Mr. Weston looked down smilingly at his little daughter. He was evidently amused at her excitement.
“Is this the little girl who was born in loyal Boston?” he questioned; for Rebecca was six years of age and Anna three when their parents came to this far-off place to make their home. Eastern Maine was then a wilderness1, and this little village was not connected with the outside world except by the Indian trails or by the sailing craft which plied2 up and down the coast. But its citizens were soon to write a page of heroism3 and valor4 in their country’s history.
“Of course Machias is to have a liberty pole,” continued Mr. Weston. “It has been so decided5 by a vote in a town meeting; and Dan and I will start off in good season to-morrow morning to look for the finest pine sapling in the forest. It will be a great day for the village when ’tis set up, with its waving green plume6 to show that we are20 pledged to resist England’s injustice7 to her long-suffering colonies.”
It was the custom to leave a tuft of verdure at the top of the liberty tree as an emblem8, the best they had at command, of the flag they meant to fight for.
Before her father had finished speaking Rebecca had relinquished9 her grasp on his arm and ran toward the cupboard, and neither her father nor mother gave much thought to her anxious question. The venison was just ready to serve, and Mrs. Weston hurried from the fireplace to the table, on which Rebecca had now placed the dishes, while Mr. Weston and Anna talked happily together over the proposed excursion on the following day.
“I am afraid that we may have to postpone10 our journey,” said Mr. Weston, “for I noticed the gulls12 were coming in flocks close to the shores, and you know:
“‘When sea-birds fly to land A storm is at hand.’”
“But look at Malty,” responded Anna quickly, pointing to the fat Maltese cat who was industriously13 washing her face:21
“‘If the cat washes her face over the ear ’Tis a sign the weather’ll be fine and clear,’”
quoted the little girl; “and you told me ’twas a sure sign, Father; and ’tis what Matty is doing this minute.”
“To be sure,” laughed Mr. Weston, “both are sure signs, and so we will hope for fair weather.”
Rebecca was very silent at dinner, and as the sisters began to clear away the dishes Anna watched her with troubled eyes.
“Perhaps it’s because I called her ‘Rebby,’” thought the little girl regretfully. “I’ll tell her I am sorry,” and when their mother left the kitchen Anna whispered:
“Flora, I forgot when I called you ‘Rebby.’ But I will now surely remember. You are not vexed14 at me, are you?” and Anna leaned her head against her sister’s arm and looked up at her pleadingly.
Rebecca sniffed15 a little, as if trying to keep back the tears. She wished she could talk over her worries with Anna; but of course that would never do.
“I believe I’d rather be called ‘Rebby,’” she22 managed to say, to the surprise of her younger sister. “Do you suppose they really mean to put up a liberty pole?”
“Of course,” responded Anna. “I heard the minister say that it must be done.”
Rebby sighed dolefully. She was old enough to understand the talk she heard constantly of His Majesty’s ships of war capturing the American fishing sloops16, and of the many troubles caused to peaceable Americans all along the coast; and she, like all the American children, knew that their rights must be defended; but Lucia Horton’s talk had frightened and confused Rebecca’s thoughts. To set up a liberty pole now seemed to her a most dangerous thing to do, and something that would bring only trouble.
She wished with all her heart that she could tell her father all that Lucia had told her. But that she could not do because of her promise. Rebecca knew that a promise was a sacred thing, not to be broken.
“Rebby, will you not go to the bluff17 with me? ’Twill be pleasant there this afternoon, and we could see the Polly if she chances to come into harbor to-day,” said Anna.
“You had best ask Luretta Foster, Danna,”23 she answered quickly. “I am sure Mother will want my help with her quilting this afternoon.”
Rebby so often played at being “grown up” that this reply did not surprise Anna, and she ran off to find her mother and ask permission to go to the shore with Luretta Foster, a girl of about her own age. Mrs. Weston gave her consent, and in a few moments the little girl was running along the river path toward the blacksmith shop where a short path led to Luretta’s home.
Anna often thought that there could not be another little girl in all the world as pretty as Luretta. Luretta was not as tall or as strongly made as Anna; her eyes were as blue as the smooth waters of the harbor on a summer’s day; her hair was as yellow as the floss on an ear of corn, and her skin was not tanned brown like Anna’s, but was fair and delicate. Beside her Anna looked more like a boy than ever. But Luretta admired Anna’s brown eyes and short curly hair, and was quite sure that there was no other little girl who could do or say such clever things as Anna Weston. So the two little girls were always well pleased with each other’s company, and to-day Luretta was quite ready to go down to the shore and watch for the Polly. Mrs.24 Foster tied on the big sunbonnet which Luretta always wore out-of-doors, and the two friends started off.
“Will it not be fine if the Polly reaches harbor to-day?” said Anna. “My father says she will bring sugar and molasses and spices, and it may be the Unity18 will come sailing in beside her loaded with things from far lands. Do you not wish our fathers were captains of fine sloops, Luretta, so that perhaps we could go sailing off to Boston?”
But Luretta shook her head. “I’d much rather journey by land,” she answered; “but ’tis said the Polly is to bring a fine silk gown for Mistress Lyon; ’tis a present from her sister in Boston, and two dolls for Melvina Lyon. Why is it that ministers’ daughters have so many gifts?” and Luretta sighed. Her only doll was made of wood, and, though it was very dear to her, Luretta longed for a doll with a china head and hands, such as the fortunate little daughter of the minister already possessed19.
“I care not for Melvina Lyon, if she be a minister’s daughter,” Anna responded bravely. “She can do nothing but sew and knit and make fine cakes, and read from grown-up books. She25 is never allowed to go fishing, or wade20 in the cove21 on warm days, or go off in the woods as I do. I doubt if Melvina Lyon could tell the difference ’twixt a partridge and heron, or if she could tell a spruce tree from a fir. And as for presents, hers are of no account. They are but dolls, and silver thimbles and silk aprons22. Why! did not my father bring me home a fine beaver23 skin for a hood24, and a pair of duck’s wings, and a pair of moccasins the very last time he went north!” And Anna, out of breath, looked at her friend triumphantly25.
“But Melvina’s things are all bought in stores in big towns, and your presents are all from the woods, just as if you were a little Indian girl,” objected Luretta, who greatly admired the ruffled26 gowns of Melvina’s dolls, such as no other little girl in the settlement possessed.
Anna made no response to this; but she was surprised that Luretta should not think as she did about the value of her gifts, and rather vexed that Melvina Lyon should be praised by her own particular friend.
The girls had passed the sawmill and lumber27 yard, and now turned from the well-traveled path to climb a hill where they could catch the first26 glimpse of any sail entering the harbor. Farther along this bluff stood the church, not yet quite finished, and beyond it the house of the minister, the Reverend James Lyon, whose little daughter, Melvina, was said to be the best behaved and the smartest girl in the settlement. Although only ten years old Melvina had already “pieced” four patchwork28 quilts and quilted them; and her neat stitches were the admiration29 of all the women of the town. But most of the little girls were a little in awe30 of Melvina, who never cared to play games, and always brought her knitting or sewing when she came for an afternoon visit.
Anna and Luretta sat down on the short grass, and for a few moments talked of the Polly, and looked in vain for the glimmer31 of a sail.
“Look, Danna! Here comes Melvina now,” whispered Luretta, whose quick ears had caught the sound of steps.
Anna looked quickly around. “She’s all dressed up,” she responded. “See, her skirts set out all around her like a wheel.”
Melvina walked with great care, avoiding the rough places, and so intent on her steps that, if Anna had not called her name, she would have passed without seeing them. She was thin and27 dark, and looked more like a little old lady than a ten-year-old girl.
“How do you do?” she said, bowing as ceremoniously as if Luretta and Anna were grown up people of importance.
“Come and sit down, Melly, and watch for the Polly,” said Anna.
“And tell us about the fine dolls that are on board for you,” added Luretta quickly.
A little smile crept over Melvina’s face and she took a step toward them, but stopped suddenly.
“I fear ’twould not be wise for me to stop,” she said a little fearfully; but before she could say anything more Anna and Luretta had jumped up and ran toward her.
“Look!” exclaimed Anna, pointing to a flock of white gulls that had just settled on the smooth water near the shore.
“Look, Melly, at the fine partridges!”
Melvina’s dark eyes looked in the direction Anna pointed32. “Thank you, Anna. How white they are, and what a queer noise they make,” she responded seriously.
Anna’s eyes danced with delight as she heard Luretta’s half-repressed giggle33 at Melvina’s reply. She resolved that Luretta should realize of28 how little importance Melvina Lyon, with all her dolls, and her starched34 skirts like wheels, really was.
“And are those not big alder35 trees, Melly?” she continued, pointing to a group of fine pine trees near by.
Again Melvina’s eyes followed the direction of Anna’s pointing finger, and again the minister’s little daughter replied politely that the trees were indeed very fine alders36.
Luretta was now laughing without any effort to conceal37 her amusement. That any little girl in Maine should not know a partridge from a gull11, or an alder bush from a pine tree, seemed too funny to even make it necessary to try to be polite; and Luretta was now ready to join in the game of finding out how little Melvina Lyon, “the smartest and best-behaved child in the settlement,” really knew.
“And, Danna, perhaps Melvina has never seen the birds we call clams38?” she suggested.
Melvina looked from Anna to Luretta questioningly. These little girls could not be laughing at her, she thought, recalling with satisfaction that it was well known that she could spell the names of every city in Europe, and repeat the list29 of all England’s kings and queens. She remembered, also, that Anna Weston was called a tomboy, and that her mother said it was a scandal for a little girl to have short hair. So she again replied pleasantly that she had never known that clams were birds. “We have them stewed39 very often,” she declared.
Anna fairly danced about the neat little figure in the well-starched blue linen40 skirt.
“Oh, Melly! You must come down to the shore, and we will show you a clam’s nest,” she said, remembering that only yesterday she had discovered the nest of a kingfisher in an oak tree whose branches nearly touched the shore, and could point this out to the ignorant Melvina.
“But I am to visit Lucia Horton this afternoon, and I must not linger,” objected Melvina.
“It will not take long,” urged Anna, clasping Melvina’s arm, while Luretta promptly41 grasped the other, and half led, half pushed the surprised and uncertain Melvina along the rough slope. Anna talked rapidly as they hurried along. “You ought really to see a clam’s nest,” she urged, between her bursts of laughter; “why, Melly, even Luretta and I know about clams.”30
Anna had not intended to be rude or cruel when she first began her game of letting Luretta see that Melly and her possessions were of no importance, but Melvina’s ignorance of the common things about her, as well as her neatly42 braided hair, her white stockings and kid shoes, such as no other child in the village possessed, made Anna feel as if Melvina was not a real little girl, but a dressed-up figure. She chuckled43 at the thought of Luretta’s calling clams “birds,” with a new admiration for her friend.
“I guess after this Luretta won’t always be talking about Melvina Lyon and her dolls,” she thought triumphantly; and at that moment Melvina’s foot slipped and all three of the little girls went sliding down the sandy bluff.
The slide did not matter to either Anna or Luretta, in their stout44 shoes and every-day dresses of coarse flannel45, but to the carefully dressed Melvina it was a serious mishap46. Her starched skirts were crushed and stained, her white stockings soiled, and her slippers47 scratched. The hat of fine-braided straw with its ribbon band, another “present” from the Boston relatives, now hung about her neck, and her knitting-bag was lost.31
As the little girls gathered themselves up Melvina began to cry. Her delicate hands were scratched, and never before in her short life had she been so frightened and surprised.
She pulled herself away from Anna’s effort to straighten her hat. “You are a rough child,” she sobbed48, “and I wish I had not stopped to speak with you. And my knitting-bag with my half-finished stocking is lost!”
At the sight of Melvina’s tears both Anna and Luretta forgot all about showing her a “clam’s nest,” and became seriously frightened. After all, Melly was the minister’s daughter, and the Reverend Mr. Lyon was a person of importance; why, he even had a colored body-servant, London Atus by name, who usually walked behind the clergyman carrying his cloak and Bible, and who opened the door for visitors. Often Melvina was attended in her walks by London, who thought his little mistress far superior to the other children.
“Don’t cry, Melvina,” pleaded Luretta. “We will find your bag, and we will wash the stains from your stockings and dress, and help you back up the slope. Don’t cry,” and Luretta put a protecting arm about the frightened Melvina.32 “Your hat has only slipped from your head; it is not hurt at all,” she added consolingly.
Melvina was finally comforted, and Anna climbed up the slope to search for the missing bag, while Luretta persuaded Melvina to take off her stockings in order that they might be washed.
“They’ll dry in no time,” Luretta assured her. “I can wash them out right here in this clean puddle49, and put them on the warm rocks to dry.” So Melvina reluctantly took off her slippers, and the pretty open-work stockings, and curling her feet under her, sat down on a big rock to watch Luretta dip the stockings in the little pool of sea water near by, and to send anxious glances toward the sandy bluff where Anna was searching for the missing bag.
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1
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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7
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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9
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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industriously
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14
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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15
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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16
sloops
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| n.单桅纵帆船( sloop的名词复数 ) | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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24
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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26
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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27
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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28
patchwork
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| n.混杂物；拼缝物 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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30
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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32
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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33
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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starched
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| adj.浆硬的，硬挺的，拘泥刻板的v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
alder
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| n.赤杨树 | |
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alders
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| n.桤木( alder的名词复数 ) | |
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37
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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38
clams
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| n.蛤；蚌，蛤( clam的名词复数 )v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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40
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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41
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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42
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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43
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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46
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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47
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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48
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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49
puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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