Rollo in Society Part 1

Rollo in Society.

by George S. Chappell.

NOTICE TO PARENTS

Although this little book is primarily intended for the entertainment of youthful readers, it is hoped by the writer that it may also aid in accomplis.h.i.+ng a number of useful purposes and may prove to be, in the hands of parents, a guide for the modern child through the devious paths which his or her feet must inevitably tread.

It is now many years since our little friend Rollo has appeared between the covers of a book. Readers of an earlier generation will recall that Rollo's environment in their day was that of the farm, the woods, the fields, the brooks, and, at proper intervals and always under the care of Jonas, the village. Inevitably time has wrought changes with these simple elements of our social background and it was to be expected that Rollo's family would, at some period, be swept by the current of events into closer contact with the life of the great cities which were growing up about them. Thus it is with no surprise that parents should see the little fellow in situations far removed from the woodshed and the hay-barn.

Rollo has much to learn in the City, much of cleverness, of politeness, and of knowledge of seemly behaviour amid surroundings to which he has been a stranger.

But it is the belief of the author that while Rollo may learn much, he too may teach. He, too, brings with him lessons which the writer feels may be studied to advantage by both children and adults in the City.

Among certain useful purposes they may accomplish the following.

1. A cultivation of the _amiable and gentle qualities of the heart_. Wherever the scenes of this book are laid, Rollo's character and conduct described are generally--with the exception of some of the ordinary exhibitions of childish folly--of a kind to be imitated; for it is far better in dealing with children, to allure them to what is right by agreeable pictures of it, than to attempt to drive them to it by repulsive delineations of what is wrong.

2. The instruction, especially of parents, in the _temptations_ to which _childhood_ is often thoughtlessly exposed, which in the guise of narrative are here explained and set forth so that the reader may be both improved and entertained.

3. The imparting of _useful rules of conduct_ by which all ages may profit. It will be seen, for instance, how Rollo's Parents are constantly endeavouring to teach him habits of thrift, honesty, and order. He is urged to take care of his things, his books, his pencils, his toys. Here is a lesson all may learn. Consider only the subject of books--let us say _this_ book. It is your book because you have bought it with your own money. How wrong, then, to injure or deface it, to lose it or even to lend it. Nay, it is more unfortunate to lend it than to lose it for if you lose it you may easily buy another but if you lend it you not only deprive someone of the pleasure they might have had in making a purchase for themselves but you also take from the author's pocket the few pennies he might have received from the printer had you not acted so thoughtlessly.

If my readers but learn any of these lessons, particularly the last, the Author will be content.

G. S. C.

ROLLO IN SOCIETY

When Rollo was between ten and eleven years old he was seated one day in the little arbor which Jonas had built for him. He was playing with some bright stones and sh.e.l.ls which his Uncle George had brought him from the seash.o.r.e, setting them in rows on the edge of his comfortable bench or, again, marching them in columns as he had seen the soldiers go during training-week. One sh.e.l.l in particular, Rollo admired greatly. It was a large clam-sh.e.l.l in which was a beautiful picture of a light-house and a s.h.i.+p in the distance and below were the words "Souvenir of Atlantic City."

"How pretty," thought Rollo, "and how clever of a clam to decorate his home so! But I did not know that they could also write."

While he was absorbed in these reflections he heard his mother's voice calling, "Rol-lo, Rol-lo."

At first, Rollo had a great mind not to go for he disliked being disturbed while he was busy with his sh.e.l.ls. However, he finally decided it would be best to obey, so, gathering up his stones and placing the clam-sh.e.l.l in his pocket, he ran toward the house. In the entry he found his father, his mother, and Jonas awaiting him. It was evident from their expression that something of importance had happened.

"What do you think, Rollo?" his mother inquired. "We are going to move to the city."

"HURRAH! HURRAH!" cried Rollo, and then once more, "HURRAH for Atlantic City."

"Atlantic City?" said his father. "What ever put that idea into your head? We are not going to Atlantic City; we are going to New York."

"Oh, bother," said Rollo, crossly, adding, "but if there are light-houses and s.h.i.+ps there I shall not mind."

Now this was very wrong of Rollo, for he should have known that it spoilt the pleasure which his parents had hoped to find in surprising him. Children often behave so by acting natural when they should know better. Rollo's father was considerably vexed, but, realizing that Rollo was still young, he said kindly, "You have many things to learn, my son, but fortunately you still have time in which to learn them, and New York will do very well to begin with. Atlantic City may come later. But come, we must be off to the photographer's studio. Hurry, Rollo, and put on your Sunday suit. Uncle George and James and Lucy will be waiting for us."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "He was playing with some bright sh.e.l.ls"]

While Rollo, a very excited little boy you may be sure, was putting on his blue round-about and his white collar, his mother explained to him that, since they were going to the City to live for a while, they would be expected at certain times to go out in Society.

"What is Society, Mother?" asked Rollo. Rollo's mother was silent for a while before she replied. "That is a difficult question to answer, Rollo, but I will try to explain. You know that here at home you see a few people very often whom you know very well. You play every day with your cousin Lucy and your cousin James, and Jonas instructs you in piling wood and digging potatoes. But that is not Society. In a great city like New York you will occasionally see a great many people whom you hardly know at all. That is Society."

"And will I not be instructed in digging potatoes?"

"No," said his mother, "I think not."

"Oh goody! goody!" cried Rollo,--"I am sure I shall like it. But why do we go to the photographer's studio?"

"That is my idea," said his mother. "You may not realize it, but we go to the city and will meet a number of strangers."

"I can readily understand that," said Rollo, who was a bright little chap thoroughly interested.

"Therefore," continued his mother, "it is more than likely that when the news of our arrival begins to be spread about through the city there will be an immediate demand for our photographs."

"Yes," said Rollo, rather peevishly, "but I do not see why Uncle George, and Lucy and James have to be in the picture. And Jonas, is he important? O-ho!" Rollo laughed at the very idea.

"Rollo," said his mother quietly, "you do wrong to laugh so. Your Uncle George and Lucy and James are going with us to the City. They are to share our new home, for we have rented our farms to two New York gentlemen for a great deal of money, much more than it will cost us to live in New York if we all live together."

"But Jonas is the hired-man," objected Rollo.

"From now," said his mother, "he is not the hired-man. He is your father's secretary."

"His secretary!" cried Rollo. "I do not understand?"

"You do not _have_ to," said his mother. "Come along; the chaise is waiting."

Rollo was so delighted to hear of something that he did not _have_ to understand that he was quite the happiest of the family whose parental heads embellish this chapter. Indeed it was necessary for the photographer to ask Rollo to please not look so pleasant before the picture could be taken. Mr. Bishop, the photographer, was anxious to take separate pictures of each, even including Jonas, who looked surprisingly well in his other suit, but Rollo's father said kindly but firmly, "No, Mr. Bishop, that would be putting me to unnecessary expense, which would be _wrong_. You have said your price is three and one-half dollars a dozen. I will purchase a dozen of the pictures if they are satisfactory, and cut one up if the occasion requires. Should an enlargement of the central figure be demanded, I presume it can be arranged."

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROLLO'S FATHER]

As the family were driving home from Mr. Bishop's studio, Rollo who sat on the front seat with Jonas said, "Jonas, why did Mr. Bishop tell Lucy and James and me to watch for the little bird in the hole in his camera when there was no little bird?"

Jonas, with the b.u.t.t of his whip, humanely removed a large horse-fly from the flank of Old Trumpeter before he said, "Mr. Bishop spoke of the little bird merely to attract the attention of you and your cousin James. While it is true that there was no little bird--or at least, I saw none--it is equally true that you and James were exceedingly restive."

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROLLO'S MOTHER]

"But, Jonas," continued Rollo, "if there was no little bird, did not Mr. Bishop tell a lie?"

While Jonas was thoughtfully removing another horse-fly from Old Trumpeter Rollo's father leaned over his son's shoulder and said kindly, "My son, you must not disturb Jonas while he is driving, or we shall soon all be in the ditch. It is only reasonable to suppose that Mr. Bishop was mistaken in thinking that there was a little bird in the studio. Or there may have been one under his black cloth. Did you look under the black cloth?"

"No sir," replied Rollo.

"And did you look in Mr. Bishop's dark-room?"