So David Means went to Florida, and his wife and two children went with him. This had been no part of the original plan, but at the bare idea of his going without her, Mrs. Means had raised a shrill cry of protest. "What? David go down there, and she and the children stay perishing at home? she guessed not. If Florida was good for David, it was good for her, too, and she laid up ever sence spring, as she might say, and with no more outing than a woodchuck in January. Besides, who was to take care of David, she"d like to know? Mis" Porter"s folks, who had a place there? She"d like to know if she was to be beholden to Jane Porter"s folks for taking care of her lawful husband, and like enough laying him out, for she wasn"t one to blind herself, nor yet to set herself against the will of Providence." Doctor Brown stormed and fumed, but Anne Peace begged him to be quiet, and "presumed likely"
she could raise enough to cover the expenses for Delia and the two older children. "Twas right and proper, of course, that his wife should go with him, and David wouldn"t have any pleasure in the trip if he hadn"t little Janey and w.i.l.l.y along. He did set so by those children, it was a privilege to see them together; he was always one to make of children, David was.
She did raise the extra money, this sweet saint, but she ate no meat for a month, finding it better for her health. Joey and Georgie Means, however, never wanted for their bit of steak at noon, and grew fat and rosy under Miss Peace"s kindly roof.
It was a pathetic sight when the sick man took leave of the little group of friends and neighbours that gathered on the platform at the station to bid him farewell. He had lost courage, poor David; perhaps he had not very much to start with, and things had gone hard with him for a long time. He knew he should never see these faces again, this homely, friendly place. He gazed about with wistful eyes, noting every spot in the bare little station. He had known it all by heart, ever since he was a child, for his father had been station-master. He could have built the whole thing over, with his eyes shut, he thought, and now he should never see it again. Yet he was glad to go, in a way, glad to think, at least, that he should die warm, as his wife expressed it, and that his tired eyes were going to look on green and blossoming things, instead of the cold, white beauty which meant winter to him.
He had scarcely ever left Cyrus for more than a day or two; he had a vague idea that it was not creditable to go to the other world, and be able to give so little account of this one. Now, at least, he should be able to look his seafaring grandfather and his roving uncle in the face, if so be he should happen to meet them "over yender."
He stood on the platform with his youngest child clasped close in his arms. This was the hardest part of all, to leave the children. His wife and the two older children had already taken their places in the car, and the good-natured conductor stood with his watch in his hand, willing to give David every second he conscientiously could. He came from East Cyrus himself, and was a family man.
Anne Peace stood close by, holding fast the hand of little Joey.
Strange sounds were in her ears, which she did not recognize as the beating of her own heart; she kept looking over her shoulder, to see what was coming. Her eyes never left David"s face, but they were hopeful, even cheerful eyes. She thought he would come back much better, perhaps quite well. Doctor had said there was a chance, and she did hear great things of Florida.
And now the conductor put up his watch and hardened his heart. "Come, David, better step inside now. All aboard!"
"Good-by, David!" cried Doctor Brown, waving a friendly hand.
"Good-by, David!" cried Anne Peace, lifting little Joey in her arms, though he was far too heavy for her.
"Look at father, Joey dear, throw a kiss to father; good-by, good-by, David!" The train moved out of the station, but David Means, his eyes fixed on the faces of his children, had forgotten to look at Anne Peace.
Winter came, and a bitter winter it was. No one in Cyrus could remember such steady cold, since the great winter of sixty years ago, when the doctor"s grandfather was frozen to death, driving across the plains to visit a poor woman. The horse went straight to the place, his head being turned that way and his understanding being good; but when the farmer came out with his lantern, there sat the old doctor stiff and dead in his sleigh. Those were the days when people, even doctors, had not learned how to wrap up, and would drive about all winter with high, stiff hats and one buffalo robe, not tucked in, as we have them nowadays, but dropping down at their feet. There was small chance of our Doctor Brown"s freezing to death, in his well-lined sleigh, with his fur cap pulled down over his nose and his fur coat b.u.t.toned up to his chin and the great robes tucked round him in a scientific manner. Still, for all that, it was a bitter winter, and a good many people in Cyrus and elsewhere, who had no fur coats, went cold by day and lay cold by night, as one good lady pathetically expressed it. There was little snow, and what there was fell in wonderful crystals, fairy studies in geometry, which delighted the eyes of Joey and Georgie Means, as they trotted to school, with Miss Peace"s "nuby" over one little head and her shawl over the other.
Every morning the sun rose in a clear sky, shining like steel; every evening the same sky glowed with wonderful tints of amethyst and tender rose, fading gradually, till all was blue once more, and the stars had it all their own way, throbbing with fierce, cold light.
It was a great winter for Joey and Georgie! They never thought of its being too cold, for every morning their toes were toasted over the fire before schooltime, as if they had been m.u.f.fins, and they were sent off nice and hot, with a baked potato in each pocket, in case their hands should be cold through the two pairs of thick mittens which Aunt Peace had provided.
Then, when they came home, dinner was waiting, such a dinner as they were not in the habit of having; a little mutton pie, or a smoking Irish stew, with all the dumplings and gravy they wanted (and they wanted a great deal), and then pancakes, tossed before their very eyes, with a spoonful of jam in the middle of each, or blanc-mange made in the shape of a cow, which tasted quite different from any other blanc-mange that ever was. Also, they had the freedom of the corn-popper, and might roast apples every evening till bedtime.
Doctor Brown shook his head occasionally, and told Anne Peace she would unfit those children for anything else in life than eating good things; but it was very likely that was jealousy, he added, for certainly his medicines had never given the children these rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
And when bedtime came, and the two little brown heads were nestled down in the pillows of the big four-poster in the warm room, Anne Peace would humbly give thanks that they had been well and happy through another day, and then creep off to the cold, little room which she had chosen this winter, "because it was more handy." Often, when awakened in the middle of the night by the sharp, cracking frost noises, which tell of intensest cold, she would creep in to feel of the children, and make sure that they were as warm as two little dormice, which they always were. I do not know how many times she took a blanket or comforter off her own bed to add to their store; but I do know that she would not let Jenny Miller go into her room to see. She almost rejoiced in the excessive cold, saying to herself with exultation, "Fifteen below! well, there! and I s"pose it"s like summer in Florida, this minute of time!" And then she fancied David sitting under an orange-tree, fanning himself, and smiled, and went meekly to work to break the ice in her water-b.u.t.t.
Every week letters came from David Means to his children, telling them of the beauty all around him and wishing they were there. He said little of his health, but always a.s.sured them that Janey and w.i.l.l.y were real smart, and sent his love to Anne Peace and his remembrance to all friends at home.
The letters were short, and each time they grew a little shorter, till by and by it was only a postal card, written in a faint and trembling hand, but saying that the weather was fine, and father was so glad to get their little letter, and he would write more next time, but was very busy just now. When she read one of these, Anne Peace would go away into her little cold room for a while, and then would come back smiling and say that now they must write a real _good_ letter to father, and tell him how well they were doing at school.
At last came a week when there was no postal card; another week, and there came a letter edged with black and written in Mrs. Means"s hand.
The children were at school when it came, and Jenny Miller, coming in by chance to bring a pot of head-cheese of her mother"s making, found Miss Peace crouching in the corner of the sofa, weeping quietly, with the letter lying on her lap.
"Why, Miss Peace," cried Jenny, frightened at the sight of tears in those steadfast eyes, "What is the matter? Do tell me, dear! Why, you"re real cold in here. I do believe the fire has gone out. You"ve had bad news, Miss Peace, have you? Do tell me, that"s a dear soul, and don"t cry."
"Yes," said Anne Peace. "The fire is out, Jenny, and David is dead."
She held out the letter, saying something about "privilege--think--rest;" but Jenny Miller was already on her knees, putting kindlings into the stove at a reckless rate. Then, when the fire was crackling merrily, she ran to fetch a shawl and wrapped it round the poor trembling shoulders, and chafed the cold hands in her own warm, young fingers. But soon Miss Peace grew uneasy; she was not used to being "done for," having only the habit of doing for others.
She pointed eagerly to the letter. "Read it, Jenny," she said, anxiously. "I--I am all right, dear. It"s come rather sudden, that"s all, and those poor little children--but read the letter." The words died away, and Jenny, sitting down beside her, took the paper and read.
It began "Friend Anne," and went on to say that the writer"s poor husband died yesterday, and she was left, as she always knew she should be, a widow with four children. It did seem to her as if he might have been let die to home, instead of being carted all the way down there and then have to send the remains back. She had to promise him she would send them back, though it did seem a pity with the beautiful "semetary" they had there, and full of Northern folks as it would hold and the undertaker a perfect gentleman, if she ever saw one. But the widow hoped she knew her duty, and she would not wish to be thought wanting in anything.
Now she supposed they would want to know how David pa.s.sed away, though she had no "strenth" to write, not having had her clothes off for days or, you might say, weeks, nor slep" one consektive hour the last ten nights. Well, he had seemed to gain a little when they first came, but it wasn"t no real gain, for he lost it all again and more too. The pounds just fell off from that man, it seemed as if you could see them go. The last month he fairly pined away, and she thought right to let the folks at home know that he was called to depart, but he wouldn"t hear to it. "He said, Delia, he said, if you want me to die easy, he said, don"t let on to no one at home but what I"m doing all right." So she set by and held her peace, though it went against her conscience.
Last Monday he couldn"t leave his bed, and she said, "David, she said, you never will leave it till you"re carried," and he said, p"raps "twas so, but yet he wouldn"t allow it, for fear of scaring the children. So that night he sat up in bed and his arms went out and he said "Home!" just that word, two or three times over, and dropped back and was gone. There she was, a widow with four small children, and what she should do she didn"t know.
Away there in a strange land as you might say, if it _was_ all one country, it did seem as if them as sent them might have thought of that and let them stay at home among their own folks. Not but what there was elegant folks there. Everybody hed been as kind as could be; one lady who was in "morning" herself had lent her a bonnet to wear to the funeral (for she wasn"t one to send the remains off without anything being said over them); it was a real handsome bonnet, and she had taken a pattern of it, to have one made for herself. The lady was from New York way, and real stylish.
Mrs. Means intended to stay on a spell, as the money was not all gone, and her strength needed setting up, after all she had been through.
Mr. Tombs, the undertaker, said he never saw any one bear afflicktion so; she told him she was used to it. He was a perfect gentleman, and a widower himself, so he could feel for her. Miss Peace might be thankful that she was never called on to bear afflicktion, with no one but herself to look out for; not but what "twas lonesome for her, and Mrs. Means supposed she"d be glad enough to keep Georgie and Joey on a spell longer for company. Tell them they are poor orphans now, with no father to earn their bread. The writer wished her husband"s remains to be buried in his father"s lot, as she had no money to buy one. Miss Peace might see if any one felt to put up a moniment for David; he hadn"t an enemy in the world, and he never begredged a dollar when he had it to give, for anything there was going. If he had thought a little more about her, and less about everybody"s cat and dog, she might have something now to put bread in her children"s mouths, let alone her own. Not that she had any appet.i.te, a flea wouldn"t fatten on what she ate. Lawyer Peters was his mother"s third cousin if she was living. He spent more on those girls of his than would clothe the writer and her children for a year.
The remains went by the same boat with this letter, so Miss Peace would know when to expect them. Mrs. Means looked to her to see that David had a decent funeral; a handsome one she couldn"t expect, folks in Cyrus were close enough about all that didn"t go on their own backs, though she shouldn"t wish it said.
So now there was no more, from Miss Peace"s unfortunate friend, "the Widow Means."
After reading this precious epistle, Jenny Miller found herself, perhaps for the first time in her life, with nothing to say. She could only sit and press her friend"s hand, and thrill, as a girl will, at the touch of a sorrow which she only now began dimly to guess. It was Miss Peace who broke the silence, speaking in her usual quiet tone.
"Thank you, Jenny, dear! I"m sure it was a privilege, having you come in just now. David Means was kin to me, you know, and I always set by him a great deal; and then the poor little children!" she faltered again for an instant, but steadied her voice and went on: "You"d better go home now, dear, for the fire is going beautiful, and I don"t need anything. I--I shall have to see to things for the funeral, you know. And don"t forget to thank your mother for the cheese. It looks real good, and Georgie doos like it the best of anything for breakfast. I guess I"ll get on my bonnet, and go to see Abel Mound, the s.e.xton."
But here Jenny found her voice, and protested. Miss Peace should not have anything at all to do with all that. "Twasn"t fitting she should, as the nearest kin poor Mr. Means had in Cyrus. Her father would see to it all, Jenny knew he would, and Doctor Brown would help him. She would go herself and speak to the doctor this minute. Miss Peace would have to be here to tell the children when they came home from school, poor little things! and that was all she should do about it.
Anne Peace hesitated; and then Jenny had an inspiration, or, as she put it in telling Tudie Peaslee afterwards, "a voice spoke to her."
"Miss Peace," she said timidly, "I--I don"t suppose you would feel to pick those flowers you were going to send over to Tupham for the Sunday-school festival? I know they kind o" lot on the flowers you send, "cause they"re always so fresh, and you do them up so pretty.
But if you don"t feel to do it, I can send them word, or ask some one else"--
"The idea!" cried Anne Peace, brightening up. "I forgot the flowers, Jenny, I did so! I should be pleased to pick them, and I"ll do it this minute. There--there isn"t anything I should like so well. And I do thank you, dear, and if you really think your father wouldn"t mind seeing--I am sure it is a privilege to have such neighbours, I always say. There couldn"t anybody be more blessed in neighbours than I have always been."
In ten minutes Miss Peace was at work in her garden, cutting, tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, tying up posies, and finding balm for her inward wound in the touch of the rose-leaves, and in the smell of mignonette, David"s favourite flower. No one in Cyrus had such mignonette as Miss Peace, and people thought she had some special receipt for making it grow and blossom luxuriantly; but she always said no, it was only because she set by it. Folks could most always grow the things they set most store by, she thought.
So the Sunday-school festival at Tupham Corner was a perfect blaze of flowers, and the minister in his speech made allusion to generous friends in other parishes, who sent of their wealth to swell our rejoicings, and of their garden produce to gladden our eyes; but while the eyes of Tupham were being gladdened, Anne Peace was brushing Joey"s and Georgie"s hair, and tying black ribbons under their little chins, smiling at them through her tears, and bidding them be brave for dear father"s sake, who was gone to the best home now, and would never be sick any more, or tired, or--or sad.
It was a quiet funeral: almost a cheerful one, the neighbours said, as they saw the little room filled with bright flowers (they all seemed to smell of mignonette, there was so much of it hidden among the roses), and the serene face of the chief mourner, who stood at the head of the coffin, with a child in either hand. It was an unusual thing, people felt. Generally, at Cyrus funerals, the mourners stayed up-stairs, leaving the neighbours to gather round the coffin in the flower-scented room below; but it did not seem strange in Anne Peace, somehow, and, after the first glance, no one could fancy any one else standing there. The old minister, who had christened both David and Anne on the same day, said a few gentle, cheering words, and the choir sang "Lead, kindly Light;" then the procession went its quiet way to the churchyard, and all was over.
Jenny Miller and the doctor followed Miss Peace home from the churchyard, but made no attempt to speak to her. She seemed unconscious of any one save the children, to whom she was talking in low, cheerful tones. The doctor caught the words "rest," "home,"
"happiness;" and as she pa.s.sed into the house he heard her say distinctly: "Blessed privilege! My children now, my own! my own!"
"So they are!" said Doctor Brown, taking off his gla.s.ses to clear them. "So they are, and so they will remain. I don"t imagine Delia will ever come back, do you, Jenny?"
"No," said Jenny, "I don"t. She"ll marry the undertaker before the year is out."
And she did.
THE END.