I answered, "he will take pleasure in rendering your husband relief."
"Oh yes, indeed, we are all aware of that. William would not have had the employment which enables him to support his family, had your husband not gone to Mr. Hunter and presented the case to him. Then it would have been a long time before he could have earned clothes suitable to go to church."
"Mr. Jones knows well how to sympathize with him in his efforts to reform."
"Yes," and a curious look pa.s.sed over her face. "But he told William at last that he could not keep it from him any longer. Thomas did indeed go with him to the tailor"s, and order the garments, but it was by direction of your good husband, who paid the bill."
"Oh! Frank," said I to myself, "you"ve begun to have secrets and to keep them from me." Yet I was quite delighted that my husband"s
"Charity ever Finds in the act reward, and needs no trumpet In the receiver."
As we were leaving, Mrs. Reynolds said, "I walked last evening to our old home, and it made my heart ache to see how neglected the place appeared. But my husband has a purpose, and if G.o.d prospers us with health and strength, we shall accomplish it. This is to purchase back the cottage. Do you think," she eagerly asked, "the Squire would refuse to sell?"
Emily fell into such a reverie that I could get no answer to my numerous questions until we reached home. Then she directed Caesar to drive her to Squire Lee"s.
_Monday, May 29th._
For a number of days some mysterious project has been going forward.
Emily spends half her time with Lucy Lee. The Doctor is implicated in it, as I perceive from sundry whisperings and signs, which are instantly hushed at my approach. Yesterday I came upon them unawares, and heard distinctly mention made of a lawyer, legal instruments, witnesses and the like. I can easily imagine that Lucy is to be married to Allen; and that the Doctor and a lawyer are advising the old gentleman about his will. How astonished they will be at my shrewdness, when I tell them, I was well aware of their secret all the time.
_Tuesday. May 30th._
How true it is that life is made up of sun and shade. I was never more impressed with this idea than I have been to-day. A short time since I called, as I mentioned, upon Mrs. Reynolds, and found her in comfort, with her husband restored to her and to his family, and looking forward with joyous antic.i.p.ation to the time when they should be the proprietors of their once beautiful home.
Alas! how soon these hopes were dashed! The poor woman came to me this morning, weeping bitterly. It has been their custom when the father returned from his work, and when the labor of the day was completed, for all the now united and happy family to take a stroll for pleasure.
Almost invariably their steps have been directed to the place rendered dear by pleasant a.s.sociations. Last evening when they were approaching it, they were greatly astonished to see that something unusual was going forward, and hastening their steps, they found to their dismay that the occupants had received notice to vacate the premises, as the place was sold. Vain were all their endeavors to learn the name of the purchaser.
The tenants neither knew nor cared, for they were perplexed at being obliged to leave their comfortable quarters, though they acknowledged that one month"s rent had been given them by the purchaser, in consideration of their consenting to leave at once.
Hardly conscious of what she did, Mrs. Reynolds followed her husband from room to room, rendered desolate by the removal of the furniture while harder and harder grew the face of the bowed man, until at length he sunk upon the steps of the door, and cried aloud. "I didn"t know until then," she added, "how much he had set his heart upon having the old place. True it has been our constant conversation whenever he has been at home; and so sure did he feel of going back, that he had promised each of the children a flower-garden equal to any their mother ever had."
I could not keep back my tears at witnessing the unrestrained grief of the afflicted woman. "I could bear it myself," she continued, sobbing, "but William has given up, and says, it is no use now, trying to be anything."
Though I feared, it would be in vain, I did all I could to encourage her and told her the Doctor would inquire about it, and see if the purchaser could not be bought off. "At any rate," I said, "William can put up a cottage like it. You must not allow your husband to despond."
She went away with her heart somewhat lightened. When Frank came in, I related her story to him, and was greatly encouraged by his hopeful view of the subject.
He said, "I will see Reynolds immediately." I am often astonished that my dear husband with so large a practice finds time to render so many acts of kindness to those around him.
_Tuesday, June 6th._
My dear mother, I have so much to tell you, I scarcely know where to begin. Frank has hinted to me a number of times, that he intended to celebrate Pauline"s birth-day in good style, as the poor girl had taken such a burden upon herself at the celebration of her brother"s birth-day. But when I inquired for farther particulars, he always turned it off with a laugh. When I went this morning to the kitchen, I found Phebe in her element, saying. "Ma.s.s"r Frank gib orders for cake and pies, for twenty people, and Ruth say ole missus is g"wine to make bread and boil meat."
What can all this mean! I walked straight to the cottage to learn what I could from mother. My rising wrath at being kept so entirely in the dark was somewhat mollified by finding her as ignorant as myself. She was, however, busy in preparing dishes for a bountiful supper, according to the wish of Emily. My dear, artless mother did not deceive me, when she pretended not to hear as I eagerly asked, "have you no idea of the meaning of all this secrecy?" I said no more, but walked back, soliloquizing whether it would be wiser for me to insist upon knowing without farther delay, or to allow matters to approach the crisis. I had concluded upon the latter course when I saw Frank drive into the yard. I did not stop, however, for I intended to keep up my dignity, and to appear perfectly indifferent. So I went to my room and gave Pauline her lesson; but Frank peeped in and beckoned me away.
I put on a very serious air and followed him. "Come now," said he, kissing me, "you can"t make me believe you are angry; I see your mouth twitch; I"ve some good news for you."
In my curiosity, I threw away my reserve, and listened eagerly to his story, which I must go back a little to render intelligible. It appears that Emily"s large heart was swelling with "a purpose" when she so suddenly started for Squire Lee"s, on our return from visiting the humble abode of Mrs. Reynolds. Undefined, at first, she confessed it was; but a vague idea was flitting through her mind, of persuading the owner to give back Rose Cottage to its former occupants. Sometimes her hopes rose high, and then she was tempted to abandon her project. The thought of expecting "the hardened old man" (as the Squire had universally been called until his sickness,) the thought of asking such a man to give away what he valued at ten or twelve hundred dollars, merely to encourage the reformation of his inferior who had been ruined in his employment, seemed hopeless and absurd. But the image of the patient sufferer, eagerly listening to her praises of his daughter, gave her courage to proceed, and she tapped gently at the door of his room, where she was sure to find Lucy.
After talking pleasantly with the old gentleman for a few moments, Lucy in obedience to a motion from Emily, retired with her to the inner apartment. There she made bold to divulge her plans and wishes, to which there was no want of attention on the part of the listener. She, however, made no reply until Emily had finished, when she took her hand, saying, "Come and tell father."
From this, even the courageous Emily shrank, saying "No, Lucy, you will do the business far better."
But Lucy only smiled, and pulled her forward, saying, "Tell him just as you have told me. He won"t be displeased."
So Emily sat down at his feet and told him all her heart. He listened with a pleased attention; and when she described the patient suffering of the gentle Anna, the beautiful children cursed with a drunken father, his breast heaved with emotion. Emily grew warm with her subject, and remembering that she was asking more than he had ever done in his life, she burst out, "Dear sir, if you should make this family happy, it would be so delightful for you to reflect upon as you sit here day after day.
You would become so interested for them, and Lucy would so rejoice to hear their generous praise of their kind benefactor."
He shook his head while a few tears silently coursed down his furrowed cheek. "You forget that I _made_ them miserable."
"Well, then," she continued, "now you have an opportunity to turn their grief into joy, and to render them very happy;" and looking at the portrait opposite, upon which the sun was shining, "how happy she would have been to have you perform so generous an act."
There appeared to be a dreadful conflict between his incrusted covetousness and the benevolence which by the grace of G.o.d was springing up in his soul. Lucy came and kneeled by Emily"s side holding her father"s hand caressingly in hers. "Well, daughter," said he affectionately, "Rose farm is yours, give it to whom you please."
The young advocates were overjoyed at their success, and Lucy kissed her father repeatedly, while Emily warmly pressed his hand. In the peace and joy which filled his breast, Squire Lee for the first time realized the truth of the inspired declaration, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Lucy readily promised to keep the whole transaction a profound secret until the proper moment should arrive for the denouement. Emily also promised with the a.s.sistance of her brother to arrange all the business.
_Wednesday, June 7th._
I had not time last evening to finish Emily"s story. Her frequent conversations with Frank were connected with the legal transfer of the estate. How wise I thought myself in having seen through their plot!
At length, all was concluded. The legal instruments were prepared and executed, conveying the property from the Squire to his daughter, and from her to Mrs. Reynolds and her children, reserving the use thereof to Mr. Reynolds, provided he remained true to his pledge of entire abstinence from intoxicating drinks. But in the event of his violating his pledge, the same was to revert to his wife and children.
The family occupying the house, were the next morning notified to leave, as Emily had determined to restore it to its original beauty. The Doctor, however, insisted that I should have the pleasure of giving the furniture, and he put money into her hand for that purpose.
The important day had now arrived for the removal of William and Anna Reynolds to their sweet home, while as yet they knew nothing of the great happiness in store for them. It was for the purpose of carrying me to invite them to Pauline"s birth-day party, that Frank had returned. He had left Emily and Lucy busily engaged in setting up the furniture which Caesar had yesterday carried there. I rode with him to their humble abode, and found Anna sitting at her sewing in rather a disconsolate mood, on account of the continued grief of her husband, at the supposed loss of the cottage.
But she very gladly accepted Miss Pauline"s invitation and promised to keep her children from school and to be ready when Caesar should call for them. Such a bustle of preparation as now went forward, I have hardly seen. The good Caesar was constantly coming and going, laden with baskets of provisions, crockery and other household utensils. As he pa.s.sed the door, he stopped the horse, and drawing himself up, said in a consequential tone, "Caesar knows Misse Emily no do widout dis chile on dis great "casion. Ma.s.s"r Lenox allus powerful good to sich kind. Dis de gemman allus "prove ma.s.s"r plans."
At length, the hour arrived, and Pauline was arranged in a white dress with pink sash and bows to her sleeves. I left her at Rose Cottage with the a.s.sembled company, and as requested returned with Caesar to bring the new proprietors to their abode.
They were all in readiness, William arrayed in his new suit, and evidently striving to appear cheerful; Mrs. Reynolds, Anna and Willie were neatly dressed for the occasion. When we were seated in the carriage, I told Caesar, I had an errand at the west part of the town; and if Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds would excuse us, we would go there first.
Caesar showed his white teeth so much that I feared, they would suspect something. As we approached our destination, I saw white dresses here and there flitting by the windows, and a little head peeping from the attic to watch for us.
William covered his face with his hands. He could not bear to witness the improvements which he had already planned for himself. Mrs. Reynolds held her husband"s hand in silence, while the children eagerly looked, expecting that we should drive past. But when we stopped, and first Lucy, then Emily, followed by mother, the Doctor and Pauline came to the door and bid them welcome to Rose Cottage, it was too much. William sprang upon his feet, and stood with a vacant look, first at one, and then at another, and finally sank back on the cushion weeping aloud.
Mrs. Reynolds turned very red and pale by turns, while the children shouted for joy, as they were helped from the carriage into the newly painted hall.
It was not, however, till a.s.sisted by the Doctor (for his trembling knees would scarce support him) that Mr. Reynolds could speak. When he with his wife were seated in the neatly furnished parlor, Lucy with moistened eyes presented him with a doc.u.ment, when he exclaimed, "I can"t! _Oh! I can"t take it!_"
Frank saw that he was laboring under some mistake, though _what_ it was he could hardly conceive, and fearing lest the joy would be too much for him, he took the doc.u.ment from the donor, and said kindly, "My good friends, this young lady is the owner of the cottage, and she has invited us here to partake of a little feast in honor of Pauline"s birth-day. As this was formerly your home, we thought it would be pleasant for you to meet us here."
"Oh! _no!_ NO!! I can"t stay," cried the poor man sobbing aloud, and wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his coat.