Jessie Carlton Part 11

After dinner Jessie went to her room and sat awhile, on a cricket with her head leaning on a chair. She was thinking. I cannot tell you exactly what pa.s.sed in her mind, while she was in that brown study, because she never told me. You can guess, however, when I tell you that after thinking some five minutes, she rose up, and going to her table, took a pencil and wrote these words in big letters, on a sheet of note paper:

"I will not go out to play again until I have finished my quilt. This is my strong resolution, and I mean to keep it, in spite of the little wizard that tempts me so. He has beaten me a great many times, but he shan't do it again, as true as my name is Jessie Carlton."

Taking the paper from the table, Jessie held it between her finger and thumb, read it, and then left the room, saying to herself--

"There, that's a good resolution. I'll keep it in sight all the time; and if the little wizard comes near me, I'll spear him with it just as Uncle Morris says the fairies pierce the gnats with their bodkins. Let me see.

How long will it take to finish my quilt? Only two more rows of squares to sew on. Well, I can sew one row this afternoon and the other to-morrow morning. Oh good! I'll ask ma to get it into the quilting-frame to-morrow afternoon, and have it finished while I work the slippers. Won't it be nice if the quilt and slippers are both ready by Christmas! Perhaps I can get the watch-pocket done too. Well, I'll try, see if I don't. I _can_ conquer little Impulse if I try, and I _will_. You shall see if I don't, you dear, good Uncle Morris, you."

All this was said as Jessie walked down-stairs. She looked very pleasantly, and trod the carpet with a very firm step, as she went to her cosy little chair in front of the bright fire which glowed in the grate that November afternoon. She was slightly chilled through sitting in her chamber, but without stopping to get warm, she took up her work, and began to ply her needle in good earnest.

Half an hour pa.s.sed and Jessie was still busy as a bee over her quilt.

Then her uncle entered the room with his outside coat nicely b.u.t.toned up to his chin, and his hat in his hand. He was equipped for a walk.

"Jessie, will you take a walk with your poor old uncle this fine afternoon?" said he.

This was offering one of the strongest of possible temptations to Jessie.

A walk with Uncle Morris was to her a very great pleasure. Impulse whispered "Let the quilt go, and accept your uncle's offer!" Jessie's arms were even put forth in the act of dropping her work, when her eye rested on her written resolution, which she had pinned on the top edge of the work-basket. "I will finish my quilt," said she down in her heart. Then putting her work back into her lap, and looking up at her uncle, who was a little puzzled by her unusual manner, she said--

"I thank you, Uncle, but I can't go this afternoon."

"Not go! What does my little puss mean?" exclaimed Uncle Morris, greatly surprised that his niece should decline his invitation.

Jessie took the paper from the basket, gave it to him, and, while a loving smile played round her lips, said--

"Please, Uncle, read this."

The old gentleman put on his spectacles, glanced at the paper, and, as he gave it back to her, smiled, and said--

"Ha, ha, I see! going to run the little wizard through the heart with the spear of Resolution! Very good. I would rather see you conquer your enemy, my dear Jessie, than to have your company, much as I love it. So good-by, and may the Great Teacher help you to keep your resolution!"

"Good-by, Uncle!"

I can't tell you how happy Jessie felt at having resisted this strong temptation. A warm current of joy flowed through her heart, and bore away all regret which thinking on the loss of a pleasant walk might have otherwise caused her to feel. Her eyes sparkled with delight. Her fingers almost flew, and the quilt gained in size very fast.

But fifteen minutes more had not pa.s.sed, when Emily and Charlie bounced into the room.

"We want you to play with us," said Emily. "We are tired of playing together without company, and want you."

"I want you to play horses. I've got some twine for a pair of reins, and you two girls will make a capital span. Come, hurry up, Jessie!" said Charlie, who had got over his ducking in the brook, and was as rude and ready for mischief as ever.

"I'm very sorry," replied Jessie, "but I can't go with you. I must sew on my quilt till tea-time."

"_Must_, eh! Who says you _must_?" replied Emily with a sneer.

"I have made a resolution to punish myself for going out this morning when I ought to have stayed in," said Jessie, firmly.

"Pooh," said Charlie, "that's all nonsense. She is too proud to play with us. She is a regular Miss Stuckup, and I won't own her for my cousin any more;" and with this hard speech the boy left the parlor, walking backwards, and making mouths as he went.

"I do think you ought to play with us, Jessie," said Emily. "You know we have only one day more to spend with you, and it's very unkind of you to stay in here and leave me to amuse myself as best I can. As to your resolution, I s'pose you made it on purpose, because you didn't want to play with us."

This unkind speech made Jessie feel very badly. She doubted for a moment whether she had not erred in making her resolution before her cousins went home. She felt inclined to drop her work, and go out with her very ungracious cousins. But her second thoughts a.s.sured her that it was her first _duty_ to conquer the habit which had caused her so much trouble. So looking with moistening eyes at her cousin, she replied--

"I'm sorry, Emily, that I cannot go out with you, but I really can't do it. You know my ma requires me to spend my mornings in sewing or reading.

I went out this morning without thinking, and without asking her consent.

To make up for that, I must sew this afternoon. This evening and to-morrow afternoon, I will play with you as much as you please."

"I say you are a very ugly creature, and I don't like you one bit,"

retorted Emily, as with pouting lips and flas.h.i.+ng eyes she bounced from the room, slamming the door with a loud noise as she went out.

Poor Jessie felt wounded, and the big tears would flow from her eyes in spite of her efforts to restrain them. Smarting under the cruel words of her cousin, she felt an impulse to follow her, but again her eyes fell on the paper, and she resumed her work, saying to herself--

"Jessie Carlton, you must not mind the hard speeches of your cousins. Your resolution is right and good. Uncle Morris said so. Stick to it then, and by the time the quilt and a few other things are done, as Uncle Morris said, the little wizard will find Glen Morris Cottage too hot to hold him.

I'll keep my resolution."

Just then, smash went some gla.s.s somewhere in the rear of the house. The crash was followed by a voice, which Jessie knew to be her cousin's, saying--

"O Charlie, Charlie! what have you done!"

"I don't care! It's only the kitchen window," was the reply.

Again did Jessie's impulse move her to put down her work and run out to see what was the matter. But her purpose came to her aid again, and she kept plying her needle and saying:

"No, I won't go out. It's only that naughty Charlie throwing stones in at the kitchen window. What a bad boy he is. I'm glad he is going home soon."

Another quarter of an hour pa.s.sed without interruption, when the door opened and the bright face of Carrie Sherwood peeped in.

"Why, Carrie Sherwood!" exclaimed Jessie.

"Jessie Carlton!"

"Come in and sit down," said Jessie.

Carrie stepped in but did not sit down. "I've come," she said, "to invite you and your cousins to spend the afternoon, and to take tea at our house.

Ma says that since no harm came to Charlie from his ducking, she would like to have you come as you meant to do before he fell into the brook."

"I can't go with you till nearly tea-time," replied Jessie.

"Why not?"

"Because I _can't_."

"But _why_ can't you?"

"Because I've resolved to sew on this quilt until tea-time," said Jessie; and pointing to the paper she added, "see! there is my resolution."

Carrie read the paper and laughed. "Well, you are a queer girl, Jessie Carlton. You tie yourself up with a resolution n.o.body asks you to make, and then say you can't move."

"But I made the resolution because I thought it was _right_," said Jessie, solemnly.