 A Real New England Girl by Anna I. Parsons 1. The Shower 2. Oxford County 3. The Stranger and the Girl 4. The Youth and the Girl 5. Pansy and Richard Go Trading 6. The Marvelous Storyteller 7. The Dinner 8. The The Minister Comes for Tea 9. Pansy's Father 10. Pansy and Her Mother 11. Poland Springs 12. The Birthday Cake 13. Ned Patterson Comes for a Visit 14. The Blue Berrying Party 15. The Beginning of Wisdom 16. The Tempted and the Penitent 17. The Concert 18. Stanley's Ride 19. The Bench by the Wayside 20. The Banker and the Widow 21. The Bag of Nuts 22. How They Kept Thanksgiving at Little Farm 23. Hardly a Merry Christimas 24. A Call Down and a Caller 25. The Pride of Mrs. Bradford 26. A Happy New Year 27. Amusement and Winter Sport 28. Kim 29. Richard, the Lion Hearted 30. A Tour of the White Mountains 31. Talking Over the Trip with Henry Bright 32. Thoughts That Lie Too Deep for Words 33. Economics 34. His Toast 35. The Busy Haunts of Man 36. Christmas in New York 37. The Last Night of Their Visit 38. The Language Understood by All 39. Sugaring Off 40. Correspondence 41. Commencement 42. Conclusion Afterward     |
The Birthday Cake "May Heaven augment your blisses, On every new birthday ye see." -- Byrne The Bradfords dined at twelve o'clock; the Winthrops at one. As the latter sat at dinner on August 2nd, the birthday of the son and heir of Winthrop, Julia looked out of the window and remarked, "The Bradford twins are coming. I can see Pansy's blue dress through the trees, and they are walking very slowly for them." Stanley leaned over to get a better view. "They are carrying something between them." Then turning to the maid, he said, "Marie, you go out and stand on the piazza and let me know when they turn in here." "Suppose we give Stanley his dinner first, so that he can entertain the company," said Mr. Winthrop, as he finished carving a portion of meat. "Stanley would go without his dinner for those bumpkins," said Julia, with a sarcastic smile at her brother. "He treats them with more deference than he would the President." "Did I make a mistake when I invited them to go to Poland Springs with us?" "They made all the fun -- and got all the attention, but that is because they are so good looking." "It is because their uncommon intelligence never leaves them at a loss what to do or say." Stanley ate his meat and vegetables and then asked, "Mother, what are you going to have for dessert?" "Ice cream, angel cake and coffee," she replied. "Couldn't you all come out on the piazza and have Wilton bring some for Pansy and Richard?" "If you like." He left the dining-room and went out to meet Pansy and Richard who were coming slowly and cautiously up the gravel walk carrying a box between them. "We have brought you a birthday cake," said Pansy with a beaming face. "It's mighty good of you." They placed the box on a settee and Pansy untied the string. "Bring the little table, Richard," she commanded, looking around and indicating a small, willow tea stand not far away. Very cautiously she took off the cover from the box, removed some soft tissue paper, and set on the table a cake that did indeed look appetizing. It was covered with light brown icing on which was written with chocolate ink, Stanley B. Winthrop, August 2nd. In the center was a bouquet of waxy leaves and delicate blossoms, and it was placed on a round base covered with white paper with waxy leaves symmetrically placed around the edge. By the time Pansy had things satisfactorily arranged, the others had come out on to the piazza and stood admiring the cake. "There's Betsy Bobbit's eggs and Lillian Russell's milk and lots of other good things inside it," she said, "and the icing is made of maple sugar. Mother made the cake, Ruth wrote the name on it, Richard cut out the base with his jigsaw, and I put on the decorations." Even Mr. Winthrop was smiling as Pansy finished her description. "My son is very much indebted to you," he said. "We can stay a little while," said Pansy, seating herself in a willow chair and adjusting her hat. She had on the white leghorn that she wore to church and on very special occasions. It was half faced with blue and had a band and streamers of blue velvet for trimming. Her dress was blue and white gingham with a white guimpe that made her look dainty and cool. Richard wore an Eton blouse and long trousers, though he usually wore Knickerbockers round home. Stanley realized more than any one else that they wished to honor him on his birthday. He had been among them long enough to learn that they were not very tolerant people, that their likes and dislikes were strong, and had they not felt a sincere regard for him, he would never have seen a crumb of that cake though he possessed the combined wealth of New York City. He did not say much -- it was not his way when in receipt of personal favors --, but a quiet smile played over his lips as he moved here and there in the circle about the cake. When the man servant came with the ice cream, Pansy and Richard looked at each other in pleasant surprise, but took the plate and napkin offered them without remark. Mr. Winthrop had engaged Richard in conversation and Pansy was content to listen, for whatever Richard said or did was of deepest interest to her. After they had finished eating the ice cream, Mrs. Winthrop, noticing Pansy's neat attire, asked where she had her dresses made. "Ruth does the designing, mother does the cutting and sewing, and I pull out the basting threads," answered Pansy. "You see they are combination dresses for more reasons than because they don't gap at the belt." "I never cared for sewing in the least, and so I've never done much," she continued. "Mother says I'm an ignoramus about some things. If I have any time, I had rather write compositions. I am writing some now for next term of school. I have to be very particular about what I do, as I don't stand very well with the professor." "Tell us about it," encouraged Stanley. "We used to get on very nicely together, and almost every day he called on me in class, and when the others could not give answers, he would turn to me and say, 'Can you tell us, Pansy?' or 'Do you know, Pansy?' Sometimes I would liked not to have answered, but he always put the question in such a way that I could not refuse without telling a lie. His name is Thayer, and we girls used to call him Trifles among ourselves so he would not know who was meant if he heard us talking about him. He has a habit of sitting down and then pulling up his trousers' legs. So one day when he had finished arranging himself just after the noon hour, I wrote on a slip of paper But my trousers at least don't bag at the knees. Trifles Light as Air." and passed it back to Grace Stone. Pretty soon Grace giggled, and professor jumped up and came walking down the aisle. He looked at me, but I was studying my Latin grammar, so he went by. Something about Grace must have aroused his suspicion, for he took up her grammar and ran through the leaves until he found the slip of paper in my handwriting which he took away with him without saying a word. "A few days later, I forgot my books one night, and went back for them. Just as I got up the stairway, I saw professor coming out of the assembly room. He stepped back to open the door for me, but when he got his hand on the knob, he hesitated and said, 'So you think I'm homely and hard to please?' I said, 'Professor, you must have been reading some one's private correspondence. Will you kindly let me pass, as the school team is waiting?' Without saying another word, he opened the door, and I went to my desk and sat down, for I was very much embarrassed. I sat there so long that Richard came for me and wanted to know what was the matter. I said, 'Richard, I will tell you sometime, but I cannot tell you now.' "When we were in the team riding homeward, Ruth wanted to know what had detained me, so I had to tell her. When we got home, mother found out about it and insisted that I apologize, though Uncle Will, Ruth and Richard all took sides against her. Well, I wrote a note and left it on Professor's desk the next morning. After that we seemed to be very much estranged. He never called on me in class anymore, and I felt sure he would mark me deficient in the examinations. I studied every spare moment I had. When I went up stairs at night, I took my books with me, and as soon as it was light in the morning, I got up and studied until it was time to go down stairs and do chores. I studied so hard that finally it made me ill -- sort of nervous like. I would go to bed and go to sleep, and suddenly something would twitch, and I would wake up and toss and turn until morning. Mother took me to the doctor, and he gave me some medicine, and said that I could not go to school any more. Everything went whirling around when I heard him say that and I grew dizzy. "Mother took me home and turned me out in the back yard, and told me I wasn't to do anything except amuse myself. I tried to, but I kept thinking of those girls up in High School, and I thought the worst thing that could happen to me was not to pass the examinations, and that the best thing that could happen to me was to pass them, and I thought perhaps if I were given a chance, I might just get through, because I was far in advance of the class. Finally I told mother, if she would let me go to school, I wouldn't study any at all -- just sit quiet in my seat and go in the classes, so she let me go back, and I passed the examinations and got highest mark. I am all right now, but mother keeps me out of doors, and doesn't let me read but two books a week." "What did you write in your apology, Pansy?" asked Stanley with some of his father's sagacity. "Only just, 'Mr. Thaddeus T. Thayer, Dear Sir: -- I wrote the verse, it is true, I am sorry for it. Pansy Bradford.' " A ripple of laughter went up from the Winthrop family that made Pansy open her eyes wide and Richard suddenly got up and went and sat on the arm of her chair. When the mirth subsided, Stanley hastened to explain. "You see, Pansy, your note was susceptible of two meanings, and the professor thought you purposely made it equivocal." "I never thought of that!" After a pause, Pansy asked, "What time is it, Stanley?" "It is half-past two," he said, consulting his watch. "Our time is up, so if you'll excuse us we'll be going." Pansy and Richard arose and Stanley with them. "I'll walk up the grade with you," he said. "Wilton bring my hat." When they had said good bye and started up the road, Mrs. Winthrop remarked to her husband, "You can't help liking those children. They twine around you with little tendrils like a vine." Click Here for Chapter 13 |