wishes, and treating her with 
 respect. Aunt Annie talks a great deal about 
 her influence over us too, and all that sort of 
 thing." 
 
 " What kind of an old lady is she then ? 
 Not nervous and fidgety, T hope or an old 
 Tartar either." 
 
 " Oh I no, she is kind enough ; would take 
 any trouble to do one a favor ; but she is 
 very particular about some things, and I'm 
 afraid she'll be rather too pious in her way 
 of talking to suit you and me." 
 
 "I don't like these people that are so 
 mighty good talking about religion all the 
 time. Where did Mrs. Banks come from, 
 any how ?" 
 
 " She : came from England a good many 
 years ago ; when she was first married, I be-
 
 176 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 lieve and lived at Belmont with, my grand- 
 father and grandmother Ludwell from the 
 time my father was a little boy till they died. 
 Then she used to come back to nurse us all 
 when we were young babies. She nursed 
 all down to the twins ; and I do like her very 
 much, though I can't help laughing at her 
 sometimes, for she has a droll way of talking 
 ; putting As before all her vowels, and pro- 
 nouncing some of her letters very queerly 
 u for o in some places, and w for v." 
 
 " I suppose she says weal, wegetables, and 
 winegar. "Well, I'm glad she'll give us some- 
 thing to laugh at." 
 
 " Oh ! you'll find plenty of that to do ; the 
 only trouble is to keep from doing it at the 
 wrong time. Ah! I want to see how you 
 will take all the marvellous things you hear 
 about ' helder berries and sweet huile.' I ex- 
 pect your mouth will be stretched pretty 
 wide." 
 
 " What in the world are they ?" 
 
 "Ah! you'll see some of the famous 
 * helder hintement ' the very first time you 
 even scratch your finger. ' Made, me deal
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 177 
 
 Mister Halfred, from the helderberry, hand 
 ha little sweet huile ;' in other words, you ig- 
 norant young man elderberries and sweet oil. 
 Then there's a wonderful ( medicine called 
 * Mrs. Banks's Diet Drink,' made of sarsa- 
 parilla, molasses, and all sorts of things. It 
 cures all diseases even before you are taken 
 sick, I believe ; and a fine chance we'll aU 
 have to drink it, this spring and summer." 
 
 " I think we'll turn rebels when it comes 1^ 
 that, Franky, my man, won't we? "We'll 
 leave all that business to the girls, poor 
 things !" So saying, Alfred, laughing heartily, 
 rode back to the carriage, and thrusting in his 
 head, called out : 
 
 "Do you hear Lizzie and Fannie? You 
 have got to be haninted hevery morning by 
 good Mrs. Banks, with helder hintement and 
 sweet huile, and to be dosed with sarsaparilla, 
 molasses, and, I expect, a little brimstone, as 
 that's English fashion, for your health." 
 
 "What are you talking about, Alfred?" 
 asked the girls, amused at his comical face, 
 but not understanding what he said. 
 
 "I am just repeating to you what Frank
 
 178 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 told me a few minutes ago. I presume it's 
 the truth ; but you must question him if you 
 are in doubt," replied Alfred, with a half-hu- 
 morous, half-solemn expression. 
 
 " Come, Frank, do explain," said Fannie ; 
 " for I see brother is trying to hoax us about 
 something or other." 
 
 Alfred drew himself up with mock dignity 
 and rode off, pretending to be offended, and 
 Fannie looked after him with a coaxing 
 smile, but he would not return until he heard 
 the merry peal of laughter from both girls, 
 which followed upon Frank's repeating to 
 them his account of the salves and diet-drink. 
 The young people, then putting their heads 
 together, were still planning mischievous 
 tricks to be played with * mother Banks' s nos- 
 trums^ as Alfred called them when they rode 
 up to the house. 
 
 " There's the carriage, and brother Frank 
 and Cousin Alfred !" shouted the children as 
 they came rushing down into the porch to 
 meet them. Clara and Annie had gone with 
 little Tommy to an arbor in the woods to read, 
 and not expecting the new-comers so early,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 179 
 
 had not returned ; but Mrs. Banks came out 
 from the pantry, smiling kindly and smooth- 
 ing down her white apron as she wait- 
 ed to give them a welcome to Belmont. 
 Frank introduced his cousins to her, who re- 
 turned her cordial salutations with their faces 
 still full of the mirthful expression excited by 
 their late conversation. 
 
 "Frank," said Mrs. Banks, "if you will 
 take your Cousin Alfred to the room over 
 the portico, which has been prepared for you 
 and him, I will conduct Miss Lizzie and 
 Miss Fannie to their chamber. Our dinner 
 is very late to-day ; but it is only waiting 
 now for you to brush off your dust and come 
 down." 
 
 " Where are the girls ?" asked Lizzie and 
 Fannie as they followed their guide up-stairs. 
 
 " They should hev been in before this ; 
 they went for a stroll in the woods some 
 time ago. I have sent out a servant to 
 bring them home; but can not think what 
 ken hev kept them," answered Mrs. Banks, 
 looking a little troubled. 
 
 When she had left them in Marion's charge
 
 180 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 to prepare for dinner, the girls looked round 
 the room in amazement. 
 
 "Why, I never was in this part of the 
 house before," said Fannie. " I thought no- 
 thing would ever induce Cousin Edward to 
 open it." 
 
 "It never was, Miss; at least, not since I 
 been in the family, till Mrs. Lee come last 
 fall, and she got master to let her go in the 
 room next this, what used to be the old cham- 
 ber, and put Miss Annie and Master Tommy 
 in here," said Marion. 
 
 "I do believe this is the room that mother 
 says poor Cousin Alice who was drowned used 
 to sleep in." 
 
 " Yes," said Lizzie, " you know. She said 
 it was next to her mother's chamber, and that 
 Cousin Edward would not allow any one to 
 go in either of them, so of course it is ; but 
 how plain and old-fashioned every thing looks. 
 I should think they would have had hand- 
 somer furniture." 
 
 " Mrs. Banks done move out de lest things, 
 and lock up," said Marion with some pride. 
 '* You see she was obliged to do it too, cause
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 181 
 
 the boys was for spiling and breaking up 
 every thing. Let dem alone, and dere'd not 
 a been any thing whole, time master and 
 mistus got back." 
 
 Clara, Annie, and Tommy were now seen 
 approaching. the house from the woods laden 
 with moss and young leaves. They were 
 running, and all three looked flushed and 
 excited. Tommy was clinging to Annie, and 
 turned his head constantly round, as if to see 
 if any thing was following them. When 
 near enough to be heard by Mrs. Banks as 
 she stood in the doorway waiting anxiously 
 for them, he called out : " Mrs. Banks, will 
 you let Jerwy Thwip tidnap us? We saw 
 him just now, and he's toming after us." 
 
 " Did you see Jerry Thrip sure enough ?" 
 said Susy and Henry, running out to meet 
 them. 
 
 "Yes," said Annie, "indeed we did ; and 
 it frightened us home, you may be sure." 
 
 " Where was he?" asked George; "and 
 what was he doing ?" 
 
 " I'll tell you presently, Georgie, all about 
 it; but Jet us speak to our cousins first," an 
 16
 
 182 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 swered Annie ; and Clara and herself ran up 
 to make Lizzie and Fannie welcome. 
 
 " Now tell us sister about old Jerry Thrip. 
 Where you saw him, and how he frightened 
 you," said Henry, when they were seated at 
 the dinner-table. 
 
 " Well, you know," said Clara, ." that An- 
 nie and I thought as dinner was going to be 
 very late, and the morning was so bright and 
 warm, we'd go to that old arbor that is in the 
 deep part of the woods and read Comus 
 Annie was to be the Lady, and wanted me to 
 be Comus, but I objected, and fixed a cjueer, 
 fantastic-looking stump for him, and took the 
 part of Sabrina for myself, and made Tommy 
 the two Brothers. I would get behind the 
 stump and read Comus's parts though, and 
 Annie tried to ventriloquize for Thyrsi s, the 
 attendant spirit, and teach Tommy to talk 
 when the Brothers' turn came. We were 
 having a great deal of fan doing this; for 
 Tommy looked so comically grave and earn- 
 est, and lisped out the words so sweetly ; 
 but just as he was saying after Annie, ' List, 
 list. I hear some far-off halloo break the silent
 
 THE CAXTERBUKY BELLS. 183 
 
 air,' we really did hear such, a strange noise 
 behind us or somewhere in the woods, we 
 could hardly tell where. We hid at first be- 
 cause we were afraid to come out, and then 
 we heard it for a long time. Annie said it 
 was some body singing, but I thought it 
 sounded more like calling cattle. We re- 
 membered about Jerry Thrip, and were 
 frightened to death. At last the noise stop- 
 ped, and we thought the person 'had gone, 
 and started to come home. Annie stopped 
 on the brink of the hill to get this moss, and 
 just as she raised her head, there was old 
 Jerry in his red jacket, sitting on a stone under 
 a large hazel-bush, looking over towards the 
 river. We screamed, and he turned round 
 and looked at us with his dreadful blood-shot 
 eyes till I thought I should have died. I 
 couldn't move until he began to get up, and 
 then my strength came to me, and we ran as 
 fast as we could. I was thankful enough 
 that we were most home before we saw him." 
 
 "Who in. the name of wonder is Jerry 
 Thrip ?" asked Frank. 
 
 "He has come since you went away, but
 
 184 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 no body knows who lie is exactly. The serv- 
 ants say he is a very strange and wicked old 
 man who was living all the winter in the vil- 
 lage, prowling about the streets in his red 
 jacket and long gray beard. The boys used 
 to hoot at him and stone him when he went 
 about, so that now he's come out here some- 
 where to stay. Jackson saw him on this 
 place just the evening after father left, and 
 he's been haunting it like a ghost ever since, 
 climbing a tree sometimes to watch us while 
 we are at play. Mammy thinks he's a kid- 
 napper, and trying to get a chance 'to steal 
 one of us off ; but I don't believe that,. Papa 
 says it's nonsense to talk of kidnappers paint- 
 ing white children black. He does go about 
 the little family burying-ground late at night, 
 though, and sometimes lies down on the 
 graves. They say he digs up the bodies and 
 carries them off to sell, and that is such a 
 shocking thought, that I do think he ought 
 to be driven right off the place immediately." 
 " Why, it's a great piece of impertinence for 
 him to be intruding upon a gentleman's plan 
 tation in this way. * He shan't stay long in
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 185 
 
 these regions, I can tell him; for I'll soon 
 make him take up the line of march ; and I 
 wonder the servants haven't done it long 
 ago," said Frank, looking very indignant. 
 
 " I said you and Alfred would make him 
 go away when you came with your guns, and 
 I'm delighted you've got back," said George. 
 
 " Take care, my dear Frank, what you do 
 to a poor old man and a stranger. Nobody 
 knows any harm of him ; they only suppose 
 he will do these wicked things. I will try 
 and see him myself, and find out all about 
 him," said Mrs. Banks. 
 
 " He certainly can't be any thing but an 
 old vagabond. No respectable man would 
 live as he does," said Alfred. 
 
 " There is no knowing Mister Alfred what 
 misery hard poverty may drive any one 
 to do, and there is a verse in the Testament 
 which says, 'Judge not that ye be not 
 judged;' and another: 'Blessed are the 
 merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' 
 Think of that, young gentleman, before you 
 do any thing rash or unkind," replied Mrs. 
 Banks. 
 
 16*
 
 i8f> THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " But, Mrs. Banks," said a good many lit- 
 tle voices together, " suppose he was to do as 
 naammy says catch some of us and paint us 
 black and sell us for little slaves." 
 
 " Pshaw ! children, you mustn't believe 
 every thing you hear. If you are good 
 children, God will take care of you; only 
 see that you keep out of the way of that 
 roaring lion that goes about seeking whom 
 he may devour, and I'm not afraid of old 
 Jerry Thrip getting any of my little flock," 
 answered the old lady with a kind smile. 
 "Miss Fannie," she continued, "do take a 
 little of this good mince, or some of me 
 wegetable mess ; it's very wholesome, but 
 you've nothing except a bit of bread and 
 butter." 
 
 Fannie bit her lip to suppress her laughter, 
 and, glancing at Alfred and Frank made 
 slyly a wry face at the homely dishes before 
 her as she answered: "Thank you, Mrs. 
 Banks, but I prefer this to any thing you can 
 offer me to-day." 
 
 "Ah! then," said the old lady kindly, 
 " may be you'll wait for our farmer's pud
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 187 
 
 ding. I'm glad we've some dessert for you 
 to-day. We do not often hev sweet things 
 because they injure the stomach. When 
 you and Miss Lizzie hev tasted this pure 
 country air awhile you will not need them, 
 I hope, but will eat as heartily as the rest of 
 me wholesome cooking ; then you'll grow 
 fat and rosy like Emmy here she likes any 
 thing I make." 
 
 " Don't you think, madam, that a little 
 sweet huile would improve the flavor of this 
 mess of snaps and apples, as well as make ifc 
 a more digestible dish ?" asked Alfred with a 
 very serious face and bland manner. 
 
 "I do not know, Mister Alfred, but a 
 little ham essence might answer better. 
 Will you try some?" answered the old lady 
 quietly. 
 
 "No, I thank you, madam," said Alfred 
 still preserving his composure, while Lizzie 
 and Fannie, as well as Frank, were endeavor- 
 ing to conceal the laughter which they could 
 not suppress, " I was thinking entirely of my 
 sisters when I spoke. My appetite, you see, 
 needs no coaxing, but they, poor things, look
 
 188 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 like regular city girls, wan and pale, and they 
 are very apt to fancy just those things which 
 are the very worst for them. I know that 
 mamma will be greatly obliged if you will 
 put them upon some good wholesome diet. 
 Perhaps a tonic might be required first," he 
 suggested, apparently upon sudden thought. 
 Fannie and Lizzie were nt>w half-provoked 
 as well as amused, but they could no longer 
 control themselves when Mrs. Banks, looking 
 at them compassionately, said in answer to 
 Alfred's sage advice : 
 
 " Tonics, Mister Alfred, I think young per- 
 sons seldom require, especially in a fine, 
 healthy country like this. Keep the blood 
 pure and let them take plenty of exercise 
 in the open air; ihafs better than any 
 tonics, I can tell you, and I will give them 
 some of me good diet-drink which I've been 
 making to day. It's made of sarsaparilla, 
 molasses, licorice root, a bit of yellow dock, 
 and jest a cup of yeast to make it brisk 
 without any spirit." A burst of hearty 
 laughter broke from both sisters now, as they 
 exclaimed :
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 189 
 
 " Alfred ! you need physic quite as much 
 as we do, and it's too funny to hear you at- 
 tempting to prescribe for us. Mrs. Banks, 
 you'll soon find he is altogether wrong about 
 our needing tonics or any thing else." 
 
 Alfred's mouth twitched slightly in the 
 corners as he answered : " "Well, as to that, I 
 appeal to Mrs. Banks ; she sees as well as I, 
 and all the rest do, how pale you both look, 
 how little you eat, and how much, in short, 
 you require treatment. And who talks about 
 physic ? 1 trust you will neither of you need 
 that. Only drink freely of the diet-drink till 
 your blood is purified, and season your food 
 well with ham-hessence hand molasses, then 
 I shouldn't be surprised if you should become 
 as robust as your hearty brother whose only 
 danger is being entirely too healthy." 
 
 Annie glanced up uneasily towards Mrs. 
 Banks to see if she perceived that the new- 
 comers were turning her into riducule. But 
 with all her sense and judgment, the old lady 
 combined a simple, guileless nature which was 
 entirely free from the slightest suspicion of 
 those whom she had a right to trust ; and she
 
 190 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 was, besides, so thoroughly convinced herself 
 of the efficacy of her prescriptions and so 
 much interested in seeing them more exten- 
 sively used, that it never occurred to her that 
 any one could find them subjects of diver- 
 sion ; she enjoyed, therefore, seeing the 
 young people look gay and happy, without 
 troubling herself to find out the cause of their 
 merriment, and, turning benevolently to the 
 two girls said : 
 
 "I think your brother is pretty nearly 
 right, dear young ladies, and to-morrow 
 morning I will send you some of me beer, as 
 they sometimes call it. It will be quite 
 brisk be that time, I expect." 
 
 Frank now thought it was time for him to 
 have his fan as well as Alfred ; he accord- 
 ingly asked, " Don't the Henglish like brim- 
 stone too, Mrs. Banks?" but, not possessing 
 Alfred's self-control, his own wit quite over- 
 came him so that he was obliged to leave the 
 table in a distressing state of strangling and 
 coughing, produced by the glass of water 
 which he had taken to stop his laughter. 
 
 When dinner was over, the young people
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 191 
 
 went to look out for the other carriage con 
 taining the baggage, for Frank had given no- 
 tice that there were a good many packages in 
 it which had been sent by their parents from 
 Baltimore. Uncle Simon not being yet in 
 sight, they walked down to the gate, where 
 they waited some time. At length the horses 7 
 heads were seen as they commenced climbing 
 the last hill, and the boys hallooed to the old 
 man to "cut up and make haste home." 
 Annie and Clara were overjoyed at receiving 
 letters from their mothers, written just on the 
 eve of sailing. Mrs. Lud well's account of 
 herself was quite cheering and she seemed to 
 be looking forward to the voyage with more 
 composure, and even pleasure, than she had 
 ever done before. But Mrs. Lee wrote de- 
 spondingly of Alice, whom the journey had 
 greatly fatigued ; she hoped, however, that 
 sea-air would revive her, and bade Annie 
 place all her trust in the Great Physician, and 
 continue her prayers for his merciful aid. 
 Annie read the letter over and over again, 
 first to Tommy and then alone. Tears filled 
 her eyes whenever she came to the tendei
 
 192 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 lines at the end: "I am never separated in 
 spirit from my absent children, and often 
 close my eyes that fancy may picture to me 
 your faces. At times the sound of little 
 Tommy's pattering feet, and the music of his 
 merry, ringing laugh, echo in my ear with 
 almost painful distinctness painful, because 
 followed so quickly by the realization that it 
 is only an empty sound, bringing no real, lit- 
 tle, warm, living form for me to embrace in 
 my eager arms. I bear you both daily on 
 my heart before the Lord ; and when at the 
 calm evening twilight hour, I remember 
 your promise to meet me at the throne of 
 grace, I feel, my child, that you are indeed 
 present with me, that I am mocked no longer 
 by a delusive shadow or a cheating sound, 
 but united with you by a bond closer and 
 dearer and more enduring than any earthly 
 tie sweet fellowship in Christ Jesus our 
 common Lord and Saviour. I need not, I am 
 sure, repeat my charges to watch over your 
 little brother. May you both be securely 
 sheltered beneath the wings of omnipotent 
 love. Your mother, A. L. L.'
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 193 
 
 Annie was still sitting by the window in 
 Alice's chair, musing sadly over what her 
 mother had written of her dear sister's con- 
 tinued sufferings, when Clara came running 
 in with her letter open in her hand, looking 
 bright and hopeful. " Isn't it a nice letter, 
 and gives such good news of dear mamma's 
 health, doesn't it ?" she said when she had 
 given it to Annie to read. 
 
 "It does, indeed, Clara, and I am so glad 
 for you," said Annie, showing by the warm, 
 cordial smile with which she looked up, how 
 truly she rejoiced with her cousin. Her mo- 
 ther constantly impressed upon her the impor- 
 tance of forgetting herself when she had an 
 opportunity of sympathizing with another, 
 either in joy or sorrow, and she now made a 
 great effort to lay aside the sad forebodings 
 which made her heart heavy about Alice, as 
 she went on to discuss with Clara some of her 
 aunt's plans. 
 
 "But you have not told me about your 
 letter, Annie. I am so sorry that mother did 
 not think Alice improved. I don't think, 
 
 however, she is ever hoDeful about sick 
 17
 
 19-i THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 people. "Won't you let me see what Aunt 
 Annie says ?" said Clara. 
 
 Annie sighed, but handed her the letter 
 calmly, and controlled so well her feelings 
 that to one Eye alone were revealed all the 
 anxieties of her young heart. 
 
 "I do hope it will be as Aunt Annie says, 
 that the voyage will strengthen dear Alice, 
 although the land travelling has been so try- 
 ing. But come now, Annie dear, don't sit 
 here any longer by yourself ; Mrs. Banks has 
 great parcels of confectionery to divide. 
 Frank says he does not know how it will 
 agree with her conscience to distribute so 
 many sweet things. Poor Frank ! he is so 
 distressed at his laughing so rudely to-day 1 
 But I don't think Mrs. Banks noticed it." 
 
 " She seems too kind and good to think 
 evil of any one ; but I wish the Forrests and 
 Frank would not do as they did to-day. It 
 is hard to keep from laughing when they do 
 so ; but it is not right to ridicule one whom 
 we have such great reason to love and re- 
 spect." 
 
 " Sister, what do you think ?" said George,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 195 
 
 coming in with a very disconcerted face, " Mrs. 
 Banks has locked up all the things mother 
 sent, in the storeroom, and just handed round 
 a little plateful of candy here's all I got,' 7 
 holding up a small piece. 
 
 "Well, George, I wouldn't mind about any 
 thing to eat, quite so much as that. I expect 
 mother told Mrs. Banks to give out a little at 
 a time ; at any rate, she meant her to do just 
 as she thought proper, and we've got to make 
 the best of it till she comes back, that's all." 
 
 It was time now for the sunset-walk to Mis- 
 tletoe hill, which had become the established 
 custom for every evening. The two older 
 boys looked reluctant to join the party, when 
 informed that prayers were to be said there ; 
 but they had been brought up with too much 
 sense of propriety to decline complying with 
 the wishes of Mrs. Banks when she sent to re- 
 quest their attendance. Fannie and Lizzie, 
 too, felt like pleading their long ride as an 
 excuse, but Clara and Annie at last prevailed 
 upon them to go ; and there was something 
 so impressive in the fervent simplicity of good 
 Mrs. Banks, as well as in the seeming convic-
 
 198 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 tioii of the younger children, that God was 
 really present with them, that they soon be- 
 came interested in the scene and joined heart- 
 ily in the evening hymn and prayer. 
 
 While the little occupants of the grand new 
 nursery were making themselves merry, chas- 
 ing their own shadows on the^wall, and try- 
 ing mammy's patience in a variety of ways, 
 instead of going "straight to bed," as she con- 
 tinually exhorted them ; and Annie Lee was 
 waiting by little Tommy's side, for him to go 
 to sleep under the soothing influence of her 
 long Bible stories ; Fannie, Lizzie, and Clara 
 were taking advantage of the mild spring 
 weather to enjoy a moonlight walk on the 
 smooth white gravel below the front terrace. 
 Lizzie, the oldest of the girls, being fourteen 
 her next birthday, was considered on the 
 very verge of young ladyhood, both by her- 
 self and her cousins. She was inclined to be 
 quite sentimental and fastidious in her tastes, 
 and disposed to look with contempt on Mrs. 
 Banks's rustic management, though too polite- 
 ly brought up to let it appear in her conduct 
 to the old lady ; now, however, that she was
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 197 
 
 alone with. Clara and Fannie, she gave free 
 vent to her feelings. 
 
 "Dear me, Clara," she said, "I'm amused 
 at the primitive sort of life we are likely to 
 lead here with ' Mother Banks? Our consti- 
 tutions certainly ought to be invigorated, and 
 our minds are not likely to be injured by un- 
 due excitement. Mamma certainly has suc- 
 ceeded in finding a place where our heads 
 wont be turned by society, as she threatened 
 she would. But unless our school exercises 
 brighten us up, I think we are much more like- 
 ly to grow both healthy and wealthy than wise" 
 
 " Oh 1 you must not judge too quickly, or 
 be too hard to please, Liz," said Clara, laugh- 
 ing. " You've only to get a little accustomed 
 to Mrs. Banks's notions, which I grant you 
 are different, in some respects, from most 
 people's, and I think after a while, you will 
 love her as much, and be as happy as any of 
 us." 
 
 " Oh ! I think she is a mighty nice old lady 
 the broad black band round her cap, and the 
 pretty little plaits in the frills make you feel 
 
 that she's just as good as good can be; but 
 17*
 
 198 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 then, Clara, Liz and I don't care to get 
 crimped and plaited up until we look just as 
 expressive of calm quiet contentment, as her 
 nice ruffles. We look forward to being city 
 belles, one of these days, in spite of mamma's 
 scruples," said Fannie, with a roguish laugh. 
 She was a bright, sprightly-looking little girl, 
 not so proper or dignified as Lizzie, but very 
 kind-hearted and full of warm generous im- 
 pulses; and the delight of Alfred's heart, 
 because she always appreciated his wit, and 
 enjoyed his jokes, even when she herself was 
 made the victim of them. 
 
 " No danger of that in your case, I'm sure, . 
 Fannie; you and Alfred would find some 
 vent for your fun and frolic wherever you 
 might be, but I, on my part, have more to 
 dread from the effects of this quiet dullness," 
 answered Lizzie. 
 
 " Well, only keep up a good heart, Liz, 
 and we'll find some way of amusing you. 
 I'll tell the boys to have a horse saddled for 
 you to ride every day ; you are fond of 
 horseback, you say, and Mrs. Banks, you 
 know, approves of exercise in the 'hopen
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 199 
 
 hair,' and then day after to-morrow we begin 
 school," said Clara. 
 
 "But only to think, Clara, of how Alfred 
 has served us about the diet-drink I To- 
 morrow morning we begin with dose num- 
 ber one, and how many more will follow 
 nobody knows; and the worst of it is, that 
 not a word was said about any of the rest 
 of you drinking it." 
 
 "Only to think what?" exclaimed Alfred, 
 as he suddenly jumped over <the hedge and 
 caught her round the -waist ; " come with me, 
 my sweetest, and I'll show you something 
 which will make you say, 'only to think,' 
 even more emphatically than that," he con- 
 tinued drawing the girls 'after him to the end 
 of the walk where the lion stood. Here they 
 found Frank, who was standing before it, 
 with his hands raised, feigning great conster- 
 nation at the metamorphosis in its appear- 
 ance. 
 
 " "What in the world have you been doing 
 to the horse-rack, boys ?" asked Clara, sur- 
 prised to find it of a bright red color. 
 
 " What have we been doing, Cousin Clara?
 
 200 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Why, that is a pretty question. What do 
 you think we could have done to it? Or 
 do you suppose that we young men would 
 have played so boyish a trick as to meddle 
 in any way with the good old beast, the 
 king of the forest, who has stood here tamely 
 for so many years ?" said Alfred, assuming a 
 theatrical air of insulted dignity. 
 
 "You needn't say one word, sir, to the 
 contrary," said Fannie, "for, of course we 
 are not simple enough to be imposed on. 
 We know you did it ; but how could you 
 manage it, and where did you get the paint?" 
 
 "Mayhaps we bled him," said Frank, talk- 
 ing through his nose. 
 
 " You might as well tell us at once, for 
 you can't green us if you have made the lion 
 red," said Lizzie. 
 
 " Only to think ! Yes, * only to think !' 
 Of this pretty shade of pink, 
 Coming, we can not tell how 
 Suddenly only just now ! 
 Over our lion pure and white, 
 And very pleasing to our sight ! 
 Why, my sisters dear, 
 Did you never hear 
 Of the common use 
 Of bright red pokeberry juice ? n
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 201 
 
 declaimed Alfred, balancing himself on the 
 lion's back, and flourishing a bottle of juice 
 with which they had just accomplished the 
 wonderful feat. 
 
 It had for some time been a favorite 
 amusement with Mr. McLeod's boys to stain 
 any stray animals they could lay their hands 
 on, relishing the joke very highly if it hap- 
 pened to be some one's pet riding-horse or 
 dog; and Alfred seeing this bottle among 
 Frank's store of treasures, had immediately 
 thought of this expedient for astonishing the 
 girls, and perhaps frightening the little child- 
 ren, as he had planned to pass it off for 
 Jerry Thrip's witchcraft. The girls were ac- 
 cordingly bound over to strict secresy, even 
 from Mrs. Banks and Annie, and as they re- 
 turned towards the house talking and laugh- 
 ing merrily, Fannie and Alfred, who were in 
 front, suddenly stopped and motioned to the 
 others to be still and look in the direction to 
 which they pointed. At some distance off 
 between them and the little family burying- 
 ground, there stood a grove of cedars, and 
 here was seen the form of something gliding
 
 202 THE GAXTEEBURY BELLS. 
 
 in and out among the trees. Presently it 
 came out more fully in view, and proved to 
 be unquestionably a man. 
 
 "It is old Jerry Thrip himself, I am sure. 
 How strange that he should appear just as 
 we were talking of him ! And it's exactly 
 as the servants say about his hanging round 
 the graveyard at night," said Clara, looking 
 terrified. 
 
 " Come, Frank, let's go and see what he's 
 after," said Alfred. 
 
 " Oh ! no; please don't go alone, boys, 
 and with nothing to defend yourselves," said 
 Lizzie. 
 
 " Well, wait a moment, Alfred, and let's 
 take the girls to the house, first, and then 
 I'll get papa's sword-cane. It would be 
 better to have something to frighten the old 
 scamp with," replied Frank. Then as they 
 walked rapidly on, he hurled a large stone 
 in the direction of the grove, saying : " Wait 
 till I come back after you, you impertinent 
 old rascal." 
 
 The three girls hurried through the nur- 
 sery into Mrs. Banks's room, where they
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 203 
 
 found her seated at a little table with her 
 large Bible so placed that the light of the 
 lamp fell directly down upon its pages. Her 
 spectacles were lying in the open book, and 
 her head bowed over it was resting on her 
 hands. Evidently she was meditating upon 
 some passage which she had been reading, 
 and an expression of serene happiness was 
 in her thoughtful countenance as she looked 
 up to answer Clara's call. 
 
 "We have had another fright, Mrs. Banks, 
 with that horrid old creature !" she ex- 
 claimed, looking very much vexed. 
 
 "I am very sorry to hear it. How did it 
 happen, my dear, this time ?" 
 
 Clara gave an account of Jerry's sudden 
 appearance, and supernatural manner of glid- 
 ing about, setting off the terrors of the occa- 
 sion in the highest colors ; but Mrs. Banks 
 only smiled and said : 
 
 "Why, it seems to me, Clara, you are all 
 of you very easily frightened. The poor old 
 man was far off from you, and only walking 
 quietly through the place. The servants 
 have excited your fears by their foolish sto
 
 204: THE CAXTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 ries, which you ought to have too much good 
 sense to believe. I have asked a great many 
 questions, and can not hear of his ever doing 
 any harm, while on the other hand they tell 
 of many hardships he has been made to bear 
 on account, I believe, only of his ill-looks, 
 which seems not exactly fair. Stop, boys! 
 Mister Alfred and Mister Frank, stop if you 
 please !" she called, seeing the boys with a 
 lantern and cane passing through the hall to 
 the front-door. 
 
 " I do not wish you to go after the old 
 man to-night, for you may be tempted to do 
 something which you will regret. As long 
 as he stays off at a distance from every one, 
 why should you care to molest him ? I think 
 you had much better try to find some way 
 of doing him good. The poor old creature 
 may not have his right senses about him, and 
 surely it seems hard for the hand of man to 
 be turned against one whom the Almighty 
 has so sorely afflicted. Our Heavenly Fa- 
 ther has been very good and merciful to 
 each one of us, and you must remember that 
 he is Lord of all, and that to whom he has
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 205 
 
 given much, of them will he require the 
 more." 
 
 The boys were not unwilling to be stopped 
 in their pursuit of Jerry by the uncertain 
 moonlight, near the lonely graveyard, and 
 therefore readily yielded to Mrs. Banks's ar- 
 gument ; she arranged a bright cheerful light 
 for them in the dining-room, and brought out 
 the chess-board and several puzzles and 
 games for their amusement, until bed-time, 
 when even Lizzie pronounced herself pleased 
 with the evening's entertainment.
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 " YOUNG- ladies ! Miss Clara and Miss 
 Annie, an' all the little children is most 
 dressed, ready for their walk. You'll be 
 entirely too late ef you don't jump right up 
 now an' hurry wid your dressin'," said Ma- 
 rion as she returned for the third time to try 
 and waken "Fannie and Lizzie, as at the 
 dawn of a sweet, spring morning, Mrs. Banks 
 was collecting her young charge to accom- 
 pany her to a beautiful arbor in front of the 
 house, covered with the delicate champney 
 rose, jasmine, and virgin's bower. Although 
 the creepers were just beginning to bud, it 
 was a sweet spot, and as it looked towards 
 the east, had been chosen by the old lady 
 as a suitable retreat for their morning de- 
 votions. 
 
 "Why, Marion! who ever heard of peo- 
 ple's getting up this tune of day ? I'm not
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 207 
 
 used to it, and really can not do it," said 
 Lizzie throwing herself back on her pillow, 
 after sitting up for a few minutes, and rub- 
 bing her eyes ; while Fannie only noticed 
 the summons by drawing the sheet over her 
 face. So Marion smiled, and turned to re- 
 port her want of success to Mrs. Banks, who 
 shook her head disapprovingly. Nor was 
 Jackson more happy in his efforts to rouse 
 Frank and Alfred. 
 
 Accordingly, when Clara, Annie, and Tom- 
 my had come down, neatly dressed, and 
 looking fresh and rosy, leaving the slug- 
 gards to enjoy their slumbers ; the rest, 
 forming a happy animated group, followed 
 their venerable guide. Clara took Emmy's 
 hand, and Annie, Tommy's, and carrying 
 Mrs. Banks large Bible, they walked in front ; 
 while Harry and George, Susy and Alice, 
 followed clustering together, talking very 
 fast, and often all at once, stopping now and 
 then, to hunt for pretty pebbles in the gravel, 
 or look at a flower that was peeping up its 
 head above the ground. Notwithstanding
 
 208 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 these little detentions, they kept ahead of 
 Mrs. Banks, little Phebe, and Master Charlie. 
 Before these last reached the arbor, Annie 
 and Clara had drawn out the rustic arm-chair 
 and placed the well-used old Bible, with its 
 many markers, on the little round table; 
 then when she entered, the children took 
 their accustomed places, and just as the ris- 
 ing sun began to gild the wide-spread land- 
 scape, turning their faces eastward, they sang 
 Dr. Watts's little hymn: 
 
 " My God who makes the sun to know 
 
 His proper hour to rise, 
 And to give light to all below 
 Doth send him round the skies." 
 
 Mrs. Banks then read the nineteenth Psalm, 
 and offered up a short, simple prayer, every 
 word of which the children understood. 
 When she had finished she said : 
 
 " Now, dear children, we have just thanked 
 our Father who lives above, and whose dwell- 
 ing-place is far brighter than the glory of the 
 sun, for all his mercies to us last night ; and 
 we have asked him to forgive our sins and
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 209 
 
 take away our naughty tempers and evil 
 thoughts, as well as to give us food for our 
 souls and bodies, and to keep us safely all 
 the day. Kemember, now, that He has pro- 
 mised to hear us when we pray in Jesus' 
 name, and therefore, as he is too good to lie, 
 we may be sure that if we earnestly desire 
 what we have prayed for, he will not fail to 
 do all that we asked of him ; and oh ! how 
 much you have already received at his 
 hands! Will you not then, in all your 
 pleasures, whether great or small, try to re- 
 member who makes your hearts glad, and be 
 thankful ? And when Satan tempts you to 
 do sinful things, will you not also look above 
 from whence come all your blessings, and 
 thinking of that Eye which sees your inmost 
 thoughts, ask yourselves : Shall I by my 
 wicked conduct grieve that holy Saviour who 
 loves me, and is always doing me good? 
 Another thing I want you to remember is, 
 that when God gives us an abundance of 
 those things which all his creatures need, as 
 well as we, he means us to share these mer- 
 cies with others, thus giving us the very
 
 210 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 highest of all pleasures, the power to do 
 good and to confer happiness, which is his 
 constant delight. If you choose you may 
 enjoy something of this kind this morning, 
 I grant you, only in a small way ; but you 
 can hardly know how much happiness may 
 often be caused by very little trifling matters, 
 or, on the contrary, how much sorrow. By 
 making a right use now of your childish 
 stores, you will be learning, too, how to act 
 when more important things are intrusted to 
 your keeping. When you hear the bell ring, 
 all of you come under the window of the 
 large front chamber and look down on the 
 grass. Perhaps you will find something which 
 will please you very much. Look down to 
 receive, you know, but don't forget to look up 
 to be thankful!" she added with an arch 
 smile, and then left them. 
 
 In about ten minutes the bell rung out its 
 invitation, and eagerly the little feet scam- 
 pered to gain the appointed spot, each one of 
 them, except Annie and Clara, trying to be 
 first. Obedient 7 y to Mrs. Banks's directions 
 they kept their eyes on the ground, at first
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 211 
 
 rather disappointed to find nothing there. 
 Presently, however, a rustling sound was 
 heard, and then a great paper bag was low- 
 ered from the window above. Having nearly 
 reached the ground, it was suddenly turned 
 bottom upwards, showering in their midst a 
 great supply of confectionery, books and 
 toys, suitable to all their various tastes and 
 ages, besides a package of bright colored 
 handkerchiefs, scarfs, and gloves for the ser- 
 vants. 
 
 The long, loud, merry laugh which ensued 
 pierced even the drowsy ears of the four 
 sluggards and made them start up to inquire 
 what had happened. The emptying of the 
 bag was followed by a general scramble and 
 the eager exclamations : 
 
 " Where did it come from ?" said Charlie. 
 
 " Above ! don't you know ?" said Alice. 
 
 "And we must be thankful/" said little 
 Emmy. 
 
 "Oh! I know mamma sent them to us," 
 said Henry. 
 
 " Yes, and Mrs. Banks dropped the bag
 
 212 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 down!" said George who had taken a sly 
 peep while it was coming. 
 
 "Yes, you are right in all your guesses 
 about the bag, my dear children," said Mrs. 
 Banks, who now appeared at the window, 
 with a face radiant with smiles. " But still 
 it came from above, did it not? for it was 
 God who gave you kind parents, who love 
 you so much that they are thinking of, and 
 trying to please you whether absent or pre- 
 sent ; and He has made them able to gra- 
 tify so many of your wishes ; but I wonder 
 if you can not find some poor children who 
 are not so happily circumstanced with whom 
 you may share your abundance f" 
 
 Breakfast was on the table by this time, 
 but very few had any relish for it, so excited 
 were they in discussing what disposition they 
 should make of the contents of the bag, and 
 whether " lazy bones " should participate in 
 the enjoyment. 
 
 " I think," said Clara, " a good way would 
 be to set out a long table under Mistletoe 
 Hill, because it's nice and shady there,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 213 
 
 and invite them to come to the feast and 
 give them the first choice, to make them 
 ashamed." 
 
 "That wouldn't make them ashamed, sis- 
 ter 1" said George. "They'd be glad they 
 were lazy, because they get the best by it." 
 
 "Let me finish, Georgie, and you'll see 
 that they don't get the best, because they 
 won't have the pleasure of giving they will 
 only receive from us. After they have what 
 they want, we will give some to those poor 
 little children at the mill, who have such a 
 cross grandmother, and, I expect, never had 
 such a treat as this there'll be enough for 
 them and the servants afterwards." 
 
 Mrs. Banks and Annie were delighted 
 with this plan, and most of the children 
 readily agreed ; but George and one or two 
 of the younger ones could not exactly enjoy 
 the idea of giving to so many before their 
 tarn came ; accordingly, it was arranged that 
 they should be helped with the first, and only 
 they who were perfectly willing should wait. 
 Henry was very eager to carry out this plan, 
 so he and Susy were dispatched to the mill
 
 214 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 to have the children dressed and in place by 
 the time they were wanted, George and 
 Alice were sent on the same errand to the 
 quarters. Tommy and Emmy staid, to wait 
 on Clara and Annie, who were busy arrang- 
 ing the table ; and Mrs. Banks took Charlie 
 and little Phebe into the garden with her, to 
 help her, as told them, to give directions 
 about working up the beds. 
 
 When they were looking over the things 
 Clara and Annie found a package directed 
 to each of them. Clara 1 s was a pasteboard 
 box, containing a very fine, muslin cap, made 
 just like those which Mrs. Banks wore. 
 Annie's was a collection of new hymns in a 
 handsome binding and very large print, 
 marked: "For Annie to do as she pleases 
 with." 
 
 " I know what mamma thought I would 
 please to do with it, too," said Annie looking 
 very much pleased, as Clara was also with 
 her cap, both of which were immediately 
 labelled with Mrs. Banks's name. 
 
 Meanwhile, the "lazybones" having only 
 risen as the rest were going to breakfast, did
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 215 
 
 not get down until they were dispersed on 
 their different errands, having first given all 
 the servants strict charges not to tell where 
 they were. 
 
 Just as Lizzie and Fannie were finishing 
 their toilet, Marion entered their room, with a 
 waiter in her hand containing two mugs of 
 beer which she said Mrs. Banks wished them 
 to drink before breakfast. 
 
 " Dear me ! what's to be done ?" said Liz- 
 zie, looking at it with a face expressing any 
 thing but pleasure. "I wonder how the 
 stuff tastes? suppose you try it, Fan, and 
 give me the benefit of your experience." 
 
 " !N"o, I thank you, sister ; for / haven't 
 the least curiosity about it." 
 
 "What shall we do with it, Marion?" 
 asked Lizzie, " for you see drinking it is out 
 of the question." 
 
 "I don't know, Miss," said Marion de- 
 murely ; " Mistus lef word for every body 
 to mine Mrs. Banks ; she tell me to bring the 
 beer up for you and Miss Fannie. Miss 
 Clara and Miss Annie always does jes' as 
 she axs them."
 
 216 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 "I know they do, but we an't half as 
 good. I've a great mind to throw mine out 
 of the window. I wish Alfred had it this 
 minute, and was obliged to drink it how- 
 ever, I'll take it this tune, I believe, and if 
 it's very bad I won't any more." So saying, 
 Lizzie swallowed hers, laughed afterwards, 
 and made a little face as she put the mug 
 down. 
 
 "Did Mrs. Banks send any of this to 
 Master Alfred and Frank?" asked Fannie 
 turning with a very amused look to Marion. 
 
 " Not as I knows of, Miss," she returned. 
 
 " Well, set the waiter down, Marion, and 
 you can go." 
 
 As soon as she had gone, Fannie took up 
 the beer and with a mischievous glance to- 
 wards Lizzie, left the room and went down 
 stairs. When she entered the breakfast-room 
 she found Jackson standing, grimly waving 
 his fly-brush over the table which had been 
 cleared off once, and set over again. His 
 face brightened as she entered, and the 
 chances seemed improved for his being soon
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 217 
 
 relieved from his solitary and tedious em- 
 ployment. 
 
 "Here, Jackson! take this up to Master 
 Alfred and tell him that Mrs. Banks would 
 like to know whether he thinks it will suit 
 his sisters ; he must drink it all and give 
 her his opinion," she said, handing the waiter 
 to the servant. 
 
 Jackson, with all gravity, did as he was 
 told, without any suspicion that he was car- 
 rying a fictitious message. 
 
 "Botheration she does! I didn't expect 
 to be caught in this way, but I suppose I 
 must drink it to satisfy the old lady, or 1 
 might get into an awkward fix if she should 
 question me. I must not let Fannie and 
 Liz know it, though. Paugh I it's a dose," 
 he said, returning the empty mug to Jack- , 
 son's waiter. "Come, Frank, let's go and 
 get our breakfast, for I'm impatient for some- 
 thing to eat after my tonic}" 1 
 
 "It serves you just right, Alfred; you'd 
 have been too much elated if you had car- 
 ried things your way, and gotten the better 
 of the girls so completely." 
 19
 
 218 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 They followed Jackson to the breakfast* 
 , room, and Fannie gave an inquiring, quizzical 
 look towards the empty waiter as they en- 
 tered, then turning her back, walked towards 
 the window and looked out to conceal her 
 laughter. Lizzie came down the next mo- 
 ment and instantly commenced an attack on 
 Alfred, saying : 
 
 "Well, Master Solomon; I hope you are 
 satisfied as we've had our purifying drink." 
 
 "Have you, indeed? And girls, honestly 
 didn't you like it ?" 
 
 " It's not so very bad as I expected, to the 
 taste ; but it seems so nonsensical to be drink- 
 ing such stuff, when you are perfectly well, 
 too," said Lizzie. 
 
 "How is it with you, little' Fan; don't 
 you approve of drinking it?" 
 
 "Vastly, sir; especially when my brother 
 Alfred drinks my share for me," she an- 
 swered triumphantly. 
 
 "Oh! ho! you little mischief! I was 
 just beginning to suspect something," said 
 Alfred, laughing heartily as well as the rest. 
 " Yery well ! if I don't pay you for it ; and
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 219 
 
 how shocked Mrs. Banks will be to hear you 
 were guilty of a fabrication that you -used 
 her name falsely I It's more than I would 
 have done !" 
 
 "Ah! Alfred! it was only a quiz" said 
 Fannie earnestly. 
 
 " Quiz ! I would have some respect for the 
 truth, at any rate, miss, when I undertook 
 to quiz." 
 
 " So I do, and you know that I did not say 
 any thing more than you would do in jest" 
 
 "I know that you keep at a respectful dis- 
 tance from the truth perhaps you have such 
 veneration for it that you don't like to be 
 familiar" replied Alfred, chuckling with de- 
 light to find that Fannie was really a little 
 teased. 
 
 " I wonder where every body is I" said 
 Lizzie, trying kindly to change the subject. 
 
 " I think Clara and Annie might have 
 looked in on us before they went out of 
 sight and hearing," said Fannie. 
 
 "I expect they were too much shocked 
 at our laziness to think of such a thing," re-
 
 220 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 plied Lizzie. " The fact is, Clara is growing 
 decidedly conscientious." 
 
 "I thought we should have heard some- 
 thing about the red lion the first thing," said 
 Frank. " Which way did they all go, Jack- 
 son?" 
 
 " I think they'se not all of 'em gone one 
 way, Mas Frank ; Mrs. Banks, she took Mas 
 Charlie and Miss Phebe to the vegtable 
 garden, and I hearn Mas Harry say how he 
 was gwine to the mill with Miss Susy ; but 
 they'se all gone somewheres," answered Jack- 
 son with a grin of satisfaction at his own 
 adroitness in keeping the secret. 
 
 " What a nice time the children seemed to 
 be having this morning," said Fannie. " I 
 heard such merry shouts of laughter just as 
 I waked, that I wished I was with them, 
 instead of having been so lazy." 
 
 " It's not eight o'clock yet. I don't call it 
 lazy to be ready for breakfast by this time," 
 said Alfred. 
 
 When they left the breakfast-room they 
 sauntered round the house in the bright warm 
 sunshine, chatting together and trying to spy
 
 THE CANTEKBUKY BELLS. 221 
 
 out their playmates until Tommy and Emmy 
 appeared running towards them, eager and 
 breathless. When they were near enough 
 to deliver their message, Emmy stood a little 
 back while Tommy, advancing made a low 
 bow and said : 
 
 "Ladies and gentlemans, the pleasure of 
 your company is wequested on Mistletoe Hill, 
 as soon as you can come, to a feast." 
 
 "A feast, hey! why that's what they've 
 been so busy about then ; I wonder whose 
 notion it was ?" said Frank. And off they 
 all started in high good humor to obey the 
 summons. 
 
 The table was beautifully set, adorned with 
 evergreens and flowers from the greenhouse. 
 Clara stood at the head, and Annie at the 
 foot, each with a waiter under her arm. 
 Harry and Susy, Tommy and Alice were 
 stationed opposite to each other at a little 
 distance from the table, wearing badges like 
 Clara's and Annie's, to show that they also 
 were to serve the company. But George, 
 Charlie, Emma, and Phebe had places ap- 
 pointed them among the guests, and a large
 
 222 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 arm-chair was placed for Mrs. Banks -under 
 a neighboring tree where she could see all 
 that passed. The six little motherless child- 
 ren from the mill were seated on some rocks, 
 bare-headed and without shoes or stockings ; 
 but with their faces washed, and dressed in, 
 clean though coarse blue cotton frocks. And 
 beyond these were squads of little negro 
 children, while here and there a gray-headed 
 old servant stood leaning on the head of a 
 cane, watching the proceedings with solemn 
 interest. 
 
 Clara advanced to meet the new-comers 
 with a bright mischievous smile as she bade 
 them welcome to the feast, " given in honor 
 of the * lazy lones ' who preferred their morn- 
 ing nap to a sweet walk in the spring of the 
 year, and didn't mind missing family prayers 
 when the rest were all ready. Do be seated," 
 she added quickly with affected concern, 
 pointing to some large rocks arranged for 
 the purpose. "We are afraid you'll be 
 dreadfully tired after the exertions you've 
 made." 
 
 " You think you'll put us to the blush, I
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 223 
 
 see, Cousin Clara, by your ironical politeness ; 
 but I dare say we are philosophical enough 
 to stand it and enjoy your good things, too, 
 knowing what extreme pleasure you must 
 take in waiting so generously on us," said 
 Alfred. " Come, friends, let's take our seats 
 and make merry," he added, turning to the 
 two girls and Frank. 
 
 When they had amused themselves, keep- 
 ing their entertainers as long as possible wait- 
 ing, and threatening to demolish all that was 
 before them, they at length arose, pronounc- 
 ing themselves delighted with their enter- 
 tainment. They were invited then, to wait 
 and see the end, Annie saying, " Our best 
 time is coming now" as she called up the 
 little poor children and filled their hands 
 with cakes and confectionery, smiling to see 
 how pleased they looked, and how new to 
 them many of the little toys were. Mrs. 
 Banks called them round her before they 
 went home, and cautioned them to save 
 something for another day, lest they should 
 be made sick ; then she talked to them about 
 the Saviour, trying to make them realize his
 
 224 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 love to them and his interest in all their joys 
 or sorrows. It was a happy day for the lit- 
 tle creatures, and their cheerful voices could 
 be heard as they tramped off through the 
 woods, laden with their treasures. 
 
 The servants were afterwards called, and 
 each received a nice present their hearty 
 " thank ye, Mistus, thank ye Master," testify- 
 ing their gratification and pleasure. 
 
 Mrs. Banks looked surprised and pleased 
 at the pretty presents which she received 
 from Clara and Annie. And when the feast 
 was at an end, the young givers all felt that 
 they had realized fully the enjoyment they 
 had anticipated. 
 
 "Oh! look! What's that?" said little 
 Alice as, on their way home, they came in 
 sight of the painted lion, having been per- 
 posely led that way "by the older boys and 
 girls. 
 
 "What is it, sure enough?" said George, 
 walking forward to get a better view. " Why, 
 it's the lion, some body's gone and painted 
 red who could have done it?"
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 225 
 
 "Who in the world could?" said Frank, 
 pretending equal surprise. 
 
 " Why, it is very strange !" said Alfred. 
 "Look Cousin Clara, what a curious red 
 color it is too ; here are some places where 
 the white shows through. It's very strange ; 
 could the servants have done it?" 
 
 "No!" said Clara; "I am sure none of 
 them would ever have thought of taking 
 such a liberty." 
 
 " That part looks as bright as old Jerry's 
 coat when we saw him last night in the dis- 
 tance," said Frank. 
 
 "Did you see him, Frank? Then I be 
 bound it was him that did this," said Harry ; 
 " he just wanted to frighten us. What did 
 you say to him, Frank ?" 
 
 "Nothing; he wasn't very near, and Mrs. 
 Banks was so opposed to our going after him 
 that Alfred and I gave it up ; but this shows 
 he CAN" paint, and if it had been a little 
 child, may be he'd have made it Hack instead 
 of red." 
 
 " Or may be" said Alfred stretching his
 
 226 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 eyes with, assumed amazement and fright; 
 " he's an old Ogre that can turn himself into 
 any thing he chooses, and he has turned into 
 the old lion, and that's his red jacket. 1 
 expect we had better be making our home 
 before he eats some of us up." 
 
 At this, some of the little ones without a 
 word, scampered off into the house to tell 
 Mrs. Banks their fears. Alfred and Frank 
 turned then to Tommy, saying : " And why 
 don't you run, too, sir?" 
 
 "I'll wait for my sister Annie," he an- 
 swered. 
 
 "But suppose the old Ogre was to eat 
 you up while you are waiting." 
 
 " Sister Annie won't let him do it." 
 
 "How can she help it, may be he'll eat 
 her up first." 
 
 " No, he'll never hurt her, tause Grod tan 
 teep him from it." 
 
 "But how do you know that God will 
 care whether he hurts either of you or not?" 
 
 " Umph, I know that well enoug out of 
 the Bible* why even the wittle birds, he
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 227 
 
 knows about and takes tare of. Mamma read 
 it to me herself." 
 
 "Look here, Alfred! I believe you and 
 Frank did that yourselves and are just try- 
 ing to frighten us all," said Henry; "but 
 Greorge and I have found you out." 
 
 " Yery well, if you choose to think so you 
 are welcome, I only hope you will take care 
 to keep out of the kidnapper's way, as I 
 wouldn't like you to be sold off to Georgia, 
 that's all ; and we can't run the risk of stand- 
 ing here to take care of you, so let's go in, 
 Frank." 
 
 Mrs. Banks had some trouble in soothing 
 the fright of Susy, Alice, Emmy, and Charlie ; 
 she assured them there were no such things 
 in the world as Ogres, that the boys were only 
 trying to frighten them for their own amuse- 
 ment, and offered to take them herself, and 
 show how easily the old lion could be washed 
 white again. Frank and Alfred were very 
 much amused and delighted when they saw 
 her going out with a basin of water and a 
 sponge, and the children following her, to
 
 228 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 perform this operation. They called Fannie 
 and Lizzie to see them from the window, say- 
 ing : " "Well, it has given the old lady some- 
 thing to do at any rate, and the children 
 something to talk about, and we'll slip out 
 as soon as they come in, and stain it over 
 again."
 
 CHAPTBK X. 
 
 WHEN the spring was sufficiently advanced 
 for such work, the children asked Mrs. Banks 
 to let them each have a flower-bed of their 
 own to cultivate ; to which she very gladly 
 consented, and uncle Lemuel was accordingly 
 instructed to lay off their different parterres, 
 and get the soil in readiness. Clara had for 
 some time had quite a large garden appro- 
 priated to her, which she offered to divide 
 with Annie and Tommy ; and the rest had 
 places allotted them very near the house. 
 
 Good Mrs. Banks took a lively interest in 
 watching their operations, very much pleased 
 at finding that the inducement to secure time 
 to work before the hour for school was suf- 
 ficient to entice even Fannie and Lizzie out 
 much earlier than they had been in the habit 
 of rising ; they were down now as punctually 
 as any of the rest, and labored assiduously at 
 their tasks. 
 
 20
 
 230 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 In the evening the watering-pot's were in 
 great demand, and the plants were carefully 
 examined, for the purpose of noting and com- 
 paring their growth. Lizzie was soon so ab- 
 sorbed in the interest of her work, that she 
 entirely forgot the dread she had once felt of 
 the quiet dullness and seclusion of their life at 
 Belmont under Mrs. Banks's government. 
 Frank and Alfred laughingly begged to be 
 excused from taking part in this early morn- 
 ing work ; but promised to render assistance 
 occasionally to the elder girls. 
 
 One morning Mrs. Banks had been walking 
 round with her knitting in her hand and her 
 little key-basket on her arm, smiling at the 
 bright, happy, busy-looking faces before her, 
 when she paused and said : 
 
 " Children, I wonder if any one of you 
 thinks, while at work, of those other little 
 gardens which the Great Gardener has given 
 us to cultivate ? I mean our hearts, and the 
 Christian graces which we manifest in our 
 lives are the flowers. The Holy Spirit will 
 help us to cultivate them, and our heavenly 
 Father and the holy angels will delight in our
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 231 
 
 success. The Bible furnishes us with plenty 
 of precious seed, which must be carefully 
 sown, while we earnestly pray that they may 
 be watered with the dew of God's blessing ; 
 then we shall certainly find our pains abun- 
 lantly rewarded. These sweet flowers will 
 never fade ; but bloom in heaven more beau- 
 tifully than our greatest efforts could ever 
 make them do in earthly soil. Take, for in- 
 stance, such seed as this : ' Walk in love, as 
 Christ also hath loved us and hath given him- 
 self for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God 
 for a sweet-smelling savor.' Sow it in the 
 way I have told you, prayerfully in your 
 heart, and there will spring up a plant of 
 priceless value; the bloom is pure white, 
 being wholly unsullied by those dark, ugly 
 spots which are seen in the coarse, noxious 
 weeds, anger, wrath, malice, and hatred, 
 which spring up from seed which Satan is 
 constantly trying to sow in our hearts ; but 
 we must try to have so much of this sweet 
 white flower love as to leave no room for 
 them. On one side of love, and very close to 
 it, is a fine place for joy this is the seed of it :
 
 232 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 'Kejoice in the Lord always] and again I 
 say, rejoice.' Its bloom is bright scarlet, and 
 it not only looks up to be glad in the Lord, 
 but like the scarlet verbena, which brightens 
 with its cheerful hue even the low, yellow 
 earth, so it can stoop to bring gladness to the 
 hearts of the lowly and the destitute ; for this 
 reason it keeps close to love, for poor indeed 
 is the joy of the heart where love does not 
 abound ! ' Live in peace, and the God of 
 love and peace shall be with you,' will pro- 
 duce on the other side of love, a little unob- 
 trusive plant, which steals up silently and 
 spreads itself all around. The little blue- 
 eyed forget-me-not, or the sweet blue violet, 
 are fit emblems of it, or perhaps even better, 
 the calm blue sky on a summer's evening. 
 Another flower very highly prized in heaven 
 and most difficult of culture here, requiring a 
 spiritual mind even to appreciate its beauty, is 
 long-suffering: 'With long-suffering, forbear- 
 ing one another in love.' How perfectly, 
 dear children, this was exemplified in the life 
 of Him of whom we read: He is despised, 
 and we esteemed him not ; surely he hath
 
 THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 233 
 
 borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. 
 Yet we did esteem Mm stricken, smitten of 
 God, and afflicted.' Let us keep our eyes 
 steadfastly fixed upon him, and wrap the ten- 
 drils of our love more and more closely around 
 his cross, if we hope to make this flourish in 
 such ungenial soil as our proud and stubborn 
 hearts; should our culture prosper, it will 
 spring up tall and straight, too strong to be 
 easily injured itself, and shielding more ten- 
 der and delicate blossoms. I fear, however, 
 you will think I choose for this a homely em- 
 blem the sun-flower. Yet you know I told 
 you that long-suffering was not a showy plant. 
 The sun-flower looks upwards, however, to 
 the source of light, and is encircled by a 
 crown which might seem the reflection of his 
 beams. And last but not least, my dears, 
 we must not forget to be always trying to 
 4 grow in grace.' If grace be wanting, vainly 
 will you labor over the others. There will 
 certainly be some great deficiency about the 
 little gardens you are trying to make ' hal- 
 lowed ground,' betokening their final ruin, 
 
 thougu they may seem fair and flourishing 
 20*
 
 234: THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 for a time. Grace we may imagine either as 
 a plant distilling from its leaves a gentle and 
 nourishing dew, or like a tender vine creep- 
 ing under the branches of more hardy and 
 common flowers, and imparting to them some 
 secret charm which heightens either their 
 beauty or fragrance. Mignionette is a very 
 imperfect type of this heavenly flower ; still, 
 we may, I think, trace some points of resem- 
 blance. Like grace, it has a sort of inde- 
 scribable bloom, yet there is an exquisitely- 
 refined beauty in its fresh, light green leaves, 
 and its delicate, shrinking, bending form ; 
 but especially in its all-pervading and deli- 
 cious sweetness ; sometimes, you know, a few 
 sprigs placed with other flowers which have 
 no recommendation but their showy appear- 
 ance, will impart so much perfume, that at 
 first we take the fragrance for their own ; so 
 grace renders attractive the natural qualities 
 of the heart and mind, and gives them a 
 value which they could not otherwise possess. 
 " What flower must I plant, sister, in that 
 wittle darden Mrs. Banks told us about?" 
 whispered Tommy, whose large eyes had
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 235 
 
 been fixed on the old lady as she was 
 speaking. 
 
 " Which do you choose for yourself, dear 
 little brother ?" 
 
 " The white one, sister Annie, tause den I 
 tan send some of it to mother and sister 
 Allie," he answered with a bright, bewitching 
 smile, adding quickly, and throwing at the 
 same time his arms round Annie's neck, and 
 pressing his soft cheek against hers : 
 
 " I'd save some for my sister Annie though." 
 
 Annie lovingly buried her hand in the rich 
 clusters of shining ringlets which covered his 
 head, and drawing it back, looked fondly in 
 his face, then kissed his red lips and said : 
 
 " Mrs. Banks told us we had each two gar- 
 dens, my darling little brother ; but I believe 
 /have three. Here I kiss this marble fore- 
 head for my love, these bright red lips for my 
 joy, aud the deep blue of these sweet eyes I 
 take for my peace while here is love again in 
 the clear white around my peace; for long- 
 suffering these bright golden ringlets must 
 do yes, at the top of all they point upwards 
 and borrow glory from the sun. "Why, it's
 
 236 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 the very thing ! For grace the whole dear 
 little body must answer. What do you say 
 to being my third little garden, full of pretty 
 flowers, blooming all together ?" 
 
 " Will you be mine, too, then, sister An- 
 nie, if I'm yours?" 
 
 "Ah! Tommy, I would directly, if you 
 could only find the flowers about my head 
 and face ; but you can't ! My eyes are black, 
 and my hair too, and my skin is not as white 
 as love should be, so there would be three 
 missing flowers." 
 
 "I am so sorry," said Tommy, looking dis- 
 concerted. 
 
 " Oh ! never mind, dear," said Annie, "just 
 let me help you to take care of your two little 
 gardens, and I am sure you'll find enough 
 beautiful flowers in these without the third 
 one." 
 
 From the nursery windows there was a 
 pretty view of the children's garden, and here 
 sometimes Mrs. Banks would take her seat, 
 knitting briskly on little Phebe's stocking, 
 glancing from time to time at the busy little
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 237 
 
 gardeners, questioning them about their work, 
 and helping them with her advice 
 
 " Clara," said Annie, the evening after the 
 conversation about their spiritual gardens, 
 " suppose that we begin this very evening to 
 plant some flowers in our beds to correspond 
 to Mrs. Banks's spiritual plants. Tommy and 
 I choose Love for our first one." 
 
 " Yery well ; and what white flower shall 
 we take for its emblem ?" answered Clara, 
 
 " There are so many beautiful ones ; I can't 
 tell which would suit best ; suppose we ask 
 Mrs. Banks ?" 
 
 " I saw some beautiful Calla lilies in bloom 
 this morning," answered Mrs. Banks, "and as 
 I looked at the pure white as well as the soft 
 velvet-like cup, bent downwards, as if to pour 
 out its golden treasure, I thought it would 
 answer well as an emblem of that charity 
 which seeketh not her own." 
 
 " Oh ! yes," said Annie, "it is so purely 
 white, and its broad, green leaves spread out 
 so protectingly too." 
 
 " Don't you think Uncle Lemuel will let us 
 have one or two of his, Clara ?"
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Yes ; I will tell him that we want them," 
 answered Clara very confidently. 
 
 "And you will not forget, my dears, to se- 
 lect a sweet text for each emblematic flower 
 which you may call either its seed or its mot- 
 to, only be sure you try to think of it when- 
 ever you see the plant to which it belongs. 
 I dare say you will each find verses to suit 
 yourselves better than the ones I mentioned," 
 said faithful Mrs. Banks. 
 
 "And then, when we all get different mot- 
 toes, we will have such a nice collection of 
 texts about these pretty plants," said Annie 
 with great animation. 
 
 " Of course we must not choose the same 
 flowers as emblems either, then," said Lizzie, 
 "as a little variety will be wanted in our 
 gardens." 
 
 " We will have different ones when we 
 can; but each must take a sun-flower for 
 long-suffering, I suppose, and the sweet mig- 
 nionette we can't have too much of. "We will 
 repeat our texts to Mrs. Banks, and let her 
 tell us which has chosen the prettiest ones/' 
 said Clara.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 239 
 
 " One motto we will make our word, for all 
 that day, trying to think of it as much as we 
 can, and taking some other for the next day, 
 till we have had them all, then begin over 
 again," said Annie. 
 
 " That is a very good plan, my clear An- 
 nie, and I will tell you another good result 
 that will come of your thus associating these 
 texts with your pleasant hours together. 
 Hereafter, when you are all scattered, as pro- 
 bably you will be, for time brings many 
 changes into every household, don't you 
 think when in reading your Bibles you come 
 across these same verses, they will affect you 
 more strongly as well as more pleasantly be- 
 cause they recall to mind a dear young com- 
 panion who loved it very much, and used to 
 make it her word for the day?" said Mrs. 
 Banks. 
 
 "Yes," said Clara, "and then we shall 
 never forget each other as long as we read 
 our Bibles. I know who will be remember- 
 ed, besides, and who we will love and thank 
 for many, many happy hours, too," she added, 
 smiling knowingly at her old friend.
 
 240 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Uncle Lemuel was moving his plants into 
 the open air, and had many very pretty ones 
 to spare; he was, however, a very self-im- 
 portant personage, and often took the liberty, 
 as an old family servant, of speaking his mind 
 very plainly to his young masters and mis- 
 tresses, and doing in a grum, surly manner 
 what he really enjoyed being called on to 
 do ; so, in the present instance, though he felt 
 a great deal of interest in their little gardens, 
 he thought it quite beneath his dignity to 
 manifest this feeling too warmly, and receiv- 
 ed the children in a manner which was ex- 
 actly in keeping with Frank's soubriquet for 
 him, namely, Busty Crusty Fusty Old Fudge. 
 
 " Umph ! an' what all dis mighty crowd 
 'bout now, I wonder ? Uncle Lemuel ! uncle 
 Lemuel ! uncle Lemuel ! jis like uncle Lem- 
 uel had a hunded pair ears and a hunded 
 tongues at your sarvice," he exclaimed, as 
 they all came eagerly around him to petition 
 for the plants they wanted. 
 
 His manner, however, soon softened to- 
 wards "Miss Clara," as she, not noticing his 
 salutation, said, with a little quiet air of au-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 241 
 
 thority which she had acquired whilst acting 
 as mamma's proxy so often during the past 
 year: 
 
 "Uncle Lemuel, I want you to find us all 
 the different flowers we ask you for, and tell 
 us the best way of raising them. "We shall 
 not injure your collection, but rather improve 
 it; so you needn't make any objection. 
 
 "Annie has chosen the Calla lily; now, 
 Lizzie, you must take your choice next," she 
 continued, turning to her cousin. 
 
 Lizzie said : " I will take the white Azalia, 
 Clara, if you will let me ; it has always been 
 my favorite white flower." 
 
 "And I choose the Cape Jasmine," said 
 Fannie. 
 
 "I will take a Day lily, then, for myself,' 
 said Clara. " Uncle Lemuel, you can get me 
 a good root from the one mamma had last 
 year, can't you ?" 
 
 " Dare say I kin, Miss Clara." 
 
 "I mean to do like Beauty. Choose a 
 sweet white rose ; and may be Uncle Lemuel 
 will turn a good-natured, kind beast, and give 
 21
 
 242 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 me a great many pretty things besides," said 
 Susy. 
 
 Uncle Lemuel was quite gratified at this 
 acknowledgment of his power; his mouth 
 almost relaxed into a broad grin as he re- 
 plied : 
 
 " I wisht I knowed whar the putty things 
 comin from, den, Miss Susy ; but to be sure 
 I'se as willin' as ever to do the best I kin for 
 all o' you, only please all heb good marners, 
 and wait till the proper time come for each 
 to be sarved." 
 
 Alice chose a white camelia, and George a 
 pocnia. Henry said he would leave Susy 
 the white teas, and take a white daily rose. 
 Emmy asked Mrs. Banks to choose her a 
 flower, and she selected the sweet-scented can- 
 dytuft ; while for Charlie she took a white 
 oleander. Uncle Lemuel could not forbear 
 giving a little contemptuous shrug, and say- 
 ing: " 'Spose you all 'spects these flowers to 
 be in bloom all at de same time, does you ? 
 Not minding if more 'an half of 'em is out of 
 date now, and won't come round agin fore
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 243 
 
 middle of de summer. There's Miss Clara's 
 day lily an't gwine to bloom fore August, 
 for one" 
 
 " Oh ! never mind that, uncle Busty Crusty, 
 we don't care to be in bloom all at once ; but 
 stop! Alf and I must choose a white flower, 
 too, and get one of our pet cousins to make it 
 grow for us. I shall take Uncle Lemuel's 
 white carnation he's so proud of; and Cousin 
 Fan shall plant it in her flower-bed, 7 ' said 
 Frank. 
 
 " Taken in that amiable and humble spirit, 
 of course, you won't be at a loss for a Scrip- 
 ture motto for it," said Fannie, with playful 
 irony. 
 
 " It's the very apple of your eye, Uncle 
 Lemuel, an't it, being something new ? I'm 
 afraid I'll not get it by very fair measures, 
 either ; but I must teach the old gentleman 
 that the end sanctifies the means," Frank re- 
 plied laughingly. 
 
 " For my part," said Alfred, glancing mis- 
 chievously at Annie, "I should like to choose 
 the Noisette Lee for my love, and let Cousin 
 Annie take care of it for me ; but I'm afraid
 
 244 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 there's too much of the "blush in its pretty face 
 to make it as spiritual a plant as it ought to 
 be; although I must confess, /like it all the 
 better for that little tinge." 
 
 The girls all laughed heartily, and looked 
 to see how Annie would receive this playful 
 sally ; she only smiled slightly, and tried to 
 change the subject. Mrs. Banks looked very- 
 grave indeed, not relishing any approach to 
 a jest when sacred things were alluded to. 
 
 " There is a white verbena, Mister Alfred, 
 which may be you'd like," she said rather 
 dryly. 
 
 " Thank you, madam, I've no doubt it 
 will do as well as any thing," he answered 
 laughing. 
 
 Having satisfied themselves with their first 
 emblematic flowers, they now retreated to the 
 house to choose mottoes. Annie, after think- 
 ing for some time, concluded that Tommy and 
 herself would take the 13th of 1 Cor., and 
 already her fancy pictured her mother's plea- 
 sure when Tommy should repeat it to her for 
 the first time.
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 " GUDE mornin 7 , bonnie ladie I" said a hol- 
 low, cracked voice one morning to Annie 
 Lee, who was stooping down very low, near 
 her little flower-bed, in search of her lost 
 thimble, which she had just dropped from 
 her pocket. Greatly startled at this unex- 
 pected sound, the little girl sprang up 
 quickly, and looking round beheld Jerry 
 Thrip standing close beside her. Annie was 
 naturally very timid, and had always led a 
 quiet, sheltered sort of life, leaning for direc- 
 tion in every thing upon her mother. When 
 she found herself, therefore, entirely alone 
 with this wretched-looking being, so long an 
 object of terror to herself and her young 
 .companions, she was for a moment exceed- 
 ingly frightened and at a loss what to do. 
 Her first impulse was to run, but there was 
 something in the poor creature's appearance 
 21*
 
 246 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 which awakened her compassion, and while 
 she stood hesitating whether to go or stay, 
 he took off his tattered cap, and bowing re- 
 spectfully, repeated his salutation : " Gude 
 mornin 7 , bonnie maid," adding very humbly : 
 
 " "Wad ye forgie a puir sick auld mon for 
 passin' sae near ye? I thocht, maybae it 
 wad na' disturb ony at this tome o' the day." 
 
 This speech moved Annie very much, and 
 at the same moment her eye rested on her 
 beautiful Calla lily, reminding her of its 
 sweet signification, " Love suffereth long and 
 is kind" She involuntarily repeated to her- 
 self, then quickly stopping Jerry as he was 
 about to pass on without waiting for an an- 
 swer, she said with a soft kind voice and 
 manner : 
 
 " Good morning, poor Jerry, you don't 
 disturb me at all. Have you walked far this 
 morning?" 
 
 " I've na 7 earned sae lang away yet, ladie, 
 but was ganging to the toon, and that is far 
 frae me, travellin' roun' the big road, sae I 
 just tak'd the path through." 
 
 " Where do you live ?" asked Annie.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 247 
 
 " It's a puir place eneugh, ladie, being na' 
 but a small hovel in the woods, beyont yer 
 fither's gate some mile or mair." 
 
 " Are you all alone there, and didn't you 
 say you were sick ?" 
 
 A great tear rolled down old Jerry's 
 sunken cheek ; then brushing it off with the 
 back of his hand, he fixed his eyes so wildly 
 on Annie for a few moments, that she was 
 terrified until he dropped them again upon 
 the ground, and murmured in answer to the 
 latter part of her question : 
 
 " Sae sick I had na' thocht to use these 
 auld limbs ony mair; but their's na tellin' 
 the great Maister's mind. He's mad' me to 
 bide yet, so ther's mair to be suffered afore 
 it's a' doone." 
 
 "If you will come witn me up to the 
 house, I'll call Mrs. Banks to see you. She 
 will be glad to give you a good breakfast 
 before you go any farther, and maybe she 
 could cure you too, as she's a good doctor,' 1 
 said Annie. 
 
 " Mony, mony thanks to ye, gude canny
 
 248 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ladie, but I maun frighten the weans wi' me 
 scareful face." 
 
 " No one will be frightened if they see 
 you come with me. It was only because 
 you were such a stranger, and we did not 
 know why you came that we were scared," 
 answered Annie, blushing very much at the 
 latter part of her reply as she remembered 
 how much alarm she had once felt, and 
 shown, too, at the sight of him. 
 
 Jerry still hesitated, but Annie insisted, 
 and he presently yielded. 
 
 Frank and Alfred were standing in the 
 portico, cleaning their guns, when, followed 
 by her humble attendant, she ascended the 
 terrace and came in sight. 
 
 " Only to see that /" exclaimed Frank, 
 pointing towards her; "that's personifying 
 Charity, I think ; keeping company with an 
 old vagrant. What can she be going to do 
 with him, I wonder ?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Alfred, "but 
 that's what I call real goodness in Cousin 
 Annie, for she was as much afraid of him as 
 any body, until Mrs. BanKs said something
 
 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 249 
 
 about his being poor and miserable, and it 
 being every body's duty to relieve suffering 
 wherever they met with it. I noticed her 
 great black eyes getting larger and softer 
 and darker as she was listening to her the 
 very last time the old lady talked to the 
 children. She made me feel quite ashamed 
 of my own hard-heartedness, and it isn't 
 every little girl, I can tell you, who would 
 bear to be laughed at for her kindness as 
 Annie must know she is very certain to be 
 by us bad boys." 
 
 " Pshaw ! Annie just likes to set herself 
 up for a pattern to every body else; she's 
 got a way of imitating Aunt Annie since she 
 went away." 
 
 " I don't see how she sets herself up at all, 
 Frank. I'm sure she's always the first to 
 find some excuse for any one of us that gets 
 into a scrape, and when she can't join in our 
 wild pranks only slips quietly out of the 
 way or says in the gentlest manner in the 
 world: "I think I'd rather not." Depend 
 upon it, Frank, our little cousin is trying to
 
 250 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 do right all the time, and not thinking of 
 making any show about it." 
 
 " Umph ! I don't see the use of your de- 
 fending Annie so warmly. I didn't mean 
 what I said in sober earnest, though I really 
 think she needn't be bringing that old beggar 
 up to the door and spoiling our fun with the 
 children," said Frank. 
 
 Tommy had been watching at the window 
 for his sister, and as soon as he saw her com- 
 ing, ran down to meet her, feeling such con- 
 fidence in her protection, that even old Jerry 
 could not frighten him so long as she did not 
 seem afraid of him. 
 
 " How dy do, Jerwy," he said promptly, 
 extending his little hand, and looking up 
 with perfect assurance into his face. Jerry 
 seemed much touched by the frank, confid- 
 ing manner of the child, which was quite un- 
 expected to him. 
 
 "Bonnie wee bairn! bonnie wee bairn, 
 surely it's sich as thysel' that's in heaven," 
 he exclaimed, and again a tear stood in his 
 eye as he humbly touched the little white 
 hand with, the tips of his fingers, instantly
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 251 
 
 however, withdrawing them, as if fearful of 
 contaminating its purity. Tommy's thought- 
 ful blue eyes were immediately fixed upon 
 him with an earnest pitying look when he 
 noticed the tear, and he seemed to be trying 
 to think of something to give him to comfort 
 him. Presently he said as if quite satisfied 
 with his sudden thought : 
 
 " I'll ask Cousin Fwank to climb up and 
 det you some chewies. Don't you want 
 some putty wed chewies ?" and not waiting 
 to hear whether Jerry wanted them or not, 
 he hurried off to engage Frank's services. 
 
 Mrs. Banks smiled very kindly, and patted 
 Annie's cheek, when the little girl at length 
 found her and told her that she had brought 
 poor old Jerry to be ministered to. She in- 
 vited the old man into her open pantry and 
 had hot coffee and bread set before him, drew 
 from him all she could of his history, (this 
 however was very little,) gave him herbs and 
 medicines for his rheumatism, and promised 
 to go and see him. Meantime she told him, 
 if he would, he might gather wild herbs and 
 roots for her, which she was in want of, that
 
 252 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 she would gladly buy them from him, and 
 thus save his going so far for work until he 
 felt stronger. 
 
 Much refreshed by his comfortable break- 
 fast, he rose to go, leaving thanks and bless- 
 ings for Annie and Mrs. Banks. Little Tom- 
 my came running in as he was going, laden 
 with several large branches from the cherry- 
 tree, filled with ripe luscious-looking fruit, 
 which he put in Jerry's basket, saying : 
 
 " Tome adain when I'm a bidder boy, and 
 I'll climb up the twee and det you some 
 more." 
 
 After this friendly visit from old Jerry 
 Thrip the children might entirely have over- 
 come their fear of him, had not Frank and 
 Alfred, aided by some of the servants set 
 themselves industriously to work inventing 
 new fables to his discredit. And by con- 
 stantly holding him up as an object of terror 
 and suspicion, they wrought so strongly upon 
 their imaginations, that the feeling of dread 
 and repugnance was daily becoming stronger 
 and more deeply-rooted. A threat of send- 
 ing for Jerry would, at any time, make them
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 253 
 
 perfectly obedient and submissive, much, to 
 the amusement of these mischievous boys. 
 It was in vain that Annie joined with Mrs., 
 Banks in trying to convince her little cousins 
 that he was a poor harmless old man, for, on 
 the other hand, Alfred and Frank read them 
 awful stories of enchanters and such people,, 
 and told them that he was one of them, and 
 that he was only trying to cheat Annie and 
 Tommy, and get them into his house to work 
 his magic spells upon them. They quoted 
 with great effect the story of the spider and 
 the fly, and from hearing these things reiter- 
 ated so often, even Clara, Lizzie, and Fannie 
 were not entirely free from suspicion of him, 
 22
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 SOCXN" after this the little gardeners, when 
 they came to their work, were greatly as- 
 tonished at finding some new plants, which 
 "nobody had planted," growing in Annie 
 and Tommy's bed. They were not in bloom 
 yet, but full of buds which would soon open. 
 Mrs. Banks was called to look at them and 
 say whether they could be weeds which had 
 sprung up so suddenly since the Saturday 
 before. 
 
 " 111 weeds grow apace, Annie, you 
 know," she answered, smiling as she fol- 
 lowed them to the spot. " But this is no 
 weed, though not a very rare plant either 
 suppose you call Uncle Lemuel, my dears, 
 and I expect he can tell you a great deal 
 about it. I dare say the old man intended 
 a pleasant surprise." 
 
 "He says he will come directly and see
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 255 
 
 it," said Susy; "but on his honor he does 
 not know who planted them." 
 
 The old gardener came up now, following 
 little Alice, to whom he was saying : 
 
 "No, indeed, Miss Alice! 'Twasn't me 
 done it, I kin assure you, miss; but I spec 
 there's mighty few flowers I don' know de 
 names of, so I'll soon tell you what dey air. 
 Lor ! now, wherever dey come from, its only 
 what dey call Canterbury bells after all !" 
 he added, leaning on his spade and looking 
 contemptuously down. "Its a right down 
 pretty little flower dough, only I never 
 plants 'um 'case anybody tall ken raise 'um. 
 My ole missus now used to be kind a fond 
 of 'um, and I rized the beautifullest ones 
 long as she lived, but they'se growed so 
 common since, all de poor folks has even 
 tuck to planting 'um that I done give up, 
 and dere ain't been one 'bout dis place for 
 years. I wonder now, whar de name o' 
 sense dese here did come from sure enough ?" 
 
 "Alfred or Frank must have done it," 
 said Fannie. 
 
 " That they must, and I'll go and ask
 
 256 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 them again," exclaimed Henry, as ne ran to 
 the house to cross-question the older boys, 
 who had pleaded laziness as an excuse for 
 not coming out that morning, to help to 
 work, as they had been doing lately quite 
 regularly, and this made the girls still more 
 suspicious of them. 
 
 " Tut, tut, tut, old Jack and the bean- 
 stalk," replied Alfred, laughing heartily as 
 he followed Henry. " So you think Frank 
 and I are fairies who can make flowers 
 spring up by just looking on the ground. 
 No, no ! that's even beyond our powers ; 
 but we will go and see if we can make them 
 open their mouths wide, and tell us at once 
 where they sprung from." 
 
 " I don't see, after all, that it's any more 
 wonderful than the strange freaks the HOB 
 has been playing off lately," said Frank. 
 
 "No, but that we could give old Jerry 
 Thrip the credit of, you know ; whereas this 
 is plainly the work of fairies, and is very 
 strange indeed," replied Alfred, delighted at 
 another opportunity of mystifying the child 
 ren and servants.
 
 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 257 
 
 Even good placid Mrs. Banks said it was 
 very strange, and the servants and children 
 agreed that there certainly must be fairies 
 or witches at work about the place, and 
 there was no use denying it. 
 
 "What are faiwies, sister Annie," asked 
 little Tommy as he listened to this solution 
 of the mystery. 
 
 "Well, the story-books say they are little 
 people dressed in green, I believe, Tommy, 
 who dance by the light of the moon, and fly 
 about doing all manner of strange things ; 
 nobody knows how." 
 
 " "Where do they live up in heaven ?" 
 
 " Oh ! no, Tom," said Alfred ; " they only 
 mount a broomstick now and then, to sweep 
 cobwebs from the sky." 
 
 " How tan they do that, I wonder?" said 
 the child, looking up earnestly to the far-off 
 sky. " Do they have tobwebs up there ? If I 
 was to det up so high I'd ask the wittle 
 angels to let me in." 
 
 "And they'd take you for one of them- 
 selves and do it certainly," replied Alfred, 
 
 struck bv the little fellow's angelic beauty as 
 22*
 
 258 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 he stood there on tiptoe, with his large blue 
 eyes wide open, and his coral lips parted, 
 showing two rows of little dazzling white 
 teeth, while his auburn ringlets fell in rich 
 masses on his dimpled shoulders, contrasting 
 with their whiteness and with his little blue 
 slip. 
 
 " Oh ! how I wish they would," he ex- 
 claimed turning eagerly to Alfred. " I should 
 like to be a wittle angel !" 
 
 " Tommy, Tommy, darling little brother, 
 please don't say that, it almost frightens me," 
 said Annie. 
 
 "Well, I won't, sister; but please tell me 
 why? an't it very, very dood to be an 
 angel?" 
 
 "Yes! oh yes! but not yet, Tommy. I 
 couldn't let you go even to be an angel just 
 yet," said Annie, clasping him tightly in her 
 arms, her eyes filling with tears at the thought 
 of losing him. 
 
 " I wouldn't like to leave my sister Annie 
 either ; but if they would take us both, sis- 
 ter, wouldn't that be nice ?" 
 
 " Mamma and Alice, Tommy ! could we
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 259 
 
 leave them? It would make them cry if 
 they were to come home and not find us 
 here." 
 
 " Yes, but sister!" said Tommy very ear- 
 nestly. " Sister Alice told me may be she 
 never would tome back any more, and that 
 if she didn't, she hoped she wo aid do to 
 heaven where the angels live with Q-od, and 
 that would be her home then, and you know 
 that mamma says that Grod took Papa to his 
 heavenly home ; so hadn't all of us better do 
 there too ?" 
 
 Annie could not answer, for her voice was 
 choked with the tears she found so hard to 
 keep from flowing : she bent her head there- 
 fore, in silence, and commenced preparing a 
 place for some seed she held in her hand 
 while one or two quiet drops watered the 
 spot. 
 
 Alfred watched her for a few moments 
 with his countenance unusually softened and 
 grave, then turning abruptly to little Tommy, 
 he picked him up and tossed him over his 
 shoulder, exclaiming:
 
 260 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Come, sir ! no more of that talk here, if 
 you please. Here I'll just make you a coat 
 of green grass and send you off to fairy-land, 
 and if you choose you may take the queen 
 of the fairies for your little wife." 
 
 "You tan't make me a toat of gween 
 gwass, and I don't want to do to faiwy-land, 
 for I don't know where that is," answered 
 Tommy. 
 
 " Come, then, and let me tell you about 
 the fairies, those wonderful little people ; and 
 I'm sure you'll want to go and see for your- 
 self all the marvels of fairy-land. In the 
 first place they are very, very small, not much 
 bigger than the end of your little thumb, and 
 they live down deep in the cowslip bell, or 
 some other pretty flower ; and while the sun 
 shines hot in the day, they stay there enjoy- 
 ing the cool shade, and the sweet odor of the 
 flowers, overhearing all we big people say, 
 and planning how they'll play tricks on us 
 when we've gone away. They take all their 
 naps in the day time, too, and come stealing 
 out at night to dance by the light of the 
 moon, or the glow-worm's taper.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 261 
 
 "Do they? then I'll watch, for 'em some 
 night when the moon is shining." 
 
 " Oh ! that would never do I" said Alfred 
 with mock gravity. " The fairies don't like 
 to be watched, and the fairy queen might 
 come by and catch you up in her little 
 coach and carry you off to fairy -land sure 
 enough."^ 
 
 " How bid is her toach, and what is it 
 made of ?" asked Tommy. 
 
 " They say that sometimes she rides upon 
 the thistle-down when she is in a great 
 hurry ; but I suppose on ordinary occasions 
 a very small golden pumpkin would do, with 
 grasshoppers for her steeds. Now I know 
 you'd like to take Katy-did's place and drive 
 them, wouldn't you ?" 
 
 " I should like to see them, and I hope we 
 will find some in our Canterbury bells when 
 they bloom," replied Tommy. 
 
 All day the children talked about Annie 
 and Tommy's strange flowers, and every 
 morning ran eagerly to see their bloom. 
 Great was the joy of all when, at length, the 
 buds began to open, and the graceful bells,
 
 262 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 some of deep blue, some paler, and some 
 white, hung on the slender stalks. The 
 beautiful " fairy bells/' as they called them, 
 almost made the children in their admiration 
 forget even old Jerry Thrip 
 
 The next time they met at sunset on the 
 " Mistletoe Hill," after the flowers had 
 bloomed, Annie brought a little sprig to 
 Mrs. Banks, saying: 
 
 " "We must make this an emblem of some- 
 thing, Mrs. Banks, and I have brought it to 
 ask you to find a name and motto for me." 
 
 The old lady smiling, took the flower in 
 her hand and said, as she examined it thought- 
 fully : 
 
 " Let me see ! here is white for love, and 
 pale blue for peace ; first separately, then 
 blended in one bell. And here is humility's 
 deeper shade, with the faint lilac tinge for gen- 
 tleness ; and all growing together on the same 
 stem like members of the same family. The 
 ringing of such bells would make sweet 
 music in the house, you may be sure. Sup- 
 pose then we call it Family Harmony. Two 
 very pretty verses occur to me as being ap-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS.^ 263 
 
 prcpriate for the motto. You can take 
 both or choose between them as you like 
 best. The first is from the 1st Epistle of St. 
 Peter : * Finally be ye all of one mind, hav- 
 ing compassion one of another ; love as 
 brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.' The 
 other one is from the 12th chapter of 
 Eomansf ' Be kindly affectioned one towards 
 another, in honor preferring one another.' " 
 
 { 'But Mrs. Banks," said Clara, with a 
 slight hesitation in her manner. "Love 
 seems to form a part of every motto, and we 
 have learned so many texts already about it, 
 that I think we are having too much on the 
 same subject." 
 
 " We began, my child, with the admission 
 that Love helped all the other graces to 
 grow, so no wonder it has a place in every 
 motto. Love must mingle in whatever we 
 do or say to others if we would be the child- 
 ren of Him of whom it is said : ' God is 
 Love.'"
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 " I'LL be bound for Annie. Nothing can 
 put old Granny Grunt out of her head when 
 Saturday afternoon comes round," said Lizzie. 
 
 " No, indeed. She ought to have her pic- 
 ture taken, and be called little Mother Mer- 
 ciful, with that long poky bonnet on, and 
 walking so demurely, holding Tommy by one 
 hand, and her basket of provisions in the 
 other, never looking to the right or the left, 
 till she reaches Granny's door ; and then lis- 
 tening with a grave, pitying face all the time 
 she is grunting out complaints about that 
 dreadful rheumatiz, 'dat commences at de 
 right arm, comes clean all down dat side till 
 it reach de little toe, den begins again to travel 
 up de little toe of de oder foot, and never 
 stops coming upards till it rech de lef shoul- 
 der, and come out at de little lef finger/ " said 
 Alfred, laughing and mimicking the voice 
 and manner of the old woman. "Never
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS 265 
 
 mind, little cousin, I'll go with you this time, 
 and take jour basket, and make you smile a 
 l.ttle every now and then." 
 
 " Thank you, Cousin Alfred," replied An- 
 nie good-humoredly, " you might get your 
 own picture taken, as Father Condescension, if 
 you were to do such a thing as that ; so I'd 
 rather not trouble you." 
 
 " Well done, Annie ! I'm glad you paid 
 him this time for his impertinence. I didn't 
 know you had so much spunk," said Fannie 
 laughing. 
 
 "Here is your basket, Annie. I have add- 
 ed a little tea and light bread to the flour and 
 molasses this evening, and I hope Granny 
 will have a good time with her old man," 
 said Mrs. Banks, coming out of the pantry 
 with the well-filled basket. 
 
 " Give my love to her, Annie, please," said 
 Clara, " and tell her I'll come to see her soon. 
 I can't go this evening, though, for I really 
 don't feel like it." 
 
 "An't you ashamed, Clara, to say you 
 don't feel like doing what is right?" said 
 
 Frank, winking towards Annie. 
 23
 
 266 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 "Without noticing this, Annie quietly tied 
 her sun-bonnet, took up her basket, and with 
 little Tommy holding her hand, walked down 
 to the quarter. 
 
 Aunt Mindy was very old and infirm, and 
 had gained the nick-name of Granny Grunt, 
 from the many aches and pains she was apt 
 to complain of, especially "the rheumatiz," 
 of which Alfred had spoken. She was sin- 
 cerely pious, though rather too superstitious ; 
 and her visions and dreams afforded great 
 amusement to the boys, who often went to 
 hear her experience, which they afterwards 
 ridiculed. Her husband, " 01 man Adam," 
 as she called him, was a short, stoutly-made 
 man, with a very black complexion, quiet 
 and humble in his manners. He belonged to 
 a gentleman on a neighboring plantation ; so 
 the old couple only met on Saturday even- 
 ings, and parted again early Monday morn- 
 ing. Their devotion to each other was really 
 affecting. Aunt Mindy was the oldest, and 
 in her love there mingled a good deal of the 
 patronizing and the condescending, although 
 it was sincere and warm for all that ; while
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELI S. 26 f 
 
 Adam, on his part, held his better half in the 
 highest veneration, admiring her gift of the 
 gab especially, and believing her visions the 
 most wonderful with which a mortal creature 
 was ever favored. She was always ready 
 with a clean frock and turban to greet him 
 when he came on Saturday evening, her face 
 showing plainly the real unaffected happiness 
 she felt. Some nice little dainty dish would 
 be set out on the table for his refreshment, 
 and by this a chair containing a clean suit of 
 clothing, which he was expected to put on as 
 soon as he had taken his repast. Then they 
 sat down to talk over the week's occurrences, 
 Aunt Mindy having much experience to tell, 
 and good advice to give her old man, both as 
 to his spiritual and temporal condition. After 
 this they sang hymns and had prayers to- 
 gether. Annie scarcely ever failed to call 
 and inquire after their health, bringing Mrs. 
 Banks's weekly contribution to their comforts 
 and reading them a chapter in the Bible. 
 After she had gone, quite a number of color- 
 ed friends would drop in to enjoy Aunt 
 Mindy's good cheer, which she dispensed on
 
 268 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 these occasions liberally, and to wish her old 
 man and herself joy on their meeting again. 
 The door was wide open when Annie came 
 this evening, and the old couple were seated 
 on low stools opposite to each other near the 
 entrance, while further back on a long low 
 bench placed against the bedstead, were three 
 visitors. Aunt Mindy was leaning forward, 
 with her pipe in her hand, singing one of her 
 favorite hymns : 
 
 " Yes, my body's lyin' down a mouldin' in the clay, 
 
 But my spirit's a marching home. 
 brothers ! won't you help me to sing and to pray ? 
 O sisters ! won't you help me to sing and to pray ? 
 For my body's lyin' down a mouldin' in the clay ; 
 Yes, my body's lyin' down a mouldin' in the clay, 
 
 But my spirit's a marching home. 
 And if you get there before I do, 
 Be sure and say I'm a coming, too." 
 
 ' ' Good-evening, Aunt Mindy. How do you 
 and Uncle Adam do this evening ? Tommy 
 and I have come to inquire about you, and 
 you see, Mrs. Banks has done her part, too," 
 said Annie, smiling kindly as she handed the 
 basket in.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 269 
 
 " God bless you, my dear young Miss, and 
 that sweet little Master, too. Much obleged 
 to you, Miss Annie. I feels de pains mon- 
 strous sharp, sometimes ; but I jes been a tell- 
 in' Adam dat de pains we suffers here is 
 mighty little after all, when you comes to 
 calculate de good what's a coming when we 
 gets shut of dese ole tabernucles o' clay dats 
 shakin' and totterin' all de time, like dey want 
 to give notice dey an't got long to tarry. 
 Miss Annie, honey, I ben thinking a heap all 
 dis week 'bout your ma and dat precious, 
 beautiful child, Miss Alice; and, says I to 
 myself, it make no deiference what happen to 
 em after all, for dey got de promise of de 
 Master that He never guine to forsake 'em, 
 and 'pend upon it, honey, he'll keep his word ! 
 And if deys in dis worle, or de tother one, he 
 wi-d em all de same septs, up dere dey free 
 from all trouble, and never gwine to shed any 
 more tears ! Oh ! when I studies 'bout dat 
 good country, seems like I couldn't stay here 
 no longer, any how ; den dere comes some- 
 times a voice, and says, Mindy I Mindy I 
 
 After I done lef my home, my father's house, 
 23*
 
 270 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 and de company of angels, to live in dat wick- 
 ed worle, grieving all de time at de wickness 
 of it, and den suffering cruel torments and 
 death to save your soul, and buy you away 
 from de Evil One, you gwine to grumble now 
 'bout finishing de day's work before you? 
 Little enough I give you to do, any how, and 
 it seems like you might do dat wid a good 
 will, and wait my time fore you wants to wear 
 de crown sted of de cross. Den I feels sham- 
 ed of myself, and says yes, Master, I is a 
 mighty wicked, grumbling ole creetnr, show 
 nough ; but I gwine to try to do better, and 
 spend de breath what's lef me in praising and 
 serving dee, and I willin' to stay here jes as 
 long as you please. Now, Miss Annie, please 
 to read 'bout de prodigal son, cause dere, on 
 dat bench, is poor Moses Roy, come to hear 
 talkin' and readin' agin dis evening, cause he 
 say what he hearn last time make him feel 
 like he want to hear some more 'bout Jesus 
 Christ ; and I been trying to make him blieve 
 what is de truth 'bout himself, dat if he only 
 willin' to give up his sins and turn back from 
 de ways he's ten gwine on in, dere's One
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 271 
 
 ready, willin' and waitin' to bid him welcome 
 and help him on de way home ; now, can't 
 you tell him de same, and read it to him too, 
 out de word?" 
 
 Annie looked in the direction to which 
 Aunt Mindy pointed, and was touched very 
 deeply to see the sorrowful yet earnest and 
 inquiring look with which poor Moses was 
 regarding her. He was a youth of nineteen 
 or twenty, shabbily dressed, with his uncomb- 
 ed hair knotted over his head, and his whole 
 person looking slovenly and neglected ; his 
 countenance was usually dull and heavy, and 
 when questioned, his answers, hitherto, had 
 exhibited not only total ignorance, but appa- 
 rent apathy of mind ; so that although he had 
 lately joined Uncle Adam several times when 
 he met him on his way to Aunt Mindy's, and 
 sat there during the reading, Annie had not 
 thought of his being attracted by any serious 
 motive, and was accordingly surprised as well 
 as gratified at Aunt Mindy's account. When 
 she had finished reading the chapter the old 
 -woman requested, she tried to explain it, 
 saying :
 
 272 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Now, you see, Moses, that Aunt Mindy 
 was right ; for as soon as the father saw his 
 poor son, who had gone so far away from him, 
 and spent all his money, and gotten into bad 
 company, coming back to him, though he was 
 a long way off, he went to meet him, and fell 
 on his neck and kissed him, and that's just 
 the way with God and us ; as soon as we 
 want to give up our bad ways and do right, he 
 is always glad to help us ; so if you want to 
 come to Jesus, he'll never turn away from 
 you only pray to him to forgive you all 
 your sins, and teach you how to serve him, 
 and he'll give you his Holy Spirit to make 
 your heart all new and holy, and prepare you 
 to go to heaven when you die." 
 
 "Yes, Moses, onlyjes turn your face de 
 right way in good earnest, and pend upon it 
 dat ole Satan never gwine to get de victry 
 long as you keep on askin' de Gracious Mas- 
 ter to 'liver you out o' his hands. Now, come 
 tell Miss Annie all 'bout how you'se ben try- 
 ing to do de way she telled us all out de good 
 book, and how sorrowful you feel cause you 
 couldn't do it," said Aunt Mindy.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 273 
 
 Tears were rolling down poor Moses' cheeks, 
 and putting his hands to his face he wept 
 aloud. "Please, Miss Annie, I know I'se no- 
 thing but a poor nigger boy," he said, " what 
 no body don't think nuttin 'bout, but somefir 
 in me seem to say if Jesus love every body in 
 de worle, and died for every single soul, like I 
 ben hearn tell down here, may be he'll think 
 'bout me too, ef I pray like Aunt Mindy and 
 Uncle Adam, and tries de way dey say, to do 
 de very bes I kin ; but I never knowed afore 
 dat dis black skin wasn't de worst o' me, dat 
 deres somefin sides dat to make God and 
 every body in de worle hate me ; for I an't 
 nothin' but black inside and out, like de ole 
 debil hisself. When I fust seed you come 
 down here, I was visiting some of de people 
 here, and we listened roun de house, and all 
 of us laughed at de preachin' and prayin' in 
 Aunt Mindy 's cabin, but I thought I'd jes 
 come in and hear too what 'twas all 'bout ; 
 an den, it seem mighty kine in de young Miss 
 to come down so regular to see we colored 
 people, and I kine o' liked to come and jes sat 
 dere, even ef 1 went to sleep, for I never
 
 274 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 hearn all de things you telled 'bout, and 
 didn't know what 'em mean, tell I hearn 
 Aunt Mindy keep seyin over 'bout Jesus 
 lovin' all de worle so much, and dyin' on de 
 cross to save every body ; and you read dat 
 chapter how it sey dey drove nails into his 
 flesh, and a good 'deal more, yet he love de 
 worle all de same, and want to get people to 
 come to heaven. I kep thinking how strange 
 it was, until it seemed like I want to love him 
 and pray to him as I done tell you at fust ; 
 but my heart so black and bad, 'tan't fit for 
 nothin." 
 
 " Don't you want a new one, then, Moses?" 
 asked Annie. 
 
 " Yes, Miss, indeed I does I" 
 
 " Well, Grod has promised, if we ask him, 
 to make our hearts all new again. ISTone of 
 us have good hearts ! Every body is very 
 wicked, until God changes their natures, and 
 then we have to keep asking him afterwards 
 to keep us holy, or we should fall back into 
 our old ways. ISTow, I'll read you about 
 the thief who was crucified with Jesus, and 
 you'll see there's no body too sinful to be for-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 275 
 
 given." As she read, she explained to Moses 
 the meaning of all the words, and he seemed 
 greatly comforted and encouraged by the 
 chapter. Aunt Mindy added every now and 
 then a word of exhortation, too. 
 
 " Now, mine, Moses," she said at last, seem- 
 ing afraid he was going to find comfort too 
 soon, " for all de way is very plain and sure 
 while you'se strivin' to keep right in it 
 'taint sich a very easy road to travel nother. 
 You got to keep watchin' and prayin' les, ef 
 you don mine, de bridegroom will come at 
 las and fine de virgin widout any oil in his 
 lamp." 
 
 Annie found now that Tommy was getting 
 tired and sleepy, so she rose to go. 
 
 "Grood-by, Moses," she said, "I will ask 
 God to bless you, and teach you to know how 
 to serve him, and I hope He will make you 
 very good and happy. Don't forget to keep 
 on praying for yourself, and believe in the 
 Lord Jesus all the time." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss Annie. I gwine to try 
 wid all my might, Miss, to get to heaven. I 
 know dat, and ef prayin' can take me dere,
 
 276 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 my mouth, an't gwine to be sliet much o* de 
 time," he answered. 
 
 "When she offered her hand to Aunt Mindy, 
 the old woman took it and held it in both 
 of hers, while she looked up to heaven and 
 fervently ejaculated : " God bless you, my 
 dear, dear young Missus ! Miss Annie," she 
 added, " have you ever noticed o' nights, when 
 de stars is shinin, how some is very big and 
 bright, and others little and faint, yet dey all 
 shine some ? I 'spose I kin be like de littlest 
 ones, any how; but you mus try to keep 
 shinin brighter and brighter tell you'se givin 
 all de light you possibly kin. Ef you please, 
 Miss, could you take dese fresh eggs to divide 
 'tween you and Miss Clara and dis little Mas- 
 ter, and tell Miss Clara I try not to think 
 hard 'bout her not coming to see me some- 
 times wid you, but I'se disappointed every 
 time you comes widout her,- an' she ben promi- 
 sin 1 so long, too." 
 
 Uncle Adam rose up to make a respectful 
 obeisance, and Annie returned home, feeling 
 well repaid for the trouble she had taken to
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 277 
 
 visit the old people, and full of interest in the 
 case of poor Moses. 
 
 Her cousins had been walking together on 
 the lawn since she left them, chatting in a 
 sprightly, animated tone. 
 
 "Well, Lizzie," said Fannie, " I hope you 
 got that great, long lesson in Ancient Geo- 
 graphy for Mr. McLeod at last. I wouldn't 
 be so bookish and proper as you are growing 
 for a good deal." 
 
 "Umph.1 it's time for me to be growing 
 dignified and to study up, Miss Fannie. Ee- 
 member I'm almost grown." 
 
 " Well, young ladies, I'm pleased to find 
 that Mr. McLeod can make you toe the mark 
 rather better than poor Miss Binns did," said 
 Alfred. 
 
 " Pugh ! Miss Binns doesn't command any 
 body's respect, and her lessons are pretty 
 much humbuggeries, all of them ; " said Lizzie. 
 
 "Well now, Lizzie, for my part, I'm really 
 attached to Miss Binns bad as she thinks 
 me she never gives me any trouble about 
 studying ; the less you take the smarter she 
 
 thinks you, and that suits me exactly, a great 
 24
 
 273 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 deal better than to hear Mr. McLeod roar out : 
 ' Thart's a very bard lesson, Miss Farnnie, 
 and you will plase to take more trouble to 
 prepare yourself before you come to school.' 
 I don't know what he is going to say to me on 
 Monday,' said Fannie. 
 
 " you lazy little thing !" answered 
 Lizzie ; "to like Miss Binns just because you 
 don't have to take any trouble about your 
 lessons. I wonder what you go to school at 
 all for?" 
 
 " Now, Clara, just let me tell you all about 
 Miss Binn's school, and see if you would not 
 agree with me that it's a great deal nicer 
 than Mr. McLeod's. In the first place, Miss 
 Hetty Jane Binns is an old maid, stiff, 
 wrinkled, and most as proper as Lizzie there. 
 She wears a brown merino dress in the win- 
 ter, and purple calicoes in the summer, a 
 black silk apron, with two egg-shaped 
 pockets, a gold watch with a very fine chain, 
 and black prunella shoes. On each side of 
 her face is a little stiff short bunch of curls, 
 and she sits in a straight-backed high chair, 
 with a small square red table before her.
 
 THE CANTEKBUKY BELLS. 279 
 
 On this table are laid in the same spot every 
 day, and just as even as they can lie side 
 by side, a flat, yellow ruler, a red lead pencil, 
 a penknife, and a square piece of india-rub- 
 ber. Back of all these is the little brass bell 
 that tingles whenever we make a noise or do 
 any thing Miss Binns doesn't like. Exactly 
 in the middle of the table is a little bundle 
 wrapped in a bird's-eye napkin, and it always 
 has the same things in it from one year to 
 another two small rolls and a little round 
 sugar-cake. "We girls don't believe Miss 
 Binns could eat any thing else at twelve 
 o'clock if she was to try. Then there is a 
 little space left on the table for the book 
 when she is hearing a lesson ; but sometimes 
 Miss Binns sits up there herself, and puts 
 her feet in the chair, I suppose to see us all 
 better. At the back of her chair is a large 
 blackboard, and on this is written always 
 two or three sentences like these to keep us 
 in mind, ( Order is heaven's first law,' 
 'Knowledge is power,' 'Time is more pre- 
 cious than gold' ; and when the girls do any 
 thing very, very naughty, their names are
 
 280 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 written with what they've done bad under 
 these sentences, for people to see who come 
 into the school-room when we are not there 
 for she rents the room under the church, 
 where they have prayer-meetings. But some- 
 times the girls play her a trick by getting in 
 before any body comes, and rubbing every 
 thing out or putting her own name up. In 
 the middle of the room there hangs a little 
 orrery with dear little green and blue and 
 yellow balls for suns and moons. And on 
 the wall are one or two large maps and some 
 charts with every kind of shaped figures; 
 she calls these geometrical charts. Two tall 
 slender sticks stand under these, that look as 
 if they were meant to whip us ; but they 
 an't they are only pointers. Well, if Miss 
 Binn's is in a good humor after she has 
 opened school, she looks round and smiles 
 at us all and says : l Now, my dears, fold 
 your hands upon your breasts and see how 
 still you can keep. There! now you look 
 just like little angels ! Fannie, be a good 
 girl too. Lizzie has turned round and no- 
 body would know her for the same girl.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS, 281 
 
 I have made up my mind not to be good, 
 but to have some fun, so I look at the girls, 
 say, ' Yes, Ma'am,' very gravely, and get up 
 and turn all round and round, making all 
 the fuss I can in doing it. Every body 
 laughs except Miss Binns, she is ready to 
 box my ears, but only rings the bell very 
 loud and strikes the table with the ruler, till 
 it has dents in it, telling the school, in a stern 
 voice, to 'be still T Then she looks at me 
 and says : ' Fannie Forrest, you naughty girl ! 
 go stand in the floor, and hold up your hand 
 until I tell you to take it down.' 
 
 " 'I'd like to know what in the world / 
 have been doing, you told me to turn right 
 round, and I did it I can't help the girls 
 laughing,' say I, with a very persecuted face J 
 she calls me to her then and says, in a com 
 passionate kind of voice : 
 
 " ' Didn't you understand what I meant, 
 my dear, by turning round ? It's what they 
 call & figure of speech /' 
 
 "I look very simple, and pumping up two 
 big tears into my eyes, say : 
 
 " ' I thought I did turn my figure round 
 24*
 
 282 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 I tried, but there wasn't much room between 
 the bench and the desk.' 
 
 " ' Why, my dear, don't you indeed under- 
 stand what is meant by a figure of speech ? I 
 must try to explain it to you.' 
 
 " The girls all giggle now, and Miss Hetty 
 tells them that it is very impolite to laugh at 
 people's mistakes ; that if they were to go to 
 Paris, nobody would laugh at them, no mat- 
 ter what bad French they should speak. 
 Then she turns to me again and says : ' A 
 figure of speech is employed when a person 
 makes use of an expression that means some- 
 thing quite different from what the words 
 would seem to do at first. For instance, sup- 
 pose one day when you had been very 
 naughty, I should say to the school in the 
 evening, " Young ladies, Miss Fannie Forrest 
 has behaved beautifully to-day" that would 
 be a figure of speech which is called 
 irony. Do you think you understand that 
 now?' 
 
 " * Yes, ma'am, I expect I do. It's what 
 we children call telling stories, I suppose.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 283 
 
 But I did not know, ma'am, that you ever 
 told figures of speech !' 
 
 " Miss Binns gives a funny little smile, that 
 looks as if she wasn't very much pleased, and 
 says : 
 
 " ' Excuse me, my dear Fannie ; you are 
 usually a very bright little girl. But really, 
 to-day, my dear, you seem, if I may use the 
 expression, you seem quite stupid /' 
 
 " ' I have never been in the habit of being 
 called stupid, and I'll tell mother she had 
 better keep me at home, if I am so stupid,' 
 I answer, looking very sulky ; and Miss 
 Binns looks frightened, and says : 
 
 " ' I did not mean, my dear, that you ac- 
 tually are a stupid girl. I only said you 
 seemed so, to-day. You know that I said first 
 that usually you are very bright. I think you 
 are smart enough, my child, and quite a 
 good-looking little girl, too, when you are 
 good. What I meant by turning round was 
 turning round in your behavior ; so go now 
 to your seat and see if you can not sit up 
 straight and fold your hands like one of my 
 little angels. Mrs. Smith is coming in pre-
 
 284 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 sently to see the school, and if you behave 
 well, I will give you an approbation-ticket at 
 the close of school.' 
 
 "Soon after this there's a knock at the 
 door, and we all sit straight and clasp our 
 hands upon our breasts, with our books lying 
 open before us on the desk. A lady comes in 
 and is introduced to the school by Miss 
 Binns, who smiles and looks highly de 
 lighted, as she glances round, then slyly lets a 
 pin fall to see if she can hear it. Mrs. Smith 
 stays a good while, and we all listen to her 
 conversation; sometimes she tells us anec- 
 dotes about her own school-days for our edi- 
 fication. When she's gone, Miss Binns says : 
 
 " ' You behaved beautifully, young ladies ; 
 I could actually hear a pin fall when Mrs. 
 Smith came in ; it was so still.' 
 
 " Then she calls up her classes, and we 
 none of us know our lessons very well, but 
 she is in too good-humor to scold, and so she 
 tells us anecdotes about great men that ( Dr. 
 Franklin said if he was a shoe-black, he'd be 
 the best one in the world,' for instance ; but 
 as she has told them very often before, we
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 285 
 
 know them all by heart, and I try to remem- 
 ber one that she don't happen to mention 
 that day, and say : ' Wasn't it Sir Isaac 
 Newton, ma'am, that used to be so occupied 
 with his books that he would forget to go to 
 his dinner when he was called ?' 
 
 " ' Yes, my dear ; where did you read 
 that?' ' 
 
 " ' I didn't read it ; I remembered what 
 you told me once about him.' 
 
 " ' You did ? Well that's being a good 
 attentive little girl, and you said your lesson 
 pretty well too.' 
 
 "I toss my head and say: 'I hardly 
 looked at the book.' 
 
 " ' You didn't ? Well, considering Fannie 
 Forrest didn't look at her lesson, young 
 ladies, she said it remarkably well, and I 
 must give her two tickets of approbation this 
 evening, one for her lesson and one for her 
 good behavior. I have a school with a 
 great deal of talent in it. Yes, I may say 
 that though I have taught both at the North 
 and the South, I never before had such a 
 talented school.'
 
 286 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 "'I should think, ma'am, it might then 
 be called the Augustine Age of your school; 
 mightn't it, Miss Binns ?' 
 
 "'Why, Fannie! -did you think of that 
 yourself, my dear ?' 
 
 " ' Yes, ma'am !' 
 
 " { It is very smart, indeed, my child. I 
 will write it down to let people know what 
 a talented set of girls I have. Yes, it may 
 be called the Augustine Age in my school life. 
 I think I have mentioned, perhaps, young 
 ladies, the origin of this expression ; but if 
 any of you do not remember, hold up your 
 hands. 7 
 
 " "Well, then, in the evening as we go out 
 of the room, we have to pass by Miss Binns' 
 chair, and all who are to get approbation- 
 tickets hold up their hands when they make 
 their courtesy, and bid good evening; and 
 she gives them a little piece of pink or blue 
 paper, cut square, and pointed all round in 
 little fine points, with 'Approbation' written 
 in the middle of it. On Fridays we have 
 oral instruction in geography and maps, bio- 
 graphy, (I suppose it may be called,) the ele-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 287 
 
 ments of geography and astronomy. "We all 
 stand in a line in front of the large maps, and 
 Miss Binns puts one of the long slender rods 
 in our hands by turns, and asks us to point 
 out the different countries and cities in the 
 world, and tell what productions they are 
 remarkable for ; but she tells us first herself- 
 we only repeat after her, and then with these 
 long sticks we sail all round the world on 
 the maps. Miss Binns holds one pointer in 
 her own hand to correct our mistakes, if we 
 go wrong, or to tap on the floor with, if we 
 are disorderly. The biography, as Alfred 
 calls it, consists in questions put to the whole 
 school, which we are all to answer together ; 
 and I tell you we do make a noise sometimes, 
 talking just as loud as we can. The ques- 
 tions are such as these; l "Who was Benjamin 
 Franklin ?' or ' Who was General Washing- 
 ton?' 
 
 " ' A great and good man.' 
 
 " ' Do you mean, my dears, when you say 
 a great and good man that he had a great 
 big body or a great big soul ?' 
 
 " 'A great big soul.'
 
 288 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " ' Yes, you are right ; it was his great soul 
 which made him. so remarkable. What has 
 he been called ?' 
 
 " ' The Father of his country. 7 
 
 "After we have gone through General 
 Washington and one or two others, she asks : 
 ' Who is the best scholar in this school ?' 
 
 "There is a good, quiet little girl who 
 never does wrong, so every body calls out 
 her name : ' Kebecca Bliss.' 
 
 "Miss Binns looks at her and smiles, and 
 then says : { And now tell me who is the 
 worst.' 
 
 "Sometimes, indeed, very often poor 'Fan- 
 nie Forrest' answers to this character; but 
 sometimes she says : 
 
 "'What two young ladies have turned 
 round and are trying -to be good ?' and the 
 girls answer : * Lizzie and Fannie Forrest.' 
 
 " Then comes our geometry ; we have to 
 use the pointers again for this, to point out 
 first a square and tell how many sides it has, 
 then a triangle, a pentagon, hexagon, hep- 
 tagon, octagon, etc. Miss Binns has a little 
 pasteboard box, besides, full of pieces of dif-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 289 
 
 ferent colored morocco, cut in these shapes, 
 which she holds up, and we call out the 
 names. Then there are prisms, and py- 
 ramids, and all kinds of things, cut in wood,, 
 which we describe too. Last of all comes 
 the astronomy, which we love dearly, as we 
 have to wheel the little orrery round and 
 round with the pointer, and tell the names 
 of the little colored balls, and how far they 
 are from the sun, and from our earth, and 
 hear all about Sir "William Herschel and 
 ' George Miss Sidus,' as we call it on pur- 
 pose.' 
 
 " Now, Clara, wouldn't you rather go to 
 Miss Binns than to Mr. McLeod ?" 
 
 " I should like to go to her of all things. 
 What fun you must have !" 
 
 " Oh ! but Clara you would get so tired of 
 so much nonsense. I am, for we go over 
 and over the same things in the most tedious 
 way, and I don't feel as if we learnt any 
 thing, either," said Lizzie. " Sometimes I 
 feel reproached, too, for laughing at the old 
 lady so much, but you can hardly help it; 
 and then she treats those scholars so badly 
 25
 
 290 THE CANTERBUK5T BELLS. 
 
 who are not well off, or whose parents are 
 very strict with them, that we can't respect 
 her much, and those of us who are not afraid 
 of her, take up the cudgel for the persecuted 
 ones and make her afraid of us ; for we found- 
 out we could do this. But, Fannie, tell about 
 the French." 
 
 " Oh ! yes ; we had a French teacher last 
 winter, who used to come and give us les- 
 sons, and Miss Binns seemed to think her 
 school was becoming something quite re- 
 markable after this, and would look so 
 pleased when we came from our class, and 
 sometimes asked us questions on the lesson- 
 One day, when I had been learning French 
 about a week, she said to me : 
 
 " ' Now, Fannie, my dear, I suppose if you 
 were to go to Paris you could make yourself 
 understood there, hey?' 
 
 " ' No, indeed, ma'am, I couldn't.' 
 
 " ( Why couldn't you, my dear ? You 
 could say 'donnez moi du pain? couldn't 
 you?' 
 
 " ' Oh ! yes, ma'am. I could certainly say 
 that.'
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 291 
 
 " Well, I thought so, my dear.' 
 
 " ' But, Miss Binns, I might want some- 
 thing besides bread.' 
 
 " ' Yes, l une tasse de tlie] for instance/ she 
 said, smiling, and looking as satisfied and 
 pleased as possible. So I told her yes, I 
 thought I could go to Paris, and make my 
 way all about by asking for bread and tea." 
 
 " Wasn't it Lizzie that thanked Miss Binns 
 for all her instruction, and told her she never 
 knew until a few days ago that a piece of 
 red morocco wasn't a square, and a piece of 
 green an oblong, just out of badness ?" asked 
 Alfred. 
 
 " Yes, Lizzie has been just as mischievous 
 as any of us, though she's beginning to get 
 such grown-up ways, nowadays," said Fannie, 
 
 "Well," said Clara, "I should like to go to 
 Miss Binns for just one week, at least, to see 
 you all at your pranks, for it must be very 
 funny. But here comes dear little Annie ; 
 I must go meet her and hear about Granny 
 Grunt." 
 
 Annie delivered the eggs and Granny's 
 message to Clara, and then as they went to
 
 292 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 their room by another entrance to the house, 
 she gave an account of poor Moses Roy. 
 Clara looked quite interested and serious as 
 she listened and said : 
 
 "I know I ought to go to see after old 
 Aunt Mindy sometimes, for it hurts her feel- 
 ings to be neglected as she says ' by them she 
 belongs to ;' but she always talks in such a 
 solemn way to me, that I dread it. But 
 maybe it will do me as much good as poor 
 Moses; so I'll turn over a new leaf, Annie, 
 indeed I will, to-morrow."
 
 CHAPTER XI V. 
 
 " MRS. BANKS, Uncle Simon says he heard 
 there was going to be church to-morrow in 
 the old * 'piscopal church, whar Mas' Ed- 
 ward's family used to 'tend, long as was any 
 minister thar ' I hope you will let us go, 
 won't you ; it's been nearly two years since I 
 was in any kind of a church, I believe," said 
 Clara the next Saturday morning, with great 
 animation. 
 
 " Certainly, we must go!" Our pew will 
 have to be full if the church is open, if only 
 for the looks of the thing. Grandpa Ludwell 
 used to be one of the vestrymen, and the 
 family have always supported the church 
 very warmly," said Frank oracularly. 
 
 "And there has been a time, my dear Mis- 
 ter Frank, when the Lud wells found pleasure 
 in going to the house of God, not for the 
 looks of the thing, but that they might join 
 in worshipping him on his holy day." 
 25*
 
 294 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " I didn't know there was any church in 
 the neighborhood, but I'm so glad to find 
 there is," said Annie. 
 
 " Yes, there's a grand old church about 
 seven miles off, just as you approach, the vil- 
 lage of . There hasn't been any preach- 
 ing there, however, for five or six years, 
 because we've got no Episcopal preacher 
 now," replied Clara. 
 
 "No indeed we stand a fine chance of 
 turning heathen too," said Frank. "The 
 servants and poor people around have their 
 meeting-houses, but they are not very pleas- 
 ant places for ladies and gentlemen, for they 
 are what I call decidedly vulgar ; so we lose 
 our chance of hearing preaching at all," he 
 continued lightly. 
 
 "I wonder, Mister Frank, if some ladies 
 and gentlemen will not find that heaven is too 
 vulgar a place for them, for I hope there'll be 
 a great many poor people and servants there 
 too," said Mrs. Banks gravely. 
 
 " I don't know, ma'am, how that will be ; 
 but I don't think it's very pleasant in this 
 world to be crowded up with all sorts of
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 295 
 
 people, listening to coarse common language ; 
 as grandpa says it's very bad for our gram- 
 mar. I wonder who is going to preach, 
 though to-morrow." 
 
 Uncle Simon now spoke up, saying in his 
 slow, emphatic manner : 
 
 " I hearn, Mas' Frank, it was Parson Da- 
 vis, what live down the river and have lately 
 returned from crost the ocean." 
 
 " Will there be room for the whole ship's 
 crew of us ?" asked Fannie. 
 
 " We must manage to make room, Miss 
 Fannie, as it's so seldom we can go to church ; 
 I would not like any body that is able to 
 get out to stay at home," answered Mrs. 
 Banks. 
 
 "Some might go on horseback, if the 
 carriages won't hold all," suggested George. 
 
 "Yes, there are two riding-horses for Liz- 
 zie and Fannie, as they are so fond of riding, 
 and Frank and Alfred's ponies," said 
 Henry. 
 
 The two girls expressed themselves de- 
 lighted with this arrangement, and the young
 
 296 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 gentlemen enthusiastically commended the 
 cleverness of the two younger boys. 
 
 "Mayn't we take our dinner in a basket, 
 and eat it under the trees, Mrs. Banks. 
 Then Aunt Lindy won't have any Sunday 
 cooking to do," said Susy. 
 
 Mrs. Banks agreed, and this added very 
 much to the anticipated pleasure of the ride. 
 A great many petitions came in during the 
 day from the servants, for leave to borrow 
 horses from the overseer, and the good old 
 lady kindly interested herself in making ar- 
 rangements for the conveyance of all who 
 were unable to walk such a distance. Pre- 
 sently Dinah came in, with a broad grin and 
 a furtive glance at the young ladies and gen- 
 tlemen, whom she seemed conscious were 
 going to be very much diverted. With a low 
 courtesy she said : 
 
 " Granny say, please, ma'am, kin you jis let 
 her hab one blue counterpane to cover de 
 wagon-top, Mr. Eussell gwine to lend her 
 to kep off de sun to-morrow as she go to 
 meetin'." 
 
 " Well ! I'd like to see granny's vehicle
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 297 
 
 when it's done," said Alfred, laughing heart- 
 ily. " I suppose she thinks the blue counter- 
 pane will be the next thing to the blue sky. 
 Ask the old woman, Dinah, if she would not 
 like a green veil too ? I'll promise to furnish 
 one, as well as a pair of blue spectacles to 
 keep her eyes safe and sound in her head, if 
 she wants them." 
 
 " How would granny look, cousin Alf, in 
 a green veil and blue spectacles, I wonder ? 
 An't you ashamed to 1 - tease her so ?" asked 
 Susy, laughing merrily at the same time over 
 the comic picture which her fancy painted. 
 Mrs. Banks promptly supplied the blue 
 counterpane, as well as a new head handker- 
 chief for the old woman. 
 
 The next morning was the first of June, 
 and a lovelier Sabbath never dawned. 
 Beaming faces were gathered around the 
 breakfast-table ; and Mrs. Banks, whose Sun- 
 day dress was always of a glossier black than 
 the one she wore in the week, and her cap 
 and kerchief a few shades whiter, without a 
 tumble or a crease, looked the very happiest 
 of that happy family. The provision-basket,
 
 298 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 
 
 in their opinion, required their combined 
 wisdom and skill to arrange in an approved 
 manner. In good time, however, every 
 thing was in readiness, and the cavalcade set 
 forth. Alfred and Fannie put their horses 
 immediately into a gallop, and by and by 
 they came up with parties of servants and 
 others, going in the same direction with 
 themselves, some on foot, others riding ; not 
 unfrequently several were mounted upon the 
 same beast. Mr. Kussell, the overseer, had 
 accommodated himself, his wife, and six 
 children on two horses, and jogged on slovv r - 
 ly and contentedly, in spite of the pity Fannie 
 could not help feeling for the quiet, puny 
 little baby, dressed in a bright yellow calico, 
 lying on a pillow before its mother, who 
 held the bridle loosely in her hand, permit- 
 ting the horse to go its own gait, while she 
 looked about her with an air of perfect un- 
 concern. They next overtook Granny 
 Grunt in a cart, covered with the top of an 
 old spring wagon, over which Granny had 
 drawn the blue-check counterpane the ori- 
 ginal covering being worn out. It looked
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 299 
 
 very much like a moving tent, but it was 
 easy to see, by the old woman's pleased and 
 happy countenance, that she was quite satis- 
 fied with the arrangement. A bed was laid 
 on the floor of the cart, and in the middle of 
 this she sat, with plenty of room to spread 
 her rheumatic limbs. Old man Adam was 
 elevated on a stool secured by a rope, and 
 the good old Christian couple were sing- 
 ing : 
 
 "Happy day, happy day, 
 When Jesus washed my sins away : 
 He taught me how to watch and pray, 
 And sing rejoicing all the day." 
 
 Annie was very glad that Mrs. Banks rode 
 in the carriage with Clara and herself, for 
 she loved to hear her talk of old times, when 
 there had been service regularly every Sun- 
 day, and her grandparents, with her mother 
 and uncle and aunt, had attended, and sat in 
 the same pew to which they were going that 
 morning. 
 
 Little Phebe made them laugh very much 
 by asking, as they passed a small log cabin,
 
 300 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 in front of which stood an apple-tree laden 
 with unripe fruit : 
 
 " Mrs. Banks, would I be Adam and Eve 
 if I was to jump out and eat all those apples 
 up?" 
 
 " I don't think you'd be any body before 
 you had done, if you were to try that," said 
 George. 
 
 They arrived at the church some time be- 
 fore the hour for service, but already there 
 were vehicles of various descriptions, as 
 well as riding-horses, fastened a short dis- 
 tance off, while knots of persons were col- 
 lected about the steps and doorway, or saun- 
 tering through the yard. Mrs. Banks and 
 our little friends spent some time in reading 
 the inscriptions on the discolored tombstones, 
 in the venerable old churchyard, before they 
 entered the building. Some of these were 
 very touching, telling, as they did, the his- 
 tory of whole families who had passed away 
 in a few short years ; but there was one tall 
 column of pure white marble, on which was 
 inscribed: "To the Stranger and her Child." 
 
 " Who was she, do you know, Mrs.
 
 THE CANTEKBUKY BELLS. 301 
 
 Banks ?" asked Lizzie, as they stood before 
 it, full of eager interest. 
 
 " She came to the village, Miss Lizzie, with 
 no name but Lucy was very beautiful, but 
 always dressed in deep mourning, and wore 
 a black veil through which it was most im- 
 possible to see her face. She lived in a sweet 
 little white cottage, with a garden in front, 
 and the porch covered with vines. Her lit- 
 tle daughter never went to play with other 
 children, but was always at her mother's side. 
 No body was ever asked into their house, 
 although there were many who were anxious 
 enough to get in, and tried very hard to do 
 so. Some, too, followed her to the post- 
 office, to see if by any chance the rest of 
 her name would ever come out ; but it never 
 did ; her letters were directed only to 
 ' Lucy.' 
 
 "Every Sunday she was in church long 
 before the congregation began to collect, 
 seated in the corner of a pew, as much out 
 of sight as possible, and sat as still as a 
 stone all the time, with her eyes fixed on 
 the minister's face. She sang very low, but
 
 802 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 in one of the sweetest voices you ever heard. 
 The poor people talked constantly of her 
 kindness to them ; she seemed to know di- 
 rectly any one was sick, or in any particular 
 need, and to have money enough to relieve 
 them whenever they called upon her for 
 help. At last her child was taken ill, but 
 she would not send for the doctor in the 
 village your grandfather had studied medi- 
 cine and was an excellent physician, though 
 he did not practise very much, and she sent 
 to Belmont for him. He was very much 
 surprised, as he had never spoken to her, but 
 she had some reason which she told him for 
 this ; he kept his promise to her, however, 
 faithfully, and never told any thing of what 
 passed to any one, even your grandmother. 
 The little one died, and she soon followed. 
 "When she was ill, a gray-haired old gentle- 
 man came to her cottage, and nursed her 
 most tenderly she took no notice of any 
 thing, scarcely, after her child died; and he 
 was not so particular about admitting people 
 into the house when any one went that choose 
 to inquire about her, and he always answered
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 303 
 
 them most kindly; but still the mystery 
 was unsolved. Several times after, she sent 
 for your grandfather. Your grandmother 
 went to see her, and took me with her once 
 or twice. I shall never forget one evening, 
 in the spring of the year just before she 
 died when we found her, sitting by the win- 
 dow, holding in her hand a book of most 
 beautiful pressed flowers, with the names of 
 different places in Europe, and the date 
 marked on the bottom of the page. One with 
 a long, slender stem, had become loosened 
 from the book, and she held it in her thin 
 white fingers, looking at it in her quiet, fixed 
 way, as she said : 
 
 " ' The color faded, its fragrance gone ; 
 nothing left but this poor, thin, shadowy 
 remnant of what was once so beautiful 
 yet God made it, and nothing can stamp out 
 the impression of his hand upon his own 
 work. Yes ! God made my poor broken 
 heart. Yes! it is still his work, and they 
 can't make him turn away his face from me. 7 
 
 " The old gentleman looked very sad, and 
 brought us away from her. We thought he
 
 304 THE CAXTEEBUEY BELLS. 
 
 was afraid she would unconsciously betray 
 something she would not wish us to hear. 
 After she died, he went away directly, but 
 left the money with your grandfather, and 
 gave him directions to have this stone erected 
 here, just as it is." 
 
 "Oh! how I should like to know more 
 about her; who could she have been?" said 
 Fannie. 
 
 The rest would have expressed the same 
 desire, but the minister had come, and the 
 people were beginning to go in. 
 
 The church was a noble old building, with 
 thick walls, and a heavy gilded cornice 
 round the interior. There were two chan- 
 cels, in one of which was the reading-desk 
 and communion-table, and in the other the 
 pulpit. The floor was flagged with blocks 
 of different colored marble, and on the pil- 
 lars up the aisles were fastened little mahog- 
 any mite-boxes, with the inscription : " Give 
 alms of thy goods, and never turn away thy 
 face from any poor man, and then the face 
 of the Lord shall not be turned away from 
 thee.'
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 305 
 
 At the first of these boxes, Mrs. Banks 
 paused to put in her contribution, and her 
 example was followed by all the children, 
 down to little Phebe; even " Mammy" had 
 a mite to give. Then they passed on to the 
 large square pew in front, with its high 
 oaken back, and benches all around, roomy 
 enough for the whole family and " Mammy " 
 besides. Annie sat next to Mrs. Banks with 
 a serious, thoughtful face ; her prayer-book 
 open and her eye resting on the wocds: 
 " The Lord is in his holy temple ; let all the 
 earth keep silence before him." She was 
 endeavoring to realize its meaning, and to 
 keep that silence of the heart from all vain 
 thoughts and worldly inclinations, which 
 she felt that it required, when, just as the 
 minister had entered the desk, and was about 
 to begin the service, a confused noise was 
 heard at the door, followed by creaking steps 
 up the aisle, and more than one of the child- 
 ren tittered so loudly that she turned her 
 head at length, to see what could have oc- 
 casioned the disturbance, and could not for- 
 bear smiling herself at the strange-look-
 
 306 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ing figure before her. A homely-looking 
 woman, about fifty years old, in a white 
 muslin dress, made very much shorter than 
 usual, coarse leather shoes, a broad pink sash, 
 and a soiled white bonnet, with bows of 
 every different colored ribbon that could be 
 thought of, was walking with a mincing, 
 affected step up the aisle, holding in her 
 hands a little rocking-chair, which she placed 
 just in front of Mr. Ludwell's pew, between 
 it and the chancel. 
 
 As soon as she recollected herself, Annie 
 turned away her head, and tried to forget 
 the ludicrous spectacle; but her attention 
 was often attracted, in spite of herself, by 
 the loud, emphatic manner in which the re- 
 sposes were uttered; and when the singing 
 commenced, such a strange, cracked voice 
 rose above all the others, that it was impos- 
 sible to keep back the smile it occasioned. 
 In more than one pew, there was audible 
 mirth. The minister looked puzzled and 
 annoyed, but the singer had her head thrown 
 back in the most complacent manner, while 
 her foot bea: time indefatigably. Annie was
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 307 
 
 relieved when they were seated again, for 
 the reading of the lesson; but during the 
 whole of the other parts of the service, the 
 same painful effort was required to enable 
 her to preserve that composure and solemn- 
 ity of feeling which the time and place de- 
 manded. When the minister went into the 
 pulpit, Annie turned so as entirely to lose 
 sight of the stranger and her curious atti- 
 tudes, but almost immediately the little 
 rocking-chair was taken up, and in the same 
 affected, mincing manner, moved in front of 
 the other chancel, and so placed, that it was 
 impossible to look at the minister without 
 seeing those large, wild-looking gray eyes 
 that were fixed upon him, and the bonnet 
 and bows, bowing approval, or shaking in 
 disapprobation. 
 
 Mrs. Banks, Annie and Tommy, were the 
 only occupants of Mr. Ludwell's pew, who 
 preserved the least appearance of gravity. 
 Mammy was watching Miss Fancy Hunter's 
 movements with the keenest sense of amuse- 
 ment depicted in her face, slyly nudging the 
 child who sat next to her at every new de-
 
 308 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 monstration ; while several of the little child- 
 ren's laugh was heard more than once be- 
 yond the limits of their own pew, and it was 
 evident that neither Lizzie, Fannie, Clara, 
 Alfred or Frank were paying the least atten- 
 tion to any thing but Miss Fancy. 
 
 The text was : " Here have we no continu- 
 ing city, but we seek one to come." The 
 subject was one which at this time came with 
 peculiarly solemn force to Annie's mind, and 
 as she listened to the words of the eloquent 
 and earnest preacher, her heart was soon too 
 full to be any longer conscious of the annoy- 
 ing presence which had at first disturbed her 
 devotions. When the sermon was ended, 
 she longed to slip away quietly by herself, 
 and think of what she had heard ; but they 
 were soon surrounded by hosts of cousins 
 and friends, who pressed round the children 
 to speak to them, and make inquiries about 
 the absent members of the family. 
 
 More than once Annie's lip quivered, as 
 she answered to the questions about her 
 precious sister, but she endeavored to com- 
 mand herself, and did not express the anxie-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 809 
 
 ty which this circumstance had occasioned 
 her. And to many her manner appeared 
 only cold and restrained. Little Tommy 
 was caressed, petted, and praised aloud, by 
 almost every one that passed him. Mrs. 
 Banks found some difficulty in declining the 
 invitations which were urgently pressed, that 
 the children and herself should stay and dine 
 with some of their numerous friends and re- 
 lations. 
 
 At length, to Annie's great relief, they had 
 taken their seats in the carriage, and were 
 about to drive off, when they were most un- 
 expectedly stopped by no less a personage 
 than Miss Fancy Hunter, who spied them 
 just as she herself was about following her 
 pet little rocking-chair into an old hearse, 
 which had been slightly modified, and con 
 verted into an eccentric-looking carry-all. 
 As soon as she caught a glimpse of Mrs. 
 Banks's face, she jumped down from her 
 vehicle, exclaiming in a loud tone, throwing 
 back her head and raising her hands theatri- 
 cally : 
 
 " Do nry eyes inform me truly ? Can that
 
 310 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 be indeed Mrs. Banks my time-honored and 
 most worthy friend ? Stop, driver ! stop, 
 and do not bear her hence, until I have en- 
 deavored to express the emotion which I 
 feel, as like a swollen torrent, past memories 
 rush over me at sight of this dear and ven- 
 erable creature," she continued, rushing with 
 extended arms to the carriage-window. 
 
 Mrs. Banks gave her a kind, pitying look, 
 and murmured in a low voice : " Poor heart ! 
 as wild as ever !" Then she said aloud : 
 
 "Well, Fanny! how do you do? it has 
 been a long time since we met, and I am 
 very glad to see you." 
 
 " Why then, address me in such cold and 
 studied phrase, and apply to me that home- 
 ly appellation? Have you forgotten, dear 
 friend, the melting scenes through which we 
 passed in days of yore ; or that I wander in 
 maiden meditation, Fancy-free? No, I see 
 by the kind look in your mild eye 'twas 
 only a momentary slip of the tongue or the 
 memory, so let me embrace thee, and then, 
 formally present me by the softer, more 
 euphonious, and poetically associated title
 
 THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 811 
 
 which. I have chosen for myself, Fancy 
 Hunter begging grace of the ashes of my 
 revered mother, whose plainer taste had 
 selected one less appropriate to the unfore- 
 seen fate and fortunes of her daughter to 
 these sweet buds and blossoms whom my 
 quick wit has already informed me, belong 
 to the proud house of Ludwell." 
 
 The children laughed uncontrollably. Mrs. 
 Banks smiled and said : 
 
 "As you have told them your name, it 
 will only be necessary for me to correct a 
 slight mistake you have made in theirs. 
 These four are Mr. Edward's children ; these 
 two Miss Annie's; and those young ladies 
 on horseback, with their brother, are from 
 "Washington, the Misses and young Mister 
 Forest." 
 
 " From Washington, are they ? That city, 
 which, being named from the father of his 
 country, stirs up our most patriotic emotions ! 
 I trust that breathing such air, you, Mr. 
 Forest, are ever nourishing the free-born 
 spirit which becomes an American citizen; 
 while you, young ladies, amidst the gay scenes
 
 312 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 of metropolitan life, will never lose your 
 sense of nature's charms or relish for rural 
 delights," she said with soft lisping tones, 
 compressing her lips as she ended, and look- 
 ing from one to the other, as if to mark the 
 effect of her words. 
 
 Alfred made a low deferential bow and 
 said: 
 
 " We feel too much honored, madam, that 
 so distinguished a personage as yourself 
 should express any interest in our future 
 welfare or present enjoyment, and I must, 
 in speaking of present enjoyment, not lose 
 this opportunity of thanking you for the 
 rare treat, which your sweet singing afforded 
 TIS this morning." 
 
 Miss Fancy Hunter's eyes sparkled at this ; 
 she simpered and smiled, and tossed her head 
 to one side, then said to Mrs. Banks in a low 
 whisper, giggling affectedly as she did so : 
 
 " Why, my dear friend, what a remarkably 
 pleasing young person he is! It has quite 
 surprised and captivated me to find such 
 polished ease and grace in one so -young; 
 and he is very handsome besides." Then
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 313 
 
 turning to Alfred, she continued in the same 
 soft, simpering manner: 
 
 u Your compliment, so gracefully paid. 
 Master Forest, falls gratefully upon my ear, 
 and reminds me of what I often hear from 
 the lips of a gifted young poet with whom I 
 have the pleasure of boarding at this time. 
 I mean that we rent apartments in the same 
 lodging-house, not that he is mine host. No, 
 for he is true to his brotherhood, and owning 
 nothing but his brains, lives in an attic him- 
 self. He often avers with the most enchant- 
 ing earnestness of manner, that to his ear no 
 music is so captivating as the warbling of 
 my * native wood-notes wild;' strange, isn't 
 it Mrs. Banks, that he should have made a 
 quotation in application to myself, immedia- 
 tely preceded by the sweet little appellative 
 which I have selected as my own. You re- 
 member the passage runs thus: 'Sweetest 
 Shakspeare, Fancy's child, warble his native 
 wood-notes wild.' And dear Mrs. Banks, I 
 must describe to you a scene through which 
 I passed a few days ago with this interesting 
 youth, which would have done credit to a 
 27
 
 314 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 tragedy of the highest order. I came in from 
 a shopping expedition, and, going to mirror, 
 was shocked and distressed to find quite a 
 vitille pimple just in the centre of my soft, 
 downy cheek r as young Mr. so and so, as I 
 choose for the present to call him, has more 
 than once described it, in his sweet effusions 
 in praise of my beauty. I had a little of 
 your elder ointment in a jar, and forthwith 
 determined to apply it to the offending cheek, 
 which I did, and then, putting on my ruffled 
 robe de chambry, sat down in my little rock- 
 ing-chair my sewing-chair as dear mamma 
 used to call it when she made me sit up very 
 straight in it, and deny myself the use of 
 the rockers until I had finished my task. I 
 was seated in this, reading some of the melo- 
 dies of Lord Byron, when I looked upon 
 the spotless coverlid of my bed, which was 
 near me, and saw a huge creature approach- 
 ing with wings of brilliant dyes. It was a 
 fly, Mrs. Banks, but dear me, so enormous I 
 and was evidently attracted by the elder 
 ointment, and meditating an attack on my 
 poor cheek. I turned very cold and thought
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 315 
 
 I should have fainted, but said to myself, 
 ' For the sake of your lineage, Fancy, for- 
 bear,' and then armed with the courage of 
 my forefathers, I screamed aloud for help, 
 
 when instantly young Mr. appeared, 
 
 and I pointed with my forefinger to the dan- 
 ger. With the coolness of a hero he instant- 
 ly seized a weapon and almost destroyed the 
 creature, but it escaped through the open 
 window at last, and I in a husky tone could 
 just utter, 'shut it!' when I fainted away. 
 On coming too I found this interesting- 
 youth, who has the finest sensibilities in the 
 world, holding my poor hand and weeping 
 bitterly ; but it reminds me he will have a 
 thousand terrors, if I absent myself so long 
 from home, and besides, I may be needed to 
 provide in some way for his comfort : he is 
 distressingly delicate ; his life only prolonged 
 by my tender nursing. Good-day ! I shall 
 take an early opportunity of renewing my 
 friendship with you, Mrs. Banks, by calling 
 at Belmont, and cultivating at the same time 
 the acquaintance of these charming young 
 people, especially of the gifted and interest-
 
 Si 6 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ing Mr. Forest. Here, sir, is my hand to 
 kiss ! Ah ! I shall make some body jealous 
 when I report the scenes through which I 
 have passed this morning." 
 
 Miss Fancy Hunter, with many smirks 
 and grimaces, bowed herself off now, and re- 
 turned to her hearse. When she was seated 
 and about to drive off, she kissed her hand 
 to the carriage and called out : 
 
 " I should have insisted peremptorily upon 
 your whole party dining with me to-day, but 
 just now I am living incog, and do not wish 
 my dwelling to be traced adieu !" 
 
 "Who in the world is she, Mrs. Banks?" 
 exclaimed the children with one voice, laugh- 
 ing until the tears came. 
 
 " Poor Fanny Hunter ! I have known 
 her since she was a girl, and remember her 
 when she was young, and quite handsome; 
 and sensible enough too, but she has known 
 her troubles as well as other people, poor 
 creature. Disappointment and mortification 
 drove her mad, but of late she has been 
 harmless and only amuses people by her
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 317 
 
 queer ways, so they do not confine her as 
 they once did. 
 
 '"You'll have to give her history, Mrs 
 Banks, as we take our dinners," said Alfred. 
 
 "It is only this, Mister Alfred. She was 
 left a poor orphan and supported herself by 
 teaching a small school, when she became 
 engaged to a young physician of good stand- 
 ing, but too poor for them to be married. 
 They waited a year or two, when her aunt 
 died and left about five thousand dollars to 
 her sister and nothing to Fanny. The gen- 
 tleman then grew cold to her and addressed 
 her sister instead. She accepted him, and 
 poor Fanny, feeling injured and deceived by 
 them both it was an only sister to whom 
 she had been devotedly attached went crazy 
 as I told you, through distress and disap- 
 *pointment." 
 
 27*
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 
 As Mrs. Banks was busily engaged one 
 morning in the pantry, preparing for a great 
 brewing of her famous medicinal beer, she 
 was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of 
 mammy, in wrathful excitement, bringing 
 Emmy tenderly in her arms, and dragging 
 with her other the reluctant but dogged- 
 looking Charlie ; by turns she caressed and 
 comforted the weeping darling, and denoun- 
 ced in the strongest terms her delinquent 
 brother. She wound up a long tirade 
 against him, by saying with a certain digni- 
 fied, quiet determination of manner just as 
 she reached the pantry-door: 
 
 " No, you needn't try to pull away from 
 me now, Mas' Charles, because I'se going to 
 take you straight to Miss Banks, sure as I'se 
 a live, and jis hope she make you hop too ! 
 Umph! You nasty little fellow! I don
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 319 
 
 know what you is made of, no how, les 'tis 
 bear's flesh. Jes to see ma'am," she con- 
 tinued, turning to Mrs. Banks, ( ' what this 
 boy's been doin' to his poor little sister, and 
 she sick too I lef ' him there playing, while 
 she was taking a nap, cause her poor little 
 head ached, and he promised me to keep as 
 still as a mouse, and when I corned back, 
 ma'am, there he was dressed up in one o 7 
 your caps and black wrappers, a old pair of 
 spectacles on his eyes, looking like a great 
 wolf, sure enough, and he'd a been stooping 
 down, mooing in her face to wake her up, 
 then he got in the bed by her, to play old 
 wolf and Eed-riding-Hood, and there's what 
 he done to the blessed little patient creetur's 
 neck and shoulder, calling it play." Say- 
 ing this, she let go the child's hand to point 
 out a long scratch which he had made on 
 Emmy's neck, while her shoulder was deep- 
 ly indented with the print of his little sharp 
 teeth, which had penetrated far enough to 
 draw blood : but no sooner did he feel mam- 
 my's hold upon his hand relaxed, than ho 
 darted off, and away he bounded, shoeless and
 
 320 THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 
 
 hatless, as fast as his feet could carry Mm, 
 along a narrow, stony path leading down a 
 steep hill to the spring-house, which stood in 
 a pretty clump of trees at its base. Mammy 
 was after him in a trice, unmindful now of 
 rheumatism or advancing age. "With a face 
 as rigid as stone she pursued the chase, while 
 Charlie dodged her, first behind one tree and 
 then another, until watching his chance, he 
 presently made off suddenly in quite another 
 direction, and over the meadow he scamper- 
 ed, heedless of thorns and brambles. At 
 last, his foot, already scratched and bleeding, 
 was caught by his little torn stocking in a 
 briery vine, and down he fell. 
 
 " Glad of it, serve you jes exacly right!" 
 said the relentless mammy, jerking him up 
 with far from gentle hands. "Boun' you 
 don't get away this time," she added with a 
 grim smile, as she carried him homo tightly 
 embraced in her arms. The children had all 
 collected in the porch around Mrs. Banks, 
 watching the whole proceeding. The chase 
 excited such universal merriment, that even 
 Emmy's tears were dried, and she had joined
 
 THE CAXTERBUKY BELLS. 321 
 
 in the laugh, occasioned by the child's expert- 
 ness in baffling mammy by his sudden flight 
 over the meadow. The feeling which en- 
 sued when they saw him at length captured 
 was something like the regretful pity which 
 one feels at seeing the champion of an un- 
 worthy cause conquered after a brave strug- 
 gle, mingled with a high sense of the ludic- 
 rous occasioned by mammy's triumphant air 
 as she returned glorying in her victory. 
 Charlie himself was hot and tired, as well 
 as bruised and scratched, still not a tear es- 
 caped him ; he preserved the same quiet, 
 dogged, and slyly quizzical expression with 
 which he had made his first appearance be- 
 fore Mrs. Banks in the pantry. Taking his 
 hand from mammy with a gentle, sorrowful 
 look, Mrs. Banks led him into her own cham- 
 ber, combed his hair, washed his feet, and re- 
 placing his shoes and stockings sat him 
 down to rest and think for awhile. The 
 children meantime collected in the nursery, 
 waiting to see how much further her puni- 
 tive measures would extend, and mammy in 
 their midst expatiated upon the whaling ho
 
 322 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 ought to get. But the kind old housekeeper 
 found it very hard under the most aggra- 
 vating circumstances to use the rod in real 
 sober earnest, although she kept two ominous- 
 looking bunches hung in full view over each 
 side of her mantel-piece ; she had tied them, 
 however, with bright ribbons, and given 
 them names which greatly amused her little 
 charge. A stout, chunky-looking bunch of 
 poplars, she called Dr. Birch, and some slen- 
 der wiry-looking willows were introduced as 
 his assistant Tommy-come-tickle-me, and 
 many humorous legends she told of the won- 
 derful cures wrought by the famous surgeon 
 and his frisky little assistant upon bad-be- 
 haved children, at the same time solemnly 
 reiterating her good wishes for her little 
 folks, namely that they might never fall into 
 the hands of these same great doctors ; and 
 up to this day none of them had : now, how- 
 ever, Charlie was doomed to test their cura- 
 tive powers. After he had become quite cool, 
 and as he began to grow restless in his chair, 
 she called him to the mantel-piece to take his 
 choice between the two. Charlie eyed them
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 323 
 
 coolly for a few moments, as if measuring 
 their different lengths, then chose the red- 
 rib ooned little willows Tommy-come-tickle- 
 me which were immediately dislodged, 
 while Mrs. Banks tried to shame the culprit 
 into repentance, saying : 
 
 " Fie ! fie ! naughty boy ! to use your fin- 
 gers and teeth in such a way ! Fingers and 
 teeth which a good God gave you, to use 
 {hem to bite and scratch your own little twin 
 sister with ! Shame upon you, Charlie ! 
 Show me now that naughty hand which 
 made the ugly scratch ! it shall feel the rod 
 first." 
 
 Charlie held down his head and meekly 
 presented his left hand, an almost impercepti- 
 ble smile larking for a moment in the corner 
 of his mouth as he did so. 
 
 Tommy-come-tickle-me was brandished 
 high in the air, about to descend with effect- 
 ive force, when, without changing coun- 
 tenance, Charlie quickly drew back the hand 
 saying : 
 
 "No! Mrs. Banks, that wasn't the bad 
 hand this is it," extending the other in its
 
 324 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 place, only, however, to be in turn with 
 drawn as soon as the critical moment arrived, 
 with the exclamation : 
 
 " Mrs. Banks ! I forgot. I believe this 
 is the naughty hand now and that one an't," 
 handing back the one he had the moment be- 
 fore exonerated. The other children, who 
 had gathered closely about the half-opened 
 door, gave a suppressed though still quite 
 audible giggle, at his adroit efforts to save 
 the offending hand ; even the good house- 
 keeper could scarcely restrain a smile : yet no 
 one saw the least change in Charlie's face 
 which wore the appearance of the deepest 
 seriousness. Once or twice more Mrs. Banks 
 allowed him to shift hands in this way ; then, 
 she quietly took possession of them both, 
 saying : 
 
 " "Well, my dear, I think perhaps loth may 
 have been engaged in this naughty work, so 
 they had best be punished together." 
 
 Whereupon they received so sharp a chas- 
 tisement that Charlie was brought to tears and 
 professed repentance with promises of amend- 
 ment. Emmy came running in quickly to
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 325 
 
 intercede for his pardon, in which petition all 
 the rest warmly joined, and Mrs. Banks 
 promptly and kindly yielded, although she 
 talked very severely of the consequences of 
 another such oifense. Mammy's spirit of 
 retaliation, however, was by no means satis- 
 fied with such mild punishment, so she mut- 
 tered her feelings of indignation at his being 
 "let off without getting half enough for his 
 badness." 
 
 " Never mind, boy ! you'll suffer for it all 
 yet one of dese days ef you don tek care, 
 dough you don get nuffin wurse in dis 
 world," was the consoling reflection with 
 which she ended her complaints, and this, 
 together with bestowing a double portion of 
 .caressing and petting upon " dear little Miss 
 Emmy," seemed at length to soothe her trou- 
 bled mind. Emmy's patient endurance was 
 greatly strengthened by mammy's lavish and 
 injudicious praises, and for the rest of the- 
 clay Charlie and herself were warmer friends 
 than usual ; they trudged off together in 
 search of berries and flowers, and built their 
 houses of blocks and bricks in excellent hu- 
 28
 
 326 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 mor with eacli other. Charlie, it is true, had 
 his own way whenever he required it, but 
 the remembrance of Tommy-come-tickle-me 
 and Emmy's kind intercession had perhaps 
 softened him, for he was not quite so exact- 
 ing as common, while she was even more 
 ready to yield, partly from a feeling of ten- 
 derness and pity excited by his punishment, 
 and partly from good-humored self-compla- 
 cency, with something of a desire to excite 
 still further mammy's admiration, and to be 
 regarded by the family in general as a little 
 nursery heroine, for she loved dearly to be 
 praised.
 
 CHAPTEK-. XYI. 
 
 ix Annie! Cousin Annie!" called 
 out Susy and Alice the next afternoon, as 
 they came running up to Clara and Annie's 
 room. " We've come to beg for Tommy, to 
 carry him down by the spring-house, where 
 we are going to have a party -just a little 
 play party, you know, because it's the dear 
 little fellow's birthday. Won't you let him 
 go? Harry and George have fixed us a 
 grape-vine swing, and Aunt Lindy has baked 
 us some of the tiniest little cakes and bis- 
 cuits you ever saw ! Mrs. Banks let us ask 
 her to do it, because it's his birthday, and she 
 has given us some tea and sugar ; we can get 
 just as much cream and butter as we want 
 from Aunt Isy at the spring-house. We are 
 going to use our dear little tea-set that grand- 
 pa gave us, and have a real fine time of it, 
 too."
 
 328 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Well, sister Annie'll let me doe, I 
 know," said little Tommy, hastily throwing 
 down his paint-box and pictures, and looking 
 up eagerly into his sister's face for her to con- 
 firm his words. 
 
 Annie gave him a fond, reluctant glance, 
 but could not resist his pleading eyes. 
 
 "Yes, Susy, he may go," she said, "but 
 do take good care of him, please. I feel 
 almost afraid to trust him out of my sight." 
 
 " Oh ! indeed, I'll promise you to take the 
 very best care of him, cousin. He shall be 
 my child. We are going to play fathers and 
 mothers, you see. Harry and I will take him 
 and Charlie for our children, and Alice and 
 Georgie will have Emmy for theirs." Annie 
 felt decidedly uncomfortable when she heard 
 Charlie and Tommy put together. 
 
 " I don't like that plan altogether, Susy,' 7 
 she said ; then added in a whisper, " I am so 
 afraid that Charlie might hurt him." 
 
 " Oh ! yes ; then he shan't come near him. 
 Georgie and Alice must take him with Em. 
 The fact is," she added, laughing, " Charlie 
 is so bad that none of us wanted him, but we
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 329 
 
 can't leave him out, you know, Mrs. Banks 
 wouldn't let us." 
 
 " Oh ! no, I wouldn't do that, certainly," 
 said Annie ; " and maybe he'll be good this 
 evening ; but you know he did hurt Tommy 
 once." 
 
 " Yes, I know he did ; he hurts every 
 body for that matter. Well, .msin Annie, 
 you dress Tommy up very nicely, and I'll pro- 
 mise to take good care of him, and not let 
 him be hurt." 
 
 Annie smiled as she opened a drawer full 
 of pretty suits of clothing, kept with the 
 neatest possible care, and every morning 
 sprinkled with fresh rose leaves. She se- 
 lected a pair of ruffled paddies and a short 
 white cambric slip, with little plaited ruffles 
 round the neck and sleeves. And when he 
 was dressed in these, with his corals clasped 
 round his throat, and looping up the little 
 short sleeves, she could scarcely contain her 
 admiration and pride as she twined his silken 
 ringlets round her finger, loving to linger 
 over the sweet task of setting off his beauty 
 to the greatest advantage. And how her 
 28*
 
 330 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 heart throbbed with exultation when she 
 brought him down and heard from every lip 
 exclamations of " how lovely !" " how beauti- 
 ful !" "With sweet unconscious innocence 
 Tommy took Susy's hand and walked away, 
 without seeming to hear the praises which 
 were loudly spoken in spite of Annie's efforts 
 to suppress them. She watched him from the 
 nursery-window as long as he was in sight, 
 then turned away with moistened eyes, say- 
 ing : 
 
 " Oh ! he is so lovely ; certainly he is 
 more beautiful every day, and then so sweet 
 and good." 
 
 u There is no denying all that, coz," said 
 Alfred, " but now that he is gone won't you 
 come to the summer-house with us and join 
 our reading-party? You give us precious 
 little of your company when that pretty little 
 doll-baby brother can furnish you with an 
 excuse for withholding it." 
 
 " It isn't that I do not enjoy being with 
 you all, Cousin Alfred, but I suppose you 
 could hardly imagine just how I feel about 
 Tommy. I do so love to make him happy,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 331 
 
 to watch over him, and do every thing foi 
 him myself, and feel sure that he doesn't miss 
 mother when I am with him. Then there is 
 a strange feeling in my heart about him, too, 
 a kind of misgiving that makes me almost 
 tremble when he's out of sight. But I ex- 
 pect this is only because mother is so far 
 away, and I am not used to so great a re- 
 sponsibility/' she added, forcing a smile. 
 
 " That's all, you may depend upon it, you 
 poor little motherly soul," said Alfred, try- 
 ing to cheer her with his playful tone. 
 
 " The fact is, Annie," said Frank, " you 
 are right foolish about the child ; he's a per- 
 fect idol with you. I never saw any thing 
 like it ; you hardly ever look at him or speak 
 of him without crying." 
 
 " I know it looks silly," said Annie, " and 
 I struggle against it, but sometimes as I look 
 at him, I feel that he must be too good and 
 beautiful for this world, and when that feel- 
 ing comes, and I think of our precious Alice, 
 too, I can not bear it," and her tears were be- 
 ginning to flow afresh. 
 
 " Come, dear Annie," said Lizzie, putting
 
 332 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 her arm around her cousin's waist, and kiss- 
 ing away her tears, " you mustn't do so. It 
 isn't right. Come now with us and hear 
 Alfred and Frank read aloud ; they read 
 Shakspeare to us every afternoon." 
 
 "Yes, "said Fannie, "I hope you'll come 
 and take a good laugh. I wish we hadn't 
 just finished c The Taming of the Shrew.' 
 It is so funny to hear Alfred read that; he 
 seems to take such delight in it himself that 
 any one would think he had had some expe- 
 rience, and believed that there really are 
 such things as shrews" 
 
 11 They certainly would if they knew that 
 he was brother to a certain Miss Fannie For- 
 rest," replied Alfred. 
 
 All laughed, and looked mischievously at 
 Fannie as this was said, and she enjoyed the 
 retort, and laughed as heartily as any of 
 them. 
 
 ' l Til go and get my work and join you 
 in a moment," said Annie, as she went to 
 her room. Clara followed her ; she had 
 watched her with silent sympathy during the 
 conversation about Tommy, when she had
 
 THE CANTEEBUEY BELLS. 333 
 
 with such unusual freedom expressed her 
 feelings before the others. 
 
 " Dear Annie," she said, clasping her affec- 
 tionately in her arms when they reached 
 their chamber, " I love you dearly, so dearly, 
 but I don't know what I can do for you." 
 
 Annie returned the pressure and kissed 
 her warmly, saying : 
 
 " Thank you, dearest Clara, and so do I 
 love you very dearly." .Then putting her 
 lips close to Clara's ear she whispered : 
 
 "You can pray for me, can't you, darling? 7 
 
 " I do try to," said Clara, in the same low 
 whisper. 
 
 Then Annie, having washed from her face 
 all traces of tears, took her work-basket ; and 
 the two cousins, with their arms around each 
 other's waists, went together to the summer- 
 house. 
 
 " What shall we have this afternoon ?" 
 said Frank, opening the volume of Shak- 
 speare which he had brought, when all were 
 seated and ready to listen. 
 
 " We must let Cousin Annie choose," said 
 Alfred, "as she is our invited guest. Bead
 
 334 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 out the names of the plays in that volume, 
 Frank." 
 
 "'Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Love's 
 Labor Lost,' ' Merchant of Venice, 3 'As You 
 Like It,' and ' Taming of the Shrew,' " Frank 
 read, and then said: "We have read all 
 these except 'As You Like It,' 'All's Well 
 that End's Well,' and ' Midsummer Night's 
 Dream,' so which of these three do you 
 choose, Annie?" 
 
 "I should like the last best, I think; "but 
 I would rather some one else should decide," 
 answered Annie. 
 
 " That's the very one I want to hear 
 most," said Clara. 
 
 " And so do I," joined in several voices. 
 
 Accordingly that was decided upon, and 
 very soon the whole party were deeply en- 
 gaged with the entertaining vagaries of Mes- 
 sieurs Cobweb, Peas-Blossom, Mustard-Seed, 
 Puck, and others. 
 
 Meanwhile the children at the spring-house 
 were in the highest state of enjoyment. 
 Under Harry and Greorgie's arbor stood the 
 little table, dressed with flowers, and fur-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 335 
 
 nished with dainties ; and there was the 
 pretty little china set with the miniature sil- 
 ver tea-pot and cream-pot displayed in all 
 their glory. The spot was shady and cool, 
 and the children had gone early, so that they 
 they might have a long afternoon for their 
 party. As Tommy was the hero of the even- 
 ing, they thought it wa-3 only proper that he 
 should be crowned with flowers, to distin- 
 guish him from the rest. Accordingly they 
 gathered some sprigs of the Canterbury Bell, 
 and mingling these with coral, honeysuckle, 
 roses, and jessamine, wove him a garland and 
 wreath. The plan was that Henry and 
 Susy were to give the feast in honor of their 
 son Tommys birthday, and George and Alice 
 should be invited to bring their cliildren, 
 Charlie and Emmie. "When they were seated 
 on the large stones placed round the table 
 for their accommodation during tea, Susy 
 looked up from her waiter of cups and sau- 
 cers, which she was scalding, with an un- 
 easy, puzzled expression, and said : 
 
 " There ! what will we do for grc'-sf * I
 
 36 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Mrs. Banks was here ; this is our sup- 
 pv?.% you know." 
 
 " OK ! never mind," said Harry, " we can 
 just say ourselves : ' We thank our Father 
 for all these nice things and pretty flowers, 
 and pray God to make us good, and take 
 care of us.' " 
 
 " And let's ast him to bless the poor child- 
 ren, too," said Tommy. 
 
 Grace being said with childlike simplicity, 
 they distributed the good things with mimic 
 ceremony and politeness, and all but Tommy 
 ate heartily and laughed merrily. 
 
 His plate, though piled with the daintiest 
 morsels, remained almost untouched, but he 
 laughed and talked with even more than his 
 usual animation. Occasionally a clear, merry 
 note would reach Annie in the summer-house, 
 which made her smile and turn her face in 
 the direction from whence it came. His face 
 glowed with a deep crimson color, his eyes 
 sparkled with peculiar lustre, and with his 
 graceful, winning, sprightly little ways, he 
 seemed to give a charm to all their plays, and 
 to enter into them with the highest enjoy-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 337 
 
 ment himself. "Whilst they were still seated 
 at the table, Charlie, looking towards a spot 
 not far from the spring, where there was a 
 thick growth of dogwood, elder, and laurel 
 the bright red berries of the elder contrasting 
 with the rich green leaves of the latter, sud- 
 denly exclaimed : 
 
 " Bip ! old fellow !" throwing at the same 
 time a stone in the direction of his glance, 
 " better get away from there, quick now, I 
 tell you," he added, stooping to get another 
 stone ready for a second throw. 
 
 At this the others all looked in the same 
 direction, and to their great dismay, saw old 
 Jerry Thrip gathering dogwood and elder- 
 berries in his basket. 
 
 !' Oh ! let's run to the house," whispered 
 Emma and Alice, with countenances full of 
 consternation and fear. " What will we do ? 
 Charlie is so naughty he'll make old Jerry 
 Thrip come after us." 
 
 Instantly the table was deserted, and they 
 all, even Charlie, too, began to run home. 
 Tommy alone remained, and quietly taking 
 29
 
 338 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 up his plate with both hands, moved off to- 
 .wards Jerry, saying : 
 
 " Sister Annie an't afwaid of him and 
 neither am I ; so I won't wun, but I'll just 
 dive him my supper, as I don't want it." 
 
 " Heaven's blessin' on the bairn for ever- 
 mair," said Jerry, as, after declining it several 
 times, he at length took the offered plate, and 
 emptied its contents into his cotton handker- 
 chief. 
 
 " Now tell me, old Jerwy Thwip, are you 
 a bad old man, and will you tidnap us and 
 sell us ?" asked he, looking with an earnest 
 inquiring gaze into the old man's face. 
 
 " Evil indeed wad bae the heart could do 
 thee ony ill ; but it's na' Jerry Thrip wad lay 
 hond on mon or child. Yet it's a' the same. 
 I have someway sinned, and there's nae for- 
 giveness with God or mon." 
 
 But seeing that his wild excited manner 
 seemed to frighten the child, he ceased speak 
 ing, and smiled, as bowing his head almost 
 playfully, he said : 
 
 "Thank ye, blithie birdie," then added, 
 " May bae ye wad like this putty thing,"
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 339 
 
 handing Tommy, as he spoke, an elder-twig, 
 from a leaf of which was suspended some- 
 thing about the size and shaped like a small 
 bird's egg. The color was a bright emerald 
 green, studded with specks of glittering gold, 
 and Tommy's eyes danced with delight as he 
 took it, exclaiming : 
 
 " Oh ! that is so pretty ! A little faiwy I 
 I must wun ast Cousin Alfwed if it isn't a 
 beautiful little faiwy asleep." Eagerly he 
 took a few hurried steps, and then turned to 
 say: 
 
 " I fordot to say thant ye, old Jerwy ; but 
 I do thant you," he added, with a bright, 
 winning smile. 
 
 " Don't greet yoursel' for that, bairn. It's 
 thanks enough to see your sweet smiling 
 e'en," said the old man. 
 
 As Tommy ran towards the house, he met 
 his little playmates returning, accompanied 
 by Annie, Clara, and Alfred. 
 
 " Look ! look I Tousin Alfwed, I have 
 taught one of the little faiwies asleep," he 
 exclaimed, exhibiting his treasure with de- 
 light. " But stop," he added in a whisper,
 
 340 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " don't let's wate him till night, when the 
 moon is shining, and then we'll see him 
 dance." 
 
 "What is it? Where did you get it, 
 Tommy ?" were the eager questions put by 
 the little voices, and repeated over and over 
 again with the greatest rapidity. Alfred, 
 Annie, and Clara also participated in the 
 curiosity it excited. 
 
 " It's a dear little faiwy, an't it, Tousin Al- 
 fwed ? Old Jerwy Thwip found him for me 
 on a bush," said Tommy. 
 
 "You are most too much for me, now, 
 Tom," said Alfred, " for really T never saw a 
 fairy before, if this is one, and it may be for 
 all I know ; but I wonder you say ' he' and 
 'him,' for I should think it might be the 
 little queen herself come to take you to fairy- 
 land." 
 
 " Sister Annie, dont you think it's a faiwy? 
 I wonder if it's the little Tueen's tar wage," 
 said Tommy, turning to his sister. 
 
 " Oh ! little brother, I forgot to tell you 
 afterwards, the other day, that fairies are 
 only make-believe people there are no real
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 341 
 
 fairies ; people only pretend so to make up 
 pretty stories about them." 
 
 Little Tommy's countenance fell, and lie 
 looked grave and disappointed, as he said : 
 
 " And an't there any faiwies at all, sister?" 
 
 "No, Tommy, it's all just make-belief, 
 every bit of it, like your plays this evening, 
 when you were Harry and Susy's child." 
 
 "I am so sorwy, then, sister," he answered, 
 with the same grave look, "that you told 
 me so, betause you never made believe be- 
 fore, and now I won't always know that sis- 
 ter Annie tells me just true." 
 
 " I am sorry, too, dear little brother ; and 
 I meant to tell you better, directly Cousin 
 Alfred had finished making you wonder 
 over his pretty stories : but I forgot it after- 
 wards ; never mind, I won't do so any more ; 
 I'll try to tell you true all the time. Now 
 let's go see if Mrs. Banks can tell us what 
 this pretty thing is that Jerry gave you." 
 
 " Wasn't you afraid of old Jerry Tom- 
 my ?" asked George and Henry. 
 
 "No! for he don't tidnap and hurt peo* 
 
 pie at all, and I wish he had something 
 29*
 
 342 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 better to wear than that old torn, red toat, so 
 people wouldn't be afraid, and wun away 
 fum him." 
 
 "When Mrs. Banks looked at Tommy's 
 treasure she said : 
 
 " I don't know ; but I expect it is a chry- 
 salis, and if you will let me put it in this 
 glass bowl on my mantle-piece, it is likely 
 that by to-morrow or next day, it will be 
 even prettier than it is now." 
 
 " I never saw a chrysalis like that," said 
 Alfred ; "I thought they were always an 
 ugly, dull brown." 
 
 " I have generally seen them so, too," said 
 Mrs. Banks; "but I don't know what else 
 this can be." 
 
 So the "pretty green thing" was put into 
 a covered glass bowl, and the children 
 thought they would watch it and see how 
 it could be any prettier. But now they must 
 hurry back to the spring and finish their 
 plays. Tommy cast a wistful look after 
 Mrs. Banks as she bore off his prize, and 
 then followed the others. 
 
 " Now let's put up our cups and saucers,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 343 
 
 and clear up the table," said housekeeping 
 Susy ; " then the children shall swing. We 
 must invite Charlie and Emmy to swing first, 
 though, because you know they are your 
 company, Tommy." 
 
 " Yes ! and while they swin' I'll just rest, 
 for I'm tired," said the little fellow, laying 
 himself down as he spoke. And nothing 
 could have been more exquisitely lovely 
 than he looked, lying there with his crim- 
 son cheeks and sunny curls, on the green 
 grass, and his bright eyes looking upwards 
 with a wandering dreamy look. His wreath 
 and garland having become partially disar- 
 ranged, were thrown negligently over his 
 face, neck, and arms. 
 
 " Now, Tom, it's your turn," said Henry, 
 after a while, trying at the same time to get 
 Charlie from the swing. 
 
 " No ! I shan't get out yet," said Charlie. 
 " I want to swing some more." 
 
 " But you shall, sir ! for you have had a 
 long swing, and Tommy has not had any 
 yet," replied Henry.
 
 344 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Well, I won't get out till I have liad 
 another, just one more," answered Charlie. 
 
 " That's what you said before, sir." 
 
 "Let him swing some more, Henry. I 
 don't care much about it, anyhow, this even- 
 ing," said Tommy. 
 
 " Oh ! yes, you do," replied Henry ; " and 
 you shall have a first-rate time, too, when 
 you do get in. You shall go as high as we 
 can send you, and as long as you want to." 
 
 Tommy smiled, but did not say any 
 thing, and Charlie took another turn, and 
 when they stopped the swing next time, he 
 jumped out himself and ran to Tommy say- 
 ing, as he stopped to help him up : 
 
 " I'll give you the place now, Tommy, for 
 I've done with it." 
 
 Henry took his hand to urge him on, too, 
 for Tommy looked reluctant, and moved 
 slowly. 
 
 " Now, come, Georgie," he said when they 
 had placed him in the swinging branch of 
 the wild grape-vine. "We must send him 
 up to the top of that little tree." 
 
 As he ascended they heard a sound, which
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 345 
 
 they thought was an exclamation of pleasure, 
 and animated by this, redoubled their efforts 
 to send him still higher ; for not looking at 
 him, they did not see that he was deadly 
 pale when he came down, and that his hold 
 upon the vine was relaxed, and his feet 
 hanging heavily downwards. Up went the 
 branch for the second time, and " hurrah 1" 
 exclaimed the boys, in delight at their suc- 
 cessful toss ; but what was the consternation 
 and horror of all, when as it was descending 
 again, Tommy fell back, lifeless on the ground. 
 Their shrieks rent the air, but no one stir- 
 red ; they stood as if petrified, gazing on his 
 pale face and motionless body. Almost in- 
 stantly, however, there was a rustling among 
 the bushes, and old Jerry Thrip sprung out, 
 casting a hurried, sorrowful look at the beau- 
 tiful child; he took him up tenderly and 
 reverently in his arms and bore him towards 
 the house the children following in subdued 
 silence. Yery soon they met Mrs. Banks, 
 Frank, Alfred, and several of the servants 
 hurrying to the place, having heard the shril] 
 cry which followed the fal 1
 
 346 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " What has happened ?" exclaimed the old 
 lady. " God forbid that any evil has befallen 
 this sweet child !" 
 
 " I saw him fall frae the swing, is all that 
 I ken, ladie I" said Jerry. " But it maybae 
 that the breath is but gane for a time." 
 
 Mammy here made an effort to take Tom- 
 my from his arms, but he held him firmly 
 though gently saying : 
 
 " Na, good woman ! let the lambie lie still 
 in my arms, tel' I put him on his bed ; and 
 had na' ye better send for the doctor?" he 
 added, turning to Mrs. Banks, who quickly 
 gave orders to a man-servant, and then hur- 
 ried forward to where Annie, Clara, and the 
 two other girls were standing, a pale, breath- 
 less, frightened group. Annie's face was 
 white and rigid as marble, she was in an 
 eager, listening attitude, only preserving 
 strength enough to stand, by the exercise of 
 the greatest self-command. 
 
 " A fall from the swing, my dear," said 
 Mrs. Banks, gently trying to relieve her ter- 
 rible suspense. " I hope he will soon be 
 better, but just now he is in a swoon. They
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 347 
 
 are bringing him to the house, and I have 
 sent for Dr. Medhurst." 
 
 Annie put both hands before her face for 
 a few moments, and when she removed them 
 was calm and self-possessed, though still pale 
 as marble, and with a dark circle under each 
 eye. She ran instantly to her room, threw 
 up the south window, and all unassisted, drew 
 his little bedstead in front of it, arranged the 
 pillows ready for them to lay him down ; 
 and then took from a drawer the bottle of 
 ammonia which she had seen her mother, 
 under similar circumstances, use for Alice. 
 She returned just as they were about to 
 carry him to Mrs. Banks's room, it being 
 nearer than her own, and motioned to them 
 to carry him up-stairs ; then turning to Lizzie, 
 whispered : 
 
 "Will you ask, dear Lizzie, that he may 
 be left alone with Mrs. Banks and myself. 
 It is bad to crowd round him so." 
 
 Jerry stood for a while in the doorway, 
 after he had laid him on the bed, looking 
 wistfully at Mrs. Banks and Annie as they 
 bathed his temples with cold water, and held
 
 348 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 the hartshorn to his nostrils. At lergth 
 those deep, blue eyes opened and the lips 
 parted, but the look that met his sister's anx- 
 ious, yearning gaze was not that she was wont 
 to see shining from those transparent depths. 
 Those open windows of the soul the " meek 
 intelligence," and the tender, loving, trusting 
 look were gone ! A few moments he stared 
 vacantly around, and then the lids closed 
 heavily again, and he fell asleep. 
 
 Old Jerry moved silently away. Mrs. 
 Banks, with noiseless tread, darkened the 
 chamber into which the rays of the setting 
 sun were streaming, and closed the door, 
 leaving Annie alone, kneeling over the couch 
 of that darling little brother whom but a few 
 hours before she had, in the pride of her 
 heart, decked for the feast and sent off, de- 
 lighting to hear the praises which none could 
 withhold, yet trembling at his unearthly beau- 
 ty. Holding his little hand in hers, and gaz- 
 ing intently on his pallid brow, she tried to 
 pray, murmured a few words, and then 
 ceased ; her mind was confused and dark- 
 ened ; her aching, throbbing heart could feel
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 349 
 
 but one presence, and that was not the Un- 
 seen One. She thought of her mother 
 blamed herself listened to every breath 
 longed for the doctor to come tried to im- 
 agine what he would say shuddered at what 
 that might possibly be ; and then an inward 
 numbness seemed to come upon her her 
 heart lay still like something frozen or dead 
 within her. The beating pulse and throb- 
 bing temple betokened only the body's life. 
 But what hand would venture to lift the 
 curtain and unveil all the feelings of that 
 sad young heart in this hour of anxious soli- 
 tude. After a while, however, as she felt the 
 little hand growing warmer and warmer in 
 her own, and saw the healthful glow, as she 
 supposed, displacing the pallor on his cheek ' 
 hope revived, and bending her head, she 
 wept her first tears. The current once be- 
 ginning to flow, poured forth its torrents 
 freely. For a few moments she indulged 
 herself in this, the sad heart's luxury ; then 
 looking up thankfully, she gently rose and 
 left the room to give the glad tidings to the 
 household, that he was " much better." 
 30
 
 350 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Clara was seated on the staircase near the 
 door, listening to catch every sound within, 
 and when she saw Annie, hastened forward 
 to meet her. With the quick, full sympathy 
 of a warm and loving heart, she rejoiced in 
 the good news which her cousin brought, 
 and offered to be her messenger to the rest 
 of the family. 
 
 " And Alfred asked me, dear Annie," she 
 said, " to let you know, as soon as I could, 
 that he has gone to the city to bring his 
 father and mother, as well as to see if Dr. 
 Thompson will not come, too, and if he will, 
 to urge him to do so without delay. He 
 thinks he will be back by daylight, with 
 9 Cousin Susan and Cousin Thomas ; and I 
 trust their coming will be a relief to you, 
 The doctor may get here much sooner, Al- 
 fred says." 
 
 "I am so much obliged to him, and so 
 thankful to you all, every one of you, for your 
 kindness and love," said Annie. " Tell them 
 all so, dear Clara, for me ; and don't forget," 
 she added tearfully, " to thank God for me," 
 
 Then she softly closed the door after her,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 351 
 
 as she returned to the room. And again she 
 was alone with Tommy " alone, yet not 
 alone," for now she felt the presence of her 
 Father, God, and kneeling before the open 
 window, after she had .drawn back the cur- 
 tain, and looking at the bright moon, as 
 almost at its full, it sailed in silent majesty 
 along the cloudless vault of heaven, she 
 poured forth her grateful praises, with a 
 .deeper love than she had ever felt before. 
 " The goodness of God endureth forever. 
 Truly God is good to those that trust in him. 
 While I live I will love thee my mouth 
 shall talk of all thy doings. "With my lips 
 will I declare thy praises. Praise the Lord, 
 my soul ! Let every thing which hath 
 breath praise the Lord," she repeated fer- 
 vently, over and over again, memory readily 
 supplying the words she needed, from her 
 store of Scripture knowledge. And when 
 she had thus, by expression, strengthened 
 her faith and kindled her love, she ventured 
 to offer her petitions to the Throne of Grace. 
 And oh ! how sweet to feel that, though her 
 dear mother was not present to her bodily
 
 352 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 sight, yet now in this still solemn hour their 
 hearts were bowed together, claiming mercy 
 in the same dear Saviour's name. 
 
 The last words of her prayer were uttered 
 in a faint, inaudible tone, but came no less 
 from the depths of her soul : ." Teach me to 
 say, thy will be done ;" and then she rose up 
 comforted. Another look at Tommy satisfied 
 her that all was well ; she did not touch him 
 for fear of awakening him ; he seemed to be 
 sleeping so sweetly, and the bright red color 
 which had made him so peculiarly lovely all 
 the afternoon had returned, if any thing, 
 deepened. 
 
 " And in the morning he will be just as 
 well as ever," she said to herself, and smiled 
 as she undressed herself; then quietly seated 
 herself, with her head resting on his pillow, 
 thinking she would remain so until he waked, 
 when she could take her usual place beside 
 him. But overcome by fatigue and exhaus- 
 tion from all that she had passed through 
 during that eventful evening, she fell into a 
 profound slumber. 
 
 And so Mrs. Banks found her when she
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 353 
 
 came in, to see for herself how the little 
 patient was faring. The experienced eye 
 of the good housekeeper soon detected dan- 
 ger in those brightly glowing cheeks, and 
 touching his hands, she was startled by their 
 burning heat. Her first act was to call 
 " Mammy," and with her assistance, Annie 
 was gently laid on the other bed. This was 
 done without awakening her ; she only smiled 
 as they laid her down, and reached out her 
 arm to put it as usual protectingly over 
 Tommy. It rested on the pillow, and she 
 slept on as before. 
 
 Mrs. Banks then placed Tommy's feet in 
 a warm bath, and made cold applications to 
 his head ; nothing, however, roused him for 
 more than an instant. If he opened his eyes, 
 they closed heavily again immediately. All 
 night the kind old lady kept her place beside 
 him, trying every remedy which her simple 
 skill suggested, and " Mammy " waited with- 
 in call, whilst sleep and silence reigned 
 throughout the rest of the house. 
 30*
 
 CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 "Lsr tlie morning he will be as well as 
 ever." Poor Annie ! How little she antici- 
 pated all that morning had in store for her ! 
 It was very late before she awakened from 
 the deep sleep into which those comforting 
 words had lulled her wearied body and agi- 
 tated mind. The sun was high in the hea- 
 vens, but little light came through the closed 
 blinds of the darkened chamber. Once or 
 twice she had partly opened her eyes, but 
 the stillness and darkness made her close 
 them again ; presently however, a sound fell 
 on her ear, at which she started up suddenly 
 in the bed, and stared wildly about her. It 
 was a low moan from Tommy, as he tossed 
 restlessly from side to side. Annie's first 
 impulse was to reach out her hand to feel for 
 him ; but missing his little form from her 
 side, she sprang frightened from the bed;
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 355 
 
 some one caught her as she did so, and led 
 her gently but forcibly out of the room not 
 however before her eye caught sight of a 
 form leaning over the bed of her little bro- 
 ther, whom she instantly knew could be none 
 other than that of her own dear mother. 
 And as she turned, what was her surprise to 
 find that it was her grandfather's arm which 
 supported her trembling form and brought 
 her out. The door of the room to which he 
 led her was open, and embracing her tender- 
 ly, he murmured : 
 
 "Bless you, my poor, dear child!" then 
 left her with Mrs. Banks and her cousin 
 Susan Forrest. 
 
 " "Where am I ?" exclaimed the bewilder- 
 ed and frightened child. " Oh ! tell me what 
 all this means! Tommy, my own little bro- 
 ther ! "What can have happened ? What is 
 it ? How is he ? and my mother ! how came 
 she here?" 
 
 With words as soft as love and pity could 
 suggest, her kind friends made the necessary 
 explanations. 
 
 " Tommy is extremely ill, my child, but
 
 356 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 he is in our Father's hands you know, and he 
 will not suffer any thing which is not for his 
 good to befall him," said good Mrs. Banks. 
 
 "And your dear mother has been merciful- 
 ly permitted to get back in time to watch 
 over him herself," said Mrs. Forrest. "She 
 reached my house last night, and was to have 
 rested there till morning, when Alfred's sad 
 tidings brought us all here together." 
 
 Mrs. Forrest pressed Annie tenderly to her 
 heart as she said this, and then added imme- 
 diately, to prevent further questioning : 
 " ISTow, let me dress you quickly, and if you 
 will try to be composed I will bring your 
 mother to see you ; but remember, my dear, 
 what a great shock this has been to her, and 
 for her sake repress as much as possible the 
 expression of your feelings. She can not 
 bear excitement now. You are her own 
 child though, and I am sure you can control 
 yourself for her sake." As she said this she 
 patted her cheek and smiled kindly. Annie 
 caught her hand, and looking earnestly ir,k> 
 her face said :
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 357 
 
 " Cousin Susan, how is dearest Alice, and 
 where is she f " 
 
 Mrs. Forrest turned away her head quick- 
 ly, and stooped to pick something from 
 the floor, then hurriedly left the room with- 
 out speaking until she reached the door, 
 when she turned to say : 
 
 " Make haste, my dear Annie, in a very 
 few minutes I will bring your mother." 
 
 She hoped this would excite and hurry 
 Annie, so that she would be too much occu- 
 pied to renew her questions ; but she turned 
 now to Mrs. Banks, and with a pleading 
 anxious look asked this time : 
 
 " Is Alice better?" 
 
 "She is better, my child, much better 
 than we have ever seen her, I am sure she 
 must be," answered the old lady. 
 
 Annie's face brightened as she now asked : 
 
 "And where is she, dear Mrs. Banks ?" 
 
 " My child, I trust she is at home. Your 
 mother, when she comes, will tell you all 
 about her journey," replied Mrs. Banks so- 
 lemnly, but making an effort to conceal her 
 emotion, then she also left the room.
 
 358 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " At home ! and spoken in such a sad and 
 solemn tone ! What can it mean ?" Annie 
 asked herself, but not daring to question too 
 deeply about it, she determined to turn at 
 once to the more cheering words " much bel- 
 ter" and force herself to hope every thing 
 from them, lest she should be utterly over- 
 whelmed with the fears that oppressed her. 
 "When she had dressed herself with the 
 greatest rapidity she paced the room, waiting 
 impatiently for her mother to come. A much 
 longer time, however, elapsed than Mrs. For- 
 rest had promised, and still she was kept 
 in terrible suspense. At last she heard a 
 gentle motion, and looking up, saw her 
 mother standing in the doorway, where she 
 had paused for a moment to regain calmness 
 and strength. Ah! how strongly sorrow 
 had laid its mark upon that white, still face I 
 the hair on her temples was silvered, too, 
 and she moved so lightly and silently, that 
 it was almost like the gliding of one from 
 the spirit-land; where also might have been 
 learned that touch, so soft and gentle, that it 
 scarcely seemed a reality, and yet so exqui-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 359 
 
 eitely tender. But for this almost ethereal 
 softness, the embrace in which she folded her 
 child, and the kisses she imprinted on her 
 lips and brow, might have seemed cold, from 
 their great calmness, but in this was express- 
 ed the deepest, tenderest love a mother's heart 
 could feel, blended with something spiritual 
 and heavenly. It was in vain that Annie 
 sought to keep back the tide of feeling which 
 almost overpowered her. No sooner did she 
 feel her head upon her mother's shoulder 
 than she gave way, and wept such tears as 
 can be wept only on the maternal bosom ; 
 nor was that frail mother's form too weak to 
 bear the burden of her childish sorrow. In 
 her spiritual strength she stood erect, strong 
 enough for both, and bowing her head close 
 to her daughter's ear, whispered in a very 
 low yet steady voice : "It is the Lord : let 
 him do what seemeth him right ; for he doth 
 not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children 
 of men. Shall the potsherd strive with its 
 maker ? or the thing formed say to him that 
 formed it, what doest thou? The Lord of 
 hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our
 
 360 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 refuge. "Weeping may endure for a night, 
 but joy cometh in the morning." And when 
 with STi:h soothing and comforting language 
 Annie was composed and strengthened, she 
 heard from her lips, what she could hardly 
 have borne to hear from any other, the 
 explanation of Mrs. Banks's answer. Alice 
 was indeed " at home :" but it was in that fair 
 city which " hath no need of the sun, 
 neither of the moon to shine in it, for the 
 glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb 
 is the light thereof." Their hopes with 
 regard to the sea-voyage had all been dis- 
 appointed ; instead of becoming stronger, she 
 had grown weaker, almost daily, until, at 
 length, just as they were approaching Mar- 
 seilles, she sunk rapidly to her rest, or, 
 " should I not rather say she rose a glorious 
 star in heaven, a star which shall never set, 
 but shine on in cloudless splendor forever 
 and forever?" asked the mother with a look 
 of steadfast trust. U I will give you now, 
 my darling, her parting kiss and message of 
 love to you bofli" she added with a faltering 
 of her voice on that last word " both" Kiss-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 361 
 
 ing Annie tenderly, she then repeated the 
 message: "For, a little while we shall not 
 see each other ; but I go to our Father. Yer j 
 soon we shall be united again, never more to 
 part. The Good Shepherd will be with you 
 to the end, as he has been with me. May 
 he ever bless, comfort, guide and keep 
 you." 
 
 " Only a little while, and we shall all be 
 with him," continued Mrs. Lee. " Her grave 
 is beneath the blue waters, where we placed 
 her at sunset of the same day on which, at. 
 early dawn, our Father called her to himself.. 
 Some other time we will talk more about it ; 
 enough now, that meeting next morning a- 
 vessel returning, I took passage in it, and so r 
 instead of the letter you expected, am here.. 
 Is there not something in this to be thankful 
 for?" 
 
 Mrs. Banks now returned to the room, 
 bringing a waiter, on which was a slight 
 breakfast, carefully and temptingly prepared 
 for A nie and her mother. 
 
 " Take something, my child, you will need 
 it," said Mrs. Lee persuasively, as she saw 
 31
 
 362 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Annie turn away her head ; at the same time 
 she forced herself to swallow a cup of tea 
 and a little morsel of food ; when this was 
 over, she looked earnestly and sadly in 
 Annie's face as she asked : 
 
 "Are you prepared, now, my child, to 
 return with me to your brother's room ? re- 
 member that we must let nothing be there to 
 mar the peace of his last hours I" Seeing 
 that poor Annie turned deadly pale and 
 trembled violently at these words, she drew 
 her still closer to her heart, while she sup- 
 ported her with her arm, and whispered: 
 " When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to 
 the Eock which is higher than I. Let us 
 seek our strength there." Mrs. Banks left 
 them alone, closing the door gently after her, 
 and they resorted together, unto "the name 
 of the Lord, which is a strong tower." 
 
 The blinds of little Tommy's room were 
 no longer closed; light and air might now 
 both be freely admitted. Over his pallid 
 face had passed that mysterious and shadowy 
 change which betokens coming dissolution, 
 and he lay perfectly still, except for the
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 363 
 
 hard, labored breathing which agitated his 
 frame, and resounded mournfully through 
 the silent chamber. General Lee and Mrs. 
 Forrest relinquished their places by his bed- 
 side, and the mother and sister took each one 
 of his little cold hands in theirs. And oh ! 
 so gladly would they have imparted to them 
 warmth from their own. Presently he 
 began to breathe more gently, fainter and 
 fainter grew each breath until it seemed 
 almost gone; when suddenly he revived, a 
 new light shone in his eye, and a smile was 
 on his lip as he looked, first at Annie, then 
 at his mother in glad surprise ; for a moment 
 after this, his face seemed gravely to question 
 hers, then beamed with supernatural light, 
 and he murmured as if in answer to him- 
 self: 
 
 "Yes, I expect sister Allie is at home." 
 One large tear-drop stood upon his 
 mother's eyelid as she stooped to kiss him ; it 
 did not fall, however, but glistened there till 
 all was over. Tommy put his little cold arm 
 fondly round her neck, and held her head 
 down by his a few moments ; then his hold
 
 364 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 was relaxed and he lay motionless again, 
 scarcely breathing. A half-hour of this sol- 
 emn stillness passed, when again he revived, 
 turned to kiss Annie, and asked to see Mrs. 
 Banks and his little cousins. His grand- 
 father, who was standing near the head of his 
 bed, now turned his face to the wall and wept 
 like a child. Tommy heard him, and glanc- 
 ed with a sad disquieted look from side to 
 side until his eyes rested on Charlie, who, 
 clinging to Mrs. Banks, with his face buried 
 in a little red silk handkerchief, was weeping 
 bitterly. 
 
 " Don't cwy, Charlie," Tommy whispered 
 faintly. " Jesus will let you in. I'll beg the 
 angels to make woom for you and gwandpa 
 and all of 'em. Now mother, won't you sing 
 4 Jesus loves you, wittle children.' " 
 
 His mother commenced it alone, but he 
 looked as if something else was wanted, and 
 turning to Annie, motioned for her and 
 his little cousins to sing too, which they did : 
 
 " Jesus loves you, little children, 
 
 Loved you ever, loves you now, 
 Loves to hear the prayers you offer, 
 When before his throne you bow.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 365 
 
 " Little can you do to serve him, 
 But that little he will heed, 
 Ever pouring out a blessing 
 On each gentle kindly deed. 
 
 ** Small are all your little troubles, 
 
 But large enough for his dear love } 
 Large enough for him to carry 
 Him to soothe from heaven above. 
 
 *' Slight are all your little pleasures, 
 
 Yet he deigns to take a share, 
 Deigns to smile when you are happy, 
 In each joy himself is there. 
 
 *' 'Twas for you his spirit tasted 
 
 Such a bitter cup of woe ; 
 And he lived an earthly infant, 
 That you might a Saviour know. 
 
 " When upon the cross so freely 
 
 Jesus shed his precious blood, 
 'Twas that lambs, as well as elders, . 
 Might be reconciled to God. 
 
 ** Now he's still in glory living, 
 
 Lives a Man, and yet a King ; 
 Lives that he, all little children 
 Might to God the Father bring. 
 
 * For he loves the tender blossom 
 Fondly as the full-blown rose, 
 And he smiles when pure and spotlesi, 
 Bright in heaven it fully blows.
 
 366 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Come then, children, to this Saviour, 
 
 Lift your little hands to Him ; 
 You have a Lord who loves to cleanse yon 
 From the guilt and power of sin." 
 
 Little Tommy smiled at first as they began 
 the singing, then closed his eyes and folded 
 his hands until they finished. As he opened 
 them again, he sighed and murmured 
 " Poor Jerwy !" Jerry had wandered round 
 the house all night in great grief, and in the 
 morning seized the first opportunity of 
 hearing how the child was ; when told at 
 length that the doctor said he would die 
 before night, the poor old man took his seat 
 on the door-step, with his face buried in his 
 hands, muttering to himself. Jackson camo 
 out once officiously to order him off ; but he 
 said, so beseechingly that even he was 
 touched : 
 
 " Only let me bae tell he's awa an I'll 
 mak nae noise wi me greetin' to disturb ye. 
 Oh ! if I might but see his cannie face but 
 ance mair, and hear sweet words from his 
 bonnie lips!" 
 
 "When Mrs. Banks heard that he was there,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 367 
 
 she went out and spoke very kindly to him, 
 and invited him to come into the kitchen and 
 get something to eat ; he refused, however, 
 and wept only more wildly. "When little 
 Tommy mentioned his name, she whispered 
 to Mrs, Lee, who asked : 
 
 " Would you like to see Jerry, my son?" 
 He smiled, bowed his head, and added : 
 " And all the servants too." As soon as his 
 eye rested upon Jerry, he turned to Annie, 
 and asked for his "pretty gween thing." 
 The bowl containing it was brought, and the 
 top being taken off, a splendid butterfly was 
 seen, just emerging from the covering it had 
 woven round itself. With a bright beaming 
 face, Tommy said faintly, as he perceived 
 this, "It's wating up!" then as if recollect- 
 ing something, shook his head solemnly, and 
 looking at Jerry, said : " JSTo ! there arit any 
 faiwies /" His face looked troubled as he 
 next glanced towards Annie, but quickly re- 
 covered its sweet, bright look, as he added : 
 
 " But sister Annie didn't mean to ; she 
 fordot." He then left the bowl in his sister's 
 hand, and holding out his own to Jerry, said,
 
 368 THE CANTERBURY BELLS, 
 
 in a voice scarcely more than a sigh, with a 
 long pause between each word : 
 
 * { Jesus loves the poor too mother 
 and sister Annie will tell you 
 about him and about the bwight 
 mansions he's got in heaven for us." 
 This effort so exhausted him, that he spoke 
 no more, but held out his hands, as if he 
 wished his mother to take him up, which she 
 did, and holding him to her bosom, sang 
 him the same nursery hymns with which she 
 had so often lulled him to his nightly slum- 
 bers. A little before sunset his frame 
 quivered with a slight convulsive movement, 
 and all was over ! 
 
 "And so he giveth his beloved sleep," said 
 the mother as she laid him gently on the 
 bed. And then the long-standing tear in her 
 eye fell upon his golden curls, followed by 
 another, and another, as, raising her eyes to 
 heaven, she fervently ejaculated: "Even so, 
 Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. 
 Not my will, but thine be done." 
 
 Annie had set the bowl containing the 
 chrysalis, uncovered on the stand by little
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 869 
 
 Tommy's bedside, and while all the family 
 were still gazing on his cherub face, the but- 
 terfly flew out, and after making a circuit 
 once or twice round the room, alighted just 
 on the corner of his snowy pillow ; here it 
 rested for a moment or two, shaking its gor- 
 geous wings of green, purple, and gold, then 
 escaped through the open window, and high. 
 and joyously it soared aloft in the balmy 
 summer evening air. 
 
 Beautiful type of immortality ! like the 
 lovely boy whose blissful deliverance from 
 earthly fetters seemed symboled in its up- 
 ward flight, rejoicingly it forsook its bright 
 outer covering so admired by all beholders, 
 to be clothed with the glory of those radiant 
 wings and with its singing, voiceless as the 
 music of the spheres, it would awaken 
 for us a note of spiritual gladness, and 
 teach us to join its song of triumph. 
 
 " I shall awake, I shall awake, a glorious form 
 
 Of brightness and beauty to wear, 
 I shall burst from the gloom of my opening tomb 
 And breathe in the balmy air
 
 370 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " I shall spread ray new wings to the morning sun, 
 
 On the summer's breath I'll live, 
 
 I'll bathe me where in the dewy air 
 
 The flowers their sweetness give. 
 
 " I will not touch the dusty earth, 
 
 I'll spring to the brightening sky, 
 And free as the breeze, wherever I please, 
 On joyous wings I'll fly. 
 
 " And wherever I go, timid mortals may know 
 That like me from the tomb they shall rise, 
 And the dead shall be given, by signal from heaven, 
 A new life and new home in the skies. 
 
 " Then let them like me make ready their shrouds, 
 
 Nor shrink from the mortal strife, 
 And like me they shall sing as to heaven they spring 
 Death is not the end of life." 
 
 It was Saturday evening, and as night 
 closed in, there was a hush and stillness 
 throughout all the house, broken only by 
 the subdued motions of the two watchers in 
 that chamber, where in his shroud, and 
 " wearing on his infant brow the calm 
 majesty of death," little Tommy's beautiful 
 form lay wrapt in that long, dreamless slum- 
 ber, to be broken only by the archangel's
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 371 
 
 trumpet. Fresh flowers had again been 
 gathered by the same busy little hands, 
 which had decked him for his joyous birth- 
 day feast. This time, however, they brought 
 only white ones. Azaleas, camelias, Jas- 
 mines, and half-blown roses were placed in 
 vases about the room, while in his meekly- 
 folded hands Annie had put a single Calla- 
 lily, their symbol of love, with its pure, 
 white cup resting upon that little loved and 
 loving breast.
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. 
 
 THE circumstance of Mrs. Lee's return tt 
 Belmont, just at the moment when her pre- 
 sence seemed most needful to her children, 
 was one of those events which no child of 
 God would be willing to attribute to blind 
 chance ; but rather to the fulfillment of the 
 Father's promise: "I will guide thee with 
 mine eye" Had she not " committed her 
 way " unto him, trusting in these very words, 
 and looking constantly for his direction ? It 
 was night on the vessel which was gliding 
 over the smooth waters of the Mediterranean, 
 an unusual hush and stillness prevailed ; and 
 all had retired to their places of rest save 
 those whom duty called to be up and doing, 
 or sorrow to wake and weep. Leaning upon 
 the arm of her kind protector, the bereaved 
 mother stood silent and still, looking with a 
 yearning heart down into those blue waves,
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 373 
 
 which only a few hours before had opened 
 to receive that precious form around which 
 her arms had been so often tenderly twined, 
 and over whose rapidly ebbing life-current 
 she had been watching with loving and pain- 
 ful solicitude as day after day, under a rude 
 canopy, upon the deck of the noisy vessel 
 that fair and gentle one had patiently awaited 
 the heavenly messenger who was to bear her 
 up, far beyond all human tending. Mourn- 
 fully sounded yet in her ears, those heart- 
 breaking words : " We therefore commit her 
 body to the deep, to be turned into corrup- 
 tion, looking for the resurrection of the body, 
 when the sea shall give up her dead." With 
 these sad memories there mingled too 
 thoughts of the dear ones far away, and un- 
 conscious of the bereavement over which 
 they were soon to shed such bitter tears ; 
 gradually her mind became more and more 
 filled with a strange, shuddering apprehension 
 on their account, and at length, with a cheek 
 deadly pale, and a lip quivering with emo- 
 tion she turned to her father-in-law, saying : 
 " Tell me, dear father, how I can possibly 
 32
 
 374 TBE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 reach my children ! I feel an irresistible 
 yearning to be with them. A strange mis- 
 giving about their welfare which seems an 
 admonition that they need my presence." 
 
 The tone in which these words were spoken 
 was faint and low, yet full of appealing and 
 passionate earnestness, so different from her 
 usually calm voice and manner, that General 
 Lee was startled. Hour after hour he had 
 stood in silence by her side, that she might 
 freely give vent to the first emotions of grief, 
 hoping that nature would presently find re- 
 lief in tears ; and it was very touching to see 
 the softened and saddened expression of 
 the old gentleman's face as he watched her 
 with such evident anxiety and commisera- 
 tion. Now he almost feared that he had 
 done wrong in allowing her to remain thus 
 long in a spot which was so calculated to 
 harrow up her feelings. 
 
 " Daughter !" he said in a gentle, affection- 
 ate voice, drawing her with his arm closely to 
 his side. "Let me lead you, now, to your 
 cabin, or arrange a couch for you on deck, 
 for you have been already too long without
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 375 
 
 repose. For tlie sake of otters you must 
 be careful not to overtask your strength." 
 
 " I will do any thing you wish, sir, if you 
 will only first satisfy me as to the possibility 
 of my immediate return home. There could 
 be no rest for either mind or body while I 
 feel this oppressive weight of anxiety, re- 
 garding the precious charge whom God has 
 committed to my keeping. Oh! I wish I 
 could tell you how agonizing it is to think 
 of being detained from them, convinced as I 
 am that they need me," she answered. 
 
 u Ah! my poor child, it is but your late 
 great sorrow which has awakened these sad 
 forebodings, and it is very natural that it 
 should be so ; but you must try to dispel 
 your fears, they only unnerve you and tor- 
 ture your poor heart without cause. Think 
 what recent tidings you have had that all 
 was well, and do not be tempted to indulge 
 in unreasonable presentiments of evil. Sure 
 ly you are above superstition ! Where is that 
 steady calmness with which you have before 
 this shamed the stout heart of manhood?" 
 said her father-in-law, trying by every mo-
 
 376 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 tive to induce her to overcome her anxious 
 fears. But as she still remained silent, he 
 continued in a low and hesitating tone : 
 
 "And, my child, have I not heard you say 
 that you have intrusted them to the care of 
 One whose faithfulness can never fail ; has 
 your God forsaken you in this bitter hour ?" 
 
 " Oh ! no, he has not forsaken me ! I feel 
 the support of his everlasting arm, and I 
 dare not question his dealings still, dear 
 father, something speaks to me. I know not 
 whence it comes, unless from Him to whom I 
 have committed the guiding of my every 
 step, and I would not I dare not disregard 
 His warning ! Sweet had it been, else, to 
 stand here as long as I might, gazing down 
 into this calm, mysterious deep, cheating my- 
 self with the delusive hope of seeing once 
 again what I have committed to its solemn 
 keeping until that day { when the sea shall 
 give up its dead.' Let me beg you not to 
 think me unreasonable, nor refuse what I 
 can not be denied. I thought I heard a word 
 dropped by a sailor who passed us to-night, 
 of a vessel having been descried, and that
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 377 
 
 we should probably be compelled to lay too, 
 for fear of coming in collision during the 
 darkness. Will you be kind enough to in 
 quire about this, and in case I have made no 
 mistake, and she prove to be homeward 
 bound, make arrangements for our return in 
 her? I am sure you will not refuse, nor 
 seek further to dissuade me." 
 
 "No, daughter! I certainly shall not, al- 
 though I did not hear the remark you speak 
 of. If you are right in your conjecture, I 
 see no reason for our remaining here, and 
 shall yield most willingly to your wishes. I 
 was only trying to remove your groundless 
 apprehensions concerning your children's 
 welfare not to detain you from them. You 
 will, however, bear up bravely and nobly, I 
 am sure, as you always do, still teaching us 
 how to endure the adverse storms of fate." 
 
 "Do not say that, dear father; you are 
 robbing God of his glory. You have seen 
 his grace magnified in a poor weak worm of 
 the dust, whom though he has seen fit to re- 
 buke and chasten for her sins, he has also 
 marvellously sustained and comforted in her 
 32*
 
 378 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 affliction, bringing her forth unharmed from 
 the fiery surface through which it was need- 
 ful for her to pass." 
 
 Saying this, she slipped her arm into his 
 and motioned that she was ready to go below 
 where her brother and sister awaited her, 
 having thought it best to leave her for a 
 while to her own reflections. "When he 
 had left her ' in their care, General Lee re- 
 turned again on deck, where with his head 
 bowed upon his breast, he paced backwards 
 and forwards for more than an hour. 
 
 " Sins !" he murmured, as he brushed the 
 tears from his eyes. " What sins can she 
 have committed to draw down such judg- 
 ments upon her head? This is wonderful 
 faith, indeed ! Instead of being crushed, as 
 I feared, by such a blow, she seems to rise up 
 stronger than ever. Ah! such religion is 
 truly a holy and beautiful thing. But if she 
 be punished so severely in this world for her 
 sins, God be merciful to my poor soul here- 
 after! "Would that the day she once pre- 
 dicted might indeed be coming when my 
 tempest-tossed soul shall find such rest as
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 379 
 
 they liave found who thus believe in Jesus. 
 The prayers and tears and loving entreaties 
 which in other days I disregarded, rush back 
 now upon my heart. "What if all too late ? 
 "Would to God I had heeded them then, in* 
 stead of hardening my heart and stifling the 
 voice of conscience. Surely nothing can ef- 
 face from my memory the words I lately 
 heard : ' Eemember, dear grandpa, how many 
 are waiting for you in heaven who loved you 
 dearly here shall we look for you in vain 
 when such a welcome awaits you? Will 
 you refuse to follow those who have only 
 gone a little while before ?' I ought to have 
 led the way, rather ; but something must be 
 done at once. I will try to pray God hear 
 me ! God hear me 1" 
 
 The future must unfold the result of these 
 (Solemn meditations. Let us, however, hope 
 that needful grace was not withheld. The 
 vessel which had been spied that evening 
 passed very early the next morning, and 
 proving to be a United States packet, Mrs. 
 Lee and her father-in-law took their passage 
 in her. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwell insisted at
 
 380 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 first upon accompanying them, but Mrs. Leo 
 would not hear of it. The captain and kind- 
 hearted sailors had been deeply affected at the 
 fate of lovely Alice, and now with heart-felt 
 sympathy, they bade adieu to the bereaved 
 mother, whom they assisted into the boat 
 which carried her to the other ship, and stood 
 for some time looking after her with mois- 
 tened eyes and heads uncovered. 
 
 "When they reached their native land again, 
 the travellers pressed eagerly on without an 
 hours delay, and late in the evening of the 
 eventful birthday, reached Mr. Forrest's, 
 where General Lee insisted upon stopping 
 until the morning ; his daughter was very loth 
 to do so, but yielded at length from a fear of 
 wearying him, and because it would be im- 
 possible for her to reach Belmont before mid- 
 night and she did not wish to alarm the dear 
 ones there by her sudden return at such an 
 unseasonable hour, bringing as she did, too, 
 such heavy tidings of sorrow. Alfred had 
 mounted the fleetest horse in Mr. Ludwell's 
 stable, and riding at full speed, reached his fa- 
 ther's door a little before twelve o'clock.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 381 
 
 Mrs. Lee was still sitting up in the lonely 
 chamber to which she had immediately re- 
 tired. At her request, she occupied the same 
 room in which she had so recently passed the 
 night with her sick child, and now, how 
 every thing recalled to mind all the sufferings 
 through which that dear one had passed, dur- 
 ing her painful passage to the tomb ! The 
 restless, wearisome nights, the racking cough 
 and sharp pain, were all distressingly present 
 before her. 
 
 " Yes ! ah ! yes," she said in answer to 
 her inward questionings. " There was still 
 another idol in my heart, in spite of the 
 many which, one after another, have been 
 shivered by a loving Father's hand, to teach 
 my stubborn heart submission, else I had not 
 so vehemently striven to retain my grasp 
 upon a life which only willful blindness pre- 
 vented my seeing it was not his will to spare. 
 * Just and right are all his ways,' and I bless 
 his holy name who teacheth me to say so, 
 even now; but," and a look of deep and 
 solemn stillness passed over her face, as she 
 proceeded to probe still further the heart
 
 882 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 which ached intensely at every touch . * ' "What 
 means this restless, painful anxiety about my 
 remaining children? Surely this is taking 
 unnecessary thought for the future. Have I 
 not committed them to our Father's care? 
 And yet these passionate throbbings tell me 
 that I do not trust him. He will do what he 
 will with his own in spite of my resistance, 
 and shall a worm of the dust dare to lift up 
 its head against the Almighty ! Oh ! that I 
 could be still and know that he is Godl 
 What if the rod of chastening be yet in that 
 hand which would willingly lay it aside had 
 I but learned to submit ?" 
 
 Trembling and weeping, she now bowed 
 her head in silent prayer, and having humbled 
 herself under the mighty hand of God, rose 
 up calmly and seating herself near the open 
 window, looked up to the same moonlight 
 sky on which Annie had shortly before gazed 
 with thankful love. 
 
 Peaceful, tranquillizing thoughts crept gra- 
 dually into her mind. Heaven seemed so 
 real, near, and blissful, and it was such u 
 blessed, happy thing to remember how many
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 383 
 
 loved ones were already awaiting her there, 
 that as she pondered it more and more deeply 
 in her heart, faith seemed to lift her far above 
 the earth, on the wing of strong ecstatic love, 
 until, in the rapture of the moment, she could 
 almost fancy that beyond that globe of light 
 she saw "the land which is very far off" 
 brought near, and heard the "new song" of 
 those who are " walking with the Lamb in 
 white." Her heart now kept silence, the 
 silence of thanksgiving before God. She had 
 no words in which to praise him for the 
 spiritual blessings he had bestowed upon her 
 loved ones, the living and the dead. 
 
 " What, cousin I are you still up ?" asked 
 Mrs. Forrest with disappointment, and 
 almost reproachfully, when, after waiting 
 some time, dreading to communicate Alfred's 
 alarming intelligence concerning Tommy, she 
 ventured at last to open the door softly and 
 enter the room. " I hoped you would al- 
 ready have taken some sleep, as I fear you 
 will not when you know what has brought 
 me to your chamber," she added with a very 
 grave, serious face.
 
 381 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 She felt disappointed, however, to find that 
 her words produced apparently no alarm. 
 With eager interest Mrs. Lee bent forward to 
 hear what she would add to this ; but still 
 with such an expression of calm quiet confi- 
 dence, that her friend was at a loss how next 
 to proceed, lest failing to prepare her suffi- 
 ciently for the shock, the bad news should be 
 too suddenly communicated. Mrs. Lee per- 
 ceived her hesitation and her troubled coun- 
 tenance immediately. 
 
 " Tell me whatever you have to communi- 
 cate, my dear Susan ; do not be afraid, I 
 can bear it now," she said in a low, subdued 
 voice. 
 
 And when she heard of little Tommy's 
 danger, her cheek grew paler even than be- 
 fore, and she seemed scarcely able to support 
 her trembling limbs ; yet she uttered not a 
 syllable, but meekly bowed her head. "When 
 the arrangements for their instant departure 
 were told her, she thanked her kind friends 
 in the same low tone her eyes expressing 
 far more than her lips. It was near day- 
 break when they reached Belmont. The
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 385 
 
 physician from the village could not be 
 found that night, but Dr. Thomson had been 
 there nearly an hour when they arrived. 
 From what Mrs. Banks told him of little 
 Tommy's appearance on the day of the fall, 
 he concluded he was then suffering from an 
 affection of the brain, which had caused his 
 fall from the swing, while this, in turn, had 
 aggravated his disorder, and rendered his 
 case still more alarming. He advised the 
 most undisturbed quiet and rest. For this 
 purpose the room was darkened and perfect 
 stillness preserved, while they gently made 
 warm applications to his feet, and cold ones 
 to his head. There seemed, however, so 
 little hope of his recovery, that the doctor 
 could not make up his mind to resort to the 
 painful trial of a blister. Once, indeed, he 
 held the silken ringlets in his hand, which he 
 was about to shave off for this purpose, but 
 the lovely face overcame him, and the little 
 throbbing, burning head lay so heavily and 
 languidly back on his hand, that he felt it was 
 useless to try to stop the work of the destroyer^ 
 
 which had already advanced so far, and was 
 33
 
 886 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 going on with such, fatal rapidity. When 
 Annie awoke* the last hopeless symptoms 
 were beginning to show themselves, and her 
 mother had been detained from her to hear 
 that his end was approaching, and that no- 
 thing could be done except to afford all the 
 relief and comfort it was possible to his 
 dying hours. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, at the same hour 
 on which his death had occurred, a mourn- 
 ful procession of playmates, relatives, and 
 friends, followed his remains in solemn si- 
 lence down the long avenue, and through the 
 dark grove of cedar and fir trees to the little 
 family burying-ground, where they laid him 
 in his narrow resting-place. Poor old Jerry 
 had refused to join the funeral train, and 
 seemed to have taken up a strange, wild 
 fancy that his interest in the sweet child had 
 by some means caused his death, and brought 
 sorrow upon his mother and sister, in whose 
 faces he declared he could never look again. 
 But after the grave was covered in, and the 
 family had all returned to the house, he crept 
 from the hiding-place where he had remained
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 387 
 
 during the reading of the burial service, and 
 seating himself upon the little mound, gave 
 vent to his grief in mournful and touching 
 accents. 
 
 " Ah 1" he exclaimed bitterly, striking his 
 hands upon his breast, " if but these auld 
 een could hae ben blinded wi' their ain saut 
 tears before they quenched the bright light o ? 
 thine, by looking sae lovingly on thee, thou 
 bonnie, bonnie wean ! And had but this 
 auld withered heart been forever dead and 
 cold like the stanes above thy blessed head, 
 before it withered the tender wee blossom wi' 
 it's burning heat o' luve. I sud na then hae 
 greeting and shame to see young een weep- 
 in', and the good and innocent heavy wi' 
 mournin' for thee, because thou'se lyin' down 
 in the deep darkness where I wad bae in- 
 stead!" 
 
 And now the last labor of love for little 
 Tommy was ended, the last care over, and 
 the last prayer offered for he no longer 
 needed any of these. Carried like a tender 
 lamb in the bosom of the good Shepherd, his 
 wants were all supplied, and his prayers
 
 38 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 turned to endless praises. But the space he 
 had filled on earth was a blank. The little 
 bed with its spotless coverlid, the little empty 
 rocking-chair, the drawer of playthings and 
 books, with the paint-box and half-finished 
 picture, all seemed to make one feel at first 
 as if he must come back. Then they brought 
 to mind the terrible reality of those sad 
 words: "The place which once knew him, 
 shall know him no more." "No more!" 
 These dirge-like words seemed to echo 
 through the silent house, to be whispered 
 solemnly in the soft wind which stirred the 
 leaves and flowers, and to fall at last " like 
 stones in an empty well," to the depths of 
 those hearts once full of earnest, affectionate 
 interest in his present, and fond, anticipating 
 thought of his future welfare, now made void 
 by his absence from them. Other wearers 
 must be found for those little suits of cloth- 
 ing, with the neat stitches so carefully 
 planted by proud and loving hands ; but the 
 little hat and shoes, bearing so plainly the 
 impress of his person, with the soft auburn 
 ringlets, were laid side by side in the drawer
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 389 
 
 with other sacred relics which the spoiler had 
 left from former scenes of havoc, amongst 
 the heart's treasures. To Mrs. Lee these 
 things were but precious mementoes of His 
 great goodness, who had for a time bright- 
 ened her earthly home with gems destined 
 for his own royal diadem, and then with- 
 drawn them in order that missing their ra- 
 diant adorning from the things of the present, 
 she might more earnestly seek after those 
 which are to come, and labor to be herself 
 polished and fitted for the Master's use, in 
 that day when he shall gather together the 
 jewels which with his own precious blood he 
 hath purchased for an everlasting possession. 
 She turned, therefore, from looking on the 
 dark shadow which death had thrown around 
 the hearthstone, to gaze more steadfastly up 
 to that world of light where no shadows ever 
 fall. 
 
 83*
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 MRS Lee and Annie were not unmindful 
 of the promise which had been made for 
 them to old Jerry. Accordingly, after hav- 
 ing tried in vain to induce him to come to 
 Belmont to them, they at length determined 
 to go in search of his house. Mrs. Lee had 
 been very sick, and still looked too pale and 
 feeble for such an expedition. Annie offered 
 her arm for her support, and they walked 
 very slowly, often pausing to rest, so that 
 Uncle Simon, who preceded them as their 
 guide through the woods, carrying a large 
 bundle and basket in his hand, kept too far 
 ahead to overhear their conversation, and 
 was obliged sometimes to seat himself on a 
 large stone and wait until they came in sight. 
 They passed through the garden by the same 
 path which Jerry had come on the morning 
 that Annie brcught him up to the house
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 391 
 
 with her. It was the first time since the 
 death of her dear little brother, that she had 
 visited this place which had afforded such 
 delightful occupation to his busy little hands. 
 Near their flower-bed sat the pot containing 
 their Calla lily, now out of bloom, and it3 
 leaves beginning to droop and wither. An- 
 nie's eyes filled with tears when she saw it, 
 and thought of the purpose for which its last 
 flower had been plucked. How little any of 
 her young companions or herself had antici- 
 pated this on that happy morning when they 
 were choosing their emblematic plants ! The 
 beautiful variagated Canterbury bell was still 
 in full bloom, but a late shower had pros- 
 trated some of its slender stalks. 
 
 " Dear, sweet little flower," said Annie, as 
 she stooped to fix them on a prop, "how 
 dearly I shall always love you for his sake. 
 Mother, he loved these flowers so much, and 
 when I tried to explain what Mrs. Banks 
 meant by her name for them, ' Family Har- 
 mony,' and what she said about the chiming 
 of the bells, love, peace, gentleness, and hu- 
 mility, in the family circle, he smiled so
 
 392 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 sweetly, and asked me if they were not tLe 
 bells papa heard in his home; and when 
 some of the children were quarrelling one 
 evening, he ran and pulled a piece and shook 
 it very hard, to see if the * wittle angels 
 wouldn't wing the faiwy bells,' he said. 
 How do you think they could have grown 
 here so suddenly, mother? Isn't it very 
 strange? Fannie thought we might have 
 dropped some seed without knowing it, but 
 Uncle Lemuel says they don't bloom the first 
 year, and besides these were large and in 
 bud when we first saw them. I am so glad 
 that they were put here at any rate, now." 
 
 " It must have been done by some one in- 
 tending a pleasant surprise, my darling ; but 
 who it was, of course I can not say. / am 
 very glad, too, however, since they gave our 
 little darling so much pleasure. Ah ! how 
 much he could tell us now about the har- 
 mony of heaven, that joyful music ever 
 sounding, without a moment's pause, or a 
 single jarring note. It was a good thought 
 in dear old Mrs. Banks to try to teach you 
 all to connect the study of God's word with
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 393 
 
 his beautiful works in the wcrld of nature ; 
 for they are meant to be interpreters of each 
 other," answered Mrs. Lee; and for some 
 time after this, they walked on in silence, for 
 Annie found that her mother preferred this, 
 and was very careful not to disturb her re- 
 flections. 
 
 Uncle Simon took down all the bars, and 
 cleared the path most carefully for them, 
 though he did not at all approve of their 
 taking such a walk, just for old Jerry Thrip. 
 After a while he halted until they came up to 
 him, and pointing with his finger to a miser- 
 able, dilapidated old hovel, in the midst of 
 the woods, with no inclosure round it, said 
 to Mrs. Lee : 
 
 " Dere's de place, madam ; but you see it 
 look fitter for cattle to live in, dan it do for 
 people. Ef you'd please to set down here 
 on dis big rock a little while, I'll go tell de 
 ol' man to come out to you, and save you de 
 trouble of going any further." 
 
 " Never mind, Uncle Simon ; I would 
 rather go to the house myself, I think," she 
 replied.
 
 39-i THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 " Excuse me, ma'am, for resisting upon it 
 so, but indeed I thinks you'd better not ; it 
 an't no place for de likes o' you to go in, and 
 I kin so easy fetch him out." 
 
 His persuasions, however, were useless; 
 and he was obliged to lead them to the en- 
 trance, a low opening, covered with an old 
 door, broken off its hinges, and propped up 
 against the wall on the inside. As no one 
 replied to Uncle Simon's loud rap, after wait- 
 ing some minutes they entered. It was very 
 dark and still in there, and Uncle Simon, 
 after searching about for the window, or 
 some place through which light might be ad- 
 mitted, at length succeeded in moving aside 
 several rough planks, which supplied the de- 
 ficiency of both shutter and sash. And 
 never shone the light of day upon a scene 
 of more dreary and squalid wretchedness. 
 Both Annie and her mother felt sick at heart 
 as they glanced from side to side, in the vain 
 hope of finding relief in some quarter of this 
 woful-looking abode. In several places the 
 broken roof permitted a view of the sky, and 
 it was plain, from the appearance of every
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 395 
 
 thing, that the late rains had had free admis- 
 sion. A few planks in one corner of the- 
 room kept an old mattress from the damp 
 earthen floor. The bed-clothes, which were 
 both soiled and torn, were thrown in a con- 
 fused heap to one side, showing large rents in 
 the ticking, with tufts of coarse, sharp straw 
 sticking out. There was one chair, which 
 could boast four legs and part of the back ; 
 several stools roughly manufactured from 
 blocks of wood, a long table, apparently from 
 the same shop, with one of its legs so much 
 shorter than the rest, that it was necessary to 
 support it against the wall, or risk the sliding 
 off of the scanty stock of common delf ware 
 arranged upon it. 
 
 " Well, I'se hearn tell of dis place, but I 
 never seed it afore I I wonder what kind of 
 an ol' critter he is, any how, to live in sich a 
 a hole ? My master's cattle would turn up 
 their noses at it. Dere an't no place 'tall I 
 kin ax you ladies to take a seat. I mighty 
 feared you be sick again, madam," said Uncle 
 Simon, looking with much anxiety and con- 
 cern at Mrs. Lee's pale face.
 
 396 THE CANTEKBURY BELLS. 
 
 " No ; I hope the walk will rather do me 
 good," she answered with a faint smile, 
 quickly followed by a sigh and a look of dis- 
 appointment, as she added, " but I am very 
 sorry the old man is not at home. I think, 
 Annie, we will wait awhile, and see if he will 
 return." 
 
 " But, mother, you will be so tired if you 
 stand so long, and as Uncle Simon says, this 
 room is not fit for you to stay in. Suppose 
 you let him fix one of these seats in a shel- 
 tered spot for you." 
 
 " That is percisely what I was gwine to 
 do, Miss Annie, dough it an't fit for my mis- 
 tus till I gives it a good cleaning," replied 
 the old servant, taking up a stool and wiping 
 it all over with his pocket-handkerchief, with 
 an air of politeness and gallantry that would 
 have done credit to a courtly cavalier. 
 When a large oak tree had been found, 
 which Annie thought just the thing for her 
 purpose, the stool was placed under it in 
 such a way that her mother might lean back 
 for support against its massive trunk. 
 
 "And now," said Uncle Simon, placing
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 397 
 
 another beside it, " dere's one for young mis- 
 tus, too." 
 
 " Thank, you, Uncle Simon ; but before I 
 rest I've got plenty of work for you and me, 
 too," said Annie. Then whispering a few 
 words in her mother's ear, she ran back to 
 the hovel, followed by the servant. 
 
 " Now, Uncle Simon, suppose we surprise 
 old Jerry by fixing up his room while he's 
 gone, so when he comes back, if we are not 
 here, he won't know what to make of it. 
 Wouldn't you like to clean it up a little for 
 me? Sweep the floor and make the bed, 
 you know." 
 
 " I'd like to do any thing my little mistus 
 wants," said old Simon, " but how I gwine 
 to sweep dout a broom, I wonder ?" 
 
 " Oh ! yes, I forgot that ; but I know you 
 can make it look nicer some way or other." 
 
 "Miss Annie, you jes' go set down by 
 your ma, please, miss, a little while, and I'll 
 derange all about de broom, and you'll see 
 wonders in dis ol' hole when I gives you no- 
 tice to return." 
 
 Annie smiled, and did as he requested her, 
 
 34:
 
 398 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 and with a hearty good will the kind-hearted 
 old soul went to work. First, he made a 
 'kind of broom, which answered pretty well 
 for the dirt floor, by tying branches closely 
 together ; then moving out every article of 
 furniture, even to the would-be bedstead and 
 bed, he thoroughly swept, then dusted and 
 replaced every thing, and even went so far 
 as to garnish the fire-place with green boughs, 
 chuckling and carrying on in quite an ani- 
 mated tone of voice, an imaginary conversa- 
 tion between little Miss Annie and himself, 
 in which she was made to express the great- 
 est amount of wonder and delight, while he, 
 with one hand resting on his side, looked 
 round with a grin of complacent satisfaction, 
 and shook his head knowingly, saying : 
 
 " Thought Simon knowed how to please 
 his good little Miss Annie." 
 
 When every thing was fixed as well as he 
 thought possible, he went to call the young 
 lady, assuming an air of humility intended to 
 heighten the surprise which awaited her. 
 
 " Hopes you'll find things putty tolable, 
 Miss Annie ; but you know taint easy to git
 
 THE CANTERBUKY BELLS. 399 
 
 blood out a turnup, and it seem putty much 
 like dat to try to make dat place look more 
 genteeler." 
 
 " Why, Uncle Simon ! it's splendid com- 
 pared to what it was," said Annie. " I am 
 so much obliged to you for taking so much 
 pains." 
 
 "You's very welcome, Miss Annie," he 
 answered, with his whole face beaming with 
 delight at his success. " You see, lettin' in 
 de fresh are and scrapin' up the damp clay 
 off de floor have kept it from havin' sich a 
 a bad, cellarish kind of smell. But here's 
 what gin me more trouble an anything else 
 dis ol' table what set so cranksidy, less it 
 lean up agin de wall. Fust I thought I 
 couldn't do nothing 'tall with it ; but knowed 
 you never want to see it set dat hobble-de-gee 
 fashion, so says I, sumpin got to be done bout 
 diSj any how. Den I thought bout de nails 
 what mas' Frank gin me to mend my garden- 
 palins, an' I found um safe in my pocket; 
 after dat 'twas easy 'nough to know what to 
 do ; so I jes nailed on dis leg what was fallin 1 
 out, and put a block o' wood under it to
 
 400 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 make it long as tother's, and see how handy 
 it sits up, an' holds de chaney snug, too." 
 
 " That's the very thing, for now I am 
 going to put some dinner on it for old Jerry 
 when he comes back. Where's the basket 
 of provisions, Uncle Simon?" 
 
 " Here 'tis, miss ! but don' know whar you 
 gwine to find things to hold all what in it, 
 an't no more 'an three plates one mug, and 
 a broken one a saucer and dis pitcher, 'dout 
 a handle, as I kin see." 
 
 Annie looked perplexed. After having 
 placed a loaf of bread on one plate, a cold 
 ham on another, there was only one more, 
 which must be reserved for old Jerry to eat 
 out of. 
 
 " Oh ! my little table is all spoiled for want 
 of things to hold his food. I wonder what 
 he uses every day ; he must have a tea-pot ; 
 here is a rusty old kettle, to be sure, but how 
 can I make him tea without a tea-pot?" she 
 said. 
 
 " Gruess he never haves none hisself, here ; 
 but he'll enjoy your bottle o' milk, Miss 
 Annie, may be more 'an the tea, as it mought
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 401 
 
 be cole when lie gits it. There an't any way 
 of containing the heat in it you see." 
 
 Annie was obliged to content herself with 
 leaving most of the supplies on a corner of 
 the table in paper bundles, but she had man- 
 aged to make his dinner the most inviting- 
 looking feast Jerry had sat down to for a long 
 time. The table was covered with a snowy 
 napkin, and some bunches of green laurel in 
 the middle set off every thing very much. 
 
 " Miss Annie, boun I seed sumpin 7 as I 
 went down to de spring would surprise you. 
 De ol' gentleman got a garden down dere, 
 sure as you born !" said Uncle Simon as he 
 returned from filling the pitcher with fresh 
 water. 
 
 " Where is it ? I should like so much to 
 see it," said Annie, much interested. 
 
 Uncle Simon led the way down the hill, 
 and there, sure enough, was a plot of ground 
 under a mossy bank by the spring, which 
 was evidently cultivated as a flower-garden. 
 In the centre was a large sweet-briar bush, 
 around it some blue flags, and dotted about 
 in different places a few other wild flowers ;
 
 4:02 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 but in a corner off by itself, were several 
 rows of Canterbury Bells! At seeing this, 
 Annie's face became more thoughtful and 
 sad. 
 
 " Ah ! now I understand all about it," she 
 said half-aloud, plucking at the- same time a 
 little sprig to show her mother. 
 
 " That's what I thought of directly, my- 
 self," said Uncle Simon. 
 
 Mrs. Lee was much touched at Annie's de- 
 scription of the little garden, and agreed with 
 her, that there was little doubt that now the 
 mystery about their plants was solved. They 
 had waited so long in vain for old Jerry's 
 return that she thought it useless to remain 
 longer, and rose to go. 
 
 "My daughter, you have succeeded in 
 making wonderful improvements in the old 
 man's house," she said, as Annie pointed out, 
 with great animation, what Uncle Simon and 
 herself had been doing. " And you seem, 
 my dear child, to be enjoying already in an- 
 ticipation your reward for the pains you 
 have been taking to make another happy; 
 but I am sorry you can not see the pleasure
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 408 
 
 you will doubtless give. "We must lay the 
 suit of new clothes on this chair, and wait for 
 another opportunity of telling him, for whose 
 sake we wish him to accept and wear them," 
 she added with a sigh. 
 
 On the way home they saw old Jerry at a 
 distance coming towards them, apparently 
 walking with difficulty, but as soon as he 
 caught a glimpse of the ladies, making an 
 effort, he quickened his pace, and went off in 
 another path through the woods, very much 
 to their disappointment. That evening Uncle 
 Simon was dispatched from Belmont to his 
 house on another errand; this time he car- 
 ried the bedstead and mattress, on which lit- 
 tle Tommy had once slept, with some clean 
 covering. When he returned, he reported 
 that he found the old man walking up and 
 down before his hovel, wringing his hands 
 and talking to himself. Upon seeing the 
 contents of the cart, he would hardly allow 
 them to be carried in, saying : 
 
 " Oh ! tak' it a' back, an' tell the gude 
 ladie it's na use trying to cross ill-luck. 
 There's nane ever I luved but sorrow or
 
 404 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 death was sure to come upon them. Yet for 
 a' that, there's mony, mony thanks in here 
 (laying his hand upon his breast) to her can- 
 nie heart, and I'd joy ony day to powre out 
 it's reddest bluid for her." 
 
 Uncle Simon, however, was not to be de- 
 terred from obeying all his orders to the very 
 letter; accordingly, without replying to his 
 objections, he quietly proceeded to put up 
 the bedstead and spread the new mattress 
 with the clean sheets, etc. He then, with 
 the same quiet gravity, hung up the little 
 curtain Annie had hemmed for the win- 
 dow, threw into his cart the pile of filthy 
 straw and rags which had composed Jerry's 
 couch, and with a broad grin on his face, 
 drove off, leaving the old man seated on a 
 stool, watching him with a vacant, bewildered 
 stare. 
 
 These comforts seemed to have arrived 
 just at the most fortunate moment, too, for 
 that very night poor Jerry was seized with a 
 violent attack of inflammatory rheumatism, 
 and when Annie came again to see him a 
 few days afterwards, with Mrs. Banks, they
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 405 
 
 found him tossing wearily upon his bed, 
 racked with pain, and parched with feverish 
 thirst, without a creature to aid him. When 
 they entered he was raving in wild delirium, 
 as if driving off some frightful image which 
 would force itself upon his vision ; as soon, 
 however, as Annie spoke to him in her sweet, 
 gentle voice, his countenance softened, and 
 with a smile, he began talking of a " little 
 angel with sunshine around his head, and 
 looking down upon him with luve and kind- 
 ness in his bonnie blue een." Then he mut- 
 tered in a very sad voice, too low to be dis- 
 tinctly heard, something about his u puir wife 
 and her pale face, and toiling white fingers, 
 and the twa bairns, "Willie and Mary, resting 
 together under the green turf in the auld 
 kirkyard at Kilmarnock, with the flowers 
 bloomin' aboon their bonnie heads." 
 
 His visitors were deeply moved at his suf- 
 fering condition, and did every thing they 
 could to alleviate his pain ; but in that for- 
 lorn dwelling it was hard to find any way of 
 rendering him more comfortable. Mrs. Lee, 
 therefore, had him immediately conveyed to
 
 406 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Belmont, called in medical advice, and with 
 Mrs. Banks' s and Annie's assistance, nursed 
 him day and night most tenderly. For some 
 time he was too ill to be conscious of any 
 thing that was done for him, but by and by, 
 the fever began to yield to the remedies of 
 the physician, and he seemed to be much 
 puzzled at finding himself in a strange place. 
 As Mrs. Lee approached him with a glass of 
 cooling drink, and kindly inquired how he 
 did, he covered his face with his hands, and 
 murmured in a feeble, broken voice : 
 
 "Alak! alak! it sud na bae that God's 
 holy saunts sud came to wait upon a puir 
 sinful carl !" 
 
 Another time he motioned her back, say- 
 ing: 
 
 " ISTa ! ladie, it's na fittin' indeed ! it is na 
 fittin' me to tak' it frae your hand." 
 
 Bat when he found that resistance was 
 useless, and the good lady persisted in her 
 kind care and attention, in spite of his re- 
 monstrances, he at length quietly submitted, 
 but his eyes would follow her wherever she 
 moved with an expression of mingled rever-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 407 
 
 ence, gratitude, and devotion. As soon as 
 he was able to listen and understand her 
 words, she talked to him of Jesus, (redeeming 
 little Tommy's pledge,) telling him how free- 
 ly he had been ransomed with the blood of 
 atonement, and how easily the vilest and the 
 meanest might be embraced in the covenant 
 of mercy. For some time he heard her in 
 profound silence, betraying only by the tears 
 which stole down his furrowed cheek the 
 emotion he felt. "When alone, however, he 
 sometimes muttered to himself such words as 
 these : 
 
 "Ah! yes; if her heart caud melt wi' sae 
 nrackle luve and pity for the sufferings of 
 this puir wretched body sae miserable, de- 
 spised and scorned that she wad cam' her- 
 sel', great and beautiful as she is, and cure it 
 wi' the touch of her ain lily hand I can na 
 surely believe too muckle of the Gude Mas- 
 ter who taught her how to feel for the 
 wretched, and mad' her heart sae different 
 frae the hearts of most ither folks. But oh ! 
 she kens nane of the woe and sin that's deep 
 here within this heart o' mine."
 
 408 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 His writhing features would betray at 
 other times the great struggle which seemed 
 to be passing in his mind, and he would de- 
 spairingly exclaim : 
 
 "]STa! na! it's a 7 to na use, for I'm still 
 greetin' at the blessed words, exceptin' ye 
 forgive, ye can na' bae forgiven."
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ALTHOUGH, after a few weeks, the 
 violence of pDor Jerry's disease was subdued, 
 it seemed very doubtful whether lie would 
 have strength to rally from its effects. With 
 sure but gradual steps, the outcast wanderer 
 was apparently drawing near the " bound of 
 life where we lay our burdens down." And 
 the young people at Belmont, touched with 
 pity, now vied with each other in showing, 
 by acts of kind, thoughtful attention, their 
 sympathy in his sufferings, as well as their 
 regret for the injustice they had once done to 
 his character. Alfred frankly said : 
 
 "I shall always know, now, that Mrs. 
 Banks and my little cousin's way is the best. 
 Never to take evil for granted about any 
 one, on account of their looks, and rather to 
 waste kindness on the unworthy, than run 
 the risk of wronging the innocent." 
 35
 
 410 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 Every day, good, motherly Mrs. Banks 
 came with, her prescriptions and her drinks ; 
 and with the same humble, thankful look 
 with, which she always summed up her own 
 mercies, she reminded him of God's goodness, 
 and urged him to be thankful for the past, 
 and trust Him for the future. 
 
 "As for me," she said one day, " if the 
 time should ever come, when I see nothing 
 but darkness and sorrow in the present, I 
 should just close my eyes, and find enough 
 to do in calling to mind all the wonderful 
 love and mercy of my past life ; so it was that 
 David could always find a word of praise, for 
 the ending of his bitterest complaints." 
 
 Jerry bowed his head, and answered : 
 
 "Ay, mistress, as you say, there's muckle 
 love, muckle mercy, and muckle grace, to 
 think on ; but then there's mair an' enough 
 of sin and sorrow, for a' that. I'se try to 
 mind me of the future ; but nane of the past 
 has light for me." 
 
 Annie loved dearly to bring her little 
 Bible and read to him chapters, which she 
 had first read to her mother, and heard her
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 411 
 
 explain, and sing him her favorite hymns 
 and those she used to sing to her little bro- 
 ther, while the old man would express to her 
 more freely than to any one else all his 
 doubts and fears, as well as every feeble 
 hope as it sprung up in his mind. She had 
 kindly gathered for him the seed of his Can- 
 terbury bell, and wept while he told her 
 about his " wee winsome Mary," and how 
 she had loved this flower, because a kind 
 ladie gave it to her ; but how, when he had 
 gone to the wars in India, she died, and so 
 when he came back, there was " naething ILL 
 his ain loud belonging to him, but three 
 graves in the auld kirkyard; that he caud 
 bide there nae langer, but when he hod dug 
 up a little root, to cherish for their sakes, had 
 crossed the wide seas never to return. With 
 his eyes fixed upon the little paper seed-bag, 
 suspended from a nail near his bed, he would 
 beg her again and again to read him the 
 loth chapter of 1st Corinthians, and to say 
 her " ain sweet wards afterwards." In her 
 simple, childlike language, she would then 
 explain, how like the springing of the seed
 
 412 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 from the soil would be the resurrection of 
 our bodies, and talk to him of the blessed- 
 ness of those whom God has taken to his restj 
 who will no more return to us, but wait to 
 welcome us into their blissful habitation, 
 though changed and glorified, still the same 
 we loved on earth, and may continue to love 
 throughout eternity. And so from her, poor 
 Jerry learned to believe that the little germ 
 of immortality which he had left buried in 
 the green hillock of his native land, would 
 meet him again, in a more genial clime, 
 blooming in richer, fairer beauty, yet be the 
 same, the very same little Mary over whose 
 poor dust he had shed so many tears. 
 
 For many weeks the old man lingered, 
 suffering little pain, but showing in his 
 emaciated frame and wasting strength that 
 the old soldier's last battle was nigh fought, 
 and the City of Eest, in which is heard no 
 more the voice of the oppressor, not far off. 
 At last, with the first cold winds of autumn 
 and the changing leaves, his final summons 
 came, and, in his turn, the humble, docile 
 pupil had now a lesson to impart that deep-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 413 
 
 ly impressive lesson, which the dying teach 
 the living in that hour when the solemn 
 realities of life and death are unveiled before 
 us; when heart and flesh fail, and we feel 
 that none but the eternal God can be the 
 soul's refuge in this last extremity. E very- 
 trace of anxiety and trouble had been for 
 some time passing from the old man's face, 
 and an expression of meek, tranguil joy suc- 
 ceeding, when one evening, as Mrs. Lee, per- 
 ceiving that he was much iller than he had 
 been, was preparing to sit up by him herself 
 during the night, he motioned her to draw 
 nearer, that he might make himself heard 
 as he expressed his last wish. "There's 
 been great fightin' warks here, dear ladie," 
 he murmured, laying his hand upon his 
 heart, " but thonks to ye a' who taught me, 
 and mair thanks to him that sent ye. I've 
 found the end o' it a' at last, an now I'm his 
 whose precious bluid bought me, an' hae 
 naething mair to do but praise him for erer- 
 mair. The red sodger's claes is laid by, an' 
 I think nae langer of ony wrongs, but I crave 
 to bear my Master's name and mark upon 
 35*
 
 414 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 me, before I go to meet his blessed face. 
 Only I wad na ask too muckle" he added dif- 
 fidently. Mrs. Lee immediately promised 
 to gratify his wish if possible, and the next 
 morning sent for a clergyman who chanced 
 to be visiting a friend in the neighborhood. 
 He came at quite an early hour, and all the 
 family were assembled in the room of the 
 dying man. The pallor of death was on his 
 face, but it was radiant with joy, as the minis- 
 ter of Jesus, marking on his brow his sacred 
 symbol, pronounced the words which fell 
 gratefully upon his dying ear: " We receive 
 this person into the congregation of Christ's 
 /lock, and do sign him with the sign of the 
 cross." When he had received, together with 
 the little band of Christian friends around 
 him, the memorials of a Saviour's dying love, 
 and the sweet assurance was read, "Yerily, 
 verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my 
 word, and believeth on him that sent me, 
 hath everlasting life," "My Saviour's am 
 sweet, blessed words," he faintly articulated 
 with a smile, adding, " and I forgive as free- 
 ly as I hae ben forgiven." Then with a part-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 415 
 
 ing look to his kind friends, full of grateful 
 love, he rested upon "the Everlasting arm" 
 which bore him safely over the dark river, 
 and opened to him the gates of that " Beauti- 
 ful City," where, with inaudible footfalls, 
 walk the followers of Him who was meek and 
 lowly in heart, and where still stand, as of 
 old, "the great multitude which no man 
 could number, of all nations, and kindreds, 
 and people, and tongues, before the throno 
 and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, 
 and palms in their hands, and worship God, 
 saying: Blessing and glory, and wisdom, 
 and thanksgiving, and honor and power and 
 might be unto our Grod, forever arid ever. 
 Amen."
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE spring and summer have each succes- 
 sively come and gone since our readers were 
 first introduced to the family at Belmont, 
 and now the bright tints of autumn are begin- 
 ning to fade before the more stern and som- 
 bre face of winter. But during these event- 
 ful months the little Ludwells had witnessed 
 sadder changes than those of the varying sea- 
 sons. Their first tears had been shed for a 
 more serious cause than that of some passing 
 disappointment or trivial wound; for the 
 first time death had presented itself to them 
 as a reality, and the sad moral, " In the 
 midst of life we are in death," had hushed for 
 a while, with its startling sound, their merry 
 games and happy plays. Childhood's sor- 
 rows, however, from whatever cause, are pro- 
 verbially short, and the elastic spring of 
 youth had rebounded before this to its old
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 417 
 
 place, so that the laugh and jest and merry 
 song echoed through the house as loudly 
 as ever. Occasionally, indeed, a thoughtful 
 shade would cross some young face, as im- 
 pelled by a suddenly awakened recollection, 
 it sought once more to unravel the great mys- 
 tery it had witnessed the parting of soul and 
 lody. 
 
 Upon the evening, however, when we in- 
 vite you to step with us, for the last time, 
 into the comfortable dining-room, every sha- 
 dow seems to have been banished, and an un- 
 mingled glow of happy anticipation is visible 
 in their countenances. The bright hickory 
 fire is throwing warm, cheering, inviting- 
 looking beams upon the furniture, arranged 
 with scrupulous and unusual regard to order 
 and taste. There can scarcely be a mistake 
 in the inference drawn from these circum- 
 stances regarding the event which is so joy- 
 fully expected. Yes, if you could interpret 
 the language of those little throbbing hearts, 
 you might hear them say, with each succes- 
 give beat : 
 
 "I am so happy, because mamma and
 
 418 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 papa are coming, certainly coming. Coming, 
 coming, coming!" 
 
 Henry and George are at the farthest gate 
 of the plantation, using both eyes and ears to 
 catch the first indication of the travellers 
 being at hand ; when they have promised to 
 hurrah so loud that the party within doors 
 shall hear them immediately they having at 
 length, with difficulty found occupations suffi- 
 ciently absorbing to quiet for a while their 
 impatient restlessness. The Forrests have re- 
 turned home ; but Mrs. Banks seems so firmly 
 established amongst them, that no one thinks 
 of her ever going away. She sits now in a 
 corner of the hearth, holding Phebe on her 
 knee, and singing to her a favorite melody 
 from Mother Goose, about the man that 
 jumped into the bramble-bush, and scratched 
 out both his eyes ; while the child, with Mina, 
 her pet tortoise-shell kitten, in her lap, laughs 
 aloud, and threatens to use poor pussy's own 
 paws to dispossess her of a pair of sharp, 
 cunning little green eyes, which peer know- 
 ingly and stealthily about. In the middle of 
 the rug, Charlie has seated himself, with a
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 419 
 
 lijtle basket of hickory-nuts, off which he 
 is stripping the outer bark with both teeth 
 and fingers, giving, now and then, amused 
 attention to Mrs. Banks and her merry 
 rhymes. Not far from the fire sits Mrs. Lee 
 at a little stand, on which there is a glass of 
 delicate flowers, which she is copying with 
 her water-colors into Susy's sketch-book. 
 Her hand moves along with graceful rapidity, 
 leaving a beautiful imitation of each little 
 flower traced on the blue or rose-colored leaf, 
 Susy standing all the while close to her 
 elbow, watching the progress of her work 
 with intense admiration and delight. The 
 rest are all gathered around grandpa, who 
 sits near the window, with a little round 
 table before him, on which he has placed his 
 microscope, and some curious leaves and in- 
 sects they are examining with it. The old 
 gentleman looks down with benevolent plea- 
 sure upon his grandchildren, very much 
 gratified at the interest they manifest in his 
 explanations and remarks, and they enjoy 
 quite as much as ever his genial society. He 
 has been absent from Belmont an unusually
 
 420 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 long time, for which they have just been call- 
 ing him to account, and while doing this in 
 most frolicsome spirit, scarcely one of them 
 fails to notice in his manner more of softness 
 than it was wont to have, as well as a certain 
 degree of gentle gravity, blended with the 
 former kind, cheerful tone of his conversa- 
 tion, and more than once several pairs of eyes 
 have been wonderingly fastened upon him, 
 when, during the course of their microscopi- 
 cal observations, he has paused to point out 
 with reverent and earnest eloquence, the wis- 
 dom and goodness of the great Creator. 
 
 These several pleasant little groups are 
 broken up by the sound of the signal-shout, 
 which presently rings through the air, echoed 
 again and again from different parts of the 
 plantation. Instantly the room was deserted 
 by the delighted children, who rushed eagerly 
 down the long avenue, to meet the carriage, 
 giving loud expression to their feelings all 
 the way. Annie and her mother alone lin- 
 gered together by one of the large pillars of 
 the portico. They were both very pale and 
 trembled very much as the moment of meet-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 421 
 
 ing drew near. Ah ! could they keep back 
 that rush of feeling as they thought of all 
 that had happened during those months of 
 separation? Yet not for the world would 
 they have cast one shadow on the joyous mo- 
 ment of reunion ; and bravely they struggled 
 to gain the mastery over themselves, and, 
 thinking only of others, to fulfill the Scrip- 
 ture precept: "Kejoice with those that do 
 rejoice." As soon as Mr. Ludwell saw the 
 children, he ordered Thomas to stop, and 
 jumping out, ran to meet them. One after 
 another was folded in his warm, tender, fa- 
 therly embrace ; then followed a rush to the 
 door and steps of the carriage, to kiss dear 
 mamma, whose glowing cheeks and animated 
 countenance spoke very favorably for the 
 effects of her journey. Clara, and as many 
 more as could be squeezed into the carriage, 
 rode with her up to the door, while Mr. Lud- 
 well and the three eldest boys walked on 
 rapidly together. Grandpa was standing at 
 the end of the gravel- walk, ready to welcome 
 back the wanderers. 
 
 "Why, Emmy!" he exclaimed, looking 
 36
 
 422 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 with satisfaction at his daughter's improved 
 appearance, after the first warm greetings 
 were exchanged, "you look like yourself 
 again, sure enough. It is amazing! a re- 
 storation far more complete than I had dared 
 to hope for. May we be as thankful as we 
 should be. And as for you, Edward," he 
 added, turning to Mr. Ludwell, and shaking 
 his hand warmly, " you look as if a winter's 
 hard work were absolutely needed to reduce 
 you to reasonable dimensions." 
 
 " I have a first-rate chance then in pros- 
 pect," answered Mr. Ludwell, laughing, "for 
 my business has accumulated during my long 
 holiday to an almost frightful amount. Ah 1 
 here is good Mrs. Banks. I'm delighted to 
 see your kind face once more ; the appearance 
 of the children speaks volumes in praise of 
 your good care of them. I never saw little 
 Phebe so robust before ; but Mother Banks 
 always had a way of working miracles upon 
 young folks," he continued, stooping to kiss, 
 with a son's dutiful affection, the old nurse 
 who had acted almost a mother's part succes- 
 sively to himself and his little ones.
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 423 
 
 With a deep sigh, he glanced now towards 
 his sister, whom he hastened to meet, and 
 nothing could have been more touching than 
 the tender sympathy of both Mr. and Mrs 
 Ludwell to Annie and herself. It was some 
 time before they were sufficiently composed, 
 after this interview, to receive the congratu- 
 lations and welcomes which still awaited 
 them from the servants, who were crowded 
 in the wide hall, waiting to speak to them, 
 testifying with their own tongues how glad 
 it made them to have master and mistus 
 back. 
 
 Even old Aunt Mindy had hobbled up 
 from her cabin, and stood leaning on her tall 
 staff, while Uncle Lemuel had donned again 
 his shorts and tights, and filled his mouth 
 with many long-winded compliments, clothed 
 in the most pedantic language he could mus- 
 ter, from his limited acquaintance with the 
 world of letters. An early and sumptuous 
 supper came after a while, to tempt the appe- 
 tites of the travellers after their long ride. 
 
 " Mother, won't you sit at the head your- 
 self, now that you are well ?" asked Henry,
 
 424: THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 upon seeing Clara take that place as she had 
 before been accustomed to do. 
 
 " Yes, my son ; I hope I have come back 
 strong enough for all my duties. But sister 
 Clara thinks she will spare me all fatigue on 
 this first night ; so you see she is making a 
 visitor of me," his mother answered cheer- 
 fully. 
 
 " Edward, may I ask a blessing ?" General 
 Lee asked, as the family were about to be 
 
 Mr. Ludwell started with surprise at this 
 unusual suggestion, but instantly checking 
 himself, answered with grave respect : " Cer- 
 tainly, sir." At the same time he motioned 
 to such of the children as had already seated 
 themselves to rise again, and the old gentle- 
 man, standing in the midst of his descendants, 
 with his venerable head bowed, and his hands 
 lifted to invoke a blessing upon them, looked 
 like one of the patriarchs of old. To the 
 looks of inquiry and astonishment which his 
 grandchildren were casting upon him, he re- 
 turned a frank, kind smile as he said : 
 
 " Better late than never, my dears. Don't
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 425 
 
 you think so ? Grandpa, you see, lias at last 
 found a safe harbor for his poor shattered 
 bark, so long tossed upon an angry sea. He 
 has tried for many years living without God 
 in the world, but found that it contained no- 
 thing which could satisfy the cravings of aa 
 immortal creature, and so in the eleventh 
 hour he resolved to go right to the Lord 
 Jesus, and offer to become a laborer in his 
 vineyard; and strange as it may seem, his 
 poor unworthy services have been accepted, 
 lie has been welcomed, indeed, not as a ser- 
 vant, but as an adopted child into the house- 
 hold of God, and is ever ready to exclaim : 
 'Because thy loving kindness is better 
 than life, my lips shall praise thee !' Now 
 when he tells you what great joy he finds, 
 himself, in this new relation to our heavenly 
 Father, will you wonder that he desires more 
 than any thing in the world to see those 
 whom he loves best made equally happy ? 
 Take warning, my dear little ones, by these 
 gray hairs, and don't do as I have done 
 leave only the last hour of life to be spent in 
 the enjoyment of real solid peace and comfort. 
 83*
 
 4:26 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 How I wish some one of you, at least, would 
 this very night come and lay your hand in 
 mine as a token of your determination to take 
 at once a stand for God in the world, and be- 
 come an ' heir of the grace of life.' " 
 
 Mrs. Ludwell rose as he finished speaking, 
 and gliding softly to her father's side, laid 
 her hand in his, saying : 
 
 " Keceive mine as the first pledge, dear 
 father, for you have brought my halting, 
 doubting mind at length to a conclusion ; and 
 I can say to-night, that I am resolved that, by 
 (rod's grace, I will be henceforth wholly de- 
 voted to his service and live for his glory." 
 
 It would be in vain to attempt a descrip- 
 tion of the effect which this scene produced ; 
 enough that it was one which the youngest 
 child present could never forget. "When the 
 evening which was spent in tranquil happi- 
 ness had drawn to a close, and they were 
 about to separate for the night, the old fam- 
 ily Bible, so long unused, was brought out 
 once more, and placed before General Lee, 
 who opened it with a trembling hand, and 
 read the first twelve verses of the 32d chap-
 
 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 427 
 
 ter of Deuteronomy, pausing with, deep emo- 
 tion on the fourth verse. " He is a rock ; his 
 work is perfect : for all his ways are judg- 
 ment ; a God of truth and without iniquity, 
 just and right is he." He then offered a 
 short, simple, childlike prayer, fervently com- 
 mitting the whole household to the care of 
 the Good Shepherd of Israel ; and so was the 
 family altar of Belmont again set up this first 
 evening of their meeting together again, after 
 a separation which had been most strikingly 
 marked by the interposition of God's hand, 
 plainly showing that he indeed hath power to 
 "kill and to make alive, to wounl and to 
 TuaL" 
 
 " My dear Annie," said General Lee, in a 
 low voice to his daughter-in-law, as he bade 
 her good-night, " I have not thanked you yet 
 for your instrumentality in my present hap- 
 piness. Your prayers and your faith have 
 not been in vain, you see ; and neither, let 
 me add, has your example failed to impart 
 its lesson. God bless you, my child !" 
 
 A thanksgiving was offered up that night 
 by Mrs. Lee, in her closet, such as only they
 
 428 THE CANTERBURY BELLS. 
 
 can offer who have long watched, waited, 
 and prayed for the conversion of a beloved 
 friend, when at last the clouds of error and 
 prejudice are dispelled, and the clear beams 
 of the sun of righteousness begin to cast their 
 heavenly radiance around his pathway. And 
 good Mrs. Banks lay down to rest, full of 
 thankful hope, as she looked forward to the 
 fulfillment of her best wishes and most earn- 
 est prayers for the dear Belmont Family.
 
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