Bessie at the Sea-Side. Mathews Joanna Hooe
is it night on the other side of the world?" asked Maggie.
"Yes, there is no sun there now, and it is dark night for the little children who live there."
"And are they going to have their supper while we have our brefix?" asked Bessie.
"Just about so, I suppose," said papa.
"But, papa," said Maggie with very wide open eyes, "do you mean that the world is going to turn way over on the other side tonight?"
"Yes, dear."
"Then we will fall off," said Maggie.
"Did you fall off last night?" asked papa.
"No, sir."
"And you have been living for nearly seven years, and every day of your life the earth has turned around in the same way, and you have never yet fallen off, have you?"
"No, papa."
"Nor will you to-night, my little girl. The good and wise God who has made our earth to move in such a way as to give us both light and darkness as we need them, has also given to it a power to draw towards itself, all things that live or grow upon its surface. Do you know what surface means?"
"Yes, papa, – the top."
"Yes, or the outside. Suppose you were to fall off the top of the house, Maggie, where would you fall to?"
"Down in the street and be killed," said Maggie.
"Yes, down to the street or ground, and probably you would be killed. And it is because of this power which the earth has of drawing to itself all things that are upon it, that you would not fly off into the air and keep on falling, falling, for no one knows how many miles. It is too hard a thing for you to understand much about now, but when you are older you shall learn more. But we have had a long enough lesson for this morning. We will walk about a little, and see if we can find some shells before we go in to breakfast."
They found a good many shells: some little black ones which Maggie called curlecues, and some white on the outside and pink inside. Then there were a few which were fluted, which the children said were the prettiest of all. They thought the beach was the best playground they had ever seen, and they were about right. First, there was the strip of smooth, white sand, on which the waves were breaking into beautiful snowy foam, with such a pleasant sound; then came another space full of pebbles and stones and sea-weed, with a few shells and here and there a great rock; then more rocks and stones with a coarse kind of grass growing between them; and beyond these, a few rough fir trees which looked as if they found it hard work to grow there. Last of all was a long, sloping bank, on top of which stood Mr. Jones's house and two or three others; and farther down the shore, the great hotel. And the air was so fresh and cool, with such a pleasant smell of the salt water.
Maggie was full of fun and spirits, and raced about till her cheeks were as red as roses. There were several other people on the beach, and among them were some little boys and girls. Two or three of these, when they saw Maggie running about in such glee began to race with her, but the moment she noticed them she became shy and ran away from them to her father and Bessie who were walking quietly along.
"Papa," said Bessie "isn't it delicious?"
"Is not what delicious, my darling."
"I don't know," said Bessie. "It. I like Quam Beach, papa. I wish New York was just like this."
"It is this cool, fresh sea-breeze that you like so much, Bessie."
"And I like to see the water, papa, and to hear the nice noise it makes."
"Yes, it's so pleasant here," said Maggie. "Let's stay here always, papa, and never go home."
"What! and sleep in the trundle-bed all your lives?" said papa.
"Oh, no," said Maggie, "I hate that bed. I believe I did sleep a little bit last night, because I was so tired; but I know I can't sleep in it to-night."
"Well," said papa, "I think we will try it for a night or two longer."
And then they all went in to breakfast.
II.
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW
AFTER breakfast they went out again. Mr. Bradford and his little girls were standing in the porch waiting for mamma who was going with them, when Mr. Jones came up from the shore. He had been fishing, and looked rather rough and dirty, but he had a pleasant, good-natured face.
"Mornin' sir," he said to Mr. Bradford; "folks pretty spry?"
"Pretty well, thank you," said Mr. Bradford; "you have been out early this morning."
"Yes, I'm generally stirrin' round pretty early; been out since afore day-light. S'pose these are your little girls. How are you, Miss Bradford?" he said, holding out his hand.
But shy Maggie hung her head and drew a little away behind her father.
"Why, Maggie," said Mr. Bradford, "you are not polite; shake hands with Mr. Jones, my daughter."
"Not if she hain't a mind to," said Mr. Jones. "I see she's a bashful puss, but she'll feel better acquainted one of these days."
"Yes, she will;" said Bessie, "and then she won't be shy with you; but I'm not shy now, and I'll shake hands with you."
Mr. Jones took the tiny little hand she offered him with a smile.
"No, I see you ain't shy, and I don't want you to be; you, nor your sister neither. Goin' down to the shore, eh?"
"Yes, when mamma comes," said Bessie.
"Well, you see that big barn out there; when you come back you both come out there. You'll find me inside, and I'll show you something will soon cure all shyness; that is, if you like it as much as most young folks do."
"What is it?" asked Bessie.
"It's a scup."
"Will it bite?" said Bessie.
"Bite! Don't you know what a scup is?"
"She knows it by the name of a swing," said Mr. Bradford.
"Oh, yes! I know a swing; and I like it too. We'll come, Mr. Jones."
"Is it quite safe for them?" asked Mr. Bradford.
"Quite safe, sir. I put it up last Summer for some little people who were staying here; and Sam, he's my eldest son, he made a seat with back and arms, and a rung along the front to keep them in, – a fall on the barn floor wouldn't feel good, that's a fact; but it's as safe as strong ropes and good work can make it. I'll take care they don't get into no mischief with it; but come along with the little ones and see for yourself." And then with a nod to Maggie, who was peeping at him out of the corners of her eyes, Mr. Jones took up his basket of fish and walked away to the kitchen.
"Bessie," said Maggie, as they went down to the beach, "do you like that man?"
"Yes, I do," said Bessie; "don't you?"
"No, not much. But, Bessie, did you hear what he called me?"
"No," said Bessie, "I did not hear him call you anything."
"He called me Miss Bradford," said Maggie, holding up her head and looking very grand.
"Well," said Bessie, "I suppose he was mad because you wouldn't shake hands with him."
"No," said Maggie, "it was before that; he said, 'how do you do, Miss Bradford;' and, Bessie, I like to be called Miss Bradford; and I guess I'll like him because he did it, even if he does smell of fish. I think he only wanted to be respectable to me."
They found a good many people upon the beach now, and among them were some ladies and gentlemen whom Mr. and Mrs. Bradford knew, and while they stopped to speak to them, Maggie and Bessie wandered off a little way, picking up shells and sea-weed and putting them into a basket which their mother had given them.
Presently a boy and girl came up to them. They were the children of one of the ladies who was talking to Mrs. Bradford, and their mother had sent them to make acquaintance with Maggie and Bessie.
"What's your