It had been a long, wearisome day at the Free Kindergarten, and I was alone in the silent, deserted1 room. Gone were all the little heads, yellow and black, curly and smooth; the dancing, restless, curious eyes; the too mischievous2, naughty, eager hands and noisy feet; the merry voices that had made the great room human, but now left it quiet and empty. Eighty pairs of tiny boots had clattered3 down the stairs; eighty baby woes5 had been relieved; eighty little torn coats pulled on with patient hands; eighty shabby little hats, not one with a "strawberry mark" to distinguish it from any other, had been distributed with infinite discrimination among their possessors; numberless sloppy6 kisses had been pressed upon a willing cheek or hand, and another day was over. No,—not quite over, after all. A murderous yell from below brought me to my feet, and I flew like an anxious hen to my brood. One small quarrel in the hall; very small, but it must be inquired into on the way to the greater one. Mercedes McGafferty had taunted7 Jenny Crawhall with being Irish. The fact that she herself had been born in Cork8 about three years previous did not trouble her in the least. Jenny, in a voice choked with sobs9, and with the stamp of a tiny foot, was announcing hotly that she was "NOT Irish, no sech a thing,—she was Plesberterian!" I was not quite clear whether this was a theological or racial controversy10, but I settled it speedily, and they ran off together hand in hand. I hastened to the steps. The yells had come from Joe Guinee and Mike Higgins, who were fighting for the possession of a banana; a banana, too, that should have been fought for, if at all, many days before,—a banana better suited, in its respectable old age, to peaceful consumption than the fortunes of war. My unexpected apparition11 had such an effect that I might have been an avenging12 angel. The boys dropped the banana simultaneously13, and it fell to the steps quite exhausted14, in such a condition that whoever proved to be in the right would get but little enjoyment15 from it.
"O my boys, my boys!" I exclaimed, "did you forget so soon? What shall we do? Must Miss Kate follow you everywhere? If that is the only way in which you can be good, we might as well give up trying. Must I watch you to the corner every day, no matter how tired I am?"
Two grimy little shirt bosoms16 heaved with shame and anger; two pairs of eyes hid themselves under protecting lids; two pairs of moist and stained hands sought the shelter of charitable pockets,—then the cause of war was declared by Mike sulkily.
"Joe Guinee hooked my bernanner."
"I never!" said Joe hotly. "I swapped17 with him f'r a peach, 'n he e't the peach at noon-time, 'n then wouldn't gimme no bernanner."
"The peach warn't no good," Mike interpolated swiftly, seeing my expression,—"it warn't no good, Miss Kate. When I come to eat it I had ter chuck half of it away, 'nd then Joe Guinee went t' my lunch bucket and hooked my bernanner!"
I sat down on the top step, motioned the culprits to do likewise, and then began dispensing18 justice tempered with mercy for the twenty-fifth time that day. "Mike, you say Joe took your banana?"
"Yes 'm,—he hooked it."
"Same thing. You have your words and I have mine, and I've told you before that mine mean just as much and sound a little better. But I thought that you changed that banana for a peach, and ate the peach?"
"I did."
"Then, why wasn't that banana Joe's?—you had taken his peach."
"He hadn't oughter hooked—took it out o' my bucket."
"No, and you ought not to have put it into your bucket."
"He hooked—took what warn't his."
"You kept what wasn't yours. How do you expect to have a good fruit store, either of you, by and by, and have people buy your things, if you haven't any idea of making a good square trade? Do try to be honest; and if you make an exchange stick to it; fighting over a thing never makes it any better. Look at that banana!—is it any good to either of you now?" (Pause. The still small voice was busy, but no sound was heard save the distant whistle of the janitor19.)
"I could bring another one to Joe to-morrer," said Mike, looking at his ragged20 boot and scratching it along the edge of the step.
"Yes, I think he ought to bring the banana; he made the trade with his eyes open, and the peach didn't look sour, for I saw you squeezing it when you ought to have been singing your morning hymn,—I thought you would get into trouble with it then. Now is it all right, Mike?—that's good! And Joe, don't go poking22 into other people's lunch baskets. If you hadn't done that, you silly boy," I philosophized whimsically for my own edification, "you would have been a victim; but you descended23 to the level of your adversary24, and you are now simply another little rascal25."
We walked down the quiet, narrow street to the corner,—a proceeding26 I had intended to omit that day, as it was always as exciting as an afternoon tea, and I did not feel equal to the social chats that would be pressed upon me by the neighborhood "ladies." One of my good policemen was there as usual, and saluted27 me profoundly. He had carried the last baby over the crossing, and guided all the venturesome small boys through the maze28 of trucks and horse-cars,—a difficult and thankless task, as they absolutely courted decapitation,—it being an unwritten law of conduct that each boy should weave his way through the horses' legs if practicable, and if not, should see how near he could come to grazing the wheels. Exactly at twelve o'clock, and again at two each day, in rain or sunshine, a couple of huge fatherly persons in brass29 buttons appeared on that corner and assisted us in getting our youngsters into streets of safety. Nobody had ever asked them to come, their chief had not detailed30 them for that special duty; and I could never have been bold enough to suggest that a guardian31 of the peace with an immaculate uniform should carry to and fro a crowd of small urchins32 with dusty boots and sticky hands.
But everybody loved that Silver Street corner, where the quiet little street met the larger noisy one! Not a horse-car driver but looked at his brake and glanced up the street before he took his car across. The truckmen all drove slowly, calling "Hi, there!" genially33 to any youngster within half a block.
And it was a pleasant scene enough to one who had a part in it, who was able to care for simple people, who could be glad to see them happy, sorry to see them sad, and willing to live among them a part of each day, and bring a little sunshine and hope into their lives.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Donohue! All safely across?"
"All safe, miss! Sorry you troubled to come down, miss. I can be depended on for this corner, miss, an' ye niver need bother yerself about the childern after ye've once turned 'em loose, miss. An' might I be so bold, seein' as how I might not have a better chance—would ye be so kind as to favor me with yer last name, miss? the truth bein' that ivery one calls ye Miss Kate, an' the policemen of this ward34 is gettin' up rather a ch'ice thing in Christmas cards to presint to ye, come Christmas, because, if ye'll excuse the liberty, miss, they do regard you as belongin' to the special police!"
I laughed, thanked him for the intended honor, which had been mentioned to me before, and gave him my card, not without a spasm35 of terror lest the entire police force should invade my dwelling36.
The "baker37 lady" across the street caught my eye, smiled, and sent over a hot bun in a brown paper bag. The "grocery lady" called over in a clear, ringing tone, "Would you be so kind, 'm, as to step inside on your way 'ome and fetch 'Enry a bit of work, 'm? 'Enry 'as the 'ooping cough, 'm, and I don't know 'owever I'm goin' to keep 'im at 'ome another day, 'm, he pines for school so!"
I give a nod which means, Certainly!
Mrs. Weiss appeared at her window above the grocery with a cloth wound about her head; appeared, and then vanished mysteriously. Very well, Mr. Weiss,—you know what to expect! I gave you fair warning last time, and I shall be as good as my word! Good heavens! Is that—it can't be—yes, it is—a new McDonald baby at the saloon door! And there was such a superfluity of the McDonald clan38 before! One more wretched little human soul precipitated39 without a welcome into such a family circle as that! It set me thinking, as I walked slowly back and toiled40 up the steps. "I suppose most people would call this a hard and monotonous41 life," I mused42. "There is an eternal regularity43 in the succession of amusing and heart-breaking incidents, but it is not monotonous, for I am too close to all the problems that bother this workaday world,—so close that they touch me on every side. No missionary44 can come so near to these people. I am so close that I can feel the daily throb45 of their need, and they can feel the throb of my sympathy. Oh! it is work fit for a saviour46 of men, and what—what can I do with it?"
I sank into my small rocking-chair, and, clasping my arms over my head, bent47 it upon the table and closed my eyes.
The dazzling California sunshine streamed in at the western windows, touched the gold-fish globes with rosy48 glory, glittered on the brass bird-cages, flung a splendid halo round the meek49 head of the Madonna above my table, and poured a flood of grateful heat over my shoulders. The clatter4 of a tin pail outside the door, the uncertain turning of a knob by a hand too small to grasp it: "I forgitted my lunch bucket, 'n had to come back five blocks. Good-by, Miss Kate." (Kiss.) "Good-by, little man; run along." Another step, and a curly little red head pushes itself apologetically through the open door. "You never dave me back my string and buzzer50, Miss Kate." "Here it is; leave it at home to-morrow if you can, dear,—will you?"
Silence again, this time continued and profound. Mrs. Weiss was evidently not coming to-day to ask me if she should give blow for blow in her next connubial51 fracas52. I was thankful to be spared until the morrow, when I should perhaps have greater strength to attack Mr. Weiss, and see what I could do for Mrs. Pulaski's dropsy, and find a mourning bonnet53 and shawl for the Gabilondo's funeral and clothes for the new Higgins twins. (Oh, Mrs. Higgins, would not one have sufficed you?)
The events of the day march through my tired brain; so tired! so tired! and just a bit discouraged and sad too. Had I been patient enough with the children? Had I forgiven cheerfully enough the seventy times seven sins of omission54 and commission? Had I poured out the love—bountiful, disinterested55, long-suffering—of which God shows us the measure and fullness? Had I—But the sun dropped lower and lower behind the dull brown hills, and exhausted nature found a momentary56 forgetfulness in sleep.
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1
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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2
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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3
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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4
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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5
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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6
sloppy
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| adj.邋遢的，不整洁的 | |
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7
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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8
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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9
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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10
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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11
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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12
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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13
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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14
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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15
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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16
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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17
swapped
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| 交换（工作）( swap的过去式和过去分词 )； 用…替换，把…换成，掉换（过来） | |
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18
dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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19
janitor
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| n.看门人，管门人 | |
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20
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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21
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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22
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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23
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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24
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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25
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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26
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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27
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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28
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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29
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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30
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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31
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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32
urchins
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| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
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33
genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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34
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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35
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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36
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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37
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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38
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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39
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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40
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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41
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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42
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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43
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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44
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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45
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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46
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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47
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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48
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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49
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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50
buzzer
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| n.蜂鸣器；汽笛 | |
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51
connubial
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| adj.婚姻的，夫妇的 | |
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52
fracas
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| n.打架；吵闹 | |
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53
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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54
omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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55
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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56
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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