Walter Pieterse Part 22

"Yes," cried the three daughters, "think of it--and us standing there!"

"Then she sat down in front of the bed again and talked to him."

"Where can the young Mr. van der Gracht be!" sighed Juffrouw Laps. "It's only because we have a little surprise, uncle."

"And finally she went away like a princess!"

"Exactly like a princess," testified the girls; and they did not know that they were telling the truth.

"And she told Walter she would come again. But I just want to see her do it!"

The door-bell rang. Juffrouw Laps arose; and the catechist van der Gracht with his son walked into the room. Juffrouw Pieterse didn't like this; she felt that the star of her narration would pale in the light of the poem Klaasje had brought with him. And even without a poem: such dignity, such a carriage, such manners, such a voice!

"Mynheer and Juffrouwen, may G.o.d bless you all this evening! This is my son Klaas, of whom you have heard, I suppose. He's too close kin to me for me to praise him; but you understand--when it's the father--well, all blessings come from above."

"Yes, uncle, it will be a surprise."

"Yes, indeed, Juffrouw, a beautiful surprise. I congratulate this gentleman on the happy return of his natal day. It puts me in the mood of the psalmist--and I thank G.o.d--for Mynheer, everything comes from above, you know."

"Take a seat. I thank you," said the host, who understood that he had been congratulated. "It's cold out, isn't it?"

"Yes, a little cool; hardly cold. It's just what we call cool, you understand. The Master gives us weather as he sees fit; and for that reason I say cool. Everything comes from above."

To this last statement all a.s.sented in audible sighs and thought themselves pious. What would have happened to him if some poor devil had announced to them that some things come from below?

"And now, uncle, what do you say? Shall we begin with the surprise?"

"Go ahead, niece; what have you got?"

"Oh, it's only a trifle, Mynheer," put in the catechist. "My son is a poet. I don't praise him, because he's too close kin to me; but he's a clever fellow--I can say that without bragging--for everything comes from above. No, I won't praise him--praise is for the Master alone. But he's a clever fellow."

The poet Klaas looked conscious, and sat toying with the bottom b.u.t.ton on his vest. He looked poetical all over.

"And so, Mynheer, without bragging--get it out, my son. As a father, Mynheer, I may say that he's a clever fellow; for in the Bible----"

Klaasje drew a piece of paper from his pocket.

"In the Bible there is really nothing said about widowers--the Master has his own good reasons for it--but what does the boy do? He takes the hint and writes a whole poem on widows."

Klaasje laid the paper on the table.

"Yes, I dare say, he has brought into it all the widows mentioned in the Bible."

"You see it's a surprise. I told you so," said Juffrouw Laps.

"Read it, Klaasje! There are seventy, Mynheer, seventy widows. Read, my boy."

Klaas pulled at his clothes, arranged his cuffs and began:

"The widows that in the Bible appear, I've brought together in this poem here, For the birthday that we celebrate Of him who sadly lost his mate, Exalting always the Master of Love, For all that we have comes from above."

"That's the prologue," explained the father.

"Yes, that's the prologue. Now I will read:

"Genesis, 38, verse 11, it is said: At her father-in-law's must the widow have her bed.

Exodus, 20, 22, it is penned: Widows and orphans thou shalt not offend.

Two verses further he threatens, wrathful and grim To make widows of all the women that anger him.

Leviticus, 21, verse 14, thou read'st That a widow won't do for the wife of a priest.

A chapter further, one verse less, we have read, That a childless widow must eat her father's bread.

From Numbers, 30, verse 10, we clearly infer, That a widow's vow is sufficient for her."

In this style he continued glibly, without any interruption; but when he came to:

"Second Samuel, 20, 3, very clearly outlines, That as widows must live David's concubines----"

Juffrouw Pieterse became restless and had to have an explanation.

"Yes, Juffrouw, concubines," said van der Gracht senior. "You see the boy has brought in everything relating to widows."

"The verses are not the same length," Stoffel complained; and there is no alternation of masculine and feminine lines."

"You may be right, Stoffel, for you are a school-teacher; but that's immaterial to me. These--these con--what shall I say----"

"Juffrouw Pieterse, you ought not to mock at it," cried Juffrouw Laps.

"That's right," said the catechist, "all blessings come from above. Go ahead, Klaas!"

"No, I will not hear such things--on account of my daughters!"

The girls were examining their finger nails, and looked preeminently respectable.

"Go ahead, Klaas!"

"If I had known that this was going to happen, I would have left my daughters at home."

"But, Juffrouw, it's in the Bible. You're not opposed to the Bible, are you?"

"No, but I refuse to hear anything that isn't respectable. My husband----"

"Your husband sold shoes. I know it, Juffrouw, but you're not going to turn against----"

"I'm not going to do anything against the Bible, but I will not endure such coa.r.s.eness. Come, Gertrude, come, children!"