"You shall go to the ball, my dear."
"Now you must pull and show my pretty dress," returned Cinderella,tugging at her brown gown.
"No, no; you must say, 'How can I go in my rags?'" said the godmother inher own voice.
"Oh yes, so I mus';" and the Princess said it, quite undisturbed by herforgetfulness.
"I change your rags into a splendid dress, because you are good," saidthe godmother in her stage tones; and deliberately unbuttoning the brownpinafore, she displayed a gorgeous sight.
The little Princess really was pretty enough to turn the heads of anynumber of small princes, for her mamma had dressed her like a tiny courtlady, in a rosy silk train with satin under-skirt, and bits of bouquetshere and there, quite lovely to behold. The godmother put a crown, withpink and white feathers drooping from it, on her head, and gave hera pair of silver paper slippers, which she put on, and then stood up,lifting her skirts to show them to the audience, saying, with pride, "Mydlass ones, ain't they pitty?"
She was so charmed with them, that she was with difficulty recalled toher part, and made to say,
"But I have no toach, Dodmother."
"Behold it!" and Nan waved her wand with such a flourish, that shenearly knocked off the crown of the Princess.
Then appeared the grand triumph of the piece. First, a rope was seen toflap on the floor, to tighten with a twitch as Emil's voice was heardto say, "Heave, ahoy!" and Silas's gruff one to reply, "Stiddy,now, stiddy!" A shout of laughter followed, for four large gray ratsappeared, rather shaky as to their legs, and queer as to their tails,but quite fine about the head, where black beads shone in the mostlifelike manner. They drew, or were intended to app
ear as if they did,a magnificent coach made of half the mammoth pumpkin, mounted on thewheels of Teddy's wagon, painted yellow to match the gay carriage.Perched on a seat in front sat a jolly little coachman in a whitecotton-wool wig, cocked hat, scarlet breeches, and laced coat, whocracked a long whip and jerked the red reins so energetically, that thegray steeds reared finely. It was Teddy, and he beamed upon the companyso affably that they gave him a round all to himself; and Uncle Lauriesaid, "If I could find as sober a coachman as that one, I would engagehim on the spot." The coach stopped, the godmother lifted in thePrincess, and she was trundled away in state, kissing her hand to thepublic, with her glass shoes sticking up in front, and her pink trainsweeping the ground behind, for, elegant as the coach was, I regret tosay that her Highness was rather a tight fit.
The next scene was the ball, and here Nan and Daisy appeared as gay aspeacocks in all sorts of finery. Nan was especially good as the proudsister, and crushed many imaginary ladies as she swept about thepalace-hall. The Prince, in solitary state upon a somewhat unsteadythrone, sat gazing about him from under an imposing crown, as he playedwith his sword and admired the rosettes in his shoes. When Cinderellacame in he jumped up, and exclaimed, with more warmth than elegance,
"My gracious! who is that?" and immediately led the lady out to dance,while the sisters scowled and turned up their noses in the corner.
The stately jig executed by the little couple was very pretty, for thechildish faces were so earnest, the costumes so gay, and the steps sopeculiar, that they looked like the dainty quaint figures painted ona Watteau fan. The Princess's train was very much in her way, andthe sword of Prince Rob nearly tripped him up several times. But theyovercame these obstacles remarkably well, and finished the dance withmuch grace and spirit, considering that neither knew what the other wasabout.
"Drop your shoe," whispered Mrs. Jo's voice as the lady was about to sitdown.
"Oh, I fordot!" and, taking off one of the silvery slippers, Cinderellaplanted it carefully in the middle of the stage, said to Rob, "Now youmust try and tatch me," and ran away, while the Prince, picking up theshoe, obediently trotted after her.
The third scene, as everybody knows, is where the herald comes to tryon the shoe. Teddy, still in coachman's dress, came in blowing a tinfish-horn melodiously, and the proud sisters each tried to put on theslipper. Nan insisted on playing cut off her toe with a carving-knife,and performed that operation so well that the herald was alarmed, andbegged her to be "welly keerful." Cinderella then was called, and camein with the pinafore half on, slipped her foot into the slipper, andannounced, with satisfaction,
"I am the Pinsiss."
Daisy wept, and begged pardon; but Nan, who liked tragedy, improved uponthe story, and fell in a fainting-fit upon the floor, where she remainedcomfortably enjoying the rest of the play. It was not long, for thePrince ran in, dropped upon his knees, and kissed the hand of Goldilockswith great ardor, while the herald blew a blast that nearly deafened theaudience. The curtain had no chance to fall, for the Princess ran offthe stage to her father, crying, "Didn't I do well?" while the Princeand herald had a fencing-match with the tin horn and wooden sword.
"It was beautiful!" said every one; and, when the raptures had a littlesubsided, Nat came out with his violin in his hand.
"Hush! hush!" cried all the children, and silence followed, forsomething in the boy's bashful manner and appealing eyes make every onelisten kindly.
The Bhaers thought he would play some of the old airs he knew so well,but, to their surprise, they heard a new and lovely melody, so softly,sweetly played, that they could hardly believe it could be Nat. It wasone of those songs without words that touch the heart, and sing of alltender home-like hopes and joys, soothing and cheering those who listento its simple music. Aunt Meg leaned her head on Demi's shoulder,Grandmother wiped her eyes, and Mrs. Jo looked up at Mr. Laurie, saying,in a choky whisper,
"You composed that."
"I wanted your boy to do you honor, and thank you in his own way,"answered Laurie, leaning down to answer her.
When Nat made his bow and was about to go, he was called back by manyhands, and had to play again. He did so with such a happy face, thatit was good to see him, for he did his best, and gave them the gay oldtunes that set the feet to dancing, and made quietude impossible.
"Clear the floor!" cried Emil; and in a minute the chairs were pushedback, the older people put safely in corners and the children gatheredon the stage.
"Show your manners!" called Emil; and the boys pranced up to the ladies,old and young; with polite invitations to "tread the mazy," as dear DickSwiveller has it. The small lads nearly came to blows for the Princess,but she chose Dick, like a kind, little gentlewoman as she was, and lethim lead her proudly to her place. Mrs. Jo was not allowed to decline;and Aunt Amy filled Dan with unspeakable delight by refusing Franz andtaking him. Of course Nan and Tommy, Nat and Daisy paired off, whileUncle Teddy went and got Asia, who was longing to "jig it," and feltmuch elated by the honor done her. Silas and Mary Ann had a privatedance in the hall; and for half-an-hour Plumfield was at its merriest.
The party wound up with a grand promenade of all the young folks, headedby the pumpkin-coach with the Princess and driver inside, and the ratsin a wildly frisky state.
While the children enjoyed this final frolic, the elders sat in theparlor looking on as they talked together of the little people with theinterest of parents and friends.
"What are you thinking of, all by yourself, with such a happy face,sister Jo?" asked Laurie, sitting down beside her on the sofa.
"My summer's work, Teddy, and amusing myself by imagining the future ofmy boys," she answered, smiling as she made room for him.
"They are all to be poets, painters, and statesmen, famous soldiers, orat least merchant princes, I suppose."
"No, I am not as aspiring as I once was, and I shall be satisfied ifthey are honest men. But I will confess that I do expect a little gloryand a career for some of them. Demi is not a common child, and I thinkhe will blossom into something good and great in the best sense of theword. The others will do well, I hope, especially my last two boys, for,after hearing Nat play to-night, I really think he has genius."
"Too soon to say; talent he certainly has, and there is no doubt thatthe boy can soon earn his bread by the work he loves. Build him up foranother year or so, and then I will take him off your hands, and launchhim properly."
"That is such a pleasant prospect for poor Nat, who came to me sixmonths ago so friendless and forlorn. Dan's future is already plainto me. Mr. Hyde will want him soon, and I mean to give him a brave andfaithful little servant. Dan is one who can serve well if the wages arelove and confidence, and he has the energy to carve out his own futurein his own way. Yes, I am very happy over our success with these boysone so weak, and one so wild; both so much better now, and so full ofpromise."
"What magic did you use, Jo?"
"I only loved them, and let them see it. Fritz did the rest."
"Dear soul! you look as if 'only loving' had been rather hard worksometimes," said Laurie, stroking her thin cheek with a look of moretender admiration than he had ever given her as a girl.
"I'm a faded old woman, but I'm a very happy one; so don't pity me,Teddy;" and she glanced about the room with eyes full of a sincerecontent.
"Yes, your plan seems to work better and better every year," he said,with an emphatic nod of approval toward the cheery scene before him.
"How can it fail to work well when I have so much help from you all?"answered Mrs. Jo, looking gratefully at her most generous patron.
"It is the best joke of the family, this school of yours and itssuccess. So unlike the future we planned for you, and yet so suited toyou after all. It was a regular inspiration, Jo," said Laurie, dodgingher thanks as usual.
"Ah! but you laughed at it in the beginning, and still make all mannerof fun of me and my inspirations. Didn't you predict that having girlswith the boys would be a dead failure? Now see
how well it works;" andshe pointed to the happy group of lads and lassies dancing, singing, andchattering together with every sign of kindly good fellowship.
"I give in, and when my Goldilocks is old enough I'll send her to you.Can I say more than that?"
"I shall be so proud to have your little treasure trusted to me. Butreally, Teddy, the effect of these girls has been excellent. I know youwill laugh at me, but I don't mind, I'm used to it; so I'll tell youthat one of my favorite fancies is to look at my family as a smallworld, to watch the progress of my little men, and, lately, to see howwell the influence of my little women works upon them. Daisy is thedomestic element, and they all feel the charm of her quiet, womanlyways. Nan is the restless, energetic, strong-minded one; they admire hercourage, and give her a fair chance to work out her will, seeing thatshe has sympathy as well as strength, and the power to do much in theirsmall world. Your Bess is the lady, full of natural refinement, grace,and beauty. She polishes them unconsciously, and fills her place as anylovely woman may, using her gentle influence to lift and hold them abovethe coarse, rough things of life, and keep them gentlemen in the bestsense of the fine old word."
"It is not always the ladies who do that best, Jo. It is sometimes thestrong brave woman who stirs up the boy and makes a man of him;" andLaurie bowed to her with a significant laugh.
"No; I think the graceful woman, whom the boy you allude to married, hasdone more for him than the wild Nan of his youth; or, better still, thewise, motherly woman who watched over him, as Daisy watches over Demi,did more to make him what he is;" and Jo turned toward her mother, whosat a little apart with Meg, looking so full of the sweet dignity andbeauty of old age, that Laurie gave her a glance of filial respect andlove as he replied, in serious earnest,
"All three did much for him, and I can understand how well these littlegirls will help your lads."
"Not more than the lads help them; it is mutual, I assure you. Nat doesmuch for Daisy with his music; Dan can manage Nan better than any ofus; and Demi teaches your Goldilocks so easily and well that Fritz callsthem Roger Ascham and Lady Jane Grey. Dear me! if men and women wouldonly trust, understand, and help one another as my children do, what acapital place the world would be!" and Mrs. Jo's eyes grew absent, as ifshe was looking at a new and charming state of society in which peoplelived as happily and innocently as her flock at Plumfield.
"You are doing your best to help on the good time, my dear. Continueto believe in it, to work for it, and to prove its possibility by thesuccess of her small experiment," said Mr. March, pausing as he passedto say an encouraging word, for the good man never lost his faith inhumanity, and still hoped to see peace, good-will, and happiness reignupon the earth.
"I am not so ambitious as that, father. I only want to give thesechildren a home in which they can be taught a few simple things whichwill help to make life less hard to them when they go out to fight theirbattles in the world. Honesty, courage, industry, faith in God, theirfellow-creatures, and themselves; that is all I try for."
"That is every thing. Give them these helps, then let them go to workout their life as men and women; and whatever their success or failureis, I think they will remember and bless your efforts, my good son anddaughter."
The Professor had joined them, and as Mr. March spoke he gave a handto each, and left them with a look that was a blessing. As Jo and herhusband stood together for a moment talking quietly, and feeling thattheir summer work had been well done if father approved, Mr. Laurieslipped into the hall, said a word to the children, and all of a suddenthe whole flock pranced into the room, joined hands and danced aboutFather and Mother Bhaer, singing blithely,
"Summer days are over, Summer work is done; Harvests have been gathered Gayly one by one. Now the feast is eaten, Finished is the play; But one rite remains for Our Thanksgiving-day. "Best of all the harvest In the dear God's sight, Are the happy children In the home to-night; And we come to offer Thanks where thanks are due, With grateful hearts and voices, Father, mother, unto you."
With the last words the circle narrowed till the good Professor and hiswife were taken prisoner by many arms, and half hidden by the bouquet oflaughing young faces which surrounded them, proving that one plant hadtaken root and blossomed beautifully in all the little gardens. For loveis a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undauntedby autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year,and blessing those who give and those who receive.