The Cricket's Friends Part 14

"What do you suppose this dazzling light really was, my dear little reader? Why, it was nothing but another day's sun kissing Milly's eyelids and curls with golden caresses. Yes, every thing was undisturbed in her room. The baby-house was closed; and, when she peeped in, all the dolls were as stupid as though they never had skipped, or eaten a late supper the previous night, while all the wooden cakes stood upon the sideboard untouched.

"'Never mind; the fairies _were_ here,' thought Milly, 'for Pet saw them, too.'

"At the breakfast-table, she tried to tell her story; but Tom and d.i.c.k laughed at her so, she did not get through with it very well.

"'But the fairies were here,' cried Milly, half vexed. 'Pet saw them.'

"The little sister, who was eating bread and b.u.t.ter contentedly, stopped, with her mouth and eyes wide open, which made everybody laugh the more.

"'I never did!' said Pet, indignantly: 'I only slept the whole time.'

"Poor Milly said no more; but she never saw the moon climb her sparkling, star-strewn pathway afterward, without wishing that the fairies might spread their rainbow wings, and flutter down into her little chamber again, as they did the night when she was six years old."

It stormed heavily all day. The Teapot and Saucepan, sitting on the shelf in a state of idleness, agreed together, that, if the rain dashed against the windows in that way, the Club would not be able to hear each other speak when night came.

On the hearth stood an intruder; a dilapidated old umbrella was in the corner, drops of dirty water trickling in streams across the hearth from the damp folds.

"I have wet my feet in this muddy river," said the Wasp.

"The hearth was so clean before," sighed the Caterpillar.

"I am really very sorry my master the peddler left me in your way," said the Umbrella, meekly. "Only I cannot help it."

"To be sure not," said the Kettle. "You look like an old traveller, friend; will you tell us something of yourself?"

"Certainly," replied the Umbrella, and began his history:--

THE STORY OF AN UMBRELLA.

"You will hardly believe it when I say that I was once as handsome as an umbrella need to be; I am so faded and stained by old age or rough exposure now. Yet I actually was; for in the large manufactory where I was born, no stouter whalebone frame or finely carved handle could be found.

"My ribs have been broken in several places since, and clumsily mended again, which naturally gives me a bungling appearance. Ah, well! beauty must fade.

"I remember very well my debut in life. I was standing in the rack of a larger shop, one fine summer morning, when a very natty young gentleman entered, and purchased me without delay.

"Of course, as I was inexperienced and foolish, I was only too glad to exchange the monotony of the warehouse for any novelty.

"Allow me to remark, in commencing, that I have one complaint to urge against fate for having made me what I am. The life of an umbrella is a most aggravated form of slavery. One can never be sure of having a moment's peace. In stormy weather, no matter how heavily the rain falls, or the snow sleet drives, one must be on duty, shivering in wet corners neglected, or dragged out to brave the tempest again; while on clear days one may be under the bed, or behind the wardrobe likely enough,--that at least was my experience, but then my master was a bachelor.

"I wondered what duty I should perform on this bright, pleasant morning; for there was not so much as a cloud in the sky to be seen. I soon discovered I was to be of service on an excursion of some kind; for the gentleman walked up an avenue leading to a handsome house, and upon the steps, under the cl.u.s.tering rose-vines, stood a fair lady, awaiting his arrival apparently.

"Presently they drove away in a pretty basket carriage, drawn by a fat little pony, and I accompanied them, together with the luncheon parcels and fruit baskets.

"It was a pleasant route along a shady road; and I amused myself listening to the conversation of the young people (it was of a very interesting nature to themselves!), or I flirted with the lady's parasol,--a dainty bit of silk that ruffled its lace flounce coquettishly upon the breeze, and showed the pink-tinted lining to advantage.

"'You are extremely handsome,' I remarked to the Parasol.

"'Yes,' she replied complacently; 'I was imported from Paris, you know, and cost very dear, as my lace is _real_. But what are you doing here?'

"'That I cannot tell myself,' I answered. 'Perhaps we shall know before the day is over.'

"At length we reached the end of our drive; the master a.s.sisted his companion to alight; the luncheon, parasol, and myself, followed to where the gra.s.s bank, soft as velvet, sloped to the brink of a merry little brook, which sparkled laughingly in the sunlight for a time, then hid among the ferns that fringed the distance.

"An umbrella never was exposed to more contempt than I received on that occasion. No sooner had my master brought me upon the scene, than the company began to laugh and jest. It seemed so absurd to these silly people, that I should be needed. Even the Parasol, resting in the lap of her mistress, smirked contemptuously at me where I stood disconsolately against a tree. For three long hours I remained unoccupied; while all the gay people strolled among the trees to gather wild flowers, or reclined in the shade to enjoy strawberries and ice-cream.

"Gradually the sun became obscured behind ma.s.ses of swiftly rising cloud; but no one noticed it except myself, and, as no refreshments were offered me, I had nothing better to do than to watch the change of the weather. Suddenly there sounded a peal of thunder, followed by a flash of lightning; then down pattered the rain, making delicious music among the leaves overhead.

"I never felt so wicked in my life. I longed to dance, only an umbrella cannot do that without losing its balance. I longed to shout aloud, but an umbrella cannot do this either for the want of a pair of lungs. I spread my grateful shelter above the heads of the group to whom I belonged, and I even took the naughty Parasol under my protection, which was certainly a generous act, although one ought never to make a merit of such things: I should be ashamed to suspose any of my race would have behaved differently under the circ.u.mstances.

"There was no house or shelter at hand, and all the pretty pony carriages were no protection against the storm. How flabby the muslin dresses of the ladies became, how limp the white coats of the gentlemen, as they crowded under the shelter of the oak-trees pretending to think it very funny indeed! But they did not, I could see that plainly enough.

The young ladies' hair came out of curl, and the brims of their hats were crushed out of shape from attempting to keep them dry; while the piles of frosted confectionery melted into a ma.s.s that might as well have been soaked brown paper, or any thing else tough and disagreeable.

The strawberries tumbled about in crimson pyramids, followed by stray golden lemons; and cakes, with white caps on, popped out of their place, to join in the general ruin.

"How proud I felt! Soft words and tender glances were exchanged by the young couple I protected; for I managed to screen them from the rest, so they could enjoy themselves the more.

"'Dear Umbrella,' entreated the Parasol, 'do save my ta.s.sels; they are growing quite wet, and the color has changed.'

"'Yes, indeed, Madam b.u.t.terfly: you are not good for much.'

"'I am so new to be thrown aside,' sobbed the Parasol. 'All for a stupid shower, too!'

"'There, don't cry,' I urged. 'Your ta.s.sels can be changed or dyed.'

"'Dyed!' shrieked the Parasol, indignantly. 'I hope I have not come to that.'

"'Do not be so proud,' I said. 'You will certainly come to grief. At least men do, and I see no reason why the same rule should not apply to parasols as well.'

"I have never seen the parasol, lady, or any of the gay company that laughed in the sunshine, or shivered in the rain since. I suppose my young master must have married the lady, for I saw him slip a beautiful diamond ring upon her finger at the picnic. I hope they are all very happy, and that the frail parasol is still in existence; yet I have no means of knowing. Alas! an umbrella cannot move without being carried.

"For a short time I resided in the young gentleman's apartments, where I formed some very pleasant acquaintances. There was a porcelain standard on the mantel-piece, holding a meerschaum pipe; and a tobacco vase, with a little Hindoo G.o.d perched on the lid. There was an embroidered smoking-cap with a gold ta.s.sel, hanging over the arm of a parian statue of Juno; a bronze clock, a silver-k.n.o.bbed cane, and a riding-whip on the wall.

"The smoking-cap and riding-whip were very spicy in their conversation, and waged continual war with the tobacco vase or pipe, who were true Germans.

"'That stupid maid very nearly broke my head with the handle of her duster,' said Juno, angrily. 'My heart flutters still with the fright it gave me.'

"'She soiled my lining with her dirty fingers, too,' said the smoking-cap.

"'Thank fortune! I do not require dusting, warbled the canary bird, spreading his golden feathers in the sunlight, and flirting a seed at the Hindoo G.o.d on the lid of the tobacco vase, who only grinned a broader smile at the attention.

"'My face is cracked,' chimed in the pretty, good-natured clock; and at this, the canary bird, jealous of any sound save his own voice, poured forth a flood of music from his tiny throat.

"'Hush!' rustled an ivy-plant, that drooped in graceful tendrils about the open window. 'We have not received the new-comer politely.'

"'What new-comer? Oh, the Umbrella!'