Hildegarde's Home

reat amazement, that a girl was not necessarily either "dreadful" or stupid; moreover, that a girl's mother might be a very delightful person, ins

"is a dispensation to which I resign mys

ed that the fiddle m

really endure it without discomfort, that is. It will be the greatest

symphony in white and gold,-golden croquettes, butter, honey, snowy rolls, and cream chee

anything looked. He wondered if his cousin Hildegarde was very frivolous. Girls were, of course; and yet-she was certainly very pretty; and,

ht for a little, Hildegarde said softly, "Now, Cousi

ude as low and sweet as the notes of the mother-bird brooding over her nest; then, suddenly, from this soft cloud of peaceful harmony there leaped a wonderful melody, clear and keen as the same bird's song at daybreak,-a melody that mounted higher

t seemed to change. He straightened himself and stood erect, save for the loving bend of the head over the beloved instrument. His blue eyes f

. "My dear boy!" she said. "My dear Jack, you ought to be the happiest fellow in the wor

but her smile told Jack all that he wanted to know, and it appeared that gi

h he had spoken, and then one lovely thing after another, barcarolle and serenade a

th; and then, as her mother bade her,

eetly, litt

ah, with the moon shining down, softening every

ng his big stick; and then the violin would be tenderly laid away, and half an hour of pleasant chat would follow, after which uncle and nephew would go off together, and the l

len tree,-in fact, of the same great sycamore which Hildegarde had christened Philemon, on the memorable day of the tree-climbing. They had b

ooked at him, and r

e boy continued. "Because I'm not

de asked, seeing that

ls it nonsense, and is going to send me to Harvard. We are poor, you know; Daddy doesn't know anything about money, and-and who cares about it, anyhow, except for-fo

d; "but, considering that one must make bows, Jack, i

one item. I am to go to Harvard, and learn to bow and to dance, and to be a classical scholar, and to play base-ball. I hate base-ball,

, heartily. "But, tell me! you wan

m hates music, you know, and if I speak of it he goes off in a rage, and talks about rascally Dutch fiddlers, and says I walk like a giraffe wit

Hildegarde said

ow he wants to do things for me; but-it all has to be done in his way, don't you see? And-we

"Perhaps you never tried to develop the other s

" said Jack positi

y. "Do you mean to say that you are a flat surface,

I was flat!"

to care for something else beside musi

arcel of musty old books, such

k at the outside of your uncle's books. To see my heart's ow

are you talking a

r. And even in your own line, you foolish boy! Have you never read that beautif

king blank. "Where i

rocco. And you never saw it, because you never look at the books at all. What do you look at, Jack

ow?" and Jack

It is crooked now; a little more to the right! that's it! And-and you ought to brush that spot

ack slowly. "Caring about dress, and looks, and that sort

nd looks, as every one ought to do. Suppose the next time you came to tea, you found me with my hair tumbling down, and a great spot of ink on my gown, and my ruffles

da; and-and I will try to 'spruce up,' as Uncle Tom is always trying to make me. You s

what a difference it would make. I know, because I used to be as blind as you are. I never looked at anything till about two years ago. And now-of course

about. "Green grass. Do yo

ghed, and clap

. "There are twelve different plants that I know-I've b

n, anyhow!" said Jack.

reply, but went on, being

an have no idea of what my ign

se. They eat our clothes, and fly into the lamps. That is on

ed suddenly; then said in a very different tone, "Oh, Jack! this is a wonderful coincidence.

ntently at a spot of lighter green on the "grass" at her feet. Presently the spot moved, spread; developed two great w

" asked Jack

n the other side, quietly! Fly to the house,

h auntie gave him without question, being well used to the sudden frenzies of a moth-collector, he found Hildegarde on her knees, holding her handkerchief

screen. "I have two, but the tails are a little broken. Isn't he glorious, Jack? O

lank. "Are you going

ut my beauty in

d, seeing that her cou

k. "Nothing of any con

d a great deal better tell me than look like tha

o ask you seriously what you thought about-my music, and all that; and first you tell me to look in t

think it was all right. Hildegar

ried, "how shall I te

e, and then carefully set down the f

ma would never have been so stupid, nor Rose either. But you must believe me. I was thinking about you till-till I saw the Luna, and you don't know what a Luna means when one hasn't a p

listen to cats with their tails tied together, he would tie them himself. Since th

en one knows him. I wonder-do you

hat the boy's face brigh

as thinking of," he sa

cried H

light, colourin

just the

she is; but

a some evening, and you shall stay at home. I will go away to wri

ou are, Hildegarde! O

e tree, you know. And now, come along. I must take my b