InAmerica,aseveryoneknows,girlsearlysignthedeclarationofindependence,andenjoytheirfreedomwithrepublicanzest,buttheyoungmatronsusuallyabdicatewiththefirstheirtothethroneandgointoaseclusionalmostascloseasaFrenchnunnery,thoughbynomeansasquiet.
Whethertheylikeitornot,theyarevirtuallyputupontheshelfassoonastheweddingexcitementisover,andmostofthemmightexclaim,asdidaveryprettywomantheotherday,"I'mashandsomeasever,butnoonetakesanynoticeofmebecauseI'mmarried."
Notbeingabelleorevenafashionablelady,Megdidnotexperiencethisafflictiontillherbabieswereayearold,forinherlittleworldprimitivecustomsprevailed,andshefoundherselfmoreadmiredandbelovedthanever.
Asshewasawomanlylittlewoman,thematernalinstinctwasverystrong,andshewasentirelyabsorbedinherchildren,totheutterexclusionofeverythingandeverybodyelse.
Dayandnightshebroodedoverthemwithtirelessdevotionandanxiety,leavingJohntothetendermerciesofthehelp,foranIrishladynowpresidedoverthekitchendepartment.
Beingadomesticman,Johndecidedlymissedthewifelyattentionshehadbeenaccustomedtoreceive,butasheadoredhisbabies,hecheerfullyrelinquishedhiscomfortforatime,supposingwithmasculineignorancethatpeacewouldsoonberestored.
Meglookedwornandnervous,thebabiesabsorbedeveryminuteofhertime,thehousewasneglected,andKitty,thecook,whotooklife'aisy',kepthimonshortcommons.
Whenhewentoutinthemorninghewasbewilderedbysmallcommissionsforthecaptivemamma,ifhecamegailyinatnight,eagertoembracehisfamily,hewasquenchedbya"Hush!
Ifhehintedatalectureoraconcert,hewasansweredwithareproachfullook,andadecided––"Leavemychildrenforpleasure,never!"
Hissleepwasbrokenbyinfantwailsandvisionsofaphantomfigurepacingnoiselesslytoandfrointhewatchesofthenight.
Hismealswereinterruptedbythefrequentflightofthepresidinggenius,whodesertedhim,half–helped,ifamuffledchirpsoundedfromthenestabove.
Andwhenhereadhispaperofanevening,Demi'scolicgotintotheshippinglistandDaisy'sfallaffectedthepriceofstocks,forMrs.Brookewasonlyinterestedindomesticnews.
Thepoormanwasveryuncomfortable,forthechildrenhadberefthimofhiswife,homewasmerelyanurseryandtheperpetual'hushing'madehimfeellikeabrutalintruderwheneverheenteredthesacredprecinctsofBabyland.
Heboreitverypatientlyforsixmonths,andwhennosignsofamendmentappeared,hedidwhatotherpaternalexilesdo––triedtogetalittlecomfortelsewhere.
Scotthadmarriedandgonetohousekeepingnotfaroff,andJohnfellintothewayofrunningoverforanhourortwoofanevening,whenhisownparlorwasempty,andhisownwifesinginglullabiesthatseemedtohavenoend.
Mrs.Scottwasalively,prettygirl,withnothingtodobutbeagreeable,andsheperformedhermissionmostsuccessfully.
Theparlorwasalwaysbrightandattractive,thechessboardready,thepianointune,plentyofgaygossip,andanicelittlesuppersetforthintemptingstyle.
Johnwouldhavepreferredhisownfiresideifithadnotbeensolonely,butasitwashegratefullytookthenextbestthingandenjoyedhisneighbor'ssociety.
Megratherapprovedofthenewarrangementatfirst,andfounditarelieftoknowthatJohnwashavingagoodtimeinsteadofdozingintheparlor,ortrampingaboutthehouseandwakingthechildren.
Butby–and–by,whentheteethingworrywasoverandtheidolswenttosleepatproperhours,leavingMammatimetorest,shebegantomissJohn,andfindherworkbasketdullcompany,whenhewasnotsittingoppositeinhisolddressinggown,comfortablyscorchinghisslippersonthefender.
Shewouldnotaskhimtostayathome,butfeltinjuredbecausehedidnotknowthatshewantedhimwithoutbeingtold,entirelyforgettingthemanyeveningshehadwaitedforherinvain.
Shewasnervousandwornoutwithwatchingandworry,andinthatunreasonableframeofmindwhichthebestofmothersoccasionallyexperiencewhendomesticcaresoppressthem.
Wantofexerciserobsthemofcheerfulness,andtoomuchdevotiontothatidolofAmericanwomen,theteapot,makesthemfeelasiftheywereallnerveandnomuscle.
Johndoesn'tfindmeinterestinganylonger,soheleaveshisfadedwifeandgoestoseehisprettyneighbor,whohasnoincumbrances.
Well,thebabiesloveme,theydon'tcareifIamthinandpaleandhaven'ttimetocrimpmyhair,theyaremycomfort,andsomedayJohnwillseewhatI'vegladlysacrificedforthem,won'the,myprecious?"
TowhichpatheticappealDaisywouldanswerwithacoo,orDemiwithacrow,andMegwouldputbyherlamentationsforamaternalrevel,whichsoothedhersolitudeforthetimebeing.
ButthepainincreasedaspoliticsabsorbedJohn,whowasalwaysrunningovertodiscussinterestingpointswithScott,quiteunconsciousthatMegmissedhim.
Notaworddidshesay,however,tillhermotherfoundherintearsoneday,andinsistedonknowingwhatthematterwas,forMeg'sdroopingspiritshadnotescapedherobservation.
"Iwouldn'ttellanyoneexceptyou,Mother,butIreallydoneedadvice,forifJohngoesonmuchlongerImightaswellbewidowed,"repliedMrs.Brooke,dryinghertearsonDaisy'sbibwithaninjuredair.
"Letmeshowyou.DidJohneverneglectyou,asyoucallit,whileyoumadeitapointtogivehimyoursocietyofanevening,hisonlyleisuretime?"
"Ithinkyoucould,dear,andIthinkyouought.MayIspeakquitefreely,andwillyourememberthatit'sMotherwhoblamesaswellasMotherwhosympathizes?"
"IndeedIwill!SpeaktomeasifIwerelittleMegagain.IoftenfeelasifIneededteachingmorethaneversincethesebabieslooktomeforeverything."
Megdrewherlowchairbesidehermother's,andwithalittleinterruptionineitherlap,thetwowomenrockedandtalkedlovinglytogether,feelingthatthetieofmotherhoodmadethemmoreonethanever.
"Youhaveonlymadethemistakethatmostyoungwivesmake––forgottenyourdutytoyourhusbandinyourloveforyourchildren.
Averynaturalandforgivablemistake,Meg,butonethathadbetterberemediedbeforeyoutaketodifferentways,forchildrenshoulddrawyounearerthanever,notseparateyou,asiftheywereallyours,andJohnhadnothingtodobutsupportthem.
"I'mafraiditwon't.IfIaskhimtostay,he'llthinkI'mjealous,andIwouldn'tinsulthimbysuchanidea.Hedoesn'tseethatIwanthim,andIdon'tknowhowtotellhimwithoutwords."
"Makeitsopleasanthewon'twanttogoaway.Mydear,he'slongingforhislittlehome,butitisn'thomewithoutyou,andyouarealwaysinthenursery."
WhenyouandJowerelittle,Iwentonjustasyouare,feelingasifIdidn'tdomydutyunlessIdevotedmyselfwhollytoyou.
ThenFathercametotherescue,quietlymanagedeverything,andmadehimselfsohelpfulthatIsawmymistake,andneverhavebeenabletogotonwithouthimsince.
Hedoesnotletbusinessweanhimfromthelittlecaresanddutiesthataffectusall,andItrynottoletdomesticworriesdestroymyinterestinhispursuits.
"Itisso,Mother,andmygreatwishistobetomyhusbandandchildrenwhatyouhavebeentoyours.Showmehow,I'lldoanythingyousay."
"Youalwaysweremydociledaughter.Well,dear,ifIwereyou,I'dletJohnhavemoretodowiththemanagementofDemi,fortheboyneedstraining,andit'snonetoosoontobegin.
Gooutmore,keepcheerfulaswellasbusy,foryouarethesunshine–makerofthefamily,andifyougetdismalthereisnofairweather.
ThenI'dtrytotakeaninterestinwhateverJohnlikes––talkwithhim,lethimreadtoyou,exchangeideas,andhelpeachotherinthatway.
Don'tshutyourselfupinabandboxbecauseyouareawoman,butunderstandwhatisgoingon,andeducateyourselftotakeyourpartintheworld'swork,foritallaffectsyouandyours."
Thisisjustthetime,Meg,whenyoungmarriedpeopleareapttogrowapart,andtheverytimewhentheyoughttobemosttogether,forthefirsttendernesssoonwearsoff,unlesscareistakentopreserveit.
Don'tletJohnbeastrangertothebabies,fortheywilldomoretokeephimsafeandhappyinthisworldoftrialandtemptationthananythingelse,andthroughthemyouwilllearntoknowandloveoneanotherasyoushould.Now,dear,good–by.
Megdidthinkitover,founditgood,andacteduponit,thoughthefirstattemptwasnotmadeexactlyassheplannedtohaveit.
Ofcoursethechildrentyrannizedoverher,andruledthehouseassoonastheyfoundoutthatkickingandsquallingbroughtthemwhatevertheywanted.
Mammawasanabjectslavetotheircaprices,butPapawasnotsoeasilysubjugated,andoccasionallyafflictedhistenderspousebyanattemptatpaternaldisciplinewithhisobstreperousson.
ForDemiinheritedatrifleofhissire'sfirmnessofcharacter,wewon'tcallitobstinacy,andwhenhemadeuphislittlemindtohaveortodoanything,alltheking'shorsesandalltheking'smencouldnotchangethatpertinaciouslittlemind.
Mammathoughtthedeartooyoungtobetaughttoconquerhisprejudices,butPapabelievedthatitneverwastoosoontolearnobedience.
SoMasterDemiearlydiscoveredthatwhenheundertookto'wrastle'with'Parpar',healwaysgottheworstofit,yetliketheEnglishman,babyrespectedthemanwhoconqueredhim,andlovedthefatherwhosegrave"No,no,"wasmoreimpressivethanallMamma'slovepats.
Afewdaysafterthetalkwithhermother,MegresolvedtotryasocialeveningwithJohn,sosheorderedanicesupper,settheparlorinorder,dressedherselfprettily,andputthechildrentobedearly,thatnothingshouldinterferewithherexperiment.
ButunfortunatelyDemi'smostunconquerableprejudicewasagainstgoingtobed,andthatnighthedecidedtogoonarampage.
SopoorMegsangandrocked,toldstoriesandtriedeverysleep–prevokingwileshecoulddevise,butallinvain,thebigeyeswouldn'tshut,andlongafterDaisyhadgonetobyelow,likethechubbylittlebunchofgoodnatureshewas,naughtyDemilaystaringatthelight,withthemostdiscouraginglywide–awakeexpressionofcountenance.
"WillDemiliestilllikeagoodboy,whileMammarunsdownandgivespoorPapahistea?"askedMeg,asthehalldoorsoftlyclosed,andthewell–knownstepwenttip–toeingintothediningroom.
Takingadvantageofthepropitiousmoment,Megslippedawayandrandowntogreetherhusbandwithasmilingfaceandthelittlebluebowinherhairwhichwashisespecialadmiration.
"No,I'mtiredofbeingdowdy,soIdressedupasachange.Youalwaysmakeyourselfnicefortable,nomatterhowtiredyouare,sowhyshouldn'tIwhenIhavethetime?"
andJohnsippedhisteawithanairofreposefulrapture,whichwasofveryshortdurationhowever,forasheputdownhiscup,thedoorhandlerattledmysteriously,andalittlevoicewasheard,sayingimpatiently...
"It'sthatnaughtyboy.Itoldhimtogotosleepalone,andhereheis,downstairs,gettinghisdeatha–coldpatteringoverthatcanvas,"saidMeg,answeringthecall.
"Mornin'now,"announcedDemiinjoyfultoneasheentered,withhislongnightgowngracefullyfestoonedoverhisarmandeverycurlbobbinggaylyasheprancedaboutthetable,eyeingthe'cakies'withlovingglances.
"No,itisn'tmorningyet.Youmustgotobed,andnottroublepoorMamma.Thenyoucanhavethelittlecakewithsugaronit."
"MelovesParpar,"saidtheartfulone,preparingtoclimbthepaternalkneeandrevelinforbiddenjoys.ButJohnshookhishead,andsaidtoMeg...
"Yes,ofcourse.Come,Demi,"andMegledhersonaway,feelingastrongdesiretospankthelittlemarplotwhohoppedbesideher,laboringunderthedelusionthatthebribewastobeadministeredassoonastheyreachedthenursery.
Norwashedisappointed,forthatshortsightedwomanactuallygavehimalumpofsugar,tuckedhimintohisbed,andforbadeanymorepromenadestillmorning.
"Iss!"saidDemitheperjured,blissfullysuckinghissugar,andregardinghisfirstattemptaseminentlysuccessful.
Megreturnedtoherplace,andsupperwasprogressingpleasantly,whenthelittleghostwalkedagain,andexposedthematernaldelinquenciesbyboldlydemanding,"Moresudar,Marmar."
"S'ant!"repliedtheyoungrebel,helpinghimselftothecoveted'cakie',andbeginningtoeatthesamewithcalmaudacity.
Buteventhatrefugeprovedunavailing,forhewasdeliveredovertotheenemy,witha"Begentlewithhim,John,"whichstrucktheculpritwithdismay,forwhenMammadesertedhim,thenthejudgmentdaywasathand.
Bereftofhiscake,defraudedofhisfrolic,andborneawaybyastronghandtothatdetestedbed,poorDemicouldnotrestrainhiswrath,butopenlydefiedPapa,andkickedandscreamedlustilyallthewayupstairs.
Theminutehewasputintobedononeside,herolledoutontheother,andmadeforthedoor,onlytobeignominiouslycaughtupbythetailofhislittletogaandputbackagain,whichlivelyperformancewaskeptuptilltheyoungman'sstrengthgaveout,whenhedevotedhimselftoroaringatthetopofhisvoice.
Nocoaxing,nosugar,nolullaby,nostory,eventhelightwasputoutandonlytheredglowofthefireenlivenedthe'bigdark'whichDemiregardedwithcuriosityratherthanfear.
Thisneworderofthingsdisgustedhim,andhehowleddismallyfor'Marmar',ashisangrypassionssubsided,andrecollectionsofhistenderbondwomanreturnedtothecaptiveautocrat.
"No,hewon't,he'ssotiredhewillsoondropoffandthenthematterissettled,forhewillunderstandthathehasgottomind.Don'tinterfere,I'llmanagehim."
Megalwaysinsisteduponitthatthekisswonthevictory,forafteritwasgiven,Demisobbedmorequietly,andlayquitestillatthebottomofthebed,whitherhehadwriggledinhisanguishofmind.
"Poorlittleman,he'swornoutwithsleepandcrying.I'llcoverhimup,andthengoandsetMeg'sheartatrest,"thoughtJohn,creepingtothebedside,hopingtofindhisrebelliousheirasleep.
Buthewasn't,forthemomenthisfatherpeepedathim,Demi'seyesopened,hislittlechinbegantoquiver,andheputuphisarms,sayingwithapenitenthiccough,"Me'sdood,now."
SittingonthestairsoutsideMegwonderedatthelongsilencewhichfollowedtheuproar,andafterimaginingallsortsofimpossibleaccidents,sheslippedintotheroomtosetherfearsatrest.
Demilayfastasleep,notinhisusualspreadeagleattitude,butinasubduedbunch,cuddledcloseinthecircleofhisfather'sarmandholdinghisfather'sfinger,asifhefeltthatjusticewastemperedwithmercy,andhadgonetosleepasadderandwiserbaby.
Soheld,Johnhadwaitedwithawomanlypatiencetillthelittlehandrelaxeditshold,andwhilewaitinghadfallenasleep,moretiredbythattusslewithhissonthanwithhiswholeday'swork.
AsMegstoodwatchingthetwofacesonthepillow,shesmiledtoherself,andthenslippedawayagain,sayinginasatisfiedtone,"IneverneedfearthatJohnwillbetooharshwithmybabies.
WhenJohncamedownatlast,expectingtofindapensiveorreproachfulwife,hewasagreeablysurprisedtofindMegplacidlytrimmingabonnet,andtobegreetedwiththerequesttoreadsomethingabouttheelection,ifhewasnottootired.
Johnsawinaminutethatarevolutionofsomekindwasgoingon,butwiselyaskednoquestions,knowingthatMegwassuchatransparentlittleperson,shecouldn'tkeepasecrettosaveherlife,andthereforethecluewouldsoonappear.
Hereadalongdebatewiththemostamiablereadinessandthenexplaineditinhismostlucidmanner,whileMegtriedtolookdeeplyinterested,toaskintelligentquestions,andkeepherthoughtsfromwanderingfromthestateofthenationtothestateofherbonnet.
Inhersecretsoul,however,shedecidedthatpoliticswereasbadasmathematics,andthatthemissionofpoliticiansseemedtobecallingeachothernames,butshekeptthesefeminineideastoherself,andwhenJohnpaused,shookherheadandsaidwithwhatshethoughtdiplomaticambiguity,"Well,Ireallydon'tseewhatwearecomingto."
Johnlaughed,andwatchedherforaminute,asshepoisedaprettylittlepreparationoflaceandflowersonherhand,andregardeditwiththegenuineinterestwhichhisharanguehadfailedtowaken.
"Sheistryingtolikepoliticsformysake,soI'lltryandlikemillineryforhers,that'sonlyfair,"thoughtJohntheJust,addingaloud,"That'sverypretty.Isitwhatyoucallabreakfastcap?"
"Ibegyourpardon,itwassosmall,Inaturallymistookitforoneoftheflyawaythingsyousometimeswear.Howdoyoukeepiton?"
"Thesebitsoflacearefastenedunderthechinwitharosebud,so,"andMegillustratedbyputtingonthebonnetandregardinghimwithanairofcalmsatisfactionthatwasirresistible.
"It'saloveofabonnet,butIpreferthefaceinside,foritlooksyoungandhappyagain,"andJohnkissedthesmilingface,tothegreatdetrimentoftherosebudunderthechin.
"I'mgladyoulikeit,forIwantyoutotakemetooneofthenewconcertssomenight.Ireallyneedsomemusictoputmeintune.Willyou,please?"
"Well,IhadatalkwithMarmeetheotherday,andtoldherhownervousandcrossandoutofsortsIfelt,andshesaidIneededchangeandlesscare,soHannahistohelpmewiththechildren,andI'mtoseetothingsaboutthehousemore,andnowandthenhavealittlefun,justtokeepmefromgettingtobeafidgety,broken–downoldwomanbeforemytime.
It'sonlyanexperiment,John,andIwanttotryitforyoursakeasmuchasformine,becauseI'veneglectedyoushamefullylately,andI'mgoingtomakehomewhatitusedtobe,ifIcan.Youdon'tobject,Ihope?"
AllthatwehaveanybusinesstoknowisthatJohndidnotappeartoobject,judgingfromthechangeswhichgraduallytookplaceinthehouseanditsinmates.
Thechildrenthroveunderthepaternalrule,foraccurate,stedfastJohnbroughtorderandobedienceintoBabydom,whileMegrecoveredherspiritsandcomposedhernervesbyplentyofwholesomeexercise,alittlepleasure,andmuchconfidentialconversationwithhersensiblehusband.
TheScottscametotheBrookes'now,andeveryonefoundthelittlehouseacheerfulplace,fullofhappiness,content,andfamilylove.EvenSallieMoffattlikedtogothere.
"Itisalwayssoquietandpleasanthere,itdoesmegood,Meg,"sheusedtosay,lookingaboutherwithwistfuleyes,asiftryingtodiscoverthecharm,thatshemightuseitinhergreathouse,fullofsplendidloneliness,fortherewerenoriotous,sunny–facedbabiesthere,andNedlivedinaworldofhisown,wheretherewasnoplaceforher.
Thishouseholdhappinessdidnotcomeallatonce,butJohnandMeghadfoundthekeytoit,andeachyearofmarriedlifetaughtthemhowtouseit,unlockingthetreasuriesofrealhomeloveandmutualhelpfulness,whichthepoorestmaypossess,andtherichestcannotbuy.
Thisisthesortofshelfonwhichyoungwivesandmothersmayconsenttobelaid,safefromtherestlessfretandfeveroftheworld,findingloyalloversinthelittlesonsanddaughterswhoclingtothem,undauntedbysorrow,poverty,orage,walkingsidebyside,throughfairandstormyweather,withafaithfulfriend,whois,inthetruesenseofthegoodoldSaxonword,the'house–band',andlearning,asMeglearned,thatawoman'shappiestkingdomishome,herhighesthonortheartofrulingitnotasaqueen,butasawisewifeandmother.
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