Part 29 (1/2)
”I will be umpire, and brighten up the silver arrow I sometimes pin my hair with, for a prize, unless we can find something better,” proposed Miss Celia, glad to see that question settled, and every prospect of the new play being a pleasant amus.e.m.e.nt for the hot weather.
It was astonis.h.i.+ng how soon archery became the fas.h.i.+on in that town, for the boys discussed it enthusiastically all that evening, formed the ”William Tell Club” next day, with Bab and Betty as honorary members, and, before the week was out, nearly every lad was seen, like young Norval, ”With bended bow and quiver full of arrows,” shooting away, with a charming disregard of the safety of their fellow citizens.
Banished by the authorities to secluded spots, the members of the club set up their targets and practised indefatigably, especially Ben, who soon discovered that his early gymnastics had given him a sinewy arm and a true eye; and, taking Sanch into partners.h.i.+p as picker-up, he got more shots out of an hour than those who had to run to and fro.
Th.o.r.n.y easily recovered much of his former skill, but his strength had not fully returned, and he soon grew tired. Bab, on the contrary, threw herself into the contest heart and soul, and tugged away at the new bow Miss Celia gave her, for Ben's was too heavy. No other girls were admitted, so the outsiders got up a club of their own, and called it ”The Victoria,” the name being suggested by the magazine article, which went the rounds as a general guide and reference book. Bab and Betty belonged to this club and duly reported the doings of the boys, with whom they had a right to shoot if they chose, but soon waived the right, plainly seeing that their absence would be regarded in the light of a favor.
The archery fever raged as fiercely as the base-ball epidemic had done before it, and not only did the magazine circulate freely, but Miss Edgeworth's story, which was eagerly read, and so much admired that the girls at once mounted green ribbons, and the boys kept yards of whip-cord in their pockets like the provident Benjamin of the tale.
Every one enjoyed the new play very much, and something grew out of it which was a lasting pleasure to many, long after the bows and arrows were forgotten. Seeing how glad the children were to get a new story, Miss Celia was moved to send a box of books--old and new--to the town library, which was but scantily supplied, as country libraries are apt to be. This donation produced a good effect; for other people hunted up all the volumes they could spare for the same purpose, and the dusty shelves in the little room behind the post-office filled up amazingly.
Coming in vacation time they were hailed with delight, and ancient books of travel, as well as modern tales, were feasted upon by happy young folks, with plenty of time to enjoy them in peace.
The success of her first attempt at being a public benefactor pleased Miss Celia very much, and suggested other ways in which she might serve the quiet town, where she seemed to feel that work was waiting for her to do. She said little to any one but the friend over the sea, yet various plans were made then that blossomed beautifully by-and-by.
CHAPTER XIX
SPEAKING PIECES
The first of September came all too soon, and school began. Among the boys and girls who went trooping up to the ”East Corner knowledge-box,”
as they called it, was our friend Ben, with a pile of neat books under his arm. He felt very strange, and decidedly shy; but put on a bold face, and let n.o.body guess that, though nearly thirteen, he had never been to school before. Miss Celia had told his story to Teacher, and she, being a kind little woman, with young brothers of her own, made things as easy for him as she could. In reading and writing he did very well, and proudly took his place among lads of his own age; but when it came to arithmetic and geography, he had to go down a long way, and begin almost at the beginning, in spite of Th.o.r.n.y's efforts to ”tool him along fast.” It mortified him sadly, but there was no help for it; and in some of the cla.s.ses he had dear little Betty to console with him when he failed, and smile contentedly when he got above her, as he soon began to do,--for she was not a quick child, and plodded through First Parts long after sister Bab was flouris.h.i.+ng away among girls much older than herself.
Fortunately, Ben was a short boy and a clever one, so he did not look out of place among the ten and eleven year olders, and fell upon his lessons with the same resolution with which he used to take a new leap, or practise patiently till he could touch his heels with his head. That sort of exercise had given him a strong, elastic little body; this kind was to train his mind, and make its faculties as useful, quick and sure, as the obedient muscles, nerves and eye, which kept him safe where others would have broken their necks. He knew this, and found much consolation in the fact that, though mental arithmetic was a hopeless task, he could turn a dozen somersaults, and come up as steady as a judge. When the boys laughed at him for saying that China was in Africa, he routed them entirely by his superior knowledge of the animals belonging to that wild country; and when ”First cla.s.s in reading” was called, he marched up with the proud consciousness that the shortest boy in it did better than tall Moses Towne or fat Sam Kitteridge.
Teacher praised him all she honestly could, and corrected his many blunders so quietly that he soon ceased to be a deep, distressful red during recitation, and tugged away so manfully that no one could help respecting him for his efforts, and trying to make light of his failures. So the first hard week went by, and though the boy's heart had sunk many a time at the prospect of a protracted wrestle with his own ignorance, he made up his mind to win, and went at it again on the Monday with fresh zeal, all the better and braver for a good, cheery talk with Miss Celia in the Sunday evening twilight.
He did not tell her one of his greatest trials, however, because he thought she could not help him there. Some of the children rather looked down upon him, called him ”tramp” and ”beggar,” twitted him with having been a circus boy, and lived in a tent like a gypsy. They did not mean to be cruel, but did it for the sake of teasing, never stopping to think how much such sport can make a fellow-creature suffer. Being a plucky fellow, Ben pretended not to mind; but he did feel it keenly, because he wanted to start afresh, and be like other boys. He was not ashamed of the old life; but, finding those around him disapproved of it, he was glad to let it be forgotten, even by himself; for his latest recollections were not happy ones, and present comforts made past hards.h.i.+ps seem harder than before.
He said nothing of this to Miss Celia; but she found it out, and liked him all the better for keeping some of his small worries to himself.
Bab and Betty came over Monday afternoon full of indignation at some boyish insult Sam had put upon Ben; and, finding them too full of it to enjoy the reading, Miss Celia asked what the matter was. Then both little girls burst out in a rapid succession of broken exclamations, which did not give a very clear idea of the difficulty,--
”Sam didn't like it because Ben jumped farther than he did--”
”And he said Ben ought to be in the poor-house.”
”And Ben said he ought to be in it pigpen.”
”So he had!--such a greedy thing, bringing lovely big apples, and not giving any one a single bite!”
”Then he was mad, and we all laughed; and he said, 'Want to fight?'
”And Ben said, 'No, thanky, not much fun in pounding a feather-bed.'”
”Oh, he was awfully mad then, and chased Ben up the big maple.”
”He's there now, for Sam won't let him come down till he takes it all back.”
”Ben won't; and I do believe he'll have to stay up all night,” said Betty, distressfully.
”He won't care, and we'll have fun firing up his supper. Nut cakes and cheese will go splendidly; and may be baked pears wouldn't get smashed, he's such a good catch,” added Bab, decidedly relis.h.i.+ng the prospect.