"Will you STOP!" cried Caryl in perfect despair. "Aunt Sylvia's head
will snap with your noise! If you don't stop crying, Viny, you sha'n't
go when the rest of us are ready to move, so there, now."
Threats had the power to do what nothing else could. Viny wiped off all
the tears with the backs of her grimy little paws, gave two or three
concluding sniffs, sat up straight, and was immediately all right for
further developments.
"Now then"--Caryl pointed off her sentences briskly on the tips of her
rosy fingers--"you must try to help--well, an awful great deal, Viny,
yourself, or else it can't be a moving for any single one of us."
Viny's eyes widened fearfully, but she didn't stir.
"If you will take care--mind! SPLENDID care of Aunt Sylvia every
morning," said Caryl slowly and with extreme empressment--"watch and
get her everything she wants, not wait for her to ask for anything, then
I can go off down street and make lots and lots of money, Viny. Think
of that, lots and lots! Then we can move, and Aunt Sylvia will maybe get
well."
Caryl's gray eyes were only a thought less big than those of her small
black audience, who presently caught the infectious enthusiasm and
emitted several lusty crows.
"Jiminy--oh, I DIDN'T say it--I didn't--I didn't! O Jiminy, I didn't--I
didn't--O Jimmy, I--"
"Stop saying it, then," exclaimed her young mistress decidedly, and
enforcing her words by a vigorous shake.
"Oh, I didn't--I will--O Jiminy! yes, I will!" cried the little black
delinquent, the full tide of original sin taking an unfair advantage of
her excitement to engulf her. "Oh--er--oh--er--r--"
Caryl came to her rescue by giving her a new idea.
"See how splendid you can be, Viny dear," she said kindly. "You can be
such a good little helper, so that part of the new home will be of
your getting; for I never could have the chance to earn anything if you
didn't take my place and be Aunt Sylvia's nurse."
"I know how," said Viny, perfectly overcome with the greatness thrust
upon her; "it's to slip crickets under her feet to put her toes onter.
I'll slip 'em all day. An' it's to wipe her specs, an' to say yes, no,
an' to--"
"To be good," finished Caryl solemnly; "that comprehends the whole
business."
"To be good," repeated the small nurse yet more solemnly, "an' to
compren' the whole bus'ness; I will."
"You are a ridiculous child," cried Caryl impatiently; "I don't really
suppose you are fit to be trusted, but then, it's the only thing to
try."
Viny, having been duly elected to office, considered her honors
settled, so she was little disturbed by any opinions that might be held
concerning her. Therefore she squatted and wriggled in great delight,
grinning at every word that fell from her young mistress' lips.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account