Aunt Mary

"I didn"t want ham," said the rude boy, as he pushed his plate from him; "I wanted some tongue."

"That is not a proper way to speak, my dear," said his aunt; "and you must eat what I have given you first, then you shall have some tongue."

This was strange language to the wayward boy; he resented it by another push of his plate, and leaning back in his chair with the determination of a martyr.

Wonderful, he thought it, that no one at the breakfast-table, not even mamma, took the slightest notice of him, or seemed to care whether he had any breakfast or not. The fact was that a very significant look from Aunt Mary had imposed silence upon mamma, and sisters, and cousins, and the little ones were far too busy on their own account to give heed to Freddy, who was quarrelling with his bread and b.u.t.ter. In short, neither by word nor look had any effort been made to soothe the perturbed spirit of the really hungry boy.

This state of things, however, was not to be endured; so thought Fred, when, after waiting a considerable time, and casting furtive glances around to see if there were any signs in his favour, but perceiving none, he pushed his chair away from the table and rushed out of the room, quite unable longer to suppress his pa.s.sion or his tears. This was the signal for Mrs. Ellis to remonstrate, which she had all along wished to do.

"Really, Mary, you are too severe on the poor boy," she began, but was immediately, though kindly, silenced by Miss Livesay.

"Not now, if you please, dear," said Aunt Mary; "we will not discuss this point before the juveniles, we will talk it over by-and-by. In the meantime, Freddy has, I hear, gone into the garden, where he can amuse himself without getting into mischief."

The latter part of this speech might have been omitted with propriety, but we must not forestall. The absence of the high-spirited young gentleman did not seem at all to lessen the enjoyment of the little people, who really behaved remarkably well, being for the most part under the management of a good nursery-maid, except when they were having their little lessons with Julia. Mrs. Ellis did not like the trouble of children herself, but through her weak-mindedness she certainly did what she could to make them a trouble to other people. The breakfast-party were just on the eve of breaking up, when a violent screaming in the back garden seemed to upset Aunt Mary"s idea that Freddy could not get into any mischief there, and soon the whole party were in the back garden to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.

There, at the large rain-water barrel, covered with wet and dirt, yet holding fast by the top, stood the unfortunate Fred, his face crimson with fear and excitement, while he still tried with all his might to turn back the tap which he had so unluckily loosened, and which now, like himself, refused to submit to a weak hand, but was readily reduced to order by a strong one; for Bridget was at the scene of action, and set free the boy, now completely shamed, if not subdued, by having to appear before the whole party as an object of commiseration, if not ridicule.

Of course there were no boy"s habiliments at Oak Villa, and Fred had to undergo the further humiliation of being put into his sister"s bed in one of her nightdresses, while his own clothes were drying.

It must be confessed that a great reaction had taken place since the cold water had been thrown on the fiery young spirit, for there had been more than the mere wetting of the body. Fasting also had done its beneficial work; the craving stomach seemed to be resisting the defiant will. And when Freddy found himself quietly between the sheets, with only his sister Mabel--who had brought some breakfast up--to witness his humiliation, he very gladly, I might almost say thankfully, turned _to_ the tempting viands which he had so short a time ago turned _from_ with disgust. Yes, the piece of ham was there, and this time it was not pushed back; but there was no tongue, which had been desired and denied before. Aunt Mary never did things by halves.

Here we will leave this graceless Freddy; he will have no lack of amus.e.m.e.nt while his clothes are drying, for Mabel and Clara have brought him books and pictures, and some old toys which had been put by: but Aunt Mary insists that Freddy is to be left to himself, after she has seen him, and kindly, but forcibly, shown him the foolishness, as well as the wickedness, of indulging in pride and evil temper. After all, May Day was at Oak Villa a very happy day to all who were there.

CHAPTER XX.

AN EXCHANGE.

Though the cold-water system had acted as a sedative with Master Fred, during the afternoon and evening of May Day, and though every precaution had been used to prevent any serious effects afterwards from the wetting, yet the boy did take cold; and so feverish and restless did he become, that the good Dr. Maddox, who had attended Mabel, was sent for without delay. His prescription, however, was not a very alarming one: namely, castor oil and some spirits of sweet nitre.

"Don"t frighten yourself, dear madam," said the doctor: "_this_ is not a case of rheumatic fever; nothing but a slight influenza cold. But you must take care to give him the medicine." The doctor laid great stress on this.

Of course the medicine was procured, but, alas! papa was not at home, and no amount of persuasion or coaxing would induce the obstinate little fellow to take it. It was in vain that mamma promised all sorts of toys, and produced preserves and lumps of sugar to take the taste out of his mouth, or threatened him with severe illness and more nauseous stuff, if this were not taken. It was no use, poor Mrs. Ellis was obliged to give it up; and heartily did she wish that her good sister Mary would call in the course of the day, for she dreaded her husband"s coming home, and finding that the doctor"s advice had not been followed. It was about three o"clock in the afternoon when the anxiously-expected visitor arrived at Camden Terrace. Of course she knew nothing about Fred being poorly; she had merely come to make general inquiries, and to see that Mrs. Ellis was no worse for the fatigue of May Day.

"Oh, I am better than usual, dear Mary," she replied to the kind inquiry; "but I am troubled about Fred now. He is very poorly, in bed, and the doctor has ordered medicine for him, which I cannot get him to take. I have been longing for you to come; will you try if you can induce him to take it?"

Aunt Mary smiled, as she said: "Do you remember, dear, a former trial that I had with this young tyrant of yours, when, being very determined myself, I held him fast and pressed the gla.s.s to his mouth, whereupon he actually bit a great piece out of it, at the same time kicking me so violently that I was fain to let him go, with, I believe, a mental promise that I would never again subject myself to such an indignity?"

Mrs. Ellis could not help laughing; she had not forgotten the circ.u.mstance, but she pleaded now that Fred was two years older, and was not likely to repeat his exploit.

"I know he is two years older," said Aunt Mary, "but I don"t feel at all certain that he is two years better than he was; though he may be so much stronger as to increase my difficulty."

"Oh, do try, Mary dear," urged Mrs. Ellis; "I must get him to take it before his papa comes home."

"Oh, Ada, Ada!" exclaimed her sister, "how is it that you have allowed this boy to gain the mastery over you, to your own great sorrow, and to his great disadvantage? But, come," added the kind friend, "give me the medicine, and I will try what I can do."

"Now, Freddy," said his aunt, as she came into the bedroom, cup in hand, "I am come to see you, and to make you better if I can. I suppose you are not fond of lying in bed this fine day," she added.

"Oh no, aunt; I want to get up, but mamma won"t let me."

"Well, dear, you know, you must always try to do as mamma wishes you, because she knows what is best for you; but I have brought something from the doctor that is sure to do you good, and it is to be taken immediately."

"I can"t take it, aunt, it is such nasty stuff," said the boy, with disgust.

"I know it is very nasty stuff, Freddy, and, like you, I can"t bear to take medicine; but when I know that it is to make me well, I am not so foolish as to refuse it. So now sit up like a man, and take the cup in one hand, and this little mint-drop in the other; drink off the nasty stuff in a moment, and pop the mint-drop into your mouth at once; you will never feel the taste of the medicine after that."

Whether it was the decisive manner in which Aunt Mary spoke, or the belief in the efficacy of the mint-drop, or the appeal to the manliness of the patient, we cannot say, but a magical effect had been produced, for the contents of the cup had been swallowed; and Fred, greatly relieved in mind, if not yet in body, laid down his head on the pillow and listened, evidently with much pleasure, to his aunt"s commendations.

This short illness of Freddy"s was followed by a much more serious one of his mamma"s. It had been a long time coming on, and it was the doctor"s opinion that it might be of some months" continuance; rest and quiet were ordered, but they are not easily obtained where there are refractory children at Freddy"s age. It would be easy enough to keep the little ones quiet, but Mrs. Ellis had permitted this turbulent boy of hers to make appeals to her on every trifling occasion, and to stand and whine and cry until he obtained what he wanted, because mamma was worn out with his teasing. Now that she was really so ill as to be more than usually affected by any disturbance, it became a question with Aunt Mary (though it was to her a very painful one) whether it would not be expedient, and the right thing to do, to make an exchange in favour of the invalid, and to subst.i.tute Mabel for her brother Fred, taking the responsibility of that rather notorious rebel upon herself, and giving her dear sister the benefit of a tender nurse, who had grown wise beyond her years, through much suffering and good teaching.

If there had been the shadow of a doubt on the kind lady"s mind as to what course she should pursue, her visit to Camden Terrace the day after the doctor had given his opinion respecting Mrs. Ellis, would have determined her; for on the front-door being opened, she heard a violent screaming and kicking, sufficient to disturb the nerves of a much less sensitive person than Mrs. Ellis.

"Oh, that is Fred making that noise," said Mabel, who had come with her aunt to visit mamma. "Shall I go up to him?" she inquired.

"No, my dear; go to the sick-room. I will myself encounter the rebel;"

and Aunt Mary went straight upstairs, just as nurse opened the room-door to remonstrate with the unruly boy, who was quickly and unceremoniously caught up from the floor, and made to stand on his feet.

"Let me not hear another sound from you while I am here," said his aunt.

"And, Jane," she added, speaking to the nurse, "please to put up in a small basket this young gentleman"s night-clothes. I intend to take him home with me; he must not remain here to make his poor mamma worse than she is." So saying, Miss Livesay left the nursery, and proceeded to her sister"s bedroom, where she found Mabel arranging the pillows, and making the bed rather more comfortable for her poor mamma.

Master Freddy had been completely taken by surprise, and he seemed at a loss at first how to give vent to the suppressed pa.s.sion that was swelling within; but when nurse said, "I am very glad indeed that your aunt is going to take you away, for then we shall have some peace in the house," he jumped off the stool on which he had been sitting, and would have struck her with a brush which he took from the table, had she not forcibly held both his hands, and threatened to take him at once to the room where Aunt Mary was.

"You needn"t put up my night-shirt," said pa.s.sionate Fred, "for I shan"t go with that nasty old thing!" This was, however, uttered in a subdued tone, and elicited "Shame, shame!" from nurse, and even from little Gerty.

"I think," added Jane, "you are the very worst boy I ever did see, and I wouldn"t stop here if you was obliged to be kept in the nursery, which I suppose you would be, now your mamma"s so poorly, for it isn"t to be expected that you will be allowed to go teasing her about every little thing. I _am_ glad, very glad, you are going away; and I hope Miss Livesay will keep you a very long time," added nurse, while Fred, not daring to explode, on account of his aunt"s being so near, vented his pa.s.sion on the poor kitten by kicking it violently from under the stool, where he had again seated himself.

"Ada dear," said Aunt Mary to her sister, "I am going to propose a transfer, which, though I must confess it will be a very painful one to me, yet perhaps may in the end be good for all parties; and, I think, will prove for your especial benefit now you are so unwell. It is my intention--if you do not object," continued Miss Livesay, "to leave dear Mabel with you, and to take that refractory young gentleman, whose kicking and shouting, as I came to the door, must have disturbed you, home with me to Oak Villa. I intend to remain with you this afternoon, while Mabel goes to our house to tell Bridget to prepare a bed for Fred.

I dare say, before I want to leave, Mr. Ellis will be home, and then I shall have no fear of a scene with Master Freddy: he will not venture on opposition when his papa is here."

"Oh, dear Mary!" said Mrs. Ellis, "how kind it is of you to care for me and mine so much! I can never thank you enough for what you have done for dear Mabel; but she, poor girl, won"t like to stay in a sick-room."

"Mamma dear, don"t say that!" exclaimed the now affectionate Mabel; "I will nurse you day and night. I shall only be doing for you what dear aunt and Clara did for me, when I was so ill."

"Well now, you must give me some work to do," said Aunt Mary; "I will sit with your mamma while you go down and tell Bridget to prepare a bed in my dressing-room for your brother. I shall take care to keep him near me day and night." This speech was addressed to Mabel, who was very glad to find that it was her aunt"s intention to remain till the evening; she soon set off on her errand, though she feared she should be the bearer of no very pleasant news to Bridget, who would certainly not at all like the advent of such an unruly boy at their peaceful home.

"I"m sure our mistress will not let him have the lamp lighted in his bedroom all night, as nurse says he has at home," said Bridget; "so most likely that will be the first row he will make."

"Oh, leave aunt to settle all that, Bridget," said Mabel; "you know how well she manages these matters."

""Deed I do, Miss Mabel; and who knows," said the honest, plain-spoken servant, "but what she may make as great a change in Fred as she did in you!"

Bridget did not take into account the severe illness and mental suffering that had helped, with Aunt Mary"s wise efforts, to work this reformation. She attributed all to her kind mistress. While Bridget attended to the commands of her mistress, Mabel went into the garden to gather some flowers for her mamma, as her aunt had requested her; and after bidding good-morning to the faithful servant, she wended her way quickly to her early home, thinking, as she went, what a blessing it was to have so kind a friend as Aunt Mary. During the time that Mrs. Ellis had been so unwell, the children had all dined together in the nursery at two o"clock; and Aunt Mary insisted that there should be no departure from this rule on her account, as she intended to make one of the party.

At the hour appointed, the bell rang for dinner, and soon all were seated at the table but Fred; that young gentleman had chosen to make himself scarce, and notwithstanding the ringing of the bell, out of doors and in, a second time, he did not make his appearance.

Great was the consternation of nurse at not being able to find Freddy; she began to fear that he had run away from home to avoid going to Oak Villa. He had once played such a trick, and made everybody miserable until he was found in the evening, and brought home by a woman who washed for his mamma. Mabel and Julia did not feel at all comfortable, though Aunt Mary would not let them leave the table to go in search of the truant.

"Don"t distress yourselves, my dears," said Miss Livesay; "depend upon it, the culprit is not very far off. Nurse and cook will look after him."