Elsies Motherhood | Page 9

so, for now Elsie might lawfully carry out her desire to educate and elevate them to a higher standard of intelligence and morality.
To this end Mr. Travilla had added to the quarter a neat school-house, where the children received instruction in the rudiments during the day, the adults in the evening, from one of their own race whose advantages had been such as to qualify him for the work. There, too, the master and mistress themselves held a Sunday school on Sabbath afternoons.
Aunt Sally, the nurse, also instructed the women in housewifely ways, and Dinah taught them sewing; Elsie encouraging and stimulating them to effort by bestowing prizes on the most diligent and proficient.
Eddie came in from his first lesson in the use of firearms, flushed and excited.
"Mamma, I did shoot," he cried exultingly, "I shooted many times, and papa says I'll make a good shot some day if I keep on trying."
"Ah! did you hit the mark?"
"Not quite this time, mamma," and the bright face clouded slightly.
"Not quite," laughed Mr. Travilla, drawing his boy caressingly toward him. "If you please, mamma, do not question us too closely; we expect to do better another time. He really did fairly well considering his age and that it was his first lesson."
"Papa," asked Vi, climbing his knee, "were you 'fraid Eddie would shoot us if we went along?"
"I thought it safer to leave you at home."
"Papa, mamma's going to take us walking down to the quarter this afternoon; we're to be there when the bell rings, so we can see those funny dogs."
"Ah, then I think I shall meet you there and walk home with you."
This announcement was received with a chorus of exclamations of delight; his loved companionship would double their enjoyment; it always did.
'Twas a pleasant, shady walk, not too long for the older children, and Harold's mammy would carry him when he grew weary. They called at the school-room, witnessed the closing exercises, then visited all the aged and ailing ones, Elsie inquiring tenderly concerning their "miseries," speaking words of sympathy and consolation and giving additional advice; remedies too, and some little delicacies to whet the sickly appetites (these last being contained in a basket, carried by a servant).
As they left the last cabin, in the near vicinity of the post where hung the bell, which summoned the men to their meals, and gave notice of the hour for quitting work, they saw the ringer hurrying toward it.
"Oh, mamma, we're just in time!" cried Vi, "how nice!"
"Yes," said her sister, "mamma always knows how to make things come out right."
Every negro family owned a cur, and at the first tap of the bell they always, with a united yelp, rushed for the spot, where they formed a ring round the post, each seated on his haunches and brushing the ground with his tail, with a rapid motion, from side to side, nose in the air, eyes fixed upon the bell, and throat sending out a prolonged howl so long as the ringing continued. The din was deafening, and far from musical, but it was a comical sight, vastly enjoyed by the young Travillas, who saw it only occasionally.
Mr. and Mrs. Travilla were walking slowly homeward, the children and Bruno frolicking, jumping, dancing, running on before. After a while the two little girls grew somewhat weary, and subsided into a soberer pace.
"Vi," said Elsie, "Don't you believe Aunt Delia might get better of those 'miseries' in her bones, if she had some nice new red flannel things to wear?"
"Yes; let's buy her some," and a pretty dimpled hand went into her pocket, and out came a dainty, silken purse, mamma's gift on her last birthday, when she began to have a weekly allowance, like Elsie and Eddie.
"Yes, if mamma approves."
"'Course we'll 'sult mamma 'bout it first, and she'll say yes; she always likes us to be kind and--char--char--"
"Charitable? yes, 'specially to Jesus' people, and I know Aunt Delia's one of his. How much money have you, Vi?"
"I don't know; mamma or papa will count when we get home."
"I have two dollars and fifty cents; maybe Eddie will give some if we haven't enough."
"Enough of what?" queried Eddie, over-hearing the last words as he and Bruno neared the others in their gambols.
Elsie explained, asking, "Would you like to help?"
"Yes, and I'm going to buy some 'baccy' as he calls it, for old Uncle Jack."
Mamma was duly consulted, approved of their plans, took them the next day to the nearest village, let them select the goods themselves, then helped them to cut out and make the garments. Eddie assisted by threading needles and sewing on buttons, saying "that would do for a boy because he had heard papa say he had sometimes sewed on a button for himself when he was away