Part 45 (2/2)
AUNT VINA IN THE NEW HOME.
The weeks succeeding the incidents of our last chapter sped rapidly by.
Winter came with its chilling winds, rifling the waving branches of their many colors, leaving them bare and unsightly; while it spread now and then over the seared lawns a pure white covering of snow, to hide for a time its sad work; and upon all this Mrs. Belmont looked with dreamy listlessness from her window. What was beauty, death, or change to her now, shut out as she was from the past, and in fear of the future? When kind hearts attempted to gain her consent to have the monotony of life broken she would plead: ”No, no, let me stay here! It is cold, I cannot go! Lillian, my child, don't let her come! She will look at me with her large eyes, so much like my baby's! It would kill me!”
What was Mrs. Hamilton to do? The elegant home on Broad street was waiting, and Christmas week approaching. She could not leave her mother to be a burden to others, and Lily said, ”perhaps Father can persuade her”; and so they lingered for his coming.
”Unless some imperative duties shall arise to prevent I will run home for a Christmas dinner,” he had written.
The opening of the holidays came at last, as all bright places in life come and flit past, and Colonel Hamilton returned on leave to his home with buoyant spirits, for he did not come alone. Aunt, Vina, with her broad, good-natured face, followed the gaily dressed officer from the carriage, and close behind her walked Lizzie and little Bobby. ”For Miss Lillian, I'se couldn't leave him,” was the earnest exclamation preceding the greeting.
”No more could you Lizzie, and we could never have gotten along without little Bobby,” and Mrs. Hamilton caught the diminutive mulatto of ten in her arms and kissed his plump yellow cheek.
Never was a mother more heartily welcomed by her child than was 'old Aunt Vina,' by her pet of former years. ”Bress de Lord, honey! I thought dese old arms wouldn't neber hold my sweet darlin' no more!” she exclaimed, as tears coursed rapidly over her cheeks. ”But de Missus, honey? Old Vina's eyes ache to look on her once more; de poor dear!
Ma.s.sa says she's dreffle bad, but de Lord knows what's bes'!”
”Why did you not tell me about this?” asked Lillian of her husband as soon as the dear old arms had liberated her sufficiently to permit her to do so. ”It would have helped in the waiting if I had had the opportunity of antic.i.p.ating a little?”
”I was not sure of succeeding in my project myself until three days ago,” he answered, between the repeated caresses he was lavis.h.i.+ng on his beautiful daughter.
”She's just like her mudder,” interposed Aunt Vina; ”and dis old heart's got her fast!”
”Let it hold her, Vina, and permit her young life to draw as much good from its hidden treasures as my darling wife has received,” and Colonel Hamilton placed the hand of his child in the old negress's grasp. ”Let your motherly love widen sufficiently to make room for both of my treasures, will you?”
”Dat I will, and place enough for de missus too!” Here a hearty laugh all around, in which Mr. and Mrs. Cheevers joined in merrily.
The day after to-morrow would be Christmas, and a small party was expected in the new home. How much there was to be done before that time! ”The first thing of all,” said Lillian, emphatically, ”is to get Mother to Broad street! We have everything in readiness--a cook and maid of all work secured.”
”And n.o.body wants 'em,” chimed in Lizzie. ”Reckon Vina an' me knows all dat!”
”Yes, and after our little fete is over you two shall be fully enstalled as advisory committee in our quiet domain, while Bobby can wait on the door and learn to be a man. I suppose you know that you are no longer slaves, and, unless I am very good to you, some day you may take into your kind old heads to leave me.”
”Neber, Missus!” chimed in two voices at the same time.
Dinner was now ready for the hungry travelers, but Mrs. Hamilton could not eat. ”I will go to Mother,” she said, ”for she will hear the voices and perhaps recognize them.”
Mrs. Belmont was alone, for Mrs. Jackson had been dismissed upon the arrival of the daughter into the household; and Mrs. g.a.y.l.o.r.d had immediately gone to visit a relative in another part of the city with a promise to return to them for a few weeks after all were settled.
Lillian opened the door of the chamber with some trepidation. As she did so two large eyes were fastened upon her with a speechless wonder lighting up their slumbering fires.
”I came to eat dinner with you, Mother,” the daughter said cheerily, coming to her side. ”Not tasted it? I am in good time then. It will spoil if you allow it to get cold. This chicken pie is not the way Aunt Vina used to get it up, is it? But I like it quite as well. Let us try it.”
”Has she come?”
”Who, Mother?”
”Vina.”
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