All that dreadful day the man searched for the little girl’s mother, but their house was early prey3 to the flames, and he could get no trace of her. He was only passing through the city; and having fortunately saved his money and tickets, was anxious to be on his way across the Pacific. Consequently nothing better offered than to send the child with other refugees to the kind hospitality of the country.
Edith had quickly put her plan in execution, aided by the willing newspapers; but so far nothing had come of it, and mother and daughter feared their charge had lost more than aunt and cousin. South America, a very definite spot in the child’s mind, was still too vague a postoffice address for even Uncle Sam’s marvellous mail-carrying; and so, while encouraging May Nell, the two women tacitly adopted her into their hearts and discussed her future as if she were their own.
It was a blessing4 that even her loyal soul must yield to nature’s balm of passing time; in wholesome5 companionship and the fragrant6 warmth of a country spring she somewhat forgot the grief that would otherwise have worn to death her frail7 little body.
“My mama doesn’t believe in public school,” she had announced that first Monday morning; but had gone obediently when Mrs. Bennett decided8 it best. And the new life, the stimulation9 of study, the competition in class, her knowledge of books, and the prestige of her story,—these made school a delight, brought a happy light to her eye, a tinge10 of color to her too fair cheek.
Her wardrobe was a heavy drain on Edith’s purse, yet the young teacher delighted almost as a mother in the dainty garments that won her to extravagance.
Billy also undertook to do his share. A generous sum of money had been offered to the best student in the graduating class of the grammar school; and he decided to try for it. And when Billy made up his mind to anything connected with books, it was as good as done. For if he had to study a little harder than some, his perseverance11, added to an unusual facility in telling what he knew, helped him to success.
Mrs. Bennett wished May Nell to be in the open air as much as possible; and this meant a new experience for Billy, which he accepted with tolerable grace.
“A girl under foot all the time,” Shifty complained. He had no sister.
“Well, you know the other thing to do if you don’t like it,” Billy retorted, bluntly. “She’s my sister till her folks are found, and that isn’t likely.”
“You’re the only girl I’m afraid of in that line. Isn’t that so, Pretty?”
This conversation took place in Billy’s shop, a room adjoining the wood-house and given over to his use. Nothing short of the world in the second verse of Genesis was equal to the chaos14 of that place. Every conceivable scrap15 and job lot of “truck” was there in a jumbled16 heap; and Billy was never happier than when mussing it over in search of “material”; in greasy17 overalls18 and crownless hat, whistling merrily, bringing forth19 to substance and form the inventions of his busy brain.
The blandishments of soda20 water fountains, candy stores, and other boyish temptations, found no victim in Billy. But if Mr. Cooper, the tinshop man, had driven hard bargains he would have bankrupted the boy. As it was his weekly allowance suffered in spite of Mr. Cooper’s generosity21 and Billy’s free access to a rich scrap heap at the rear of the big shop where everything, one would say, in tin and iron was made, from well pipe, tanks, and boilers22, to tin wings for Edith’s fairies in the opera.
Now a steamboat was on hand. At odd times for weeks, Billy, Harold, and one or two other boys, under secrecy23 of lock and key, had been slowly bringing to completion a wonderful structure.
Billy had intended naming it The Jean, but Charley had stood for Queen Bess, Harold didn’t like either name, and George and Jimmy had objected to “girl kid names, anyway.” They had, however, unanimously compromised on The Edith, for Billy’s sister was adored privately24 by all of his older friends, adored openly and “tagged” by the little ones. Edith, since May Nell’s coming, suggested her name. The little girl agreed if it could be Ellen; Billy added “Fair” with her permission; and this name he painted over each paddle wheel with no opposition25 from the others.
All was now ready for firing. “She” was to be run by oil. They took her out through the double doors, both swung wide for the first time in many weeks. It was all the boys could do to carry the heavy thing, though they went quite steadily26 across the vegetable garden, not without some damage to spring lettuce27 and summer corn, however; but on the steep, uneven28 slope below, the Fair Ellen came almost to grief.
“Easy, mates. Kids, belay there, till we launch her!” This to the gaping30 youngsters always in the way.
“Wharfmaster, ahoy!” Billy hailed, as they came near the water’s edge. “Is all ship-shape?”
“Ay, ay, sir,” came this time from two boys who had charge of some logs lashed32 together and crossed and recrossed by a hash-like lot of refuse lumber33, and moored34 with a dog chain.
[89]“Mother, do come and look at the procession,” Edith called cautiously from the trellises, where she was slyly watching.
Billy heard her, though. “Come on, sister, mamma, too, and see the fun,” he called, not unwillingly35, for he was a bit proud of their work now that it was out in the light of day. He had reason; it was really an imposing36 craft for boys to build from scraps37.
A crowd of smaller children momentarily increasing, capered38 about the sweating five. Max bounded over the high fence, breathless, fearing he would be late. Jean and Bess hurried down the hill, each telling the other she couldn’t spare the time for “just boys’ foolishness.” Jackson appeared on top of the south stone abutment, halting there till Billy’s hearty39 invitation brought him flying down into the inclosure.
Bouncer barked at Billy’s heels. Geewhillikins chased an imaginary foe40 down the hill, and Jerusalem Crickets crept stealthily along the upper support of the side picket41 fence, trailing a venturesome sparrow.
Even the white chickens followed in a cackling bunch as they always did when Billy appeared at this hour, for it was almost feeding time. And the pigeons wheeled and whirred, lighting42 almost under foot only to be up and off again, a flash of white and gray.
Behind the two women trotted43 a chubby44 baby. “I see Billy boat,” he cried, shrilly45, stumbled, fell, scrambled46 up again, and repeated his refrain.
“Why, Buzz Lancaster, how did you get here?” Edith went back and steadied him over the uneven ground. “Phew! He smells of gasoline! Where has he been, do you suppose, mother?”
“I comed,” he said, calmly, “I see Billy boat.”
“Hurry up, Buzz!” Billy called as he raced by from the shop, where he had been for the oil can to fill the boat’s reservoir.
“Shan’t we defer47 the ceremonies till we can get Charley’s little sister and Jackson’s two weeks’ old brother?” Jimmy asked, disagreeably.
“Please don’t call Jimmy ‘Sour,’” May Nell pleaded. “He’s big and dark and splendid; and his other name is going to be Roderick Dhu; and he’ll be kind to all weak things, and fight for the Douglases, and for the Fair Ellen.” She waved her hand toward the steamboat.
Jimmy tried not to look pleased, but failed. Something about May Nell attracted him, whether it was her beauty, her fearlessness, or her air of distinction he did not know. It was really her recognition of something fine in him that his cold and irascible father had almost whipped out of him.
“All ready?” cried Captain Billy. “Are you ready, Ladybird?”
“Yes, Captain,” she answered, her eyes aglow49 while she smoothed refractory50 frills. She wore a wonderful trailing robe of tissue paper, “ruffled to the guards,” Billy said. On her head was a towering cap of the same; and a light wind bellied51 out her wide angel sleeves like sails before a spanking52 breeze.
She stood at the end of the creaking wharf31, and one little bare arm was lifted high. She held a small fruit jar filled with water and beet53 juice. It was awkward, but Billy had insisted on the fruit jar,—“So’s it will be sure to break; it’s the only kind of a bottle that always will break.”
They fired up. An ominous54 sizz and clatter55 began. Five pairs of hands shoved the smart boat into the water at May Nell’s feet. The children shouted. The dog barked and the chickens cackled. And above all the din1 May Nell’s sweet voice rang out, “I christen thee, O wondrous56 vessel57, The Fair Ellen.” She improvised58 hastily; for no one had thought to prepare a speech for the occasion.
The bottle went crash, and a furious yell informed the neighborhood that the Gang was “up to some new deviltry.”
But another and unexpected crash followed, and a shower of burning oil shot up and caught May Nell’s flimsy paper frock.
Yet before one could think, almost before the paper had time to burn, Jimmy sprang to her, seized her in his arms, tearing at the shrivelling paper, and jumped far out over the flaming boat into a deep pool.
For a horror-stricken moment no one spoke59. Even the dumb creatures were still; and Buzz, thinking it all for his benefit, watched open-mouthed for the next act in the play.
But Mrs. Bennett, fleet though speechless, was at the water’s edge by the time Jimmy had risen with May Nell quite safe. She spluttered and choked a little; but Jimmy had been so quick there was not even a red spot on her flesh to show the touch of fire.
She was a queer draggled little creature, with her soaked and tattered60 dress, and her yellow curls all stringlets. Timidly she touched Jimmy’s blistered61 hands, realized what he had saved her from, and when she looked her gratitude62 into his dark eyes something awoke in his heart that never slept again.
“You had very soon to fight for the Douglases, didn’t you, Roderick Dhu?” she said, as Mrs. Bennett covered her with an apron63, and Billy took her up and went toward the house.
“I thank you, Roderick Dhu,” she called out over Billy’s shoulder with another little choke, for Jimmy had refused Mrs. Bennett’s offer of dry clothes and was starting home alone.
So imminent64 had catastrophe65 been, that no one thought of the poor small steamer burning unchecked to the water’s edge while the procession climbed the hill; no one knew till days afterward66 that busy Buzz had entered the open shop and mixed Billy’s cans so that it was gasoline instead of kerosene67 that he fed that fated craft. But gratitude for Jimmy’s bravery and May Nell’s safety supplanted68 even in the youngest heart all regret for the boat.
All but May Nell; when Edith and Mrs. Bennett rubbed and warmed her she declared she didn’t need it, and was so absorbed in lamenting69 the loss of the Fair Ellen, she could think of nothing else.
“So long as it isn’t you, Ladybird, it’s all right,” Billy consoled; “we can make more boats.”
But May Nell was not to be comforted, till that evening when she composed a wonderful ode to “The Wreck70 of the Fair Ellen.”
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1
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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stimulation
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| n.刺激，激励，鼓舞 | |
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10
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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11
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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peddled
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| （沿街）叫卖( peddle的过去式和过去分词 )； 兜售； 宣传； 散播 | |
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13
endorsed
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| vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品 | |
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14
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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15
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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jumbled
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| adj.混乱的；杂乱的 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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18
overalls
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| n.（复）工装裤；长罩衣 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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21
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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23
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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24
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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25
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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28
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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30
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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31
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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32
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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33
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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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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capered
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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40
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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41
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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42
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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43
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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44
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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45
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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46
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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47
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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48
grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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49
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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50
refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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51
bellied
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| adj.有腹的，大肚子的 | |
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52
spanking
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| adj.强烈的，疾行的；n.打屁股 | |
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53
beet
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| n.甜菜；甜菜根 | |
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54
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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55
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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56
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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57
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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58
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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59
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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60
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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61
blistered
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| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
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62
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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63
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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64
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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65
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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66
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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67
kerosene
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| n.(kerosine)煤油，火油 | |
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68
supplanted
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| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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70
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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