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The second day after the auction proved a fine one; and leaving Winnie and Merton in charge of the house, I took my wife, with Bobsey and Mousie, who was well bundled up, to see the scientific grape-grower, and to do some shopping.
Taking Mousie on my lap, and chafing her hands, I answered questions and enjoyed to the full the exclamations of pleasure. Mr. Jones lingered for a few moments, then gave one of his big guffaws by way of preface, and said: "Well, you do look as if you was at home and meant to stay.
But when her mamma could put some salve on it that would be all better, too. "Oh! I can't tell you how thankful I am to you," said the mousie girl to the piggie boys. "Some day I will help you." "Ha! Ha!" laughed Flop. "How can a little mousie girl like you help us two big boys?" "Hush!" exclaimed Curly. "It isn't polite to laugh when any one offers to do you a favor, even if they are little.
Mousie was quiet, as usual; but there was again a faint color in her cheeks, a soft lustre in her eyes. I kept near my invalid child most of the time, for fear that she would go beyond her strength. I made her sit by a table, and brought the books that would interest her most. Her sweet, thin face was a study, and I felt that she was already enjoying the healing caresses of Mother Nature.
Mousie came running to us, holding in her hand, which trembled from excitement, a little bunch of liverworts and anemones. Tears of happiness actually stood in her eyes, and she could only falter, "O mamma! just look!" and then she hastened away to gather more. "That child belongs to nature," I said, "and would always be an exile in the city. How greatly she has improved in health already!"
A kettle was hung on the crane, but before the sap was placed over the fire all must taste it, just as it had been distilled by nature. And all were quickly satisfied. Even Mousie said it was "too watery," and Winnie made a face as she exclaimed, "I declare, Merton, I believe you filled the pails from the brook!"
Jones could not be induced to go beyond a point where the water was a foot or two deep, and the waves rolled her around like an amiable porpoise. Merton and Junior were soon swimming fearlessly, the latter wondering, meanwhile, at the buoyant quality of the salt water. My wife, Mousie, and Winnie allowed me to take them beyond the breakers, and soon grew confident.
This is equal to any blizzard I've read of out West." "How far have we to go now?" "Half a mile, as nigh as I can make out;" and we jogged on again. "Are you sure you are not hurt?" Mousie asked me. "Sure; it was like tumbling into a feather bed." "Stop a bit," cried Mr. Jones. "There's a turn in the road here. Let me go on a little and lay out your course."
Indeed, it soon became evident that Mousie was Junior's favorite. She never said much to him, but she looked a great deal. To the little invalid girl he seemed the embodiment of strength and cleverness, and, perhaps because he was so strong, his sympathies went out toward the feeble child.
The old-fashioned bushes of the latter, near the house, had been well trimmed, and gave large, fine buds in consequence, while Mousie, Winnie, and Bobsey gleaned every wild berry that could be found, beginning with the sunny upland slopes and following the aromatic fruit down to the cool, moist borders of the creek.
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