Chapter XVIII. May Baskets

hheldhereffusion. “Now,Merry,readyours:youalwayshavesweetpoems”andJillfoldedherhandstolistenwithpleasuretosomethingsentimental. “Ican'treadthepoemsinsomeofmine,becausetheyareforyoubutthislittleverseyoucanhear,ifyoulike:I'mgoingtogivethatbaskettoRalph.Hesaidheshouldhangoneforhisgrandmother,andIthoughtthatwassoniceofhim,I'dlovetosurprisehimwithonealltohimself.He'salwayssogoodtous”andMerrylookedsoinnocentlyearnestthatnoonesmiledatherkindthoughtortheunconsciousparaphraseshehadmadeofafamousstanzainherown“littleverse.” “Toonewhoteachesme Thesweetnessandthebeauty Ofdoingfaithfully Andcheerfullymyduty.” “Hewilllikethat,andknowwhosentit,fornoneofushaveprettypinkpaperbutyou,orwritesuchaneleganthand,”saidMolly,admiringthedelicatewhitebasketshapedlikealily,withtheflowersinsideandthenotehiddenamongthem,alldaintilytiedupwiththepalestblush-coloredribbon. “Well,that'snoharm.HelikesprettythingsasmuchasIdo,andImademybasketlikeaflowerbecauseIgavehimoneofmycallas,headmiredtheshapesomuch”andMerrysmiledassherememberedhowpleasedRalphlookedashewentawaycarryingthelovelything. “Ithinkitwouldbeagoodplantohangsomebasketsonthedoorsofotherpeoplewhodon'texpectoroftenhaveany.I'lldoitifyoucansparesomeofthese,wehavesomany.Givemeonlyone,andlettheothersgotooldMrs.Tucker,andthelittleIrishgirlwhohasbeensicksolong,andlameNeddy,andDaddyMunson.Itwouldpleaseandsurprisethemso.Willwe?”askedEd,inthatpersuasivevoiceofhis. Allagreedatonce,andseveralpeopleweremadeveryhappybyabitofspringleftattheirdoorsbytheMayelveswhohauntedthetownthatnightplayingallsortsofpranks.Suchatwangingofbellsandrappingofknockerssuchascamperingoffeetinthedarksuchdrollcollisionsasboyscameracingroundcorners,orgirlsranintooneanother'sarmsastheycreptupanddownstepsontheslysuchlaughing,whistling,flyingaboutofflowersandfriendlyfeeling—itwasalmostapitythatMay-daydidnotcomeoftener. Mollygothomelate,andfoundthatGrifhadbeenbeforeher,afterallforshestumbledoveramarket-basketatherdoor,andontakingitinfoundamammothnosegayofpurpleandwhitecabbages,herfavoritevegetable.EvenMissBatlaughedatthefunnysight,andMollyresolvedtogetRalphtocarveherabouquetoutofcarrots,beets,andturnipsfornexttime,asGrifwouldneverthinkofthat. Merryranupthegarden-walkalone,forFrankleftheratthegate,andwasfumblingforthelatchwhenshefeltsomethinghangingthere.Openingthedoorcarefully,shefounditgaywithofferingsfromhermatesandamongthemwasonelongquiver-shapedbasketofbirchbark,withsomethingheavyunderthegreenleavesthatlayatthetop.Liftingthese,aslenderbas-reliefofacallalilyinplasterappeared,withthiscoupletslippedintothebluecordbywhichitwastohang:— “Thatmercyyoutoothersshow ThatMercyGranttome.” “Howlovely!andthisonewillneverfade,butalwaysbeapleasurehangingthere.Now,Ireallyhavesomethingbeautifulallmyown,”saidMerrytoherselfassheranuptohangtheprettythingonthedarkwainscotofherroom,wherethegracefulcurveofitspointedleavesandthedepthofitswhitecupwouldbeajoytohereyesaslongastheylasted. “Iwonderwhatthatmeans,”andMerryreadoverthelinesagain,whileasoftcolorcameintohercheeksandalittlesmileofgirlishpleasurebegantodimpleroundherlipsforshewassoromantic,thistouchofsentimentshowedherthatherfriendshipwasmorevaluedthanshedreamed.Butsheonlysaid,“HowgladIamIrememberedhim,andhowsurprisedhewillbetoseemayflowersinreturnforthelily.” Hewas,andworkedawaymorehappilyandbravelyforthethoughtofthelittlefriendwhoseeyeswoulddailyfallonthewhiteflowerwhichalwaysremindedhimofher.