Chapter VIII. Merry and Molly

Nowletusseehowtheothermissionariesgotonwiththeirtasks. FarmerGrantwasathrifty,well-to-doman,anxioustogivehischildrengreateradvantagesthanhehadenjoyed,andtoimprovethefineplaceofwhichhewasjustlyproud.Mrs.Grantwasanotablehousewife,asambitiousandindustriousasherhusband,buttoobusytospendanytimeontheeleganciesoflife,thoughalwaysreadytohelpthepoorandsicklikeagoodneighborandChristianwoman.Thethreesons—Tom,Dick,andHarry—werebigfellowsofseventeen,nineteen,andtwenty-onethefirsttwoonthefarm,andtheelderinastorejustsettingupforhimself.Kind-heartedbutrough-manneredyouths,wholovedMerryverymuch,butteasedhersadlyabouther“fineladyairs,”astheycalledherdaintywaysandloveofbeauty. Merrywasathoughtfulgirl,fullofinnocentfancies,refinedtastes,andromanticdreams,inwhichnoonesympathizedathome,thoughshewasthepetofthefamily.Itdidseem,toanoutsider,asifthedelicatelittlecreaturehadgottherebymistake,forshelookedverylikeatea-roseinafieldofcloveranddandelions,whosehighestaiminlifewastofeedcowsandhelpmakerootbeer. Whenthegirlstalkedoverthenewsociety,itpleasedMerryverymuch,andshedecidednotonlytotryandloveworkbetter,buttoconvertherfamilytoalikingforprettythings,asshecalledherownmorecultivatedtastes. “Iwillbeginatonce,andshowthemthatIdon'tmeantoshirkmyduty,thoughIdowanttobenice,”thoughtshe,asshesatatsupperonenightandlookedabouther,planningherfirstmove. Notaverycheeringprospectforaloverofthebeautiful,certainly,forthebigkitchen,thoughasneataswax,hadnothinglovelyinit,exceptaredgeraniumbloomingatthewindow.Norwerethepeopleallthatcouldbedesired,insomerespects,astheysataboutthetableshovellinginporkandbeanswiththeirknives,drinkingteafromtheirsaucers,andlaughingoutwithahearty“Haw,haw,”whenanythingamusedthem.Yettheboyswerehandsome,strongspecimens,thefarmerahale,benevolent-lookingman,thehousewifeapleasant,sharp-eyedmatron,whoseemedtofindcomfortinlookingoftenatthebrightfaceatherelbow,withthebroadforehead,cleareyes,sweetmouth,andquietvoicethatcamelikemusicinamongtheloudmasculineones,orthequick,nervoustonesofawomanalwaysinahurry. Merry'sfacewassothoughtfulthateveningthatherfatherobservedit,for,whenathome,hewatchedherasonewatchesakitten,gladtoseeanythingsopretty,young,andhappy,atitsplay. “Littledaughterhasgotsomethingonhermind,Imistrust.Comeandtellfatherallaboutit,”hesaid,withasoundingslaponhisbroadkneeasheturnedhischairfromthetabletotheuglystove,wherethreepairsofwetbootssteamedunderneath,andagreatkettleofciderapple-saucesimmeredabove. “WhenI'vehelpedclearup,I'llcomeandtalk.Now,mother,yousitdownandrestRoxyandIcandoeverything,”answeredMerry,pattingtheoldrocking-chairsoinvitinglythatthetiredwomancouldnotresist,especiallyaswatchingthekettlegaveheranexcuseforobeying. “Well,Idon'tcareifIdo,forI'vebeenonmyfeetsincefiveo'clock.Besureyoucoverthingsup,andshutthebutterydoor,andputthecatdowncellar,andsiftyourmeal.I'llseetothebuckwheatslastthingbeforeIgotobed.” Mrs.Grantsubsidedwithherknitting,forherhandswereneveridleTomtiltedhischairbackagainstthewallandpickedhisteethwithhispen-knifeDickgotoutalittlepotofgrease,tomakethebootswater-tightandHarrysatdownatthesmalltabletolookoverhisaccounts,withanimportantair,—foreveryoneoccupiedthisroom,andtheworkwasdoneintheout-kitchenbehind. Merryhatedclearingup,butdutifullydideverydistastefultask,andkepthereyeoncarelessRoxytillallwasinorderthenshegladlywenttoperchonherfather'sknee,seeinginallthefacesaboutherthesilentwelcometheyalwaysworeforthe“littleone.” “Yes,Idowantsomething,butIknowyouwillsayitissilly,”shebegan,asherfatherpinchedherbloomingcheek,withthewishthathispeacheswouldeverlookhalfaswell. “Shouldn'twonderifitwasadollnow”andMr.Grantstrokedherheadwithanindulgentsmile,asifshewasaboutsixinsteadoffifteen. “Why,father,youknowIdon't!Ihaven'tplayedwithdolliesforyearsandyears.NoIwanttofixupmyroompretty,likeJill's.I'lldoitallmyself,andonlywantafewthings,forIdon'texpectittolookasniceashers.” IndignationgaveMerrycouragetostateherwishesboldl