Mamie's Watchword Page 3

  III.

  _THE BREAKWATER._

  NOW perhaps you may think that Mamie was irreverent and careless,and did not really wish to improve herself; but, heedless as sheseemed, she had really in her heart a desire to be a better girl, lesstroublesome and wilful and disobedient. It was a wish that came andwent; sometimes she felt as if she did not care at all about curingherself of her fretful, unruly ways; at others, she felt as if she"would give any thing to be as good as Maggie, Bessie, and Belle," whoall were so much happier and brighter than she was, because--Mamie knewthis--they were so much more contented and amiable.

  So, when Belle had left her and gone back to her own friends, she satfor a while quietly in her corner, thinking over what her little friendhad said to her, and the verse she had given her for--a--a--what wasit? Mamie had the idea in her mind, but she could not think of the wordshe wanted.

  It would be, as she had said to Belle, rather pleasant to know that theFather in heaven was watching her attempts to be a better girl, and shereally thought it would be a help to have such a--what was that word?

  "Papa," she said at last, "when people take a text or any thing toremember by, what do they call it?"

  "To remember what by, daughter?" asked Mr. Stone.

  "Well, to remember--to remember how to behave themselves by; to keepgood by. Don't you know what I mean?"

  "A motto, do you mean?" asked her papa.

  "No, not a motto. I s'pose it's the same as a motto, but it has anothername. Dora Johnson had a motto; so I want something else."

  Now it is not very surprising that Mr. Stone did not immediately hitupon the word which Mamie wanted; but after he had suggested one or twowhich would not answer, she grew pettish and irritable, as she was tooapt to do, leaning back in her seat with raised shoulders and poutinglips, and giving snappish, disrespectful replies to her father'sefforts to help her.

  "Oh, don't! you bother me so I can't think myself." "You're real meannot to help me;" and such dutiful little speeches found their way fromher lips.

  "Well," said Mr. Stone, after he had shown more patience with thespoiled child than most fathers would or should have done, "perhaps theword you want is 'watchword.'"

  "Yes, that is it," said Mamie, her face clearing, and her lips andshoulders settling themselves into their proper places; "watchword! Iam going to have a watchword, and behave myself by it."

  "And what is your watchword?" asked Mr. Stone.

  "Now stop! you shan't laugh, or I won't tell you," pouted Mamie. "It is'the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and thegood.' So when I am good, He sees me, and is pleased."

  "Yes," said her father, becoming grave; "but how is it when a littlegirl wears a scowling brow and puckered lips at her papa? For 'the eyesof the Lord are in _every_ place.'"

  Mamie sat silent, quite confounded for the moment. This _was_ bringingit closely home to her. That All-seeing Eye had then marked the cross,fretful face she had put on to her father; that All-hearing Ear--for itflashed across her mind that the ear of the Lord was as quick to hearas His eye to see--had heard her disrespectful words to him when hewas so kindly trying to help her out of her difficulty. Here, withina few moments, she had been selfish and unkind to Lulu, undutiful toher father; just, too, when she had been saying she wanted to be a goodgirl; and "the eyes of the Lord" had been watching her all the time. Itwas not a pleasant thought.

  Mamie turned her face away from her father, and, planting both elbowsupon the window-frame, gazed out, but without seeing or heeding muchof the rapidly changing landscape. She was thinking, half ashamed ofherself, half vexed at she scarcely knew what. But she began to doubtif, after all, she would have "a watchword." It seemed likely to provetroublesome, perhaps more of a reproach than a help to her; and shehalf resolved that she would keep it in mind no longer. She "wishedBelle had not told it to her."

  However, her reflections, unpleasant though they were, kept her quietand thoughtful for so long, that her father, not wishing to see hermake herself unhappy, spoke to her, saying,--

  "There, never mind then, daughter. Papa did not mean to make you fret.We will think no more about it."

  But Mamie's thoughts had done her this much good. Turning to herfather, she said, in a half shamefaced manner, so unused was she tomaking apologies when she had been in the wrong: "I'm sorry I wascross, papa, and spoke so to you."

  Mr. Stone was pleased, and showed that he was so, which restoredMamie's good-humor with herself; and she was much more amiable andtractable than usual during the remainder of the journey, which did notcome to an end till quite late in the evening.

  They reached the station where they were to quit the cars some timebefore sunset, it is true; but then there was a ride of several milesin a great, jolting stage-coach,--rather a severe trial to the youngtravellers, tired with a long day's journey. Perhaps older and strongerpeople than Mamie, Belle, and Lulu were inclined to be fretful at theprospect, and to feel as if a very small trifle were too great to beborne after the heat and fatigue of the day.

  A large number of passengers had left the train at this point, allbound for the same watering-place as our friends, and had to beaccommodated with places in the stage-coaches which were waiting theirarrival. There was a choice of seats in the lumbering vehicles, thoseupon the top being generally preferred, as being cooler now that theday was drawing to its close, and also as affording a better view ofthe country than those inside.

  "I speak for a seat up on top! I speak for a seat up on top!" criedMamie, as she saw several people climbing to the coveted places. "Papa,I want a seat up there."

  "Please, papa, go on top of the stage-coach, and take me," pleadedBelle; and Mr. Powers, who had his eye already on that airy position,and who had no one but Belle and old Daphne to care for, speedilyswung his little daughter to her high seat, and, following himself,established her in comfort on his knee.

  "I want to go too; I will go too!" said Mabel Walton, who had beenunusually fretful and aggravating during the last hour of the journey;but her mother interfered, saying that Mabel had not been very well,and she did not wish her to ride outside in the night air.

  Mamie's brothers, four in number, had clambered up, some on the top ofone stage, some on another; but Mr. Stone, who had his wife, baby, andnurse to render comfortable, was too late to secure one of these seats.Every one was filled, and Mamie and her papa were obliged to rideinside.

  Mr. and Mrs. Stone both dreaded an outcry from their little girl, or atleast some wayward behavior; and indeed there were signs of a comingstorm on Mamie's lips and brow, as her father lifted her within thestage-coach. But it was perhaps held in check by the terrific howlwhich burst from Mabel when she found she could not have her own way,and ride where she chose; for while she had been arguing and frettingwith her mother on the subject, every place without was filled, andwhen Mrs. Walton gave way it was too late to indulge the whim of theungoverned child.

  Mamie saw the frowns, shrugs, and looks of annoyance with which theother occupants of the coach regarded the screaming, struggling Mabel,and at once resolved to form a pleasing contrast to her; and it waswith a delightful consciousness of superior virtue that she nestledinto her own corner. Her mother's praises added not a little to this,and altogether Mamie felt well satisfied with herself and her ownbehavior throughout the day. And in this state of feeling she resolvedto keep to her "watchword" after all, for it was rather pleasant tobelieve that "the eyes of the Lord" had beheld more good than evil inher.

  Now, I cannot say that the state of Mamie's mind was altogether right,or that she was not a little self-righteous; but she certainly enjoyedit, and it had, at least, one good result, that it was productiveof great comfort to those about her. For Mabel, even after she hadscreamed herself hoarse, did not cease to whine and fret till they hadnearly reached their destination, and there could be no doubt that allthe other passengers were ready to declare her a nuisance. To do herjustice, it was some time since Mabel had shown herself so wilful
andfractious, for her fits of perverseness were becoming less frequentthan they once were.

  At last, however, her interest in the new scenes to which she wasapproaching took her thoughts from her own woes, and she ceased togrumble and complain.

  When they reached the shore it was almost too dark for the children tosee more than the long line of hotels, the greater part painted whitewith green blinds, standing each in its plot of ground, surrounded byits white-washed picket fence, their piazzas thronged with people,their windows gleaming with lights.

  On the other hand was the sea,--the grand, glorious old ocean, calm andquiet to-night, as its gentle waves rippled and glanced in the beamsof a young moon, and beat out their ceaseless song in a measured murmuron the shore.

  And now they parted company, Belle and her papa, Mabel and her parents,being left at one hotel, while Mr. Stone's family passed on to another.

  However, the houses were quite near enough for the little girls tofeel sure they could have each other's society whenever they were soinclined.

  Belle was enchanted to be met by Lily Norris at the very door of thehotel; for Lily had heard that her little friend was coming, and was onthe watch to welcome her.

  To Mabel, the pleasure of the meeting was more doubtful, for Lilysometimes took rather a high hand with some of her shortcomings, andteased her now and then when she was cross, so that they were notalways the best of friends. But on the present occasion, Lily wasgracious and rather patronizing, as was thought to become one who hadbeen already on the ground for three days, and who was thereforeentitled to do the honors of the place.

  There never was such a charming spot as Netasquet, according to Lily'sshowing; but just at present, supper and bed were the first things tobe thought of for our tired, hungry little travellers, and all otherpleasures must be postponed till to-morrow morning.

  Directly after breakfast, Mamie sauntered out upon the piazza, andstood gazing at the sea, not knowing exactly what to do with herself.Her brothers had started off on their own discoveries, the otherchildren in the house were strangers to her, and she was just wishingfor Belle and Lily, when she saw all three of her little playmatescoming towards her, bright, good-natured, and gay.

  "Ask your mamma to let you come with us," said Lily; "we're going tohave some fun, and I expect she'll be very glad to have you out of theway while the unpacking is being done; and mamma says my nurse can gowith us to take care of us all."

  Mamie was only too glad to go, and at once signified her readinessto accept the invitation, not even thinking it necessary to ask thepermission Lily had suggested, but contenting herself with simplytelling her mother that she _was going_.

  The other children were too much used to such independence on her part,however, to pay much heed to it; and they all four went off pleasantlytogether.

  "Now, what shall we do?" said Lily. "You shall choose, 'cause you'rethe newest come. There's the beach, and there's the rocks and the riverand the spring and the ditch and the breakwater,--lots of places to go,and lots of things to do."

  "What is the breakwater?" asked Mamie, for whom the name had a greatattraction.

  "There it is, over there," answered Lily, pointing to where a long,narrow pier jutted out into the sea, the central part broken andruined, the heavy stones of which it had been built lying in a confusedmass, some on one side, some on the other. Useless as a pier, the onlypurpose it now served was that which its name denoted, to break theforce of the waves as they rolled in on the bathing beach, save that itwas also a fine, though not always a very safe spot from which to watchthe breakers.

  "Mamma never allows me to go there alone," added Lily; "and she willnot let me go even with some one to take care of me, if the waves arevery high; but they are not high to-day, so Nora will take us."

  "Let's go there, then," said Mamie; and the others assented.

  But just then Mrs. Stone's voice was heard calling to Mamie from thepiazza they had left.

  "Mamie," she said, "I do not wish you to go near that breakwater, mydarling."

  Mamie ran back a few steps and then stood still, where all she saidreached both her mother and the children.

  "Now," she said, in her most obstinate tones, "that's too bad, and I'mjust going. We're all going, and Lily's nurse is going to take care ofus."

  "No," said her mamma, far more decidedly than she was accustomed tospeak to Mamie, "I cannot allow it. I am afraid for you to go there."

  Lily came forward as Mamie stood fuming and pouting. "Mrs. Stone," shesaid respectfully, "mamma thinks it is safe when the waves are so lowas they are to-day, and she lets me go quite often with Tom or Nora,and sometimes she takes me herself. Nora will take good care of us all."

  "No, dear," said Mrs. Stone, who was rather a nervous, anxious mother;"I should not know one moment's peace till Mamie came back. I reallycannot let her go. I think it a very unsafe place for children to play.Why cannot you amuse yourselves on the beach?"

  Now, having made up their minds to go to the breakwater, this proposaldid not suit any of the children; but probably Belle and Lily wouldhave submitted to the change of plan without murmuring, if Mamie haddone so.

  But Mamie was the last to think of this; her mother's words and hermother's wishes had little weight with the spoiled child when theyinterfered with her own pleasure; and she shocked both Lily and Belleby declaring passionately that she _would_ go to the breakwater, andshe was "not going to stay away for such old nonsense as that."

  "Children!" exclaimed Mrs. Stone, who knew too well the uselessness ofcontention with Mamie when she was in a contrary mood; "children! mydear little girls! Lily! I do beg of you not to tempt Mamie down onthat dreadful breakwater! my dears, do give it up!"

  "Don't you be afraid, ma'am," answered Lily, magnificently, but quiteoblivious in her indignation of her parts of speech; "don't you beafraid; neither us nor my nurse will help her to disobey you; and Noranever takes children when she knows their mothers don't want them togo. She won't let Mamie go on the breakwater."

  Mamie turned upon her angrily, with the words, "What business is itof yours?" upon her lips; but as she did so, she caught Belle's eyefixed reproachfully and anxiously upon her. She hesitated for onesecond, then tried to go on, and to put from her the thought which cameto her mind; but somehow she could not, she _dared_ not; for Belle'sreproachful eye had recalled the recollection of that other All-seeingEye which even now was watching her. She was not yet penitent, notyet even thoroughly ashamed and subdued; but she was afraid; afraidto brave that Eye in the face of her forgotten resolution. She stoodsilent, still looking vexed and unamiable, but making no reply, whenher mother said to Lily,--

  "Be sure then to make Nora understand she is not to venture upon thebreakwater."

  "Come on," whispered Lily, putting her arm through Belle's; "come on,Belle, and leave her to be sulky by herself. A child who speaks thatway to her mother ought to be treated with lofty scorn;" and Lily threwher head back, and looked very stern in an attempt to manifest thefeeling she spoke of.

  Belle suffered herself to be drawn on a few steps, Mabel following;but presently turning her head, and seeing Mamie still standing withdowncast looks, she stopped, and said,--

  "Don't let's be offended with her for that, Lily; I think she's sorrynow, and she'll be good if we coax her. Come on, Mamie," in a loudertone.

  "Yes, come on," said Lily, forgetting her "lofty scorn," and alreadyreproaching herself for having been so severe with her young playmate;"come on, there's lots of fun in other places. Shall we go to thebeach?"

  With a mixed feeling of shame, repentance, and vexation, Mamie hungback for a moment, half resolving that she would not go; but reflectingthat it would be "very stupid at home with nobody to play with," shethought better of it, and followed the others.

  Her thoughts, and those of her companions, were presently diverted fromher misdoings by Lily saying,--

  "Oh, there now! You have no spades and pails, and the beach is not abit of fun without. You can
buy them at the store. There's all yourfathers standing by the gate. Why don't you go and ask for money to buythem?"

  No sooner said than done. Mr. Powers, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Walton, whowere standing talking together, were immediately besieged by threeeager little voices, begging for money to buy the articles which Lilyhad pronounced necessary for proper enjoyment of the beach. Theirdemands were readily gratified; and Lily having called Nora, the wholetroop sallied down to the store, where Lily caused great amusement byasking the salesman for "pades and spails." This mistake served as agood joke for some time, and restored good humor and merriment to theyoung party.

  The beach proved quite as attractive as Lily had pictured it, and thetime was happily whiled away there till the hour for bathing arrived,and people began to flock down for that purpose. Among them came theolder friends of our little girls; and now there was a new delight forLily and Belle, Mamie considering the pleasure of a surf bath, at thebest, doubtful; and Mabel positively refusing to try it.

  Mabel chose to accept her mother's offer of driving home in the great,red "beach wagon" which was waiting on the sands for those who wishedto use it; but the other children preferred to walk; and as littleBelle, as usual, went clinging to her father's hand, it came to passthat Mamie and Lily were left to walk together, and they fell ratherbehind the rest of the party.

  "See here, Mamie," said Lily; "I didn't know you were really trying toimprove yourself. You know it didn't look much like it this morningwhen you spoke so to your mother; but are you, really now?"

  "Yes, I am," answered Mamie; "and I've taken a watchword to help me,out of the Bible."

  "That is a good plan," said Lily approvingly. "What is it?"

  "The eyes of the Lord are in every place," repeated Mamie; "andthis morning when I was mad because mamma wouldn't let me go to thebreakwater, I just thought the eye of the Lord saw me then, and thatstopped me. But I think mamma might have let me go, don't you?"

  "Well, yes, I think she might as well have let you go," said Lily,trying to mingle a mild disapprobation of Mrs. Stone's objectionswith the teaching of a due submission on Mamie's part, and a modestconsciousness of her own better fortune; "and my mamma always letsme go with some one to take care of me. But then, Mamie, mammas aredifferent, you know, and their children can't expect to alter them."

  "No," said Mamie, feeling, as perhaps Lily meant she should, that herlittle companion was more blessed in an accommodating mamma than shewas, at least, in the matter of the breakwater; "no, but it is sostupid in mamma to be afraid of nothing. She ought to know that 'theeyes of the Lord' see me there, and He will take care of me."

  Lily looked at her doubtfully. She had a feeling that it was not quiteproper for Mamie to speak of her Maker in this careless way, and stillshe did not wish to take her to task about it; nor, if she had, wouldshe have exactly known how to express the feeling in words. But shefelt herself called upon, at least, to show her disapproval of themanner in which Mamie spoke of her mother, and she said gravely,--

  "I wouldn't call my mamma 'stupid,' anyway, whatever she wouldn't letme do."