The Louisa Alcott Reader

RT

orris who were his best frien

the wind, nex

re horse-car bells tinkled and omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great depots nea

ery and a circulating-library in the court. But Johnny had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be grateful enough to the wind that brought him hi

her took in fine washing, and worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her boy, who could no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to school. He could only pick out

his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for patient Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other pictured bits found their way to him; for

appers or newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a very gay wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large pictures up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. The books were laid carefully away in the boiler, after being s

longed for; and Patsey Flynn, the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the station, often paused to look at the play-bills,--for he adored the theatre, and entertain

d happy boy; for, armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the beauties of his gallery, feeling that he was a publ

her, a boyish longing to climb the wall and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderfu

with the dear old characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on the wall was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. Blue-beard's wives were hidden in the house of wh

h her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of damp earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as strong a ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slo

n old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all a

e, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled Johnny h

little soul, so he was grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,--for the March winds had brought him m

o help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, one breezy morning, as he sat

sented the hero getting out of prison by making hol

here will I put it to show best

surveyed his gallery with as much pride and sa

parades, labels from tin cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny advertisements, and gay bil

d their purple plumes above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like candles on a mammoth Christmas

bids you

mple in y

oy, Bil

rd that, as well as other childish ditties, sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the sound of lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny lon

a strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A little dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, an

hat cruel wall, as he tended the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she had time to stop and gath

and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched his hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and would have fa

step cost him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking

! It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it mus

stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy huntin

knife, I don't see why I couldn't pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's

s lap, and began to dig out the mortar around a brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. H

way in the world. But now he's like to find a blank wa

e. The toad who lived behind the water-barrel hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, lik

ttington, Lord M

ly pausing to take breath, he caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, which soon cleared the way and le

conquering

tly, with a beating heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." He could not see much; but that little increa

range and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on a golden cage; a little white do

he blue gown, the white fur-cloak sweeping round, the pretty hair, and--yes--there's the old nurse, spinning and

her native dress, with a distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A basket of oranges

rom all. "I can't go and wake her like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, now I can see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or holler, it might sca

esh breezes blowing down the court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with a strong breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a moment on the trees and

n Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, with

more to send over. This will come off, I'll

cherished picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding i

eer croak from the splendid bird, whic

nd he began to whistle like a mocking-bird; for this

rst of laughter from the parr

onder where he is? Among the bushes over there

rew red in the face trying to gi

aken, and presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and

saw it before. Oh! I can see t

or he looked right into a great blue eye, with glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and red lips below. It was like a flash of sunshin

Who are you? Co

swered the boy, quite t

ake this n

a brick, and

mind. Is tha

s me. I

gain," commanded the voice

through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could

and by. Here are some flowers for you.

red meekly, with his nose luxuriou

me; I can't play l

three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel as

e such beauties," stammered the poor boy, grasping h

scold, but papa won't mind. Tell me more. What

mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered the boy, ashamed to menti

ne some day. I do a great many. Papa shows me ho

this wall or put 'em in scrap-books. I can't dra

e and see you some day; and if I like you, I wil

ss I

; so I'll bring it when I

ve to lay down all day,

you

big for tha

ce, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling through the

mother can't afford 'em often." And Joh

loads at home, much finer than these.

ask; for there was a homesick sound to

, while papa arranges his affairs;

looks real splendid to me, and I've been lon

be where it's always warm, and people are m

And poor Johnny was so perplexed he

Boys don't c

I like pretty persons

liked it, and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, tha

on't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness of your face. I think you are

ed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; for he seldom got one, bei

k rush in the garden, followed by the appearance of a fa

like Hans Andersen's fairy tales, I know. Kee

hing for you," said the boy, quite

oks. They will be new to m

and out came half- a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to

re the best I've got. I'll do some prettier ones as

u. I shall go and read them now, and th

-by,

Thisbe through the hole in the wall, while puss sat

RT

sterious papa made no objection to the liberties taken with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad to have his little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to see the new neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the af

flew over the wall, and tissue balloons exploded in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in that court; for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because she liked it. The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin bank to buy paper and pictures for the gay little books

was what they would do when Johnny came to see her, as she had been promised he should when papa was not too busy to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; for Fay was a true arti

s with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he goes out or smokes in the garden. So

ng ear about a fortnight after the acquaintance began; an

teps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the pain comes

any better? Nanna

ry, and eat nice things; and have doctors. But we can't;

ot ask him; but perhaps I can sell my pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me sweets for

shoes. Mr. Pegget says he'll teach me. That doesn't

home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says.

?" And Johnny stood up to try his legs; for h

at once and

l his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his only jacket; for, suddenly, his old

too, mammy dear," cried the boy, waving his

about it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, w

nny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she returned with the sad news

ee him," begged

ark, so damp, so poor, it is enough to

. I shall not play; I shall sit here

ok a nice bowl of soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a

ouches to his fine picture, too busy to take much notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, and the great picture was done. So were the small

made of the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are th

ooking at them. "You have tried, my good child, and here

he can rest, and you will like him, and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three quarters the fr

had told him, and had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, studying the effect of sunshine upon his pi

a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what can be done," answered papa,

e then. I like now much better, and poor Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I n

ough you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so wait a bit, and we will attend to the

patience; and with an indignant glance at the lazy papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down many stairs, through the kitchen, startling

down the wall, and he shall come in at once," panted Fay; and she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without delay,--for

ill the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head through; and being b

d up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that his little daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself under the ruins of the wall. This report, delivered with

ole in the wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, yet fearful that the stone coping might come do

r it was bathed in tears, her hands were ble

s you? Tell papa, and he

, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, look, and

l court, the noisy street beyond, and close by the low room, where Johnny's mother worked all d

e Fay is so eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says,

eat, took her on his knee, all flushed, dirty, and t

not forget. What shall I do to please you, dea

found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking into his,

t listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a grand surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to show you

papa's neck and gave him many grateful

ly,

with great strides, while she ran laughing after him, all h

other, amused the artist, and made Fay the happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next day, that Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat up t

ile Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent upon some pretty prank, an

wall, my part

ne, thus wall

hakspeare's "Midsum

T I

the spring breezes blew freshly from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much better, his

er a bad turn! I don't know wha

p, now the good weather has come and you have g

s, he did not understand; but was in such a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hob

ed down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old familiar wall after t

gay flowers; and before the threshold lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a childish hand. As soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this splendid t

has made this nice

t be tired. We are to h

tle bell is to ring whe

at we want. The paint

door last night. I help

was very nice to do it

soon as you can

fri

A

ustn't she?" said Johnny, leaning back to look at t

wish I could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed l

there stood Fay, looking very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of spring flowers on her pretty hair, and

ids you t

mple in y

oy, Bil

he went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed under the bloo

, for it was the beginning of help and hope to both just

and Fay doing the honors of the garden to their guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor m

city; sunshine made golden shadows on the grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods

her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the seats that stood all about, and amusing h

fleet of toy boats lay at anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land under the lilacs, with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, that tossed one high up among the green b

ful little tarts and Italian messes of various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because served in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee tha

Agnes in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear chi

abashed at having forgotten his manners in the satis

n to make garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child thought, and went on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's head was filled with a splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint Peter'

king of the enchanted land, and gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved to be; for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on storming the

mself in a great room with a glass roof, full of rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and

s where I work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to s

went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the windows to the great sunny picture of

, and get so tired; and you can talk to me, and then you can see me draw and model in clay, and

pectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay had so harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. He assented to every

ord, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining with the happy thou

ience and gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food Nanna gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent very happy days working and playing, sometimes under the t

intily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her head shone out from the

garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made a charming thing of it, putting in the cat,

a large price for it; and then, discovering that it told a true story, she generously added

In the autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in sunny Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint

care for anything bu

large