Read Ebook: Mixed Pickles by Raymond Evelyn

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Ebook has 1239 lines and 53869 words, and 25 pages

Content took hold of the bridle, but, small as he was, this was more than the chivalrous nature of little Fritz could allow.

"Excoose me; but I'm the gentleman," he said, with grave dignity, and took the bridle from his cousin's grasp.

She allowed him his will, finding in him something so lovable that he was already assured of one welcome in the household, no matter how the rest might yet regard him.

One of the farm hands was just putting up the stock for the night, and to him Fritz gave the care of his new possession, with a matter-of-fact manner which surprised the farmer into accepting it without protest.

"Rub her down well, boy, and don't drink her till she's cold. That's what Fritzy Nunky said. I don't know much about horses myself, but I do know that she isn't a 'him' like you called her, Content," laughed the tired little fellow, slipping his warm hand into his cousin's cool clasp.

The "boy," who was a gray-haired father of many children, received the young horse owner's directions in silent amazement, and looked after the pair as they left the barn-yard and entered the kitchen as if he didn't quite know whether he should believe his own ears or not. Finally, he gave a low whistle, and ejaculated: "Jimminetty!" To him it appeared as if the self-possessed child and his dashing little turnout had dropped from the skies; but somehow he felt no reluctance to rubbing the tiny mare "down well," as he had been ordered, nor did he attempt to "drink her" until she was perfectly cool and it was safe to let her plunge her velvet nostrils into the trough of spring water at the barn-yard gate.

Meanwhile, Content and the new arrival had entered the mansion by the kitchen, and had, after many pauses by the way, caused by the guest's curiosity, arrived at Grandmother Kinsolving's quiet room, where Aunt Ruth stood tying on her gray bonnet, preparatory to going out and dispatching her return message of welcome to the guardian of her sister Lydia's children.

Both mother and daughter stared at Content, but for a moment each supposed she had picked up her small companion from among the "boarders" who frequented their mountain settlement, and who strolled about over the pleasant roads at all hours.

"Well, and whom have you brought to visit me now, Content?" asked grandmother, smiling hospitably upon the little man.

"Can't thee guess, Grandma?"

"Oh, she needn't bother to guess. I'd just as lief tell her. I'm your little grand-boy, I reckon. Anyhow, I'm Fritzy Pickel."

"Pickel! Not Pickel--not my daughter Lydia's Pickel?" cried the dear old lady, finding this second shock almost too much for even her credulity. It had been enough to receive that unexpected telegram from Mr. Fritz Pickel, the uncle and guardian of her dead daughter's family, announcing that he had, after a five years' absence, returned to America, and had brought all his wards with him, and expected, as a matter-of-course, to leave them with their maternal grandmother while he went journeying about on a six months' business tour.

The telegram had not mentioned any time for arriving, but the Kinsolvings had taken it for granted that it would not be before the following day.

"Ho! I suppose I am," laughed Fritz, junior. "Fritzy Nunky says we're quite a jar full. He calls us 'mixed pickles,' and says he don't know which he likes best, the sweet or the sour. I say, are you my grandmother, truly? 'Cause you don't look like grandmothers mostly does. Lotta Hartmann, she had a grandmother, and, my! I wouldn't ha' kissed her for a cent. But I'll kiss you, if you like."

Had Grandmother Kinsolving known it, she was receiving the highest compliment little Fritz ever bestowed upon any one; and she certainly did "like," for she opened her arms wide and the boy flew to them with a swift response of love in his generous little heart.

So there was welcome number two, or three; for the farmer at the barn may be counted upon as having given his in his undemonstrative way.

Such a hubbub as ensued in the old homestead on the top of Deer Hill mountain, when, a half-hour later, "Fritzy Nunky" arrived with his other charges, would baffle description; for the kindly German was one of those overflowing, effervescing mortals who go bouncing through the world as if their only mission were to "stir up" other quieter folk. But it was such a happy, generous stirring up that they who had once experienced it generally desired to have it again.

He was idolized by his nieces and his small nephew, to whom he stood in place of the half remembered parents, who had perished in a steamship disaster the last time they had left Germany to visit the mother's native land. For their sakes he had never married, lest his devotion to them should have to be less; and he had persistently done his utmost to spoil them, so far as unlimited indulgence tends that way.

Only to Paula he was a trial,--Paula, the eldest of the brood, who had artistic and literary tendencies; and who, having reached the mature age of sixteen, felt that she had wisdom and experience sufficient to sit in judgment on all her "betters." Strangely enough, "Fritzy Nunky" appeared to agree with her, and if there was one person of whom his sunshiny nature stood in awe it was of Fr?ulein Paula Pickel.

On Paula's pretty features, then, there rested an expression of grave disapproval during that supper which followed the arrival of the stranger grandchildren; for Uncle Fritz was so lost in admiration of his lovely old hostess, and so relieved to find The Snuggery such a delightful home for his darlings, that he was even more boisterous than ever.

Had Grandmother Capers and her invalid been present, there is no knowing what might have happened; but as soon as the noise of their arrival reached Melville's sitting-room, he had caused word to be sent to Grandmother Kinsolving that supper for himself and Mrs. Capers must be served apart from the others.

The gentle old hostess had been rather glad of this than otherwise, but Aunt Ruth, Friend as she was, had tossed her shapely head with a quaint air of disdain which boded a certain piece of her mind to be delivered at the fitting occasion and in the hearing of the two Capers.

"But, and my little jar of 'mixed pickles' will season your quiet life finely. And it amazes me that you two ladies should live here in this great house alone, with this young Fr?ulein!" exclaimed Uncle Fritz, sweeping his eyes over the feminine trio, whom he supposed constituted the family at the The Snuggery.

"But, it is not alone, Fritzy Nunky," corrected Paula, severely. "Our Aunt Ruth has told you twice already that a Mrs. Capers and our cousin Melville, her grandson, are also members of the family."

"Ah! so? Then I beg Miss Ruth's sweet pardon. Paula finds me ever a blunderer, dear madam," he concluded, looking deprecatingly toward the hostess's sympathetic face.

Grandmother Kinsolving smiled. "Thee is a blunderer of the happy sort, then, Fritz. I can understand now why my Lydia used to speak of her brother-in-law with such affection."

"Is it so?" queried Uncle Fritz, his big blue eyes filling at mention of the dead woman who had been a true sister to him. "And, but we thought not of the 'in-law.' Franz was always deep in my heart's love, and when Lydia came, she nestled close beside him. Christina, there, is the mother made anew for us. Thou wilt find comfort in little Christina," he added fondly, laying his broad hand on the flaxen braids of his youngest niece, who blushed and smiled gratefully at the commendation.

"And what of me, Fritzy Nunky? Am I not a comfort, also?" asked the tall Octave, demurely.

"Praise goes unsought, sweetheart. It never answers to bidding, thou witch! Octave will make thee great care, Frau Kinsolving. She has a big heart and a head full of heedless ways. Octave is my brother Franz, as little Christina is my sister Lydia."

Again the grave tenderness fell upon the spirits of those who best remembered the dead. Content felt herself almost an alien, since all were strangers to her save the grandmother and aunt whom she had known but three short days. A moment's longing for her own absent father who was the one son of the house stole over her, and she turned her eyes westward through the open window, as if looking toward him brought her nearer to the missionary in far-away Japan.

But there was no division in Amy Kinsolving's heart, and the lonesome look of her little Content touched her heart, as she leaned forward to lay her hand kindly upon the girl's slender one. "A strange reunion, Fritz; a strange ruling of Providence that all my children's children should have been brought to the old nest at one and the same time. Benjamin has sent us his motherless Content, that we may rear her to good and housewifely ways; Harriet's poor crippled lad and his paternal grandmother have dwelt with us these three years; and now thee comes bringing a whole--"

"Jar of mixed pickles!" interrupted Octave, with no intention of disrespect, but in the heedlessness which was her characteristic.

"Octave!" cried Paula; "apologize to grandmother!"

"Apologize yourself!" retorted Octave, pertly; then blushed furiously, remembering to whom she had been discourteous. "I do apologize, dear, sweet little grandma. Not for Paula's tongue, though, but because I wouldn't do a shabby thing to you if I could help it. But I never shall do any better; I'm born to be horrid," she concluded with such complacent serenity that Content laughed.

"What you laughing at?" demanded Fritz, junior, stopping his noisy consumption of a third bowl of milk. "I like to know all the fun."

"I'm afraid you would not understand this; but I was not laughing at any one," returned Content, flushing a bit at her lack of self-control.

"But you can tell, can't you? You've got a tongue."

"Well, then, it struck me as very funny that Octave and your own small self have already decided that there is no use in trying to improve yourselves, and are so perfectly satisfied that it should be so."

Fritzy's puzzled little face, after this long explanation, showed that he had not comprehended it as well as he expected; but a swift, keen glance from Octave's dark eyes intercepted one from Content, and a bond of interest was instantly formed between these two stranger cousins whose training had been so different.

Fritz slipped down from his chair, when he had at length filled himself to the utmost capacity with his Aunt Ruth's good things, and sauntered carelessly out of the room. No one thought to forbid his exploring any part of the house which attracted his curiosity, and Aunt Ruth disdained, while Grandmother Amy forgot, Melville's fretful request that he should not be disturbed by any family visits that night.

Melville Capers was accustomed to consider his word as law, and for the sake of peace it generally was such. His anger and astonishment then was great when, as he had just composed himself for a nap, the door of his sitting-room opened, and a small person in dusty knickerbockers walked coolly in.

The fourteen-year-old boy on the sofa had a voice suited to a man, or at least to a youth of much stronger physical development than its owner's, and when this voice demanded in its fiercest tones, "Why are you intruding here?" it surprised, if it did not intimidate, the visitor.

Now old Oliver Kinsolving had been, according to his neighbors' dictum, "a man of a great substance"; which meant not so much substance of money, though he was rich enough, but rather substance of character, will power, honesty, and kindliness. It was curious to note how each of his descendants possessed at least one factor of their grandsire's "substance," to wit, his will; and little Fritz, though he was the smallest of the flock, was yet to demonstrate that he inherited not the smallest share of this same quality.

The child had said to himself, as he left the dining-room, that he would see every nook and cranny of the big, new home before he went to sleep that night. He was not, therefore, to be balked of his project simply because a big boy on a lounge roared at him. His momentary hesitation vanished, and his retort came so promptly that no hesitation had really been perceived by the questioner.

"I ain't intruding; I'm 'specting of my grandmother's house. I should like to know who you are, anyhow."

"I'll teach you who I am if you don't get out of here pretty sudden!"

"Pooh! Who's afraid?" demanded Fritz, coolly and impudently.

"You. Five seconds, now! Then get!"

"Get yourself!"

"I will,--cripple as I am,--if you don't leave here instanter!"

"Cripple? That's a boy without feet or hands. I seed one once at the Museum in Munich. My! but he wasn't like you. He had a voice. Cracky! how that crippler did sing! You cripple, can you sing, too, as well as holler?"

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