Chapter XVI. Up at Merry's

phelped,also,forMerrysetupherown,andkeptitsowelltrimmedthatitburnedclearandbright,shiningonthegreenarchofivyoverhead,andonthenasturtiumvinesframingtheoldglass,andpeepingattheirgaylittlefaces,andattheprettyyounggirl,sopleasantlythatfirstherfathercametoreadhispaperbyit,thenhermotherslippedintorestontheloungeinthecorner,andfinallytheboyshoveredaboutthedoorasifthe“settin'-room”hadgrownmoreattractivethanthekitchen. Buttheopenfiredidmorethananythingelsetowinandholdthemall,asitseldomfailstodowhentheblackdemonofanairtightstoveisbanishedfromthehearth.Aftertheroomwascleanedtillitshone,Merrybeggedtohavethebrassandironsputin,andofferedtokeepthemasbrightasgoldifhermotherwouldconsent.Sothegreatlogswerekindled,andtheflameswentdancingupthechimneyasifgladtobesetfreefromtheirprison.Itchangedthewholeroomlikemagic,andnoonecouldresistthedesiretoenjoyitscheerycomfort.Thefarmer'sthree-corneredleathernchairsoonstoodononeside,andmother'srockerontheother,astheytoastedtheirfeetanddozedorchattedinthepleasantwarmth. Theboys'slipperswerealwaysreadyonthehearthandwhenthebigbootswereonceoff,theynaturallysettleddownaboutthetable,wherethetalllamp,withitsprettyshadeofpressedautumnleaves,burnedbrightly,andthebooksandpaperslayreadytotheirhandsinsteadofbeingtuckedoutofsightinthecloset.Theywerebeginningtoseethat“Merry'snotions”hadsomesenseinthem,sincetheyweremadecomfortable,andgood-naturedlytooksomepainstopleaseherinvariousways.Tombrushedhishairandwashedhishandsnicelybeforehecametotable.Dicktriedtolowerhisboisterouslaughter,andHarryneversmokedinthesitting-room.EvenRoxyexpressedherpleasureinseeing“thingskindofsprucedup,”andMerry'sgentletreatmentofthehard-workingdrudgewonherheartentirely. Thegirlwasthinkingofthesechangesasshewateredherflowers,dustedthefurniture,andlaidthefirereadyforkindlingand,whenallwasdone,shestoodaminutetoenjoythepleasantroom,fullofspringsunshine,freshair,andexquisiteorder.Itseemedtogiveherheartformoredistastefullabors,andshefelltoworkatthepiesascheerfullyasifshelikedit. Mrs.Grantwasflyingaboutthekitchen,gettingtheloavesofbrownandwhitebreadreadyforthebigoven.Roxy'svoicecameupfromthecellarsinging“BoundingBillows,”withaswashingandscrubbingaccompanimentwhichsuggestedthatshewasactuallyenjoyinga“lifeontheoceanwave.”Merry,inherneatcapandapron,stoodsmilingoverherworkasshedeftlyrolledandclipped,filledandcovered,findingacertainsortofpleasureindoingitwell,andaddinginteresttoitbycrimpingthecrust,makingprettydeviceswithstripsofpasteandstar-shapedprickingsofthefork. “Good-willgivethskill,”saystheproverb,andevenparticularMrs.Grantwassatisfiedwhenshepausedtoexaminethepastrywithherexperiencedeye. “Youareahandychildandacredittoyourbringingup,thoughIdosayit.ThoseareasprettypiesasI'dwishtoeat,iftheybakewell,andthere'snoreasonwhytheyshouldn't.” “MayImakesometartsorrabbitsofthesebits?Theboyslikethem,andIenjoymodellingthissortofthing,”saidMerry,whowastryingtomouldabird,asshehadseenRalphdowithclaytoamuseJillwhilethebustwasgoingon. “No,dearthere'snotimeforknick-knacksto-day.Thebeetsoughttobeonthisminute.Runandget'em,andbesureyouscrapethecarrotswell.” PoorMerryputawaythedelicatetaskshewasjustbeginningtolike,andtakingapanwentdowncellar,wishingvegetablescouldbegrownwithoutearth,forshehatedtoputherhandsindirtywater.AwordofpraisetoRoxymadethatgratefulscrubberleaveherworktopokeaboutintheroot-cellar,choosing“sechaswasprettymuchofamuchness,elsetheywouldn'tbileeven”soMerrywassparedthatpartofthejob,andwentuptoscrapeandwashwithoutcomplaint,sinceitwasforfather.Shewasrepaidatnoonbytherelishwith