CHAPTER XXI. THANKSGIVING
This yearly festival was always kept at Plumfield in the goodold-fashioned way, and nothing was allowed to interfere with it. Fordays beforehand, the little girls helped Asia and Mrs. Jo in store-roomand kitchen, making pies and puddings, sorting fruit, dusting dishes,and being very busy and immensely important. The boys hovered on theoutskirts of the forbidden ground, sniffing the savory odors, peepingin at the mysterious performances, and occasionally being permitted totaste some delicacy in the process of preparation.
Something more than usual seemed to be on foot this year, for the girlswere as busy up-stairs as down, so were the boys in school-room andbarn, and a general air of bustle pervaded the house. There was a greathunting up of old ribbons and finery, much cutting and pasting of goldpaper, and the most remarkable quantity of straw, gray cotton, flannel,and big black beads, used by Franz and Mrs. Jo. Ned hammered at strangemachines in the workshop, Demi and Tommy went about murmuring tothemselves as if learning something. A fearful racket was heard inEmil's room at intervals, and peals of laughter from the nursery whenRob and Teddy were sent for and hidden from sight whole hours at a time.But the thing that puzzled Mr. Bhaer the most was what became of Rob'sbig pumpkin. It had been borne in triumph to the kitchen, where a dozengolden-tinted pies soon after appeared. It would not have taken morethan a quarter of the mammoth vegetable to make them, yet where was therest? It disappeared, and Rob never seemed to care, only chuckled whenit was mentioned, and told his father, "To wait and see," for the fun ofthe whole thing was to surprise Father Bhaer at the end, and not let himknow a bit about what was to happen.
He obediently shut eyes, ears, and mouth, and went about trying notto see what was in plain sight, not to hear the tell-tale sounds thatfilled the air, not to understand any of the perfectly transparentmysteries going on all about him. Being a German, he loved these simpledomestic festivals, and encouraged them with all his heart, for theymade home so pleasant that the boys did not care to go elsewhere forfun.
When at last the day came, the boys went off for a long walk, that theymight have good appetites for dinner; as if they ever needed them! Thegirls remained at home to help set the table, and give last touches tovarious affairs which filled their busy little souls with anxiety. Theschool-room had been shut up since the night before, and Mr. Bhaer wasforbidden to enter it on pain of a beating from Teddy, who guarded thedoor like a small dragon, though he was dying to tell about it, andnothing but his father's heroic self-denial in not listening, kept himfrom betraying a grand secret.
"It's all done, and it's perfectly splendid," cried Nan, coming out atlast with an air of triumph.
"The you know goes beautifully, and Silas knows just what to do now,"added Daisy, skipping with delight at some unspeakable success.
"I'm blest if it ain't the 'cutest thing I ever see, them critters inparticular," said Silas, who had been let into the secret, went offlaughing like a great boy.
"They are coming; I hear Emil roaring 'Land lubbers lying down below,'so we must run and dress," cried Nan, and up-stairs they scampered in agreat hurry.
The boys came trooping home with appetites that would have made the bigturkey tremble, if it had not been past all fear. They also retired todress; and for half-an-hour there was a washing, brushing, and prinkingthat would have done any tidy woman's heart good to see. When the bellrang, a troop of fresh-faced lads with shiny hair, clean collars, andSunday jackets on, filed into the dining-room, where Mrs. Jo, in herone black silk, with a knot of her favorite white chrysanthemums in herbosom, sat at the head of the table, "looking splendid," as the boyssaid, whenever she got herself up. Daisy and Nan were as gay as a posybed in their new winter dresses, with bright sashes and hair ribbons.Teddy was gorgeous to behold in a crimson merino blouse, and his bestbutton boots, which absorbed and distracted him as much as Mr. Toot'swristbands did on one occasion.
As Mr. and Mrs. Bhaer glanced at each other down the long table, withthose rows of happy faces on either side, they had a little thanksgivingall to themselves, and without a word, for one heart said to the other,
"Our work has prospered, let us be grateful and go on."
The clatter of knives and forks prevented much conversation for a fewminutes, and Mary Ann with an amazing pink bow in her hair "flew round"briskly, handing plates and ladling out gravy. Nearly every one hadcontributed to the feast, so the dinner was a peculiarly interestingones to the eaters of it, who beguiled the pauses by remarks on theirown productions.
"If these are not good potatoes I never saw any," observed Jack, as hereceived his fourth big mealy one.
"Some of my herbs are in the stuffing of the turkey, that's why it's sonice," said Nan, taking a mouthful with intense satisfaction.
"My ducks are prime any way; Asia said she never cooked such fat ones,"added Tommy.
"Well, our carrots are beautiful, ain't they, and our parsnips willbe ever so good when we dig them," put in Dick, and Dolly murmured hisassent from behind the bone he was picking.
"I helped make the pies with my pumpkin," called out Robby, with a laughwhich he stopped by retiring into his mug.
"I picked some of the apples that the cider is made of," said Demi.
"I raked the cranberries for the sauce," cried Nat.
"I got the nuts," added Dan, and so it went on all round the table.
"Who made up Thanksgiving?" asked Rob, for being lately promoted tojacket and trousers he felt a new and manly interest in the institutionsof his country.
"See who can answer that question," and Mr. Bhaer nodded to one or twoof his best history boys.
"I know," said Demi, "the Pilgrims made it."
"What for?" asked Rob, without waiting to learn who the Pilgrims were.
"I forget," and Demi subsided.
"I believe it was because they were starved once, and so when they had agood harvest, they said, 'We will thank God for it,' and they had a dayand called it Thanksgiving," said Dan, who liked the story of the bravemen who suffered so nobly for their faith.
"Good! I didn't think you would remember any thing but natural history,"and Mr. Bhaer tapped gently on the table as applause for his pupil.
Dan looked pleased; and Mrs. Jo said to her son, "Now do you understandabout it, Robby?"
"No, I don't. I thought pil-grins were a sort of big bird that lived onrocks, and I saw pictures of them in Demi's book."
"He means penguins. Oh, isn't he a little goosey!" and Demi laid back inhis chair and laughed aloud.
"Don't laugh at him, but tell him all about it if you can," said Mrs.Bhaer, consoling Rob with more cranberry sauce for the general smilethat went round the table at his mistake.
"Well, I will;" and, after a pause to collect his ideas, Demi deliveredthe following sketch of the Pilgrim Fathers, which would have made eventhose grave gentlemen smile if they could have heard it.
"You see, Rob, some of the people in England didn't like the king, orsomething, so they got into ships and sailed away to this country. Itwas all full of Indians, and bears, and wild creatures, and they livedin forts, and had a dreadful time."
"The bears?" asked Robby, with interest.
"No; the Pilgrims, because the Indians troubled them. They hadn't enoughto eat, and they went to church with guns, and ever so many died, andthey got out of the ships on a rock, and it's called Plymouth Rock, andAunt Jo saw it and touched it. The Pilgrims killed all the Indians,and got rich; and hung the witches, and were very good; and some of thegreatest great-grandpas came in the ships. One was the Mayflower; andthey made Thanksgiving, and we have it always, and I like it. Some moreturkey, please."
"I think Demi will be an historian, there is such order and clearness inhis account of events;" and Uncle Fritz's eyes laughed at Aunt Jo, as hehelped the descendant of the Pilgrims to his third bit of turkey.
"I thought you must eat as much as ever you could on Thanksgiving.But Franz says you mustn't even then;" and Stuffy looked as if he hadreceived bad news.
"Franz is right, so mind your knife and fork, and be moderate, or elseyou won't be able to help in the surprise by and by," said Mrs. Jo.
"I'll be careful; but everybody does eat lots, and I like it betterthan being moderate," said Stuffy, who leaned to the popular belief thatThanksgiving must be kept by coming as near apoplexy as possible, andescaping with merely a fit of indigestion or a headache.
"Now, my 'pilgrims' amuse yourselves quietly till tea-time, for you willhave enough excitement this evening," said Mrs. Jo, as they rose fromthe table after a protracted sitting, finished by drinking every one'shealth in cider.
"I think I will take the whole flock for a drive, it is so pleasant;then you can rest, my dear, or you will be worn out this evening," addedMr. Bhaer; and as soon as coats and hats could be put on, the greatomnibus was packed full, and away they went for a long gay drive,leaving Mrs. Jo to rest and finish sundry small affairs in peace.
An early and light tea was followed by more brushing of hair and washingof hands; then the flock waited impatiently for the company to come.Only the family was expected; for these small revels were strictlydomestic, and such being the case, sorrow was not allowed to sadden thepresent festival. All came; Mr. and Mrs. March, with Aunt Meg, so sweetand lovely, in spite of her black dress and the little widow's cap thatencircled her tranquil face. Uncle Teddy and Aunt Amy, with the Princesslooking more fairy-like than ever, in a sky-blue gown, and a greatbouquet of hot-house flowers, which she divided among the boys, stickingone in each button-hole, making them feel peculiarly elegant andfestive. One strange face appeared, and Uncle Teddy led the unknowngentleman up to the Bhaers, saying,
"This is Mr. Hyde; he has been inquiring about Dan, and I ventured tobring him to-night, that he might see how much the boy has improved."
The Bhaers received him cordially, for Dan's sake, pleased that the ladhad been remembered. But, after a few minutes' chat, they were glad toknow Mr. Hyde for his own sake, so genial, simple, and interesting washe. It was pleasant to see the boy's face light up when he caughtsight of his friend; pleasanter still to see Mr. Hyde's surprise andsatisfaction in Dan's improved manners and appearance, and pleasantestof all to watch the two sit talking in a corner, forgetting thedifferences of age, culture, and position, in the one subject whichinterested both, as man and boy compared notes, and told the story oftheir summer life.
"The performance must begin soon, or the actors will go to sleep," saidMrs. Jo, when the first greetings were over.
So every one went into the school-room, and took seats before a curtainmade of two bed-covers. The children had already vanished; but stifledlaughter, and funny little exclamations from behind the curtain,betrayed their whereabouts. The entertainment began with a spiritedexhibition of gymnastics, led by Franz. The six elder lads, in bluetrousers and red shirts, made a fine display of muscle with dumb-bells,clubs, and weights, keeping time to the music of the piano, played byMrs. Jo behind the scenes. Dan was so energetic in this exercise, thatthere was some danger of his knocking down his neighbors, like so manynine-pins, or sending his bean-bags whizzing among the audience; for hewas excited by Mr. Hyde's presence, and a burning desire to do honor tohis teachers.
"A fine, strong lad. If I go on my trip to South America, in a year ortwo, I shall be tempted to ask you to lend him to me, Mr. Bhaer," saidMr. Hyde, whose interest in Dan was much increased by the report he hadjust heard of him.
"You shall have him, and welcome, though we shall miss our youngHercules very much. It would do him a world of good, and I am sure hewould serve his friend faithfully."
Dan heard both question and answer, and his heart leaped with joy at thethought of travelling in a new country with Mr. Hyde, and swelled withgratitude for the kindly commendation which rewarded his efforts to beall these friends desired to see him.
After the gymnastics, Demi and Tommy spoke the old school dialogue,"Money makes the mare go." Demi did very well, but Tommy was capitalas the old farmer; for he imitated Silas in a way that convulsed theaudience, and caused Silas himself to laugh so hard that Asia hadto slap him on the back, as they stood in the hall enjoying the funimmensely.
Then Emil, who had got his breath by this time, gave them a sea-songin costume, with a great deal about "stormy winds," "lee shores," anda rousing chorus of "Luff, boys, luff," which made the room ring; afterwhich Ned performed a funny Chinese dance, and hopped about like a largefrog in a pagoda hat. As this was the only public exhibition ever heldat Plumfield, a few exercises in lightning-arithmetic, spelling,and reading were given. Jack quite amazed the public by his rapidcalculations on the blackboard. Tommy won in the spelling match, andDemi read a little French fable so well that Uncle Teddy was charmed.
"Where are the other children?" asked every one as the curtain fell, andnone of the little ones appeared.
"Oh, that is the surprise. It's so lovely, I pity you because you don'tknow it," said Demi, who had gone to get his mother's kiss, and stayedby her to explain the mystery when it should be revealed.
Goldilocks had been carried off by Aunt Jo, to the great amazement ofher papa, who quite outdid Mr. Bhaer in acting wonder, suspense, andwild impatience to know "what was going to happen."
At last, after much rustling, hammering, and very audible directionsfrom the stage manager, the curtain rose to soft music, and Bess wasdiscovered sitting on a stool beside a brown paper fire-place. A dearerlittle Cinderella was never seen; for the gray gown was very ragged, thetiny shoes all worn, the face so pretty under the bright hair, and theattitude so dejected, it brought tears, as well as smiles, to the fondeyes looking at the baby actress. She sat quite still, till a voicewhispered, "Now!" then she sighed a funny little sigh, and said, "OhI wish I tood go to the ball!" so naturally, that her father clappedfrantically, and her mother called out, "Little darling!" These highlyimproper expressions of feeling caused Cinderella to forget herself, andshake her head at them, saying, reprovingly, "You mustn't 'peak to me."
Silence instantly prevailed, and three taps were heard on the wall.Cinderella looked alarmed, but before she could remember to say, "Whatis dat?" the back of the brown paper fire-place opened like a door, and,with some difficulty, the fairy godmother got herself and her pointedhat through. It was Nan, in a red cloak, a cap, and a wand, which shewaved as she said decidedly,