Classic Audiobook Collection - Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin ~ Full Audiobook [family]

Starting point is 00:00:00 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan. Chapter 1 We Are 7 The old stagecoach was rumbling along the dusty road that runs from Maplewood to Riverboro. The day was as warm as midsummer, though it was only the middle of May, and Mr. Jeremiah Cobb was favoring the horses as much as possible, yet never losing sight of the fact that he carried the mail. The hills were many, and the roads were many, and the roared.

Starting point is 00:00:31 reins lay loosely in his hands as he lolled back in his seat and extended one foot and leg luxuriously over the dashboard. His brimmed hat of warm felt was pulled over his eyes, and he revolved a quid of tobacco in his left cheek. There was one passenger in the coach, a small, dark-haired person in a glossy buff calico dress. She was so slender and so stiffly starched that she slid from space to space on the leather cushions, though she braced herself against the middle of the seat with her feet and extended her cotton-glove hands on each side in order to maintain some sort of balance. Whenever the wheels sank farther than usual into a rut or jolted suddenly over a stone, she bounded involuntarily into the air, came down again,

Starting point is 00:01:23 pushed back her funny little straw hat, and picked up, or settled more firmly, a small pink sunshade. which seemed to be her chief responsibility, unless we accept a bead purse into which she looked whenever the condition of the roads would permit, finding great apparent satisfaction in that its precious contents neither disappeared nor grew less. Mr. Cobb guessed nothing of these harassing details of travel, his business being to carry people to their destinations,

Starting point is 00:01:56 not necessarily to make them comfortable on the way. Indeed, he had forgotten the very existence of this one unnoteworthy little passenger. When he was about to leave the post office in Maplewood that morning, a woman had alighted from a wagon and coming up to him inquired whether this were the Riverboro stage, and if he were Mr. Cobb. Being answered in the affirmative, she nodded to a child who was eagerly waiting for the answer, and who ran towards her as if she feared to be a moment too late. The child might have been ten or eleven years old, perhaps,

Starting point is 00:02:33 but whatever the number of her summers, she had an air of being small for her age. Her mother helped her into the stagecoach, deposited a bundle and a bouquet of lilacs beside her, superintended the roping on behind of an old hair trunk, and finally paid the fair, counting out the silver with great care. I want you should take her to my sisters in Riverborough, she said.

Starting point is 00:02:58 Do you know Miranda and Jane Sawyer? They live in the brick house. Lord bless your soul. He knew him as well as if he'd made him. Well, she's going there, and they're expecting her. Will you keep an eye on her, please? If she can get out anywhere and get with folks or get anybody in to keep her company, she'll do it.

Starting point is 00:03:17 Goodbye, Rebecca. Try not to get into any mischief, and sit quiet so you'll look nice and neat when you get there. Don't be any trouble to Mr. Cobb. You see, she's kind of excited. We came on the car. from temperance yesterday, slept all night at my cousins and drove from her house, eight miles at his, this morning.

Starting point is 00:03:34 Goodbye, mother, don't worry. You know it isn't as if I hadn't traveled before. The woman gave a short, sardonic laugh, and said, in an explanatory way to Mr. Cubb, She's been to Wharham and stayed overnight. That isn't much to be journey proud on. It was travelling, mother, said the child eagerly and willfully. It was leaving the farm. and putting up lunch in a basket, and a little riding, and a little steam cars, and we carried our nightgowns.

Starting point is 00:04:03 Don't tell the whole village about it if we did, said the mother, interrupting the reminiscences of this experienced Voyager. Haven't I told you before? She whispered in a last attempt at discipline, that you shouldn't talk about nightgowns and stockings and things like that in a loud tone of voice, and especially when there's men folks around. I know, Mother, I know and I won't. All I want to say is... Here, Mr. Cobb gave a cluck, slapped to the reins, and the horses started sedately on their daily task. All I want to say is that it is a journey when...

Starting point is 00:04:41 The stage was really underway now, and Rebecca had put her head out of the window over the door in order to finish her sentence. It is a journey when you carry a nightgown. The objectionable word uttered in a high treble... floated back to the offended ears of Mrs. Randall, who watched the stage out of sight, gathered up her packages from the bench at the store door, and stepped into the wagon that had been standing at the hitching post. As she turned the horse's head towards home, she rose to her feet for a moment and shading her eyes with her hand, looked at the cloud of dust in the dim distance. Mirandil have her hands full, I guess, she said to herself,

Starting point is 00:05:26 but I shouldn't wonder if it would be the making of Rebecca. All this had been half an hour ago, and the sun, the heat, the dust, the contemplation of errands to be done in the great metropolis of Milltown, had lulled to Mr. Cobb's never active mind into complete oblivion as to his promise of keeping an eye on Rebecca. Suddenly, he heard a small voice above the rattle and rumble of the wheels and the creaking of the harness. At first he thought it was a cricket, a tree-toed, or a bird,

Starting point is 00:06:00 but having determined the direction from which it came, he turned his head over his shoulder and saw a small shape, hanging as far out of the window as safety would allow. A long black braid of hair swung with the motion of the coach. The child held her hat in one hand, and with the other made ineffectual attempts to stab the driver with her microscopic sunshade. please let me speak she called mr cobb drew up the horses obediently does it cost any more to ride up there with you she asked

Starting point is 00:06:36 it's so slippery and shiny down here and the stage is so much too big for me that i rattle round in it till i'm most black and blue and the windows are so small i can only see pieces of things and i've most broken my neck stretching round to find out whether my junk has fallen off the back it's my mother's trunk and she's very choice of it mr cobb waited until this floor of conversation, or, more properly speaking, this flood of criticism had ceased, and then said jocularly, You can come up if you want to. There ain't no extra charge to sit aside me. Whereupon he helped her out, boosted her up to the front seat, and resumed his own place. Rebecca sat down carefully, smoothing her dress under her with painstaking precision, and putting her sunshade under its extended folds between the driver and herself. This done, she pushed back her hat, pulled up her darned white cotton gloves, and said delightedly,

Starting point is 00:07:36 Oh, this is better. This is like traveling. I'm a real passenger now, and down there I felt like our setting hen when we shut her up in a coop. I hope we have a long, long ways to go. Oh, we've only just started on it. Mr. Cobb responded genially. It's more than two hours. Only two hours. She sighed. That'll be half past one. Mother will be at Cousin'Annes.

Starting point is 00:08:02 The children at home will have had their dinner, and Hannah cleared all away. I've had some lunch, because Mother said it would be a bad beginning to get to the brick house hungry and have Aunt Miranda get me something to eat the first thing. It's a good growing day, isn't it? It is certain. Too hot most. Why don't you put up your power? She extended her dress still farther over the article in question, as she said. Oh, dear, no, I never put it up when the sun shines. Pink fades awfully, you know, and I only carry it to meeting cloudy Sundays. Sometimes the sun comes out all of a sudden,

Starting point is 00:08:36 and I have a dreadful time covering it up. It's the dearest thing in life to me, but it's an awful care. At this moment, the thought gradually permeated Mr. Jeremiah Cobb's slow-moving mind, that the bird perched by his side was a bird of very different feather from those to which he was accustomed in his daily drives. He put the whip back into its socket, took his foot from the dashboard, pushed his hat back, blew his quid of tobacco into the road, and having thus cleared his mental decks for action, he took his first good look at the passenger, a look which she met with a grave, childlike stare of friendly curiosity.

Starting point is 00:09:19 The buff calico was faded, but scrupulously clean, and starched within an inch of its life. From the little standing ruffle at the neck, the child's slender throat rose very brown and thin, and the head looked small to bear the weight of dark hair that hung in a thick braid to her waist. She wore an odd little visored cap of white leghorn, which may either have been the latest thing in children's hats, or some bit of ancient finery furbished up for the occasion. It was trimmed with a twist of buff ribbon and a cluster of black and orange porcupine quills, which hung or bristled stiffly over one ear, giving her the quaintest and most unusual appearance. Her face was without color and sharp in outline.

Starting point is 00:10:09 As to her features, she must have had the usual number, though Mr. Cobb's attention never proceeded so far as nose, forehead, or, chin, being caught on the way and held fast by the eyes. Rebecca's eyes were like faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Under her delicately etched brows, they glowed like two stars, their dancing lights, half hidden in lustrous darkness. Their glance was eager and full of interest, yet never satisfied. Their shone. Their shone. Their shone. Stetfast gaze was brilliant and mysterious, and had the effect of looking directly through the

Starting point is 00:10:52 obvious to something beyond, in the object, in the landscape, in you. They had never been accounted for, Rebecca's eyes. The schoolteacher and the minister at Temperance had tried and failed. The young artist who came for the summer to sketch the red barn, the ruined mill, and the bridge, ended by giving up all these local beauties and devoting herself to the face of a child. A small plain face illuminated by a pair of eyes carrying such messages, such suggestions, such hints of sleeping power and insight that one never tired of looking into their shining depths, nor fancying that what one saw there was the reflection of one's own thought. Mr. Cobb made none of these generalizations.

Starting point is 00:11:42 his remark to his wife that night was simply to the effect that whenever the child looked at him, she knocked him galley west. Miss Ross, a lady that paints, gave me the sunshade, said Rebecca, when she had exchanged looks with Mr. Cobb and learned his face by heart. Did you notice the pink double ruffle on the white tip and handle? They're ivory. The handle is scarred, you see. That's because Fanny sucked and chewed it in meeting when I wasn't looking. I've never felt the same to Fanny since. Is Fanny your sister? She's one of them.

Starting point is 00:12:17 How many are there of you? Seven. There's verses written about seven children. Quick was the little maid's reply. Oh, master, we are seven. I learned to speak it in school, but the scholars were hateful and laughed. Hannah is the oldest. I come next, then John, then Jenny, then Mark, then Fanny, then Mira.

Starting point is 00:12:36 Well, that is a big family. Far too big, everybody says. replied Rebecca with an unexpected and thoroughly grown-up candor that induced Mr. Cobb to murmur. I swan. And insert more tobacco in his left cheek. They're dear, but such a bother, and cost so much to feed, you see. She rippled on. Hannah and I haven't done anything but put babies to bed at night and take them up in the morning for years and years.

Starting point is 00:13:05 But it's finished, that's one comfort, and we'll have a lovely time when we're all grown up and the mortgage is paid off. All finished? Oh, you mean you've come away? No, I mean they're all over in Denworth. Our family's finished. Mother says so, and she always keeps her promises. There hasn't been any since Mira, and she's three. She was born the day father died.

Starting point is 00:13:26 Aunt Miranda wanted Hannah to come to Riverboro instead of me, but Mother couldn't spare her. She takes hold of housework better than I do, Hannah does. I told Mother last night if there was likely to be any more children while I was away, I'd have to be sent for. For when there's a baby, it always takes Hannah and me a boy, both for mother has the cooking in the farm oh you live on a farm d ye where is it near to where you got on near why it must be thousands of miles we came from temperance in the cars then we drove a long way to cousin ann's and went to bed then we got up and drove ever so far to maplewood where the stage was our farm is away off from everywhere but our school and meeting-house is at temperance and that's only two miles sitting up here with you is most as good as

Starting point is 00:14:11 climbing the meeting house steeple. I know a boy who's been up on our steeple. He said the people and cows look like flies. We haven't met any people yet, but I'm kind of disappointed in cows. They don't look so little as I hope they would. Still, they don't look quite as big as if we are downside of them, do they? Boys always do the nice, splendid things, and girls can only do the nasty dull ones that get left over. They can't climb so high or go so far, or stay out so or run so fast or anything. Mr. Cobb wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and gasped. He had a feeling that he was being hurried from peak to peak of a mountain range

Starting point is 00:14:47 without time to take a good breath in between. I can't seem to locate your farm, he said. Though I've been to temperance and used to live up that way. What's your folks' name? Randall. The mother's name is Arellia Randall. Our names are Hannah Lucy Randall, Rebecca Rowena Randall, John Halifax Randall, Jenny Lindle, Marquise Randall, Fanny Elsler, Randall, and Miranda Randall.

Starting point is 00:15:15 Mother name half of us and father the other half, but we didn't come out even, so they both thought it would be nice to name Mira after Aunt Miranda in Riverboro. They hoped it might do some good, but it didn't, and now we call her Mira. We're all named after somebody in particular. Hannah is Hannah at the window binding shoes, and I'm taken out of Ivan Hill. John Halifax was a gentleman in the book. Mark is after his uncle Marquise de Lafayette that died twin. Twins very often don't live to cure off, and triplets almost never.

Starting point is 00:15:41 Did you know that, Mr. Cobb? We don't call a Marquise, only Mark. Jenny is named for a singer, and Fanny for a beautiful dancer, but Mother says they're both misfits, for Jenny can't carry a tune, and Fanny's kind of stiff-lugged. Mother would like to call them Jane and Francis and give up their middle names, but she says it wouldn't be fair to Father. She says we must always stand up for Father because everything was against him,

Starting point is 00:16:01 and he wouldn't have died if he hadn't had such bad luck. I think that's all there is to tell about us. She finished, seriously. Land owed Liberty. I should think it was enough. Ejaculated Mr. Cobb. There ain't many names left when your mother got through Choosing. You've got a powerful good memory.

Starting point is 00:16:22 I guess it ain't no trouble for you to learn your lessons, is it? Not much. The trouble was to get the shoes to go and learn them. These are Spandy New I've got on, and they have to last six months. Mother always says to save my shoes. They don't seem any way of saving shoes but taking them off and going barefoot. But I can't do that in Riverboro without shaming Aunt Miranda. I'm going to school right along now when I'm living with Aunt Miranda,

Starting point is 00:16:46 and in two years I'm going to the seminary at Wareham. Mother says it ought to be the making of me. I'm going to be a painter like Miss Ross when I get through school. At any rate, that's what I think I'm going to be. Mother thinks I better teach. Your farm ain't the old Hobbs place, is it? No, it's just Randall's farm. At least that's what mother calls it. I call it Sunnybrook Farm. I guess it don't make no difference what you call it, so long as you know where it is.

Starting point is 00:17:14 Remarked Mr. Copp sententiously, Rebecca turned the full light of her eyes upon him reproachfully, almost severely, as she answered. Oh, don't say that and be like all the rest. It does make a difference what you call him. things, when I say Randall's farm, do you see how it looks? No, I can't say I do. Responded, Mr. Cobb, uneasily. Now when I say, Sunnybrook Farm, what does it make you think of? Mr. Cobb felt like a fish, removed from his native element and left panting on the sand. There was no evading the awful responsibility of a reply, for Rebecca's eyes were

Starting point is 00:17:53 searchlights that pierced the fiction of his brain and perceived the bald spot. on the back of his head. I suppose there's a brook somewhere's near it, he said timorously. Rebecca looked disappointed, but not quite disheartened. That's pretty good, she said encouragingly.

Starting point is 00:18:13 You're warm but not hot. There's a brook, but not a common brook. It has young trees and baby bushes on each side of it, and it's a shallow chattering little brook with a white sandy bottom and lots of little shiny bubbles. Whenever there's a bit of sunshine, the brook catches it, and it's always full of sparkling.

Starting point is 00:18:28 is a live long day. Don't your stomach feel hollow? Mine does. I was so afraid I'd missed the stage. I couldn't eat any breakfast. You better have your lunch then. I don't eat nothing until I get to Milltown. Then I get a piece of pie and a cup of coffee. I wish I could see Miletown. I suppose it's bigger and grander even than Wareham, more like Paris. Miss Ross told me about Paris. She brought my pink sunshade there and my bead purse. You see how it opens with a snap? I have 20 cents, in it, and it's got to last three months for stamps and paper and ink. Mother says Aunt Miranda won't want to buy things like those when she's feeding and clothing me and paying for my schoolbooks.

Starting point is 00:19:08 Paris ain't no great, said Mr. Cobb disparagingly. It's the dullest place in the state of Maine. I've drove through there many a time. Again Rebecca was obliged to reprove Mr. Cobb, tacitly and quietly, but nonetheless surely, though the reproof was dealt with one glance. quickly sent and as quickly withdrawn paris is the capital of france and you have to go to it on a boat she said instructively it's in my geography and it says the french are gay and polite people fond of dancing and light wines i asked the teacher what light wines were and he thought it was something like new cider or maybe ginger-pop i can see paris's plain as day by just shutting my eyes the beautiful ladies are always gaily dancing around with pink sunshades and bead purses and the grand gentlemen are all politely dancing and drinking ginger-pop but you can see miltown most every day with your eyes wide open rebecca said wistfully milltown ain't no great neither replied mr cobb with the air of having visited all the cities of the earth and found them as naught now you watch me heave this newspaper right on to miss brown's doorstep

Starting point is 00:20:21 biff and the packet landed exactly as it was intended on the corn husk mat in front of the screen door oh how splendid that was cried rebecca with enthusiasm just like the knife-throw our marksaw at the circus i wish there was a long long row of houses each with a cornhusk mat and a screen door in the middle and a newspaper to throw on every one i might fail on some of em you know said mr cobb beaming with modest pride if you're aunt mirandy'll let you i'll take you down to milltown some day this summer when the stage ain't full a thrill of delicious excitement ran through rebecca's frame from her new shoes up, up to the leghorn cap, and down the back braid. She pressed Mr. Cobb's knee ardently and said in a voice choking with tears of joy and astonishment. Oh, it can't be true, it can't! To think I should see Miletown! It's like having a fairy godmother who asks you your wish and then gives it to you. Did you ever read Cinderella, or the yellow dwarf, or the enchanted frog, or the fair one with golden locks?

Starting point is 00:21:31 No, said Mr. Cobb, cautiously after a moment. reflection? I don't seem to think I ever did read just those particular ones. Where'd you get a chance at so much reading? Oh, I've read lots of books. Answered Rebecca casually. Fathers and Miss Rosses and all the different school teachers, and all on a Sunday school library. I've read the Lamplider and Scottish Chiefs and Ivanhoe and the heir of Redcliffe

Starting point is 00:21:58 and Cora the Doctor's Wife and David Copperfield and the gold of chicory and Plutarch's Lives and Thaddeus of Warsaw and Pilgrim's Progress and lots more. What have you read? I've never happened to read those particular books, but land. I've read a sight in my time. Nowadays I'm so drove I get along with the Almanac, the weekly Argus and the main state agriculturalist. There's the river again. This is the last long hill. And when we get to the top of it, we'll see the chimbleys of Riverboro in the distance. Tain fir, I live about half a mile beyond the brick house myself. Rebecca's hand stirred nervously in her lap, and she moved in her seat.

Starting point is 00:22:40 I didn't think I was going to be afraid, she said, almost under her breath. But I guess I am, just a little might, when you say it's coming so near. Would you go back? Asked Mr. Cobb curiously. She flashed him an intrepid look, and then said proudly, I'd never go back. I might be frightened, but I'd be ashamed to remember. run. Going to Aunt Mirandis is like going down cellar in the dark. There might be ogres and giants

Starting point is 00:23:07 under the stairs, but, as I tell Hannah, there might be elves and fairies and enchanted frogs. Is there a main street to the village like that and Wareham? I suppose you might call it the Main Street, and your Aunt Sawyer lives on it, but there ain't no stores nor mills, and it's an awful one-horse village. You have to go across the river and get to our side if you want to see anything going on. i'm almost sorry she sighed because it would be so grand to drive down a real main street sitting high up like this between two splendid horses with my pink sunshade up and everybody in town wondering who the bunch of lilacs in the hair truck belongs to it would be just like the beautiful lady in the parade last summer the circus came to temperance and they had a procession in the morning mother let us all walk in and wheel mirror in the baby carriage because we couldn't afford to go to the circus in the afternoon and there were lovely horses and animals and animals in the morning and there were lovely horses and animals in the morning and they had a process in the morning and they were lovely horses and animals in the morning and they were all the summer and they were all and cages and clowns on horseback, and at the very end came a little red and gold chariot drawn by two ponies, and in it sitting on a velvet cushion, was the snake-chammer, all dressed in satin and

Starting point is 00:24:12 spangles. She was so beautiful beyond compare, Mr. Cobb, that you had to swallow lumps in your throat when you looked at her, and little cold feelings crept up and down your back. Don't you know how I mean? Didn't you ever see anybody that made you feel like that? Mr. Cobb was more distinctly uncomfortable at this moment than he had been at any one time during the eventful morning, but he evaded the point dexterously by saying, There ain't no harm, as I can see, and are making the grand entry in the biggest style we can. I'll take the whip out, set up straight and dry fast. You'll hold your bouquet in your lap and open your little red parasol,

Starting point is 00:24:54 and we'll just make the native stare. The child's face was radiant for a moment, but the glow faded just as quickly as she said. I forgot. Mother put me inside, and maybe she'd want me to be there when I got down to Aunt Mirandis. Maybe I'd be more genteel inside, and then I wouldn't have to be jumped down

Starting point is 00:25:13 and my clothes fly up, but could open the door and step down like a lady passenger. Would you please stop a minute, Mr. Cobb, and let me change? The stage driver, good-naturedly, pulled up his horse, lifted the excited little creature down, opened the door, and helped her in, putting the lilacs and the pink sunshade beside her. "'We've had a great trip,' he said. "'And we've got real well acquainted, haven't we? You won't forget about Milltown?' "'Never!' she exclaimed fervently.

Starting point is 00:25:45 "'And you're sure you won't either?' "'Never. Cross my heart,' vowed Mr. Cobb solemnly, as he remounted his perch. And as the stage rumbled down the village street between the green maples, those who looked from their windows saw a little brown elf in buff calico, sitting primly on the back seat, holding a great bouquet tightly in one hand, and a pink parasol in the other. Had they been far-sighted enough, they might have seen, when the stage turned into the side dooryard of the old brick house, a calico yoke rising and falling tempestuously over the beating heart beneath, the red color coming and going in two pale cheeks, and a mist of tears swimming in two brilliant

Starting point is 00:26:35 dark eyes. Rebecca's journey had ended. There's a stage turning into the Sawyer girl's dooryard, said Mrs. Perkins to her husband. That must be the niece from uptemperance way. it seems they wrote to aurelia and invited hannah the oldest but aurelia said she could spare rebecca better it was all the same to mirandy and jane so it's rebecca that's come she'll be good company for our emma jane but i don't believe they'll keep her three months she looks black as an engine what i can see of her black and kind of up-and-comin they used to say that one of the randals married a spanish woman somebody that was teaching music and languages at a boarding school lorenza was dark complected, you remember, and this child is too. Well, I don't know a Spanish blood is any real disgrace, not if it's a good way's back, and the woman was respectable. End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 00:27:48 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 2. Rebecca's Relations They had been called the Sawyer Girls when Miranda at 18, Jane at 12, and Aurelia at 8, participated in the various activities of village life. And when Riverboro fell into a habit of thought or speech, it saw no reason for falling out of it, at any rate in the same century. So, although Miranda and Jane were between 50 and 60 at the time this story opens,

Starting point is 00:28:26 Riverboro still called them the Sawyer girls. They were spinsters, but Aurelia, the youngest, had made what she called a romantic marriage and what her sisters termed a mighty poor speculation. There's worse things than being old maids. They said, whether they thought so is quite another matter. The element of romance in Aurelia's marriage existed chiefly in the fact that Mr. L. D. M. Randall had a soul above farming or trading, and was a votary of the muses. He taught the weekly singing school, then a feature of village life, in half a dozen neighboring towns. He played the violin and called off at dances,

Starting point is 00:29:12 or evoked rich harmonies from church melodians on Sundays. He taught certain uncouth lads, when they were of an age to enter society, the intricacies of contra dances, or the steps of the Scottisha and Merzirka, and he was a marked figure in all social assemblies, though conspicuously absent from the town meetings and the purely masculine gatherings at the store or tavern or bridge. His hair was a little longer, his hands a little whiter, his shoes a little thinner, his manner a trifle more polished than that of his soberer mates. Indeed, the only department of life in which he failed to shine was, the making of sufficient money to live upon. Luckily, he had no responsibilities. His father and his

Starting point is 00:30:02 twin brother had died when he was yet a boy, and his mother, whose only noteworthy achievement had been the naming of her twin sons, Marquis de la Fiette and Lorenzo de Medici, Randall, had supported herself and educated her child by making coats up to the very day of her death. She was wont to say, plaintively. I'm afraid the faculties was too much divided up between my twins. L.D.M. is often talented, but I guess MDL would have been the practical one if he'd a lit. L.D.M. was practical enough to get the richest girl in the village, replied Mrs. Robinson. Yes. sighed his mother. There tis again. If the twins could have married Aurelia Sawyer, it would have been all right. L.D.M. was talented enough to get Raleigh's money, but M.D.L. would have been practical enough to have kept it.

Starting point is 00:30:51 Aurelia's share of the modest Sawyer property had been put into one thing after another by the handsome and luckless Lorenzo de Medici. He had a graceful and poetic way of making an investment for each new son and daughter that bless their union. A birthday present for our child, Aurelia. He would say, a little nest egg for the future. But Aurelia once remarked in a moment of bitterness that the hen never lived that could sit on those eggs and hatch anything out of them. them. Miranda and Jane had virtually washed their hands of Aurelia when she married Lorenzo de Medici Randall. Having exhausted the resources of Riverboro in its immediate vicinity, the unfortunate couple had moved on and on in a steadily decreasing scale of prosperity until they

Starting point is 00:31:40 had reached temperance, where they had settled down and invited fate to do its worst, an invitation which was promptly accepted. The maiden sisters at home, wrote to Aurelia two or three times a year and sent modest but serviceable presents to the children at Christmas, but refused to assist L.D.M. with the regular expenses of his rapidly growing family. His last investment, made shortly before the birth of Miranda, named in a lively hope of favors, which never came, was a small farm two miles from temperance. Aurelia managed this herself, and so it proved a home, at least, and a place for the unsuccessful Lorenzo to die and to be buried from, a duty somewhat

Starting point is 00:32:28 too long deferred, many thought, which he performed on the day of Mira's birth. It was in this happy-go-lucky household that Rebecca had grown up. It was just an ordinary family. Two or three of the children were handsome and the rest plain, three of them rather clever, too industrious, and too commonplace and doll. Rebecca had her father's facility and had been his aptest pupil. She carried the alto by ear, danced without being taught, played the Melodian without knowing the notes. Her love of books, she inherited chiefly from her mother, who found it hard to sweep or cook or sew when there was a novel in the house. Fortunately, books were scarce, or the children might sometimes have gone ragged and hungry. But other forces had been at work in Rebecca, and the traits of unknown forebears

Starting point is 00:33:22 had been wrought into her fiber. Lorenzo de Medici was flabby and boneless. Rebecca was a thing of fire and spirit. He lacked energy and courage. Rebecca was plucky at two and dauntless at five. Mrs. Randall and Hannah had no sense of humor. Rebecca possessed and showed it as soon as she could walk and talk. She had not been able, however, to borrow her parents' virtues and those of other generous ancestors and escape all the weaknesses in the calendar. She had not her sister Hannah's patience or her brother John's sturdy stain power. Her will was sometimes willfulness, and the ease with which she did most things led her to be impatient of hard tasks or long ones. But whatever else there was or was not, there was freedom at Randall's Farm.

Starting point is 00:34:17 The children grew, worked, fought, ate what, and slept where they could, loved one another and their parents pretty well, but with no tropical passion, and educated themselves for nine months of the year, each one in his own way. As a result of this method, Hannah, who could only have been developed by forces applied from without, was painstaking, humdrum, and limited. While Rebecca, who apparently needed nothing but space to develop in, and a knowledge of terms in which to express herself, grew and grew and grew, always from within outward. Her forces of one sword and another had seemingly been set in motion when she was born.

Starting point is 00:34:58 They needed no daily spur, but moved of their own accord, towards what no one knew, least of all Rebecca herself. The field for the exhibition of her creative instinct was painfully small, and the only use she had made of it as yet was to leave eggs out of the cornbread one day and milk another to see how it would turn out. To part Fanny's hair sometimes in the middle, sometimes on the right, and sometimes on the left side, and to play all sorts of fantastic pranks with the children, occasionally bringing them to the table as fictitious or historical characters found in her favorite books. Rebecca amused her mother and her family generally, but she never was counted of serious importance. and though considered smart and old for her age, she was never thought superior in any way.

Starting point is 00:35:47 Aurelia's experience of genius, as exemplified in the deceased Lorenzo Di Medici, led her into a greater admiration of plain, everyday common sense. A quality in which Rebecca, it must be confessed, seemed sometimes painfully deficient. Hannah was her mother's favorite. So far as Eurelia could indulge herself in such recreations as partiality, the parent who is obliged to feed and clothe seven children on an income of $15 a month, seldom has time to discriminate carefully between the various members of her brood, but Hannah, at 14, was at once companion and partner in all her mother's problems. She it was who kept the house while Eurelia busied herself in barn and field. Rebecca was capable of certain set tasks, such as keeping the small children from killing themselves and one another, feeding the poultry, picking up chips, holling strawberries, wiping dishes, but she was thought irresponsible, and Aurelia, needing somebody to lean on, having never enjoyed that luxury with the gifted Lorenzo,

Starting point is 00:36:56 leaned on Hannah. Hannah showed the result of this attitude somewhat, being a trifle care-worn in face and sharp in manner, but she was a self-contained, well-behaved, dependable child, and that is the reason her aunts had invited her to Riverboro to be a member of their family and participate in all the advantages of their loftier position in the world. It was several years since Miranda and Jane had seen the children, but they remembered with pleasure that Hannah had not spoken a word during the interview, and it was for this reason that they had asked for the pleasure of her company. Rebecca, on the other hand, had dressed up the dog in John's clothes, and being requested to get the three younger children ready for dinner, she had held

Starting point is 00:37:40 them under the pump and then proceeded to smack their hair flat to their heads by vigorously brushing, bringing them to the table in such a moist and hideous state of shininess that their mother was ashamed of their appearance. Rebecca's own black locks were commonly pushed smoothly off her forehead, but on this occasion she formed what I must perforce call by its only name, a spit curl, directly in the center of her brow, an ornament which she was allowed to wear a very short time, only, in fact, till Hannah was able to call her mother's attention to it when she was sent into the next room to remove it and to come back looking like a Christian. This command, she interpreted somewhat too literally, perhaps,

Starting point is 00:38:25 because she contrived in a space of two minutes, an extremely pious style of hairdressing, fully as effective, if not as startling, as the first. These antics were solely the result of nervous irritation, a mood born of Miss Miranda Sawyer's stiff, grim, and martial attitude. The remembrance of Rebecca was so vivid that their sister Arrilla's letter was something of a shock to the quiet elderly spinsters of the brick house, for it said that Hannah could not possibly be spared for a few years yet, but that Rebecca would come as soon as she could be made ready, that the offer was most thankfully appreciated, and that the regular schooling and church privileges, as well as the influence of the Sawyer home, would doubtlessly

Starting point is 00:39:13 be the making of Rebecca. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 3. A Difference in Hearts I don't know as I calculated to be the making of any child. Miranda had said as she folded Aurelia's letter and laid it in the lightstand drawer. I supposed, of course, Aurelia would send us the one we asked for, but it's just like her

Starting point is 00:39:58 to palm off that wild young un on somebody else. You remember, we said that Rebecca, or even Jenny, might come, in case Hannah couldn't. Interposed Jane. I know we did, but we hadn't any notion it would turn out that way. Grumbled Miranda. She was a might of a thing when we saw her three years ago. Ventured Jane. She's had time to improve. And time to grow worse. Won't it be kind of a privilege to put her on the right track? asked Jane timidly. I don't know about the privilege part. It'll be considerable of a sure, I guess. If her mother ain't got her on the right track by now, she won't take it to herself all of a sudden. This depressed and depressing frame of mind had lasted until the

Starting point is 00:40:46 eventful day dawned on which Rebecca was to arrive. If she makes as much work after she comes as she has before, we might as well give up hope of ever getting any rest. Side Miranda, as she hung the dish towels on the barbary bushes at the side door. But we should have had to clean house, Rebecca or no Rebecca. Urged Jane. And I can't see why you've scrubbed and washed and baked as you have for that one child, nor why you've about bought out Watson's stock of dry goods. I know Aurelia if you don't, responded Miranda.

Starting point is 00:41:23 I've seen her house, and I've seen that batch of children, wearing one another's clothes and never caring whether they had them on right side out or not. I know what they've had to live and dress on, and so do you. That child will like us not come here with a passel of things borrowed from the rest of the family. She'll have Hannah's shoes and John's undershirts, and Mark's socks most likely. I suppose she never had a thimble on her finger in her life, but she'll know the feeling of one before she's been here many days. I've bought a piece of unbleached muslin and a piece of brown gingham for her to make up. that'll keep her busy. Of course, she won't pick up anything after herself. She probably never

Starting point is 00:42:06 seen a duster, and she'll be as hard to train in our ways as if she was a heathen. She'll make a difference. Acknowledged Jane. But she may turn out more biddable and we think. She'll mind when she's spoken to, biddable or not. Remarked Miranda with a shake of the last towel. Miranda Sawyer had a heart, of course, but she had never used it for any other purpose. than the pumping and circulating of blood. She was just, conscientious, economical, industrious,

Starting point is 00:42:38 a regular attendant at church and Sunday school, and a member of the state missionary and Bible societies, but in the presence of all these chilly virtues, you longed for one warm little fault, or lacking that, one likable feeling, something to make you sure she was thoroughly alive. She had never had any education other than that of the neighborhood district school, for her desires and ambitions had all pointed to the management of the house, the farm, and the dairy.

Starting point is 00:43:11 Jane, on the other hand, had gone to an academy, and also to a board in school for young ladies, so had Aurelia, and after all the years that had elapsed, there was still a slight difference in language and in manner between the elder and the two younger sisters. Jane, too, had had the inestimable advantage of a sorrow, not the natural grief at the loss of her aged father and mother, for she had been content to let them go, but something far deeper. She was engaged to marry young Tom Carter,

Starting point is 00:43:47 who had nothing to marry on, it is true, but was sure to have sometime or other. Then the war broke out. Tom enlisted at the first call. Up to that time, Jane had loved him with a quiet, friendly sort of affection, and had given her country a mild emotion of the same sort. But the strife, the danger, the anxiety of the time, set new currents of feeling in motion.

Starting point is 00:44:16 Life became something other than the three meals a day, the round of cooking, washing, sewing, and church-going, personal gossip vanished from the village conversation. Big things took the place of trifling ones. Sacred sorrows of wives and mothers, pangs of fathers and husbands, self-denials, sympathies, new desire to bear one another's burdens.

Starting point is 00:44:41 Men and women grew fast in those days of the nation's trouble and danger, and Jane awoke from the vague, dull dream she had hitherto called life, to new hopes, new feelings, new fears, new purposes. Then, after a year's anxiety, a year when one never looked in the newspaper

Starting point is 00:45:02 without dread and sickness of suspense, came the telegram, saying that Tom was wounded, and without so much as asking Miranda's leave, she packed her trunk and started for the South. She was in time to hold Tom's hand through hours of pain, to show him for once the heart of a Prim New England girl

Starting point is 00:45:25 when it is ablaze with love and grief to put her arms about him so that he could have a home to die in. And that was all. All, but it served. It carried her through weary months of nursing, nursing of other soldiers for Tom's dear sake. It sent her home a better woman, and though she had never left Riverboro in all the years that lay between, and had grown into the counterfeit presentment of her sister and of all other thin spare New England spinsters, it was something of a counterfeit, and underneath was still the faint echo of that wild heartbeat of her girlhood.

Starting point is 00:46:12 Having learned the trick of beating and loving and suffering, the poor faithful heart persisted, although it lived on memories and carried on its sentimental operations, mostly in secret. You're soft, Jane, said Miranda once. You allers were soft and you allers will be. If twaunt for me keeping you stiffened up, I believe you'd leak out of the house into the dooryard. It was already past the appointed hour for Mr. Cobb and his coach to be lumbering down the street. The stage ought to be here, said Miranda. glancing nervously at the tall clock for the 20th time?

Starting point is 00:46:52 I guess everything's done. I've tacked up two thick towels back of her washstand and put a mat under her slop jar, but children are awful hard on furniture. I expect we shan't know this house a year from now. Jane's frame of mind was naturally depressed and timorous, having been affected by Miranda's gloomy presages of evil to come. The only difference between the sisters in this matter

Starting point is 00:47:17 was that while Miranda only wondered how they could endure Rebecca, Jane had flashes of inspiration in which she wondered how Rebecca would endure them. It was in one of these flashes that she ran up the back stairs to put a vase of apple blossoms and a red tomato pincushion on Rebecca's bureau. The stage rumbled to the side door of the brick house, and Mr. Cobb handed Rebecca out like a real lady passenger. She alighted with great circumspection, put the bunch of faded flowers in her Aunt Miranda's hand,

Starting point is 00:47:53 and received her salute. It could hardly be called a kiss without injuring the fair name of that commodity. You needn't a bother to bring flowers, remarked that gracious and tactful lady. The garden's always full of them here when it comes time. Jane then kissed Rebecca, giving a somewhat better imitation of the real thing than her sister. Put the trunk in the entry, Jeremiah, and we'll get it carried upstairs this afternoon.

Starting point is 00:48:21 She said, I'll take it up for you now, if you say the word girls. No, no, don't leave the horses. Somebody will be coming past, and we can call them in. Well, goodbye, Rebecca. Good day. Miranda and Jane, you've got a lively little girl there. I guess she'll be a first-rate company keeper.

Starting point is 00:48:42 Miss Sawyer shuddered openly at the adjective, lively, as applied to a child, her belief being that though children might be seen, if absolutely necessary, they certainly should never be heard if she could help it. We're not much use to noise, Jane and me. She remarked acidly. Mr. Cobb saw that he had taken the wrong tack, but he was too unused to argument to explain himself readily, so he drove away, trying to think by what safer word than lively he might have described his interesting little passenger. I'll take you up and show you your room, Rebecca. Miss Miranda said. Shut the mosquito net and door tight behind you so's to keep the flies out. It ain't fly time yet,

Starting point is 00:49:28 but I want you to start right. Take your passel along with you and then you won't have to come down for it. Always make your head save your heels. Rub your feet on that braided rug. Hang your hat and cape in the entry there as you go past. It's my best hat, said Rebecca. Take it upstairs then and put it in the clothes press, but I wouldn't have thought you to warn your best hat on the stage. It's my only hat. Explained Rebecca. My everyday hat wasn't good enough to bring. Fannie's going to finish it. Lay your parasol in the entry closet.

Starting point is 00:50:02 Do you mind if I keep it in my room, please? It always seems safer. There ain't any thieves hereabouts, and if there was, I guess they wouldn't make for your sunshade. But come along. Remember to always go up the back way. We don't use. Use the front stairs on account of the carpet. Take care of the turn, and don't catch your foot. Look to your right and go in. When you washed your face and hands and brushed your hair, you can come down, and by and by will unpack your trunk and get you settled before supper.

Starting point is 00:50:31 Ain't you got your dress on, Hindside Foremost? Rebecca drew her chin down and looked at the row of smoked pearl buttons, running up and down the middle of her flat little chest. Hindside foremost? Oh, I see. No, that's all right. If you have seven children, you can't keep buttoning and unbuttoning them all the time. They have to do themselves. We're always buttoned up in front at our house. Mir is only three, but she's buttoned up in front, too.

Starting point is 00:50:57 Miranda said nothing as she closed the door, but her looks were at once equivalent to, and more eloquent than words. Rebecca stood perfectly still in the center of the floor and looked about her. There was a square of oil cloth in front of each article of furniture and a drawn-in rug beside the single four-poster, which was covered with a fringed white Dimity Counterpane. Everything was as neat as wax, but the ceilings were much higher than Rebecca was accustomed to. It was a north room,

Starting point is 00:51:31 and the window, which was long and narrow, looked out on the back buildings and the barn. It was not the room, which was far more comfortable, both than Rebecca's own at the farm, nor the lack of view, nor yet the long journey, for she was not conscious of weariness, it was not the fear of a strange place, for she loved new places and courted new sensations. It was because of some curious blending of uncomprehended emotions that Rebecca stood her sunshade in the corner, tore off her best hat,

Starting point is 00:52:06 flung it on the bureau with the porcupine quills on the underside, and stripping down the dimmity spread, precipitated herself into the middle of the bed, and pulled the counterpane over her head. In a moment, the door opened quietly. Knocking was a refinement quite unknown in Riverboro, and if it had been heard of, would never have been wasted on a child.

Starting point is 00:52:30 Miss Miranda entered, and as her eye wandered about the vacant room, it fell upon a white and tempestuous ocean of counterpane, an ocean breaking into strange movements of wave and crest and billow. Rebecca! The tone in which the word was voiced gave it all the effect of having been shouted from the housetops. A dark ruffled head and two frightened eyes appeared above the dimity spread. What are you laying on your good bed in the daytime for,

Starting point is 00:53:00 messing up the feathers and dirty in the pillars with your dusty boots? Rebecca rose guiltily. There seemed no excuse to make. Her offense was beyond explanation or apology. I'm sorry, Aunt Miranda. Something came over me. I don't know what. Well, if it comes over you very soon again,

Starting point is 00:53:18 we'll have to find out what tis. Spread your bed up smooth this minute for Baja flags bring in your trunk upstairs, and I wouldn't let him see such a cluttered up room for anything. He'd tell it all over town. When Mr. Cop had put up his horses that night, he carried a kitchen chair to the side of the side of the... of his wife, who was sitting on the back porch.

Starting point is 00:53:39 I brought a little Randle girl down on the stage for Maplewood today, mother. She's kin to the Sawyer girls and is going to live with them. He said, as he sat down and began to whittle. She's that Ariel's child, the one that ran away with Susan Randall's son just before we came here to live. About ten, or somewhere along there, and small for her age, but land. She might be a hundred to hear her talk. She kept me jumping trying to answer her. Of all the queer children I ever came across, she's the queerest.

Starting point is 00:54:14 She ain't no beauty. Her face is all eyes, but if she ever grows up to them eyes and feels out a little, she'll make folks stare. Land, mother, I wished you could have heard her talk. I don't see what she had to talk about. A child like that to a stranger. Replied Mrs. Cobb. A stranger or no stranger. To it make no difference to her.

Starting point is 00:54:40 She'd talk to a pump or a grind-stun. She'd talk to herself rather than keep still. What did she talk about? Here, Mr. Cobb laughed aloud as he tipped his chair back against the side of the house. Blamed if I can repeat any of it. She kept me so surprised. I didn't have my wits about me. She had little pink sunshade, kind of looked like a doll's amberill,

Starting point is 00:55:06 and she clunked to it like a bird to a woolen stocking. I advised her to open it up. The sun was so hot, but she said no, it would fade, and she tucked it under her dress. It's the dearest thing in life to me, says she, but it's a dreadful care. Them's the very words, and it's all the words I remember.

Starting point is 00:55:28 It's the dearest thing in life to me, but it's an awful care. There was another thing, but I can't get it right exactly. She was talking about the circus parade and the snake charmer and a gold chariot and says she, She was so beautiful beyond compare, Mr. Cobb, that it made you have lumps in your throat to look at her. She'll be coming over to see you, mother, and you can size her up for yourself.

Starting point is 00:55:56 I don't know how she'll get on with Miranda Sawyer, poor little soul. This doubt was more or less open. expressed in Riverboro, which, however, had two opinions on the subject. One, that it was a most generous thing in the Sawyer Girls to take one of Aurelia's children to educate, the other, that the education would be bought at a price wholly out of proportion to its intrinsic value. Rebecca's first letters to her mother would seem to indicate that she cordially coincided with the latter view of the situation. End of Chapter 3

Starting point is 00:56:33 Chapter 4 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm By Kate Douglas Wigan Chapter 4, Rebecca's point of view

Starting point is 00:56:57 Dear Mother, I am safely here My dress was not much tumbled And Aunt Jane helped me press it out I like Mr. Cobb very much. He choose but throws newspapers straight up to the doors. I wrote outside a little while, but got inside before I got to Aunt Miranda's house. I did not want to, but I thought you would like it better. Miranda is such a long word that I think I'll say Aunt M and Aunt Jay in my Sunday letters.

Starting point is 00:57:21 Aunt Jay has given me a dictionary to look up all the hard words in. It takes a good deal of time, and I'm glad people can talk without stopping to spell. It is much easier to talk than write and much more fun. The brick house looks just the same as you have told us. The parlor is splendid and gives you creeps and chills when you look in the door. The furniture is elegant, too, and all the rooms, but there are no good sitting down places except in the kitchen. The same cat is here, but they do not save kittens when she has them, and the cat is too old to play with. Hannah told me once he ran away with father, and I can see it would be nice.

Starting point is 00:57:56 If Aunt M would run away, I think I should like to live with Anne J. She does not hate me as bad as Aunt M does. Tell Mark he can have my paintbox, but I should like him to keep the red cake in case I come home again. I hope Hannah and John do not get tired doing my chores. Your affectionate friend, Rebecca. P.S. Please give the piece of poetry to John because he lacks my poetry, even when it is not very good. This piece is not very good, but it is true. I hope you won't mind what is in it as you ran away. The house is dark and dull and drear. No light doth shine from far or near. It's like the tomb.

Starting point is 00:58:29 and those of us who live herein are most as dead as seraphim though not as good my guardian angel is asleep at least he doth no vigil keep ah woe is me then give me back my lonely farm where none alive did wish me harm dear home of you p s again i made the poetry like a piece in a book but could not get it right at first you see tomb and good did not sound well together but i wanted to say tomb dreadfully and as seraphim are all was good, I couldn't take that out. I've made it over now. It does not say my thoughts as well, but I think it is more right. Give the best one to John as he keeps them in a box with his birds' eggs. This is the best one. Sunday Thoughts by Rebecca Rowena Randall. This house is dark and dull and drear. No light doth shine from far or near, nor ever could. And those of us who live herein are most as dead as seraphim, though not as good. Margardian angel is asleep, he doth no vigil keep but far doth roam then give me back my lonely farm where none alive did wish me harm dear childhood home dear mother i'm thrilling with unhappiness this morning i got that out of cora the doctor's wife whose husband's mother was very cross and unfeeling to her like aunt em to me

Starting point is 00:59:48 i wish hannah had come instead of me for it was hannah that was wanted and she is better than i am and does not answer back so quick are there any pieces of my buff calico aunt jay wants enough to make a new waste button behind so I won't look so outlandish. The styles are quite pretty in Riverborough and those at meeting quite elegant more so than in temperance. This town is stylish, gay, and fair, and full of wealthy riches rare, but I would pillow on my arm, the thought of my sweet Brookside farm. School is pretty good. The teacher can answer more questions than the temperance one, but not so many as I can ask. I am smarter than all the girls, but one, but not so smart as two boys. Emma Jane can add and subtract in her head like a streak of lightning and knows the spelling book right through but has no thoughts of any kind. She is in the third reader, but does not like stories and books. I'm in the

Starting point is 01:00:36 sixth reader, but just because I cannot say this seven multiplication table, Miss Dearborn threatens to put me in the baby primer class with Elijah and Alicia Simpson, little twins. Sores my heart and bent my stepber in pride, with Lyja and with Leisha and my tide. My soul recoils like Korah doctor's wife. Like her, I fear I cannot bear this life. I'm going to try for the spelling prize, but fear I cannot get it. I would not care, but wrong spelling looks dreadful and poetry. Last Sunday, when I found seraphim in the dictionary, I was ashamed I had made it seraphim,

Starting point is 01:01:08 but seraphim is not a word you can guess at, like another long one outlandish in this letter, which spells itself. Miss Dearborn says use the words you can spell, and if you can't spell seraphim, make angel do, but angels are not just the same as seraphens. Saraphims are brighter, wider, and have bigger wings, and I think are older and longer dead than angels, which are just freshly dead, and after a long time in heaven around the great white throne, grow to be seraphims. I sew on brown gam dresses every afternoon when Emma Jane and the Simpsons are playing house or running on the logs when their mothers do not know it.

Starting point is 01:01:40 Their mothers are afraid they will drown, and M is afraid I will wet my clothes so will not let me either. I can play from half-past four to supper, and after supper a little bit, and Saturday after-summer. I'm glad our cow has a calf, and it is spotted. it is going to be a good year for apples and hay so you and john will be glad and we can pay a little more mortgage miss dearborn asked us what is the object of education and i said the object of mine was to help pay off the mortgage she told anne m and i had a so extra for punishment because she says mortgage is a disgrace like stealing or smallpox and it will be all over town that we have one on our farm emma jane is not mortgage nor richard carter nor dr winchip but the simpsons are rise my soul strain every nerve thy mortgage to remove gain thy mother's heartfelt thanks thy family's grateful love pronounce family quick or won't sound right your loving little friend rebecca dear john you remember when we tied the new dog in the barn how he put the rope and howled i'm just like him only the brick house is the barn and i cannot buy aunt m because i must be grateful and education is going to be the making of me and help you pay off the mortgage when we grow up You're loving Becky.

Starting point is 01:02:53 End of chapter four. Chapter 5 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 5. Wisdom's Ways. The day of Rebecca's arrival had been Friday.

Starting point is 01:03:25 and on the Monday following, she began her education at the school which was in Riverboro Center, about a mile distant. Miss Sawyer borrowed a neighbor's horse and wagon and drove her to the schoolhouse, interviewing the teacher, Miss Dearborn, arranging for books, and generally starting the child on the path that was to lead to boundless knowledge. Miss Dearborn, it may be said in passing, had no special preparation in the art of teaching. It came to her naturally, so her family said, and perhaps for this reason, she, like Tom Tolliver's clergyman tutor, said about it with that uniformity of method and independence of circumstances which distinguish the actions of animals understood to be under the immediate teaching of nature.

Starting point is 01:04:16 You remember the beaver, which a naturalist tells us, busied himself as earnestly in constructing a dam in a room up three pair of stairs in London, as if he had been laying his foundation in a lake in Upper Canada. It was his function to build. The absence of water, or of possible progeny, was an accident for which he was not accountable. In the same manner did Miss Dearborn lay what she fondly imagined to be foundations in the infant mind. Rebecca walked to school after that first morning. She loved this part of the day's program.

Starting point is 01:04:56 When the dew was not too heavy and the weather was fair, there was a shortcut through the woods. She turned off the main road, crept through Uncle Josh Woodman's bars, waved away Mrs. Carter's cows, trod the short grass of the pasture, with its well-worn path running through gardens of buttercups and white wheat, and groves of ivory leaves and sweet fern. She descended a little hill,

Starting point is 01:05:22 jumped from stone to stone across a woodland brook, startling the drowsy frogs, who were always winking and blinking in the morning sun. Then came the woodsy bit, with her feet pressing the slippery carpet of brown pine needles, the woodsy bit, so full of dewy morning surprises, fungus growths of brilliant orange and crimson,

Starting point is 01:05:46 crimson, springing up around the stumps of dead trees, beautiful things, born in a single night. And now and then, the miracle of a little clump of waxen Indian pipes, seen just quickly enough to be saved from her careless tread. Then she climbed a stile, went through a grassy meadow, slid under another pair of bars, and came out into the road again, having gained nearly half a mile. How delicious it all was! Rebecca clasped her quake and bows, grammar, and green leafs arithmetic, with a joyful sense of knowing her lessons. Her dinner pail swung from her right hand,

Starting point is 01:06:30 and she had a blissful consciousness of the two soda biscuits, spread with butter and syrup, the baked cup custard, the donut, and the square of hard gingerbread. Sometimes, she said whatever piece she was going to speak on the next Friday afternoon. A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers. There was lack of women's nursing.

Starting point is 01:06:53 There was dearth of women's tears. How she loved the swing and the sentiment of it. How her young voice quivered whenever she came to the refrain. But we'll meet no more at Bingon, dear Bingon on the Rhine. It always sounded beautiful in her ears

Starting point is 01:07:09 as she sent her tearful little treble into the clear morning air. Another early favorite, for we must remember that Rebecca's only knowledge of the great world of poetry consisted of the selections in vogue in school readers was Woodmen spare that tree, touch not a single bow. In youth it sheltered me, and I'll protect it now. When Emma Jane Perkins walked through the shortcut with her, the two children used to render this with appropriate dramatic action. Emma Jane always chose to be the woodman.

Starting point is 01:07:43 because she had nothing to do but raise on high in imaginary axe. On the one occasion, when she essayed the part of the tree's romantic protector, she represented herself as feeling... So awful, foolish. That she refused to undertake it again, much to the secret delight of Rebecca, who found the woodman's role much too tame for her vaulting ambition. She reveled in the impassioned appeal of the poet.

Starting point is 01:08:13 and implored the ruthless woodman to be as brutal as possible with the axe, so that she might properly put greater sprint into her lines. One morning, feeling more frisky than usual, she fell upon her knees and wept in the woodman's petticoat. Curiously enough, her sense of proportion rejected this as soon as it was done. That wasn't right, it was silly, Emma Jane, but I'll tell you where it might come in, and give me three grains of corn. You be the mother, and I'll be the famishing Irish child.

Starting point is 01:08:46 For pity's sake, put the axe down. You are not the woodman any longer. What'll I do with my hands, then? Asked Emma Jane. Whatever you like. Rebecca answered wearily. You're just a mother, that's all. What does your mother do with her hands?

Starting point is 01:09:01 Now here goes. Give me three grains of corn, mother. Only three grains of corn. It will keep the little life I have till the coming of the morn. This sort of thing made Emma Jane nervous and fidgety. but she was Rebecca's slave and hugged her chains, no matter how uncomfortable they made her. At the last pair of bars,

Starting point is 01:09:21 the two girls were sometimes met by a detachment of the Simpson children, who lived in a black house with a red door and a red barn behind on the blueberry plains road. Rebecca felt an interest in the Simpsons from the first, because there were so many of them, and they were so patched and darned,

Starting point is 01:09:40 just like her own brood at the home farm. The little schoolhouse, with its flagpole on top, and its two doors in front, one for boys and the other for girls, stood on the crest of a hill, with rolling fields and meadows on one side, a stretch of pine woods on the other, and the river glinting and sparkling in the distance. It boasted no attractions within. All was as bare and ugly and uncomfortable as it well could be, for the villages along the river expended so much money in the river.

Starting point is 01:10:12 expended so much money in repairing and rebuilding bridges that they were obliged to be very economical in school privileges. The teacher's desk and chair stood on a platform in one corner. There was an uncouth stove, never blackened oftener than once a year, a map of the United States, two blackboards, a ten-quart tin pail of water and long-handled dipper on a corner shelf, and wooden desks and benches for the scholars, who only numbered 20 in Rebecca's time.

Starting point is 01:10:43 The seats were higher in the back of the room, and the more advanced and longer-legged pupils sat there, the position being greatly to be envied as they were at once nearer to the windows and farther from the teacher. There were classes of a sort, although nobody, broadly speaking, studied the same book with anybody else,

Starting point is 01:11:04 or had arrived at the same degree of proficiency in any one branch. of learning. Rebecca in particular was so difficult to classify that Miss Dearborn, at the end of a fortnight, gave up the attempt altogether. She read with Dick Carter and Living Perkins, who were fitting for the academy, recited arithmetic with Lisming Little Thuthon-Thimphun, geography with Emma Jane Perkins, and grammar after-school hours to Miss Dearborn alone. Full to the brim as she was of clever thoughts and quotes. faint fancies, she made at first but a poor hand at composition. The labor of writing and spelling,

Starting point is 01:11:46 with the added difficulties of punctuation and capitals, interfered sadly with the free expression of ideas. She took history with Alice Robinson's class, which was attacking the subject of the Revolution, while Rebecca was bidden to begin with the discovery of America. In a week, she had mastered the course of events up to the revolution, and in ten days had arrived at Yorktown, where the class had apparently established summer quarters. Then, finding that extra effort would only result in her reciting with the oldest Simpson boy, she deliberately held herself back, for wisdom's ways were not those of pleasantness, nor her paths, those of peace, if one were compelled to tread them in the company of Seasaw Simpson.

Starting point is 01:12:35 Samuel Simpson was generally called Seesaw because of his difficulty in making up his mind. Whether it were a question of fact, of spelling, or of date, of going swimming or fishing, of choosing a book in the Sunday School Library, or a stick of candy at the village store, he had no sooner determined on one plan of action than his wish fondly reverted to the opposite one. seesaw was pale, flaxen-haired, blue-eyed, round-shouldered, and given to stammering when nervous. Perhaps because of his very weakness, Rebecca's decision of character had a fascination for him, and although she snubbed him to the verge of madness, he could never keep his eyes away from her. The force with which she tied her shoe when the lacing came undone, the flirt over shoulder she gave her black braid when she was excited or worn,

Starting point is 01:13:30 her manner of studying, book on desk, arms folded, eyes fixed on the opposite wall, all had an abiding charm for seesaw Simpson. When, having obtained permission, she walked to the water pail in the corner and drank from the dipper, unseen forces dragged seesaw from his seat to go and drink after her. It was not only that there was something akin to association and intimacy in drinking next, but there was the fearful joy of meeting her in transit, and receiving a cold and disdainful look from her wonderful eyes. On a certain warm day in summer, Rebecca's thirst exceeded the bounds of propriety. When she asked a third time for permission to quench it at the common fountain, Miss Dearborn nodded. Yes. But lifted her eyebrows unpleasantly as Rebecca neared

Starting point is 01:14:24 the desk. As she replaced the dipper, Seesaw promptly raised his hand, and Miss Dearborn indicated a weary affirmative. What is the matter with you, Rebecca? She asked. I had salt mackerel for breakfast, answered Rebecca. There seemed nothing humorous about this reply, which was merely the statement of a fact, but an irrepressible titter ran through the school. Miss Dearborn did not enjoy jokes, neither made nor understood by herself, and her face flushed. I think you had better stand by the pail for five minutes, Rebecca. It may help you to control your thirst. Rebecca's heart fluttered. She, to stand in the corner by the water pail, and be stared at by all the scholars? She unconsciously made a gesture of angry descent and moved a step nearer to her seat,

Starting point is 01:15:16 but was arrested by Miss Dearborn's command in a still firmer voice. Stand by the pale, Rebecca. Samuel, how many times have you asked for water today? This is the fourth. Don't touch the dipper, please. The school has done nothing but drink this afternoon. It has had no time whatever to study. I suppose you had something salt for breakfast, Samuel.

Starting point is 01:15:40 Quirried Miss Dearborn with sarcasm. I had mackerel, just like Rebecca. Irrepressible giggles by the school. I judged so. Stand by the other side of the pale, Samuel. Rebecca's head was bowed with shame and wrath. Life looked too black a thing to be endured.

Starting point is 01:16:02 The punishment was bad enough, but to be coupled in correction with Seasaw Simpson was beyond human endurance. Singing was the last exercise in the afternoon. and Minnie Smelly chose, Shall we Gather at the River? It was a baleful choice and seemed to hold some secret

Starting point is 01:16:22 and subtle association with the situation and general progress of events. Or at any rate, there was apparently some obscure reason for the energy in Vim with which the scholars shouted the choral invitation again and again.

Starting point is 01:16:42 Miss Dearborn stole a look at the river. Rebecca's bent head and was frightened. The child's face was pale, save for two red spots glowing on her cheeks. Tears hung on her lashes. Her breath came and went quickly, and the hand that held her pocket-handkerchief trembled like a leaf. "'You may go to your seat, Rebecca,' said Miss Dearborn at the end of the first song. "'Samuel, stay where you are till the close of school. And let me tell you, scholars, that I asked Rebecca to stand by the pale only to break up this habit of incessant drinking, which is nothing

Starting point is 01:17:20 but empty-mindedness and desire to walk to and fro over the floor. Every time Rebecca has asked for a drink today, the whole school has gone to the pale, one after another. She is really thirsty, and I dare say I ought to have punished you for following her example, not her for setting it. What shall we sing now, Alice? The old oak and bucket, please. Think of something dry, Alice and change the subject. Yes, the star-spinkled banner, if you like, or anything else. Rebecca sank into her seat and pulled the singing book from her desk. Miss Dearborn's public explanation had shifted some of the weight from her heart,

Starting point is 01:18:01 and she felt a trifle raised in her self-esteem. Under the cover of the general relaxation of singing, votive offerings of respectful sympathy began to make their appearance at her shrine. Living Perkins, who could not sing, dropped a piece of maple sugar in her lap as he passed her on his way to the blackboard to draw the map of Maine. Alice Robinson rolled a perfectly new slate pencil over the floor with her foot until it reached Rebecca's place, while her seatmate, Emma Jane, had made up a little mound of paper balls and labeled them. Bullets for you know who.

Starting point is 01:18:37 Altogether, existence grew brighter, and when she was left alone with the teacher for her grammar lesson, she had nearly recovered her equanimity, which was more than Miss Dearborn had. The last clattering foot had echoed through the hall. Seesaw's backward glance of penitence had been met and answered defiantly by one of cold disdain. Rebecca, I'm afraid I punished you more than I meant, said Miss Dearborn, who was only 18 herself, and in her year of teaching country schools had never encountered a child like Rebecca. I hadn't missed a question this whole day, nor whispered either. Quavered the culprit.

Starting point is 01:19:15 And I don't think I ought to be shamed just for drinking. You started all the others, or it seemed as if you did. Whatever you do, they all do, whether you laugh or miss or write notes, or ask to leave the room or drink, and it must be stopped. Sam Simpson is a copycat. Stormed Rebecca. I wouldn't have mind standing in the corner alone. That is, not so very much, but I couldn't bear standing with him.

Starting point is 01:19:40 I saw that you couldn't, and that's the reason. I told you to take your seat and left him in the corner. Remember that you are a stranger in the place, and they take more notice of what you do, so you must be careful. Now, let's have our conjugations. Give me the verb to be, potential mood, past perfect tense. I might have been, thou mightst have been, he might have been, we might have been, you might have been, they might have been. Give me an example, please. I might have been glad, thou mightst have been glad, he, she, or it might have been glad. He or she might have been glad because they are masculine and feminine, but could it have been glad?

Starting point is 01:20:24 Asked Miss Dearborn, who was very fond of splitting hairs. Why not? Asked Rebecca. Because it is neuter gender. Couldn't we say the kitten might have been glad if it had known he was not going to be drowned? Yes. Miss Dearborn answered. hesitatingly, never very sure of herself under Rebecca's fire.

Starting point is 01:20:45 But though we often speak of a baby, a chicken, or a kitten as it, they are really masculine or feminine gender, not neuter. Rebecca reflected a long moment and then asked, Is a hollyhock neuter? Oh, yes, of course it is, Rebecca. Well, couldn't we say the holly hawley hawk might have been glad to see the rain, but there was a weak little hollyhock bud growing out of its stock, and it was afraid that it might be hurt by the storm.

Starting point is 01:21:11 so the big hollyhock was kind of afraid instead of being real glad miss dearborn looked puzzled as she answered of course rebecca hollyhocks could not be sorry or glad or afraid really we can't tell i suppose replied the child but i think they are anyway now what shall i say the subjunctive mood passed perfect tense of the verb to know if i had known if thou had known if he had known if we had known if you had known if you had known if they had known. Oh, what is the saddest tense? sighed Rebecca with a little break in her voice. Nothing but ifs, ifs, ifs, and it makes you feel that if only they had known, things might have been better.

Starting point is 01:21:54 Miss Dearborn had not thought of it before, but on reflection she believed the subjunctive mood was a sad one and if rather a sorry part of speech. Give me some more examples of the subjunctive, Rebecca, and that will do for this afternoon. she said if i had not loved mackerel i should not have been thirsty said rebecca with an april smile as she closed her grammar if thou hadst love me truly thou wouldst not have stood me up in the corner if samuel had not loved wickedness he would not have followed me to the water-pail and if rebecca had loved the rules of the school she would have controlled her thirst finished miss dearborn with a kiss and the two parted friends end of chapter five Chapter 6 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Starting point is 01:22:49 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 6. Sunshine in a Shady Place The Little Schoolhouse on the Hill had its moments of triumph, as well as its scenes of tribulation. but it was fortunate that Rebecca had her books and her new acquaintances to keep her interested and occupied, or life would have gone heavily for her that first summer in Riverboro.

Starting point is 01:23:26 She tried to like her Aunt Miranda. The idea of loving her had been given up at the moment of meeting, but failed ignominiously in the attempt. She was a very faulty and passionately human child, with no aspirations towards being an angel of the house, But she had a sense of duty and a desire to be good, respectably, decently good. Whenever she felt below this self-imposed standard,

Starting point is 01:23:55 she was miserable. She did not like to be under her aunt's roof, eating bread, wearing clothes, and studying books provided by her, and dislike her so heartily all the time. She felt instinctively that this was wrong and mean, and whenever the feeling of remorse was strong within her, she made a desperate effort to please her grim and difficult relative.

Starting point is 01:24:20 But how could she succeed when she was never herself in her Aunt Miranda's presence? The searching look of the eyes, the sharp voice, the hard, naughty fingers, the thin, straight lips, the long silences, the front piece that didn't match her hair, the very obvious parting that seemed sewed in with linen thread on black net, There was not a single item that appealed to Rebecca. There are certain narrow, unimaginative and autocratic old people who seem to call out the most mischievous and sometimes the worst traits in children. Miss Miranda, had she lived in a populous neighborhood,

Starting point is 01:25:04 would have had her doorbell pulled, her gate tied up or dirt traps set in her garden paths. The Simpson twins stood in her garden paths. such awe of her that they could not be persuaded to come to the side door even when Miss Jane held gingerbread cookies in her outstretched hands. It is needless to say that Rebecca irritated her aunt with every breath she drew. She continually forgot and started up the front stairs because it was the shortest route to her bedroom. She left the dipper on the kitchen shelf, instead of hanging it up over the pail. She sat in the chair the cat liked best. She was a little. She was a

Starting point is 01:25:42 willing to go on errands, but often forgot what she was sent for. She left the screen doors ajar so that flies came in. Her tongue was ever in motion. She sang or whistled when she was picking up chips. She was always messing with flowers, putting them in vases, pinning them on her dress, and sticking them in her hat. Finally, she was an everlasting reminder of her foolish, worthless father, whose handsome face and engaging manner had so deceived Orillia, and perhaps, if the facts were known, others besides Orillia. The Randalls were aliens.

Starting point is 01:26:25 They had not been born in Riverboro, nor even in York County. Miranda would have allowed, on compulsion, that in the nature of things, a large number of persons must necessarily be born outside this sacred precinct, but she had her opinion of them, and it was not a flattering one. Now, if Hannah had come, Hannah took after the other side of the house. She was all Sawyer. Poor Hannah, that was true. Hannah spoke only when spoken to, instead of first, last, and all the time. Hannah at 14 was a member of the church. Hannah liked to knit. Hannah was probably, or would have been, a pattern of all the smaller virtues, instead of which here was this black-haired gypsy, with eyes as big as cartwheels, installed as a member

Starting point is 01:27:20 of the household. What sunshine in a shady place was Aunt Jane to Rebecca. Aunt Jane, with her quiet voice, her understanding eyes, her ready excuses. In these first difficult weeks, when the impulsive little stranger was trying to settle down into the brick house ways. She did learn them, in part, and by degrees, and the constant fitting of herself to these new and difficult standards of conduct seemed to make her older than ever for her years. The child took her sewing and sat beside Aunt Jane in the kitchen, while Aunt Miranda had the post of observation at the sitting-room window.

Starting point is 01:28:03 Sometimes they would work on the side porch where the clematis and woodbine shaded them from the hot sun. To Rebecca, the lengths of brown gingham, were interminable. She made hard work of sewing, broke the thread, dropped her thimble into the syringa bushes, pricked her finger, wiped the perspiration from her forehead, could not match the checks, puckered the seams. She polished her needles to nothing, pushing them in and out.

Starting point is 01:28:33 of the Emery Strawberry, but they always squeaked. Still, Aunt Jane's patience held good, and some small measure of skill was creeping into Rebecca's fingers, fingers that held pencil, paintbrush, and pen so cleverly, and were so clumsy with a dainty little needle. When the first brown gingham frock was completed, the child seized what she thought an opportune moment, and asked her Aunt Miranda if she might have another color for the next one. I bought a whole piece of the brown, said Miranda laconically. That'll give you two more dresses, with plenty for new sleeves, and to patch and let down with, and be more economical. I know. Mr. Watson says he'll take back part of it, and let us

Starting point is 01:29:21 have pink and blue for the same price. Did you ask him? Yes, him. It was none of your business. I was helping Emma Jane and she's aprons, and didn't think you'd mind which color I had. Pink keeps clean just as nice as brown, and Mr. Watson says it'll boil without feeding. Mr. Watson's a splendid judge of washing, I guess. I don't approve a children being rigged out in fancy colors, but I'll see what your Aunt Jane thinks. I think it would be all right to let Rebecca have one pink and one blue gingham, said Jane.

Starting point is 01:29:54 A child gets tired of sewing on one color. It's only natural she should long for a change. Besides, she'd look like a charity child. always wearing the same brown with a white apron, and it's dreadful on becoming to her. Handsome is as handsome does, say I. Rebecca never'll come to grief along of her beauty, that's certain, and there's no use in humor in her to think about her looks. I believe she's vain as a peacock now, without anything to be vain of.

Starting point is 01:30:26 She's young and attracted to bright things, that's all. I remember well enough how I felt at her age. You was considerable of a fool at her age, Jane. Yes, I was, thank the Lord. I only wish I'd known how to take a little of my foolishness along with me, as some folks do, to brighten my declining years. There finally was a pink gingham, and when it was nicely finished, Aunt Jane gave Rebecca a delightful surprise. She showed her how to make pretty trimming of narrow white linen tape

Starting point is 01:30:59 by folding it in pointed shapes and sewing it down very flat with neat little stitches. It'll be good fancy work for you, Rebecca. For your Aunt Miranda won't like to see you always reading in the long winter evenings. Now, if you think you can base two rows of white tape around the bottom of your pink skirt and keep it straight by the checks, I'll stitch them on for you and trim the waist and sleeves with pointed tape trimming. so the dress will be real pretty for second best. Rebecca's joy knew no bounds.

Starting point is 01:31:34 I'll face like a house of fire. She exclaimed, It's a thousand yards around that skirt, as well I know, having hemmed it, but I get so pretty trimming on it if it was from here to Milltown. Oh, do you think Aunt Miranda will ever let me go to Milltown with Mr. Cobb? He's asked me again, you know. But one Saturday I had to pick strawberries, and another it rained, and I don't think she really approves of my going.

Starting point is 01:31:55 It's 29 minutes past four, Aunt Jane, and Alice Robinson has been sitting under the current bushes for a long time waiting for me. Can I go and play? Yes, you may go, and you better run as far as you can out behind the barn, so your noise won't distract your Aunt Miranda. I see Susan Simpson and the twins and Emma Jane Perkins hiding behind the fence. Rebecca leaped off the porch, snatched Alice Robinson from under the current bushes, and what was much more difficult, succeeded by means of a complicated system of signals in getting Emma Jane away from the Simpson Party

Starting point is 01:32:34 and giving them the slip altogether. There were much too small for certain pleasurable activities planned for that afternoon, but they were not to be despised, for they had the most fascinating dooryard in the village. In it, in bewildering confusion, were old sleighs, pungs, horse rakes, hogs heads, settees without backs, bedsteads without heads, in all stages of disability, and never the same on two consecutive days.

Starting point is 01:33:08 Mrs. Simpson was seldom at home, and even when she was, had little concern as to what happened on the premises. A favorite diversion was to make the house into a fort, gallantly held by a handful of American soldiers against a besieging force of the British Army. Gray care was used in apportioning the parts, for there was no disposition to let anybody win but the Americans. Seesaw Simpson was usually made Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and a limp and uncertain one he was, capable, with his contradictory orders and his fondness for the extreme rear

Starting point is 01:33:47 of leading any regiment to an inglorious, death. Sometimes, the long-suffering house was a log hut, and the brave settlers defeated a band of hostile Indians, or occasionally were massacred by them. But in either case, the Simpson House looked, to quote a river-borough expression, as if the devil had been having an auction in it. Next to this uncommonly interesting playground, as a field of action came, in the children's opinion, the secret spot. There was a velvety stretch of ground in the Sawyer

Starting point is 01:34:26 pasture, which was full of fascinating hollows and hillocks, as well as verdant levels on which to build houses. A group of trees concealed it somewhat from view and flung a grateful shade over the dwellings erected there. It had been

Starting point is 01:34:42 hard, though sweet labor, to take armfuls of stickings and cut rounds from the mill to this secluded spot. and that it had been done mostly after supper in the dusk of the evenings gave it a still greater flavor. Here in the soapboxes hidden among the trees were stored all their treasures. Wee baskets and plates and cups made of burdock balls. Bits of broken china for parties.

Starting point is 01:35:11 Dals, soon to be outgrown, but serving well as characters and all sorts of romances enacted there. Deaths, funerals, weddings, christeninges. A tall square house of Stickens was to be built around Rebecca this afternoon, and she was to be Charlotte Corday, leaning against the bars of her prison. It was a wonderful experience, standing inside the building with Emma Jane's apron, wound about her hair, wonderful to feel that when she leaned her head against the bars, they seemed to turn to cold iron, that her eyes were no longer Rebecca Randalls, but mirrored something of Charlotte Corday's hapless woe.

Starting point is 01:35:53 Ain't it lovely? Sied the humble twain, who had done most of the labor, but who generously admired the result. I hate to have to take it down, said Alice. It's been such a sight of work. If you think you could move up some stones

Starting point is 01:36:08 and just take off the top rows, I could step out over. Suggested Charlotte Corday. Then leave the stones, and you two can step down into the prison tomorrow and be the two little princes in the tower, and I can murder you. What princes?

Starting point is 01:36:20 What tower? Asked Alice and Emma Jane in one breath. Tell us about them. Not now. It's my supper time. Rebecca was a somewhat firm disciplinarian. It would be elegant being murdered by you. Said Emma Jane loyally.

Starting point is 01:36:37 Though you were awful real when you murder. Or we could have Elijah and Alicia for the princes. Big yell when they was murdered. Objected Alice. You know how silly. they are at plays, all except Clara Bell. Besides, if we once show them the secret place, they'll play in it all the time, and perhaps they'd steal things, like their father. They needn't steal just because their father does.

Starting point is 01:37:03 Argued Rebecca. And don't you ever talk about it before them if you want to be my secret particular friends. My mother tells me never to say hard things about people's own folks to their face. She says nobody can bear it, and it's wicked to shame them for what is in their fault. Remember Minnie Smelly. Well, they had no difficulty in recalling that dramatic episode, for it had occurred only a few days before, and a version of it that would have melted the stonyest heart had been presented to every girl in the village by Minnie Smalley herself, who, though it was Rebecca and not she who came off victorious in the bloody battle of words, nursed her resentment and intended to have revenge.

Starting point is 01:37:43 End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm This is a Librevox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm By Kate Douglas Wigan

Starting point is 01:38:09 Chapter 7 Riverboro Secrets Mr. Simpson spent little time with his family owing to certain awkward methods of horse trading, or the swapping of farm implements and vehicles of various kinds, operations in which his customers were never long suited. After every successful trade, he generally passed to longer or shorter term in jail.

Starting point is 01:38:36 For when a poor man without goods or chattels has the inveterate habit of swapping, it follows naturally that he must have something to swap, and having nothing of his own, it follows still more naturally that he must swap something belonging to his neighbors. Mr. Simpson was absent from the home circle for the moment because he had exchanged the widow ride-outs sleigh for Joseph Goodwin's plow. Goodwin had lately moved to North Edgewood and had never before met the urbane and persuasive Mr. Simpson. The Goodwin plow, Mr. Simpson speedily bartered with a man over Wareham Way and got to in exchange for it, an old horse, which his owner did not need, as he was leaving town to visit

Starting point is 01:39:20 his daughter for a year. Simpson fattened the aged animal, keeping him for several weeks at early morning or after nightfall, in one neighbor's pasture after another, and then exchanged him with the Milton man for a top buggy. It was at this juncture that the widow Riteout missed her sleigh from the old carriage house. She had not used it for 15 years and a little. might not sit in it for another fifteen, but it was property, and she did not intend to part with it without a struggle. Such is the suspicious nature of the village mind that the moment she discovered her loss, her thought at once reverted to Abner Simpson. So complicated, however, was the nature of this particular business transaction, and so torturous the paths of its

Starting point is 01:40:10 progress, partly owing to the complete disappearance of the owner of the horse, who had gone to the west and left no address, that it took the sheriff many weeks to prove Mr. Simpson's guilt to the towns and to the widow write-out's satisfaction. Abner himself avowed his complete innocence and told the neighbors how a red-haired man with a hair-lip and a pepper-and-salt suit of clothes had called him up one morning about daylight, and offered to swap him a good sleigh for an old cider press he had lain out in the dooryard. The bargain was struck, and he, Abner, had paid the hair-lip stranger $4.75 to boot, whereupon the mysterious one set down the sleigh, took the press on his cart, and vanished

Starting point is 01:40:59 up the road, never to be seen or heard from afterwards. If I could once catch that consarned old thief, exclaimed Abner righteously, I'd make him dance, working off a stolen sleigh on me and taking away my good money and cider press to say nothing on my character. You'll never catch him up, responded the sheriff. He's cut off the same piece of goods as that there's cider press, and that their character and that their four seventy-five yarn. Nobody ever see any of them, but you, you'll never see him again. Mrs. Simpson, who was decidedly Abner's better half, took in washing and went out to do days cleaning,

Starting point is 01:41:42 and the town helped in the feeding and clothing of the children. George, a lanky boy of fourteen, did chores on neighboring farms, and the others Samuel, Clara Bell, Susan, Elijah, and Alicia, went to school, when sufficiently clothed and not otherwise more pleasantly engaged. There were no secrets in the villages that lay along the banks of Pleasant River, there were many hard-working people among the inhabitants, but life wore away so quietly and slowly that there was a good deal of spare time for conversation.

Starting point is 01:42:19 Under the trees at noon in the hayfield, hanging over the bridge at nightfall, seated about the stove in the village store of an evening. These meeting places furnished ample ground for the discussion of current events, as viewed by the masculine eye, while choir rehearsals, sewing societies, reading circles, church picnics, and the like, gave opportunity for the expression of feminine opinion.

Starting point is 01:42:46 All this was taken very much for granted as a rule, but now and then some super-sensitive person made violent objections to it as a theory of life. Delia Weeks, for example, was a maiden lady who did dressmaking in a small way. She fell ill, and though attended by all the physicians, in the neighbourhood was sinking slowly into a decline when her cousin Cyrus asked her to come and keep house for him in Lewiston. She went, and in a year grew into a robust, hearty, cheerful woman. Returning to Riverboro on a brief visit,

Starting point is 01:43:23 she was asked if she meant to end her days away from home. I do most certainly if I can get another place to stay. She responded candidly. I was being warned to a shadow here trying to keep my little secrets to myself and never succeeding. First they added I wanted to marry the minister, and when he took a wife in Standish, I was known to be disappointed. Then, for five or six years, they suspicioned I was trying for a place to teach school,

Starting point is 01:43:51 and when I gave up hope and took to dressmaking, they pitted me and sympathised with me for that. When father died, I was bound I'd never let anybody know how I was left, for that spite some worse than anything else, But there's ways of finding out and they found out ordered as I fought him. Then there was my brother James that went to Arizona when he was 16. I gave good news of him for 30 years running, but Aunt Axie Tarbox had a ferretin cousin that went out to Tombstone for her health

Starting point is 01:44:22 and she wrote to a postmaster, or to some kind of a town authority, and found Jim and wrote back Aunt Axie all about him, and just how unfortunate he'd been. They knew when I had my teeth out and a new set made, they knew when I had put on a false front piece, they knew when the fruit peddler asked me to be his third wife. I never told them, and you can be sure he never did, but they don't need to be told in this village.

Starting point is 01:44:48 They have nothing to do but guess, and they'll guess right every time. I was all tuckered out trying to mislead them, and deceive them and sidetrack them. But the moment I got where I want, put under a microscope by day, and a telescope by night, and add myself to myself, without saying, by your leave, I began to pick up. Cousin Cyrus is an old man and considerable trouble, but he thinks my teeth are handsome and says I've got a splendid suit of air.

Starting point is 01:45:16 There ain't a person in Lewiston that knows about the Minster, or Father's Will, or Jim's Dewan's or the Fruit Peddler, and if they should find out, they wouldn't care, and they couldn't remember, for Lewiston's a busy place, thanks, B. Miss Delia Weeks may have exaggerated matters somewhat, but it is easy to imagine that Rebecca, as well as all the other Riverboro children, had heard the particulars of the widow write-out's missing sleigh and Abner Simpson's supposed connection with it. There is not an excess of delicacy or chivalry in the ordinary country school, and several choice conundrums and bits of verse dealing with the Simpson affair, were bandied about among the scholars, uttered always, be it said to their credit, in undertones,

Starting point is 01:46:06 and when the Simpson children were not in the group. Rebecca Randall was precisely of the same stock and had had much the same associations as her schoolmates, so one can hardly say why she so hated mean gossip,

Starting point is 01:46:21 and so instinctively held herself aloof from it. Among the Riverboro girls of her own age, was a certain excellently named Minnie Smelly, who was anything but a general favorite. She was a ferret-eyed, blonde-haired, spindle-legged little creature, whose mind was a cross between that of a parrot and a sheep.

Starting point is 01:46:44 She was suspected of copying answers from other girls' slates, although she had never been caught in the act. Rebecca and Emma Jane always knew when she had brought a tart or a triangle of layer cake with her school luncheon, because on those days she forsook the cheerful society of her mates and sought a safe solitude in the woods, returning after a time with a jocund smile on her smug face. After one of these private luncheons,

Starting point is 01:47:11 Rebecca had been tempted beyond her strength, and when Minnie took her seat among them, asked, Is your headache better, Minnie? Let me wipe off that strawberry jam over your mouth. There was no jam there, as a matter of fact, but the guilty Minnie's handkerchief went to her crimson face in a flash. Rebecca confessed to Emma Jane that same afternoon that she felt ashamed of her prank. I do hate her ways, she exclaimed.

Starting point is 01:47:36 But I'm sorry I let her know we respected her, and so to make up I gave her that little piece of broken coral I keep in my bead purse. You know the one? It don't hardly seem as if she deserved that, and her so greedy. Remarked Emma Jane. I know, but makes me feel better, said Rebecca largely. And then I've had it two years. and it's broken, so it wouldn't ever be any real good, beautiful as it is to look at.

Starting point is 01:47:59 The coral had partly served its purpose as a reconciling bond. When one afternoon, Rebecca, who had stayed after school for her grammar lesson as usual, was returning home by way of the shortcut. Far ahead, beyond the bars, she espied the Simpson children just entering the woodsy bit. Seesaw was not with them, so she hastened her steps in order to secure company on her homeward walk. They were speedily lost to view, but when she had almost overtaken them, she heard, in the trees beyond, Minnie Smelly's voice lifted high in song, and the sound of a child sobbing. Clara Bell, Susan, and the twins were running along the path, and Minnie was dancing up and down,

Starting point is 01:48:44 shrieking. "'What made the sleigh love Simpson so?' the eager children cried. "'Why, Simpson loved the sleigh, you know,' the teacher quick replied. The last glimpse of the Routed Simpson tribe and the last flutter of their tattered garments disappeared in the dim distance. The fall of one small stone cast by the valiant Elijah, known as the fighting twin, did break the stillness of the woods for a moment, but it did not come within a hundred yards of many who shouted, at the top of her lungs, and then turned with an agreeable feeling of excitement to meet Rebecca. standing perfectly still in the path, with a day of reckoning plainly set forth in her blazing eyes.

Starting point is 01:49:32 Minnie's face was not pleasant to see, for a coward detected at the moment of wrongdoing is not an object of delight. Minnie Smelling, if ever I catch you singing Nat to the Simpsons again, do you know what I'll do? asked Rebecca in a tone of concentrated rage. don't know and I don't care, said Minnie jauntily, though her looks belied her. I'll take that piece of coral away from you, and I think I shall stop you besides. You wouldn't desist, retorted Minnie. If you do, I'll tell my mother and the teacher, so there. I don't care if you tell your mother, my mother, and all your relations, and the president.

Starting point is 01:50:13 Said Rebecca, gaining courage as the noble words fell from her lips. I don't care if you tell the town, the whole of your country, the state of Maine, and the nation. She finished grandiloquently. Now you run home and remember what I say. If you do it again, and especially if you say jailbirds, if I think it's right and my duty I shall punish you somehow. The next morning at recess, Rebecca observed Minnie telling the tale with variations to Hul de Miserve.

Starting point is 01:50:40 She threatened me, whispered Minnie. But I never believe a word she sees. The latter remark was spoken with the direct intention of being overheard, for Minnie had spasms of bravery, when well surrounded by the machinery of law and order. As Rebecca went back to her seat, she asked Miss Dearborn if she might pass a note to Minnie Smelly and received permission.

Starting point is 01:51:03 This was the note. Of all the girls that are so mean, there's none like Minnie Smelly. I'll take away the gift I gave and pound her into jelly. P.S. Now do you believe me? R. Randall. The effect of this piece of Doggirl was entirely convincing, and for days afterwards, whenever Minnie met the Simpsons even a mile from the brick house, she shuddered and held her peace. End of Chapter 7.

Starting point is 01:51:38 Chapter 8 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 8. Color of Rose On the very next Friday, after this dreadfulest fight that ever was seen, as Bunyan says in Pilgrim's progress, there were great doings in the little schoolhouse on the hill. Friday afternoon was

Starting point is 01:52:13 always the time chosen for dialogues, songs, and recitations, but it cannot be stated that it was a gala day in any true sense of the word. Most of the children hate it. hated speaking pieces, hated the burden of learning them, dreaded the danger of breaking down in them. Miss Dearborn commonly went home with a headache, and never left her bed during the rest of the afternoon or evening, and the casual female parent who attended the exercises sat on a front bench with beads of cold sweat on her forehead, listening to the all-too-familiar halts and stammer's. Sometimes a bellowing infant who had clean forgotten his verse would cast himself bodily on the maternal bosom and be borne out into the open air,

Starting point is 01:53:04 where he was sometimes kissed and occasionally spanked, but in any case, the failure added an extra dash of gloom and dread to the occasion. The advent of Rebecca had somehow infused a new spirit into these hitherto terrible afternoons. She had taught Elijah and Alicia Simpson so that they recited three verses of something with such comical effect that they delighted themselves, the teacher, and the school. While Susan, who lisped, had been provided with a humorous poem in which she impersonated a lisping child, Emma Jane and Rebecca had a dialogue, and the sense of companionship buoyed up Emma Jane and gave herself reliant. In fact, Miss Dearborn announced on this particular Friday morning that the exercise promised to be so interesting that she invited the doctor's wife, the minister's wife, two members of the school committee, and a few mothers.

Starting point is 01:54:05 Living Perkins was asked to decorate one of the blackboards and Rebecca the other. Living, who was the star artist of the school, chose the map of North America. Rebecca liked better to draw things less realistic and speedily before the eyes of the enchanted multitude. There grew under her skillful fingers an American flag done in red, white, and blue chalk. Every star in its right place, every stripe fluttering in the breeze. Beside this appeared a figure of Columbia, copied from the top of the cigar box that held the crayons. Miss Dearborn was delighted. I propose we give Rebecca a good hand-clapping for such a beautiful picture, one that the whole school may well be proud of.

Starting point is 01:54:53 The scholars clapped heartily, and Dick Carter, waving his hand, gave a rousing cheer. Rebecca's heart leaped for joy, and to her confusion, she felt the tears rising in her eyes. She could hardly see the way back to her seat, for in her ignorant, lonely little life, she had never been singled out for applause, never lauded nor crowned, as in this wonderful, dazzling moment. If nobleness and kindleth nobleness, so does enthusiasm beget enthusiasm. And so do wit and talent in kindle wit and talent. Ellis Robinson proposed that the school should sing three cheers for the red, white, and blue, and when they came to the chorus, all pointed to Rebecca's flag.

Starting point is 01:55:47 Dick Carter suggested that Living Perkins and Rebecca Randall should sign their names to their pictures so that the visitors would know who drew them. Holdem-Ozerve asked permission to cover the largest holes in the plastered walls with boughs and fill the water-pale with wildflowers. Rebecca's mood was above and beyond all practical details. She sat silent, her heart so... full of grateful joy that she could hardly remember the words of her dialogue. At recess,

Starting point is 01:56:18 she bore herself modestly, notwithstanding her great triumph, while in the general atmosphere of goodwill, the smelly Randall Hatchet was buried, and Minnie gathered maple boughs and covered the ugly stove with them, under Rebecca's direction. Miss Dearborn dismissed the morning session at quarter to twelve so that those who lived near enough could go home for a change of dress. Emma Jane and Rebecca ran nearly every step of the way from sheer excitement, only stopping to breathe at the styles. Will your Aunt Miranda let you wear your best, or only your buff calico? Asked Emma Jane.

Starting point is 01:56:59 I think I'll ask Aunt Jane, Rebecca replied. Oh, if my pink was only finished, I left Aunt Jane making the button. I'm going to ask my mother to let me wear her garnet ring, said Emma Jane. It would look perfectly elegant, flashing in the sun when I point to the flag. Goodbye. Don't wait for me going back. I may get a ride. Rebecca found the side door locked, but she knew that the key was under the step, and so, of course, did everybody else in Riverboro, for they all did about the same thing with it. She unlocked the door and went into the dining room to find her lunch laid on the table and a note from Aunt Jane, saying that they had gone to moderation with Mrs. Robinson in her carry-all.

Starting point is 01:57:44 Rebecca swallowed a piece of bread and butter and flew up the front stairs to her bedroom. On the bed lay the pink gingham dress finished by Aunt Jane's kind hands. Could she? Dare she wear it without asking? Did the occasion justify the new costume? would her aunts think she ought to keep it for the concert? I'll wear it, thought Rebecca. They're not here to ask, and maybe they wouldn't mind a bit. It's only gingham after all, and it wouldn't be so grand if it wasn't new, and hadn't tape trimming on it, and wasn't pink. She unbraided her two pigtails, combed out the waves of her hair, and tied them back with a ribbon,

Starting point is 01:58:24 changed her shoes, and then slipped on the pretty frock, managing to fasten all but three middle buttons, which she reserved for Emma Jane. Then her eye fell on the cherished pink sunshade. The exact match, and the girls had never seen it. It wasn't quite appropriate for school, but she needn't take it into the room. She would wrap it in a piece of paper, just show it, and carry it coming home.

Starting point is 01:58:52 She glanced in the parlor-looking glass downstairs and was electrified at the vision. It seemed almost as if beauty of apparel could go no further than that heavenly pink gingham dress. The sparkle of her eyes, glow of her cheeks, sheen of her falling hair, passed unnoticed in the all-conquering charm of the rose-colored garment. Goodness, it was twenty minutes to one and she would be late. She danced out the side door, pulled a pink rose from a bush at the gate, and covered the mile between the brick house and the seat of learning in an incredibly short time, meeting Emma Jane, also breathless and resplendent at the entrance.

Starting point is 01:59:36 Rebecca Randall! exclaimed Emma Jane. You're handsome as a picture. I? Laughed Rebecca. Nonsense, it's only the pink gingham. You're not good-looking every day, insisted Emma Jane. But you're different somehow. See my garnet ring?

Starting point is 01:59:56 Mother scrubbed it in soap and water. How on earth are your Aunt Miranda like you put on your brand new dress? They were both away and I didn't ask. Rebecca responded anxiously. Why? Do you think they've said no? Miss Miranda always says no, doesn't she? Asked Emma Jane. Yes, but this afternoon is very special, almost like a Sunday school concert.

Starting point is 02:00:24 Yes. Assented Emma Jane. Jane. It is, of course, with your name on the board and our pointing to your flag and our elegant dialogue and all that. The afternoon was one succession of solid triumphs for everybody concerned. There were no real failures at all, no tears, no parents ashamed of their offspring. Miss Dearborn heard many admiring remarks passed upon her ability and wondered whether they belonged to her, or partly, at least, to Rebecca. The child had no more to do than several others, but she was somehow in the foreground. It transpired afterwards at various village entertainments

Starting point is 02:01:09 that Rebecca couldn't be kept in the background. It positively refused to hold her. Her worst enemy could not have called her pushing. She was ready and willing, and never shy, but she sought for no of display, and was indeed remarkably lacking in self-consciousness, as well as eager to bring others into whatever fun or entertainment there was. If, wherever the McGregor sat was the head of the table, so in the same way, wherever Rebecca stood was the center of the stage. Her clear high treble soared above the rest in the choruses, and somehow everybody watched her, took note of her gestures, her whole souled singing, her irrepressible enthusiasm. Finally, it was over, and it seemed to Rebecca as if she should never be cool and calm again,

Starting point is 02:02:07 as she loitered on the homeward path. There would be no lessons to learn tonight, and the vision of helping with the preserves on the morrow had no terrors for her. Fears could not draw breath in the radiance that flooded her soul. There were thick gathering clouds in the sky, but she took no note of them, save to be glad that she could raise her sunshade. She did not tread on solid ground, after all, or have any sense of belonging to the common human family, until she entered the side yard of the brick house and saw her Aunt Miranda standing in the open doorway. Then, with a rush, she came back to Earth. End of Chapter 8.

Starting point is 02:03:02 Chapter 9 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan. Chapter 9. Ashes of roses. There she is, over an hour late. A little more, and she'd have been caught in a thunder shower.

Starting point is 02:03:30 she'd never look ahead. Said Miranda to Jane. And added to all her other iniquities, if she ain't rigged out in that new dress, stepping along with her father's dance in school steps, and swinging her parasol for all the world as if she was play-actin. Now I'm the oldest, Jane, and I intend to have my say out. If you don't like it, you can go into the kitchen till it's over.

Starting point is 02:03:55 Step right in here, Rebecca. I want to talk to you. What did you put on the... that good new dress for, on a school day, without permission? I had intended to ask you at noontime, but you weren't at home, so I couldn't. Began, Rebecca. You did no such thing. You put it on because you was left alone, though you knew well enough I wouldn't have let you. If I'd been certain you wouldn't have let me, I'd never have done it, said Rebecca, trying to be

Starting point is 02:04:23 truthful. But I wasn't certain, and it was worth risking. I thought perhaps you might, if you knew it was almost a real exhibition. at school. Exhibition? exclaimed Miranda scornfully. You are exhibition enough by yourself, I should say. Was you exhibiting your parasol? The parasol was silly. Confessed Rebecca, hang in her head. But it's the only time in my whole life when I had anything to match it, and it looked so beautiful with the pink dress. Emma Jane and I spoke a dialogue about a city girl and a country girl, and it came to me just the minute before I started how nice it would come in for

Starting point is 02:04:57 the city girl, and it did. I haven't hurt my dress on white. Aunt Miranda. It's the craftiness and underhandedness of your actions that's the worst, said Miranda coldly. And look at the other things you've done. It seems as if Satan possessed you. You went up the front stairs to your room, but you didn't hide your tracks, for you dropped your handkerchief on the way up. You left the screen out of your bedroom window for the flies to come in all over the house. You never cleared away your lunch nor set away a dish, and you left the side door unlocked from half-past 12 to 3 o'clock, so to anybody could have come in and stolen what they liked. Rebecca sat down heavily in her chair as she heard the list of her

Starting point is 02:05:43 transgressions. How could she have been so careless? The tears began to flow now as she attempted to explain sins that never could be explained or justified. Oh, I'm so sorry. She faltered. I was trimming the schoolroom, and I got belated, and ran all the way home. It was hard getting into my dress alone, and I hadn't time to eat but a mouthful, and just at the last minute, when I honestly, honestly would have thought about clearing away and locking up, I looked at the clock and knew I could hardly get back to school in time to form in the line, and I thought how dreadful it would be to go in late and get my first black bark on a Friday afternoon with the minister's wife and the doctor's wife and the school committee all there.

Starting point is 02:06:22 Don't wail and carry on now. It's no good crying over spilt milk, answered Miranda. An ounce of good behavior is worth a pound of repentance. Instead of trying to see how little trouble you can make in a house that ain't your own home, it seems as if you tried to see how much you could put us out. Take that rose out of your dress and let me see the spot it's made on your yoke and the rusty holes where the wet pin went in. No, it ain't, but it's more by luck than forethought.

Starting point is 02:06:53 I ain't got any patience with your flowers, and frizzled out hair and furbelows and airs and graces for all the world like your Miss Nancy father. Rebecca lifted her head in a flash. Look here, Aunt Miranda, I'll be as good as I know how to be. I'll mind quick when I'm spoken to you and never leave the door unlocked again, but I won't have my father called names. He was a perfectly lovely father, that's what he was, and it's mean to call him Miss Nancy. Don't you dare answer me back that imperdent way, Rebecca, telling me I'm mean. Your father was a vain, foolish, shiftless man, and you might as well hear it from me as anybody else.

Starting point is 02:07:31 He spent your mother's money and left her with seven children to provide for. It's something to leave seven nice children. Saubed Rebecca. Not when other folks have to help feed, clothe, and educate them. Responded, Miranda. Now you step upstairs. Put on your nightgown, go to bed, and stay there till tomorrow morning. you'll find a bowl of crackers and milk on your bureau and i don't want to hear a sound from you till breakfast time jane run and take the dish towels off the line and shut the shed doors we're going to have a terrible shower we've had it i should think said jane quietly as she went to do her sister's bidding i don't often speak my mind mirandy but you ought not to have said what you did about lorenzo he was what he was and can't be made any different but he

Starting point is 02:08:22 was Rebecca's father, and O'Reilly always says he was a good husband. Miranda had never heard the proverbial phrase about the only good, Indian, but her mind worked in the conventional manner when she said grimly. Yes, I've noticed that dead husbands are usually good ones, but the truth needs an errand now and then, and that child would never amount to a hill of beans till she gets some of her father trounced out of her. I'm glad I said just what I did. I dare say you are, remarked Jane, with what might be described as one of her annual bursts of courage. But all the same, Miranda, it was in good manners and it was in good religion.

Starting point is 02:09:04 The clap of thunder that shook the house just at that moment made no such peel in Miranda Sawyer's ears as Jane's remark made when it fell with a deafening roar on her conscience. Perhaps after all it is just as well to speak only once a year, and then speak. to the purpose. Rebecca mounted the back stairs wearily, closed the door of her bedroom, and took off the beloved Pink Kingham with trembling fingers. Her cotton handkerchief was rolled into a hard ball, and in the intervals of reaching the more difficult buttons that lay between her shoulder blades and her belt, she dabbed her wet eyes carefully so that they should not rain salt water on the finery that had been worn at such a price. She smoothed it out carefully, pinched up the white ruffle at the neck, and laid it away in a drawer, with an extra little sob at the roughness of life.

Starting point is 02:10:03 The withered pink rose fell on the floor. Rebecca looked at it and thought to herself. Just like my happy day. Nothing could show more clearly the kind of child she was than the fact that she instantly perceived the symbolism of the rose, and laid it in the drawer with the dress, as if she were bearing the whole episode with all its sad memories. It was a child's poetic instinct, with a dawning hint of a woman's sentiment in it.

Starting point is 02:10:34 She braided her hair in the two accustomed pigtails, took off her best shoes, which had happily escaped notice, with all the while a fixed resolve growing in her mind, that of leaving the brick house and going back to the farm. She would not be received there with open arms. There was no hope of that, but she would help her mother about the house and send Hannah to Riverboro in her place. I hope she'll like it.

Starting point is 02:11:01 She thought, in a momentary burst of vindictiveness, she sat by the window trying to make some sort of plan, watching the lightning play over the hilltop and the streams of rain chasing each other down the lightning rod. And this was the day that had dawned so joyfully. It had been a red sunrise, and she had leaned on the window-sill studying her lesson and thinking, what a lovely world it was, and what a golden morning. The changing of the bare, ugly little schoolroom into a bower of beauty. Miss Dearborn's pleasure at her success with the Simpson twins' recitation, the privilege of decorating the blackboard, the happy thought of drawing Columbia from the cigar box, the intoxicating moment when the school clapped her.

Starting point is 02:11:47 And what an afternoon, how it went from glory to glory, beginning with Emma Jane's telling her, Rebecca Randall, that she was as handsome as a picture. She lived through the exercises again in memory, especially her dialogue with Emma Jane, and her inspiration of using the bow-covered stove as a mossy bank where the country girl could sit and watch her flux. This gave Emma Jane a feeling of such ease that she never recited better, and how generous it was of her to lend the garnet ring to the city girl, fancying truly how it would flash as she furled her parasol and approached the awe-stricken shepherdess. She had thought Aunt Miranda might be pleased that the niece invited down from the farm

Starting point is 02:12:36 had succeeded so well at school. But no, there was no hope of pleasing her in that or in any other way. She would go to Maplewood on the stage next day with Mr. Cobb, and get home somehow from cousin Anne's. On second thoughts, her aunts might not allow it. Very well. She would slip away now and see if she could stay all night with the Cobbs and be off next morning before breakfast. Rebecca never stopped long to think, Moore's the pity, so she put on her oldest dress and hat and jacket, then wrapped her nightdress comb and toothbrush in a bundle, and dropped it softly out of the window. Her room was in the L, and her window at no very dangerous distance from the ground.

Starting point is 02:13:23 Though had it been, nothing could have stopped her at that moment. Somebody who had gone on the roof to clean out the gutters had left a cleat nailed to the side of the house, about halfway between the window and the top of the back porch. Rebecca heard the sound of the sewing machine in the dining room and the chopping of meat in the kitchen. So, knowing the whereabouts of both her aunts, she scrambled out of the window, caught hold of the lightning rod, slid down to the helpful cleat, jumped to the porch, used the woodbine trellis for a ladder, and was flying up the road in the storm before she had time to arrange any details of her future movements. Jeremiah Cobb sat at his lonely supper at the table by the kitchen window. Mother, as he

Starting point is 02:14:09 with his old-fashioned habits was in the habit of calling his wife, was nursing a sick neighbor. Mrs. Cobb was mother only to a little headstone in the churchyard, where reposed, Sarah Ann, beloved daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Cobb, aged 17 months. But the name of mother was better than nothing, and served at any rate as a reminder of her woman's crown of blessedness. The rain still fell, and the heavens were dark, though it was scarcely five o'clock. Looking up from his dish of tea, the old man saw at the open door a very figure of woe. Rebecca's face was so swollen with tears and so sharp with misery that for a moment he scarcely recognized her. Then, when he heard her voice asking,

Starting point is 02:14:57 "'Please may I come in, Mr. Cobb?' He cried. "'Well, I vow. It's my little lady passenger. Come to call on old Uncle Jerry and pass the time of day, have ye? Why, you're wet his soaps. Draw up to the stove. I made a fire, hot as it was, thinking I wanted something warm for my supper. Being kind of lonesome without my mother.

Starting point is 02:15:20 She's setting up with Seth's drought tonight. There, we'll hang your soppy hat on the nail, put your jacket over the cherry rail, and then you turn your back to the stove and dry yourself good. Uncle Jerry had never before said so many words at a time, but he had caught sight of the child's red eyes. and tear-stained cheeks, and his big heart went out to her in her trouble, quite regardless of any circumstances that might have caused it.

Starting point is 02:15:47 Rebecca stood still for a moment, until Uncle Jerry took a seat again at the table, and then, unable to contain herself any longer, cried, Oh, Mr. Cobb, I've run away from the brick house, and I want to go back to the farm. Will you keep me tonight and take me up to Maplewood and the stage? I haven't got any money for my fare, but I'll earn it somehow afterwards. Well, I guess we won't quarrel about money, you and me, said the old man. And we've never had our ride together anyway, though we all are meant to go down river, not up. I shall never seem Hilltown now, sobbed Rebecca.

Starting point is 02:16:20 Come over here, sighed with me and tell me all about it. Coked Uncle Jerry. Just sit down on that there wooden cricket, and that was the whole story. Rebecca leaned her aching head against Mr. Cobb's homespun knee, and recounted the history of her trouble. Tragic as that history seemed to her passionate and undisciplined mind, she told it truthfully and without exaggeration. End of Chapter 9.

Starting point is 02:16:55 Chapter 10 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan. Chapter 10. Ashes of Roses Uncle Jerry coughed and stirred in his chair a good deal during Rebecca's recital, but he carefully concealed any undue feeling of sympathy, just muttering.

Starting point is 02:17:25 Poor little soul. We'll see what we can do for her. You will take me to Maplewood, won't you, Mr. Cobb? begged Rebecca piteously. Don't you, Fredamite? He answered, with a crafty little notion at the back of his mind. I'll see the lady passenger through somehow. Now take a bite of something to eat, child. Spread some of that tomato preserve on your bread. Draw up to the table. How'd you like to set in Mother's place and pour me out another cup of hot tea? Mr. Jeremiah Cobb's mental machinery was simple and did not move very smoothly, save when propelled by his affection or sympathy. In the present case, these were both employed to his advantage, and mourning his stupidity and praying, for some flash of inspiration to light his path, he blundered along, trusting to Providence. Rebecca, comforted by the old man's tone, and timidly enjoying the dignity of sitting in Mrs. Cobb's seat

Starting point is 02:18:24 and lifting the blue china teapot, smiled faintly, smoothed her hair, and dried her eyes. I suppose your mother will be terrible glad to see you back again, queried Mr. Cobb. A tiny fear. Just a baby thing in the bottom of Rebecca's heart stirred and grew larger the moment it was touched with a question. She won't like it that I ran away, I suppose, and she'll be sorry that I couldn't please Aunt Morandi, but I'll make her understand just as I did you. I suppose she was thinking, oh, you're schooling, letting you come down here, but land. You can go to school in temperance, I suppose.

Starting point is 02:19:04 There's only two-month school now in temperance, and the farm's too far from all the other schools. Oh well, there's other things in the world beside education Responded Uncle Jerry attacking a piece of apple pie Yes, though mother thought that was going to be the making of me Returned Rebecca sadly Giving a dry little sob as she tried to drink her tea It'll be nice for you to be all together again at the farm Such a house full of children

Starting point is 02:19:33 Remarked the dear old deceiver Who longed for nothing so much as to to cuddle and comfort the poor little creature. It's too full, that's the trouble. That'll make Hannah come to Riverboro in my place. Suppose Miranda and Jane will have her? I should be most afraid they wouldn't. They'll be kind of mad at you're going home, you know,

Starting point is 02:19:53 and you can't hardly blame them. This was quite a new thought that the brick house might be closed to Hannah, since she, Rebecca, had turned her back upon its cold hospitality. How is this school down here in Riverborough? Pretty good? inquired uncle jerry whose brain was working with an altogether unaccustomed rapidity so much so that it almost terrified him oh it's a splendid school and miss dearborn is a splendid teacher

Starting point is 02:20:23 You like her, do you? Well, you better believe she returns the compliment. Mother was down to the store this afternoon, buying liniment for Seth Strout, and she met Miss Dearborn on the bridge. They got to talk about school, for Mother has summer boarded a lot of the school marms and likes them. How does the little temperance girl get along? asked Mother.

Starting point is 02:20:46 Oh, she's the best scholar I have, says Miss Dearborn. I could teach school from sun up to sundown. if scholars was all like Rebecca Randall, says she. Oh, Mr. Kod, did she say that? Glowed Rebecca, her face sparkling and dimpling in an instant. I've tried hard all the time, but I'll study the covers right off of the books now. You mean you would if you hadn't been going to stay here? Interposed Uncle Jerry.

Starting point is 02:21:15 Now, ain't it too bad you've just got to give it all up on account of your Aunt Miranda? Well, I can't hardly blame you. she's cranky and she's sour i should think she'd been nussed on bonny clabber and green apples she needs bearing with and i guess you ain't much on patience be ye not very much replied rebecca dole fully if i'd had this talk with ye yesterday pursued mr cobb i believe i'd advise you different it's too late now and i don't feel to say you've been all in the wrong but if twas to do over again i'd say i'd say you'd say you'd say you'd say you'd say you'd say you'd say, well, your Aunt Miranda gives you clothes and bored and schooling and is going to send you to wear them at a big expense. She's terrible hard to get along with and kind of heaves benefits at your head. Same she would be bricks, but their benefits just the same. And maybe it's your job to kind of pay for him in good behavior. Jane's a little bit more easygoing than Randy, ain't she? Or is she just as hard

Starting point is 02:22:20 to please. Oh, Aunt Jane and I get along splendidly. Exclaimed Rebecca. She's just as good and kind as she can be, and I like her better all the time. I think she kind of likes me, too. She smoothed my hair once. I'd let her scold me all day long,

Starting point is 02:22:34 for she understands, but she can't stand up for me against Aunt Miranda. She's about as afraid of her as I am. Jane will be real sorry tomorrow to find you've gone away, I guess. But never mind. It can't be helped. If she has a kind of dull time with Miranda, on account of her being so sharp.

Starting point is 02:22:51 Why, of course, she'd set great store by your company. Mother was talking with her after prayer meeting the other night. You wouldn't know the brick house, Sarah, says Jane. I'm keeping a sewing school, and my scholar has made three dresses. What do you think of that, says she, for an old maid's child. I've taken a class in Sunday school, says Jane, and think of her new and my youth and go into the picnic with Rebecca, says she. and mother declares, you never see her, look so young and happy.

Starting point is 02:23:23 There was a silence that could be felt in the little kitchen, a silence only broken by the ticking of the tall clock, and the beating of Rebecca's heart, which, it seemed to her, almost drowned the voice of the clock. The rain ceased, a sudden rosy light filled the room, and through the window a rainbow arch could be seen spanning the heavens like a radiant bridge. Bridges took one across difficult places, thought Rebecca,

Starting point is 02:23:54 and Uncle Jerry seemed to have built one over her troubles and given her strength to walk. The shower is over, said the old man, filling his pipe. It's cleared the air, wash the face of the earth nice and clean, and everything tomorrow will shine like a new pin when you and I are driving up river. Rebecca pushed her cup away, rose from the table, and put on her hat and jacket quietly.

Starting point is 02:24:23 I'm not going to drive up river, Mr. Cobb. She said. I'm going to stay here and catch bricks. Catch him without throwing him back, too. I don't know as Aunt Miranda will take me in after I've run away, but I'm going back now while I have the courage. He wouldn't be so good as to go with me, would you, Mr. Cobb? You better believe your Uncle Jerry don't propose to leave

Starting point is 02:24:42 until he gets this thing fixed up. cried the old man delightedly. Now you've had all you can stand tonight, poor little soul, without getting a fed with sickness, and Miranda'll be sore and cross in in no condition for argument. So my plan is just this, to drive you over to the brick house and my top buggy, to have you set back in the corner,

Starting point is 02:25:04 and I get out and go to the side door, and when I get your Aunt Miranda and Aunt Jane out into the shed to plan for a load of wood, I'm going to have a hauled there this week. You'll slip out of the buggy and go upstairs to bed. The front door won't be locked, will it? Not this time of night. Rebecca answered.

Starting point is 02:25:24 Not to let Marini goes to bed, but, oh, what if it should be? Well, it won't. And if it is, why, we'll have to face it out. Though, in my opinion, there's things that won't bear facing out, and it better be settled, comfortable, and quiet. You see, you ain't run away yet. You've only come over here to consult me. about running away, and we've concluded it ain't worth the trouble.

Starting point is 02:25:47 The only real sin you've committed, as I figure it out, wasn't coming here by the winter when you've been sent to bed. That ain't so very black, and you can tell your aunt Jane bout it come Sunday, when she's chock-full-o-religion, and she can advise you when you better tell your Aunt Miranda. I don't believe in deceiving, folks, but if you've had hard feelings, you ain't obliged to own them, take him up to the Lord in prayer, as the hymn says, and then don't go on heaving them. Now, come on, I'm all hitched up to go over to the post office. Don't forget your bundle.

Starting point is 02:26:22 It's always a journey, mother, when you carry a nightgown. Them's the first word your Uncle Jerry ever heard you say. He didn't think you'd be bringing your nightgown over to his house. Step in and curl up in the corner. We ain't going to let folks see this little runaway gals, because they're going back to begin all over again. When Rebecca crept upstairs, and undressing in the dark,

Starting point is 02:26:46 finally found herself in her bed that night, though she was aching and throbbing in every nerve, she felt a kind of peace stealing over her. She had been saved from foolishness and error, kept from troubling her poor mother, prevented from angering and mortifying her aunts. Her heart was melted now, and she determined to win Aunt Miranda's approval by some desperate means,

Starting point is 02:27:12 and to try and forget the one thing that rankled worst, the scornful mention of her father, of whom she thought with the greatest admiration, and whom she had not yet heard, criticized, for such sorrows and disappointments as Aureal had suffered had never been communicated to her children. It would have been some comfort to the bruised, unhappy little spirit, to know that Miranda Sawyer,

Starting point is 02:27:37 was passing an uncomfortable night, and that she tacitly regretted her harshness, partly because Jane had taken such a lofty and virtuous position in the matter. She could not endure Jane's disapproval, although she would never have confessed to such a weakness. As Uncle Jerry drove homeward under the stars, well content with his attempts at keeping the peace, he thought wistfully of the touch of Rebecca's head on his knee

Starting point is 02:28:04 and the rain of her tears on his hand. of the sweet reasonableness of her mind when she had the matter put rightly before her, of her quick decision when she had once seen the path of duty, of the touching hunger for love and understanding that were so characteristic in her. Lord Almighty! He ejaculated under his breath. Lord Almighty, to Hector and abuse a child like that one. Tain't abuse exactly, I know, or twouldn't be to some of your elephant-hided young

Starting point is 02:28:37 ones, but to that little tender will of the wisp, a hard words like a lash. Randy Sawyer would be a heap better woman if she had little grave-stun to remember. Same's mother and I have. I never see a child improve in her work as Rebecca has today. Remarked Miranda Sawyer to Jane on Saturday evening. That setting down I gave her was probably just what she needed, and I dare say it'll last for a month. I'm glad you're pleased. Returned Jane.

Starting point is 02:29:10 A cringing worm is what you want, not a bright, smiling child. Rebecca looks to me as if she'd been through the seven years' war. When she came downstairs this morning, it seemed to me she'd grown old in the night. If you follow my advice, which you seldom do, you'll let me take her and Emma Jane down beside the river tomorrow afternoon and bring Emma Jane home to a good Sunday supper. then if you'll let her go to milltown with the cobs on wednesday that'll hearten her up a little and coax back her appetite wednesday's a holiday on account of miss dearborn's going home to her sister's wedding and the cobs and perkinses want to go down to the agricultural fair End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Starting point is 02:30:07 This is a Libravox recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm By Kate Douglas Wiggin Chapter 11 The Stirring of the Powers

Starting point is 02:30:24 Rebecca's visit to Milltown was all that her glowing fancy had painted it except that recent readings about Rome and Venice disposed her to believe that those cities might have an advantage over Miltown in the matter of mere pictorial beauty. So soon does the soul outgrow its mansions that after once seeing Miltown,

Starting point is 02:30:49 her fancy ran out to the future site of Portland. For that, having islands and a harbor and two public monuments must be far more beautiful than Milltown, which would, she felt, take its proud place among the cities of the earth by reason of its tremendous business activity rather than by any irresistible appeal to the imagination. It would be impossible for two children to see more, do more, walk more, talk more, eat more, or ask more questions than Rebecca and Emma Jane did on that eventful Wednesday.

Starting point is 02:31:28 She's the best company I ever see in all my life. Said Mrs. Cobb to her husband that evening? We ain't had a dull minute this day. She's well manner too. She didn't ask for anything and was thankful for whatever she got. Did you watch her face when we went into that tent? Where there was apt and out, Uncle Tom's cabin? And did you take notice of the way she was.

Starting point is 02:31:58 He told us about the book when we sat down to have our ice cream. I tell you, Harriet Beecher stile herself, couldn't have done it better justice. I took it all in, responded Mr. Cobb, who was pleased that mother agreed with him about Rebecca. I ain't sure, but she's going to turn out something remarkable. A singer or a writer or a lady doctor like that Miss Parks up to Cornish. Lady doctors are always home-bats, ain't they? Asked Mrs. Cobb, who, it is needless to say, was distinctly of the old school in medicine. Land, no, mother. There ain't no home-path about Miss Parks. She drives all over the country.

Starting point is 02:32:44 I can't see Rebecca as a lady doctor somehow. Mused Mrs. Cobb. Her gift to God is what's going to be the making of her. Maybe she lecture or recite pieces, like that Portland elocutionist, that came out here to the harvest supper. I guess she'll be able to write down her own pieces, said Mr. Cobb confidently. She could make him up faster and she could read him out of a book. It's a pity she's so plain-looking. Remarked Mrs. Cobb, blowing out the candle.

Starting point is 02:33:19 Plain-looking, mother! exclaimed her husband in astonishment. Look at the eyes of her. Look at the hair of her and the smile, and that's their dimple. Look at Alice Robinson. That's called the prettiest trout on the river, and see how Rebecca shines her in down out of sight. I hope Miranda will favor her coming over to see us real often, for she'll let off some of her steam here,

Starting point is 02:33:44 and the brick house will be considerable safer for everybody concerned. We've known what it was to have children, even if it was more than 30 years ago, and we could make allowances. Notwithstanding the encomiums of Mr. and Mrs. Cobb, Rebecca made a poor hand at composition writing at this time. Miss Dearborn gave her every sort of subject that she had ever been given herself. Cloud Pictures, Abraham Lincoln, nature, philanthropy, slavery, intemperance, joy and duty, solitude. But with none of them did Rebecca seem to grapple satisfactorily.

Starting point is 02:34:21 Right as you talk, Rebecca. insisted poor miss dearborn who secretly knew that she could never manage a good composition herself but gracious me miss dearborn i don't talk about nature and slavery i can't write unless i have something to say canna that is what compositions are for returned miss dearborn doubtfully to make you have things to say now in your last one on solitude you haven't said anything very interesting and you've made it too common and every day to sound well there are too many you and yours in it. You ought to say one now and then to make it sound more like good writing. One opens a favorite book. One's thoughts are a great comfort in solitude, and so on. I don't know any more about solitude this week than I did about Joy and Duty last week. Grumbled Rebecca. You tried to be funny about Joy and Judy.

Starting point is 02:35:15 Said Miss Dearborn reprovingly. So of course you didn't succeed. I didn't know you're going to make us read the things out loud. said Rebecca with an embarrassed smile of recollection. Joy and duty had been the inspiring subject given to the older children for a theme to be written in five minutes. Rebecca had wrestled, struggled, perspired in vain. When her turn came to read, she was obliged to confess she had written nothing.

Starting point is 02:35:45 You have at least two lines, Rebecca, insisted the teacher. For I see them on your slate. I'd rather nor read them, please. They're not good. Pleaded, Rebecca. Read what you have, good or bad, little or much. I am excusing nobody. Rebecca Rose, overcome with secret laughter, dread, and mortification. Then, in a low voice, she read the couplet. When joy and duty clashed, let duty go to smash.

Starting point is 02:36:15 Dick Carter's head disappeared under the desk, while Living Perkins' charge. choked with laughter. Miss Dearborn laughed too. She was little more than a girl, and the training of the young idea seldom appealed to the sense of humor. You must stay after school and try again, Rebecca. She said, but she said it smilingly. Your poetry hasn't a very nice idea in it for a good little girl who ought to love Judy. It wasn't my idea, said Rebecca apologetically. I had only made the first line when I saw you were going to ring the bell and see the time was up. i had clash written and i couldn't think of anything then but hash or rash or smash i'll change it to this when joy and duty clash tis joy must go to smash that is better miss dearborn answered though i cannot think going to smash is a pretty expression for poetry having been instructed in the use of the indefinite pronoun one as giving a refined and elegant touch to literary efforts rebecca painstakingly rewrote her composition on solomon

Starting point is 02:37:19 giving it all the benefit of miss dearborn's suggestion it then appeared in the following form which hardly satisfied either teacher or pupil solitude it would be false to say that one could ever be alone when one has one's lovely thoughts to comfort one one one sits by one's self it is true but one thinks one opens one's favorite book and reads one's favorite story one speaks to one's aunt or one's brother fondles one's cat or looks at one's photograph album there is one's work also, what a joy it is to one if one happens to like work. All one's little household tasks keep one from being lonely. Does one ever feel bereft when one picks up one's chips to light one's fire for one's evening meal? Or when one washes one's milk pail before milking one's cow, one would fancy not. R, R, R, R, R, is perfectly dreadful. Sied Rebecca, when she read it aloud after school? Putting in one all the time doesn't make it sound any more like a book, and it looks silly it besides.

Starting point is 02:38:22 You say such queer things. Objected, Miss Dearborn. I don't see what makes you do it. Why did you put in anything so common as picking up chips? Because I was talking about household tasks in the sentence before, and it is one of my household tasks. Don't you think calling supper one's evening meal is pretty? And isn't bereft a nice word?

Starting point is 02:38:43 Yes, that part of it does very well. It is the cat, the chips, and the milk pail that I don't like. All right. sighed Rebecca. Out there go. Does the cow go too? Yes, I don't like a cow in a composition, said the difficult Miss Dearborn. The Milltown trip had not been without its tragic consequences of a small sort.

Starting point is 02:39:08 For the next week, Minnie Smelly's mother told Miranda Sawyer that she'd better look after Rebecca, for she was given to... Swearing and profane land. Rofing language. That she had been heard saying something dreadful that very afternoon, saying it before Emma Jane and Living Perkins, who only laughed and got down on all fours and chased her. Rebecca, on being confronted and charged with the crime, denied it indignantly.

Starting point is 02:39:37 And Aunt Jane believed her. Search your memory, Rebecca, and try to think what many overheard you say. She pleaded. Don't be ugly and obstinate. but think real hard when did they chase you up the road and what were you doing a sudden light broke upon rebecca's darkness oh i see it now she exclaimed it had rained hard all the morning you know and the road was full of puddles emma jane living and i were walking along and i was ahead i saw the water streaming over the road towards the ditch and it reminded me of uncle tom's cabin at milltown when eliza took her baby and ran across the mississippi on the ice-box pursued by the bloodhounds we couldn't keep from laughing after we came out of the tent because they were acting on such a small platform that eliza had to run round and round and part of the time the one dog they had pursued her and part of the time she had to pursue the dog i knew living would remember too so i told you to-i told you to run to run and part of the time she had pursued her and part of the dog i knew living would remember too so i told you took off my waterproof and wrapped it round my books for a baby, and then I shouted,

Starting point is 02:40:35 my God, the river, just like that, the same as Eliza did in the play. Then I leapt from puddle to puddle, and living in Emma Jane pursued me like the bloodhounds. It's just like that stupid, mini-smelly, who doesn't know a game when she sees one, and Eliza wasn't swearing when she said, my God, the river. It was more like praying. Well, you've got no call to be praying any more than swearing in the middle of the road, said Miranda. But I'm thankful it's no worse. You're born to trouble as the sparks fly upward, and I'm afraid you allers will be till you learn to bridle your unruly tongue.

Starting point is 02:41:08 I wish that sometimes I could bridle minis. Murmured Rebecca, as she went to set the table for supper. I declare she is the beatenest child, said Miranda, taking off her spectacles and laying down her mending. You don't think she's a little Mike crazy, do you, Jane? I don't think she's like the rest of us. responded Jane thoughtfully and with some anxiety in her pleasant face. But whether it's for the better or the worse, I can't hardly tell till she grows up. She's got the making of most anything in her, Rebecca has, but I feel sometimes as if we were not fitted to cope with her.

Starting point is 02:41:48 Stuff and nonsense, said Miranda. Speak for yourself. I feel fitted to cope with any child that ever was born into the world. I know you do, Miranda, but that don't make you so. Returned Jane with a smile. The habit of speaking her mind freely was certainly growing on Jane to an altogether terrifying extent. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording.

Starting point is 02:42:27 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Lille. Librevox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 12. See the Pale Martyr It was about this time that Rebecca, who had been reading about the Spartan boy, conceived the idea of some mild form of self-punishment to be applied on occasions when she was fully convinced in her own mind that it would be salutary.

Starting point is 02:42:58 The immediate cause of the decision was a somewhat sadder accident than was common, even in a career prolific in such things. Glad in her best, Rebecca had gone to take tea with the cobs, but while crossing the bridge, she was suddenly overcome by the beauty of the river, and leaned over the newly painted rail to feast her eyes on the dashing torrent of the fall. Resting her elbows on the topmost board and inclining her little figure forward in delicious ease, she stood there, dreaming. The river above the dam was a glassy lake,

Starting point is 02:43:37 with all the loveliness of blue heaven and green shore reflected in its surface. The fall was a swirling wonder of water, ever pouring itself over and over, inexhaustibly, in luminous golden gushes that lost themselves in snowy depths of foam. Sparkling in the sunshine, gleaming under the, the summer moon, cold and gray beneath the November sky, trickling over the dam in some burning

Starting point is 02:44:07 July drought, swollen with turbulent power in some April freshet. How many young eyes gazed into the mystery and majesty of the falls along that river, and how many young hearts dreamed out their futures, leaning over the bridge rail, seeing the vision splendid, reflected there, and often too, watching it fade into the light of common day. Rebecca never went across the bridge without bending over the rail to wonder and to ponder, and at this special moment she was putting the finishing touches on a poem. Two maidens by a river strayed down in the state of Maine. The one was called Rebecca, the other Emma Jane.

Starting point is 02:44:52 I would my life were like the stream, said her named Emma Jane. So quiet and so very smooth, so free from her. every pain. I'd rather be a little drop in the great rushing fall. I would not choose the glassy lake, twould not suit me at all. It was the darker maiden spoke, the words I just have stated. The maiden's twain were simply friends and not at all related. But, oh, alas, we may not have the things we hope to gain. The quiet life may come to me the rush to Emma Jane. I don't like the rush to Emma Jane, and I can't think of anything else. Oh, what a smell of paint. Oh, it is on me. Oh, it's all over my best dress. Oh, what will Aunt Miranda say?

Starting point is 02:45:36 With tears of self-reproach streaming from her eyes, Rebecca flew up the hill, sure of sympathy, and hoping against hope for help of some sort. Mrs. Cap took in the situation at a glance and professed herself able to remove almost any stain from almost any fabric, and in this, she was corroborated by Uncle Jerry who vowed that Mother could get anything out. Sometimes she took the cloth right along with the spot,

Starting point is 02:46:06 but she had a sure hand, Mother had. The damaged garment was removed and partially immersed in turpentine while Rebecca graced the festal board clad in a blue calico wrapper of Mrs. Cobbs. Don't let it take your appetite away. Cruned Mrs. Cobb.

Starting point is 02:46:24 I've got cream biscuit and honey. for you. If the turpentine don't work, I'll try French chalk, magnesium, and warm suds. If they fail, father shall run over to struts and bore some of the stuff Marthy got in Middown to take

Starting point is 02:46:40 the current buy out of her wedding dress. I ain't got to understand in this patent accident yet. Said Uncle Jerry, Joe Cosley, as he handed Rebecca the honey. Beanez-Hausers' fresh paint signs hung all over the bridge. So to a blind asylum

Starting point is 02:46:56 couldn't miss them. I can't hardly account for your getting into that pesky stuff. I didn't notice the signs. Rebecca said dolefully. I suppose I was looking at the falls. The falls has been there since the beginning of no time, and I calculate they'll be there till the end of it. So you needn't be in such brush to get a sight of them. Children comes terrible hide, mother. I suppose you must have them. He said, winking at Mrs. Cobb. When supper was cleared away, Rebecca insisted on washing and wiping the dishes, while Mrs. Cobb worked on the dress with an energy that plainly showed the gravity of the task. Rebecca kept leaving her post at the sink to bend

Starting point is 02:47:37 anxiously over the basin and watch her progress, while Uncle Jerry offered advice from time to time. You must have laid all over the bridge, dearie, said Mrs. Cobb. For the paints not only on your elbows and yoke and waist, but it about covers your front breath. As the garment began to look a little better, Rebecca's spirits took an upward turn, and at length she left it to dry in the fresh air and went into the sitting room. Have you a piece of paper, please? asked Rebecca. I'll copy out the poetry I was making while I was lying in the paint. Mrs. Cobb sat by her mending basket, and Uncle Jerry took down a gingham bag of strings

Starting point is 02:48:15 and occupied himself in taking the snarls out of them. A favorite evening amusement with him? Rebecca soon had the lines copied in her round schoolgirl hand, making such improvements as occurred to her on sober second thought. The Two Wishes by Rebecca Randall. Two Maidens by a river strayed, it was in the state of Maine. Rebecca was the darker one, the Farah Emma Jane. The fair maiden said,

Starting point is 02:48:41 I would my life whereas the stream so peaceful and so smooth and still, so pleasant and serene. I'd rather be a little drop in the great rushing fall. I'd never choose the quiet lake. T'would not please me at all. It was the darker maiden's book, the words we just have stated. The maidens twain were simply friends, not sisters, or related. But, oh, alas, we may not have the things we hope to gain.

Starting point is 02:49:04 The quiet life may come to me the rush to Emma Jane. She read it aloud, and the cabs thought it not only surpassingly beautiful, but a marvelous production. I guess if that writer that lived on Congress Street in Portland could have heard your poetry, he'd have been astonished. said Mrs. Cobb. If you ask me, I'll say this piece is as good as that one or his. Tell me more to mournful numbers and considerable clearer.

Starting point is 02:49:33 I never could fairly make out what mournful numbers was. Remarked Mr. Cobb critically. Then I guess you never studied fractions. Flashed Rebecca. See here, Uncle Jerry and Aunt Sarah, would you write another verse, especially for a last one, as they usually do, one with thoughts in it, to make a better ending? If you can grind them out,

Starting point is 02:49:52 by turning the crank. Why, I should say the more the merrier, but I don't hardly see how you could have a better ending. Observed, Mr. Cobb. It is horrid. Grumbled, Rebecca. I ought not to have put that me in. I'm writing the poetry. Nobody ought to know it is me standing by the river. It ought to be Rebecca, or the darker maiden, and the rush to Emma Jane is simply dreadful. Sometimes I think I never will try poetry. It's so hard to make it come right, and other times it just says itself. I wonder if this would better. But, oh, alas, we may not gain the good for which we pray. The quiet life may come to one

Starting point is 02:50:29 who likes it rather gay. I don't know whether that is worse or not. Now for a new last verse. In a few minutes, the poetist looked up, flushed and triumphant. It was as easy as nothing, just here. And she read slowly with her pretty, pathetic voice. Then if our lot be bright or sad, be fuller of smiles or tears, the thought that God has planned it so should help us spare the years. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb exchanged dumb glances of admiration.

Starting point is 02:50:59 Indeed, Uncle Jerry was obliged to turn his face to the window and wipe his eyes furtively with a string bag. How in the world did you do it? Mrs. Cobb exclaimed. Oh, it's easy. Answered Rebecca. The hymns at meeting are all like that.

Starting point is 02:51:15 You see, there's a school newspaper printed at Weirham Academy once a month. Dick Carter says the editor is always a boy, of course, but he allows girls to try and write for it, and then chooses the best. Dick thinks I can be in it. In it? exclaimed Uncle Jerry. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if you had to write the whole paper. And as for any boy editor, you could lick him right and I bait ye with one hand tied behind ye.

Starting point is 02:51:38 Can we have a copy of the poetry to keep in the family Bible? Inquired Mrs. Cobb respectfully. Oh, would you like it? Asked Rebecca. Yes, indeed, I'll do a clean, nice one with violet ink and a fine pen, but I must go and look at my poor dress. The old couple followed Rebecca into the kitchen. The frock was quite dry, and in truth, it had been helped a little by Aunt Sarah's ministrations, but the colors had run in the rubbing. The pattern was blurred, and there were muddy streaks here and there. As a last resort, it was carefully smoothed with the warm iron, and Rebecca was urged to attire herself that they might see. if the spots showed as much when it was on. They did, most uncompromisingly, and to the dullest eye.

Starting point is 02:52:27 Rebecca gave one searching look, and then said, as she took her hat from a nail in the entry, I think I'll be going. Good night. If I've got to have a scolding, I want it quick and get it over. Poor little unlucky misfortune thing. sighed Uncle Jerry, as his eyes followed her down the hill. I wish you could pay some attention to the ground under her feet, but I vow. If she was orn, I'd let her slot paint all over the house before I could scold her. Here's her poetry she's left behind. Read it out again, mother. Land.

Starting point is 02:53:02 He continued, chuckling as he lighted his cop-pipe. I can just see the last flap of that boy editor's shirt-tail as he legs it from the woods, while Rebecca settles down in his revolving chair. I'm puzzled us to what kind of a job editing is, exactly, but she'll find out, Rebecca will, and she'll just edit for all she's worth. The thought that God has planned it so should help us bear the years. Landmother, that takes right halt, kind of like the gospel. How do you suppose she thought that out?

Starting point is 02:53:36 She could have thought it out at her age, said Mrs. Cab. She must have just guessed it was that way. We know some things without being told, Eremia. Rebecca took her scolding, which she richly deserved, like a soldier. There was considerable of it, and Miss Miranda remarked, among other things, that so absent-minded a child was sure to grow up into a driveling idiot. She was bitten to stay away from Alice Robinson's birthday party and doomed to wear her dress,

Starting point is 02:54:09 stained and streaked as it was until it was worn out. Aunt Jane, six months later, mitigated this martyrdom by making her a ruffled dimity pinafore, artfully shaped to conceal all the spots. She was blessedly ready with these mediations between the poor little sinner and the full consequences of her sin. When Rebecca had heard her sentence and gone to the North Chamber she began to think, if there was anything she did not wish to grow into, it was an idiot of any sort. particularly a driveling one, and she resolved to punish herself every time she incurred what she considered to be the righteous displeasure of her virtuous relative. She didn't mind staying away from Alice Robinson's. She had told Emma Jane it would be like a picnic in a graveyard,

Starting point is 02:54:59 the Robinson House being as near an approach to a tomb as a house can manage to be. Children were commonly brought in at the back door, and requested to stand on newspapers while making their call, so that Alice was begged by her friends to receive in the shed or barn whenever possible. Mrs. Robinson was not only terrible neat, but terrible close, so that the refreshments were likely to be peppermint lozenges and a glass of well water. After considering the relative values, as penances, of a piece of haircloth worn next the skin and a pebble in the shoe, she dismissed them both.

Starting point is 02:55:39 The haircloth could not be found, and the pebble would attract the notice of the Argus-eyed aunt, besides being a foolish bar to the activity of a person who had to do housework and walk a mile and a half to school. Her first experimental attempt at martyrdom had not been a distinguished success. She had stayed at home from the Sunday school concert, a function of which, in ignorance of more alluring ones, she was extremely fond. As a result of her desertion, two infants who relied upon her to prompt them, she knew the verses of all the children better than they did themselves,

Starting point is 02:56:18 broke down ignominiously. The class to which she belonged had to read a difficult chapter of scripture and rotation, and the various members spent an arduous Sabbath afternoon, counting out verses according to their seats in the pew and practicing the ones that would inevitably fall to them. They were too ignorant to realize when they were called upon that Rebecca's absence would make everything come wrong, and the blow descended with crushing force when the Djibbutzites and the Amorites, the Gergashites, Hivites, and Parasites, had to be pronounced by the persons of all others least capable of grappling with them.

Starting point is 02:56:58 Self-punishment, then, to be adequate and proper, must begin, like charity at home, and unlike charity, should end. there too. Rebecca looked about the room vaguely as she sat by the window. She must give up something, and truth to tell she possessed little to give. Hardly anything but, yes, that would do. The beloved pink parasol. She could not hide it in the attic, for in some moment of weakness she would be sure to take it out again. She feared she had not the moral energy to break it into bits. Her eyes moved from the parasol to the apple trees in the side yard, and then fell to the well curb. That would do. She would fling her dearest possession into the depths of the water. Action followed quickly upon decision as usual. She slipped down in the darkness, stole out the front door, approached the place

Starting point is 02:57:54 of sacrifice, lifted the cover of the well, gave one unresigned shutter, and flung the parasol downward with all her force. At the crucial instance of renunciation, she was greatly helped by the reflection that she closely resembled the heathen mothers who cast their babies to the crocodiles in the Ganges. She slept well and arose refreshed, as a consecrated spirit always should and sometimes does.

Starting point is 02:58:24 But there was great difficulty in drawing water after breakfast. Rebecca, chastened and uplifted had gone to school. A bea flag was summoned, lifted the well cover, explored, found the inciting cause of trouble, and with the help of Yankee Witt, succeeded in removing it. The fact was that the ivory hook of the parasol had caught in the chain gear, and when the first attempt at drawing water was made, the little offering of a contrite heart was jerked up, bent, its strong ribs jammed into the well side and entangled with the twig root. it is needless to say that no slight of hand performer however expert unless aided by the powers of darkness could have accomplished this feat but a luckless child in the pursuit of virtue had done it with a turn of the wrist

Starting point is 02:59:17 we will draw a veil over the scene that occurred after rebecca's return from school you who read may be well advanced in years you may be gifted in rhetoric ingenious in argument But even you might quail at the thought of explaining the torturous mental processes that led you into throwing your beloved pink parasol into Miranda Sawyer's well. Perhaps you feel equal to discussing the efficacy of spiritual self-chastisement with a person who closes her lips into a thin line and looks at you out of blank, uncomprehending eyes. Common sense, right, and logic were all over. raid on Miranda's side. When poor Rebecca, driven to the wall, had to avow the reasons lying behind the sacrifice of the sunshade, her aunt said, Now see here, Rebecca, you're too big to be whipped, and I never shall whip you. But when you think you ain't punished enough, just tell me, and I'll make out to invent a little something more. I ain't so smart as some folks,

Starting point is 03:00:28 but I can do that much, and whatever it is, it'll be. something that won't punish the whole family and make them drink ivory dust, wood chips, and pink silk rags with their water. End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 03:01:00 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 13. Snow White. Rose Red Just before Thanksgiving, the affairs of the Simpsons reached what might have been called a crisis, even in their family, which had been born and reared in a state of adventurous poverty and perilous uncertainty. Riverborough was doing its best to return the entire tribe of Simpsons to the land of its fathers, so to speak, thinking rightly that the town which had given them birth,

Starting point is 03:01:31 rather than the town of their adoption, should feed them and keep a roof over their heads until the children were of an age for self-support. There was little to eat in the household and less to wear, though Mrs. Simpson did, as always, her poor best. The children managed to satisfy their appetites by sitting modestly outside their neighbor's kitchen doors when meals were about to be served. They were not exactly popular favorites,

Starting point is 03:01:59 but they did receive certain undesirable morsels from the more charitable housewives. Life was rather done. dull and dreary, however, and in the chill and gloom of November weather, with the vision of other people's turkeys bursting with fat, and other people's golden pumpkins and squashes and corn, being garnered into barns, the young Simpsons groped out for some inexpensive form of excitement, and settled upon the selling of soap for a premium. They had sold enough to their immediate neighbors during the early autumn to secure a child's handcart, which, though very weak on

Starting point is 03:02:36 its pins, could be trundled over the country roads. With large business sagacity and an executive capacity, which must have been inherited from their father, they now proposed to extend their operations to a larger area and distribute soap to continuous villages if these villages could be induced to buy. The Excelsior soap company paid a very small return. turn of any kind to its infantile agents, who were scattered through the state, but it inflamed their imaginations by the issue of circulars with highly colored pictures of the premiums to be awarded for the sale of a certain number of cakes. It was at this juncture that Clara Bell and Susan Simpson consulted Rebecca, who threw herself solidly and wholeheartedly into the

Starting point is 03:03:25 enterprise, promising her help and that of Emma Jane Perkins. The premiums within the their possible grasp were three, a bookcase, a plush reclining chair, and a banquet lamp. Of course the Simpsons had no books, and casting aside without thought or paying the plush chair, which might have been of some use in a family of seven persons, not counting Mr. Simpson, who ordinarily sat elsewhere at the town's expense, they warmed themselves rapturously in the vision of the banquet lamp, which speedily became to them more disdivor. than food, drink, or clothing. Neither Emma Jane nor Rebecca perceived anything incongruous in the idea of the Simpsons striving for a banquet lamp. They looked at the picture daily and

Starting point is 03:04:14 knew that if they themselves were free agents, they would toil, suffer, I sweat for the happy privilege of occupying the same room with that lamp through the coming winter evenings. It looked to be about eight feet tall in the catalog, and Emma Jane advised Clara Bell to measure the height of the Simpson's ceilings. But a note in the margin of the circular informed them that it stood two and a half feet high, when set up in all its dignity and splendor, on a proper table, $3 extra. It was only of polished brass, continued the circular, though it was invariably mistaken for solid gold, and the shade that accompanied it, At least it accompanied it, if the agent sold a hundred extra cakes, was of crinkled crepe paper, printed in a dozen delicious hues, from which the joy-dazzled agent might take his choice.

Starting point is 03:05:10 Seesaw Simpson was not in the syndicate. Clarabelle was rather a successful agent, but Susan, who could only say, Thope, never made large returns, and the twins, who were somewhat young to be thoroughly trustworthy, could be given only a half-dozen cakes at a time, and were obliged to carry with them on their business trips a brief document, stating the price per cake, dozen, and box. Rebecca and Imagane offered to go two or three miles in some one direction

Starting point is 03:05:40 and see what they could do in the way of stirring up a popular demand for the snow-white and rose-red brands, the former being devoted to laundry purposes, and the latter being intended for the toilet. There was a great amount of hilarity in the preparation, for this event, and a long council in Emma Jane's attic. They had the soap company's circular from which to arrange a proper speech, and they had, what was still better, the remembrance of a certain patent medicine vendor's

Starting point is 03:06:10 discourse at the Milltown Fair. His method, when once observed, could never be forgotten, nor his manner, nor his vocabulary. Emma Jane practiced it on Rebecca, and Rebecca on Emma Jane. Can I sell you a little soap this afternoon? It is called the Snow White and Rose Red Soap, six cakes in an ornamental box, only 20 cents for the white, 25 cents for the red. It is made from the purest ingredients,

Starting point is 03:06:34 and if desired, could be eaten by an invalid with relish and profit. Oh, Rebecca, don't let's say that. Interposed Emma Jane hysterically. It makes me feel like a fool. It takes so little to make you feel like a fool, Emma Jane. Rebuked, Rebecca. That sometimes I think you must be one.

Starting point is 03:06:52 I don't get to feeling like a fool so awfully easily. Now, leave out that eating part if you don't like it and go on. The snow white is probably the most remarkable laundry soap ever manufactured. Emmerse the garments in a tub, lightly rubbing the more soiled portions with the soap. Leave them submerged water from sunset to sunrise, and then the youngest baby can wash them without the slightest effort. Babe, not baby. Corrected Rebecca from the circular?

Starting point is 03:07:26 It's just the same thing, argued Emma Jane. Of course it's just the same thing, but a baby has got to be called babe or infant in a circular, the same as it is in poetry. Would you rather say infant? No. Grumbled Emma Jane. Infant is worse even than babe.

Starting point is 03:07:45 Rebecca, do you think we'd better do as the circular says and let Elijah or Alicia try the soap before we begin selling? I can't imagine a babe doing a family wash with any soap. Answered Rebecca. But it must be true, or they would never dare to print it, so don't let's bother. Oh, won't it be the greatest fun, Emma Jane? At some of the houses, where they can't possibly know me, I shan't be frightened and I shall reel off the whole rigamarole, invalid babe and all.

Starting point is 03:08:13 Perhaps I shall say even the last sentence if I can remember it. We sound every chord in the great macrosum of satisfaction. This conversation took place on a Friday afternoon at Emma Jane's house, where Rebecca, to her unbounded joy, was to stay over Sunday, her aunts having gone to Portland to the funeral of an old friend. Saturday, being a holiday, they were going to have the old white horse, drive to North Riverboro three miles away, eat a 12 o'clock dinner with Emma Jane's cousins,

Starting point is 03:08:42 and be back at 4 o'clock punctually. When the children asked Mrs. Perkins if they could call at just a few houses coming and going and sell a little soap for the Simpsons, she at first replied decidedly in the negative. She was an indulgent parent, however, and really had little objection to Emma Jane amusing herself in this unusual way. It was only for Rebecca, as the niece of the difficult Miranda Sawyer, that she raised scruples. But when fully persuaded that the enterprise was a charitable one, she acquiesced. The girls called at Mr. Watson's store and arranged for several large boxes of soap to be charged to Clarabelle Simpson's account. These were lifted into the back of the

Starting point is 03:09:24 wagon and a happier couple never drove along the country road than Rebecca and her companion. It was a glorious Indian summer day, which suggested nothing of Thanksgiving near at hand as it was. It was a rustly day, a scarlet and buff, yellow and carmine, bronze and crimson day. There were still many leaves on the oaks and maples, making a goodly show of red and brown and gold. The air was like sparkling cider, and every field had its heaps of yellow and russet good things to eat, all ready for the barns, the mills, and the markets. The horse forgot his twenty years, sniffed the sweet bright air, and trotted like a cold, Nicole. Nekomis Mountain looked blue and clear in the distance, Rebecca stood in the wagon and

Starting point is 03:10:13 apostrophized the landscape with a sudden joy of living. Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful world, with the wonderful water round you curled and the wonderful grass upon your breast, world you are beautifully dressed. Dull Emma Jane had never seemed to Rebecca so near, so dear, so tried and true, And Rebecca, to Emma Jane's faithful heart, had never been so brilliant, so bewildering, so fascinating, as in this visit together, with its intimacy, its freedom, and the added delights of an exciting business enterprise. A gorgeous leaf blew into the wagon. Does color make you sort of dizzy? Asked Rebecca. No?

Starting point is 03:10:59 Answered Emma Jane after a long pause. No, it don't. Not a mite. Perhaps Dizzy isn't just the right word, but it's nearest. I'd like to eat color and drink it and sleep in it. If you can be a tree, which one would you choose? Emma Jane had enjoyed considerable experience of this kind, and Rebecca had succeeded in unstopping her ears,

Starting point is 03:11:21 ungluing her eyes, and loosening her tongue, so that she could play the game after a fashion. I'd rather be an apple tree and blossom, that one that blooms pink, buy our pick pen. Rebecca laughed. There was always something unexpected in Emma Jane's replies. I'd choose to be that scarlet maple just on the edge of the pond there. And she pointed with the whip.

Starting point is 03:11:45 Then I could see so much more than your pink apple tree by the pig pen. I could look at all the rest of the woods, see my scarlet dress and my beautiful looking glass, and watch all the yellow and brown trees growing upside down in the water. When I'm old enough to earn money, I'm going to have a dress like this leaf, all ruby color, thin, you know, with a sweeping train in roughly curly edges. Then I think I'll have a brown sash like the trunk of a tree, and where could I be green? Do they have green petticoats, I wonder? I'd like a green petticoat coming out now and then, underneath the show what my leaves were like, before I was a scarlet maple.

Starting point is 03:12:14 I think it would be awful homely, said Emma Jane. I'm going to have a white satin with a pink sash, pink stockings, bronze slippers, and a spangled fan. End of Chapter 13 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording. Vibrovox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan. Chapter 14, Mr. Aladdin. A single hour's experience of the vicissitudes incident to a business career clouded the children's spirits just the least bit. They did not accompany each other to the doors of their

Starting point is 03:13:05 chosen victims, feeling sure that together they could not approach the subject serious. but they parted at the gate of each house, the one holding the horse, while the other took the soap samples, and interviewed anyone who seemed of a coming-on disposition. Emma Jane had disposed of three single cakes, Rebecca of three small boxes, for a difference in their ability to persuade the public was clearly defined at the start, though neither of them ascribed either success or defeat to anything but the imperious force of circumstances. Housewives looked at Emma Jane, no soap, listened to her description of its merits, and still desired none. Other stars in their courses governed Rebecca's doings. The people whom she interviewed either remembered their

Starting point is 03:13:52 present need of soap or reminded themselves that they would need it in the future. The notable point in the case being that Lucky Rebecca accomplished, with almost no effort, results that poor little Emma Jane failed to attain by hard and conscientious labor. It's your turn, Rebecca, and I'm glad to. Said Emma Jane, drawing up to a gateway and indicating a house that was set a considerable distance from the road. I haven't gotten over trembling from the last place yet. A lady put her head out of an upstairs window and called, Go away, little girl! Whatever you have in your box, we don't want any.

Starting point is 03:14:35 I don't know who lives here, and the blinds are all shut in front. If there's nobody at home, you mustn't count it. But take the next house as yours. Rebecca walked up the lane and went to the side door. There was a porch there, and seated in a rocking chair, husking corn, was a good-looking young man, or was he middle-aged? Rebecca could not make up her mind. At all events, he had an air of the city about him, well-shaven face, well-triven, well-trimmed mustache, well-fitting clothes.

Starting point is 03:15:08 Rebecca was a trifle shy at this unexpected encounter, but there was nothing to be done but explain her presence, so she asked, Is the Lady of the House at home? I'm the Lady of the House at present, said the stranger with a whimsical smile. What can I do for you? Have you ever heard of the, would you like I'm, or, I mean, do you need any soap?

Starting point is 03:15:31 Quirried Rebecca. Do I look as if I did? He responded unexpectedly. Rebecca Dimpled. I didn't mean that. I have some soap to sell. I mean, I would like to introduce to you a very remarkable soap, the best now on the market.

Starting point is 03:15:46 It is called the... Oh, I must know that soap, said the gentleman genially. Made out of pure vegetable fats, isn't it? The very purest. Corroborated, Rebecca. No acid in it. Not a trace.

Starting point is 03:16:01 And yet a child could do the Monday washing with it and use no force. A babe. Corrected Rebecca. Oh, a babe, huh? That child grows younger every year instead of older. Wise child. This was a great good fortune,

Starting point is 03:16:17 to find a customer who knew all the virtues of the article in advance. Rebecca dimpled more and more, and at her new friend's invitation sat down on a stool at his side near the edge of the porch. The beauties of the ornamental box, which held the rose red were disclosed, and the prices of both that and the snow white were unfolded.

Starting point is 03:16:39 Presently, she forgot all about her silent partner at the gate and was talking as if she had known this grand personage all her life. I'm keeping house today, but I don't live here. Explain to the delightful gentleman. I'm just on a visit to my aunt who has gone to Portland. I used to be here as a boy, and I'm very fond of the spot. I don't think anything takes the place to the farm where one lives, where one was a child.

Starting point is 03:17:04 Observed Rebecca, nearly bursting with pride at having at last successfully used the indefinite pronoun in general conversation. The man darted a look at her and put down his ear of corn. So you consider your childhood a thing of the past, do you, young lady? I can still remember it. Answered Rebecca gravely. Though it seems a long time ago. I can remember mine well enough, and a particularly unpleasant one it was. said the stranger.

Starting point is 03:17:33 So was mine. Sied Rebecca. What was your worst trouble? Lack of food and clothes, principally. Oh! exclaimed Rebecca sympathetically. Mine was no shoes and too many babies and not enough books, but you're all right and happy now, aren't you?

Starting point is 03:17:49 She asked doubtfully, for though he looked handsome, well-fed, and prosperous, any child could see that his eyes were tired and his mouth was sad when he was not speaking. I'm doing pretty well, thank you. Said the man with a delightful smile. Now tell me, how much soap ought I to buy today? How much has your aunt on hand now?

Starting point is 03:18:11 Suggested the very modest and inexperienced agent. And how much would she need? Oh, I don't know about that. Soap keeps, doesn't it? I'm not certain, said Rebecca conscientiously. But I'll look in the circular. It's sure to tell. And she drew the document from her pocket. What are you going to do with the magnificent profits you get from this business? We are not selling for our own benefit, said Rebecca confidentially.

Starting point is 03:18:38 My friend who is holding the horse at the gate is the daughter of a very rich blacksmith and doesn't need any money. I am poor, but I live with my aunts in a brick house, and of course they wouldn't like me to be a peddler. We are trying to get a premium for some friends of ours. Rebecca had never thought of alluding to the circumstances with her previous customers, but unexpectedly, she found herself describing Mr. Mr. Simpson, Mrs. Simpson, and the Simpson family, their poverty, their joyless life, and their abject need of a banquet lamp to brighten their existence. You needn't argue that point.

Starting point is 03:19:11 Laughed to the man, as he stood up to get a glimpse of the rich blacksmith's daughter at the gate. I can see that they ought to have it if they want it, and especially if you want them to have it. I've known what it was myself to do without a banquet lamp. Now give me the circular and let's do some figuring. How much do the Simpsons lack at this moment? If they sell 200 more cakes this month and next, they can have the lamp by Christmas.

Starting point is 03:19:37 Rebecca answered. And they can get a shade by summertime, but I'm afraid I can't help very much after today because my Aunt Miranda may not like to have me. I see. Well, that's all right. I'll take 300 cakes, and that will give them shade and all. Rebecca had been seated on a stool very near the edge of the porch, and at this remark she made a sudden movement, tipped over, and disappeared into a clump of lilac bushes. It was a very short distance, fortunately, and the amused capitalist picked her up, set her on her feet, and brushed her off.

Starting point is 03:20:11 You should never seem surprised when you have taken a large order, said he. You ought to have replied, can't you make it 350? Instead of capsizing in that unbusiness-like way. Oh, I could never say anything like that! Exclaimed Rebecca, who was blushing crimson at her awkward fall. But it doesn't seem right for you to buy so much. Are you sure you can afford it? If I can't, I'll save on something else. Returned the Joko's philanthropist.

Starting point is 03:20:39 What if your aunt shouldn't like that kind of soap? Quaried Rebecca nervously. My aunt always likes what I like. He returned. Mine doesn't. Exclaimed Rebecca. Then there's something wrong with your aunt. Or with me.

Starting point is 03:20:52 Laughed Rebecca. What is your name, young lady? Rebecca Rowena Randallser. What? With an amused smile. Both. Your mother was generous. She couldn't bear to give up either of the name she says.

Starting point is 03:21:08 Do you want to hear my name? I think I know already. Answered Rebecca with a bright glance. I'm sure you must be Mr. Aladdin in the Arabian Nights. Oh, please, can I run down and tell Emma Jane? she must be so tired waiting and she'll be so glad. At the man's nod of assent, Rebecca sped down the lane, crying irrepressibly as she neared the wagon.

Starting point is 03:21:30 Oh, Emma Jane! Emma Jane, we are sold out! Mr. Aladdin followed smilingly to corroborate this astonishing, unbelievable statement, lifted all their boxes from the back of the wagon, and, taking the circular, promised to write to the Excelsior Company that night concerning the premium. If you could contrive to keep a secret, you two little girls, it would be rather a nice surprise to have the lamp arrive at the Simpsons on Thanksgiving Day, wouldn't it? He asked, as he tucked the old laprobe cozily over their feet. They gladly assented, and broke into a chorus of excited thanks,

Starting point is 03:22:07 during which tears of joy stood in Rebecca's eyes. Oh, don't mention it. Left, Mr. Aladdin, lifting his hat. I was a sort of commercial traveler myself once, years ago. and I like to see the thing well done. Goodbye, Miss Rebecca Rowena. Just let me know whenever you have anything to sell, for I'm certain beforehand I shall want it.

Starting point is 03:22:29 Goodbye, Mr. Latton. I surely will. cried Rebecca, tossing her dark braids delightedly and waving her hand. Oh, Rebecca! said Emma Jane in an awestruck whisper. He raised his hat to us, and we now thirteen. It'll be five years before we're ladies. Never mind. said Rebecca. We are the beginnings of ladies even now.

Starting point is 03:22:53 He took the lap rope round us too. Continued Emma Jane in an ecstasy of reminiscence. Oh, isn't he perfectly elegant? And wasn't it lovely of him to buy us out? And just think of having both the lamp and the shade for one day's work. Aren't you glad you wore your pinkingham now? Even if mother did make you put on flannel underneath. You do look so, So pretty in pink and red, Rebecca, and so homely in drab and brown. I know it.

Starting point is 03:23:25 sighed, Rebecca. I wish I was like you, pretty in all colors. And Rebecca looked longingly at Emma Jane's fat rosy cheeks, at her blue eyes, which said nothing, at her neat nose, which had no character, at her red lips, from between which no word worth listening to had ever issued. Never mind. said Emma Jane, comfortingly. Everybody says you're awful bright and smart,

Starting point is 03:23:52 and mother thinks you'll be better looking all the time as you grow older. You wouldn't believe it, but I was a dreadful, homely baby, and homely right along till just a year or two ago, when my red hair began to grow dark. What was the nice man's name? I never thought to ask. Ejaculated Rebecca. Aunt Miranda would say that was just like me, and it is,

Starting point is 03:24:16 but I called them Mr. Aladdin because he gave us a lamp. You know the story of Aladdin and the wonderful lamp? Oh, Rebecca! How could you call him a nickname? The very first time you ever saw him! Aladdin isn't a nickname exactly. Anyway, he often seemed to like it. By dint of superhuman effort,

Starting point is 03:24:35 and putting such a seal upon their lips as never mortals put before, the two girls succeeded in keeping their wonderful news to themselves. although it was obvious to all beholders that they were in an extraordinary and abnormal state of mind. On Thanksgiving, the lamp arrived in a large packing box and was taken out and set up by Seaw Simpson, who suddenly began to admire and respect the business ability of his sisters. Rebecca had heard the news of its arrival, but waited until nearly dark before asking permission to go to the Simpsons

Starting point is 03:25:09 so that she might see the gorgeous trophy lighted, and sending a blaze of crimson glory through its red, crepe-paper shade. End of Chapter 15 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan.

Starting point is 03:25:44 Chapter 15, The Banquet Lamp. There had been company at the brick house to the... the bountiful Thanksgiving dinner which had been provided at one o'clock. The Burnham sisters, who lived between North Riverboro and Shaker Village, and who, for more than a quarter of a century, had come to pass the holiday with the Sawyers every year. Rebecca sat silent with a book after the dinner dishes were washed, and when it was nearly five, asked if she might go to the Simpsons. What do you want to run after those Simpson children for on a Thanksgiving day?

Starting point is 03:26:18 Quarried Miss Miranda. Can't you set still for once and listen to the improving conversation of your elders? You never can let well enough alone, but want to be forever on the move. The Simpsons have a new lamp, and Emma Jane and I promised to go up and see it lighted and make it a kind of party. What under the canopy did they want of a lamp? And where did they get the money to pay for it? If Abner was at home, I should think he'd been swapping again, said Miss Miranda. The children got it as a price for selling it.

Starting point is 03:26:49 soap replied Rebecca. They've been working for a year, and you know I told you that Emma Jean and I helped them the Saturday afternoon you were in Portland. I didn't take notice, I suppose, for it's the first time I ever heard the lamp mentioned. Well, you can go for an hour, and no more. Remember, it's as dark at six as it is at midnight. Would you like to take along some Baldwin apples? What have you got in the pocket of that new dress that makes it sagged down so? It's my nuts, raisins from dinner. replied Rebecca, who never succeeded in keeping the most innocent action, a secret from her aunt Miranda. They're just what you gave me on my plate. Why didn't you eat them? Because I'd had enough dinner, and I thought if I saved these, it would make the Simpsons party better.

Starting point is 03:27:36 Stammered, Rebecca, who hated to be scolded and examined before company. They were your own, Rebecca. Interposed Jane. And if you chose to save them to give away, it is all right. we ought never to let this day pass without giving our neighbors something to be thankful for instead of taking all the time to think of our own mercies the burnham sisters nodded approvingly as rebecca went out and remarked that they had never seen a child grow and improve so fast in so short a time there's plenty of room left for more improvement as you'd know if she lived in the same house with you answered miranda she's into every nameable thing in the neighborhood and not only into it, but generally at the head in front of it, especially when it's mischief. Of all the foolishness I ever heard of, that lamp beats everything. It's just like those Simpsons, but I didn't suppose the children had brains enough to sell anything.

Starting point is 03:28:36 One of them must have, said Miss Ellen Burnham. For the little girl that was selling soap at the Lads in North Riverboro was described by Adam Ladd as the most remarkable and winning child he ever saw. It must have been Clara Bell, and I should never call her remarkable, answered Miss Miranda. Has Adam been home again? Yes, he's been staying a few days with his aunt. There's no limit to the money he's making, they say, and he always brings presents for all the neighbors. This time it was a full set of furs for Mrs. Ladd, and to think we can remember the time he was a barefoot boy without two shirts

Starting point is 03:29:14 to his back. It is strange he hasn't married, with all his money, and himself. fond of children that he always has a pack of them at his heels. There's hope for him still, though, said Miss Jane, smilingly. For I don't suppose he's more than thirty. He could get a wife in Riverboro if he was a hundred and thirty, remarked Miss Miranda. Adam's aunt says he was so taken with the little girl that sold the soap. Clara Bell, did you say her name was, that he declared he was going to bring her a Christmas present.

Starting point is 03:29:46 Continued Miss Ellen. Well, there's no accountant for tastes, exclaimed Miss Miranda. Clara Bell's got cross-eyes and red hair, but I'd be the last one to grudge her a Christmas present. The more Adam Ladd gives to her, the less the town will have to. Isn't there another Simpson girl? Asked Miss Lydia Burnham. For this one couldn't have been cross-eyed. I remembered Mrs. Ladd saying Adam remarked about this child's handsome eyes.

Starting point is 03:30:16 He said it was her eyes that made him bite the 300 cakes. Mrs. Ladd has it stacked up in the shed chamber. Three hundred cakes! Ejaculated Miranda. Well, there's one crop that never fails in Riverborough. What's that? Asked Miss Lydia politely. The fool crop.

Starting point is 03:30:36 Responded Miranda tersely and changed the subject, much to Jane's gratitude, for she had been nervous and ill at ease for the last 15 minutes. What child in Riverboro could be described as remarkable and winning, save Rebecca? What child had wonderful eyes except the same Rebecca? And finally, was there ever a child in the world who could make a man buy soap by the hundred cakes, save Rebecca? Meantime, the remarkable child had flown up the road in the deepening dusk, but she had not gone far before she heard the sound of hurrying footsteps and saw a woman.

Starting point is 03:31:16 a well-known figure coming in her direction. In a moment, she and Emma Jane met and exchanged a breathless embrace. Something awful has happened. Panted Emma Jane. Don't tell me it's broken. exclaimed Rebecca. No, oh no, not that. It was packed on straw and every piece came all, all right?

Starting point is 03:31:36 And I was there. And I never said a single thing about your selling the 300 cakes that got the lamp so that we could be together when you told. Are selling the 300 kicks. Corrected, Rebecca. You did as much as I. No, I didn't, Rebecca, Randall. I just sat at the gate and held a horse.

Starting point is 03:31:55 Yes, but whose horse was it that took us to North Riverboro? Besides, it just happened to me my turn. If you had gone in and found Mr. Aladdin, you would have had the wonderful lamp given to you. What's the trouble? The Simpsons have no kerosene and no wicks. I guess they thought a banquet lamp was something that lighted itself and burned without any help.

Starting point is 03:32:14 "'Cisa has gone to the doctors to try if he can borrow a wick. "'And Mother let me have a pint of oil, "'but she says she won't give me any more. "'We never thought of the expense of keeping up the lamp, Rebecca. "'No, we didn't, but let's not worry about that till after the party. "'I have a handful of nuts and raisins and some apples. "'I have peppermints and maple sugar,' said Emma Jane. "'They had a real Thanksgiving dinner.

Starting point is 03:32:40 "'The doctor gave them sweet potatoes and cranberries and turnips. Father sent a spare rib and Mrs. Cobb a chicken and a jar of mincemeat. At half-past five, one might have looked in at the Simpsons' windows and seen the party at its height. Mrs. Simpson had let the kitchen fire die out and had brought the baby to grace the festal scene. The lamp seemed to be having the party and receiving the guests. The children had taken the one small table in the house, and it was placed in the far corner of the room to serve as a pedestal. On it stood the sacred, the adored, the long-desired object, almost as beautiful, and nearly half as large as the advertisement. The brass glistened like gold,

Starting point is 03:33:29 and the crimson paper shade glowed like a giant ruby. In the wide splash of light that it flung upon the floor sat the Simpsons in reverent and solemn silence, Emma Jane standing behind them, hand in hand with Rebecca. There seemed to be a little to be no desire for conversation. The occasion was too thrilling and serious for that. The lamp, it was tacitly felt by everybody, was dignifying the party, and providing sufficient entertainment simply by its presence,

Starting point is 03:33:59 being fully as satisfactory in its way as a pianola or a string band. I wish father could see it, said Clarabelle, loyally. If he once thought he'd want to thwap it, murmured Susan sagaciously. At the appointed hour, Rebecca dragged yourself reluctantly away from the enchanting scene. I'll turn the lamp out the minute I think you and Emma Jane are home, said Clarabelle. And oh, I'm so glad you both live where you can see it shine from our windows. I wonder how long it will burn without being filled if I only keep it lit one hour every night.

Starting point is 03:34:37 You needn't put it out for want to kerosene, said seesaw, coming in from the shed. "'For there's a great "'cag of it sitting out there. "'Mr. Tubbs brought it over from North Riverboro "'and said somebody sent an order by mail for it.' "'Rebecca squeezed Emma Jane's arm, "'and Emma Jane gave a rapturous return squeeze. "'It was Mr. Aladdin,' whispered Rebecca,

Starting point is 03:35:01 "'as they ran down the path to the gate. "'Seasaw followed them, "'and handsomely offered to see them a piece down the road. "'But Rebecca declined his escort "'with such a decision that he did not not pressed the matter, but went to bed to dream of her instead. In his dreams, flashes of lightning proceeded from both her eyes, and she held a flaming sword in either hand. Rebecca entered the home dining room joyously. The Burnham sisters had gone, and the two aunts were knitting.

Starting point is 03:35:30 It was a heavenly party. She cried, taking off her hat and cape. Go back and see if you have shut the door tight, and then lock it, said Miss Miranda, in her usual, austere manner. It was a heavenly party. Reiterated Rebecca, coming in again, much too excited to be easily crushed. And, oh, Aunt Jane, Aunt Miranda, if you'll only come into the kitchen

Starting point is 03:35:53 and look out of the sink window, you can see the banquet lamp shining all red just as if the Simpson's house was on fire. And probably it will be before long. Observed Miranda. I've got no patience with such foolish go-ins-on. Jane accompanied Rebecca into the kitchen. although the feeble glimmer which she was able to see from that distance did not seem to her a dazzling exhibition she tried to be as enthusiastic as possible rebecca who was it that sold the three hundred cakes of soap to mr ladd in north riverborough mr who exclaimed rebecca mr ladd in north riverborough is that his real name queried rebecca in astonishment i didn't make a bad guess and she laughed softly to herself

Starting point is 03:36:39 I asked you who sold the soap to Adam Ladd. Resumed, Miss Jane. Adam Ladd, then he's A-lad, too. What fun! Answer me, Rebecca. Oh, excuse me, Aunt Jane, I was so busy thinking. Emma Jane and I sold the soap to Mr. Lad. Did you tease him or make him buy it? Now, Aunt Jane, how could I make a big, grown-up man buy anything if he didn't want to?

Starting point is 03:37:03 He needed the soap dreadfully as a present for his aunt. Miss Jane still looked a little unconvinced, though she did not. She only said, "'I hope your Aunt Miranda won't mind, but you know how particular she is, Rebecca, and I really wish you wouldn't do anything out of the ordinary without asking her first, for your actions are very queer.' "'There can't be anything wrong this time,' Rebecca answered confidently.

Starting point is 03:37:28 Emma Jane sold her cakes to her own relations and to Uncle Jerry Cobb, and I went first to this new tenements near the lumber mill, and then to the lads. Mr. Ladd bought all we had and made us promise to keep the secret until the premium, came, and I've been going about ever since as if the banquet lamp was inside of me, I'll light it up and burning for everybody to see. Rebecca's hair was loosened and falling over her forehead in ruffled waves. Her eyes were brilliant, her cheeks crimson. There was a hint of everything in the girl's face, of sensitiveness

Starting point is 03:37:56 and delicacy, as well as of ardor. There was the sweetness of the mayflower and the strength of the young oak, but one could easily divine that she was one of the souls by nature pitched too high. by suffering plunged to low. That's just the way you look, for all the world as if you did have a lamp burning inside of you. Side Aunt Jane. Rebecca, Rebecca, I wish you could take things easier, child. I am fearful for you sometimes. End of Chapter 15.

Starting point is 03:38:36 Chapter 16 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin Chapter 16

Starting point is 03:38:54 Seasons of Growth The days flew by As summer had melted into autumn, so autumn had given place to winter. Life in the brick house had gone on more placidly of late, for Rebecca was honestly trying to be more careful

Starting point is 03:39:11 in the performance of her tasks and duties, as well as more quiet in her plays, and she was slowly learning the power of the soft answer in turning away wrath. Miranda had not had, perhaps quite as many opportunities in which to lose her temper, but it is only just to say that she had not fully availed herself of all that had offered themselves. There had been one outburst of righteous wrath occasioned by Rebecca's over-hospitable habits, which were later shown in a still more dramatic and unexpected fashion. On a certain Friday afternoon, she asked her Aunt Miranda if she might take half her bread and milk upstairs to a friend.

Starting point is 03:39:52 What friend have you got up there, for pity's sake? Demanded Aunt Miranda. The Simpson baby comes stay over Sunday. That is, if you're willing, Mrs. Simpson says she is. Shall I bring her down and show her? She's dressed in an old dress of Emma Jane's and she looks sweet. You can bring her down, but you can't show her to me. You can smuggle her out the way you smuggled her in and take her.

Starting point is 03:40:15 take her back to her mother. Where on earth do you get your notions, borrowing a baby for Sunday? You're so used to a house without a baby, you don't know how dull it is. sighed Rebecca resignedly, as she moved towards the door. But at the farm there was always a nice fresh one to play with and cuddle. There were too many, but that's not half as bad as none at all. Well, I'll take her back. She'll be dreadfully disappointed and so will Mrs. Simpson. She was planning to go to Meltown. She can unplan then. observed Miss Miranda.

Starting point is 03:40:46 Perhaps I can go up there and take care of the baby. Suggested Rebecca. I brought her home so I could do my Saturday work just the same. You've got enough to do right here without any borrowed babies to make more steps. Now, no answering back. Just give the child some supper and carry it home where it belongs. You don't want me to go down the front way. Hadn't I better just come through this room and let you look at her?

Starting point is 03:41:09 She has yellow hair and big blue eyes. Mrs. Simpson says she takes after her father. Miss Miranda smiled acidly, as she said, she couldn't take after her father, for he'd take anything there was before she got there. Aunt Jane was in the linen closet upstairs, sorting out the clean sheets and pillowcases for Saturday, and Rebecca sought comfort from her. I brought the Simpson baby home, Aunt Jane, thinking it would help us over a dull Sunday, but Aunt Miranda won't let her stay. Imagine is the promise of her next Sunday and Alice Robinson the next. Mrs. Simpson wanted I should have her first because I've had so much experience. and babies. Come in and look at her sitting up in my bed, Aunt Jane. Isn't she lovely? She's the fat, gurgly kind, not thin and fussy like some babies, and I thought I was going to have

Starting point is 03:41:51 her to undress and dress twice each day. Oh dear, I wish I could have a printed book with everything set down in it that I could do, and then I wouldn't get disappointed so often. No book could be printed that would fit you, Rebecca, answered Aunt Jane. For nobody could imagine beforehand the things you'd want to do. Are you going to carry that heavy child home? and your arms? No, I'm going to drag her in the little soap wagon. Come, baby, take your thumb out of your mouth and come to ride with Becky in your go-cart. She stretched out her strong young arms to the growing baby, sat down in a chair with the child,

Starting point is 03:42:27 turned her upside down unceremoniously, took from her waistband and scornfully flung away a crooked pin, walked with her, still in a highly reversed position, to the bureau, selected a large safety pin and proceeded to attach her brief red flannel petticoat to a sort of shirt that she wore. Whether flat on her stomach or head down heels in the air, the Simpson baby knew she was in the hands of an expert and continued gurgling placidly while Aunt Jane regarded the pantomime with a kind of dazed awe. Bless my soul, Rebecca. She ejaculated. It beats all how handy you are with babies. I ought to be. I've brought up three and a half of them. Rebecca responded cheerfully, pulling up the infant Simpson's stockings.

Starting point is 03:43:14 I should think you'd be fonder of dolls than you are, said Jane. I do like them, but there's never any change in a doll. It's always the same everlasting old doll, and you have to make believe it's cross or sick or it loves you or can't bear you. Babies are more troubled, but nicer. Miss Jane stretched out a thin hand with a slender worn band of gold on the finger, and the baby curled her dimpled fingers round it and held it fast. You wear a ring on your engagement finger, don't you, Aunt Jane?

Starting point is 03:43:42 Did you ever think about getting married? Yes, dear. Long ago. What happened, Aunt Jane? He died just before. Oh! And Rebecca's eyes grew misty. He was a soldier, and he died of a gunshot wound, in a hospital, down south. Oh, Aunt Jane!

Starting point is 03:44:04 Softly. Away from you? No, I was with him. Was he young? Yes, young and brave and handsome, Rebecca. He was Mr. Carter's brother, Tom. Oh, I'm so glad you were with him. Wasn't he glad, Aunt Jane? Jane looked back across the half-forgotten ears, and the vision of Tom's gladness flashed upon her, his haggard smile, the tears in his tired eyes, his outstretched arms, his weak voice, saying,

Starting point is 03:44:36 Oh, Jenny, dear Jenny, I've wanted you so much. Jenny? It was too much. She had never breathed the word of it before to a human creature, for there was no one who would have understood. Now, in a shame-faced way, to hide her brimming eyes, she put her head down on the young shoulder beside her, saying, It was hard, Rebecca. The Simpson baby had cuddled down sleepily in Rebecca's lap, leaning her head back and sucking her thumb contentedly. Rebecca put her cheek down, until it touched her aunt's gray hair and softly patted her, as she said. I'm sorry, Aunt Jane.

Starting point is 03:45:17 The girl's eyes were soft and tender, and the heart within her stretched a little and grew, grew in sweetness and intuition and depth of feeling. It had looked into another heart, felt it beat, and heard it sigh. And that is how all hearts grow. episodes like these enlivened the quiet course of everyday existence, made more quiet by the departure of Dick Carter, Living Perkins and Holden-Meserve, for Wareham, and the small attendance at the winter school, from which the younger children of the place stayed away during the cold weather. Life, however, could never be thoroughly dull, or lacking an adventure to a child of Rebecca's

Starting point is 03:46:02 temperament. Her nature was full of adaptability, fluidity, receptivity. She made friends everywhere she went and snatched up acquaintances in every corner. It was she who ran to the shed door to take the dish to the meat man or fishman, she who knew the family histories of the itinerant fruit vendors and tin paddlers. She who was asked to take supper or pass the night with children in neighboring villages, children of whose parents her aunts had never so much as heard. As to the nature of these friendships, which seem so many, to the eye of the superficial observer,

Starting point is 03:46:39 they were of various kinds, and while the girl pursued them with enthusiasm and ardor, they left her unsatisfied and heart-hungry. They were never intimacies, such as are so readily made by shallow natures. She loved Emma Jane, but it was a friendship born of propinquity and circumstance,

Starting point is 03:46:58 not of true affinity. It was her neighbor's amiability, constancy, and devotion that she loved, and although she rated these qualities at their true value, she was always searching beyond them for intellectual treasures, searching, and never finding. For although Emma Jane had the advantage in years, she was still immature.

Starting point is 03:47:22 Holden-Azerve had an instinctive love of fun which appealed to Rebecca. She also had a fascinating knowledge of the world from having visited her married sisters in Milltown and Portland, but on the other hand, there was a certain sharpness and lack of sympathy in Holda, which repelled rather than attracted. With Dick Carter, she could at least talk intelligently about lessons. He was a very ambitious boy, full of plans for his future, which he discussed quite freely with Rebecca, but when she broached the subject of her future, his interest sensibly lessened.

Starting point is 03:47:58 Into the world of the ideal, Emma Jane, Holda, and Dick alike never seemed to have peeped, and the consciousness of this was always a fixed gulf between them and Rebecca. Uncle Jerry and Aunt Sarah Cobb were dear friends of quite another sort, a very satisfying and perhaps a somewhat dangerous one. A visit from Rebecca always sent them into a Twitter of delight. Her merry conversation and quaint comments on life in general fairly dazzled the old couple who hung on her lightest word as if it had been a prophet's utterance,

Starting point is 03:48:33 and Rebecca, though she had had no previous experience, owned to herself a perilous pleasure in being dazzling, even to a couple of dear humdrum old people, like Mr. and Mrs. Cobb. Aunt Sarah flew to the pantry or cellar whenever Rebecca's slim little shape first appeared on the crest of the hill, and a jelly tart or a frosted cake was sure to be forthcoming. The sight of old Uncle Jerry's spare figure in its clean white shirt sleeves, whatever the wreaths, weather, always made Rebecca's heart warm when she saw him peer longingly from the kitchen window. Before the snow came, many was the time he had come out to sit on a pile of boards at the gate, to see if, by any chance, she was mounting the hill that led to their house. In the autumn, Rebecca was often the old man's companion while he was digging potatoes or shelling beans. And now, in the winter, when a younger man was driving the stage, she sometimes stayed with

Starting point is 03:49:31 him while he did his evening milking. It is safe to say that he was the only creature in Riverboro who possessed Rebecca's entire confidence, the only being to whom she poured out her whole heart with its wealth of hopes and dreams and vague ambitions. At the brick house she practiced scales and exercises, but at the Cobb's cabinet organ, she sang like a bird, improvising simple accompaniments that seemed to her ignorant auditors nothing short of marvelous. Here she was happy. Here she was loved. Here she was drawn out of herself and admired and made much of. But she thought if there were somebody who not only loved but understood, who spoke her language, comprehended her desires, and responded to her mysterious longings.

Starting point is 03:50:24 Perhaps in the big world of Wareham, there would be people who thought, thought and dreamed and wondered as she did. In reality, Jane did not understand her niece very much better than Miranda. The difference between the sisters was that while Jane was puzzled, she was also attracted, and when she was quite in the dark for an explanation of some quaint or unusual action, she was sympathetic as to its possible motive and believed the best. A greater change had come over Jane than over any other person in the brick house, but it had been wrought so secretly and concealed so religiously that it scarcely appeared to the ordinary observer. Life had now a motive utterly lacking before. Breakfast was not eaten in the kitchen because it seemed

Starting point is 03:51:12 worthwhile, now that there were three persons, to lay the cloth in the dining room. It was also a more bountiful meal than of your when there was no child to consider. The morning was made cheerful by Rebecca's start for school, the packing of the luncheon basket, the final word about umbrella, waterproof, or rubbers, the parting admonition, and the unconscious waiting at the window for the last wave of the hand. She found herself taking pride in Rebecca's improved appearance, her rounder throat and cheeks, and her better color. She was wont to mention the length of Rebecca's hair and add a word as to its remarkable evenness and luster, at times when Mrs. Perkins grew two diffuse about Emma Jane's complexion.

Starting point is 03:51:58 She threw herself wholeheartedly on her niece's side when it became a question between a crimson or a brown, Lindsay, woolly dress, and went through a memorable struggle with her sister concerning the purchase of a red bird for Rebecca's black felt hat. No one guessed the quiet pleasure that lay hidden in her heart when she watched the girl's dark head bent over her lessons at night, nor dreamed of her joy at, it. certain quiet evenings when Miranda went to prayer meeting. Evenings when Rebecca would read aloud Hiawatha or Barbara Frichie, the bugle song or the brook. Her narrow humdrum existence bloomed under the dues that fell from this fresh spirit. Her dullness brightened under the

Starting point is 03:52:45 kindling touch of the younger mind, took fire from the vital spark of heavenly flame that seemed always to radiate from Rebecca's presence. Rebecca's idea of being a painter, like her friend Miss Ross, was gradually receding, owing to the apparently inseparable difficulties in securing any instruction. Her Aunt Miranda saw no wisdom in cultivating such a talent, and could not conceive that any money could ever be earned by its exercise. Hand-painted pictures were held in little esteem in Riverboro, where the cheerful chromo or the dignified steel engraving were respected and valued. There was a slight, a very

Starting point is 03:53:26 slight hope that Rebecca might be allowed a few music lessons from Miss Morton, who played the church cabinet organ, but this depended entirely upon whether Mrs. Morton would decide to accept a hay rack in return for a year's instruction from her daughter. She had the matter under advisement, but a doubt as to whether or not she would sell or rent her hayfields kept her from coming to a conclusion. Music, in common with other accomplishments, was viewed by Miss Miranda as a trivial, useless, and foolish amusement, but she allowed Rebecca an hour a day for practice on the old piano and a little extra time for lessons, if Jane could secure them without payment of actual cash. The news from Sunnybrook Farm was hopeful rather than otherwise. Cousin Anne's husband had died,

Starting point is 03:54:15 and John, Rebecca's favorite brother, had gone to be the man of the house to the widowed cousin. He was to have good schooling in return for his care of the horse and cow and barn, and what was still more dazzling, the use of the old doctor's medical library of two or three dozen volumes. John's whole heart was set on becoming a country doctor, with Rebecca to keep house for him, and the vision seemed to now so true, so near, that he could almost imagine his horse plowing through snowdrifts on errands of mercy, or, less dramatic, but nonetheless attractive, could see a physician's neat turn-cut, trundling along the shady country roads,

Starting point is 03:54:59 a medicine case between his, Dr. Randall's feet, and Miss Rebecca Randall, sitting in a black silk dress by his side. Hannah now wore her hair in a coil, and her dresses a trifle below her ankles. these concessions being due to her extreme height. Mark had broken his collarbone, but it was healing well. Little Mira was growing very pretty. There was even a rumor that the projected railroad from temperance to Plumville might go near the Randall farm, in which case land would rise in value from nothing at all an acre to something at least resembling a price.

Starting point is 03:55:38 Mrs. Randall refused to consider any improvement in their financial condition as a possibility. content to work from sunrise to sunset to gain a mere subsistence for her children. She lived in their future, not in her own present, as a mother is wont to do when her own lot seems hard and cheerless. End of Chapter 16. Chapter 17 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 03:56:16 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox. Vox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 17. Gray Days and Gold When Rebecca looked back upon the year or two that followed the Simpsons' Thanksgiving party, she could see only certain milestones rising in the quiet pathway of the months. The first milestone was Christmas Day. It was a fresh crystal morning with icicles hanging like dazzling pendants from the trees

Starting point is 03:56:48 and a glaze of pale blue on the surface of the snow. The Simpsons' red barn stood out, a glowing mass of color in the white landscape. Rebecca had been busy for weeks before, trying to make a present for each of the seven persons at Sunnybrook Farm, a somewhat difficult proceeding on an expenditure of 50 cents, hoarded by incredible exertion. Success had been achieved, however,

Starting point is 03:57:14 and the precious packet had been sent by post, two days previous. Miss Sawyer had bought her niece a nice gray squirrel muff and tippet, which was even more unbecoming, if possible, than Rebecca's other articles of wearing apparel. But Aunt Jane had made her the loveliest dress of green cashmere, a soft, soft green, like that of a young leaf. It was very simply made, but the color delighted the eye. Then there was a beautiful tatting collar from her mother, some scarlet mittens from Mrs. Cobb, and a handkerchief from Emma Jane. Rebecca herself had fashioned an elaborate T-cozy with a letter M in outlined stitch, and a pretty frilled pincushion marked with a J for her two aunts, so that taken altogether the day would have been an unequivocal success,

Starting point is 03:58:09 had nothing else happened, but something else did. There was a knock at the door at breakfast time, and Rebecca, answering it, was asked by a boy if Miss Rebecca Randall lived there. On being told that she did, he handed her a parcel bearing her name, a parcel which she took like one in a dream and bore into the dining room. It's a present. It must be, she said, looking at it in a dazed sort of way. But I can't think who it could be from. Good way to find out would be to open it. Remarked Miss Miranda. The parcel being untied proved to have two smaller packages within,

Starting point is 03:58:50 and Rebecca opened with trembling fingers the one addressed to her. Anybody's fingers would have trembled. There was a case which, when the cover was lifted, disclosed a long chain of delicate pink coral beads, a chain ending in a cross made of coral rosebuds. A card with Merry Christmas from Mr. Aladdin Lay under the cross

Starting point is 03:59:13 Of all things exclaimed the two old ladies rising in their seats Who sent it? Mr. Ladd said Rebecca under her breath Adam Ladd Well I never Don't you remember Ellen Burnham said he was going to send Rebecca a Christmas

Starting point is 03:59:33 present but I never supposed He'd think of it again said Jane. What's the other package? It proved to be a silver chain with a blue enamel locket on it, marked for Emma Jane. That added the last touch. To have him remember them both. There was a letter also, which ran.

Starting point is 03:59:55 Dear Miss Rebecca Rowena, My idea of a Christmas present is something entirely unnecessary and useless. I have always noticed when I give this sort of thing that people love it, so I hope I have not chosen wrong for you and your friend. You must wear your chain this afternoon, please, and let me see it on your neck, for I am coming over in my own new sleigh to take you both to drive. My aunt is delighted with the soap. Sincerely your friend, Adam Latt. Well, well, cried Miss Jane. Isn't that kind of him? He's very fond of children, Liddy Burnham says. Now eat your breakfast, Rebecca, and after you.

Starting point is 04:00:35 we've done the dishes, you can run over to Emma's and give her her chain. What's the matter, child? Rebecca's emotions seemed always to be stored, as it were, in adjoining compartments, and to be continually getting mixed. At this moment, though her joy was too deep for words, her bread and butter almost choked her, and at intervals a tear stole furtively down her cheek. Mr. Ladd called, as he promised, and made the acquaintance of the aunts, understanding them both in five minutes, as well as if he had known

Starting point is 04:01:12 them for years. On a footstool near the open fire sat Rebecca, silent and shy, so conscious of her fine apparel and the presence of Aunt Miranda that she could not utter a word. It was one of her beauty days. Happiness, excitement, the color of the green dress, and the touch of lovely pink in the coral necklace had transformed the little brown wren for the time into a bird of plumage, and Adam Ladd watched her with evident satisfaction. Then there was a sleigh-ride, during which she found her tongue and chatted like any magpie, and so ended that glorious Christmas day. And many a night thereafter did Rebecca go to sleep with the precious coral chain under her pillow,

Starting point is 04:02:03 one hand always upon it to be certain that it was safe. Another milestone was the departure of the Simpsons from Riverboro, bag and baggage, the banquet lamp being their most conspicuous possession. It was delightful to be rid of Seesaw's hateful presence, but otherwise the loss of several playmates at one fell swoop made rather a gap in Riverboro's younger set, and Rebecca was obliged to make friends with the Robinson baby, he being the only long-clothes child in the village that winter.

Starting point is 04:02:37 The faithful seesaw had called at the side door of the brick house on the evening before his departure, and when Rebecca answered his knock, stammered solemnly, Can I keep company with you when you grow up? Certainly not. Replied Rebecca, closing the door somewhat too speedily upon her precocious swain. Mr. Simpson had come home in time to move his wife and children back to the town that had given them birth, a town by no means waiting with open arms to receive them. The Simpsons' moving was presided over by the village authorities

Starting point is 04:03:15 and somewhat anxiously watched by the entire neighborhood, but in spite of all precautions, a pulpit chair, several kerosene lamps, and a small stove disappeared from the church and were successfully swapped in the course of Mr. Simpsons driving tour from the old home to the new. It gave Rebecca and Emma Jane some hours of sorrow to learn that a certain village in the wake of Apner Simpson's line of progress had acquired through the medium of an ambitious young minister a magnificent lamp for its new church parlors. No money changed hands in the operation, for the minister succeeded in getting the lamp in return for an old bicycle. The only pleasant feature of the whole affair,

Starting point is 04:04:00 was that Mr. Simpson, wholly unable to console his offspring for the loss of the beloved object, mounted the bicycle, and rode away on it, not to be seen or heard of again for many a long day. The year was notable also as being the one in which Rebecca shot up like a young tree. She had seemingly never grown an inch since she was ten years old, but once started, she attended to growing, precisely as she did other things, with such energy that Miss Jane did nothing for the months but lengthen skirts, sleeves, and waists. In spite of all the arts known to a thrifty New England woman,

Starting point is 04:04:40 the limit of letting down and piercing down was reached at last, and the dresses were sent to Sunnybrook Farm to be made over for Jenny. There was another milestone, a sad one, marking a little grave under a willow tree at Sunnybrook Farm. Mira, the baby of the Randall family, died, and Rebecca went home for a fortnight's visit. The sight of the small, still shape that had been Mira, the baby, who had been her special charge ever since her birth, woke into being a host of new thoughts and wonderments, for it is sometimes the mystery of death that brings one to a consciousness of the still greater mystery of life.

Starting point is 04:05:22 It was a sorrowful homecoming for Rebecca. The death of Mira, the absence of John, who had been her special comrade, the sadness of her mother, the isolation of the little house, and the pinching economies that went on within it, all conspired to depress a child who was so sensitive to beauty and harmony as Rebecca. Hannah seemed to have grown into a woman during Rebecca's absence. There had always been a strange, unchildlike air about Hannah, but in certain ways she now appeared older than Aunt Jane, soberer, and more settled. She was pretty, though in a colorless fashion, pretty and capable. Rebecca walked through all the old playgrounds and favorite haunts of her early childhood, all her familiar, her secret places, some of them known to John, some to herself alone.

Starting point is 04:06:16 There was a spot where the Indian pipes grew, the particular bit of marshy ground where the fringe gentians used to be largest and bluest, the rock maple where she found the orioles nest, the hedge where the field mice lived, the moss-covered stump where the white toadstools were wont to spring up as if by magic, the hole at the root of the old pine where an ancient and honorable toad made his home. These were the landmarks of her childhood, and she looked at them as across an immeasurable distance. The dear little Sunnybrook, her chief companion after John, was sorry company at this season. There was no laughing water sparkling in the sunshine.

Starting point is 04:07:04 In summer, the merry stream had danced over white pebbles on its way to deep pools, where it could be still and think. Now, like Mira, it was cold and quiet, wrapped in its shroud of snow. But Rebecca knelt by the brink, and putting her ear to the glaze of ice, fancied, where it used to be deepest, she could hear a faint tinkling sound. It was all right.

Starting point is 04:07:32 Sunnybrook would sing again in the spring. Perhaps Mira too would have her singing time somewhere. She wondered where, and how. In the course of these lonely rambles, she was ever thinking, thinking of one subject. Hannah had never had a chance, never been freed from the daily care and work of the farm. She, Rebecca, had enjoyed all the privileges thus far. Life at the brick house had not been by any means a path of roses, but there had been comfort and the companionship of other children, as well as chance of for study and reading. Riverboro had not been the world itself, but it had been a glimpse of it

Starting point is 04:08:18 through a tiny peephole that was infinitely better than nothing. Rebecca shed more than one quiet tear before she could trust herself to offer up as a sacrifice, that which she so much desired for herself. Then, one morning, as her visit neared its end, she plunged into the subject boldly and said, Hannah, after this term, I'm going to stay at home and let you go away. Aunt Miranda has always wanted you, and it's only fair you should have your turn. Hannah was Darning Stockings, and she threaded her needle and snipped off the yarn before she answered. No thank you, Becky.

Starting point is 04:08:58 Mother couldn't do without me, and I hate going to school. I can read and write and cipher as well as anybody now, and that's enough for me. I die rather than teach school for a living. The winner will go fast, for Will Melville is going to lend me his mother's sewing machine, and I'm going to make white petticoats out of the piece of Missalyn, Aunt Jane sent, and have him just solid with tucks. Then there's going to be a singing school and a social circle in temperance after New Year's, and I shall have a real good time now I'm grown up.

Starting point is 04:09:31 I'm not one to be lonesome, Becky. Hannah ended with a blush. love this place. Rebecca saw that she was speaking the truth, but she did not understand the blush till a year or two later. End of Chapter 17.

Starting point is 04:09:54 Chapter 18 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 18. Rebecca represents the family.

Starting point is 04:10:17 There was another milestone. It was more than that. It was an event. An event that made a deep impression in several quarters and left a wake of smaller events in its train. This was the coming to Riverboro of the Reverend Amos Birch and his wife, returned missionaries from Syria. The Aid Society had called its meeting for a certain Wednesday and March of the year in which Rebecca ended her Riverboro school days and began her studies at Wareham. It was a raw blustering day, snow on the ground and a look in the sky of more to follow. Both Miranda and Jane had taken cold and decided that they could not leave the house in such weather, and this deflection from the path of duty worried Miranda since she was an officer of the society.

Starting point is 04:11:03 After making the breakfast table sufficiently uncomfortable and wishing plaintively that Jane wouldn't always insist on being sick at the same time she was, she decided that Rebecca must go to the meeting in their stead. You'll be better than nobody, Rebecca. She said, flatteringly. Your Aunt Jane shall write an excuse from afternoon school for you. You can wear your rubber boots and come home by way of the meeting house. This Mr. Birch, if I remember right,

Starting point is 04:11:33 used to know your grandfather Sawyer and stayed here once when he was candidatin. He'll maybe look for us there, and you must just go and represent the family and give him our respects. Be careful how you behave. Bow your head in prayer, sing all the hymns, but not too loud and bold.

Starting point is 04:11:53 Ask after Miss Strouts, boy. Tell everybody what awful colds we've got. If you see a good chance, take your pocket handkerchief and wipe the dust off the melodian before the meeting begins. and get 25 cents out of the sitting-room matchbox, in case there should be a collection. Rebecca willingly assented. Anything interested her, even a village missionary meeting,

Starting point is 04:12:17 and the idea of representing the family was rather intoxicating. The service was held in the Sunday school room, and although the Reverend Mr. Birch was on the platform when Rebecca entered, there were only a dozen persons present. Feeling a little shy and considerably too young for this assembly, Rebecca sought the shelter of a friendly face, and seeing Mrs. Robinson in one of the side seats near the front, she walked up the aisle and sat beside her.

Starting point is 04:12:46 Both my aunts had bad colds, she said softly, and sent me to represent the family. That's Mrs. Birch on the platform with her husband, whispered Mrs. Robinson. She's awful tanned up, ain't she? If you're going to save souls, seems like you have to part with your complexion.

Starting point is 04:13:05 eudoxy morden ain't come yet i hope to the land she will or miss deacon milliken'll pitch the tunes where we can't reach em with a ladder can't you pitch afore she gets her breath and clears her throat mrs birch was a slim frail little woman with dark hair a broad low forehead and patient mouth she was dressed in a well-worn black silk and looked so tired that rebecca's heart went out to her "'They are poor as Job's turkey,' whispered Mrs. Robinson. "'But if you give them anything, they'd turn right round and give it to the heathen. His congregation up to Parsonsfield clubs together and give him that gold watch he carries. I suppose he'd handed that over to, only heathens always tell time by the sun and don't need watches. Udixie ain't coming. Now for Massey's sake, Rebecca, do get ahead of Miss Deacon Milliken and pitch real low.

Starting point is 04:14:03 The meeting began with a prayer, and then the Reverend Mr. Birch announced, to the tune of Menden. Church of our God, I arise and shine, bright with the beams of truth divine, then shall thy radiant stream afar, wide as the heathens nations are, Gentiles and kings thy light shall view And shall admire and love thee too They come like clouds across the sky As doves that to their windows fly Is there anyone present who will assist us at the instrument?

Starting point is 04:14:58 He asked unexpectedly. Everybody looked at everybody else, and nobody moved. Then there came a voice out of a far corner saying informally, Rebecca, why don't you? It was Mrs. Cobb. Rebecca could have played Mendon in the dark, so she went to the Melodian and did so without any ado, no member of her family being present to give her self-consciousness.

Starting point is 04:15:26 The talk that ensued was much the moment. the usual sort of thing. Mr. Birch made impassioned appeals for the spreading of the gospel, and added his entreaties that all who were prevented from visiting in person the peoples who sat in darkness should contribute liberally to the support of others who could. But he did more than this. He was a pleasant, earnest speaker, and he interwove his discourse with stories of life in a foreign land, of the manners, the customs, the speech, the point of view, even giving glist's of the daily round, the common task of his own household, the work of his devoted helpmate, and their little group of children, all born under Syrian skies.

Starting point is 04:16:10 Rebecca sat entranced, having been given the key of another world. Riverboro had faded, the Sunday school room with Mrs. Robinson's red plaid shawl, and Deacon Milligan's wig on crooked, the bare benches and torn hymn books. The hanging texts and maps were no longer visible, and she saw blue skies and burning stars, white turbans and gay colors. Mr. Birch had not said so, but perhaps there were mosques and temples and minarets and date palms. What stories they must know, those children born under the Syrian skies. Then she was called upon to play, Jesus shall reign wherever the sun. The contribution box was passed and Mr. Birch prayed.

Starting point is 04:16:54 As he opened his eyes and gave out the last hymn, he looked at the handful of people, at the scattered pennies and dimes in the contribution box, and reflected that his mission was not only to gather funds for the building of his church, but to keep alive in all these remote and lonely neighborhoods that love for the cause which was its only hope in the years to come. If any of the sisters will provide entertainment, he said, Mrs. Birch and I will remain among you for tonight and tomorrow.

Starting point is 04:17:28 In that event, we could hold a parlor meeting. My wife and one of my children would wear the native costume. We would display some specimens of Syrian handiwork and give an account of our educational methods with the children. These informal parlor meetings, admitting of questions or conversation are often the means of interesting those not commonly found at church services. So, I repeat, if any member of the congregation desires it and offers her hospitality, we will gladly stay and tell you more of the Lord's work.

Starting point is 04:18:14 A Paul of Silence settled over the Little Assembly. there was some cogent reason why every sister there was disinclined for company. Some had no spare room. Some had a larder less well-stocked than usual. Some had a sickness in the family. Some were unequally yoked together with unbelievers who disliked strange ministers. Mrs. Birch's thin hands fingered her black silk nervously. But no one speak, thought Rebecca, her heart fluttering with sympathy.

Starting point is 04:18:47 Mrs. Robinson leaned over and whispered significantly. The missionaries always used to be entertained at the brick house. Your grandfather never would let him sleep anywhere else while he was alive. She meant this for a stab at Miss Miranda's parsimony, remembering the four spare chambers closed from January to December. But Rebecca thought it was intended as a suggestion. If it had been a former custom, perhaps her aunts would want her to do the right thing. for what else was she representing the family so delighted that her duty lay in so pleasant a direction she rose from her seat and said in the pretty voice and with the quaint manner that so separated her from all the other young people in the village

Starting point is 04:19:33 my aunts miss miranda and miss jane sawyer would be very happy to have you visit them at the brick house as the ministers always used to do when their father was alive they sent their respects by me the respects might have been the freedom of the city or an equestrian statue, when presented in this way, and the ants would have shuddered could they have foreseen the manner of delivery. But it was vastly impressive to the audience, who concluded that Miranda Sawyer must be making her way uncommonly fast to mansions in the skies. Else, what meant this abrupt change of heart? Mr. Birch bowed courteously, accepted the invitation in the same spirit in which it was offered, and asked Brother Milliken to lead in prayer.

Starting point is 04:20:16 If the eternal ear could ever tire, it would have ceased long ere this to listen to Deacon Milliken, who had wafted to the throne of grace the same prayer, with slight variations, for forty years. Mrs. Perkins followed. She had several petitions at her command, good, sincere ones too, but a little cut and dried, made of scripture texts, laboriously woven together. Rebecca wondered why she always ended, at the most peaceful seasons, With the form, do thou be with us, God of battles, while we strive onward like Christian soldiers marching as to war. But everything sounded real to her today. She was in a devout mood, and many things Mr. Birch had said, had moved her strangely. As she lifted her head, the minister looked directly

Starting point is 04:21:07 at her and said, Will our young sister close the service by leading us in prayer? Every drop of blood in Rebecca's body seemed to stand still, and her heart almost stopped beating. Mrs. Cobb's excited breathing could be heard distinctly in the silence. There was nothing extraordinary in Mr. Birch's request. In his journeyings among country congregations, he was constantly in the habit of meeting young members who had experienced religion and joined the church when nine or ten years old. Rebecca was now 13.

Starting point is 04:21:41 She had played the melodian, led the singing, delivered her aunt's invitation with an air of great worldly wisdom, and he, concluding that she must be a youthful pillar of the church, called upon her with the utmost simplicity. Rebecca's plight was pathetic. How could she refuse? How could she explain she was not a member? How could she pray before all those elderly women? John Rogers at the steak hardly suffered more than this poor child for the moment as she rose to her feet, forgetting that ladies prayed sitting while deacons stood in prayer. Her mind was a maze of pictures that the Reverend Mr. Birch had flung on the screen. She knew the conventional phraseology, of course.

Starting point is 04:22:28 What New England child, accustomed to Wednesday evening meetings, does not, but her own secret prayers were different. However, she began slowly and turned. Remilessly. Our father, who art in heaven, thou art God in Syria just the same as in Maine. Over there today are blue skies and yellow stars and burning suns. The great trees are waving in the warm air, while here the snow life's thick under our feet. But no distance is too far for God to travel, and so he is with us here as he is with them there,

Starting point is 04:22:58 and our thoughts rise to him as dove set to their windows fly. We cannot all be missionaries teaching people to be good. Some of us have not learned yet how to be good ourselves, but if thy kingdom is to come and thy will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven, everybody must try and everybody must help, those who are old and tired and those who are young and strong, the little children of whom we have heard, those born under Syrian skies, have strange and interesting work to do for thee,

Starting point is 04:23:24 and some of us would like to travel in far lands and do wonderful brave things for the heathen and gently take away their idols of wood and stone. But perhaps we have to stay at home and do what has given us to do, sometimes even things we dislike. But that must be what it means in the hymn we sing, when we talked about the sweet perfume that rises with every morning sacrifice. This is the way that God teaches us to be meek and patient, and the thought that he is ruled us so should wob us of our fears and help us bear the years. Amen. Poor little ignorant, fantastic child. Her petition was simply a succession of lines from the various

Starting point is 04:23:58 hymns and images the minister had used in his sermon, but she had her own way of, of recombining and applying these things, even of using them in a new connection, so that they had a curious effect of belonging to her. The words of some people might generally be written with a minus sign after them, the minus meaning that the personality of the speaker subtracted from rather than added to their weight. But Rebecca's words might always have borne the plus sign. The Amen said, she sat down, or presumed she sat down, on what she believed, to be a bench, and there was a benediction. In a moment or two, when the room ceased spinning, she went up to Mrs. Birch, who kissed her affectionately and said,

Starting point is 04:24:45 My dear, how glad I am that we are going to stay with you. Will half-past five be too late for us to come? It is three now, and we have to go to the station for our valise and for our children. We left them there, being uncertain whether we should go back or stop here. Rebecca said that half-past five was their supper hour, and then accepted an invitation to drive home with Mrs. Cobb. Her face was flushed, and her lip quivered in a way that Aunt Sarah had learned to know, so the Homeward Drive was taken almost in silence. The bleak wind in Aunt Sarah's quieting presence brought her back to herself, however, and she entered the Brick House cheerily. Being too full of news to wait in the side entry to take off her rubber boots, she carefully listened,

Starting point is 04:25:31 lifted a braided rug into the sitting room and stood on that while she opened her budget. There are your shoes warming by the fire, said Aunt Jane. Slip them right on while you talk. End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information to volunteer, please visit Librabox.org.

Starting point is 04:26:04 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas. Liggin, Chapter 19, Deacon Israel's successor. It was a very small meeting, Aunt Miranda. Began, Rebecca. And the missionary and his wife are lovely people, and they are coming here to stay all night and tomorrow with you. I hope you won't mind. Coming here, exclaimed Miranda, letting her knitting fall in her lap and taking her spectacles off,

Starting point is 04:26:30 as she always did in moments of extreme excitement. Did they invite themselves? No. Rebecca answered. I had to invite them for you, but I thought you'd like to have such interesting company. It was this way. Stop your explaining, and tell me first when they'll be here. Right away? No, not for two hours. About half-past five.

Starting point is 04:26:53 Then you could explain, if you can, who gave you any authority to invite a passel of strangers to stop here overnight, when you know we ain't had any company for twenty years, and don't intend to have any for another twenty, or at any rate while I'm the head of the house. Don't blame her, Miranda. Too you've heard her story, said Jane. It was in my mind right along. If we went to the meeting, some such thing might happen, on account of Mr. Birch knowing father.

Starting point is 04:27:24 The meeting was a small one. Began, Rebecca. I gave all your messages, and everybody was disappointed you couldn't come, for the president wasn't there, and Mrs. Matthews took the chair, which was a pity, for the seat wasn't nearly big enough for her, and she reminded me of a line in the hymn that we sing,

Starting point is 04:27:38 why does the heathen nations are, and she wore that kind of a beaver garden hat that always gets on one side. And Mr. Birch talked beautifully about the Syrian heathen, and the singing went real well, and there looked to be about 40 cents in the basket that was passed on our side, and that wouldn't save even a heathen baby, would it?

Starting point is 04:27:54 Then Mr. Birch said, if any sister would offer entertainment, they would pass the night, and have a parlor meeting, I'm in Riverboro tomorrow, with Mrs. Birch and Syrian costume, and lovely foreign things to show. Then he waited and waited, and nobody said a word.

Starting point is 04:28:08 I was so mortified, I didn't know what to do. And then he repeated what he said, and explained why he wanted to stay, and you could see he thought it was his duty. Just then Mrs. Robinson whispered to me and said the missionaries always used to go to the brick house when grandfather was alive, and that he never would let them sleep anywhere else.

Starting point is 04:28:24 I didn't know you had stopped having them because no traveling ministers have been here, except just for a Sunday morning since I came to Riverboro. So I thought I ought to invite them, as you weren't there to do it for yourself, and you told me to represent the family. What did you do? Go up and introduce yourself as folks was going out? No. I stood right up in meeting. I had to, for Mr. Birch's feelings were getting hurt at nobody's speaking. So I said, my aunt's Miss Miranda and Miss Jane Sawyer would be happy to have you visit at the Brick House,

Starting point is 04:28:52 just as the missionaries always did when their father was alive, and they sent their respects by me. Then I sat down, and Mr. Birch prayed for grandfather and called him a man of God, and thanked our Heavenly Father that His Spirit was still alive in his descendants, that was you, and that the good old house where so many of the brethren had been cheered and helped, and from which so many had gone out strengthened for the fight,

Starting point is 04:29:13 was still hospitably open for the stranger and wayfarer. Sometimes, when the heavenly bodies are in just the right conjunction, nature seems to be the most perfect art. The word or the deed coming straight from the heart, without any thought of effect seems inspired. A certain gateway in Miranda Sawyer's soul had been closed for years. Not all at once had it been done, but gradually, and without her full knowledge. If Rebecca had plotted for days and with the utmost cunning,

Starting point is 04:29:51 she could not have affected an entrance into that forbidden country. And now, unknown to both of them, the gate swung on its seat, stiff and rusty hinges, and the favoring wind of opportunity opened it wider and wider as time went on. All things had worked together amazingly for good. The memory of old days had been evoked, and the daily life of a pious and venerated father called to mind. The Sawyer name had been publicly dignified and praised.

Starting point is 04:30:23 Rebecca had comported herself as the granddaughter of Deacon Israel Sawyer should, and showed conclusively that she was not all Randall, as had been supposed. Miranda was rather mollified by and pleased with the turn of events, although she did not intend to show it, or give anybody any reason to expect that this expression of hospitality was to serve for a precedent on any subsequent occasion. Well, I see you did only what you was obliged to do, Rebecca, she said.

Starting point is 04:30:57 And you worded your invoice. invitation as nice as anybody could have done. I wish your Aunt Jane and me wasn't both so worthless with these colds, but it only shows the good of having a clean house with every room in order, whether open or shut, and enough fiddles cooked so you can't be surprised and belittled by anybody, whatever happens. There was half a dozen there that might have entertained the birches as easy as not, if they hadn't have been too mean or lazy. Why didn't your missionaries come right along with you? They had to go to the station for their valise and their children. Are their children?

Starting point is 04:31:34 Growned, Miranda. Yes, Aunt Miranda. All born under Syrian skies. Syrian grandmother. Ejaculated Miranda. And it was not a fact. How many? I didn't think to ask, but I'll get two rooms ready, and if there are any over, I'll take them into my bed. Said Rebecca, secretly hoping that this would be the case.

Starting point is 04:31:56 Now, as you're both half sick, couldn't you trust? me just once to get ready for the company. You can come up when I call, will you? I believe I will. Side Miranda, reluctantly. I'll lay down side of Jane in our bedroom and see if I can get strength to cook supper. It's half-past three. Don't you let me lay a minute past five. I kept a good fire in the kitchen stove. I don't know. I'm sure why I should have baked a pot of beans in the middle of the week, but they'll come in handy. Father used to to say there was nothing that went right to the spot with returned missionaries like pork and beans

Starting point is 04:32:34 and brown bread. Fix up the two south chambers, Rebecca. Rebecca, giving a free hand for the only time in her life, dashed upstairs like a whirlwind. Every room in the brick house was as neat as wax, and she had only to pull up the shades, go over the floors with a whisk broom, and dust the furniture. The ants could hear her scurril. The ants could hear her scurril. burying to and fro, beating up pillows and feather beds, flapping towels, jingling crockery, singing meanwhile in her clear voice. In vain with lavish kindness the gifts are god of strown, the heathen in his blindness bows down to wooden stone.

Starting point is 04:33:19 She had grown to be a handy little creature, and tasks she was capable of doing at all, she did like a flash, so that when she called her aunts at five o'clock to pass judgment, she had accomplished wonders. There were fresh towels on bureaus and washstands, the beds were fair and smooth, the pitchers were filled, and soap and matches were laid out. Newspaper, kindling, and wood were in the boxes, and a large stick burned slowly in each airtight stove. I thought I'd better just take the chill off, she explained. As they're right from Syria, and that reminds me, I must look enough in the geography before they get here. There was nothing to disapprove, so the two sisters went downstairs to make some slight changes in their dress.

Starting point is 04:34:06 As they passed the parlor door, Miranda thought she heard a crackle and looked in. The shades were up, there was a cheerful blaze in the open stove in the front parlor, and a fire laid on the hearth in the back room. Rebecca's own lamp, her second Christmas present from Mr. Aladdin, stood on a marble-topped table in the corner. The light that came softly through its rose-colored shade transforming the stiff and gloomy ugliness of the room into a place where one could sit and love one's neighbor.

Starting point is 04:34:40 For Massey's sake, Rebecca. Called Miss Miranda up the stairs. Did you think we'd better open up the parlor? Rebecca came out on the landing, braiding her hair. We did on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I thought this was about as great an occasion. She said. I move the wax flowers off the mantelpiece so they wouldn't melt

Starting point is 04:34:59 and put the shells, the coral, and the green stuff burned on top of the whatnot, so the children wouldn't ask to play with them. Brother Milliken's coming over to see Mr. Birch about business, and I shouldn't wonder if brother and sister Cobb happened in. Don't go down cellar. I'll be there in a minute to do the running. Miranda and Jane exchanged glasses. Ain't she the beatenest creeter that ever was born into the world? exclaimed Miranda.

Starting point is 04:35:23 But she can turn off work when she's got a mind to. At quarter past five, everything was ready. And the neighbors, those at least who were within sight of the brick house, a prominent object in the landscape when there were no leaves on the trees, were curious almost to desperation. Shades up in both parlors. Shades up in the two south bedrooms. And fires, if human vision was to be relied on,

Starting point is 04:35:50 fires in about every room. If it had not been for the kind offices of a lady who had been at the meeting and who had charitably called in at one or two houses and explained the reason for all this preparation, there would have been no sleep in many families. The missionary party arrived promptly, and there were but two children, seven or eight, having been left with the brethren in Portland,

Starting point is 04:36:15 to diminish traveling expenses. Jane escorted them all upstairs, while Miranda watched the cooking of the supper, but Rebecca promptly took the two little girls away from their mother, divested them of their wraps, smoothed their hair, and brought them down to the kitchen to smell the beans. There was a bountiful supper, and the presence of the young people wrapped it of all possible stiffness.

Starting point is 04:36:43 Aunt Jane helped clear the table and put away the food, while Miranda entertained in the parlor. But Rebecca and the infant purchase washed the dishes and held high carnival in the kitchen, doing only trifling damage, breaking a cup and plate that had been cracked before, emptying a silver spoon with some dishwater out the back door, an act never permitted at the brick house, and putting coffee grounds in the sink. All evidences of crime having been removed by Rebecca, and damages repaired in all possible cases,

Starting point is 04:37:20 the three entered the parlor where Mr. and Mrs. Cobb and Deacon and Mrs. Milliken had already appeared. It was such a pleasant evening. Occasionally, they left the heathen in his blindness, bowing down to wood and stone, not for long, but just to give themselves, and him time enough to breathe.

Starting point is 04:37:43 And then, the birches told strange, beautiful, marvelous things. The two smaller children sang together, and Rebecca, at the urgent request of Mrs. Birch, seated herself at the tinkling old piano, and gave wild, roved an Indian girl, bright alfaratta with considerable spirit and style. At eight o'clock, she crossed the room,

Starting point is 04:38:10 handed a palm leaf fan to her Aunt Miranda, ostensibly that she might shade her eyes from the lamp, flight, but it was a piece of strategy that gave her an opportunity to whisper. How about cookies? Do you think it's worthwhile? Sybilated Miss Miranda in answer. The Perkinses always do. All right, you know where they be. Rebecca moved quietly towards the door, and the young birches cataracted after her, as if they could not bear a second's separation. In five minutes they returned,

Starting point is 04:38:43 the little ones, bearing plates of thin caraway wafers, hearts, diamonds, and circles daintly sugared, and flecked with caraway seed raised in the garden behind the house. These were a specialty of Miss Jane's, and Rebecca carried a tray with six tiny crystal glasses, filled with dandelion wine, for which Miss Miranda had been famous in years gone by. Old Deacon Israel had always had it passed,

Starting point is 04:39:10 and he had bought the glasses himself in Boston. Miranda admired them greatly, not only for their beauty, but because they held so little. Before their advent, the dandelion wine had been served in sherry glasses. As soon as these refreshments, commonly called collation in Riverboro, had been genteelly partaken of, Rebecca looked at the clock, rose from her chair in the children's corner, and said cheerfully, Come, time for little missionaries to be in bed. Everybody laughed at this. the big missionaries most of all,

Starting point is 04:39:46 as the young people shook hands and disappeared with Rebecca. End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 04:40:11 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan. Chapter 20, A Change of Heart. "'That niece of yours is the most remarkable girl I have seen in years,' said Mr. Birch when the door closed. "'She seems to be turning out smart enough lately, but she's considerable heedless,' answered Miranda. "'And most too lively.' "'We must remember that it is deficient and not excessive vitality that makes the greatest trouble in this world.' "'Returned, Mr. Birch. She'd make a wonderful missionary,' said,

Starting point is 04:40:48 Mrs. Birch? With her voice and her magnetism and her gift of language. If I was to say which of the two she was best adapted for, I'd say she'd make a better heathen. Remarked Miranda curtly. My sister don't believe in flattering children.

Starting point is 04:41:05 Hastily interpolated Jane, glancing towards Mrs. Birch, who seemed somewhat shocked, and was about to open her lips to ask if Rebecca was not a professor. Mrs. Cobb had been looking for this question all evening, and dreading some allusion to her favorite as gifted in prayer.

Starting point is 04:41:23 She had taken an instantaneous and illogical dislike to the Reverend Mr. Birch in the afternoon because he called upon Rebecca to lead. She had seen the pallor creep into the girl's face, the hunted look in her eyes, and the trembling of the lashes on her cheeks, and realized the ordeal through which she was passing. Her prejudice against the minister had relaxed under his genial talk and presence, but feeling that Mrs. Birch was about to tread on dangerous ground, she hastily asked her if one had to change cars many times going from Riverboro to Syria. She felt that it was not a particularly appropriate question, but it served her turn.

Starting point is 04:42:02 Deacon Milliken, meanwhile, said to Miss Sawyer, Miranda, do you know who Rebecca reminds me of? I can guess pretty well, she replied. Then you've noticed it too. I thought at first saying she favored her father's son. on the outside that she was the same all through. But she ain't. She's like your father, Israel Sawyer. I don't see how you make that out, said Miranda thoroughly astonished. It struck me this afternoon when she got up to give your invitation and meeting. It was kind

Starting point is 04:42:33 of curious, but she sat in the same seat he used to when he was leader of the Sabbath school. You know, it was old way of holding his chin up and throwing his head back a little when he got up to say anything? Well, she'd done the very same thing. There was more than one of spoke of it. The callers left before nine, and at that hour, an impossibly dissipated one for the brick house, the family retired for the night. As Rebecca carried Mrs. Birch's candle upstairs, and found herself thus alone with her for a minute, she said shyly, "'Will you please tell Mr. Birch that I'm not a member of the church? I didn't know what to do when he asked me to pray this afternoon. I hadn't the courage to say I had never done it out

Starting point is 04:43:12 and didn't know how. I couldn't think, and I was so frightened that I wanted to sink into the floor. It seemed bold and wicked for me to pray before all those old church members and to make believe I was better than I really was. But then again, wouldn't God think I was wicked not to be willing to pray when a minister asked me to? The candlelight fell on Rebecca's flushed, sensitive face. Mrs. Birch bent and kissed her good night. Don't be troubled, she said. I'll tell Mr. Birch, and I guess God will understand. Rebecca waked before six the next morning, so full of household cares, that sleep was impossible. She went to the window and looked out. It was still dark, and a blustering, boisterous day.

Starting point is 04:43:54 Aunt Jane told me she should get up at half-past six and have breakfast at half-past seven. She thought, but I dare say they are both sick with their colds, and Aunt Miranda will be fidgety with so many in the house. I believe I'll creep down and start things for a surprise. She put on a wadded wrapper and slippers and stole quietly down the colds, and she stole quietly down the the tabooed front stairs, carefully closed the kitchen door behind her so that no noise should waken the rest of the household, busied herself for a half an hour with the early morning routine she knew so well, and then went back to her room to dress before calling the children. Contrary to expectation, Miss Jane, who the evening before felt better than Miranda, grew worse

Starting point is 04:44:32 in the night and was wholly unable to leave her bed in the morning. Miranda grumbled without ceasing during the progress of her hasty toilet, blaming everybody in the universe for the afflictions she had born and was to bear during the day. She even castigated the missionary board that had sent the birches to Syria and gave it as her unbiased opinion that Those who went to foreign lands for the purpose of saving heathen should stay there and save them and not go gallivantin all over the earth with a passel of children, and visiting folks that didn't want him and never asked him.

Starting point is 04:45:07 Jane lay anxiously and restlessly in bed with a feverish headache, wondering how her sister could manage without her. Miranda walked stiffly to the dining room, tying a shawl over her head to keep the drafts away, intending to start the breakfast fire and then call Rebecca down, set her to work, and tell her, meanwhile, a few plain facts concerning the proper way of representing the family at a missionary meeting.

Starting point is 04:45:33 She opened the kitchen door and stared vaguely about her, wondering whether she had strayed into the wrong house by mistake. The shades were up, and there was a roaring fire in the stove. The tea kettle was singing and bubbling as it sent out a cloud of steam, and pushed over its capacious nose, was a half-sheet of note-paper with... Complements of Rebecca. Scrawled on it. The coffee pot was scalding, the coffee was measured out in a bowl,

Starting point is 04:46:00 and broken eggshells for the settling process were standing. near. The cold potatoes and corned beef were in the wooden tray and... Regards of Rebecca. Stuck on the chopping knife. The brown loaf was out. The white loaf was out. The toast rack was out. The donuts were out. The milk was skimmed. The butter had been brought from the dairy. Miranda removed the shawl from her head and sank into the kitchen rocker, ejaculating under her breath. She is the beatness, child. I declare she's all Sawyer.

Starting point is 04:46:33 day and the evening passed off with credit and honor to everybody concerned, even to Jane, who had the discretion to recover, instead of growing worse and acting as a damper to the general enjoyment. The birches left with lively regrets, and the little missionaries, bathed in tears, swore eternal friendship with Rebecca, who pressed into their hands at parting, a poem composed before breakfast. To Mary and Martha Birch. Born under Syrian skies, neathersons than ours, the children grew and bloomed like little tropic flowers. When they first saw the light, twas in a heathen land, not Greenland's icy mountains, nor India's coral strand, but some mysterious country where men are nearly black, and where of true religion there is a painful lack. Then let us

Starting point is 04:47:20 hasten helping the missionary board seek dark-skinned undelievers and teach them of our lord. Rebecca Rowena Randall It can readily be seen that this visit of the returned missionaries to Riverboro was not without somewhat far-reaching results. Mr. and Mrs. Birch themselves looked back upon it as one of the rarest pleasures of their half-year at home. The neighborhood extracted considerable, eager conversation from it, argument, rebuttal, suspicion, certainty, retrospect, and prophecy. Deacon Milliken gave ten dollars towards the conversion of Syria to congregationalism, and Mrs. Milliken had a spell of sickness over her husband's rash generosity.

Starting point is 04:48:02 It would be pleasant to state that Miranda Sawyer was an entirely changed woman afterwards, but that is not the fact. The tree that has been getting a twist for 20 years cannot be straightened in the twinkling of an eye. It is certain, however, that although the difference to the outward eye was very small, it nevertheless existed, and she was less censorious in her treatment of Rebecca, less harsh in her judgments, more hopeful of final salvation for her. This had come about largely from her sudden vision that Rebecca, after all, inherited something from the Sawyer side of the house instead of belonging, mind, body, and soul to the despised Randall's stock. Everything that was interesting in Rebecca and every evidence of power, capability,

Starting point is 04:48:49 or talent afterwards displayed by her, Miranda ascribed to the brick house training, and this gave her a feeling of honest pride, the pride of a master workman who has built success out of the most unpromising material, but never, to the very end, even when the waning of her bodily strength relaxed her iron grip and weakened her power of repression, never once did she show that pride or make a single demonstration of affection. Poor, misplaced, belittled Lorenzo de Medici Randall thought ridiculous and good for naught by his associates because he resembled them in nothing.

Starting point is 04:49:30 If Riverboro could have been suddenly emptied into a larger community with different and more flexible opinions, he was, perhaps, the only personage in the entire population who would have attracted the smallest attention. It was fortunate for his daughter that she had been dowered with a little practical ability from her mother's family, but if Lorenzo had never done anything else in the world, he might have glorified himself that he had prevented Rebecca from being all Sawyer.

Starting point is 04:49:58 Failure, as he was, complete and entire. He had generously handed down to her all that was best in himself, and prudently retained all that was unworthy. Few fathers are capable of such delicate discrimination. The brick house did not speedily because, come a sort of wayside in, a place of innocent revelry and joyous welcome, but the missionary company was an entering wedge, and Miranda allowed one spare bed to be made up. In case anything should happen. While the crystal glasses were kept on the second from the top,

Starting point is 04:50:33 instead of the top shelf in the china closet, Rebecca had had to stand on a chair to reach them. Now she could do it by stretching, and this is symbolic of the way in which she unconsciously scaled the walls of Miss Miranda's dogmatism and prejudice. Miranda went so far as to say that she wouldn't mind if the birches came every once in a while, but she was afraid he'd spread abroad the fact of his visit, and missionaries' families would be underfoot the whole continual time. As a case in point, she gracefully cited the fact

Starting point is 04:51:07 that if a trap got a good meal at anybody's back door to have said that he'd leave some kind of a sign so that all other tramps would know where they were likely to receive the same treatment. It is to be feared that there is some truth in this homely illustration, and Miss Miranda's dread as to her future responsibilities had some foundation, though not of the precise sort she had in mind. The soul grows into lovely habits as easily as into ugly ones,

Starting point is 04:51:33 and the moment a life begins to blossom into beautiful words and deeds, that moment a new standard of conduct is established, and your eager neighbors look to you for a continuous manifestation of the good cheer, the sympathy, the ready wit, the comradeship, or the inspiration you once showed yourself capable of. Bear figs for a season or two, and the world outside the orchard is very unwilling you should bear thistles. The effect of the Birch's visit on Rebecca is not so easily described. Nevertheless, as she looked back upon it from the vantage ground of after years, she felt that the moment when Mr. Birch asked her to lead in prayer, marked an epic in her life. If you have ever observed how courteous

Starting point is 04:52:18 and gracious and mannerly you feel when you don a beautiful new frock, if you have ever noticed the feeling of reverence stealing over you when you close your eyes, clasp your hands, and bow your head, if you have ever watched your sense of repulsion towards a fellow creature melt a little under the exercise of daily politeness, you may understand how the adoption of the outward and visible sign has some strange influence in developing the inward and spiritual state, of which it is the expression. It is only when one has grown old and dull that the soul is heavy and refuses to rise. The young soul is ever winged. A breath stirs it to an upward flight. Rebecca was asked to bear witness to a state of mind or feeling of whose existence she had only

Starting point is 04:53:06 the vagus consciousness. She obeyed and as she uttered words, they became true in the uttering. As she voiced aspirations, they settled into realities. As dove that to its window flies, her spirit soared towards a great light, dimly discovered at first, but brighter as she came closer to it,

Starting point is 04:53:27 to become sensible of oneness with the divine heart before any sense of separation has been felt. This is surely the most beautiful way for the child to find God. End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm This is a Libravox recording

Starting point is 04:53:53 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm By Kate Douglas Wigan Chapter 21 The Skyline Widens The time so long and eagerly awaited for had come

Starting point is 04:54:13 And Rebecca was a student at Wareham persons who had enjoyed the social bewilderments and advantages of foreign courts or had mingled freely in the intellectual circles of great universities might not have looked upon wareham as an extraordinary experience but it was as much of an advance upon riverborough as that village had been upon sunnybrook farm Rebecca's intention was to complete the four years course in three, as it was felt by all the parties concerned that when she had attained the ripe age of 17, she must be ready to earn her own living and help in the education of the younger children. While she was wondering how this could be successfully accomplished,

Starting point is 04:54:55 some of the other girls were cogitating as to how they could meander through the four years and come out at the end knowing no more than at the beginning. This would seem a difficult, well-nigh and emigently, impossible task, but it can be achieved and has been at other seats of learning than modest little Wareham. Rebecca was to go to and fro on the cars daily from September to Christmas, and then bored in Wareham during the three coldest months. Emma Jane's parents had always thought that a year or two in the Edgewood High School, three miles from Riverboro, would serve every

Starting point is 04:55:30 purpose for their daughter and sent her into the world with as fine and intellectual polish as she could well sustain. Emma Jane had hitherto heartily concurred in this opinion, for if there was any one thing that she detested, it was the learning of lessons. One book was as bad as another in her eyes, and she could have seen the libraries of the world sinking into the ocean depths and have eaten her dinner cheerily the while. But matters assumed a different complexion when she was sent to Edgewood and Rebecca to wear him. She bored for a week. seven endless days of absence from the beloved object, whom she could see only in the evenings when both were busy with their lessons. Sunday offered an opportunity to put the matter before

Starting point is 04:56:15 her father, who proved obdurate. He didn't believe in education and thought she had full enough already. He never intended to keep up blacksmithing for good when he leased his farm and came into Riverboro, but proposed to go back to it presently, and by that time Emma Jane would have finished school and would be ready to help her mother with the dairy work. Another week passed. Emma Jane pined visibly and audibly. Her color faded and her appetite at table dwindled almost to nothing. Her mother alluded plaintively to the fact that the Perkinses had a habit of going into

Starting point is 04:56:53 declines and she always feared that Emma Jane's complexion was too beautiful to be healthy, that some men would be proud of having an ambitious daughter and be glad to give her the best advantages, that she feared the daily journeys to Edgewood were going to be too much for her own health, and Mr. Perkins would have to hire a boy to drive Emma Jane, and finally, that when a girl had such a passion for learning as Emma Jane, it seemed almost like wickedness to cross her will. Mr. Perkins bore this for several days until his temper, digestion, and appetite were all sensibly affected. Then he bowed his head to the inevitable, and Emma Jane flew like a captive set free to the loved one's power. Neither did her courage flag, although it was put to

Starting point is 04:57:39 terrific tests when she entered the academic groves of Wareham. She passed in only two subjects, but went cheerfully into the preparatory department with her five conditions, intending to let the stream of education play gently over her mental surfaces and not get any wetter than she could help. It is not possible to blink the truth that Emma Jane was dull, but a dogged, unswerving loyalty, and the gift of devoted, unselfish-loving, these, after all, are talents of a sort, and may possibly be of as much value in the world as a sense of numbers or a faculty for languages. Wareham was a pretty village with a broad Main Street, shaded by great maples and elms. It had an apothecary, a blacksmith, a plumber, several shops of one sort and another,

Starting point is 04:58:31 two churches, and many boarding houses, but all its interests gathered about its seminary and its academy. These seats of learning were neither better nor worse than others of their kind, but differed much inefficiency, according as the principal who chanced to be at the head was a man of power and inspiration, or the reverse. There were boys and girls gathered from all parts of the county and state, and they were of every kind and degree as to birth, position in the world, wealth, or poverty. There was an opportunity for a deal of foolish and imprudent behavior, but on the whole, surprisingly little advantage was taken of it. Among the third and fourth year students, there was a certain amount of going to and from the trains and couples,

Starting point is 04:59:16 some carrying of heavy books up the hill by the sterner sex for their feminine schoolmates, and occasional bursts of silliness on the part of heedless and precocious girls, among whom was Holda Miserve. She was friendly enough with Emma Jane and Rebecca, but grew less and less intimate as time went on. She was extremely pretty, with a profusion of Auburn hair and a few very tiny freckles, to which she constantly alluded,

Starting point is 04:59:42 as no one could possibly detect them without noting her porcelain skin and her curling lashes. She had merry eyes, a somewhat two-year-olds, plump figure for her years, and was popularly supposed to have a fascinating way with her. Riverboro, being poorly furnished with Bo, she intended to have as good a time during her four years at Wareham as circumstances would permit. Her idea of pleasure was an ever-changing circle of admirers to fetch and carry for her, the more publicly the better. Incessant chaff and laughter and vivacious conversation made eloquent and effective by arched looks and telling

Starting point is 05:00:21 glances. She had the habit of confiding her conquests to less fortunate girls and bewailing the incessant havoc and damage she was doing. A damage she avowed herself as innocent of, in intention, as any newborn lamb. It does not take much of this sort of thing to wreck an ordinary friendship, so before long, Rebecca and Emma Jane sat in one end of the railway train and going to and from Riverboro, and Holda occupied the other with her court. Sometimes this was brilliant beyond words, including a certain youthful Monte Cristo, who on Fridays expended 30 cents on a round-trip ticket and traveled from Wareham to Riverboro merely to be near Holda. Sometimes, too, the circle was reduced to the popcorn and peanut boy of the train, who seemed to serve every purpose in default of

Starting point is 05:01:14 better game. Rebecca was in the normally unconscious state that belonged to her years. Boys were good comrades, but no more. She liked reciting in the same class with them. Everything seemed to move better, but from vulgar and precocious flirtations, she was protected by her ideals. There was little in the lads she had met thus far to awaken her fancy, for it had habitually fed on better meat. Hold'est schoolgirl romances, with their wealth of commonplace detail, were not the stuff her dreams were made of, when dreams did flutter across the sensitive plate of her mind. Among the teachers at Wareham was one who influenced Rebecca profoundly, Miss Emily Maxwell, with whom she studied English literature and composition.

Starting point is 05:02:04 Miss Maxwell, as the niece of one of Maine's ex-governors and the daughter of one of Bowdoin's professors was the most remarkable personality in Wareham, and that her few years of teaching happened to be in Rebecca's time was the happiest of all chances. There was no indecision or delay in the establishment of their relations. Rebecca's heart flew like an arrow to its mark, and her mind, meeting its superior, settled at once into an abiding attitude of respectful homage. It was rumored that Miss Maxwell wrote. Which word, when uttered in a certain tone, was understood to mean, not that a person had command of penmanship,

Starting point is 05:02:50 Spenserian or otherwise, but that she had appeared in print. You'll like her. She writes. Whispered Holda to Rebecca the first morning at prayers, where the faculty sat in an imposing row on the front seats. She writes. and I call her stuck up. Nobody seemed possessed of exact information with which to satisfy the hungry mind,

Starting point is 05:03:12 but there was believed to be at least one person in existence who had seen, with his own eyes, an essay by Miss Maxwell in a magazine. This height of achievement made Rebecca somewhat shy of her, but she looked her admiration, something that most of the class could never do with the unsatisfactory organs of vision given them by mother nature.

Starting point is 05:03:32 Miss Maxwell's glance was always meeting a pair of eager dark eyes. When she said anything particularly good, she looked for approval to the corner of the second bench where every shade of feeling she wished to evoke was reflected on a certain, sensitive young face. One day, when the first essay of the class was under discussion, she asked each new pupil to bring her some composition written during the year before that she might judge the work

Starting point is 05:04:00 and know precisely with what material she had to deal. Rebecca lingered after the others and approached the desk shyly. I haven't any compositions here, Miss Maxwell, but I can find one when I go home on Friday. They were packed away in a box in the attic. Carefully tied with pink and blue ribbons? Asked Miss Maxwell with a whimsical smile. No. Answered Rebecca, shaking her head decidedly.

Starting point is 05:04:24 I wanted to use ribbons because all the other girls did, and they look so pretty, but I used to tie my essays with twine strings on purpose. and the one on solitude I fastened with an old shoe lacing just to show it what I thought of it. Solitude? Left, Miss Maxwell, raising her eyebrows. Did you choose your own subject? No, Miss Dearborn thought we were not old enough to find good ones. What were some of the others?

Starting point is 05:04:49 Fireside reveries Grant as a soldier are reflections on the life of P.T. Barnum, buried cities. I can't remember anymore now. They were all bad, and I can't bear to show them. I can write poetry easier and better, Miss Madison. Maxwell. Poetry, she exclaimed. Did Miss Dearborn require you to do it?

Starting point is 05:05:07 Oh, no. I always did it even at the farm. Shall I bring all I have? It isn't much. Rebecca took the blank book in which she kept copies of her effusions and left it at Miss Maxwell's door, hoping that she might be asked in and thus obtain a private interview. But a servant answered her ring, and she could only walk away disappointed. A few days afterward, she saw the black-covered book on Miss Maxwell's desk. and knew that the dreaded moment of criticism had come, so she was not surprised to be asked to remain after class.

Starting point is 05:05:38 The room was quiet. The red leaves rustled in the breeze and flew in at the open window, bearing the first compliments of the season. Miss Maxwell came and sat by Rebecca's side on the bench. Did you think these were good? She asked, giving her the verses. Not so very. Confessed Rebecca.

Starting point is 05:05:57 But it's hard to tell all by yourself. The perkinses and the cobs always said they were. were wonderful, but when Mrs. Cobb told me she thought they were better than Mr. Longfellows, I was worried because I knew that couldn't be true. This ingenious remark confirmed Miss Maxwell's opinion of Rebecca as a girl who could hear the truth and profit by it. Well, my child, she said smilingly, Your friends were wrong, and you were right.

Starting point is 05:06:21 Judged by the proper tests, they are pretty bad. Then I must give up all hope of ever being a writer. sighed Rebecca, who was tasting the bitterness of hemlock and wondering if she could keep the tears back until the interview was over. Don't go so fast. Interrupted Miss Maxwell. Though they don't amount to anything as poetry, they show a good deal of promise in certain directions. You almost never make a mistake in rhyme or meter, and this shows you have a natural sense of what is right, a sense of form, poets would call it, When you grow older, have a little more experience, in fact, when you have something to say,

Starting point is 05:07:06 I think you may write very good verses. Poetry needs knowledge and vision, experience and imagination, Rebecca. You have not the first three yet, but I rather think you have a touch of the last. Must I never try any more poetry, not even to amuse myself? Certainly you may. It will only help you to write better prose. Now for the first composition, I am going to ask all the new students to write a letter,

Starting point is 05:07:38 giving some description of the town and a hint of the school life. Shall I have to be myself? Asked Rebecca. What do you mean? A letter from Rebecca Randall to her sister Hannah at Sunnybrook Farm or to her Aunt Jane at the Brook House, Riverboro, is so dull and stupid if it is a real letter. But if I could make believe I,

Starting point is 05:07:58 was a different girl altogether, and write to somebody who would be sure to understand everything I said, I could make it nicer." "'Very well?' "'I think that's a delightful plan,' said Miss Maxwell. "'And whom will you suppose yourself to be?' "'I like heiresses very much,' replied Rebecca contemplatively. "'Of course, I never saw one, but interesting things are always happening to heiresses, especially to the golden-haired kind.

Starting point is 05:08:21 My hei wouldn't be vain and haughty like the wicked sisters in Cinderella. She'd be noble and generous. She would give up a grand school in Boston because she wanted to come here where her father lived when he was a boy long before he made his fortune. The father is dead now, and she is a guardian, the best and kindest man in the world. He is rather old, of course, and sometimes very quiet and grave, but sometimes when he is happy, he is full of fun. And then Evelyn is not afraid of him. Yes, the girl shall be called Evelyn Abercrombie, and her guardian's name shall be Mr. Adam Ladd. Do you know, Mr. Ladd? asked Miss Maxwell in surprise.

Starting point is 05:08:54 Yes, he's my very best friend. Rebecca delightedly. Do you know him too? Oh, yes. He is a trustee of these schools, you know, and often comes here. But if I let you suppose any more, you will tell me your whole letter, and then I shall lose a pleasant surprise. What Rebecca thought of Miss Maxwell, we already know.

Starting point is 05:09:15 How the teacher regarded the pupil may be gathered from the following letter written two or three months later. Wareham. December 1st. My dear father. As you well know, I have not always been an enthusiast on the subject of teaching. The task of cramming knowledge into these self-sufficient, inefficient youngsters of both sexes discourages me at times. The more stupid they are, the less they are aware of it.

Starting point is 05:09:48 If my department were geography or mathematics, I believe I should feel that I was accomplishing something, for in those branches, application and industry work wonders, but in English literature and composition one yearns for brains, for appreciation, for imagination. Month after month I toil on, opening oyster after oyster, but seldom finding a pearl. Fancy my joy, this term, when, without any violent effort at shell-splitting, I came upon a rare pearl, a black one, but of satin skin and beautiful luster. Her name is Rebecca, and she looks not unlike Rebecca at the well in our family Bible, her hair and eyes being so dark as to suggest a strain of Italian or Spanish blood.

Starting point is 05:10:49 She is nobody in particular. Man has done nothing for her. She has no family to speak of, no money, no education worthy the name, has had no advantages of any sort. But Dame Nature flung herself into the breach and said, This child I to myself will take. She shall be mine, and I will make a lady of my own. Blessed Wordsworth, how he makes us understand. And the pearl never heard of him until now. Think of reading Lucy to a class, and when you finish,

Starting point is 05:11:35 seeing a fourteen-year-old pair of lips quivering with delight and a pair of eyes brimming with comprehending tears. You poor darling, you too know the discouragement of sewing lovely seed in rocky earth, and sand and water, and it almost seems sometimes, in mud, knowing that if anything comes up at all, it will be some poor starveling plant. Fancy the joy of finding a real mind, of dropping seed in a soil so warm, so fertile, that one knows there are sure to be foliage, blossoms and fruit all in good time. I wish I were not so impatient and so greedy of results. I am not fit to be a

Starting point is 05:12:30 teacher. No one is who is so scornful of stupidity as I am. The Pearl writes quaint, countrified little verses. Dog-er-all they are, but somehow or other she always contrives to put in one line, one thought, one image that shows you she is quite unconsciously to herself in possession of the secret. Goodbye. I'll bring Rebecca home with me some Friday, and let you and mother see her for yourselves. Your affectionate daughter, Emily. End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of Rebecca of Sunny Bray. Brook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan.

Starting point is 05:13:38 Chapter 22. Clover blossoms and sunflowers. How'd you do, girls? said Holden-A-Meserve, peeping in at the door. Can you stop studying a minute and show me your room? Say, I've just been down to the store and bought me these gloves for I was bound I wouldn't wear mittens this winter. They're simply too countrified. It's your first year here, and you're younger than I am, so I suppose you don't mind, but I simply suffer if I don't keep up some sort of style. Say, your room is simply too cute for words.

Starting point is 05:14:12 I don't believe any of the others can begin to compare with it. I don't know what gives it that simply gorgeous look, whether it's the full curtains or the elegant screen or Rebecca's lamp, but you certainly do have a faculty for fixing up. I like a pretty room too, but I never have a minute to attend to mine. I'm always so busy on my clothes that half the time I don't get my bed made up till noon, and after all, having no collars with the girls, it don't make much difference. When I graduate, I'm going to fix up our parlor at home, so it'll be simply regal.

Starting point is 05:14:45 I've learned decalcomania, and after I take a blister painting, I shall have it simply stiff with drapes and tidies and plaques and sofa pillows and make Mother let me have a fire and receive my friends their evenings. May I to wear my feet at your register? I can't bear to wear rubbers unless the mud or the slushes simply knee-deep. They make your feet look so awfully big. I had such a fuss getting this pair of French heel boots that I don't intend to spoil the looks of them with rubbers any oftener than I can help.

Starting point is 05:15:17 I believe Boys Now his feet quicker than that. anything. Elmer Webster stepped on one of mine yesterday when I accidentally headed out in the aisle and when he apologized after class, he said he wasn't so much to blame, for the foot was so little he really couldn't see it. Isn't he perfectly great? Of course that's only his way of talking, for after all, I only wear a number two, but these French heels and pointed toes do certainly make your foot look smaller, and this always said high instep helps too. I used to think mine was almost a deformity, but they say it's a great beauty. put your feet beside mine girls and look at the difference. Not that I care much, but just for fun.

Starting point is 05:15:54 My feet are very comfortable where they are. Responded Rebecca dryly, I can't stop to measure instips on algebra days. I've noticed your habit of keeping a foot in the aisle ever since you had those new shoes, so I don't wonder it was stepped on. Perhaps I am a little might conscious of them, because they're not so very comfortable at first till you get to broke them in. Say, haven't you got a lot of new things? Are a Christmas presents, you mean? said Emma Jane. The pillowcases are from Mrs. Cobb, the rug from Cousin Mary, and North Riverboro, the scrap basket from Living and Dick. We gave each other the bureau and cushion covers, and the screen is mine from Mr. Ladd. Well, you were lucky when you met him, gracious. I wish I could meet somebody like that.

Starting point is 05:16:41 The way he keeps it up, too, it just hides your bed, doesn't it? And I always say that a bed takes the style of any room, especially when it's a little. not made up. Though you have an alcove and it's the only one in the whole building, I don't see how you manage to get this good room when you're such new scholars." She finished discontentedly. We shouldn't have, except that Ruth Barry had to go away suddenly, on account of her father's death. This room was empty, and Miss Maxwell asked if we might have it.

Starting point is 05:17:12 Returned Emma Jane. The great and only Max is more stiff and standoffish than Everd. this year. Said Holder. I've simply given up trying to please her, for there's no justice in her. She is good to her favorites, but she doesn't pay the least attention to anybody else, except to make sarcastic speeches about things that are none of her business. I wanted to tell her yesterday it was her place to teach me Latin, not manners.

Starting point is 05:17:40 I wish you wouldn't talk against Miss Maxwell to me, said Rebecca Hartley. You know how I feel. I know. but I can't understand how you can abide her. I not only abide, I love her. Exclaimed Rebecca. I wouldn't let the sunshine too hot on her, or the wind blow too cold.

Starting point is 05:18:00 I'd like to put a marble platform in her classroom and have her sit in a velvet chair behind a golden table. Well, don't have a fit, because she can sit where she likes for all of me. I've got something better to think of. And Holder tossed her head. Isn't this your study hour? Asked Emma Jane to stop possible.

Starting point is 05:18:19 discussion. Yes, but I lost my Latin grammar yesterday. I left it in the hall half an hour while I was having a regular scene with Herbert Dunn. I haven't spoken to him for a week and gave him back his class pin. He was simply furious. Then when it came back to the hall, the book was gone. I had to go downtown from my gloves into the principal's office to see if the grammar had been handed in, and that's the reason I'm so fine. Holda was wearing a woolen dress that had once been gray, but had been dyed a brilliant blue. She had added three rows of white braid and large white pearl buttons to her gray jacket

Starting point is 05:18:56 in order to make it a little more dressy. Her gray felt hat had a white feather on it and a white tissue veil with large black dots made her delicate skin look brilliant. Rebecca thought how lovely the knot of red hair looked under the hat behind, and how the color of the front had been dulled by incessant frizzing with curling irons.

Starting point is 05:19:20 Her open jacket disclosed a galaxy of souvenirs pinned to the background of bright blue, a small American flag, a button of the Wareham Rowing Club, and one or two society pins. These decorations proved her popularity in very much the same way as do the cotillion favors

Starting point is 05:19:39 hanging on the bedroom walls of the fashionable bell. She had been pinning and unpinning, arranging and disarranging her veil ever since she entered the room, in the hope that the girls would ask her whose ring she was wearing this week. But although both had noticed the new ornament instantly, wild horses could not have drawn the question from them. Her desire to be asked was too obvious.

Starting point is 05:20:05 With her gay plumage, her nods and becks and wreathed smiles, and her cheerful cackle, Holda closely resembled to the parrot and wordsworths, poem, Arch, Volatile, A Sportive Bird, by Social Glee Inspired, Ambitious to Be Seen or Heard, and Pleased to Be Admired. Mr. Morrison thinks the grammar will be returned, and let me another. Holda continued. He was rather snippy about my leaving a book in the hall. There was a perfectly elegant gentleman in the office, a stranger to me. I wish he was a new teacher, but there's no such luck. He was too young to be the father of any of the girls and too old to be a brother,

Starting point is 05:20:48 but he was handsome as a picture and had on an awful stylish suit of clothes. He looked at me about every minute I was in the room. It made me so embarrassed I couldn't hardly answer Mr. Morrison's question straight. You'll have to wear a mask pretty soon if you're going to have any comfort Holda. said Rebecca. Did he offered to lend you his class pin, or has it been so long since he graduated that he's left off wearing it, and tell us now whether the principal asked for a lock of your hair to put in his watch. This was all said merrily and laughingly, but there were times when Holta could scarcely make up her mind whether Rebecca was trying to be witty, or whether she was jealous, but she generally decided it was merely the latter feeling, rather natural in a

Starting point is 05:21:30 girl who had little attention. He wore no jewelry, but a cameo scarf pin and a perfectly gorgeous ring. A queer kind of one that won't round and round his finger. Oh dear, I must run. Where's the hour gone? There's the study bell. Rebecca had pricked up her ears at Holda's speech. She remembered a certain strange ring and it belonged to the only person in the world, save Miss Maxwell, who appealed to her imagination, Mr. Aladdin. Her feeling for him, and that of Emma Jane was a mixture of romantic and reverent admiration for the man himself, and the liveliest gratitude for his beautiful gifts. Since they first met him, not a Christmas had gone by without some remembrance for them both,

Starting point is 05:22:21 remembrances chosen with the rarest taste and forethought. Emma Jane had seen him only twice, but he had called several times at the Brick House, and Rebecca had learned to know him better. It was she, too, who always wrote the notes of acknowledgement and thanks, taking infinite pains to make Emma Jane's quite different from her own. Sometimes he had written from Boston and asked her the news of Riverboro, and she had sent him packages of quaint and childlike gossip, interspersed unto occasions with poetry,

Starting point is 05:22:54 which he read and re-read with infinite relish. If hold as stranger should be Mr. Aladdin, would he come to see her, and could she and Emma Jane show him their beautiful room with so many of his gifts and evidence? When the girls had established themselves in Wareham as real boarding pupils, it seemed to them existence was as full of joy as it well could hold. This first winter was, in fact, the most tranquilly happy of Rebecca's school life, a winter long to be looked back upon. She and Emma Jane were roommates, and had put their modest positions, together to make their surroundings pretty and home-like. The room had, to begin with, a cheerful

Starting point is 05:23:37 red, ingrained carpet, and a set of maple furniture. As to the rest, Rebecca had furnished the ideas and Emma Jane the materials in labor, a method of dividing responsibilities that seemed to suit the circumstances admirably. Mrs. Perkins' father had been a storekeeper, and on his death had left the goods of which he was possessed to his married daughter. The molasses, vinegar, and kerosene had lasted the family for five years, and the Perkins' attic was still a treasure house of gingham's, cottons, and Yankee notions. So, at Rebecca's instigation, Mrs. Perkins had made full curtains and lambrequins of unbleached muslin, which she had trimmed and looped back with bands of turkey red cotton.

Starting point is 05:24:26 There were two table covers to match, and each of the girls had her study corner. Rebecca, after much coaxing, had been allowed to bring over her precious lamp, which would have given a luxurious air to any apartment. And when Mr. Aladdin's last Christmas presents were added, the Japanese screen for Emma Jane and the little shelf of English poets for Rebecca, they declared that it was all quite as much fun as being married and going to housekeeping. The day of Holder's call was Friday, and on Fridays from three to half-past four, For Rebecca was free to take a pleasure to which she looked forward the entire week. She always ran down the snowy path, through the pine woods at the back of the seminary,

Starting point is 05:25:11 and coming out on a quiet village street, went directly to the large White House, where Miss Maxwell lived. The maid of all work answered her knock. She took off her hat and cape and hung them in the hall, put her rubber shoes and umbrella carefully in the corner, and then open the door of paradise. Miss Maxwell's sitting room was lined on two sides with bookshelves, and Rebecca was allowed to sit before the fire

Starting point is 05:25:39 and browse among the books to her heart's delight for an hour or more. Then, Miss Maxwell would come back from her class, and there would be a precious half-hour chat, before Rebecca had to meet Emma Jane at the station and take the train for Riverboro, where her Saturdays and Sundays were spent. and where she was washed, ironed, mended, and examined, approved and reproved, warned and advised in quite sufficient quantity to last her the succeeding week. On this Friday, she buried her face in the blooming

Starting point is 05:26:14 geraniums on Miss Maxwell's plant stand, selected romola from one of the bookcases, and sank into a seat by the window with a sigh of infinite content. She glanced at the clock now and then, then, remembering the day on which she had been so immersed in David Copperfield that the Riverboro train had no place in her mind. The distracted Emma Jane had refused to leave without her, and had run from the station to look for her at Miss Maxwell's. There was but one later train, and that went only to a place three miles the other side of Riverboro, so that the two girls appeared at their respective homes, long after dark, having had a weary walk in the snow. When she had read for half an hour, she glanced out of the window and saw two figures issuing from the

Starting point is 05:27:03 path through the woods. The knot of bright hair and the coquettish hat could belong to but one person, and her companion, as the couple approached, proved to be none other than Mr. Aladdin. Hilda was lifting her skirts daintily and picking safe stepping places for the high-heeled shoes, her cheeks glowing, her eyes sparkling under the black and white veil. Rebecca slipped from her post by the window to the rug before the bright fire and leaned her head on the seat of the great easy-chair. She was frightened at the storm in her heart, at the suddenness with which it had come on,

Starting point is 05:27:44 as well as at the strangeness of an entirely new sensation. She felt all at once as if she could not bear to give up her share, of Mr. Aladdin's friendship to Holda. Holda so bright, saucy and pretty, so gay and ready, and such good company. She had always joyfully admitted Emma Jane into the precarious partnership,

Starting point is 05:28:09 but perhaps unconsciously to herself, she had realized that Emma Jane had never held anything but a secondary place in Mr. Aladdin's regard. Yet who was she herself, after all, that she could hope to be, First. Suddenly, the door opened softly, and somebody looked in. Somebody who said, Miss Maxwell told me I should find Miss Rebecca Randall here.

Starting point is 05:28:36 Rebecca started at the sound, and sprang to her feet, saying joyfully, Mr. Aladdin! Oh, I knew you were in Wareham, and I was afraid you wouldn't have time to come and see us. Who is us? The answer, not here, are they? Oh, you mean the rich blacksmith's daughter, whose name I can never remember. Is she here? Yes, and my roommate. Answered Rebecca, who thought her own Nell of Doom had sounded if he had forgotten Emma Jane's name. The light in the room grew softer.

Starting point is 05:29:05 The fire crackled cheerily, and they talked of many things, until the old sweet sense of friendliness and familiarity crept back into Rebecca's heart. Adam had not seen her for several months, and there was much to be learned about school matters, as viewed from her own standpoint. He had already inquired concerning her progress from Mr. Morrison. Well, little Miss Rebecca, he said, rousing himself at length. I must be thinking of my drive to Portland. There is a meeting of railway directors there tomorrow,

Starting point is 05:29:37 and I always take this opportunity of visiting the school and giving my valuable advice concerning its affairs, educational and financial. It seems funny for you to be a school trustee, said Rebecca contemplatively. I can't seem to make it fit. You are a remarkably wise young person, and I quite agree with you. He answered. The fact is.

Starting point is 05:29:57 He added soberly. I accepted the trusteeship in memory of my poor little mother, whose last happy years were spent here. That was a long time ago. Let me see. I am 32. Only 32, despite an occasional gray hair. My mother was married a month after she graduated, and she lived only until I was ten. Yes, it is a long way back to my mother's time here, though the school was 15 or Twenty years old, then, I believe.

Starting point is 05:30:22 Would you like to see my mother, Miss Rebecca? The girl took the leather case gently and opened it to find an innocent, pink and white daisy of a face, so confiding, so sensitive, that it went straight to the heart. It made Rebecca feel old, experienced, and maternal. She longed on the instant to comfort and strengthen such a tender young thing.

Starting point is 05:30:49 Oh, what a sweet. sweet flowery face, she whispered softly. The flower had to bear all sorts of storms, said Adam gravely. The bitter weather of the world bent its slender stalk, bowed its head, and dragged it to the earth. I was only a child and could do nothing to protect and nourish it, and there was no one else to stand between it and trouble. Now I have success and money and power, all that would have kept her alive and happy, and it is too late. She died for lack of love and care, nursing and cherishing, and I can never forget it. All that has come to me seems now and then so useless, since I cannot

Starting point is 05:31:31 share it with her. This was a new, Mr. Aladdin, and Rebecca's heart gave a throb of sympathy and comprehension. This explained the tired look in his eyes, the look that peeped out now and then, under all his gay speech and laughter. I'm so glad I know, she said. I'm so glad I could see her just as she was when she tied that white muslin hat under her tune and saw her yellow curls and her sky-blue eyes in the glass. mustn't she have been happy? I wish she could have been kept so and had lived to see you grow up strong and good.

Starting point is 05:32:04 My mother is always sad and busy, but once when she looked at John, I heard her say, he makes up for everything. That's what your mother would have thought about you if she had lived, and perhaps she does as it is. a comforting little person, Rebecca. Said Adam, rising from his chair. As Rebecca rose, the tears still trembling on her lashes, he looked at her suddenly, as with new vision.

Starting point is 05:32:27 Goodbye. He said, taking her slim brown hands in his, adding, as if he saw her for the first time. Why, little rose-red, snow-white is making way for a new girl. Burning the midnight oil and doing four years' work in three is supposed to dull the eye and blanch the cheek, yet Rebecca's eyes are bright, and she has a rosy color. Her long braids are looped one on the other so that they make a black letter U behind,

Starting point is 05:32:51 and they are tied with grand bows at the top. She is so tall that she reaches almost to my shoulder. This will never do in the world. How will Mr. Aladdin get on without his comforting little friend? He doesn't like grown-up young ladies in long trains and wonderful fine clothes. They frighten and bore him. Oh, Mr. Aladdin! cried Rebecca eagerly, taking his jest quite seriously,

Starting point is 05:33:13 Seriously? I am not fifteen yet, and it'll be three years before my young lady. Please don't give me up until you have to. I won't, I promise you that, said Adam. Rebecca. He continued after a moment's pause. Who is that young girl with a lot of pretty red hair and very citified manners? She escorted me down the hill.

Starting point is 05:33:34 Do you know whom I mean? It must be hold a meserve. She is from Riverborough. Adam put a finger under Rebecca's chin and looked into her eyes. Eyes is soft, as clear, as unconscious, and as childlike, as they had been when she was ten. He remembered the other pair of challenging blue ones that had darted coquettish glances through half-dropped lids, shot arrowy beams from under archly lifted brows, and said gravely, "'Don't form yourself on her, Rebecca.

Starting point is 05:34:05 Clover blossoms that grow in the fields beside Sunnybrook mustn't be tied in the same bouquet with gaudy sunflowers. They are too sweet and fragrant and wholesome. End of Chapter 22. Chapter 23 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is Libravox recording.

Starting point is 05:34:30 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 23. The Hill Difficulty. The first happy year at Wareham, with its widened skyline, its larger vision, its greater opportunity, was over and gone.

Starting point is 05:34:56 Rebecca had studied during the summer vacation and had passed, on her return in the autumn, certain examinations, which would enable her if she carried out the same program the next season to complete the course in three instead of four years. She came off with no flying colors that would have been impossible in consideration. of her inadequate training, but she did wonderfully well in some of the required subjects, and so brilliantly in others, that the average was respectable. She would never have been a remarkable scholar under any circumstances, perhaps, and she was easily outstripped in mathematics and the natural sciences by a dozen girls, but in some inexplicable way, she became, as the months went on, the foremost figure in the school.

Starting point is 05:35:43 When she had entirely forgotten the facts which would enable her to answer a question fully and conclusively, she commonly had some original theory to expound. It was not always correct, but it was generally unique and sometimes amusing. She was only fair in Latin or French grammar, but when it came to translation, her freedom, her choice of words, and her sympathetic understanding of the spirit of the text made her the delight of her teachers and the despair of her rivals. She can be perfectly ignorant of a subject, said Miss Maxwell to Adam Ladd, but entirely intelligent the moment she has a clue. Most of the other girls are full of information and as stupid as sheep.

Starting point is 05:36:31 Rebecca's gifts had not been discovered, save by the few, during the first year, when she was adjusting herself quietly to the situation. She was distinctly one of the poorer girls. She had no fine dresses to attract attention, no visitors, no friends in town. She had more study hours and less time, therefore, for the companionship of other girls, gladly as she would have welcomed the gaiety of that side of school life.

Starting point is 05:37:00 Still, water will find its own level in some way, and by the spring of the second year, she had naturally settled into the same sort of leadership which had been hers in the smaller community of Riverboro. She was unanimously elected assistant editor of the Wareham School Pilot, being the first girl to assume that enviable, though somewhat arduous and thankless position. And when her maiden number went to the cops, Uncle Jerry and Aunt Sarah could hardly eat or sleep for pride. She'll always get votes. Said Holdem-Ozerve, when discussing the election.

Starting point is 05:37:40 For whether she knows anything or not, she looks as if she did. And whether she's capable of failing an office or not, she looks as if she was. I only wish I was tall and dark and had the gift of making people believe I was great things, like Rebecca Randall. There's one thing, though the boys call her handsome, you notice they don't trouble her with much attention. It was a fact that Rebecca's attitude toward the opposite sex was still somewhat indifferent and oblivious,

Starting point is 05:38:12 even for 15 and a half. No one could look at her and doubt that she had potentialities of attraction latent within her somewhere, but that side of her nature was happily biding its time. A human being is capable only of a certain amount of activity at a given moment, and it will inevitably satisfy first its most pressing needs,

Starting point is 05:38:37 its most ardent desires, its chief ambitions. Rebecca was full of small anxieties and fears, for matters were not going well at the brick house and were anything but hopeful at the home farm. She was over-busy and over-taxed, and her thoughts were naturally drawn towards the difficult problems of daily living. It had seemed to her, during the autumn and winter of that year, as if her Aunt Miranda had never been, save at the very first, so censorious and so fault-finding.

Starting point is 05:39:14 One Saturday, Rebecca ran upstairs and, bursting into a flood of tears, exclaimed, Aunt Jane, it seems as if I could never stand her continual scoldings. Nothing I can use suits Aunt Miranda. She just said it'll take me my whole life to get the Randall out of me. and I'm not convinced that I want it all out, so there we are. Aunt Jane, never demonstrative, cried with Rebecca as she attempted to soothe her. You must be patient, she said, wiping first her own eyes and then Rebecca's. I haven't told you, for it isn't fair you should be troubled when you're studying so hard,

Starting point is 05:39:50 but your Aunt Miranda isn't well. One Monday morning, about a month ago, she had a kind of faint spell. It wasn't bad, but the doctor is afraid it was a shock, and if so, it's the beginning of the end. Seems to me she's failing right along, and that's what makes her so fretful and easy vexed. She has other troubles, too, that you don't know anything about, and if you're not kind to your Aunt Miranda now, child, you'll be dreadful sorry sometime. All the temper faded from Rebecca's face, and she stopped crying to say penitently. Oh, the poor dear thing. I won't mind a bit what she says now. She just asked me for some milk toast and I was dreading to take it to her, but this will make everything

Starting point is 05:40:38 different. Don't worry yet, Aunt Jane, for perhaps it won't be as bad as you think. So when she carried the toast to her aunt a little later, it was in the best gilt-edged china bowl with a fringed napkin on the tray and a sprig of geranium lying across the salt cellar. Now Aunt Miranda She said cheerily. I expect you to smack your lips and say this is good. It's not Randall, but sorry milk toast. You've tried all kinds on me, one time and another. Miranda answered,

Starting point is 05:41:10 This tastes real kind of good, but I wish you hadn't wasted that nice geranium. You can't tell what's wasted, said Rebecca philosophically. Perhaps that geranium has been hoping this long time it could brighten somebody's supper, so don't disappoint it by making believe you don't like it. I've seen geraniums cry. in the very early morning.

Starting point is 05:41:30 The mysterious trouble, to which Jane had alluded, was a very real one, but it was held in profound secrecy. $2,500 of the small Sawyer property had been invested in the business of a friend of their fathers and had returned them a regular annual income of $100. The family friend had been dead for some five years, but his son had succeeded to his interests,

Starting point is 05:41:56 and all went on as formally. Suddenly, there came a letter saying that the firm had gone into bankruptcy, that the business had been completely wrecked, and that the Sawyer money had been swept away with everything else. The loss of $100 a year is a very trifling matter, but it made all the difference between comfort and self-denial to the two old spinsters. Their manner of life had been so rigid and careful, that it was difficult to economize any further and the blow had fallen chest when it was most inconvenient for rebecca's school and boarding expenses small as they were had to be paid promptly and in cash

Starting point is 05:42:41 can we possibly go on doing it shan't we have to give up and tell her why asked jane tearfully of the elder sister we have put our hand to the plough and we can't turn back answered miranda in her grimaced tone. We've taken her away from her mother and offered her an education, and we've got to keep our word. She's Aurelia's only hope for years to come, to my way of thinking. Hannah's beau takes all her time and thought, and when she gets a husband, her mother will be out of sight and out of mind. John, instead of farming, thinks he must be a doctor, as if folks wasn't getting unhealthy enough these days without turning out more young doctors

Starting point is 05:43:27 to help them into their graves. No, Jane, we'll skimp and do without and plan to get along on our interest money somehow, but we won't break into our principle, whatever happens. Breaking into the principle was, in the minds of most thrifty New England women, a sin only second to arson, theft or murder. and though the rule was occasionally carried too far for common sense, as in this case, where two elderly women of 60 might reasonably have drawn something from their little horde in time of special need, it doubtless wrought more of good than evil in the community.

Starting point is 05:44:09 Rebecca, who knew nothing of their business affairs, merely saw her aunts grow more and more saving, pinching here and there, cutting off this and that relentlessly. Less meat and fish were bought. The woman who had lately been coming two days a week for washing, ironing, and scrubbing was dismissed. The old bonnets of the season before were brushed up and retrimmed. There were no drives to moderation or trips to Portland. Economy was carried to its very extreme, but though Miranda was well-nigh as gloomy and uncompromising in her manner and conversation as a woman could well be,

Starting point is 05:44:50 she at least never twitted her niece of being a burden, so Rebecca's share of the Sawyer's misfortune consisted only in wearing her old dresses, hats, and jackets, without any apparent hope of a change. There was, however, no concealing the state of things at Sunnybrook, where chapters of accidents had unfolded themselves in a sort of, serial story that had run through the year. The potato crop had failed,

Starting point is 05:45:18 There were no apples to speak of. The hay had been poor. Aurelia had turns of dizziness in her head. Mark had broken his ankle. As this was his fourth offense, Miranda inquired how many bones there were in a human body. So they'd know when Mark got through breaking him. The time for paying the interest on the mortgage,

Starting point is 05:45:39 that incubus that had crushed all the joy out of the Randall household, had come and gone, and there was no possibility for the first time in front of, 14 years of paying the required $48. The only bright spot in the horizon was Hannah's engagement to Will Melville, a young farmer whose land joined Sunnybrook, who had a good house, was alone in the world, and his own master. Hannah was so satisfied with her own unexpectedly radiant prospects that she hardly realized her mother's anxieties, for there are natures which flourish in adversity and did

Starting point is 05:46:18 deteriorate when exposed to sudden prosperity. She had made a visit of a week at the brick house, and Miranda's impression, conveyed in privacy to Jane, was that Hannah was, close as the bark of a tree, and considerable selfish, too, that when she'd climb as fur as she could in the world, she'd kicked the ladder out from under her, everlasting quick, that, on being sounded as to her ability to be of use

Starting point is 05:46:46 To the younger children in the future, she said she guessed she'd done her share already, and she wasn't going to burn will with her poor relations. She's Susan Randall, through, went through. Ejaculated Miranda. I was glad to see her face turn towards temperance. If that mortgage is ever cleared from the farm, twon't be Hannah that'll do it. It'll be Rebecca or me.

Starting point is 05:47:11 End of Chapter 23. Chapter 24 of Rebecca of Sunday, This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan. Chapter 24. Aladdin rubs his lamp. Your esteemed contribution entitled Wareham Wildflowers has been accepted for the pilot, Miss Perkins. Said Rebecca, entering the room where Emma Jane was darning the firm's stockings.

Starting point is 05:47:51 I stayed to tea with Mix Maxwell, but came home early to tell you. You're joking, Becky! Faulted Emma Jane, looking up from her work? Not a bit. The senior editor read it, and thought it highly instructive. It appears in the next issue. Not in the same number with your poem about the Golden Gates that closed behind us when we leave school. And Emma Jane held her breath as she awaited the reply. Even so, Miss Perkins.

Starting point is 05:48:20 Rebecca said Emma Jane with the nearest approach to tragedy that her nature would permit I don't know as I shall be able to bear it And if anything happens to me I ask you solemnly To bury that number of the pilot with me

Starting point is 05:48:38 Rebecca did not seem to think this The expression of an exaggerated state of feeling Inasmuch as she replied I know that's just the way it seemed to me at first and even now whenever I'm alone and take out the pilot back numbers to read over my contributions, I almost burst with pleasure, and it's not that they are good either, for they look worse to me every time I read them. If you would only live with me in some little house when we get older,

Starting point is 05:49:03 mused Emma Jane, as with her darny needle poised in air, she regarded the opposite wall dreamily. I would do the housework on cooking and copy all your poems and stories and take them to the post office, and you needn't do anything but right. It would be perfectly elegant. I'd like nothing better, if I hadn't promised to keep house for John. Replied Rebecca. He won't have a house for a good many years, will he?

Starting point is 05:49:32 No. sighed Rebecca ruefully, flinging herself down by the table and resting her head on her hand. Not unless we can contrive to pay off that detestable mortgage. The date grows farther off instead of nearer now that we have to be able to be. haven't paid the interest this year. She pulled a piece of paper towards her, and scribbling idly on it, read aloud in a moment or two.

Starting point is 05:49:55 Will you pay a little faster, said the mortgage to the farm? I confess I'm very tired of this place. The weariness is mutual, Rebecca Randall cried. I would I'd never gavaged upon your face. A note has a face. Observed Emma Jane, who was gifted in arithmetic. I didn't know that a mortgage had.

Starting point is 05:50:16 "'Our mortgage has,' said Rebecca revengefully. "'I should know him if I met him in the dark. "'Wait, and I'll draw him for you. "'It'll be good for you to know how he looks, "'and then when you have a husband and seven children, "'you won't allow him to come anywhere within a mile of your farm.' "'The sketch, when completed, "'was of a sort to be shunned by a timid person on the verge of slumber.

Starting point is 05:50:38 "'There was a tiny house on the right, "'and a weeping family gathered in front of it. The mortgage was depicted as a cross between a fiend and an ogre, and held an axe uplifted in his red right hand. A figure with streaming black locks was stained the blow, and this, Rebecca explained complacently, was intended as a likeness of herself, though she was rather vague as to the method she should use in attaining her end. He's terrible! said Emma Jane. But awfully whizzled and small. It's only a $1,200 mortgage, said Rebecca.

Starting point is 05:51:22 And that's called a small one. John saw a man once sell his mortgage for $12,000. Shall you be a writer or an editor? Asked Emma Jane presently, as if one had only to choose in the thing were done. I shall have to do what turns up first, I suppose. Why not go out as a missionary to seriously? as the birches are always coaxing you two.

Starting point is 05:51:45 The board would pay your expenses. I can't make up my mind to be a missionary. Rebecca answered. I'm not good enough in the first place, and I don't feel a call, as Mr. Birch says you must. I would like to do something for somebody and make things move somewhere, but I don't want to go thousands of miles away

Starting point is 05:52:01 teaching people how to live when I haven't learned myself. It isn't as if the heathen really needed me. I'm sure they'll come all right in the end. I can't see how. If all the people who ought to go out to save them, stay at home as we do. Argueed Emma Jane. Why, whatever God is, and wherever he is, he must always be there, ready and waiting. He can't move about and miss people.

Starting point is 05:52:24 It may take the heathen a little longer to find him, but God will make allowances, of course. He knows if they live in such hot climates who must make them lazy and slow, and the parrots and tigers and snakes and bred fruit trees distract their minds, and having no books they can't think as well, but they'll find God somehow, sometime. What if they die first? Asked Emma Jane. Oh, well, they can't be blamed for that. They don't die in purpose, said Rebecca with a comfortable theology.

Starting point is 05:52:51 In these days, Adam Ladd sometimes went to temperance on business connected with the proposed branch of the railroad, familiarly known as the York and Yankham, and while there, he gained an inkling of Sunnybrook affairs. The building of the new road was not yet a certainty. and there was a difference of opinion as to the best route from Temperance to Plumville. In one event, the way would lead directly through Sunnybrook, from corner to corner, and Mrs. Randall would be compensated.

Starting point is 05:53:23 In the other, her interests would not be affected either for good or ill, save us all land in the immediate neighborhood, might rise a little in value. Coming from Temperance to Wareham one day, Adam had a long walk and talk with Rebecca, whom he thought looking pale and thin, though she was holding bravely to her self-imposed hours of work. She was wearing a black cashmere dress that had been her Aunt Jane's second best. We are familiar with the heroine of romance, whose foot is so exquisitely shaped that the coarse's chew cannot conceal its perfections.

Starting point is 05:54:01 And one always cherishes a doubt of the statement, yet it is true that Rebecca's peculiar and individual charm, seemed wholly independent of accessories. The lines of her figure, the rare coloring of skin and hair and eyes, triumphed over shabby clothing. Though, had the advantage of artistic apparel been given her, the little world of Wareham

Starting point is 05:54:27 would probably at once have dubbed her a beauty. The long black braids were now disposed after a quaint fashion of her own. They were crossed behind, carried up to the front, and crossed again. The tapering ends finally brought down and hidden in the thicker part at the neck. Then, a purely feminine touch was given to the hair that waved back from the face, a touch that rescued little crests and wavelets from bondage and set them free to take a new color in the sun.

Starting point is 05:55:01 Adam Ladd looked at her in a way that made her put her hands over her face and laughed through them shyly as she said. I know what you're thinking, Mr. Aladdin, that my dress is an inch longer than last year and my hair different, but I'm not nearly a young lady yet. Truly I'm not. Sixteen is a month off still, and you've promised not to give me up till my dress trails. If you don't like me to grow old, why don't you grow young? Then we can meet in the halfway house and have nice times. Now that I think about it, she continued. That's just what you've been doing all along.

Starting point is 05:55:33 When you bought the soap, I thought you were grandfather Sawyer's age. When you danced with me at the flag raising, you seem like my father. But when you showed me your mother's picture, I felt as if you were my John because I was so sorry for you. That will do very well. Smiled, Adam. Unless you go so swiftly that you become my grandmother before I really need one. You are studying too hard, Miss Rebecca Rowena. Just a little.

Starting point is 05:55:56 She confessed. But vacation comes soon, you know. And are you going to have a good rest and try to recover your dimples? They are really worth preserving. A shadow crept over Rebecca's face, and her eyes suffused. Don't be kind, Mr. Ladden. I can't bear it. It's not one of my pimply days. And she ran in at the seminary gate and disappeared with a farewell wave of her hand. Adam Ladd went his way to the principal's office in a thoughtful mood.

Starting point is 05:56:27 He had come to Wareham to unfold a plan that he had been considering for several days. This year was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Wareham Schools, and he meant to tell Mr. Morrison that, in addition to his gift of 100 volumes to the reference library, he intended to celebrate it by offering prizes in English composition, a subject in which he was much interested. He wished the boys and girls of the two upper classes, to compete, the award to be made to the writers of the two best essays. As to the nature of the prizes, he had not quite made up his mind, but they would be substantial ones, either of money

Starting point is 05:57:10 or of books. The interview accomplished, he called upon Miss Maxwell, thinking as he took the path through the woods. Rose-red Snow White needs the help, and since there is no way of my giving it to her without causing remark, she must earn it, poor little soul. I won't have to you. I won't I wonder if my money is always to be useless where most I wish to spend it. He had scarcely greeted his hostess when he said, Miss Maxwell, doesn't it strike you that our friend Rebecca looks wretchedly tired? She does indeed, and I'm considering whether I can take her away with me. I always go south for the spring vacation,

Starting point is 05:57:48 travelling by sea to Old Point comfort and rusticating in some quiet spot nearby. I should like nothing better than to have Rebecca for a companion. The very thing. Assented Adam heartily. But why should you take the whole responsibility? Why not let me help? I am greatly interested in the child and have been for some years. You needn't pretend you discovered her.

Starting point is 05:58:13 Interrupted Miss Maxwell warmly. For I did that myself. She was an intimate friend of mine long before you ever came to wear him. Laughed Adam. And he told Miss Maxwell the circumstances of his first meeting with Rebecca. From the beginning, I've tried to think of a way I could be useful in her development, but no reasonable solution seemed to offer itself. Luckily, she attends to her own development, answered Miss Maxwell.

Starting point is 05:58:41 In a sense, she is independent of everything and everybody. She follows her saint without being conscious of it. But she needs a hundred practical things that money would buy for her, and alas, I have a slender purse. Take mine, I beg, and let me act through you. Pleaded, Adam. I could not bear to see even a young tree trying its best to grow without light or air. How much less a gifted child!

Starting point is 05:59:10 I interviewed her aunts a year ago, hoping I might be permitted to give her a musical education. I assured them it was a most ordinary occurrence, and that I was willing to be repaid later on if they insisted, but it was no use. The elder Miss Sawyer remarked that no member of her family ever had lived on charity, and she guessed they wouldn't begin at this late day. I rather like that uncompromising New England grit, exclaimed Miss Maxwell. And so far, I don't regret one burden that Rebecca has born,

Starting point is 05:59:41 or one sorrow that she has shared. Necessity has only made her brave. Poverty has only made her daring and self-reliant. As to her present needs, there are certain things only a woman ought to do for a girl, and I should not like to have you do them for Rebecca. I should feel that I was wounding her pride in self-respect, even though she were ignorant. But there is no reason why I may not do them, if necessary, and let you pay her traveling expenses. I would accept those for her, without the slightest embarrassment.

Starting point is 06:00:20 but I agree that the matter would better be kept private between us. You are a real fairy godmother. Exclaimed Adam, shaking her hand warmly. Would it be less trouble for you to invite her roommate to, the pink and white inseparable? No, thank you. I prefer to have Rebecca all to myself, said Miss Maxwell. I can understand that.

Starting point is 06:00:45 Replied Adam absent-mindedly. I mean, of course, that one child is, less trouble than two. There she is now. Here Rebecca appeared in sight. Walking down the quiet street with a lad of 16, they were in an animated conversation, and were apparently reading something aloud to each other, for the blackhead and the curly brown one were both bent over a sheet of letter paper. Rebecca kept glancing up at her companion, her eyes sparkling with appreciation.

Starting point is 06:01:15 Miss Maxwell, said Adam. I am a trustee of this institution, but I'm a trustee of this institution, but upon my word I don't believe in co-education. I have my own occasional hours of doubt, she answered. But surely its disadvantages are reduced to a minimum with children. That is a very impressive sight which you are privileged to witness, Mr. Ladd. The folk in Cambridge often gloated on the spectacle of Longfellow and Lowell, arm in arm. The little school world of Wareham palpitates with excitement when it sees

Starting point is 06:01:49 the senior and the junior editors of the pilot walking together. End of Chapter 24. Chapter 25 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is the Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 25, Roses of Joy

Starting point is 06:02:23 The day before Rebecca started for the South with Miss Maxwell, she was in the library with Emma Jane and Hilda, consulting dictionaries and encyclopedias. As they were leaving, they passed the locked cases containing the library of fiction, open to the teachers and townspeople, but forbidden to the students. They looked longingly through the glass, getting some little comfort from the titles of the volumes, as hungry children imbib emotional nourishment from the pie,

Starting point is 06:02:53 and tarts inside a confectioner's window. Rebecca's eyes fell upon a new book in the corner, and she read the name aloud with delight. The rose of joy. Listen, girls, isn't that lovely? The rose of joy. It looks beautiful and it sounds beautiful. What does it mean, I wonder?

Starting point is 06:03:10 I guess everybody has a different rose. Said Holder shrewdly. I know what mine would be, and I'm not ashamed to own it. I'd like a year in a city with just as much money as I wanted to spend horses and splendid clothes and amusement every minute of the day. And I'd like above everything to live with people that wear low necks.

Starting point is 06:03:30 Poor Holda never took off her dress without bewailing the fact that her lot was cast in Riverboro where her pretty white shoulders could never be seen. That would be fun, for a while anyway. Emma Jane remarked. But wouldn't that be pleasure more than joy? Don't freak so, said the startled Holda. I thought it was a mouse. I don't have them very often.

Starting point is 06:03:56 Apologized Emma Jane. Ideas, I mean. This one shook me like a stroke of lightning. Rebecca, couldn't it be success? That's good, mused Rebecca. I can see that success would be a joy, but it doesn't seem to me like a rose somehow. I was wondering if it could be love. I wish we could have a peep at that book. It must be perfectly elegant, said Emma Jane.

Starting point is 06:04:21 But now you say, it is love. I think that's the best guess yet. All day long the four words haunted and possessed Rebecca. She said them over to herself continually. Even the prosaic Emma Jane was affected by them, for in the evening she said, I don't expect you to believe it, but I have another idea. That's two in one day. I had it while I was putting cologne on your head. The rose of joy might be helpfulness. If it is, then it is a little bit of was blooming in your dear little heart, you darling, this kind, Emmy, taking such good care of your troublesome, Becky. Don't dare to call yourself troublesome. You're, you're, you're, you're my

Starting point is 06:05:02 rules of joy, that's what you are. And the two girls hugged each other affectionately. In the middle of the night, Rebecca touched Emma Jane on the shoulder softly. Are you very fast to sleep, Emmy? She whispered. Not so very, answered Emma Jane, drowsily. I've thought of something new. If you sing or painted or wrote, not a little, but beautifully, you know, wouldn't the doing of it, just as much as you wanted, give you the rose of joy? It might if it was a real talent, answered Emma Jane. Though I don't like it so well as love. If you have another thought, Becky, keep it till morning. I did have one more inspiration, said Rebecca when they were dressing next morning.

Starting point is 06:05:49 But I didn't wake you. I wondered if the rose of joy could be sacrificed. But I think sacrifice would be a lily, not a rose, don't you? The journey southward, the first glimpse of the ocean, the strange new scenes, the ease and delicious freedom, the intimacy with Miss Maxwell almost intoxicated Rebecca. In three days, she was not only herself again, she was another self, thrilling with delight, anticipation, and realization. She had always had such eager hunger for knowledge, such thirst for love, such passionate longing for the music, the beauty, the poetry of existence. She had always been straining to make the outward world conform to her inward dreams.

Starting point is 06:06:37 And now, life had grown all at once rich and sweet, wide and full. She was using all her natural God-given outlets, and Emily Maxwell marveled daily at the inexhaustible way in which the girl poured out and gathered in the treasures of thought and experience that belonged to her. She was a life-giver, altering the whole scheme of any picture she made a part of by contributing new values. Have you ever seen the dull blues and greens of a room changed, transfigured? by a burst of sunshine? That seemed to Miss Maxwell the effect of Rebecca on groups of people with whom they now and then mingled, but they were commonly alone, reading to each other and having quiet talks. The prize essay was very much on Rebecca's mind. Secretly, she thought she could never be happy unless she won it. She cared nothing for the value of it, and in this

Starting point is 06:07:39 case almost nothing for the honor. She wanted to please Mr. Aladdin and justify his belief in her. If I ever succeed in choosing a subject, I must ask if you think I can write well on it. Then I suppose I must work in silence in secret, never even reading the essay to you, nor talking about it. Miss Maxwell and Rebecca were sitting by a little brook on a sunny spring day. They had been in a stretch of wood by the sea since breakfast, going every now and then for a bask on the warm white sand, and returning to their shady solitude when tired of the sun's glare. The subject is very important, said Miss Maxwell, but I do not dare choose for you.

Starting point is 06:08:20 Have you decided on anything yet? No. Rebecca answered. I plan a new essay every night. I've begun on what is a failure, and another on he and she. That would be a dialogue between a boy and a girl just as they were leaving school, and would tell their ideas of life.

Starting point is 06:08:37 Then do you remember you said to me one day, "'Follow your saint? I'd love to write about that. I didn't have a single thought and wear him, and now I have a new one every minute, so I must try and write the essay here. Think it out, at any rate. While I am so happy and free and rested, look at the pebbles in the bottom of the pool, Miss Emily, so round and smooth and shining.' "'Yes. But where did they get that beautiful polish? That saddened skin, that lovely shape, Rebecca. Not in the still pool lying on the sands. It was never there that they were, that they Their angles were rubbed off and their rough surfaces polished, but in the strife and warfare of running waters.

Starting point is 06:09:17 They have jostled against other pebbles, dashed against sharp rocks, and now we look at them and call them beautiful. If fate had not made somebody a teacher, she might have been, oh, such a splendid preacher. Rhymed to Rebecca. Oh, if I could only think and speak as you do. She sighed. I'm so afraid. I shall never get education enough to make a good writer. You could worry about plenty of other things to better advantage, said Miss Maxwell, a little scornfully.

Starting point is 06:09:49 Be afraid, for instance, that you won't understand human nature, that you won't realize the beauty of the outer world, that you may lack sympathy and thus never be able to read a heart, that your faculty of expression may not keep pace with your ideas, a thousand things, every one of them more important to the writer than the knowledge that is found in books. ESOP was a Greek slave who could not even write down his wonderful fables, yet all the world reads them. I didn't know that, said Rebecca with a half-sub. I didn't know anything until I met you.

Starting point is 06:10:29 You will only have had a high school course, but the most famous universities do not always succeed in making men and women. When I long to go abroad and study, I always remember that there were three great schools in Athens, and two in Jerusalem, but the teacher of all teachers came out of Nazareth, a little village hidden away from the bigger, busier world. Mr. Ladd says that you are almost wasted on Wareham, said Rebecca thoughtfully. He is wrong. My talent is not a good one. But no talent is wholly wasted

Starting point is 06:11:12 unless its owner chooses to hide it in a napkin. Remember that of your own gifts, Rebecca. They may not be praised of men. But they may cheer, console, inspire, perhaps, when and where you least expect. The brimming glass that overflows its own rim moisten's the earth about it.

Starting point is 06:11:38 Did you ever hear of the Rose of Joy? Asked Rebecca, after a long silence. Yes, of course. Where did you see it? On the outside of a book in the library. I saw it on the inside of a book in the library. Smiled, Miss Maxwell. It is from Emerson.

Starting point is 06:11:58 But I'm afraid you haven't quite grown up to it, Rebecca. And it is one of the things impossible to explain. Oh, try me. dear Miss Maxwell? Pleaded Rebecca. Perhaps by thinking hard, I can guess a little bit what it means. In the actual, this painful kingdom of time and chance, our care, canker, and sorrow.

Starting point is 06:12:23 With thought, with the ideal, is immortal hilarity. The rose of joy. Round it, all the muses sing. Quoted Miss Maxwell. Rebecca repeated it over and over again until she had learned it by heart. Then she said, I don't want to be conceited, but I almost believe I do understand it, Miss Maxwell. Not altogether, perhaps, because it is puzzling and difficult, but a little, enough to go on with.

Starting point is 06:12:52 It's as if a splendid-shaped gallop past you on horseback. You are so surprised, and your eyes move so slowly you cannot have see it, but you catch just a glimpse as it whisked by, and you know it is beautiful. It's all settled. My essay is going to be called the Rose of Joy. I've just decided it hasn't any beginning nor any middle, but there'll be a thrilling ending, something like this. Let me see. Joy, boy, toy, ahoi, decoy, aloy. Then come, what will, of wheel or woe, since all gold hath alloy. Thou bloom unwithered in this heart, my rose of joy. Now I'm going to tuck you up in the shawl and give you the fur pillow, and while you sleep I'm going down on the shore and write a fairy story for you. It's one of our supposing kind, if wise,

Starting point is 06:13:35 far, far into the future and makes beautiful things happen that may never really all come to pass, but some of them will, you'll see, and then you'll take out the little fairy story from your desk and remember Rebecca. I wonder why these young things always choose subjects that would tax the powers of a great essayist. Thought Miss Maxwell, as she tried to sleep, are they dazzled, captivated, taken possession of by the splendor of the theme, and do they fancy they can ride up to it? Poor little innocents, hitching their toy wagons to the stars. How pretty this particular innocent looks under her new sunshade.

Starting point is 06:14:16 Adam Ladd had been driving through Boston streets on a cold spring day when nature and the fashion-mongers were holding out promises which seemed far from performance. Suddenly, his vision was assailed by the sight of a rose-colored parasol, gaily unfurled in a shop window, signaling the passer-broumings. passer-by and setting him to dream of summer sunshine. It reminded Adam of a New England apple tree in full bloom, the outer covering of deep pink shining through the thin white lining, and a fluffy fringe-like edge of mingled rose and cream dropping over the green handle. All at once, he remembered one of Rebecca's early confidences, the little pink sunshade that had

Starting point is 06:15:00 given her the only peep into the gay world of fashion that her childhood had ever known. her adoration of the flimsy bit of finery and its tragic and sacrificial end. He entered the shop, bought the extravagant bobble, and expressed it to wear him at once, not a single doubt of its appropriateness crossing the darkness of his masculine mind. He thought only of the joy in Rebecca's eyes, of the poise of her head under the apple blossom canopy. It was a trifle embarrassing to return an hour later and back. a blue parasol for Emma Jane Perkins,

Starting point is 06:15:38 but it seemed increasingly difficult as the years went on to remember her existence at all the proper times and seasons. This is Rebecca's fairy story, copied the next day and given to Emily Maxwell just as she was going to her room for the night. She read it with tears in her eyes and then sent it to Adam Ladd, thinking he had earned a share in it

Starting point is 06:16:01 and that he deserved a glimpse of the girl's budding imagination, as well as of her grateful young heart. A fairy story. There was once a tired and rather poverty-stricken princess who dwelt in a cottage on the great highway between two cities. She was not as unhappy as thousands of others. Indeed, she had much to be grateful for, but the life she lived and the work she did

Starting point is 06:16:21 were full hard for one who was fashioned slenderly. Now the cottage stood by the edge of a great green forest where the wind was always singing in the branches and the sunshine filtering through the leaves. And one day when the princess was sitting by the wayside quite spent by her labor in the fields, she saw a golden chariot rolling down the king's highway, and in it a person who could be none other than somebody's fairy godmother on her way to the court. The chariot halted at her door, and though the princess had read of such beneficent personages,

Starting point is 06:16:47 she never dreamed for an instant that one of them could ever alight at her cottage. If you are tired, poor little princess, why do you not go into the cool green forest and rest? asked the fairy godmother. Because I have no time, she answered. I must go back to my plow. Is that your plow leaning by the tree, and is it not too heavy? "'It is heavy,' answered the princess. "'But I love to turn the hard earth into soft furrows,

Starting point is 06:17:07 "'and know that I am making good soil wherein my seeds may grow. "'When I feel the weight too much, I'll try to think of the harvest.' "'The golden chariot passed on, and the two tucked no more together that day. "'Neverless, the king's messengers were busy, "'for they whispered one word into the ear of the fairy godmother "'and another into the ear of the princess, "'though so faintly that neither of them realized that the king had spoken. "'The next morning a strong man knocked at the cottage door,

Starting point is 06:17:29 "'and doffing his hat to the princess said, A golden chariot passed by me yesterday, and one within it flung me a purse of dukats, saying, Go out into the king's highway and search until you find a cottage and a heavy plow leaning against a tree nearby. Enter and say to the princess whom you will find there. I will guide the plow and you must go and rest, or walk in the cool green forest, for this is the command of your fairy godmother. And the same thing happened every day, and every day the tired princess walked in the green wood. Many times she caught the glitter of the chariot and ran into the highway to give thanks to the fairy godmother, but she was never fleet enough to catch the spot.

Starting point is 06:18:01 She could only stand with eager eyes and a longing heart as the chariot passed by. Yet she never failed to catch a smile, and sometimes a word or two floated back to her, words that sounded like, I would not be thanked. We are all children of the same king, and I am only his messenger. Now as the princess walked daily in the green forest, hearing the wind singing in the branches and seeing the sunlight filter through the lattice work of green leaves, there came on to her thoughts that she had lain asleep in the stifling air of the cottage,

Starting point is 06:18:25 and the weariness of guiding the plow. and by and by she took a needle from her girdle and pricked the thoughts under the leaves of the trees and sent them into the air to float hither and thither. And it came to pass that people began to pick them up and holding them against the sun to read what was written on them, and this was because the simple little words on the leaves were only, after all, a part of one of the king's messages,

Starting point is 06:18:45 such as the fairy godmother dropped continually from her golden chariot. But the miracle of the story lies deeper than all this. Whatever the princess pricked the words upon the leaves, she added a thought of her fairy godmother, and folding it close within, sent the leaf out on the brood. to float hither and thither and fall where it would. And many other little princesses felt the same impulse and did the same thing.

Starting point is 06:19:04 And as nothing is ever lost in the king's dominion, so these thoughts and wishes and hopes, being full of love and gratitude, had no power to die, but took on to themselves, other shapes and lived on forever. They cannot be seen, our vision is too weak,

Starting point is 06:19:16 nor heard, our hearing is too dull, but they can sometimes be felt, and we know not what force is stirring our hearts to nobler aims. The end of the story has not come, but it may be that some day when the fairy godmother has a message to deliver in person straight to the king, he will say, your face I know, your voice, your thoughts, and your heart. I've heard the rumble of your chariot wheels on the great highway, and I knew that you were on the king's business. Here in my hand is a

Starting point is 06:19:40 sheaf of messages from every quarter of my kingdom. They are delivered by weary and foot-sore travelers who said that they could never have reached the gate and safety had it not been for your help and inspiration. Read them that you may know when and where and how you sped the king's service. And when the fairy godmother reads them, it may be that the sweet oed will rise from the pages, and half-forgotten memories will stir the air, but in the gladness of the moment, nothing will be half so lovely as the voice of the king when he said, read and know how you sped the king's service. Rebecca Rowena O'Randall. End of Chapter 25. Chapter 26 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 06:20:24 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 26. Over the Teacups The summer term at Wareham had ended, and Hulah, Missouri, Dick Carter, and Living Perkins had finished school, leaving Rebecca and Emma Jane to represent Riverboro in the year to come. De Leo Weeks was at home from Lewiston on a brief visit, and Mrs. Robinson was celebrating the occasion by a small and select party. The particular day, having been said, because strawberries were ripe, and there was a rooster that wanted killing.

Starting point is 06:21:07 Mrs. Robinson explained this to her husband, and requested that he eat his dinner on the carpenter's bench in the shed, as the party was to be a lady's affair. All right, won't be any loss to me, said Mr. Robinson. Give me beans, that's all I ask. When a rooster wants to be killed, I want someone else to eat him, not me. Mrs. Robinson had company only once or twice a year, and was generally much prostrated for several days afterwards.

Starting point is 06:21:33 the struggle between pride and persimony being quite too great a strain upon her. It was necessary in order to maintain her standing in the community to furnish a good set-out, yet the extravagance of the proceeding goaded her from the first moment she began to stir the marble cake to the moment when the feast appeared on the table. The rooster had been boiling steadily over a slow fire since morning, but such was his power of resistance that his shape, was as firm and handsome in the pot as on the first moment when he was lowered into it he ain't going to give up said alice very nervously under the cover and he looks like a scarecrow we'll see whether he gives up or not when i take a sharp knife to him her mother answered and as to his looks a platter full of gravy makes a side of difference with old roosters and i'll put dumplings round the age they are terrible fillin though they don't belong with boiled chicken the rooster did indeed make

Starting point is 06:22:33 make an impressive showing, lying in his border of dumplings, and the dish was much complimented when it was boom in by Alice. This was fortunate, as the chorus of admiration ceased abruptly when the ladies began to eat the fowl. I was glad you could get over to Holda's graduation, Delia. Said Mrs. Meserve, who sat at the foot of the table and helped the chicken, while Mrs. Robinson poured the coffee at the other end. She was a fit mother for Holda, being much the most stylish person in Riverboro. Ill health and dress were, indeed, her two chief enjoyments in life.

Starting point is 06:23:12 It was rumored that her elaborately curled frontpiece had cost $5, and that it was sent into Portland twice a year to be dressed and frizzed. But it is extremely difficult to discover the precise facts in such cases, and a conscientious historian always prefers to warn a too credulous reader against imbibing as gospel truth something that might be the basest pervasion of it. As to Mrs. Mercerve's appearance, have you ever, in early years, sought the comforting society of the cook and hung over the kitchen table while she rolled out sugar gingerbread? Perhaps then, in some unaccustomed moment of amiability, she made you a dough lady,

Starting point is 06:23:58 cutting the outline deftly with her pastry knife, and then, at last, placing the human stamp upon it by sticking in two black currents for eyes. Just call to mind the face of that sugar gingerbread lady, and you will have an exact portrait of Holda's mother, Miss Peter Meserve, she was generally called, there being several others. How'd you like Holdie's dress, Delios? She asked, snapping the elastic in her black, jet bracelets after an irritating fashion she had. I thought it was about the answer must have any. Answered Delia.

Starting point is 06:24:36 And her composition was first rate. It was the only one amusing one there was, and she read it so loud and clear we didn't miss any of it. Most of the girls spoke as if they had aasty pudding in their mouths. That was the composition she wrote for Adelad's Prize. Explained Mrs. Miserve. And they do say she'd come out first instead of four, if her subject had been different. There was three ministers and three deacons on the committee, and it was only natural they should choose a serious piece.

Starting point is 06:25:03 Hers was too lively to suit them. Hilda's inspiring theme had been boys, and she certainly had a fund of knowledge and experience that fitted her to write most intelligently upon it. It was vastly popular with the audience, who enjoyed the rather cheap jokes and illusions with which it coruscated, but judged from a purely literary standpoint, it left much to be desired. Rebecca's piece wasn't read out loud, but the one that took the boy's prize was. Why was that? Asked Mrs. Robinson. Because she walked graduating, explained Mrs. Cobb. I couldn't take part in the exercises. It'll be printed with Herbert's Duns in the school newspaper.

Starting point is 06:25:49 I'm glad of that, for I'll never believe it was better than Holies until I read it with my. own eyes. It seems as if the prize ought to go on to one of the seniors. Well, no, Marthy, not if Ladd offered it to any of the two upper classes that wanted to try for it. Argued Mrs. Robinson. They say they asked him to give out the prizes, and he refused up and down. It seems odd his being so rich and traveling about all over the country that he was too modest to get up on that platform. My hold he could have done it and not winked in eyelash. Mrs. Meserve complacently, a remark which there seemed no disposition on the part of any of the company to controvert. It was complete, though, the governor happening to be there to see his niece graduate, said Delia Weeks.

Starting point is 06:26:37 Landy looked elegant. They say he's only six feet, but he might have been sixteen, and he certainly did make a fine speech. Did you notice, Rebecca, how white she was and how she trembled when she had her but danced there, while the governor was brazen. them he'd read her composition too for he'd wrote the story of girls a letter about it this remark was from the sympathetic mrs cobb i thought twas kind of foolish she's making so much of her when it weren't her graduation objected mrs laying his hand on her head and all that as if he was a pope pronounced in benediction but there i'm glad the prize come to riverborough to any rate and hints of the one never was gave up from the wareham platform i guess there ain't nowhere to add mud's money the fifty dollars would have been good enough but he must needs to go and put it into those elegant purses i set sofa back i couldn't see him fairly complained delia and now rebecca has taken her zoom to show her mother it was kind of a gold net-bag with a chain said mrs perkins and there was five ten-dollar gold pieces in it herbert duns was put in a fine leather wallet how long is rebecca going to stay at the farm asked delia till they get over hannah's being married and get the house to run him without her answered mrs perkins it seems as if hannah might have waited a little longer arulia was set against her going away while rebecca was at school but she's obstinate as a mule, Hannah is, and she just took her own way in spite of her mother. She's been doing her

Starting point is 06:28:14 sewing for a year, the awfulest coarse cotton cloths she had, but she's nearly blinded herself with fine stitching and ruffling and tucking. Did you hear about the quilt she made? It's white and has a big bunch of grapes in the center, quilted by a thimble top. Then there's a row of circle bordering round the grapes, and she'd done them the size of a spool. The next boarder, order was done with a sherry glass and the last with a port glass and all outside of that was solid stitching done in straight rows she's gone to exhibit it at the county fair she'd better have been taken in suing and earning money stead of blinding her eyes and such foolishness such as quilted counterpains said mrs cobb the next thing you know that mortgage would be foreclosed on miss randall and she and the children won't have a roof all for their heads don't they say there's a good chance of the railroad going through her place asked mrs robinson if it does she'll get as much as the farm is worth and more adam lads one of the stockholders and everything is a success he takes hold of they're fighting it in augusty but i'd back lad agin any o them legislators

Starting point is 06:29:33 if he thought he was in the ride. Rebecca will have some new clothes now, said Delia. And the land knows she needs them. Seems to me the Sawyer girls are getting terrible near. Rebecca won't have any new clothes out of the prize money, remarked Mrs. Perkins. For she sent it away the next day to pay the interest on that mortgage.

Starting point is 06:29:55 Poor little girl, exclaimed Delia Weeks. She might as well help along her folks suspended on foolishness. affirmed mrs robinson i think she was mighty lucky to get it to pay the interest with but she's probably like all the randalls it was easy come easy go with them that's more than could be said of the sawyer stock retorted mrs perkins seems like they enjoyed saving more than anything in the world and it's gaining on mirandy sends her shock i don't believe it was a shock it stands to reason she never got up after it and been so smart as she is now we had three of the worst shocks in our family that there ever was on this river and i know every symptom of them better than the doctors and mrs peter meserve shook her head wisely mirandie's smart enough said mrs but you notice she stays right to home and she's more close martha than she ever was never took a mite of bride in the prize as i could see though it pretty-nigh rode jeremia out of senses I thought I should have died the shame when he cried, Hooray!

Starting point is 06:31:08 And swung his straw hat when the governor shook hands with Rebecca. It's lucky he couldn't get fur into the church and had to stand back by the door. For as it was, he made a spectacle of himself. My suspicion is... And here, every lady stopped eating and sat up straight. That the soil girls have lost money. They don't know a thing about... business never did, and we're indeed's too secretive and contrary to ask advice.

Starting point is 06:31:39 The most of what they got is in government bonds, I always heard, and he can't lose money on them. Jane had the timber when I left her, and Miranda had the brick house. She probably took it awful hard that Rebecca's $50 had to be swallowed up in a mortgage instead of going towards school expenses. The more I think of it, the more I think Adam Ladden tended, Rebecca should have that prize when he gave it. The mind of Hulda's mother ran towards the idea that her daughter daughters rights had been assailed land marthy what foolishness you talk exclaimed mrs perkins you don't suppose he could tell what composition the committee was going to choose and why should he offer another fifty dollars for a boy's prize if he wasn't interested in helping along the school he's give emma jane about the same present as rebecca every christmas for five years that's the way he does some time he'll forget one of em and give to the other or drop em both and give to some new girl said delia weeks with an experience born of fifty years of spinsterhood like is not assented mrs peter mazerve though it's easy to see he ain't the merent kind

Starting point is 06:32:46 there's men that would marry once a year if their wives would die fast now and there's men that seems to want to live alone if lad was a mormon i guess he could have every woman in north riverborough that's a suitable age according to what my cousins say remarked mrs perkins tain't likely he could be catched by any north riverborough girl demurred mrs robinson not when he probably has had the picco boston i guess marthy hid it when she said there's men that ain't the merry kind I wouldn't trust any of him when Miss Wright comes along. laughed Mrs. Cobb, genially. You can never tell what and who's going to please him. You know Jeremy's contrary horse-buster? He won't let anybody put the pit into his mouth if he can help it. He'd find Jerry and filed me to be haste given.

Starting point is 06:33:40 Rebecca didn't know nothing about his tricks, and the other day she just went into the bar. to hitch up i followed right lull knowing she'd have trouble with the head store and i declare if she was in patterned buster's nose and talking to him and when she put her little fingers into his mouth he opened it so far i thought he'd swallow her for sure he'd just smuck his lips over the bit as if it was a lump of sugar then rebecca i says how'd you persuade him to take the bit i didn't she says he seemed to It. Perhaps he's tired of his stall and wants to get out into the fresh air. End of Chapter 26. Chapter 27 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 06:34:39 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 27. The Vision Splendid A year had elapsed since Adam Ladd's prize had been discussed over the teacups in Riverboro. The months had come and gone, and at length the great day had dawned for Rebecca, the day to whom she had been looking forward for five years, as the first goal to be reached on her little journey through the world.

Starting point is 06:35:16 School days were ended, and the mystic function known to the initiated as graduation was about to be celebrated. It was even now heralded by the sun dawning in the eastern sky. Rebecca stole softly out of bed, crept to the window, threw open the blinds, and welcomed the rosy light that meant a cloudless morning. Even the sun looked different somehow. Larger, redder, more important than usual. and if it were really so, there was no member of the graduating class

Starting point is 06:35:53 who would have thought it strange or unbecoming in view of all the circumstances. Emma Jane stirred on her pillow, woke, and seeing Rebecca at the window, came and knelt on the floor beside her. It's going to be pleasant. She sighed gratefully. If it wasn't wicked, I could thank the Lord. I'm so relieved in mind. Did you sleep? not much the words of my class poem kept running through my head and the accompaniments of the songs and worse than anything mary queen of scott's prayer in latin it seemed as if adoro implore u liberaise me were burned into my brain

Starting point is 06:36:33 no one who is unfamiliar with life in rural neighborhoods can imagine the gravity the importance the solemnity of this last day of school in the matter of preparation wealth of detail, and general excitement, it far surpasses a wedding, for that is commonly a simple affair in the country, sometimes even beginning and ending in a visit to the parsonage. Nothing quite equals graduation in the minds of the graduates themselves, their families, and the younger students, unless it be the inauguration of a governor at the state capital. Wareham, then, was shaken to its very center on this day of days. Mothers and fathers of the scholars, as well as relatives to the remotest generation, had been coming on the train and driving into town since breakfast time.

Starting point is 06:37:30 Old pupils, both married and single, with and without families, streamed back to the dear old village. The two livery stables were crowded with vehicles of all sorts, and lines of buggies and wagons were drawn up along the sides of the shady roads, the horses switching their tails in luxurious idleness. The streets were filled with people wearing their best clothes, and the fashions included not only the latest thing, but the well-preserved relic of a bygone day.

Starting point is 06:38:05 There were all sorts and conditions of men and women, for there were sons and daughters of storekeepers, lawyers, butchers, doctors, shoemakers, professors, ministers, and farmers at the Wareham schools, either as boarders or day scholars. In the seminary building, there was an excitement so deep and profound that it expressed itself in a kind of hushed silence, a transient suspension of life as those most interested approached the crucial moment. The feminine graduates to be were seated in their own bedrooms,

Starting point is 06:38:42 dressed with a completeness of detail to which all their past lives seemed to have been but a prelude. At least this was the case with their bodies, but their heads, owing to the extreme heat of the day, were one and all ornamented with leads or papers or dozens of little braids to issue later in every sort of curl known to the girl of that period. Ruling their hair on leads or papers was a favorite method. of attaining the desired result, and though it often entailed a sleepless night, there were those who gladly paid the price. Others, in whose veins the blood of martyrs did not flow, substituted rags for leads, and pretended that they made a more natural and less woolly curl.

Starting point is 06:39:32 Heat, however, will melt the proudest head and reduced to fiddling strings the finest product of the waving pin. So anxious mothers were stationed over their offspring, waving palm leaf fans, it having been decided that the supreme instant, when the town clock struck ten, should be the one chosen for releasing the prisoners from their self-imposed tortures.

Starting point is 06:40:00 Dotted or plain Swiss muslin was the favorite garb, though there were those who were steaming in white cashmere or alpaca, because in some cases such frocks were thought more useful afterwards. Blue and pink waist ribbons were lying over the backs of chairs, and the girl who had a Roman sash was praying that she might be kept from vanity and pride. The way to any graduating dress at all had not seemed clear to Rebecca until a month before. Then, in company with Emma Jane, she visited the Perkins attic, found piece after piece of white butter muslin or cheesecloth and decided that, at a pinch, it would do.

Starting point is 06:40:44 The rich blacksmith's daughter cast the thought of dotted Swiss behind her, and elected to follow Rebecca in cheesecloth as she had in higher matters, straightway devising costumes that included such drawing of threads, such hemstitching and pin tucking, such insertions of fine thread tatting, that, in order to be finished, Rebecca's dress was given out in sections. The sash to Hannah, waist and sleeves to Mrs. Cobb, and skirt to Aunt Jane. The stitches that went into the despised material, worth only three or four pennies a yard, made the dresses altogether lovely, and as for the folds and lines into which they fell, they could have given points to satins and brocades. The two girls were waiting in their room alone.

Starting point is 06:41:33 Emma Jane, in a rather tearful state of mind, she kept thinking that it was the last day that they would be together in this altogether sweet and close intimacy. The beginning of the end seemed to have dawned, for two positions had been offered Rebecca by Mr. Morrison the day before, one in which she would play for singing in calisthenics and superintended the piano practice of the younger girls in a boarding school, the other an assistance place in the Edgewood High School. Both were very modest as to salary, but the former included educational advantages

Starting point is 06:42:11 that Miss Maxwell thought might be valuable. Rebecca's mood had passed from that of excitement into a sort of exaltation, and when the first bell rang through the corridors announcing that in five minutes the class would proceed in a body to the church for the exercises, she stood motionless and speechless at the window, with her hand and her heart. It is coming, Emmy, she said presently.

Starting point is 06:42:40 Do you remember in the mill on the flops when Maggie Tolliver closed the golden gates of childhood behind her? I can almost see them swing, almost hear them cling, and I can't tell whether I'm glad or sorry. I shouldn't care how they swung or clanged, said Emma Jane. If only you and I were on the same side of the gate, but we shan't be. I know we shan't. Emmy, don't dare to cry for I'm just on the brink myself. If only you were graduating with me, that's my only sorrow. There, I hear the rumble of the wheels.

Starting point is 06:43:11 People will be seeing our grand surprise now. Hug me once for luck, dear Emmy, a careful hug remembering our butter-muslin frilty. Ten minutes later, Adam Ladd, who had just arrived from Portland and was wending his way to the church, came suddenly into the main street, and stopped short under a tree by the wayside. riveted to the spot by a scene of picturesque loveliness, such as his eyes had seldom witnessed before. The class of which Rebecca was president was not likely to follow accepted customs.

Starting point is 06:43:46 Instead of marching two by two from the seminary to the church, they had elected to proceed thither by royal chariot. A hay cart had been decked with green vines and bunches of long-stemmed, field daisies, those gay darlings of New England meadows. Every inch of the rail, the body, even the spokes, all were twined with yellow and green and white. There were two white horses, flower-trimmed rains, and in the floral bower, seated on maple boughs, were the twelve girls of the class, while the ten boys marched on either side of the vehicle, wearing buttonhole bouquets of daisies, the class flower. Rebecca drove, seated on a green-covered bench, that looked not unlike a throne.

Starting point is 06:44:40 No girl clad in white muslin, no happy girl of seventeen is plain, and the twelve little country maids from the vantage ground of their setting looked beautiful as the June's sunlight filtered down on their uncovered heads, showing their bright eyes. their fresh cheeks, their smiles, and their dimples. Rebecca, Adam thought, as he took off his hat and saluted the pretty panorama. Rebecca, with her tall slenderness, her thoughtful brow, the fire of young joy in her face, her fillet of dark braided hair, might have been a young muse, or sybil, and the flowering hayrack, with its freight of blooming girlhood, might have been painted

Starting point is 06:45:27 as an allegorical picture of the morning of life. It all passed him as he stood under the elms in the old village street where his mother had walked, half a century ago. And he was turning with the crowd towards the church when he heard a little sob. Behind a hedge in the garden near where he was standing was a forlorn person in white, whose neat nose, chestnut hair, and blue eyes he seemed to know.

Starting point is 06:45:57 He stepped inside the gate and said, What's wrong, Miss Emma? Oh, is it you, Mr. Lad? Rebecca wouldn't let me cry for fear of spoiling my looks. But I must have just one chance before I go in. I can be as homely as I like, after all, for I only have to sing with the school. I'm not graduating.

Starting point is 06:46:20 I'm just leaving. Not that I mind. It's only being separated from Rebecca that I never can stand. The two walked along together, Adam comforting the disconsolate Emma Jane, until they reached the old meeting-house where the commencement exercises were always held. The interior, with its decorations of yellow, green, and white, was crowded, the air hot and breathless, the essays and songs and recitations, precisely like all others that have been since the world began. One always fears that the platform may sink under the weight of youthful platitudes uttered on

Starting point is 06:46:59 such occasions, yet one can never be properly critical because the sight of the boys and girls themselves, those young and hopeful makers of tomorrow, disarms one's scorn. We yawn desperately at the essays, but our hearts go out to the essayists all the same, for the vision splendid is shining in their eyes, and there is no fear of the inevitable yoke that the years are so surely bringing them. Rebecca saw Hannah and her husband in the audience, dear old John and cousin Anne also, and felt a pang at the absence of her mother, though she had known there was no possibility of seeing her, for poor Aurelia was kept at Sunnybrook by cares of children and farm, and lack of money either for the jury,

Starting point is 06:47:46 or for suitable dress. The cabs she saw too. No one indeed could fail to see Uncle Jerry, for he shed tears more than once, and in the intervals between the essays discounted to his neighbors concerning the marvelous gifts of one of the graduating class whom he had known ever since she was a child, in fact had driven her from Maplewood to Riverboro when she left her home, and he had told mother that same night that there weren't nary rump. on the ladder of fame that that child wouldn't mount before she got through with it. The Cubs then had come, and there were other Riverboro faces. But where was Aunt Jane, in her black silk made over, especially for this occasion? Aunt Miranda had not intended to come,

Starting point is 06:48:36 she knew, but where, on this day of days, was her beloved Aunt Jane? However, this thought, like all others, came and went in a flash, for the whole morning was like a series of magic lantern pictures, crossing and recrossing her field of vision. She played, she sang, she recited Queen Mary's Latin prayer, like one in a dream, only brought to consciousness by meeting Mr. Aladdin's eyes as she spoke the last line. Then, at the end of the program, came her class poem, Makers of Tomorrow. And there, as on many a former occasion, her personality played so great a part that she seemed to be uttering miltonic sentiments instead of schoolgirl verse. Her voice, her eyes, her body breathed conviction, earnestness, emotion, and when she left the platform, the audience felt that they had listened to a masterpiece.

Starting point is 06:49:37 Most of her hearers knew little of Carlisle or Emerson, or they might have remembered that the one said, We are all poets when we read a poem well, and the other, tis the good reader, makes the good book. It was over. The diplomas had been presented, and each girl, after giving furtive touches to her hair, sly tweaks to her muslin skirts, and caressing pats to her sash, had gone forward to receive the roll of parchment with a bow that had been the subject of anxious thought for weeks. Rounds of applause greeted each graduate at this thrilling moment, and Jeremiah Cobb's behavior, when Rebecca came forward, was the talk of Wareham and Riverboro for days.

Starting point is 06:50:28 Old Mrs. Webb avowed that he, in the space of two hours, had worn out her pew more the carpet and cushions and woodwork, than she had by sitting in it for forty years. Yes, it was over, and after the crowd had thinned a little, Adam Ladd made his way to the platform. Rebecca turned from speaking to some strangers and met him in the aisle.

Starting point is 06:50:55 Oh, Mr. Aladdin, I'm so glad you could come. Tell me. And she looked at him half shyly, for his approval was dearer to her and more difficult to win than that of the others. Tell me, Mr. Aladdin, were you satisfied? More than satisfied. He said, Glad I met the child, proud I know the girl, longing to meet the woman.

Starting point is 06:51:20 End of Chapter 27. Chapter 28 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. by Kate Douglas Wiggin Chapter 28

Starting point is 06:51:46 The Inevitable Yoke Rebecca's heart beat high at this sweet praise from her hero's lips, but before she had found words to thank him, Mr. and Mrs. Cobb, who had been modestly biting their time in a corner, approached her, and she introduced them to Mr. Ladd. Where? Where's Aunt Jean? She cried, holding Aunt Sarah's hand on one side, and Uncle Jerry's on the other?

Starting point is 06:52:13 I'm sorry, lovey, but we've got bad news for you. Is it Miranda worse? She is, I can see it by your looks. And Rebecca's color faded. She had a second stroke yesterday morning, just when she was helping Jane lay out her things to come here today. Jane said, You want to know anything about it till the exercises was all over,

Starting point is 06:52:38 and we promised to keep it secret till then. i will go right home with you aunt sarah i must just run to tell miss maxwell for after i had packed up to-morrow i was going to brunswick with her poor aunt miranda and i've been so gay and happy all day except that i was longing for mother and aunt jane there ain't no harm in being gay lover that's just what jane wanted you to be and marinda's got her speech back for your aunt has just said the letter saying she's better and i'm going to send up tonight so you can stay here and have a good sleep and get your things together comfortably tomorrow. I'll pack your trunk for you, Becky, dear, and attend to all our room things, said Emma Jane, who had come towards the group and heard the sorrowful news from the brick house.

Starting point is 06:53:24 They moved into one of the quiet side pews where Hannah and her husband and John joined them. From time to time, some straggling acquaintance or old schoolmate would come up to congratulate Rebecca and ask why she had hidden herself in a corner. Then some member of the class would call to her excitedly, reminding her not to be late at the picnic luncheon, or begging her to be early at the class party in the evening.

Starting point is 06:53:51 All this had an air of unreality to Rebecca. In the midst of the happy excitement of the last two days, when blushing honors had been falling thick upon her, and behind the delicious exultation of the morning, had been the feeling that the condition was a transient one, and that the burden, the struggle, the anxiety would soon loom again on the horizon. She longed to steal away into the woods with her dear old John, grown so manly and handsome, and get some comfort from him.

Starting point is 06:54:24 Meantime, Adam Blad and Mr. Cobb had been having an animated conversation. I suppose up to Boston, girls like that one are as thick as blackberries. Uncle Jerry said, jerking his head interrogatively in Rebecca's direction. They may be. Smiled, Adam, taking in the old man's mood. Only I don't happen to no one. My eyesight being poor is the reason she looked the insomest of any girl in the platform, I suppose. There's no failure in my eyes.

Starting point is 06:54:57 Responded, Adam. But that was how the thing seemed to me. What did you think of her voice? Anything extra about it? made the others sound poor and thin i thought well i'm glad to hear your opinion you being a traveled man her mother says i'm foolish about rebecca and have been since the first mother scolds me for spoiling her but i noticed mother ain't fur behind when it comes to spoiling land it made me sick thinking o them parents travelling miles to see their young ones graduate and then when they got there heave in to compare em with rebecca good-bye mr lad drop in some day when you come to Riverboro. I will, said Adam, shaking the old man's hand cordially.

Starting point is 06:55:41 Perhaps tomorrow if I drive Rebecca home, as I shall offer to do. Do you think Miss Sawyer's condition is serious? Well, the doctor don't seem to know. Anyhow, she's paralyzed and she'll never walk fur again, poor soul. She ain't lost her speech. That'll be a comfort to her. Adam left the church, and in crossing the common, came upon Miss Maxwell, doing the honors of the institution as she passed from group to group of strangers and guests.

Starting point is 06:56:10 Knowing that she was deeply interested in all Rebecca's plans, he told her, as he drew her aside, that the girl would have to leave Wareham for Riverboro the next day. That is almost more than I can bear! exclaimed Miss Maxwell, sitting down on a bench and stabbing the Greensward with her parasol. It seems to me Rebecca never has any respite. I had so many plans for her this next month in fitting her for her position. And now she will settle down to housework again, and to the nursing of that poor sick cross-old aunt.

Starting point is 06:56:46 If it had not been for the cross-old aunt, Rebecca would still have been at Sunnybrook, and from the standpoint of educational advantages, or indeed advantages of any sort, she might as well have been in the backwoods. Returned, Adam. That is true. I was vexed when I spoke

Starting point is 06:57:03 For I thought an easier and happier day Was dawning for my prodigy and pearl Our prodigy in Pearl Corrected Adam Oh yes She laughed I always forget that it pleases you To pretend you discovered Rebecca

Starting point is 06:57:21 I believe though that happier days are dawning for her Continued Adam It must be a secret for the present but Mrs. Randall's farm will be bought by the new railroad. We must have right of way through the land, and the station will be built on her property. She will receive $6,000, which, though not a fortune, will yield her $3 or $400 a year, if she will allow me to invest it for her. There is a mortgage on the land, that paid, and Rebecca self-supporting.

Starting point is 06:57:51 The mother ought to push the education of the oldest boy, who was a fine, ambitious fellow. He should be taken away from farm work, and, settled at his studies. We might form ourselves into a Randall Protective Agency, limited. Mused, Miss Maxwell. I confess I want Rebecca to have a career. I don't. Said Adam promptly.

Starting point is 06:58:14 Of course you don't. Men have no interest in the careers of women. But I know Rebecca better than you. You understand her mind better, but not necessarily her heart. You are considering her for the moment as prodigms. I am thinking of her more as Pearl. Well, sighed Miss Maxwell whimsically. Prodigy or Pearl, the Randall Protective Agency may pull Rebecca in opposite directions,

Starting point is 06:58:43 but nevertheless she will follow her saint. That will content me, said Adam gravely, particularly if the saint beckons your way. And Miss Maxwell looked up and smiled provokingly. Rebecca did not see her Aunt Miranda till she had been at the brick house for several days. Miranda steadily refused to have anyone but Jane in the room until her face had regained its natural look,

Starting point is 06:59:13 but her door was always ajar, and Jane fancied she liked to hear Rebecca's quick light step. Her mind was perfectly clear now, and save that she could not move, she was most of the time quite free from pain and alert in every nerve to all that was going on within or without the house. Were the windfall apples being picked up for sauce? Were the potatoes thick in the hills?

Starting point is 06:59:40 Was the corn tossling out? Were they cut in the upper field? Were they keeping fly paper laid out everywhere's? Were there any ants in the dairy? Was the kindlin wood holding out? Had the bank sent the cowponds? Poor Miranda Sawyer. hovering on the verge of the great beyond her body struck and no longer under control of her iron will no divine visions floated across her tired brain nothing but petty cares and sordid anxieties

Starting point is 07:00:14 not all at once can the soul talk with god be he ever so near if the heavenly language never has been learned quick as is the spiritual sense in seizing the facts it needs then the poor soul must use the words and phrases it has lived on and grown into day by day. Poor Miss Miranda held fast within the prison walls of her own nature, blind in the presence of revelation because she had never used the spiritual eye, deaf to angelic voices because she had not used the spiritual ear. There came a morning when she asked for Rebecca, The door was opened into the dim sick room, and Rebecca stood there with the sunlight behind her, her hands full of sweet peas.

Starting point is 07:01:05 Miranda's pale, sharp face, framed in its nightcap, looked haggard on the pillow, and her body was pitifully still under the counterpane. "'Come in,' she said. "'I ain't dead yet. Don't mess up the bed with them flowers, will ye?' "'Oh, no, they're going in a glass pitcher,' said. Rebecca, turning to the washstand as she tried to control her voice and stop the tears that sprang to her eyes. Let me look at you. Come closer. What dress are you wearing? said the old aunt in her cracked, weak voice. My blue calico? Is your cashmere holding its color? Yes, Aunt Miranda. Do you keep it in a dark closet

Starting point is 07:01:50 hung on the wrong side, as I told you? Always. Has your mother made her jelly? She hasn't said She always had the knack of writing letters With nothing in him What's Mark broke since I've been sick Nothing at all, Amaranda Why, what's the matter with him? Getting lazy, ain't he?

Starting point is 07:02:10 How's John turning out? He's going to be the best of us all I hope you don't slight things in the kitchen Because I ain't there Do you scald the coffee pot And turn it upside down on the windowsill? Yes, Sam Miranda It's always yes

Starting point is 07:02:26 with you, and yes, with Jane. Groned Miranda, trying to move her stiffened body. But all the time I lay here knowing there's things done the way I don't like them. There was a long pause, during which Rebecca sat down by the bedside and timidly touched her aunt's hand, her heart swelling with tender pity at the gaunt face and closed eyes. I was dreadful ashamed to have you graduate and cheesecloth Rebecca, but I couldn't help it know how. You'll hear the reason sometime, and no, I tried to make it up to ye. I'm afraid you was a laugh and stock.

Starting point is 07:03:07 No. Rebecca answered. Ever so many people said our dresses were the very prettiest. They look like soft lace. You're not to be anxious about anything. Here I am, all grown up and graduated, number three in a class of 22, Aunt Miranda, and good positions offered me all already. Look at me, big and strong and young, all ready to go into the world and show what you and Aunt Jane have done for me. If you want me to be near, I'll take the Edgewood School so that I can be here nights and Sundays to help, and if you get better, then I'll go to Augusta, for that's $100 more with music lessons and other things beside. You listen to me, said Miranda, quaveringly. Take the best place, regardless of my sickness.

Starting point is 07:03:46 I'd like to live long enough to know you'd paid off that mortgage, but I guess I shan't. Here she ceased abruptly, having talked more than she had for weeks, and Rebecca stole out of the room to cry by herself, and wonder if old age must be so grim, so hard, so unchastened and unsweetened as it slipped into the valley of the shadow. The days went on, and Miranda grew stronger and stronger. Her will seemed unassailable, and before long, she could be moved into a chair by the window,

Starting point is 07:04:23 her dominant thought being to arrive at such a condition of improvement that the doctor need not call more than once a week, instead of daily, thereby diminishing the bill that was mounting to such a terrifying sum that it haunted her thoughts by day and dreams by night. Little by little, hope stole back into Rebecca's young heart. Aunt Jane began to clear starch her handker, and collars and purple muslin dress, so that she might be ready to go to Brunswick at any

Starting point is 07:04:56 moment when the doctor pronounced Miranda well on the road to recovery. Everything beautiful was to happen in Brunswick if she could be there by August, everything that heart could wish or imagination conceive, for she was to be Miss Emily's very own visitor, and sit at table with college professors and other great men. At length, the day dawned when the few clean, simple dresses were packed in the hair trunk, together with her beloved coral necklace, her cheesecloth graduating dress, her class pin, Aunt Jane's lace cape, and the one new hat which she tried on every night before going to bed. It was of white chip with a wreath of cheap white roses and green leaves,

Starting point is 07:05:44 and cost between two and three dollars an unprecedented. did some in Rebecca's experience. The effect of its glories when worn with her nightdress was dazzling enough, but if ever it appeared in conjunction with the cheesecloth gown, Rebecca felt that even reverend professors might regard it with respect. It is probable indeed that any professional gaze lucky enough to meet a pair of dark eyes shining under that white rose garland would never have stopped, at respect.

Starting point is 07:06:21 Then, when all was ready and abidja flag at the door, came a telegram from Hannah. Come at once. Mother has had bad accident. In less than an hour, Rebecca was started on her way to Sunnybrook, her heart palpitating with fear as to what might be awaiting her at her journey's end. Death, at all events, was not there to meet her, but something that looked at first only too much like it. Her mother had been standing on the haymow,

Starting point is 07:06:54 superintending some changes in the barn, had been seized with giddiness, they thought, and slipped. The right knee was fractured and the back strained and hurt, but she was conscious and in no immediate danger, so Rebecca wrote when she had a moment to send Aunt Jane the particulars. I don't know how tis, grumbled Miranda, who was not able to sit up that day. But from a child I could never lay a bed without Aurelia's getting sick, too.

Starting point is 07:07:25 I don't know if she could help falling, though it ain't any place for a woman, a ha-mo. But if it hadn't been that, it would have been something else. Aurelia was born unfortunate. Now she'll probably be a cripple, and Rebecca'll have to nurse her instead of earning a good income somewhere else. Her first duties to her mother, said Aunt Jane. I hope she'll always remember that. Nobody remembers anything they'd ought to at 17.

Starting point is 07:07:57 Responded Miranda. Now that I'm strong again, there's things I want to consider with you, Jane, things that are on my mind night and day. We've talked him over before. Now we'll settle them. when I'm laid away, do you want to take Aurelia and the children down here to the brick house? There's an awful passel of them, Aurelia, Jenny, and Fanny. But I won't have Mark.

Starting point is 07:08:24 Hannah can take him. I won't have a great boy stomping out the carpets and ruining the furniture. Though I know when I'm dead I can't hinder ye if you make up your mind to do anything. I shouldn't like to go against your feelings, especially in laying out your money, Miranda, said Jane. Don't tell Rebecca I've willed her the brick house. She won't get it till I'm gone, and I want to take my time about Diane and not be hurried off by them that's going to profit by it, nor I don't want to be thanked neither.

Starting point is 07:09:00 I suppose she'll use the front stairs as common as the back, and like as not have water brought into the kitchen. But maybe when I've been dead a few years, I shan't mind. She sets such store by you. She'll want you to have your home here as long as you live. But anyway, I've wrote it down that way. Though lawyer burns his wills don't hold more than half the time, he's cheaper, but I guess it comes out just the same in the end. I wasn't going to have the first man Rebecca picks up for a husband turning you outdoors. There was a long pause, during which chain knit silently, wiping the tears from her eyes

Starting point is 07:09:44 from time to time, as she looked at the pitiful figure lying weakly on the pillows. Suddenly, Miranda said slowly and feebly. I don't know, after all, but you might as well take Mark. I suppose there's tame boys as well as wild ones. There ain't a mite a sense in having so many children, but it's a terrible risk splitting up families and farming them out here and there. They'd never come to no good, and everybody would keep remembering their mother was a sawyer. Now, if you'll draw down the curtain, I'll try to sleep.

Starting point is 07:10:25 End of Chapter 28. Chapter 29 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox report. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wigan Chapter 29 Mother and Daughter

Starting point is 07:10:53 Two months had gone by, two months of steady, fagging work, of cooking, washing, ironing, of mending and caring for the three children. Although Jenny was fast becoming a notable little housewife, quick, ready, and capable. There were months in which there had been many a weary night of watching by Aurelia's bedside, of soothing and bandaging and rubbing, of reading and nursing, even of feeding and bathing. The ceaseless care was growing less now, and the family breathed more freely, for the mother's sigh of pain no longer came from the stifling bedroom, where, during a hot and humid August,

Starting point is 07:11:37 Aurelia had lain, suffering with every breath she drew. There would be no question of walking for many a month to come, but blessings seemed to multiply when the blinds could be opened and the bed drawn near the window. When mother, with pillows behind her, could at least sit and watch the work going on, could smile at the past agony and forget the weary hours that had led to her present comparative ease and comfort.

Starting point is 07:12:07 no girl of seventeen can pass through such an ordeal and come out unchanged no girl of rebecca's temperament could go through it without some inward repining and rebellion she was doing tasks in which she could not be fully happy heavy and trying tasks which perhaps she could never do with complete success or satisfaction and like promise of nectar to thirsty lips was the vision of joys she had had had to her to put aside for the performance of dull daily duty. How brief, how fleeting had been those splendid visions when the universe seemed open for her young strength to battle and triumph in. How soon they had faded into the light of common day. At first, sympathy and grief were so keen

Starting point is 07:13:01 she thought of nothing but her mother's pain. No consciousness of self interposed between her, and her filial service. Then, as the weeks passed, little blighted hopes began to stir and ache in her breast. Defeated ambitions raised their heads as if to sting her. Unattainable delights teased her by their very nearness, by the narrow line of separation that lay between her and their realization. It is easy for the moment to tread the narrow way, looking neither to the right, nor left, upborne by the sense of right doing. But that first joy of self-denial, the joy that is like fire in the blood, dies away. The path seems drearier, and the footsteps falter. Such a time came to

Starting point is 07:13:54 Rebecca, and her bright spirit flagged when the letter was received saying that her position in Augusta had been filled. There was a mutinous leap of the heart, then, a beating of wings against the door of the cage, a longing for the freedom of the big world outside. It was the stirring of the powers within her, though she called it by no such grand name. She felt as if the wind of destiny were blowing her flame hither and thither, burning, consuming her, but kindling nothing. All this meant one stormy night in her little room at Sunnybrook, but the clouds blew over, the sun shone again, a rainbow stretched across the sky, while hope-clad in April Green smiled into her upturned face,

Starting point is 07:14:44 and beckoned her on, saying, Grow old along with me, the beast has yet to be. Threats of joy ran in and out of the grey-tangled web of daily living. There was the attempt at odd moments to make the bare little house less bare by bringing in out of doors. taking a leaf from nature's book and noting how she conceals ugliness wherever she finds it. Then there was the satisfaction of being mistress of the poor domain, of planning, governing, deciding,

Starting point is 07:15:17 of bringing order out of chaos, of implanting gaiety in the place of inert resignation to the inevitable. Another element of comfort was the children's love, for they turned to her as flowers to the sun, drawing confidently on her fund of soul, stories, serene in the conviction that there was no limit to Rebecca's power of make-believe. In this and in yet greater things, little as she realized it, the law of compensation was working in her behalf, for in those anxious days mother and daughter found and knew each other as never

Starting point is 07:15:53 before. A new sense was born in Rebecca as she hung over her mother's bed of pain and unrest, a sense that comes only of ministering, a sense that grows only when the strong bend toward the week. As for Eurelia, words could never have expressed her dumb happiness when the real revelation of motherhood was vouchsafed her. In all the earlier years, when her babies were young, carking cares and anxieties darkened the fireside with their brooding wings. Then Rebecca had gone away, and in the long months of absence, her mind and soul had grown out of her mother's knowledge, so that now, when Erelia had time and strength to study her child, she was like some enchanting changeling. Aurelia and Hannah had gone on in the dull round and the common task, growing duller and duller.

Starting point is 07:16:50 But now, on a certain stage of life's journey, who should appear but this bewildering being, who gave wings to thoughts that had only crept before, who brought color and grace and harmony into the dun-brown texture of existence. You might harness Rebecca to the heaviest plow, and while she had youth on her side, she would always remember the green earth under her feet and the blue sky over her head.

Starting point is 07:17:19 Her physical eyes saw the cake she was stirring and the loaf she was kneading. Her physical ear heard the kitchen fire crackling and the tea-kettle singing. But ever and anon, her fancy mounted on pinions, rested itself, renewed its strength in the upper air. The bare little farmhouse was a fixed fact, but she had many a palace into which she now and then withdrew. Palaces, peopled with stirring and gallant figures belonging to the world of romance. Palaces, not without their heavenly apparitions too, breathing celestial counsel.

Starting point is 07:17:58 Every time she retired to her citadel of dreams, she came forth radiant and refreshed, as one who has seen the evening star, or heard sweet music, or smelled the rose of joy. Aurelia could have understood the feeling of a narrow-minded and conventional hen who has brought a strange, intrepid duckling into the world, but her situation was still more wonderful, for she could only compare her sensations to those of some quiet brown dorking who has brooded an ordinary egg, and hatched a bird of paradise. Such an idea had crossed her mind more than once during the past fortnight, and it flashed to and fro this mellow October morning when Rebecca came into the room with her arms full of goldenrod and flaming autumn leaves.

Starting point is 07:18:49 Just a hint to the fall styles, mother. She said, slipping the stem of a gorgeous red and yellow sapling between the mattress and the foot of the bed. This was leaning over the pool, and I was afraid it would be vain if I left it there too long looking at its beautiful reflection, so I took it away from danger. Isn't it wonderful? How I wish I could carry one to pour Aunt Miranda today. There's never a flower in the brick house when I'm away. It was a marvelous morning. The sun had climbed into a world that held in remembrance only a succession of golden days and starry. night's. The air was fragrant with ripening fruit, and there was a mad little bird on the tree outside the door, nearly bursting his throat with joy of living. He had forgotten that summer was over, that winter must ever come, and who could think of cold winds, bare boughs, or frozen streams

Starting point is 07:19:43 on such a day? A painted moth came in at the open window and settled on the tuft of brilliant leaves. Aurelia heard the bird and looked from the beauty of the glowing bush to her tall, splendid daughter, standing like young spring with golden autumn in her arms. Then suddenly she covered her eyes and cried, I can't bear it. Here I lie chained to this bed, interfering with everything you want to do. It's all wasted. All my saving and doing without, all your hard study, all Miranda's Atley. Everything that we thought was going to be the making of you. Mother, mother, don't talk so, don't think so, exclaimed Rebecca, sitting down impetuously on the

Starting point is 07:20:32 floor by the bed and dropping the golden rod by her side. Why, mother, I'm only a little past seventeen. This person in a purple calico apron with flower in her nose is only the beginnings of me. Do you remember the young tree that John transplanted? We had a dry summer and a cold winter and it didn't grow a bit, nor show anything of all we did for it. Then there was a good year and it made up for lost time. This is just my little rooting season, Mother, but don't go and believe my day is over because it hasn't begun. The old Maple by the well that's in its hundredth year and had new leaves this summer, so there must be hope for me at 17.

Starting point is 07:21:04 You can put a brave face on it. Saabed Orillia. But you can't deceive me. You've lost your place. You'll never see your friends here, and you're nothing but a drudge. I look like a drudge. said Rebecca mysteriously with laughing eyes. But I really am a princess. You mustn't tell, but this is only a disguise. I wear it for reasons of state. The king and queen who are at present occupying my throne are very old and tottering,

Starting point is 07:21:33 and are going to abdicate shortly in my favor. It's rather a small kingdom, I suppose, as kingdoms go, so there isn't much struggle for it in royal circles, and you mustn't expect to see a golden throne set with jewels. It'll probably be only of ivory with a nice screen of peacock feathers for a background, but you shall have a comfortable chair very near it with quantities of slaves to do what they call in novels. Your light is fitting. Aurelia smiled in spite of herself, and though, not perhaps wholly deceived, she was comforted. I only hope you won't have to wait too long for your thrones and your kingdoms, Rebecca, she said, and that I shall have a sight of them before I die.

Starting point is 07:22:12 But life looks very hard and rough to me, what with your Aunt Miranda a cripple at the brick house, me another here at the farm you tied hand and foot first with one and then with the other to say nothing of jenny and fanny and mark you've got something of your father's happy disposition or it would weigh on you as it does on me why mother cried rebecca clasping her knees with her hands why mother it's enough joy just to be here in the world on a day like this to have the chance of seeing feeling doing becoming when you were seventeen mother wasn't it good just to be alive you haven't forgotten "'No,' said Aurelia. "'But I wasn't so much alive as you are, never in the world.' "'I often think—' Rebecca continued, walking to the window and looking out at the trees. "'I often think how dreadful it would be if I were not here at all.

Starting point is 07:23:05 "'If Hannah had come, and then, instead of me, John, John and Jenny and the others, but no Rebecca, never any Rebecca. "'To be alive makes up for everything. "'There ought to be fears in my heart, but there aren't. "'Something stronger sweeps them out. something like a wind. Oh, see? There is Will driving up the lane mother, and he ought to have a letter from the Brook House. End of Chapter 29. Chapter 30 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 07:23:45 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Chapter 30. Goodbye, Sunnybrook. Will Melville drove up to the window and, tossing a letter into Rebecca's lap, went off to the barn on an errand. Sisters no worse, then. Cider real, you gratefully? Or Jane would have telegraphed. See what she says. Rebecca opened the envelope and read in one flash of an eye the whole brief page. Your aunt Miranda passed away an hour ago. Come at once, if your mother,

Starting point is 07:24:22 is out of danger, I shall not have the funeral till you are here. She died very suddenly and without any pain. Oh, Rebecca, I long for you so. Aunt Jane. The force of habit was too strong, and even in the hour of death, Jane had remembered that a telegram was twenty-five cents, and that Aurelia would have to pay half a dollar for its delivery. Rebecca burst into a passion of tears as she cried. Poor, poor Aunt Miranda! She has gone without taking a bit of comfort in life, and I couldn't say goodbye to her. Poor lonely Aunt Jane, what can I do, Mother? I feel torn into it between you and the brick house. You must go this very instant, said Aurelia, starting from her pillows. If I was to die while you were away, I would say the very same thing. Your aunts have done

Starting point is 07:25:18 everything in the world for you, more than I've ever been able to do. And it is your turn to pay back some of their kindness and show your gratitude. The doctor says I've turned the corner, and I feel that I have. Jenny can make out somehow, if Hannah'll come over once a day. But, Mother, I can't go. Who'll turn you in bed? exclaimed Rebecca, walking the floor and wringing her hands distractedly. It don't make any difference if I don't get turned. Replied Eurelia stoically. If a woman of my age and the mother of a family hasn't got sense enough not to slip off haemos, she'd ought to suffer.

Starting point is 07:25:54 Go put on your black dress and pack your bag. I'd give a good deal if I was able to go to my sister's funeral and prove that I've forgotten and forgiven all she said when I was married. Her acts were softer in her words, Mirandis were, and she's made up to you for all she ever sinned against me and your father. And, oh, Rebecca. She continued with a quivering voice. I remember so well.

Starting point is 07:26:17 well when we were little girls together, and she took such pride in curling my hair. And another time when we were grown up, she lent me her best blue muslin. It was when your father had asked me to lead the grand march with him at the Christmas dance, and I found out afterwards she thought he'd intended to ask her. Here, Orillia broke down and wept bitterly, for the recollection of the past had softened her heart and brought the comforting tears, even more effectually, the news of her sister's death. There was only an hour for preparation. Will would drive Rebecca to temperance

Starting point is 07:26:54 and send Jenny back from school. He volunteered also to engage a woman to sleep at the farm in case Mrs. Randall should be worse at any time in the night. Rebecca flew down over the hill to get a last pail of spring water and as she lifted the bucket from the crystal depths and looked out over the glowing beauty of the autumn landscape, She saw a company of surveyors with their instruments, making calculations and laying lines that apparently crossed Sunnybrook at the favorite spot where mirror pool lay clear and placid. The yellow leaves on its surface no yellower than its sparkling sands.

Starting point is 07:27:34 She caught her breath. The time has come, she thought. I'm saying goodbye to Sunnybrook, and the golden gates that almost swung together that last day and Wareham will close forever now. Goodbye, dear Brook and Hills and Meadows. You're going to see life too, so we must be hopeful and say to one another. Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be. Will Melville had seen the surveyors too, and had heard in the Temperance post office that morning the probable sum that Mrs. Randall would receive from the railway company. He was in good spirits at his own improved prospects, for his farm was so placed that its value could only be increased by the new road. He was also relieved in mind that his wife's family would no longer be in dire poverty directly at his doorstep, so to speak.

Starting point is 07:28:25 John could now be hurried forward and forced into the position of head of the family several years sooner than had been anticipated. So Hannah's husband was obliged to exercise great self-control, or he would have whistled while he was driving Rebecca to the temperance station. He could not understand her sad face or the tears that rolled silently down her cheeks from time to time, for Hannah had always represented her Aunt Miranda as an irascible, parsimonious old woman, who would be no loss to the world whenever she should elect to disappear from it. Cheer up, Becky. He said, as he left her at the depot, You'll find your mother sitting up when you come back.

Starting point is 07:29:09 And the next thing you know, the whole family will be moving to some nice, little house wherever your work is. Things will never be so bad again as they have been this last year. That's what Hannah and I think. And he drove away to tell his wife the news. Adam Ladd was in the station and came up to Rebecca instantly as she entered the door looking very unlike her bright self. The princess is sad this morning. He said taking her hand. Aladdin must rub the magic lamp. Then the slave will appear and these tears be dried in a He spoke lightly, for he thought her trouble was something connected with the affairs at Sunnybrook, and that he could soon bring the smiles by telling her that the farm was sold and that her mother

Starting point is 07:29:54 was to receive a handsome price in return. He meant to remind her too that though she must leave the home of her youth, it was too remote a place to be a proper dwelling either for herself or for her lonely mother and the three younger children. He could hear her say, as plainly as if it were Yesterday. I don't think one ever forgets the spot where one lived as a child. He could see the quaint little figure sitting on the piaz at North Riverboro and watch it disappear into the lilac bushes when he gave the memorable order for 300 cakes of rose red and snow-white soap.

Starting point is 07:30:33 A word or two soon told him that her grief was of another sort, and her mood was so absent, so sensitive and tearful that he could only assure her of his sympathy and beg that he might come soon to the brick house to see with his own eyes how she was faring. Adam thought, when he had put her on the train and taken his leave, that Rebecca was, in her sad dignity and gravity, more beautiful than he had ever seen her, all beautiful and all womanly.

Starting point is 07:31:07 But in that moment's speech with her, he had looked into her eyes, and they were still those of a child. There was no knowledge of the world in their shining depths, no experience of men or women, no passion or comprehension of it. He turned from the little country station to walk in the woods by the wayside until his own train should be leaving, and from time to time he threw himself under a tree to think and dream and look at the glory of the foliage. He had brought a new copy of the Arabian Nights for Rebecca, wishing to replace the well-worn old one that had been the delight of her girlhood. But meeting her, at such an inauspicious time, he had absently carried it away with him. He turned the pages idly

Starting point is 07:31:56 until he came to the story of Aladdin and the wonderful lamp, and presently, in spite of his 34 years, the old tale held him spellbound, as it did in the days when he first read it as a boy. But there were certain paragraphs that especially caught his eye and arrested his attention, paragraphs that he read and re-read, finding in them he knew not what secret delight and significance. These were the quaintly turned phrases describing the effect on the once poor Aladdin of his wonderful riches, and those, discanting upon the beauty and charm of the Sultan's daughter,

Starting point is 07:32:38 the princess Badroulbador. Not only those who knew Aladdin when he played in the streets like a vagabond did not know him again. Those who had seen him but a little while before hardly knew him, so much were his features altered. Such were the effects of the lamp as to procure by degrees to those who possessed it,

Starting point is 07:32:56 perfections agreeable to the rank the right use of it advanced them to. The princess was the most beautiful, Brunette in the world. Her eyes were large, lively, and sparkling. Her looks sweet and modest. Her nose was of a just proportion and without a fault. Her mouth small, her lips of a vermilion red and charmingly agreeable symmetry.

Starting point is 07:33:16 In a word, all the features of her face were perfectly regular. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who had never seen and was a stranger to so many charms, was dazzled. With all these perfections the princess had so delicate a shape, so majestic and air, that the sight of her was sufficient to inspire respect. Adorable princess, said Aladdin to her, accosting her and saluting her respectfully. If I have the misfortune to have displeased you by my boldness in aspiring to the possession of so lovely a creature, I must tell you that you ought to blame your bright eyes and charms,

Starting point is 07:33:50 not me. Prince, answered the princess, it is enough for me to have seen you to tell you that I obey without reluctance. End of Chapter 30. Chapter 31 of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer

Starting point is 07:34:18 Please visit Libravox.org Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm By Kate Douglas Wigan Chapter 31 Aunt Miranda's Apology When Rebecca alighted from the train at Maplewood And hurried to the post office where the stage was standing what was her joy to see Uncle Jerry Cobb holding the horse's heads?

Starting point is 07:34:42 Regular driver's sick. He explained. And when they sent for me, thinks I to myself, my driving days is over, but Rebecca won't let the grass grow under her feet when she gets her Aunt Jane's letter, and like as not, I'll catch her today. Or she gets delayed tomorrow for certain. So here I be just as I was more than six year ago. Will you be a real lady, passenger, or will you sit up in front with me?

Starting point is 07:35:11 Emotions of various sorts were all struggling together in the old man's face, and the two or three bystanders were astounded when they saw the handsome, stately girl fling herself onto Mr. Cobb's dusty shoulder, crying like a child. Oh, Uncle Jerry! She sobbed. Dear Uncle Jerry, it's all so long ago, and so much has happened, and we've grown so old and so old.

Starting point is 07:35:35 much is going to happen that I'm fairly frightened. There, there, lovey, the old man whispered, comfortingly. We'll be all alone on the stage, and we'll talk things over as we go along the road, and maybe they won't look so bad. Every mile of the way was as familiar to Rebecca as to Uncle Jerry. Every watering trough, grindstone, red barn, weather vane, duck pond, and sandy brook. and all the time she was looking backwards to the day, seemingly so long ago, when she sat on the box seat for the first time,

Starting point is 07:36:14 her legs dangling in the air, too short to reach the footboard. She could smell the big bouquet of lilacs, see the pink flounced parasol, feel the stiffness of the starched buff calico and the hated prick of the black and yellow porcupine quills. The drive was taken almost in silence, but it was a sweet comforting silence both to Uncle Jerry and the girl. Then came the sight of Abijah flag, shelling beans in the barn,

Starting point is 07:36:47 and then the Perkins attic windows, with a white cloth fluttering from them. She could spell Emma Jane's loving thought and welcome in that little waving flag. A word and a message sent to her just at the first moment when Riverboro Chimmon rose into view, something to warm her heart till they could meet. The brick house came next, looking just as of your, though it seemed to Rebecca as if death should have cast some mysterious spell over it. There were the rolling meadows, the stately elms, all yellow and brown now, the glowing maples, the garden beds bright with asters, and the Hollyhocks, rising tall against the parlor windows.

Starting point is 07:37:38 Only in place of the cheerful pinks and reds of the nodding stalks, with their gay rosettes of bloom, was a crape scarf, holding the blinds together, and another on the sitting-room side, and another on the brass knocker of the brown-painted door. Stop, Uncle Jerry, don't turn in at the side. Hand me my satchel, please. Drop me in the road and let me run up the path by myself,

Starting point is 07:38:03 then drive away quickly. At the noise and rumble of the approaching stage, the house door opened from within, just as Rebecca closed the gate behind her. Aunt Jane came down the stone steps, a changed woman, frail and broken and white. Rebecca held out her arms, and the old aunt crept into them feebly,

Starting point is 07:38:29 as she did on that day, when she opened the grave of her buried, love and showed the dead face just for an instant to a child. Warmth and strength and life flowed into the age frame from the young one. Rebecca, she said, raising her head. Before you go in to look at her, do you feel any bitterness over anything she ever said to you? Rebecca's eyes blazed reproach, almost ain't. anger, as she said chokingly.

Starting point is 07:39:06 Oh, Aunt Jane, could you believe it of me? I'm going in with a heart brimful of gratitude. She was a good woman, Rebecca. She had a quick temper and a sharp tongue, but she wanted to do right, and she did it as near as she could. She never said so, but I'm sure she was sorry for every hard word she spoke to you. She didn't take them back in life, but she asked her. She didn't take them back in life, but she acted so you'd know her feeling when she was gone i told her before i left that she'd been the making of me just as mother says sobbed rebecca she wasn't that said jane god made you in the first place and you've done considerable yourself to help him along but she gave you the wherewithal to work with and that ain't to be despised especially when anybody gives up her own luxuries and pleasures to do it now let me tell you something rebecca your aunt mirandies willed all this to you the brick house and the buildings and furniture and the land all round the house as far as you can see rebecca threw off her hat and put her hand to her heart as she always did in moments of intense excitement after a moment's silence she said let me go in alone i want to talk to her i want to her i want to

Starting point is 07:40:33 want to thank her. I feel as if I could make her hear and feel and understand. Jane went back into the kitchen, to the inexorable tasks that death has no power, even for a day to blot from existence. He can stalk through dwelling after dwelling, leaving despair and desolation behind him, but the table must be laid,

Starting point is 07:40:55 the dishes washed, the beds made, by somebody. Ten minutes later, Rebecca came out from the great presence, looking white and spent, but chastened and glorified. She sat in the quiet doorway, shaded from the Little Riverboro world by the overhanging elms. A wide sense of thankfulness and peace possessed her as she looked at the autumn landscape, listened to the rumble of a wagon on the bridge, and heard the call of the river as it dashed to the sea. She put up her hand softly and touched first the shining brass knocker, and then the red bricks, glowing in the October sun. It was home.

Starting point is 07:41:40 Her roof, her garden, her green acres, her deer trees. It was shelter for the little family at Sunnybrook. Her mother would have once more the companionship of her sister and the friends of her girlhood. The children would have teachers and playmates. And she? Her own future was close-folded. still, folded and hidden in beautiful mists, but she leaned her head against the sun-warmed door, and closing her eyes, whispered just as if she had been a child, saying her prayers. God bless Aunt Miranda. God bless the brick house that was. God bless the brick house that is to be. End of Chapter 31. End of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Thank you.

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