Hesper, the Home-Spirit

“There!” she said, as she started up with an effort to be cheerful, and drew her shawl around her, “I won’t be a child! but really, Hesper, I care more about such little things than any one would suppose.”

“Then don’t let that thought trouble you any longer” said Hesper, “but send Juliana and the boys to see me, and kiss little Tommy for me, for I shall always love you, and shall come to see you as soon as I am able.”

“That is all I ask,” said Mrs. Grimsby. “Good bye, darling. Be very careful of yourself” – and she left the room with a light step and smiling countenance.

Although Hesper was very much better, the doctor would scarce allow any one to enter the room for several days. Her mother stole in now and then, and Hesper was astonished to see how, fast she had improved under the doctor’s good, management, though she was still very weak and feeble. The poor girl thought she would like to see her father, and yet she dared not ask to, for he always appeared so cold and distant, and had so often spoken unkindly to her, that she had a secret dread of meeting him.

One evening, however, when she felt much brighter than usual, and was sitting up in bed, supported by her pillows, her mother came and told her that if she felt able, her father would like to speak with her. Hesper assented, and her heart beat violently, when, in a few moments after, she heard the sound of his approaching footsteps. With a half frightened look, she glanced up at his face as he bent over her. There were tears in his eyes, and his voice trembled as he spoke.

“God bless you, my precious child!” he said – “I cannot tell you how impatiently I have been waiting to see you, for I never knew how dear you were until I feared you would be taken from me.” He raised her gently in his arms, and drawing her close to his bosom, kissed her again and again. Hesper felt that the cup of her happiness was full. How pleasant it was to be resting in her father’s arms, while his tears mingled with her own. It seemed as if the prayer which she had so often repeated – “Let thy kingdom come” – was now fully answered, for the peace and joy of heaven was in her heart, and all her father’s past unkindness was forgotten.

“Hesper,” he said, “I have prayed night and day that God would spare you; for often, when I have observed your faith and patience, I have longed that you should love me as you did others, and I want to show how much I can love you in return.” Hesper’s pale cheek was pressed close to his —

“Father, I always have loved you,” she said, “but I never could say so till now.”

“I do not doubt it, my dear child,” he replied. He laid her gently upon her pillow again, and taking a seat beside her, he talked to her a long time about little Johnny – the letters they had received from Mose – their new home, with the fine large garden in the rear, which they would all take so much pleasure in cultivating when the spring opened, and many other things, to which Hesper listened with the deepest interest; and when he left her, she felt so tranquil and happy, that she sank into a pleasant sleep, which seemed to do her more good than all the medicine she had taken.

After this, she improved so rapidly that she was soon able to talk with all who visited her, and she was astonished to find how many kind friends she had. Among others, George and Benny Grimsby made their appearance, with their clothes neatly brushed, and their faces as clean and bright as soap and water could make them. At first the boys were very awkward, and scarce knew what to say, but Hesper soon touched an answering chord.

“Well, George,” said she, “I had a letter from Mose to-day, and he wrote that I must tell you, he had bought a real Guinea monkey.”

George opened wide both mouth and eyes, as he gazed at her in breathless attention, and Benny immediately drew his thumb from his mouth, where it had been, ever since he entered. “He says, too,” continued Hesper, “that he means to teach him a great many comical tricks before he comes home, and then, if you have been good boys, you shall have him for your own.”

“Don’t you think we have been?” exclaimed George – “we did all we could to help your father when he moved, and we have been up here every day since you were sick to see how you were, and mother says she doesn’t know what she should do without us.”

“Yes,” said Hesper, “I don’t know of any better boys in town, and I will tell Mose so when he comes home.”

The boys looked very much gratified, and they continued talking about their expected present with great animation, until aunt Betsey came in, who looked so sharply at them, that they thought it was time to be going. They lingered at the door however, and in a whisper begged of Hesper a parting kiss. With many a side-long glance at aunt Betsey, they received the favor, which was readily granted, and departed perfectly satisfied.

“Fie!” said aunt Betsey, as she took off her moccasins and shook the snow from them against the grate – “I wouldn’t have such great lubberly boys kiss me; besides, I don’t think it will do you any good, listening to their noisy talk.”

“O,” said Hesper, “it is a real pleasure, now that I am so much better.”

“Well,” said aunt Betsey, “I am glad if you are, though I am sure, the night I watched with you, I hadn’t the least idea you would live till morning. I didn’t watch with you but one night, Hesper, for I was obliged to hurry so fast on my bed-quilt, that I could attend to nothing else.”

“Is it done yet?” asked Hesper.

“Done!” repeated aunt Betsey, as she closed her eyes, and leaning back in her chair, rocked nervously to and fro – “yes; don’t you know about it?”

“No;” said Hesper. “What is it?”

“Well, after working night and day, I finished it just in time for the great Exhibition. But, don’t you think! Mrs. Larkin sent in one which was considered a great deal the handsomest, and won the highest prize, while mine was hardly noticed. It was made of pieces only half as large as mine, put together in all sorts of fanciful figures. I said, when I looked at it, that it was a sin and a shame for people to waste so much time upon things which were of so little use. Mrs. Larkin had much better been making garments for the poor, or improving her mind by useful reading.”

“It is too bad,” said Hesper, in a sympathizing tone, for she knew that aunt Betsey must be greatly disappointed.

“So it is,” she replied, “for after all the time I have spent upon that bed-quilt, it is just good for nothing. I can’t bear the sight of it; and, Hesper, if you should ever live to be married, I will give it to you for a wedding present.”

Hesper thanked her for her good intentions, but she thought to herself that it was not at all likely she should ever marry, and if she did, she should not want a satin bed-quilt.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A PLEASANT SURPRISE

The winter months passed swiftly away with the Greyson family, in their new home, but it was not till the spring opened, and the pleasant sunshine and warm air came again, with their invigorating influences, that Hesper was able to regain any of her former strength and buoyancy of spirits. When the weather was mild, and the sky clear, she would steal out and work for a short time in the little flower garden, but the good doctor still kept his eye on her, and would not suffer her to engage in any fatiguing employment. It happened, fortunately, that there was no need of it, for Hesper’s mother was now so much better, that she could attend to the household duties, and Mr. Greyson, who was constantly employed, earned enough to support them all, comfortably. The doctor had made some extensive purchases in the way of new lands, and what with ploughing and planting, draining meadows and clearing wood-lands, he not only managed to keep Mr. Greyson, but also Fred and Charlie busy. The services of the Grimsby boys too were often required, and though, as might have been expected, a crooked word or a hard look would often pass between them and the young Greysons, yet the promise which they had made to Mose, and the presence of Mr. Byers among them, prevented them from breaking out into open hostilities.

One clear, bright summer day, Mr. Greyson and the boys were at work in a beautiful pine grove – a part of the doctor’s woodland, clearing away the under-brush for the accommodation of a pic-nic, which was to be held there the following week. “Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted Fred all at once, “there comes mother and Hesper.”

Mr. Greyson looked up, at Fred’s exclamation, and throwing down his hatchet, he took off his hat and waved it to them as they came down the green and shady road that led to the grove. “I am right glad to see you,” he said, “though I am afraid it is ‘most too long a walk for two such invalids.”

“O, I have enjoyed every step of the way,” said Hesper, whose cheeks were as richly colored as the wild rose she held in her hand.

“I should think mother would be tired, though, for see, she has brought dinner enough for us all in her basket. We mean to have a little pic-nic of our own, so, while you and the boys are at work, we will spread our table by the spring.”

“I am right glad you thought of that,” said Mr. Greyson, “for I am both tired and hungry, and I shall relish my dinner much better for eating it in pleasant company.” He took the basket to the spring, and then left them to prepare their table. It was a most delightful spot they had chosen, for the grass was soft and green beneath their feet, while up above, the branches of the trees, interwoven with vines, screened them from the rays of the noon-day sun. Then, too, there was a pleasant humming of bees among the fragrant blossoms of the locusts, to which the musical ripple of the spring formed a sweet accord.

Fred and Charlie found it quite impossible to wait until they were called, and the cloth was scarcely spread, before they perched themselves upon the large stones they had provided for seats. It was not long, however, before everything was ready, and Mr. Greyson was summoned.

“I declare,” said he, as he threw himself upon the ground and wiped the perspiration from his brow – “I would not exchange this spot for the palace of a king, and if Mose was only here, I could desire nothing more.”

“Yes,” said Hesper, with a sad smile, “and little Johnny too.”

“Perhaps he is,” replied her mother, “though our poor eyes are not permitted to see his sweet little countenance.” Fred looked up at her thoughtfully, for a moment; then he started up, and rolled his stone a little one side.

“Here, Charlie,” he said, “let him have a place between us, for I like to think he is here.”

“Isn’t there room for one more?” said a pleasant voice, close beside them. They all looked up, and saw Juliana’s face peeping out upon them from the bushes.

“Yes, and welcome,” said Hesper. “But pray how came you here?”

“Why,” said Juliana, “mother stayed at home to-day, so I thought I would just run over and see you. When I came to the house I found no one there, but on my way back I met with Kate Smiley, who told me where you were. I thought, on the whole, I would venture to join your party, for I shall not have so good a chance to be with you again, as I open a school next week. Mother says she can’t earn money enough to supply all my need, so I must see what I can do for myself.”

“And I,” said Hesper, with a smiling countenance, “am going to school next week. Father has promised me that I shall go all summer.”

“Yes,” said Mr. Greyson, “Hesper shall have all she needs, if I work my fingers to the bone, and she shall enjoy her school to her heart’s content, for I mean to make up, if possible, for her working so hard last winter.”

“O dear!” sighed Juliana, as she glanced down at her old dress – “how much I wish that I could go too. But I can’t,” she continued, “so there’s no use fretting about it.”

They were still very much engaged in conversation, and had almost finished their dinner, when they heard the sound of a carriage coming along the road. They looked out from among the trees and saw Capt. Clark with a stranger in his wagon. They wondered who he could be, for they had scarce ever seen a more rough looking personage. His hair and beard were both long and bushy – over his shoulders he carried a stick with a bundle on it, and his clothes looked travel worn and dusty. The Captain stopped his horse just as they arrived at the spring.

“Hallo!” said he, “if here isn’t a gipsey party! Come, friend, let’s join them a few moments.” They both sprang from the wagon, and approached the little group.

“You see, here,” said the Captain, addressing Mr. Greyson and pointing towards the stranger – “a poor traveller, whom I overtook on my way from the city. The cars had started before him, and he was so anxious to reach home that he set out on foot.” Before he could finish speaking, the stranger threw down his stick and bundle, and clasping Juliana around the neck, he kissed her with all his might. The poor girl screamed with surprise, but the next moment she cried out – “father! father!” and returned his salutation with a good will.

Sure enough it was their old friend and neighbor, Mr. Grimsby, though his rude dress had so disguised him that it was difficult to recognize him.

“How is this?” said Mr. Greyson, as he shook hands with him – “we were not looking for you back so soon.”

“Ah!” he replied, “I have had famous luck – better than I could have possibly expected! and as I didn’t want my wife going out a washing, or my children wandering about the streets, while I was so well able to take care of them, I have come home to make them comfortable and happy.”