Part 37 (2/2)
The little girls edged apart sheepishly. The subject was dropped. Mrs.
Halford was a quiet little woman who seldom scolded, but she had a way with her that silenced even obstreperous Katy.
”Now if you want to know what I think,” she continued, ”I think Gertie was the bravest one of the three.”
”Why, Mumsey Halford--you know Gertie came in first of all.” This was more than Katy could stand.
”Exactly, that's why I think she was the bravest. She was brave enough to stand being made fun of rather than be a foolish little girl and stay out in the storm needlessly. Your courage and Jane's, too, was mostly vanity, Katy dear. You wanted to show off--and each wanted to beat the other. That is the kind of courage that gets people into trouble in this world. The kind of courage I want my girls to have is the finer kind that does some good. It is the kind of courage that makes men risk their own lives to save people from drowning. Don't you remember, Katy, the story I read you of the life-savers going out in the terrible storm to get the people off a sinking s.h.i.+p? And you remember how thrilled you were reading about the awful hards.h.i.+ps of the patriots at Valley Forge?
Theirs was the courage to suffer for the sake of their country. Do you suppose we would honor them today if they had half-starved themselves in the snow that winter just for fun? And the courage which is not afraid to refuse to do something wrong or silly, is just as necessary as the courage to do. I guess Gertie is one ahead this time. Don't you think so?”
The children were saved the pain of answering by the arrival of Ernest with umbrella, water-proof, and rubbers for Chicken Little.
Mrs. Halford laughed merrily when she saw them.
”After all, children, I guess the joke is on me. I am afraid I didn't have the courage to act at the proper time myself.”
CHAPTER XVI
LETTERS AND A SURPRISE
The sitting room in the Morton home was cheerful with suns.h.i.+ne. It brightened the conventional flowers of the old crimson Brussels carpet into a semblance of life. It caught the gold outline of the wall paper and lingered there--even the somber steel engravings reflected the light from the polished gla.s.s over them. Mrs. Morton sat in her low rocking chair by the window reading a letter from her husband.
She had read it through for the second time, and still she gazed at the lines as if she could not quite comprehend their meaning. Her sewing had dropped from her lap unheeded. Ernest, coming in search of her, called three times before she noticed him.
”Yes, Son,” she answered absently at last.
”What's the matter, Mother? Nothing wrong with Father is there?”
Ernest had recognized his father's writing on the closely written sheets.
”No, dear, just some perplexing business. Sit down and I'll read it to you--but don't mention the matter to anyone yet.”
Ernest came close to his mother, putting his arm affectionately about her shoulders.
”Don't look so solemn, Mother,” he protested.
”Am I looking solemn? Well, I do feel worried. Listen to this:
”My dear Wife,
”I was glad to get your letter of the 8th with the welcome news that you are all well and that Marian is getting about again. I have important news for you and for Frank. I am writing to him by the same mail. I have bought the ranch! A really choice one, I believe, and so cheap it must surely double in value in ten years.
There is an entire section, and good water for house and stock--a wonderful big spring in a little rocky dell shaded by a great oak tree hundreds of years old. It will charm you all. Chicken Little will want to set up housekeeping under it immediately and you and Marian would find it a lovely cool nook for a summer afternoon.
The big spring widens into a brook twenty feet below and goes singing away over the stones. A good-sized spring house has been built over it and crocks of b.u.t.ter and milk and great melons are set right in the cold running water. You never saw such a refrigerator. The place has magnificent orchards, peach, apple and cherry with grapes and blackberries also.
”Tell Chicken Little I saw a flock of quail in the apple orchard.
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