Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net A MODERN CINDERELLA BY AMANDA M. DOUGLAS AUTHOR OF "THE GIRLS AT MT. MORRIS," "SHERBURNE SERIES," "A LITTLE GIRL SERIES." ETC. [Illustration] M. A. DONOHUE & CO. CHICAGO Made in U. S. A. A MODERN CINDERELLA CHAPTER I AT THE PALACE "You may stay down here until nine o'clock if you like," said Bridget. "It's awful cold upstairs. Be sure to wrap yourself good in the old blanket. And put a little coal on the range. If you let my fire go out, I'll skin you alive." When Marilla first heard that threat she shuddered all over. If you scratched a little bit of skin off it hurt dreadfully. But Bridget never did it. Sometimes she hit her a slap on the shoulder. She couldn't even bear to skin a rabbit. "What do you mean by it?" Marilla gained courage to ask once, when she came to feel at home. "Oh, I don't know. My mother used to say it. Sometimes she took a strap to us, but she wasn't ever real hard." Marilla knew about the strap in Bethany Home though she didn't often get it. "I'll remember about the fire." "Good night!" Bridget was off. She always took two or three evenings out in the week and had Sunday afternoon instead of Thursday because they had late dinners during the week. She was very excellent help, so Mrs. Borden let her have her own way. It was nice and warm in the kitchen; clean, too. Bridget couldn't abide a dirty kitchen. Marilla had wiped the dishes, scoured out the sink and set the chairs straight around. It was a basement kitchen with a dining room above. The front was the furnace cellar, the middle for vegetables and what Bridget called truck. Marilla sat in the little old rocking chair and put her feet on the oven hearth. It was very nice to rock to and fro and no babies to tend nor Jack to bother with. She sang a few hymns she knew, she said over several, little poems she had learned and spelled a few words. Bridget had turned the gas low, and she couldn't reach it without getting on a chair or she could have read. So she told herself a story that she had read. It was very comfortable. She was getting a bit sleepy. Suppose she took a teeny nap as she did sometimes when she was waiting for Bridget. So she shook up the old cushion, brought up the stool, sat on that and laid her head in the chair. And now she wasn't a bit sleepy. She thought of the stove and put on some coal, lest she _might_ fall asleep. She hoped it would be warmer tomorrow when she took out the twins. Then she would venture to stop at the book store window and look at the pictures on the magazine covers. There was a baby that looked so like the twins it made her laugh. She didn't think the twins pretty at all. They had round chubby faces and almost round eyes, and mouths that looked as if they were just ready to whistle, and brown fuzzy hair without a bit of curl in it. But they _were_ good, "as good as kittens," their mother said. She did so wish she had a kitten. She had brought such a pretty one from the store one day, a real maltese with black whiskers, but Bridget said she couldn't have a cat forever round under her feet and made her take it back. Jack was past five and very pretty, but bad as he could be. Bridget said he was a "holy terror," but she thought holiness was goodness and didn't see the connection. He was a terror, that any one could see. There was a queer shady look in the corners. She wasn't a bit afraid. The children at Bethany Home weren't allowed to be. She liked this a great deal better. She wasn't compelled to eat her whole breakfast off of oatmeal, and always had such lovely desserts for dinner. And sometimes Mrs. Borden gave her and Jack a banana or a bit of candy. Oh, yes, she would much rather live here even if Jack was bad and pinched her occasionally though his mother slapped him for it, or pinched him back real hard. What made this lovely, rosy, golden light in the room? It was like a soft sunset. She had been saying over a lot of Mother Goose rhymes; of course she was too old for such nonsense and Jack didn't like them. And in "One, two, buckle my shoe," she wondered which she liked best: "Nineteen, twenty, my stomach's empty," or "nineteen, twenty, I've got a plenty." That was Bethany Home where you only had so much for supper and one little cracker. And here there was plenty. It made her laugh. And then suddenly there was a pretty little woman in the room dressed in something soft and shining and in her hand she held a stick with a bunch of gay bows at the end. She was so sweet and smiling that Marilla couldn't feel afraid. "You don't know me, Cinderella?" she began, looking at the child. "Oh, that isn't my name." "You don't sit in the ashes any more but I dare say you brush up and carry them out in the morning. But I don't find Cinderellas often at this time of night." "I wish I was Cinderella. I have a little foot though, only it don't look so in these big brogans. I put some soles inside of them, bits of velvet carpet and they keep my feet nice and warm. I do think if the glass slipper wasn't too teeny weeny I could wear it." "You're a cute one. About the soles, now. Most children haven't any useful ideas," and she laughed. "I knew who you were; now can you guess who I am?" "Why if I was Cinderella you'd be a fairy godmother. But there ain't any such things; nor Santa Claus. I like the stories about 'em and I'm awful sorry. I'm only Mrs. Borden's bound-out girl, but I like it here." "You think so?" She gave the most curious, delightful laugh. "You are Cinderella and I am the fairy godmother." Marilla sprang up and studied her. She was so pretty and her gown looked as if it was sprinkled with diamond dust. She had never seen any one like her, but at twelve her range of observation had been rather limited. "Well, what do you think of me?" Marilla stood wide eyed and speechless. "Why--you are very beautiful. Oh, I wish you were a fairy godmother! I'd like to go to fairy land. I don't think any one would mind much, but I do believe the twins would care. Bridget says there isn't any such thing and then she tells about a little girl who was toted away and had to stay seven years." "You couldn't stay that long, and times have changed, and you have no envious sisters. You're a rather lonely little body with no father or mother." "Oh, how did you know that?" She laughed, the softest, merriest laugh. Marilla looked and looked, the little body was so sweet and mysterious. "Oh, fairy godmothers know a great many things. They keep watch over the Cinderellas and then when they find one to their liking they appear to her, and then strange things happen." "Yes they are strange," said the little girl. "Would you like to go to the ball?" "Oh! Why I'm afraid I wouldn't know what to do," hesitatingly, "I've never seen a ball." "You can dance. I saw you dancing with an organ grinder." "Oh, yes, I can dance that way, but----" "Would you like to go?" "Oh, wouldn't I!" Marilla's eyes shone with delight. "If you were a fairy godmother you could put me in some clothes." Marilla didn't believe in it at all, but it was very funny. "Then just step out here." She did with the strangest sort of feeling. The fairy touched her with the wand. Her clothes fell in a heap. The big shoes dropped off. There was a shimmery pink silk frock with lace and ribbons and the daintiest pink kid slippers with diamond buckles and pink silk stockings with lovely clocks. She went dancing around the kitchen light as a feather, her eyes shining, her cheeks like roses, her lips full of smiles. She was fairly bewitched. "You'll do," exclaimed godmother, and she threw a beautiful white cloak about her. "But we haven't a pumpkin in the house and Bridget catches all the mice and burns them up. So you can't make a carriage----" "There's one at the door." The hall seemed all alight and they went out. Yes, there was a coach with lamps on both sides, two horses and a driver, besides a footman who helped them in with a fine air, and drove off as gay as if it was Christmas night, though it were really March. The streets were alight, the windows shining in splendor. Marilla had never seen anything like it. Presently they stopped at what seemed to the little girl a great palace with broad white marble steps and tall carved columns lighted by myriads of colored lights and the vestibule was hung with vines. There were statues standing round that looked like real people only they were so white from top to toe. Then they went up another beautiful stairway that led to a gallery where there were numbers of inviting little rooms, and throngs of elegantly dressed people, not any larger than boys and girls. A maid took off their wraps, and brushed Marilla's hair and it fell in golden rings all over her head. "What beautiful hair," she exclaimed, "just like threads of silk. You must let it grow long. And such lovely eyes; but she's thin." "Yes, rather," said godmother, "But she has dancing feet. She's a real Cinderella." "There's so many of them and only one Prince. What a pity!" "But each has her turn, and they are very happy." Then Marilla glanced around the gallery. That was well lighted and had a cushioned seat against the wall. Groups were sitting together or rambling about. And a great circular room, down stairs lighted by a magnificent chandelier whose prisms seemed in constant motion and rayed off every imaginable color with a faint musical sound. "Oh! oh! oh!" and her eyes were full of tears though her lips smiled. "Now we will go down," said godmother. That was by another way. But this place was a perfect land of delight. She had never read of anything like it, but the Arabian Nights had not come in her way. Some were dancing about informally, some talking and laughing. There were the most elegantly attired boys in silks and velvets made in all pretty fashions. Silk stockings and light colored pumps, jackets trimmed with frills of lace, some with satin trousers wide enough for petticoats at the bottom and blue velvet sailor collars. There was no end of fancy attire. "This is to be your knight, Sir Aldred. And this is the new Cinderella. Take good care of her until the Prince comes." He bowed with most enchanting grace. "There are so many of them!" he said, as he took her hand, "But she is the prettiest of them all." The knight gave her hand a little squeeze and she turned rosy red. "Come this way," and he led her along. It was odd to be introduced as Cinderella, but everybody was so sweet and cordial that she kept smiling and bowing. Presently a cluster of bells sounded and everybody fell into line along the outer edge of the beautiful building. It was a grand march and the tapping of the feet seemed like an encore to the music. Then the first couple stepped out on the floor. Everybody dances in fairy land that is presided over by godmothers. Oh, it was just enchanting! "Are you tired?" Sir Aldred asked presently. "Oh, no, I never imagined anything so utterly delightful. And the splendid dressing. Are there many Cinderellas here?" a little timidly. "Oh, yes. They love to come, but the new one always dances with the Prince. He will come in presently for you." "Oh, I shall feel afraid." She really felt tears rushing to her eyes. "No, you will not, for he is truly most delightful, a regular Prince Charming. You see, it is different in fairy land. You forget for awhile who you have been. That's the charm of it. And you're such a lovely dancer." "And--and--is there any glass slipper?" She seemed to remember something about that. "That's in the story. The Prince isn't looking for a wife now. And you couldn't dance in a stiff glass slipper. It might shiver to pieces. What pretty little feet you have! And such a lovely curly head." It seemed quite delightful to be praised and she was glad she pleased him. Then there was a curious quivering about the place as if every one was drawing a long breath, and the lights were mysterious, while all the little bells twinkled. And there stood the Prince. He was taller than any of the others and very handsome. As for his attire, I couldn't begin to describe it, it was so resplendent with silk and velvet and jewels. Sir Aldred led the little lady up to him and said: "This is Cinderella." The Prince bowed and pressed a kiss upon her hand and she was glad it was lily white and not rough and red. "I am very glad you are here Cinderella, I hope you will have a happy time. You look so." "Oh I know I shall." She blushed and cast her eyes down in such a sweet fashion that he really longed to kiss the lids. Then the music commenced and they stepped out as if they had danced together all their lives. The others formed a circle and went round them, bowing as they passed. There were such fascinating figures, changing frequently, each one prettier than the last. She wondered how they could remember; how _she_ could do it. They all looked so lovely. It certainly was fairy land. Now and then the Prince bent over and said something charming to her as if she had been a fine lady and the odd thing was that she could answer him readily. The music began to go slower and died in softest melody. Then he turned and said-- "Now we will go out and have some refreshments. You must be tired after all this dancing, but you don't look it at all." "Oh, I feel as if I could dance all night. I believe I am bewitched." He gave her the sweetest smile that any Cinderella ever had. "I am very glad. Sometimes they think of the ashes and cinders and wonder whether the pleasure will last. Then the lightness goes out of their feet and the smiles from their rosy lips. The thing is to enjoy it while you are here. You are a very delightful Cinderella; I must ask godmother to keep a watch over you. I hope to meet you again." The banquet room was beautiful as well; there was a great oval table with a chandelier shedding a thousand lights from the gorgeous prisms. Underneath was a tiny lake full of blooming water lilies. There were mounds of fruit and flowers, nuts from all over the world, piles of cake, candied fruit, ices made in all kinds of shape. The most beautiful plates and dishes, glass and crystal and servants piling up dainties and pouring out fragrant drinks. At the head sat the Prince and Cinderella. He rose and drank to her health and good fortune with the most exquisite verse and Sir Aldred returned with a charming reply. Certainly there were no envious or jealous sisters. Every one was so merry and talked with his or her neighbor, and every girl had a knight who was devoted to her. Were they all Cinderellas, and had the Prince been as delightful to them? Every face beamed with wondrous satisfaction. "But I don't understand it at all," and she glanced up wonderingly. "Oh, you don't have to in fairy land. You just take all the pleasure that comes. You are not thinking of all the tomorrows. There will be something nice and pleasant if you look for it in the right place. For little Cinderella, we must not be looking for tomorrow's joy. You cannot find them tonight. There are flowers that fold their leaves but will open again tomorrow. You would be short sighted to sit down and cry tonight about it." Marilla was a good deal puzzled. "You must be a happy little Cinderella when you have been to fairy land. You must not lose faith in fairy godmothers. They come at unexpected times and in different guise. And that is what keeps the world bright and the heart young, and sometime the real Prince comes." Her heart beat with a mysterious joy. She was full of gladness. Then they walked around and all the other Cinderellas seemed so happy when he smiled and spoke to them. The beautiful music went on. Here and there groups were dancing again. And then it seemed as if a giant caught her and almost shook her to pieces, and the beautiful lights wavered and vanished. She was brought upon her feet with a force that would have shivered any glass slipper. "You little huzzy! What are you doing up this time of night, instead of asleep in bed? Rouse up! rouse up! Lucky you didn't let my fire go out this cold night! Come, hustle!" There seemed a sort of crash. Marilla glanced around with half-opened eyes. Yes, this was the old kitchen. There was Bridget with the lighted end of a candle in the tin candlestick. "Come! get along, sleepy head." She gave her a push up the stairs and through the halls, half scolding her but not cross. "It's a wonder the gobble sirs didn't come after you. If you'd been carried off now! It's awful cold. I'd sleep in my stockings and they'll be good and warm in the morning." Marilla hustled off her clothes, wrapped herself in an old blanket and tumbled into bed in a little heap. But there was some mysterious music floating through her brain and a fragrance in the air. The Prince smiled down into her eyes, and the fairy godmother she should always believe in. For she had been to real fairy land; that was the truth. CHAPTER II JACK The Bordens were nice, ordinary people enjoying life in a commonplace way. There was Mr. Jack Borden, the junior partner in a fairly successful law firm, his wife an averagely nice, sensible body, Miss Florence, her husband's sister, a bright girl of three and twenty, whose lover was in South America on a five years' contract, with one year yet to serve. After the twins were born they tried a grown nursemaid who bored them by sitting around when she was upstairs and making many excuses to get down to the kitchen, where she disputed with Bridget who declared one or the other of them must go, and they simply could not give up Bridget. The babies slept a good deal of the time and only cried when they were hungry. The mother and aunt thought them the dearest things and their father was as proud of them as a man could well be. If it wasn't for giving them an airing now and then--but when it came pleasant weather they _must_ be taken out. Aunt Hetty Vanderveer who was queer and going on to eighty, who couldn't live with a relative for they always wanted to borrow her money, got tangled up in a house on which she had a mortgage, and called her grandnephew, Mr. John Borden to her rescue. She took the house and persuaded them to come there, and she would live with them on certain conditions. She was to have the third floor front room and the store room, get her breakfast and tea and take dinner with them though it was their luncheon. Night dinners she despised. She entertained herself sewing patchwork, a dressmaker sent her bags of silk pieces; knitting baby socks and stockings and reading novels. They did get along very well though it made a good deal of running up and down. The spare room and Bridget's room was on this floor. On the second, two sleeping chambers, the nursery and the bath. Down stairs a long parlor and a dining room, with a basement kitchen which Bridget declared she liked above all things. A woman came to do the washing and ironing, Bridget's nephew took out the ashes and swept the stoop and sidewalk. Bridget was a strong, healthy, good natured Irish woman when you didn't meddle with her, and the ladies were very glad not to meddle. But some one for the babies they must have. One day a friend came in for a subscription to some of her charities and heard the appeal. "Now, I'll tell you just what to do," she said "Go over to the Bethany Home, you take the car out to the Melincourt Road that passes it. Ask for Mrs. Johnson. They have two girls; they put them out when they are twelve. And since you only want some one to amuse the babies and take them out, and she will be growing older all the time, you see, you can bring her up in your ways. Yes, that is what I'd do." Mrs. Borden followed the advice. There was a stout, rather vacant looking German girl, a good worker who delighted in scrubbing and scouring and who would make an excellent kitchen maid. The other was Marilla Bond, an orphan with no relatives that any one knew; a fair, nice looking intelligent child, with light curly hair cropped close, rather slim, and with a certain ready, alert look that was attractive. Mrs. Borden brought her home for a month's trial. She took to the babies at once, and Jack took to her. Oddly enough, so did Bridget. She had such a quaint sweet way of saying, "Yes'm" and "No'm;" she did what she was told to do with alacrity, she ran up and down stairs on numberless errands. She was a very good reader and at first, Jack kept her busy in this respect. But she wanted to hear about lions and tigers and men killing them and Indian fights and matters that didn't please the little girl at all. Mother Goose was babyish. The twins sat on a blanket on the floor and sometimes rolled around a little. She played with them, talked to them and they really listened to the stories that she acted off and laughed gleefully. "They certainly _are_ intelligent," Aunt Florence said with pride. On nice sunny days when it was not very cold she took them out in the carriage. They were carried down and put in it, then brought up again. Their mother "wasn't going to have any nurse breaking their backs by a fall." So when the month of probation was ended, Marilla was bound to Mr. and Mrs. John Borden, to be clothed and fed and sent to school for half a year. She really did like her new home. Only if it wasn't for Jack! He pinched her sometimes, and once he kicked her but his mother gave him a good trouncing. The twins had some bread and milk and were put to bed at six. Then Cinderella went down stairs but not to sit in the ashes. She did numerous things for Bridget and they had a cozy dinner together, always a dessert, and they were so good. "If Jack only wouldn't run away," she said. "You see I can't leave the babies, and I am so afraid he will get lost." "Let him get lost then; that'll bring his mother to her senses, and you tell her." He did come near it one day. She took the babies home and explained and then said she would go and find him. Aunt Florence went with her. They had quite a long search and finally asked the policeman, who said: "there was a little boy down here on a stoop, crying." Jack, sure enough, and he was very glad to be found. His mother kept him in the house for two days and then he promised to be very good. "Now, if you make any trouble you shall not go out for a whole week." The babies hadn't gone much farther than "_agoo, agoo_," but Marilla tried her best to make them talk. They each had a rubber doll and the child would dance them up and down and make them turn somersaults and stand on their heads, and invent every sort of grotesque action. Jack was a good looking little fellow and had been spoiled in the earlier years. He was a little afraid of his father, and sometimes his mother _would_ make him mind, but he was very full of badness. Aunt Florence wanted some silk and twist and spools of cotton one morning. "You could find your way down to Grand street where the stores are, couldn't you Marilla--where we went that Saturday night?" "Oh, yes. Down there opposite the park." "Yes. It's a big store. Day and Belden. I'll write it out for you and you may take my Leggy bag. Be sure and put the change in it before you leave the store." "Yes'm," with her sweet accent. "She may take Jack, and the babies will have a good long nap. Now Jack, you must be very good and mind Marilla, or you shan't go out again for a week." Jack said he would. He looked very pretty in his brown coat with its fur collar, and his brown mittens. "Give me a penny a'cause I'm gonter be good." "I'll wait and see whether you are going to good or not." Jack stood it pretty well until they reached the little park which was a rather long triangle with a few trees in it. Here he made a sudden dash and was off like a squirrel. Marilla was after him. "Go it sonny," cried a man laughing, but she gained on him and took him by the arm with a jerk that nearly capsized them both. He could not pull away. She marched him across the street and found the store, and asked for the notion department. There were the spools of all kinds. "Will you please open the bag and find an order in it," she said in a very nice manner. The girl smiled. "Three spools of silk, two twist, black cotton number 60, white cotton, 60, 70 and 80." She put up the order and sent the money whizzing to the cash clerk, handing the bag to Marilla. "What's that thing like a railroad for?" asked Jack, keeping his eyes upon it. "That carries the money." "Gee! I wish I had one at home!" The change came back. Marilla opened the bag to put it in and used both hands. Jack was off like a flash, turning here and there through the aisles. Clear down to the end of the store was a toy department. Marilla was almost up to him when he grabbed a handful of toys and ran on. "Oh, do please stop him!" she cried to the clerk. Two or three joined the chase. Finding they were gaining on him he threw down the articles and stamped furiously upon them. "What is all this row?" asked the floor walker. "The little boy snatched the toys and ran," said the young clerk. "Oh, Jack, how could you!" cried Marilla. Jack laughed insolently. "Is he your brother?" in a sharp tone. "I'm only the nurse girl, please, sir," and Marilla began to cry. The floor walker shook Jack until he was purple in the face. "You little thief! You ought to go to the Station House. I've half a mind to send you!" "Oh, please don't," pleaded Marilla. She stooped to pick up some of the broken pieces. "I think his mother will pay for them." "Who's his mother?" "Mrs. John Borden, 138 Arch Street." "What brought you in the store." "I was sent to buy some things. They are in this bag, and--the change." A gentleman came up to inquire into the matter. "These children ought to be taught a lesson. That Granford boy carried off an expensive toy the other night and I sent a note to his mother that brought her to terms at once. See what is the value of these things." The counter girl began to place the pieces together and examine the marks. "It is--sixty-seven cents." "That's too much. We'll send a note to his mother, and young sir, if you dare to come in this store again, we'll send you to jail, I think." Quite a crowd had collected. One lady looked at him sharply. "Why, it's little Jack Borden," she said. "What's the matter?" Marilla told the story over. "I don't care," Jack flung out. "I just stamped on the old things." "Take that to Mrs. Borden," and the man handed Marilla a folded note. "Now, I'll see you out, young sir." Marilla trembled from head to foot. She was very much ashamed though none of it had been her fault. But what would Mrs. Borden say? What if Mrs. Borden should send her back to the Bethany Home! Oh, she did not want to go. But she could not manage Jack. The young man stopped short when they reached the house, "I ain't comin' in just now," he said decidedly. When Marilla was in the house she always answered the door bell. Bridget protested she could not run up and down so much and she didn't always hear it. Miss Florence came now. "Oh, Marilla, what's the matter?" "Jack has run off down the street. And, oh, Miss Florence"--ending in a fit of crying. "What _is_ the matter? Did you lose the money?" "Oh, no, here is everything and the change. But Jack----" "Come upstairs and tell us." Miss Florence opened the bag, counted the change, took out the parcels and a note. "Why, what is this?" "The man told me to bring it home. I held Jack's hand tight all the way down to the store and gave the girl the bag because I couldn't open it with one hand. She took out the money and put in the parcel and gave it to me and said, 'Wait for the change.' When it came she handed it to me and turned away, and when I was putting it in the bag Jack ran off. You know how the paths go in and out. I looked and looked and saw him over at the toy counter, but before I could reach him he snatched a lot of things and ran, and the girl went after him, too, and then he threw them down and stamped on them and ever so many people came and the man was very angry----" Marilla cried as if her little heart had been broken. Miss Florence handed the note to her sister who had been listening in amaze. "Marilla," began Florence, "you have done the errand very well. Don't cry, child. We shouldn't have let Jack go with you." Mrs. Borden's face turned very red. "A great fuss about sixty-seven cents. Accidents will happen." "But throwing them down and stamping on them was no accident, Amy. That child is dreadful. He doesn't mind Marilla when he is out of our sight, hardly when he is in it. And I don't know what the babies would do without her." They began to cry now. They always cried together and lustily. "Where's Jack?" asked his mother. "He ran down the street." "Don't worry about Jack, Marilla; you go down and get the babies' bread and milk ready." Marilla went and of course told the mishap to Bridget. "That young'un 'll get in prison some day; you see! He's a rascal through and through, a mean dirty spalpeen, a holy terror! And if they set to blaming you, I'll threaten to leave; that I will." "You don't think they'll send me back to Bethany Home?" in a distressed tone. "They'd be big fools to! I don't know where they'd get another like you. If that Jack was mine, I'd skin him alive and hang him out bare naked, the mean little thief! And the missus knows he's bad through and through." Marilla took the basin of dinner upstairs. The babies had hushed their crying and gave a sort of joyous howl at the sight. Florence had talked her sister-in-law into a more reasonable view of the case. Then the babies were fed and comforted and sat on the blanket with playthings about them. They could climb up a little by chairs, but they were too heavy for much activity. Mrs. Borden picked up her slipper and went down stairs, opening the front door. Jack was slowly sauntering back and she beckoned to him. He had begun to think it was feeding time as well as the babies. "I was gone, to put 'em back--" he began-- She took off his pretty coat and then she did spank him for good. Meanwhile the bell rang for lunch. She put him on a chair in the end of the parlor and said-- "Now you sit there. If you dare to get up you'll get some more. And all the lunch you can have will be a piece of bread without any butter." And she left the door open so she could see if he ventured down. But after the bread he went up stairs and straight to Marilla. "You old tell tale! You'll be rid on a rail and dumped in the river," and he kicked at her. "The man sent a note----" "Jack," interposed his mother sternly. Then the babies were bundled up and carried down stairs, well wrapped up for their ride. Manila enjoyed the outing when she didn't have Jack. She went down again by the stores. There were two she delighted in, book and stationery stores. One window was full of magazines and papers, and she read bits here and there. She was so fond of reading and she would piece out the page she read with her own imaginings. She always staid out two hours, more when it was pleasant, and brought back the babies, rosy and bright eyed. "Jack," and his father took him on his knee that evening, "you have been a very bad boy today. You have been a thief. Suppose the man had sent you to the Station House?" "I wouldn't a' gone." "Well, you would have had to. Thieves break laws and are sent to prison. And there you broke up the toys. You must never go in a store again without your mother." "M'rilla took me in." "And mother and Auntie supposed they could trust you. Now they can't. You will have to be watched and punished, and I am going to do it. There'll be no more Sunday walks with me, either." "Can't I go alone?" "Not until you are a good boy." Jack looked rather sober, but his father saw he was not making much impression. And presently his mother put him to bed. "I really don't know what to do with Jack," his mother said on her return, taking up her sewing. "Listen to this," and Mr. Borden read from the paper an account of three boys who had managed to enter a grocery store and steal some quite valuable stock. Ages, seven, nine and ten. "I'd rather bury Jack tomorrow than have such a thing published about him," he said. "And Jack used to be so nice," returned his mother with a sigh. "We've indulged him too much, and we have idealized childhood too much; we've laughed at his smart tricks and his saucy replies, and tried high moral suasion, but we must turn over a new leaf. When he is bad he must be punished severely enough to make an impression. Are you sure of that girl, Marilla?" "Yes. She's truthful and so sweet to the babies. Bridget says she wouldn't even touch a piece of cake without asking for it. But I think she does sometimes shield Jack. He has a nasty way of pinching and I do slap him for it. I'm afraid of his pinching the babies. But we never do leave him alone with them." "See here," began Florence, "why not send him to Kindergarten. The new term is just beginning. I think boys ought to be with other boys. And those classes are made so entertaining. The many employments take a child's mind off of mischief, and they are trained in manners. Oh dear! think, what a blessed time we should have!" "I don't know but it is a good idea," said Jack's father. "He will have to mix with children some time, and our training hasn't proved such a brilliant success. Oh, I do want him to grow up a nice boy. But boys seem an awful risk now-a-days. I never knew so many youthful criminals." "I'd like to know who that woman was who recognized Jack in the store. That mortifies me awfully." "And it will get told all over, I know," returned Aunt Florence. "Well, children do out grow a good many of these disagreeable capers." The next night Mr. Borden brought home something in a paper bag and Jack begged the bag "to bust," watching his father as he shook out a leather strap cut in thongs and said-- "Now, Jack, every time you do any naughty, ugly thing, I am going to punish you with this strap. You must not pinch Marilla or the babies, not kick any one nor tell what isn't true. We want you to be a pretty good boy, otherwise you will have to be sent to the reform school." "I'd like to go to the 'form school." "Not much," was the comment. "Why, I'd run away." "There's a high fence all around, and you couldn't climb it." "Then I'd holler like fury." "And be put in a dark dungeon." "There was a man in a story who dug his way out. That's what I'd do." Arguing was useless. He was such a little fellow, but fertile in expedients. "I don't want ever to use this strap on my little boy. I hope he will be good." "What is good and what is bad." "Come to bed, Jack. You're getting silly." On Monday morning Jack went to Kindergarten. The house was like another place. And Jack was very much entertained. He soon learned what a "punch below the belt" meant, and a "biff in the eye" and several other fighting terms. "And they're a set of gumps," he declared. "They can't read right off, they've got to write it, and I can read most anything and spell words, too. But they make pictures and lovely things, and sing. Yes, I like to go." CHAPTER III PLAYING HOOKEY Marilla thought she had lovely times with Jack in school, but she did have to run up and down so much that some nights her little legs fairly ached. But now she took the babies out to the big park where she could sit and watch the merry children at play and the beds of flowers coming out, and there were the funny pussy willows and the long tails of yellow forsythia and some squirrels running around, and birds calling to each other. Then there were pretty children playing about and some nurse girls that she talked to. She felt so rested sitting here, and sometimes her thoughts went back to the March night when she had fallen asleep by the warm stove and had that wonderful, beautiful dream. She felt very happy over it. And the Cinderella meant all the little hard worked girls who had few pleasures. Oh, she wished they could all have one night in that magic fairy land. She was learning to sew a little as well, and she thought she should like it if there was a little more time. But the babies began to crawl around now and Violet would pick up anything and put it in her mouth; so you had to watch her every moment. And though they generally slept from ten to twelve, there was the door to answer, little things to be done for Aunt Hetty whose bell would ring just as she had her work fixed ready to sew. Then likely she would lose her needle. But she managed somehow to keep very sweet-tempered. She wished she could go to school. "We'll see next fall," Mrs. Borden said. "The twins will be larger and less trouble." Sundays were pretty good; Mr. Borden took out the children in the afternoon. She had to help Bridget with the vegetables for dinner, which was at midday and there was so much washing-up afterwards, at least drying the dishes, that there was barely time to go to Sunday school. But the singing was so delightful. She sang the pretty hymns over to the babies. In the evening the family generally went out or had company. So after Jack and the babies were abed she used to read, unless Jack wouldn't go to sleep and torment her with questions that were unanswerable. On the whole Jack had been pretty good for a fortnight. One afternoon Mrs. Borden had gone out, Miss Florence had some visitors in the parlor. Marilla had fed the babies who were laughing and crowing when Aunt Hetty's bell rang. She ran up. "M'rilla get me some hot water, quick, and that aromatic ammonia, I'm so faint and feel queer all over. Be quick now." She ran down, but could not run up lest she might spill the water. Aunt Hetty was gasping for breath, and leaning back in the big chair. She swallowed a little, then she went over on Marilla's shoulder and the child was frightened at her ghastly look. There was the lavender salts---- Just then there was a succession of screams from the babies. Could she leave Aunt Hetty? Miss Florence called her, then ran up stairs herself. And this was what had happened; Jack had come home and finding no one, knew there was some candy on the closet shelf. And there hung the strap. He wondered if it would hurt very much? The babies looked too tempting. So he began to strap them and enjoyed the howling. He was just going to leave off when Aunt Florence flew into the room. "Oh, Jack, you cruel, wicked boy!" Then she seized the strap and he soon had an opportunity to known how much it hurt. "Marilla! Marilla!" she called. "Oh, Miss Florence, something dreadful has happened to Aunt Hetty, and I'm fast with her." She came up. "Oh, she looks as if she was dying or dead. Let's put her on the lounge and you go for Bridget." "What is the matter with the children." "Oh, go, quick! I'll tell you afterward." The child summoned Bridget and just ran in to comfort and kiss the babies. "Oh, Jack, you never--oh, look at their poor little hands! You bad, wicked boy!" "If you say much, I'll give you some----" Marilla snatched at the strap and flung it upon a high shelf. Jack wiped his eyes and went out to play. Marilla ran upstairs again. They were fanning Aunt Hetty and bathing her face and head. "Marilla, will you go to the parlor and ask that lady to come up here,--Mrs. Henderson. Bridget thinks--oh, and we ought to have a doctor! I must telephone." "And then can I stay with the babies?" "Yes, yes." "Poor babies!" Marilla fairly stopped them with witch hazel. Their little fat hands and their shoulders were swollen already. She kissed them, but she couldn't take them both and they wanted to be cuddled. So she sat down and hugged them and really cried herself. Bridget came down, "She isn't dead but she's a mighty hard faint on her. And what happened to the children?" Marilla explained in a broken voice. "Oh, the murtherin' little devil! You take one and I'll comfort 'tother. But you can't lift her." No; Marilla couldn't lift such a dead weight. Bridget walked the floor and patted Pansy and crooned over her, but the hurt was pretty deep. Aunt Florence came down. "She's over the faint. Mrs. Henderson is going to stay a while. Oh, poor babies!" "I must look after my meat or it'll burn," and she gave the baby to Miss Florence. "I'll sit in the rocking chair and you put her in my lap, I think she's hurt more than Violet. You see, I ran upstairs when Miss Hetty's bell rang, and she fell on my shoulder, and I never thought----" "I gave it to him good, and his father'll finish him tonight. Oh, dear! Well, there comes their mother." There was a hubhub with both babies crying again. Mrs. Borden laid aside her hat and coat and took up Violet, sent Marilla for a pitcher of milk and both babies were comforted with a drink. "Sit on the floor and hold them. They're so heavy. Poor sweet babies." The sobs ceased after a while. Violet fell asleep, Pansy was bathed again and grew quieter. The doctor came and said it was a bad fainting spell but that Mrs. Vanderveers heart was weak from age. Marilla fixed Pansy's supper, fed her and undressed her, and her mother laid her in the crib. Then she said-- "You may go and help Bridget a little with the dinner." Marilla arranged the table and the master of the house came in. Jack sneaked in, also. Mrs. Henderson staid, so no explanations were made. Jack was very quiet and behaved beautifully, but he wanted to go to bed at once. Violet woke and had her supper and quiet was restored. Then a man came in to consult Mr. Borden about some business. "It was awful that Jack should go at the babies so," said Mrs. Borden to her sister. "I don't know about telling his father. You gave him one whipping----" "And a good hard one. I'm afraid of boys getting so used to that mode of punishment that they don't mind it. But father brought up four boys in that manner and they have all made nice men. I don't see where Jack gets his badness from." Jack's mother sighed. "And yet he can be so lovely." "I've been considering," rejoined Florence. "Suppose we hold this over his head for a while. I might talk to him." "Well, we can try it." So Aunt Florence talked to him very seriously, and said if he wasn't a better boy they would have to send him off somewhere in the country where there were no children. She would not tell his father just now, but if he ever struck or pinched the babies again she certainly would, and he would be punished twice over. He must remember that. He put his arms around her neck, and kissed her. "I'm awful sorry. I didn't think it hurt so," he said naively. "Papa will hurt you a great deal more than I did," was her reply. And then Jack had a sudden accession of goodness. His teacher was proud of him. How much was due to his pretty face and winsome manner, one couldn't quite tell, but the nursery had a lovely rest and Marilla didn't have to watch out every moment. Mrs. Borden secretly wished the twins were prettier. They were too fat, and when she tried to diet them a little they made a terrible protest. Here they were fourteen months old and couldn't walk yet, but they were beginning to say little words under their nurse's steady training. Aunt Hetty made light of her attack and was soon about as usual, but she did not take long walks and laid on the lounge a good deal. "Folks can't stay young forever," she said, "and I'm getting to be quite an old lady." Then they began to plan for a summering. Last year they had not gone anywhere. Advertisements were answered, and Florence visited several places. They would take Marilla of course, she was coming to have a thin, worn look. Aunt Hetty would visit a grand niece, who had been begging her to come. Bridget would stay in the
{'title': 'A Modern Cinderella by Amanda M. Douglas', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}