 Chapter number one of The Friendly Five. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Annika Lindhout. The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford. Chapter one, Mr Bellamy's Offer. There were neither examinations nor graduation exercises at the Coventry Institute. The only ceremony peculiar to the last day of school, except the farewells, was a little sermon from Mrs Abbott, the principal, preceded by reading the average of reports for the year. The day had come. All the smaller recitation rooms were empty and the girls were gathered into a large schoolroom occupying their own seats, but each whispering softly to her neighbour for rules were not strictly enforced on either the opening or the closing days of school. Upon the platform at one end of the room stood a green-covered library desk with a large armchair by it which was always reserved for Mrs Abbott. As they waited, a servant came in and removed the chair, bringing into view a small old-fashioned hair cloth sofa large enough to hold two persons comfortably. That means company was the universal whisper that went around among the girls and almost before there could be any speculation upon who the guest might be, the visitor himself followed the principal into the room. He was a tall, stout, middle-aged man with a splendid head that reminded the girls at once of the pictures of her gasses. As Mrs Abbott took her seat on one end of the little sofa with her usual pleasant bow to the scholars, she simply said, My friend, Mr Bellamy, will say a few words to you and the gentleman, with the ease of a long, cracked speaker, stepped to the little table and looked down with kindly inquiring eyes upon the young faces upturned to his. The girls were well accustomed to speeches from visitors and could almost have told how he would begin. In fact, Lily Dart, who was quite the wit of the school, had once written out several sentences, which she called openings, and professed to be holding in reserve any embarrassed orator who might be disconcerted by the stare of 30 pairs of critical eyes. Now quoting from number one of her openings, she rapidly scrawled on a bit of paper for her deskmate's benefit. Young ladies, my heart beats with mingled emotions. Lily was quite astray in her supposition. Mr Bellamy said nothing about hearts, emotions, or young ladies. Instead, with a look that seemed to include them all, he remarked in an easy conversational manner. My visit to my old friend, Mrs Abbott, is made with the hope of persuading her to take a little girl so much younger than the custom of her school allows that I regard her consent as the greatest favour that can be granted to me. My little motherless granddaughter. There was a little sudden straightening of his shoulders and lifting of his head here that looked to the bright, observant eyes watching him like a determined effort to keep dry eyes and a steady voice. Will seem to you, he continued, with almost an appeal in his voice, so baby-ish and perhaps spoiled by a grandfather's fond affection that it must ask your kindest indulgence for her. Business calls me to Europe, and it will be a year before I can hope to see my little girl again. I should like to feel in that long year of absence that Ethel, my elfie, I call her, was loved by the young people who will be her companions. I do not ask you to be kind to her, that I am sure you will be, but I wish I could feel sure that you will all love her. Mrs Abbott beckoned to Miss Blake, the third room teacher, and said a few words which made the latter go quietly out of the room to return shortly with a coloured nurse leading a most attractive-looking little creature who seemed almost like a baby, but in reality was nearly five years old. This was Elfie, as the girls knew even before she sprang into her grandfather's arms, and if anything more than the words they had just heard had been needed to enlist their interest, the child's appearance would have completed their conquest, and a very audible murmur of interest and admiration brought a suspicious glistening to Mr Bellamy's eyes. As he stood Elfie on the table with her arms still clinging to his neck. At a whisper from him, the child lifted her lovely face from his breast and looked shyly for one moment at the girls, giving them a glimpse of pink cheeks, sweet, frank eyes, and a shy, smiling mouth before that lovely face was buried again on her grandfather's shoulder and only a light, tossy handful of curls was visible for their admiration. Candice, who stood in statuesque black dignity as befitted her vast person and royal name, was studying anxiously the faces before her with the keen observation common among untutored people, and now let her solemn countenance break into a broad smile of satisfaction as she saw the impression her little charge had made. She came forward then at a sign from her master and carried Elfie from the room, the girl's eyes following them till the white dress and broad black sash disappeared through the door. But Mr Bellamy's speech was not over, although only one more sentence related to the child he had just introduced to them. Let my Elfie be your little sister, he said, with again that look of almost imploring appeal in his eyes which seemed so much like a question that nearly every girl involuntarily raised her right hand as if she felt that some expression of ascent was needed. An audience of boys would have given three cheers for the little sister and six more for the senator, for boys would have known in a moment that the speaker was the distinguished orator whose eloquence and uprightness had made him celebrated all over the country. But girls don't hurrah and unfortunately do not read the papers and keep informed in political matters. But the speaker was satisfied, his wonderfully expressive eyes told that as he gravely bowed and passed on to speech number two as Kate actually called it in her diary. Nothing so interesting as consigning a lovely baby girl to their care could be expected from speech number two. But the girls put on an expression of polite attention which gradually changed to enthusiastic interest as its very novel and delightful subject was unfolded to them. Even very able speeches by noted speakers are rather tiresome to read. So it will be better to simply give the most important part of this one without going fully into detail. Mrs Bellamy Gray, Ethel's mother, had been a pupil of Mrs Abbott and it was one of the wishes expressed during her last sickness that her little daughter could be educated at the same school. Of course it had not been her wish to send her there till she was of a suitable age. But now that circumstances had arisen which obliged Mrs Bellamy to go to Europe he felt anxious to leave her with a friend who had been so dear to her mother. If there had been a time he told his audience he should have liked to tell them of the various plans for helping and comforting others that his daughter had left for him to carry out. There was a bed in St. John's Hospital, a small fund for giving six poor children a yearly outing, a memorial window in the little mission chapel where she had a Sunday school class and all the things were named for his dear and only daughter. And he loved to think that in these pleasant ways her works would seem to live after her. There were still some other schemes to carry out and among them a Bellamy Prize for Coventry Institute. I do not intimate, said the speaker, having arrived at this very interesting part of the discourse that any one of Mrs Abbott's scholars has need of tangible help. Neither do I propose to offer a prize because I think a spur to correct action is necessary but because my daughter loved the school I wish to associate her memory with it in a pleasant way. The best way of doing this will have to be a matter of experiment and a sort of trial trip. I will make it this year a prize of $300 in gold. Your teacher warned by some sad experience of the past is opposed to anything which subjects her young people to a prolonged mental strain so it will not do to make it a scholastic prize and through some prejudices of my own not liking to make it a reward for elegant deportment I shall be obliged to say the prize is for the most deserving. It shall be given upon the anniversary of this day. The recipient shall be selected by the vote of the school. Truly this was an extraordinary prize and the girls discussed it with animation all the afternoon and during the evening which on the last day of school was more like a social gathering. For the day scholars were always invited in and the sadness of farewell and cheered by games, music and dancing. They would all have been delighted to have little elfie with them in these last hours but the fond grandfather could not spare her and one of the girls who had a message to deliver to Mrs Abbott in the power reported that the child lay fast asleep in Mr Bellamy's arms while he was trying at great inconvenience to himself to write letters at a table and Black Candice sat patiently in the hall waiting for the long delayed summons to put her a little missy to bed. It was late when the day scholars went home and the others went upstairs to their rooms very quietly. They all had to pass the large corner room which was always given to visitors and although the light was turned very low they could see through the half closed door that Candice was trying to undress the little girl without waking her and the senator whose broad back was towards the door was bending down to unbutton the little shoes one of which he lifted and pressed to his lips just as the last pair of girls went by. Did you see that? whispered Katie with tears starting to her eyes. Yes isn't he lovely and doesn't he love the little one? answered Lily with a nod and isn't she a dainty darling and won't we love her and pet her when we come back next term. End of chapter one The school was limited to twenty and it was necessary to make an application a year or two in advance and girls had been known to wait three years for a vacancy for the school was so popular among those who knew of it that people were willing to wait. The list of applicants was kept in a book in the library and being allowed to look in it the girls became familiar with the names of expected pupils long before they saw them and when a girl arrived she hardly seemed like a stranger. Five new scholars were entered at the end of the long summer vacation and strange to say only four of the names were registered in the applicant's book. It seems like putting a fifth wheel to a coach said Lily Dart as she and half a dozen other boarders held a powwow before unpacking their trunks Yes said Delia Howland there were only four vacancies and where is this fifth wheel to sit in the dining room and where is she to sleep at night and whose to do the mothering? Mothering was a localism which needs some explanation it was the custom when a new girl entered school to hand her over to a boarding scholar in her last year who was expected to introduce the novice into the ways of the establishment and befriend her in every possible way it was a plan that had always worked admirably and Mrs Abbott had seen many strong and lasting friendships begin in this way to be strictly impartial the girls selected the new scholars they would protect when their names were announced at the close of school so when it opened again and the new scholars came each girl knew which one she was to mother without ever having seen her There's a great deal in a name said Delia Howland contentedly I feel sure my girl will be nice no one called Sylvia Montgomery could be anything but charming it has such a high-born sound I don't take much stock in names said Lily the most aristocratic looking person I ever saw was called Boggs and we had a coloured battler once named Montgomery Devair I wonder what the fifth wheel's name is said Kate I know said Louis Fields Mary Ann Stubbs Not really this was said by three girls at once with great emphasis yes truly Mrs Abbott said so then I know she is as common as dirt said Delia solemnly Lily groaned ah girls I am a weary weary I would that I were wed for I saw my fate in Mrs Abbott's eyes as sure as you're alive I shall be made to mother Miss Stubbs oh sweet Mary Ann I'm under the ban fate links us together and we shall part never till life at school ends the girls always laughed at Lily's ready versification whether it was funny or not the approvals you had learned to expect came now don't cross a bridge till you come to it said Delia oh you dear original creature I have come to it I know it by the pricking of my thumbs and I feel it in my bones and existence isn't going to be worth having here's my bottle of toothache drops with a caution on the label not to swallow any because it's poison I guess I can spare one fatal dose for you and have enough left to last till term ends thanks Katie but I prefer to end my days by opening a vein besides your toothache drops smell of clothes and I hate clothes I'm very fastidious and prefer to die of a ruse in aromatic pain I don't quite know what that means but it sounds better than clothes well go on living till you see Miss Stubbs she may be such a queen of love and beauty that even that name can't spoil her the door opened then admitting Mrs Abbott a little Ethel who shrank away as the girls made a dash at her her shyness will not last when she has had time to make acquaintance with you all said Mrs Abbott sitting down in the rocking chair Lily placed for her and taking Ethel upon her lap will she be in school? asked Katie only a little while each day she is too young for lessons but I want her to be among you as much as possible for she has always lived with grown people and the contact with young life will be very helpful and delightful for her I wish we might have her all the time exclaimed Lily oh do Mrs Abbott let us take turns taking care of the darling say baby won't you be Lily's little sister for a week and be with her all the time and sleep in her bed I am everybody's little sister grandpa says said Ethel holding up her chin with a sort of baby dignity that made her very bewitching but I'd rather sleep with Mummy Candice and I'm afraid that playing nurse would interface seriously with lessons and rules said Mrs Abbott but I am glad to have you fond of Ethel she has grown very dear to me through this long vacation while we have been off in the Catskills and at the seaside seeking for health and strength for us both Ethel looks better for the change said Delia she is much better said Mrs Abbott I saw the colour come to her cheeks before we had been in the hills a week I wish Mr Bellamy could see how plump and rosy she has grown Candice who is never far from her charge put her head in at the door with Ethel's broad hat in her hand and the child sprang to her and started for a walk Lily would have proposed going too but Mrs Abbott detained her I came in to speak particularly to you she said since I mentioned at school closing that four new scholars were expected this term I have arranged to take a fifth she has just arrived and is in my room now according to the usual custom I have selected one of the oldest scholars to be her friend and initiate her kindly into the ways of the school and help her over some of the difficulties which you will all remember from your own experiences seem rather formidable to a stranger I expect you, Lily to be the friend in need in this instance and if you are ready I will take you directly to my room and introduce you to Miss Stubbs Lily turned to give the girls one look of comical despair as she followed Mrs Abbott to her own sitting-room where the only occupant was a girl of fourteen sitting stiffly upon an ottoman her hair which was certainly thick and long was all drawn away from her round red face and put up in a big braided knot at the back she had pleasant dark eyes and teeth which showed white as pearls as she parted her lips in a smile as Mrs Abbott came in but her hands they were awful, thought Lily taking the stranger in with a quick glance big, red, rough things with neither ruffle nor cuff to soften them as they lay clasped tightly together upon a course stiffly starched white apron which enhanced their redness hardly more attractive than the hands were the awkwardly crossed feet made more clumsy by common thick new shoes Lily had never, except on bargain counters in the doorway of cheap stores any material like the red, purple and green plaid of which Miss Stubbs dress was made girls, I shall write to my father to take me out of school exclaimed Lily impetuously as she rushed back to the room where the girls she had left were still sitting I will not stay to be so insulted your insult did not last long said Katie, who was well accustomed to Lily's extravagant manner of speech it's only five minutes since you went off we didn't expect you back for an hour I couldn't stay said Lily gloomily but I suppose I must go right back I asked Mrs. Abbott to excuse me while I ran for a handkerchief I knew I had one in my pocket all the time but I just had to come out and give vent to my indignation girls, Mary Ann Stubbs is just a little servant girl I know it by her looks and her words too why, what do you think she said when I mumbled out something about hoping she'd be very happy here I wouldn't have said one word to her after looking at her hands but Mrs. Abbott's eye was on me and I had to make some kind of conversation well what did the girls say after you had done the polite thank you ma'am oh how funny to call you ma'am then what did she say I said have you ever been at boarding school before no ma'am should you like me to tell you some of the rules I said if you please ma'am would you like me to tell you about her elbows and twisting her fingers together as if she was ringing out a dish cloth I say Mrs. Abbott has no business to ask us to associate with such a heathenish girl oh how she looks her dress is made of the corset's cloth you ever saw and it looks like a star-spangled banner mixed up with a rainbow only there isn't enough of it to make a banner for it's scant and short short enough to give a plentiful view of what she's got on clodhoppers I think they must be her brother's shoes she has no collar or cuffs and her hair is done up like an old woman's just think of my mothering that great, horrid vulgar girl I won't though she burst into a flood of angry tears as she made this declaration mingling with the rather hysterical weeping in which Lily's indignation had culminated there was another sound of sobbing and, turning suddenly they beheld with a poor little cotton handkerchief pressed to her eyes, the forlorn figure which had just been so aptly described that there was no difficulty in recognising Mary Ann Stubbs End of Chapter 2 The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Chapter 3 in Casey's Room the poor little girl had followed Lily at a word from Mrs. Abbott who felt, perhaps, that the ordeal of meeting some more of her fellow-scholars had better be over at once unnoticed, and not knowing exactly how she ought to make her presence known the poor thing had stood motionless in the doorway hearing the cruel words like a target into which all the arrows of scorn were being fired till the sound of Lily's sobs broke down her stony composure Katie, who was always good-natured to the wounds the stranger had received and, going up to her, attempted to apologise and soothe her but the case seemed too dreadful to admit of palliation and everything Katie could think of to say seemed to make the matter worse there was a sort of pathetic dignity in the way Mary Ann dried her tears after a few moments and said in a tone which showed the difficulty of commanding her voice I do not want to trouble Mrs. Abbott so please, ma'am if you show me some place I can stay where I'll be out of people's way come in here! said Lily thoroughly ashamed of herself I know Mrs. Abbott meant you to come here if I could be useful to you, ma'am the girl said, hesitatingly yet looking as if she longed to get away I wish you'd come into my room and help me unpack said Katie, having tacked and good-natured enough to think the proposal would be pleasing she led the way through the back hall and upstairs to the dormitories which were a row of small rooms on each side of a long hall with a large bathroom at each end there were a double bed and two small bureaus in each room it was a great comfort to the unhappy stranger to find something to do and lazy Katie found herself well paid for in her kindness by the energetic way in which the contents of her trunk were all laid with orderly arrangement in the bureau drawers while she not to embarrass her visitor by watching her sat on the bed looking over her photograph album occasionally calling the attention of Ms. Stubbs to a picture with some explanatory remarks this is my married sister and this gentleman over the leaf is my married brother she said, calling attention to two very handsome faces oh, ain't they splendid, ma'am ejaculated Mary Ann looking enraptured and have you really got grown-up brothers and sisters? yes, plenty of them and the youngest of seven dear me, sirs and I'm the oldest of seven, said Ms. Stubbs in rather a self-congratulatory manner oh, how awful! replied Katie why I shouldn't think you'd have any presents and things now all my brothers and sisters accept the two next to me give me all sorts of treats and make a regular pet of me Mary Ann looked at her with wondering eyes but made no answer she was thinking of a poor little home in the mountains where there was so much hard work poverty and sickness that petting and presents were not things to be understood she felt a sudden desire to say so but something seemed to tell her that such a home as hers would be despised by her companion she was glad of all she did not say when, a moment after, Katie exclaimed oh, see this one it's my own room at home Mama had it photographed and sent it to me last term so I might see how the new furniture looked Mary Ann studied the picture long and closely how beautiful how beautiful she said at last in breathless admiration the best parlour at the Penn Conniff house is just nothing to it my lands, how rich your folks must be and ain't it awful work to dust all them ornaments I suppose so said Katie indifferently I never dust the room myself but Mama says the household complains of all our rooms Mary Ann looked at Katie curiously then attentively at the picture again then rather irrelevantly it would seem to anyone not following her thoughts said with a heavy sigh my ain't you got white hands though they were white and Katie enjoyed being told of it in fact the admiration she and her belongings as they were taken from the trunk excited was very refreshing to this young lady who had her full share of vanity her complacency made her quite tolerant of her companion's uncouth ways and she propped herself comfortably against a pillow and proceeded to astonish her auditor by an extended account of her luxuries and privileges in her beautiful home her descriptions were assisted and confirmed by two photographs that were too large to go in the album two showed the house to be very elegant but the girls were rather tired of Katie's bragging and it was seldom she could get an opportunity of expending so much eloquence upon her favourite theme while Mary Ann listened with entranced interest to the description of home life which seemed to her like a piece out of a fairy tale her rough red hands were not idle having emptied the trunk of all accepting its heaviest contents she dragged it into the hall for Duffy to carry into the storeroom and pulling a spool and tatting shuffle out of her pocket made the latter fly as if its motor were steep by and by Lily put her head in the half-closed door flushing at the sight of Miss Stubbs but otherwise taking no notice of her Please come to Mrs Abbott's room Katie she wants us for a few minutes she said disappearing as suddenly as she came Katie smoothed her hair at the glass and turned to obey the request at the same instant small flying feet were heard and a little voice counting the doors one, two, three, four, five same as my little finger this is the one I know and with a little knock that she didn't wait to hear answered Ethel danced into the room I've come back for you she exclaimed running up to Mary Ann and Mrs Abbott says you may come with us to see the peacocks to feed them too Candice is getting your hat as you wait on the piata for us come, hurry, hurry the big one's got his tail lifted all up like a big, big feather fan End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of The Friendly Five This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Diana Schmidt The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Mrs Abbott's Explanation Perhaps it was a little bit of diplomacy on Mrs Abbott's part that provided an occupation out of the house for Miss Stubbs while she talked of her very seriously to some of the scholars. Lily, who was as quick to act upon her good impulses as upon any others had told her teacher for frankly what had occurred. Mrs Abbott received her confession sorrowfully but made no comment at the time simply asking the girl to call to her room those who had been present at the conversation. Delia, Katie, Fanny Holmes Belle Bourgogne and Lily Dart, The Friendly Five as they call themselves took their seats rather shame facely and waited to hear what Mrs Abbott had to say. If it had been anyone but Mrs Abbott, the girls would have thought her afraid to begin. She certainly seemed much less composed than usual. She looked out of the window thoughtfully, rose and walked half a dozen times across the room, then took her seat again, looked keenly at the girls for a moment and said, I hardly know whether or not to tell you something but I will explain the presence in our school of a girl who is very different. I do not pretend to say she is not from all who have ever been here. I hope I may help her by telling you, but sometimes I am afraid I shall do more harm than good by being frank. Here she hesitated and the girls who were wildly curious were afraid she had arrived at the conclusion not to tell them anything. She noticed their incurbing looks and smiled. I have made your lively imaginations expect more of a story than I really have to tell. She said, last July, as you already know, I took Ethel and Candice for a six week stay in the Catskills. The hotel was on one mountain and faced another. In the deep valley between were several little houses, not clustered together for neighborly worship, as you might suppose they would be in such a place, but each standing quite alone in what they call a burnt-off clearing. The mountain air, while it strengthened me, made me wakeful and delightfully still as the place was, I could never sleep after the first ray of daylight broke through the sky. There were such glorious cloud effects that I thought I might as well turn my early wakefulness into a good account, so the dawn of day always found me in shawls and wrapper sitting at the window of my bedroom. The clouds hang very near the earth among those heights, so in watching them I did not have to lift my eyes too high to see what was going on about me, although there was not much to see except an occasional ox-team or a man on his way somewhere, but I began to notice after a while that one of the earliest living things a stir after the birds was a little girl who brought a big pail up the hill, went around to the back door of the hotel and presently came back with a pail filled with water, carrying it down the precipitous path quickly but with great care not to spill all its contents, as certainly anyone not used to perpendicular paths would have done. To have made the journey thus loaded would have been a task for most people, but this little water-bear came again and again. I have known her to carry down her load eleven times before the first bell rang to warn the hotel guests that it was time to leave their beds and prepare for breakfast. I am not found of exercise before breakfast, but I grew so interested in the little water-carrier that one morning I dressed myself very early and went out, carrying her, as I expected, swinging her empty pail and repeating something to herself as if she were learning a lesson. She was larger when I stood on her level than when I saw her from the window and sufficiently strong not to have minded carrying two or three pails of water but eleven? It is hard work for you, I said sympathetically, after wishing her good morning. Oh, my nose, she said brightly. I suppose I had the empty pails to carry down and the full ones to fetch up. I admired her happy philosophy and asked which of the houses she carried her pails of water to and was surprised enough when she told me it was to all of them. I learned later that the well at the hotel was the only one in the vicinity and the supply of rainwater being inadequate, the people in the four little homes I could catch glimpses of through the trees were willing to give ascent for each pail of water brought to them. At mountain hotels fruit on the breakfast table is not usual so the boarders were very glad to engage in wild raspberries from the same girl who gathered them with the help of three little brothers after she had finished her water carrying. I used to walk on the piazza with Ethel every morning while Candice was eating her breakfast and sometimes still longer when the grass seemed too damp for more distant rambling and as we turned the corner and walked down the end of the dining room we could see through the windows of the kitchen beyond it great baskets of dirty dishes carried in and emptied upon a table and piled up ready for washing. At a sink close by a fat woman was perpetually washing dishes which she handed as fast as rinsed to two girls who wiped and piled them upon another table. The dishwashing and wiping always seemed very attractive to Ethel and she made every excuse to stay longest on that part of the piazza. At last from frequent observation of the process and the workers I began to discover that my little water carrier was one of the dish wipers. I made arrangements when we first went to the hotel for hiring a strong wagon and a very steady old horse and Ethel and I went every fair day for a long lovely drive among the beautiful mountains. One day our trustworthy horse was attacked with a kind of rheumatic lameness which his owner admitted he was liable to have occasionally but which would not last long. We waited patiently through several rainy and cloudy days but when one came it seemed more perfect than any other day could be I felt as if I could wait no longer and consulted the landlord about hiring another horse. I think to exonerate that very cautious and conservative man I must confess that I was a little self-willed and engaged a cultish creature that he absolutely condemned but I have driven nearly every day for so many years that I had perhaps too great an estimate of my own powers. We started on our drive picking out the least precipitous roads where all nearly approached the perpendicular for at least some portion of their way and so far from seeming cultish our slow moving horse might have been a grandfather. There was a prevailing opinion at Coventry School that Mrs. Abbott was rather fond of telling a story and knew how to tell it well. Perhaps it was the strong interest she herself felt in everything she said to her girls or perhaps it was the great love they felt for her that made them now listen so intently that if the celebrated pin that is always mentioned in connection with attentive audiences had dropped it might have made quite a clatter and yet certainly there was nothing very exciting about what she had said so far as Kate Ashley found when into her inevitable diary Elfie was in high spirits pursued Mrs. Abbott and laughed and sang as we drove along the shady roads that were almost cold the shade was so dense we were within a mile or two of home when we came to a little log hut we had often seen before but could rarely pass without stopping because we knew it was the place to buy the most delicious maple sugar that could in that region the lame old woman sitting in the door rose up and came to the carriage helping out Elfie who had twelve cents the price of a pound cake of sugar clutched in her hand I shall always be devoutly thankful that the child did get out for before she had even stepped into the house behind the old woman a man whom I had not seen fired his gun at a squirrel close behind us and in an instant the startled horse dashed away with me paying no heed to all my efforts to hold him in the road was uphill for a little way but I well remembered that there was a long steep pitch after that and I drew the reins with all the strength I had and settled myself into the middle of the seat so I should not be quite so easily thrown out when we reached the top of the hill the downward pace was terrible he seemed not to run but to take great plunging leaps his very first jump pulled the reins out of my hands and I crouched down on the floor grasping the seat and expecting every instant to be thrown out I suppose I did not spend much time in this way but it seemed like an hour that I clung there with a dreadful death apparently quite certain for the road was narrow with a steep stony descent on one side at the bottom of the terrible hill there was a short bit of road as nearly level as any road ever is among those mountains then a fork one road taking straight up another hill the other making a sharp sudden turn toward a plank bridge that had been injured by laid storms and was considered impassable if the horse whose bounds seemed to be getting a little less impetuous went straight up the other hill possibly hope whispered to me I might be saved but if he took that awful turn I turned sick when I thought of what would come then in those terrible seconds before we reached the foot of the hill I saw although I was not conscious till afterward that I saw anything the hotel standing boldly out upon its clearing with people walking and sitting upon its broad piazza and just before the bid of level road I was approaching a little black house with a group of children playing beneath a tree and a girl hanging a heavy quilt upon a clothesline the noise of the wheels made her turn her head I cannot remember what she did then but I have been told that she made a dash for the road and when my horse came to the spot where to turn was death she stood at the point of danger right in the middle of the road with the dark wet calico quilt held up in her extended arms if she had moved it it would have added to the horse's terror and driven him into a mad bolt at the precipice on the other side of the road but held as the girl held it it simply made as she hoped it would a barrier to keep him from taking the turn my horse's pace grew less fearful then even on the level space and before we reached the top of the steep ascent it had moderated so greatly that two men at the top in a loaded wagon sprang from their seat at sight of my danger and stopped him without much difficulty Mrs. Abbott stopped for a moment overcome by the recollection of her exciting adventure while the girls who had almost forgotten to breathe while they listened crowded about her with caresses and murmurs of thankfulness that she had been saved end of Mrs. Abbott's explanation by Mary C. Hungerford Chapter 5 Mary Ann Stubbs It is very lovely said Mrs. Abbott as the girls were petting and fondling her very lovely in you to care so much for my deliverance from peril. I have not been able to tell you half how dreadful my danger was. I seem to be looking right at death and a terrible death too. My heart is full of thankful love I think of God's goodness to me then. Perhaps my lips did not utter a word I know I did not scream but something within me cried out just as the supreme moment of danger was at hand Lord save me, save me, save me Girls continued Mrs. Abbott solemnly making an effort to recover herself from the strong excitement with which she had spoken the last words God heard me out of the depths of my agony He sent the angel of his deliverance to my help. Do you wonder that gratitude to the girl who risked her life to save mine makes me wish to make her life happier? It was Mary Ann Stubbs exclaimed Lily throwing her arms around Mrs. Abbott's neck and sobbing and I I have been so mean to her when she saved her life Oh Lily keep still and let Mrs. Abbott tell us the rest said Delia did you faint when they took you out and when did you find out that it was Mary Ann who held the quilt I don't see how she came to think of doing it anyway Nor I said Belle I am afraid I should just shut my eyes and shut her if I were to see a lady being run away with in such a fearful way I suppose almost any girl would feel as you do said Mrs. Abbott I am sure I should feel helpless myself in the same circumstances but Mary Ann is really a very uncommon character Naturally enough I was sick for some days from the nervous shock of my accident and in that time I learned much about her from the hotel keeper's wife who used to come in and sit with me It was not until she told me who kept the horse from taking that dreadful turn I found that the one great desire of Mary Ann's life was to have an education the few books she could get hold of she knew almost by heart and in the little country school she attended in winter she studied with a vigor that soon carried her beyond the rather slightly educated teacher during all the work of her busy days she was always committing something and the results of her application will surprise you when you see her in class it seemed impossible to take away a girl who was the mainstay of her family for Mary Ann's earnings in assisting at the hotel a part of every day through the season and water carrying and berry picking moss basket making and several other small employments counted largely toward her mother's support her father lost his leg by an accident so his capacity as a breadwinner is greatly reduced but by the cooperation of the landlord of the Pekinaw House it has all been arranged and now I ask your kindness for poor Mary Ann she is rough uncouth and ignorant of everything that goes to make polish and elegance but she has a bright mind and a noble heart I have told you of her origin and her almost menial position in order to account for her peculiarities of manner and speech and I have told you of the bravery that saved my life to enlist your interest in her and now I ask if you are willing to overlook the obnoxious points and be friendly to Mary Ann indeed we will said they all as with one voice and loving their teacher as they did the girls felt a grateful desire to heap benefits on her preserver I can see now, said Mrs. Abbott tears starting to her eyes at the evidence of her scholars love for her that I had better have told you this story before letting you see Mary Ann but we are all apt to make mistakes I think I have made another in asking one of you to take her in a special charge so I withdraw the office from you, Lily no, no let me mother Mary Ann don't punish me for my contemptible conduct, cried Lily read with shame no, dear it is not for punishment but because I see ample reason for leaving any one girl free from individual responsibility I will give her into the care of you all make her a kind of child of the regiment, said Dilya yes, exactly that you five may consider yourselves in honor bound to look after the interest of poor Mary Ann I am going to begin by teaching her grammar, said Belle at which the others quite laughed for Belle was very weak on that branch of learning well, you need it laugh I don't say you be and I hate and I don't think there's any harm in my telling her not to do it you will be astonished when I tell you, said Mrs. Abbott that Mary Ann is well grounded in grammar and rhetoric but she has spent her life where no practical use of them is made in conversation so the poor girl does not know how to talk but as soon as she catches the idea that her speech is different from others she will bend every nerve to changing it her great ambition is to become a teacher and earn enough to educate her brothers and sisters six of them groaned Katie how is she to get clothes asked Belle thinking of the thick shoes and the vivid plaid she wouldn't be so bad if she dressed like other folks I should have attended to that before she came, said Mrs. Abbott but when I recovered I felt unwilling to stay among the mountains and driving was no longer a pleasure to me so we went to Narragansett for the rest of the vacation leaving the care of getting Mary Ann down here in time for school opening with Mrs. Perkins the hotelkeeper's wife I have already set the girl who has been engaged to make elfie's dresses to work upon a navy blue cashmere for Mary Ann and shoes of a more girlish appearance she shall have this afternoon and may I bring you some cuffs and collars for her asked Belle Mama always packs up such an insane quantity of them for me I never use half of them and I can give her lots of hair ribbons said Katie oh please let us fill her top drawer with our super fluid he said Lily she will never know where they came from and it will be great fun Mrs. Abbott hesitated I do not like to destroy her independence her position as occasional helper in the hotel kitchen did not bring her into contact with the guests so she was never offered presents or fees I know said Lily you want her to feel as good as you want yes I do and if she is to begin by accepting gifts she may get a feeling of inferiority that I don't wish her to have well won't you put the things in the drawer and not tell her we gave them surely she can take a favor from you said Delia and so it was arranged Mary Ann had her raptures over gloves, ribbons, ruffles and other girlish properties and the girls who had supplied her out of their profusion were well paid by seeing the improvement in her appearance and hearing her expressions of delight when she told them of the furniture of the top drawer she expected to find empty Mrs. Abbott kept her rather out of sight for a day or two and when school work began in earnest Mary Ann in her new blue dress with clean collar and cuffs nice shoes and dark stockings was not a conspicuous figure till she opened her mouth to speak End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of The Friendly Five This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Catherine Phipps The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Mary Ann's Charge It always takes nearly a week to get a boarding school into good working order so although Mrs. Abbott appointed Wednesday for arriving she never really expected much would be done till the next Monday. By that time the rapture of greeting between old friends, the acquaintances to be formed with newcomers and the natural touch of homesickness was supposed to be over and the business of life must begin One of the five new scholars has been described The others seemed nice quiet lady-like girls a little inclined to be teary as was quite natural for they knew the pleasures of the homes they had left and they could not yet know how much there was to enjoy at Coventry School. They all found Alfie a quiet comforter for the child now that she had become entirely at home seemed to take the duties of a hostess upon herself and made very pretty little efforts to please the strangers Any other child would have been in danger of being spoiled by the petting lavished upon her She was everyone's darling and to have Alfie for an hour was the greatest treat a girl could have. Edna Tryon one of the new girls was quite as far advanced as any of the old scholars and was put into the class with them She had been for years at a fashionable city school but having as her mother thought, shown some symptoms of delicate health, she was brought to Mrs Abbott's in hopes the pure country air might be of advantage There was something very attractive about Edna Tryon's appearance. Teachers and girls were pleased with her from the first but as time went on she developed some unlovely traits and brought them from the fashionable school she had attended ideas which were quite at variance with Mrs Abbott's system She was rather a shrewd girl and by appealing to certain weaknesses she was quick to discover in a girl's character was able to acquire an influence over her She succeeded in getting very much of an influence over Katie Ashley and through her became on excellent terms with all the friendly five After Mrs Abbott's conversation with the friendly five about Mary Ann they had treated her with kindness and their example had made her much better received by the other scholars than she would have been for school girls are very critical and there was much in Mary Ann's speech and manner to which to object Edna treated her with great haughtiness from the first and Lily seeing how often Mary Ann was wounded by her arrogance asked for liberty to tell her the story of how she came to be there but Mrs Abbott thinking it better no one else should know her humble position she had held withheld her permission at the same time thanking Lily for wishing to be friend Mary Ann it gives me great joy my dear to see that you persist in your kindness to poor Mary Ann she tells me that all of you to whom I told her story are brave champions well I'm sorry she needs a champion said Lily but you know it is a temptation to make fun of her green ways and looks but she is improving and I think it's perfectly grand the way she asks us to tell her of her faults why should be furious if anyone told me of mine tell the truth I don't like to think people know I have any we cannot too much admire Mary Ann's determination to improve herself and I hope Lily you will continue to be her friend Lily promised and fully meant to keep her word but as Mrs Abbott had learned by past experience Lily had two failings which sometimes made her a little trying to those who loved her most her disposition to seek amusement even if she had to do it at a friend's expense and her easy nature made her too easily led away from her good intentions but she had of late struggled with these besetting sins as she called them herself and her teacher hoped they would at last disappear no one's general average in the week's report was ever higher than Mary Ann's she was not only a remarkably quick student but she appreciated more than anyone else in the school the great blessing of an education gratitude to Mrs Abbott was another spur to industry and her studiousness and desire to learn made her a favourite with the teachers she still had much to bear from the scholars who were thoughtlessly cruel and loved at her many blunders but their forces of merriment were gradually disappearing for Mary Ann was so well aware of her defects and so watchful to correct them that Mrs Abbott told her one day finding her plunged into despair that before long with her great desire for improvement and the rough process of polishing she was enduring she would acquire the agreeable manner of speech and action she admired in the other girls oh you are so kind to me ma'am said grateful Mary Ann and I wished you'd give me give me I mean something to do for you you said to my mother there was work I could do here well I've changed my mind about that if I were to let you do the light service I had expected to I fear the others would be less likely to treat you as an equal and dear I think you have enough to struggle against without that drawback I've decided to ask of you something serious and important than I had intended to explain myself I must tell you something in strict confidence I'm quite sure I may trust you Mary Ann began to pledge her solemn word in the strong language in which she had been accustomed to hear such assertions made but Mrs Abbott stopped her saying one look at your face is all I need to show me you can keep a secret the honest eyes she looked into were shining with pleasure and Mrs Abbott smiled lovingly at the girl as taking her little hard hand in her own she told the pitiful story of Ethel's mother's short sad life she had become engaged while her father was abroad having left her in the care of a friend who proved very reckless of the trust to a man in every way unworthy of her Mr Bellamy on his return at first refused his consent but Ethel always delicate seemed unable to bear disappointment and having no actual proof of Mr Gray's unworthiness his fears for her health made him consent to their marriage there were two years of sad experience and then Mr Bellamy learning of wrongs which had been carefully concealed from him and which fully justified the severest measures insisted upon a legal separation and brought Mrs Gray and her little daughter back to his own home in San Francisco soon the older Ethel died leaving her baby Elphie to her grandfather's care to guard against interference he legally adopted Elphie giving her his own name and he never means to have her know if it can be helped that she has a father living within the past year continued Mrs Abbott Mr Bellamy has found the worthless father very troublesome as Gray fears that he will try to get possession of Elphie probably with the hope of getting hold of the money which she inherits from her mother independently of her grandfather's large fortune he made one attempt in San Francisco but happily his plot was discovered Mr Bellamy believes the man will think he has of course taken Elphie to England with him and has little fear for her here under my care Candice can be trusted to watch and defend her if necessary for she would be a Tigris if danger threatened her darling but poor Candice keeps having attacks of rheumatism change of climate must have developed it for she was never afflicted that way before when her nurse has a sick day someone else must guard Elphie and you my dear will do it more faithfully I firmly believe than anyone else in the house Mrs Abbott rose as she finished and kissed the earnest honest face of her listener Mary Ann's dark eyes were beaming with joy at being so trusted but though she longed to say that she would be faithful yes faithful unto death if necessary there was such a choking in her throat that she could only answer by pressing the dear hand that held hers End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of the Friendly Five This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Catherine Phipps The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Elphie tells a story Six of the girls were spending the Saturday mending hour in Lily's room All the girls in the school were required to spend that one hour in sewing and sewing It became an unwritten law that the hour was to be spent in mending The little girls were expected to do their mending in the smaller recitation room with one of the teachers to direct and assist them but the larger ones were allowed to work in their rooms It is not a hilarious pursuit said Lily looking solemnly at a three-sided tear above the hem of a clean white skirt and I am very sorry that there seems to be such a deep-seated prejudice against the Chinese and what earthly connection is there between mending and Chinese The connection, my inquisitive Bertha, is not with mending but abolishing the necessity for the practice which I regard as the most disagreeable one I have understood that the gentle creatures with the peanut-coloured complexions and the blinking bias eyes are acquainted with a process for making paper undergarments taken off when soiled and used for lighting fires I suppose if my lovely figure were draped in paper I should make a cheerful rattling as I walked about and toward the close of a paper garment's career I might even have to tie it about me with twine like any other paper wrap package Still, I should prefer it to mending cotton materials and so I wish they would offer the Chinese inducements to stay here and begin manufacturing The girls were come vast with laughter for Lily had an overwhelmingly draw-away of making her highly original remarks I have no mending to do, said Katie So if you want me to read aloud I'm quite at your service Lily laid down her work and looked reproachfully at the speaker Have you stolen a march on me uncanded Catherine with a K and supplied yourself with a full line of paper garments while I am still groveling in cotton cloth? No! I wear as much muslin as you do and wear and tear it into twice as many holes I laid a frightful pile of clothes that wanted mending on my table yesterday but when I went to bed I found them all mended That sounds supernatural said Lily using her chest turns and speaking sepulchrally I'm afraid it was the work of no mortal fingers Perhaps you have a ghostly double who sits and sows while you otherwise amuse yourself Oh, stop talking that way said Katie You make me feel creepy I know well enough who did it It was Mary Ann How very nice! said Edna eerily I believe I will hire her services too I have plenty of pocket money to spare but there's no way of spending it here But she didn't do it for pay protested Katie It's because she likes me She wears so nice to her said Lily with an approving nod which greatly pleased Katie Edna drew up her lips scornfully I should not accept unpaid services she said loftily Do excuse my forgetfulness exclaimed Lily hurriedly fumbling in her little purse Oh, can anyone change a half dollar? Never mind Here's some pennies One, two, three, four, five Here Edna Is this about right for gluing my photo okay so nicely the other day? Why Lily dart How dare you offer me money exclaimed Edna Springing up and scattering the pennies Lily had tossed into her lap in every direction The other girls look sharp too but Lily serenely said I must be stupid but I thought you said you wouldn't accept unpaid services and I felt reproached at once for not having as good a role of conduct as yours Edna looked violently angry but before she could express her indignant sentiments there was a little tap on the door and Mrs. Abbott and Alfie came in Perhaps Mrs. Abbott could tell by Edna's flushed cheeks and the angry tears which filled her eyes that something disagreeable was in progress but she gave no sign of noticing anything and after a few minutes of pleasant chat asked if she might leave Alfie with them till the sowing hour was up Bertha, with the fear that Edna and Lily might recommence the interrupted conversation invited Alfie to tell them a story while they sowed I can't tell a book story said the child but I'll tell you one that Mammy Candice tells or I'll tell you one of Marion's history stories Which would you rather tell Alfie? My son could rather tell one of Mammy's stories because I forget the history names Very well Do you like? Well, once there was a little girl perhaps the biggest me and her mother told her to go over the field and take some nice custard in a bowl to a poor sick woman in a little bit of cabin so she put on her little hat and cummed and cummed and cummed till she most come to the little cabin then she sat down under a bush and she looked in the bowl a little yellow like gold and smooth like silk and then she took a holly leaf and she ate the nice custard all up and then she lied down and go sleep pretty soon there comes big bumblebee and she wakes up and says go away bad bee but the bee say no no I go on to sting a bad child don't mind her mother the girls were noticing with much amusement that Alfie was unconsciously imitating the southern accent Candice used then a little chipmunk come and say I go on to bite her little toes because she don't mind her mother then a little owl comes and says I go on to pull her har because she don't mind her mother then deer comes a little chink bug ticka ticka ticka and says I go on to pinch her because she don't mind her mother then they all say sting her, bite her, pull her pinch her because she don't mind her mother so she cry and holler and the poor sick woman crawls out of bed and sends them all off then she says you got something nice for me in that blue bowl something your mother sent me yellow as gold and smooth as silk give it to me because I got nothing to eat just the worst of all and a little girl runs out the door and runs home and says mother, mother give me all the supper I can have and the mother gives her bread and milk and jam tart and she takes them and runs way way off to the cabin to give them to the sick woman and to bee and to chipmunk and to little owl and to chink bug they all come too and they didn't sting her no bite her, no puller, no pinch her sorry she was bad and didn't mind her mother I can tell you better stories when I know how to read said Alfie modestly as she received their thanks for the one she had just told in a highly dramatic manner I have a beautiful big book of stories called The Raving Knights but Aunty Abbott won't let me have the stories read to me because I heard her tell Miss Blake I was too too magical now imaginative wasn't it oh yes that was it well said Lily who had seen the big storybook magical isn't the bad word for the Arabian knights and raving is as forcible as the real title added Edna who seemed to have recovered her temper end of chapter 7 chapter 8 of The Friendly 5 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Chad Horner from Bolly Clare in County Anthem Northern Ireland The Friendly 5 by Mary C. Hungerford chapter 8 A Rainy Day after a week of such glorious weather that it was a pleasure merely to be alive there came a day when the rain fell in hopeless torrents I wouldn't quarrel with the weather said Lily, Glimmy if it had the property to do the right thing Saturday but when our only holiday is spoiled it seems a little exasperating I flattened my classic features against the windowpane as long as I can stand it but I can't find a symptom of clearing up let's do something amusing said Louis Field there is no fun in just wishing it would stop raining and that's what we've been doing with intervals for yawning I like that what's going to amuse us said Belle Burgundy capping verses is pretty good fun said Marianne modestly it was seldom she made a suggestion but Edna who generally snapped her up with a sarcasm or silenced her proposals with blighting sneers was out of the way now that's so said Katie looking up from a struggle with the accounts that her father very liberal supply of pocket money it is fun but I don't remember exactly how it's played you write a line of poetry and then fold the paper over it and pass it along for your next neighbour to write a line that rhymes with it don't you yes that's one way but we used to play it another way for a change let's try your way first and then I'll show you how we used to play it at Jimmunk there was much stirring about for a few minutes to find pencils and then a half sheet of fullscap was handed to Lily who wrote a heading and then a first line a raid she said passing the paper on to Katie after carefully turning down her line so that no one could read it no one can make a rhyme to that said Katie who was not blessed with the powerful rhyming talent that's one of the words there's no rhyme to like silver and 12th made shade, glade, bled suggested Mary Ann, oh yes said Katie but I don't know a line poetry that ends in any of those words give Mary Ann your turn then said Lily and maybe you'll get an easier word so Mary Ann wrote a line rapidly and then passed the paper to Lottie Bush who wrote another rhyme to it for the first occasion was to be in triplets then Katie thinking it would be easier to inaugurate a rhyme than to find one began a new verse teal as the final word of her line some of the party were very quick but others had to expend much thought on their lines so quite a little while passed before the poem was finished and hadn't to Lily to read she began clearing her throat this remarkable poem is the joint production of a number of first class poets it was original sometime and it is called many lines from many pens by lots of folks an Austrian army awfully arrayed, sure I'm but a simple village maid blossomed and ripened in woodland shade hope that a flattering teal she began to weep and she began to wail come in thy beauty thy marvel of duty sweet Annie of the veil roll on thy dark and deep blue sea roll nor lay that flattering unction to your soul and the distant bells softly toll toll toll hark from the timbs of doful sound the spot whereon thy standest is holy ground he cleared the barrier with a single bound have ye not heard the poet tell ding dong del pisses in the well down in the meadow sweet blue bell that wasn't bad fun said Louie now suppose we try the other way tell us how you do it Mary Ann you compose four lines of poetry or stuff of course you can't really call it poetry and leave off the rhymes and pass it to the next one to guess out the rhymes and put them in but my goodness child we can't all compose poetry what do you take us for said Louie won't it do to quote four lines from a book not quite so well for it might be familiar and then you'd be no skill in getting the rhymes oh let's try it said Lily it needn't be real poetry as Mary Ann says and we'll get some fun out of it I guess some narrow strips of paper were supplied to each of the party who with the exception of two or three who declared it was impossible for them to think of anything to write were soon busy trying to wrench poetical ideas from their puzzled brains parodies were the easiest to write Mary Ann had said so most of the verses when done were strong suggestions of very familiar songs or poems and after they were written it was not hard for most of the girls to supply the rhymes and came in too late to join in composing was chosen to read the verses to them after they were done there were no names signed and it was some sport to guess the authors the first one selected from the pile had an easy jingle about it that made the girls certain it was from Lily's ready pen it was headed o to my friend I never told the truth but and then I told it I said you were an awful but you didn't have felt so the rhyme said the reader who knew what they were because according to rule they were written on the back it's an every other line rhyme and the second one is gladly it isn't quite fair to tell you that but you'll never guess if I don't give you some clue there was much puzzling about fitting the rhymes but Mary Ann and Belle succeeded in finding them and comfortably fit it once, done, gladly, badly into their places at the end of the lines the verse was easier and even Katie found no great difficulty in supplying the missing words oh, being at school is pretty good but going home is I'll be full of joy when the term is and I'll write you a farewell the fun, dumb, better letter that belong to that verse or what I call self-evident rhymes said Lily and it's no fun to guess them for they say themselves almost now, wait till I write you something grand glimmy and obscure the rhymes that don't shout themselves out at you after browning I suppose oh, miles after now hush or I can't hear the whispering of my muse and Lily rolled up her eyes and with her hand bending her ear forward put on a wrapped appearance of listening then with a blow to the corner of the ceiling and a grateful thanks, thanks madam for your timely assistance supposed to be addressed to the obliging but invisible muse in a few moments handing this effusion to Edna to read oft in the chilly when wondering cats are I fly out to them and bid them stop there their shrieks and their hoils and have driven me almost crazy that was considered funny because two of the girls had actually jumped out of bed at daylight to suppress some unmalodious cats whose whales had kept them awake but their united efforts could not produce all the needful rhymes Edna read them off from the back of the paper dawn, howling, lawn, yowling, groans, moons it was a noticeable fact that when Edna joined a circle which included Marianne the later soon made an excuse for leaving so after the last poetry had been read and laughed at she quietly slipped out of the room leaving the others to continue the sport without her Edna commented on her departure with a sarcastic supposition that she had probably gone to seek more congenial society in the servants quarters and although there was not a girl present who believed what she said still there were none who openly contradicted her for Edna had acquired a sort of influence over the girls that required some moral courage to combat study R came soon after for some of them but the half dozen older ones who were left kept on making the verses which unfortunately assumed a personal character that made them seem very pointed and witty to the thoughtless girls but which led to unhappy results a week later End of Chapter 8 Recording by Chad Horner from Ballyclair in County Under Northern Ireland Chapter 9 of the Friendly Five This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Dinika Toronto The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Chapter 9 Some leaves from a diary Generally keeping a diary is very much a matter of sentiment but with Katie Ashley it was done only in fulfillment of a promise and not at all from any desire to record either feelings or events Mrs. Ashley had several daughters all well educated but all singularly averse to writing letters They were dutiful enough in other ways but it was very uncomfortable for their mother when she was separated from them to have no communication except through an occasional telegraphic dispatch It was too late to make a reform with grown up children but Mrs. Ashley determined that Katie her youngest child she would become so familiar with her pen that she would be free from the family failing so she exacted the promise when she sent her to boarding school that made daily entries in her elegantly bound diary the condition of receiving a larger allowance of pocket money than had ever been given to her sisters The record was to be kept entirely private, sacred Katie called it and no one at home was ever to ask to see it or even to allude to it but in the vacations when Katie used to go off on little trips with her mother she used to get very confidential at bedtime and her talks about school usually ended in her getting the book out of her trunk and a tiny silver key off her watch chain and unlocking the miniature padlock which secured the covers and reading page after page allowed to her very appreciative hearer Sometimes the details were very scant Sometimes they were quite full and interesting All depended on the writer's mood at the time of writing A few specimens will show the curious variations in this respect September 18 Arrived here at school September 19 Five new girls One is a beauty prettier than Lily Her name is Edna Tryon Seems to feel pretty aristocratic Turns her nose up at almost everything September 20 I forgot to put down that one of the new girls looks like a chamber maid in a very poor class of one too She don't compare to our maids Mrs. Abbott wants us to be good to her There's a long story about it very interesting Men, tell mama about it when I get home September 21 The girls are horrid to Mary Ann Stubbs September 22 Little Elfie is an angel We all love her to death I took a walk with her and her black man today September 23 There's a funny thing I never thought to put down before When we got back to school we found the high iron front gate taken down and heavy wooden doors with a big bolt put in its place Mrs. Abbott hasn't told us why it was done and this Blake only said that Mr. Bellamy had it done We were all horrid We were entirely shut in The board fence has spikes on it so we couldn't climb up and look over if we wanted to We used to be very fond of looking out of the iron gate Edna says she thinks there's some mystery somewhere She won't tell what that means but she says an old man where they used to live put a high board wall around his place and then got married and made counterfeit money That's silly for Mrs. Abbott hasn't got any tools and machinery Besides, she would never do anything wrong September 23 I knew all my lessons really missed in political economy September 24 I missed in algebra generally do September 25 New French teacher came in made us all laugh at prayers when it was her turn to read a verse she read and he healed the sicks instead of the sick September 26 Mrs. Abbott went to New York today She won't be back till tomorrow night September 27 Today, Edna said to Lily and me Let's slip out the back gate and go to the village Miss Blake so near sighted she won't see us Lily was angry and told Edna she insulted her by asking her to do such a thing She was so angry that Edna had a habit objected After she had gone downstairs Edna said, Lily's a born coward She'd just love to go out that gate but she's so afraid she doesn't Now you've got more pluck and I do like to see a girl who isn't afraid cat After that I was afraid to refuse so I guess I was a coward myself We went up to the store and Edna bought raisins and nuts and I bought a pineapple and it was so much of anything nice at the store September 28 Last evening Edna and I gave a party in her room after we went up to bed We had nuts and raisins and the pineapple was cut into slices but it was sour Edna ran into the dining room pantry and grabbed a cup full of salt She thought it was sugar Luckily she found it out before she had sprinkled much on the pineapple Edna said that the party was great fun but I didn't have a very nice time I kept thinking what if Miss Blake should come in and ask where we got the things September 29 Some of us were in the front yard at recess and the gate bell rang Bertha said, come in the house quick before Johnny comes to answer the bell I started to go with the others but Edna held on to me till Johnny came up and opened the gate We heard him say Mrs. Abbott is away I don't think there's any ribbons or things wanted today Good it's a peddler said Edna let him come in I want some thread and some shoe buttons We could see a man with a covered basket and he seemed anxious to get in for he pushed the gate open I knew Mrs. Abbott wouldn't like it as she never would have peddlers about but you can't reason with Edna she just made Johnny let him in Edward never would have done it but he has gone home because his mother's sick and this boy has taken his place in a while I'm almost afraid the peddler was a burglar for he looked around so searchingly and up to every window and made an excuse to go a little farther in so he could look into the arbor I took a good look at him because I thought if he was a burglar I might have to identify him before a lawyer or something You never can tell what's going to happen He had light curly hair and a dark yellow skin and he looked to nose He unpacked some ribbons and laces looking around all the time as if he was hunting for something I made up my mind that he was somebody that knew the kitchen girls and was trying to get a glimpse of one of them After a while he held up a pale lavender sash ribbon with a black edge and said this would be beautiful for a young lady in mourning We were both in blue dresses as he could see and I laughed and said that Then he asked in the most anxious way if there wasn't anyone in mourning in the school Not one said Edna except little Elfie and she's got more sashes than she can wear The man looked at her very sharply I never saw a common person show so much curiosity and said perhaps if you could persuade the young lady in mourning to come and look at my things she would find something she liked I have beautiful black and silver bracelets There was something horrid about the man he seemed so familiar and so eager I feel sure he is a burglar or something improper and I think Edna thinks so too though she won't own it I was wishing with all my might that we could get rid of him and then to my delight the dinner bell rang and Johnny came running back and sent him out and locked the gate September 30 I kept expecting burglars all last night but they didn't come October 1st I want to tell Mrs. Abbott about the peddler he acted so queer but Edna says I'm a fool to bring down a scolding and perhaps a punishment on myself and her too October 2nd I don't believe I'll keep intimate with Edna. She seems to do so many wrong kind of things I'm going to ask Miss Blake to let me sit on the other side of the study table so I won't be next to her anymore October 3rd maybe I judged Edna too harshly she came into my room today and after she looked around the minute she exclaimed in the most earnest way oh you dear lovely Katie if you could only know how I love you and how I admire you then she told me that from the very first she had thought I was the very nicest smartest and prettiest girl in the whole school it seems silly to write down praises of myself but it is perfectly sweet to have a girl think so much of you I have made up my mind it would be unkind to change my seat and leave Edna so I shan't speak to Miss Blake about it October 4th knew my history but missed in classic literature I never do remember whether Juno was a man or a woman End of Chapter 9 Recording by Danika Toronto Recording by Nancy Isaacs Chapter 10 of the Friendly Five A Mean Act This is a LibriVox Recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Friday was Composition Day that is the compositions written during the week were then after being corrected by Miss Blake read aloud in the school The names of the writers were not given so there was no embarrassment of that kind Mrs. Abbott would simply take one from the pile and hand it to one of the girls to read aloud On the next Friday after that rainy Saturday four had been read and Mrs. Abbott handed the fifth to Ellen Lee one of the younger girls who was rather celebrated for her excellent reading she opened the paper which looked exactly like the others and read Eufrostini, one of the graces Oh, never dear girls let us roam as we will shall we hear a conversation like this her gimme and ain't your and tickle to kill our treats would be sorry to miss and nothing so graceful our eyes ever saw as the way she deals with her knife when she grapples the handle in dainty red paw and piles in the food for dear life there were evidently more verses but Mrs. Abbott interrupted the reader reaching out her hand for the paper and turning with surprise to Miss Blake said why did you allow a composition of this character to be presented for reading Miss Blake, looking greatly puzzled declared she had never seen it before she then took the pile in her hand and counted there were twenty one and twenty was the number she had corrected some of the girls had laughed and shown much amusement as the verses were read but seeing Mrs. Abbott was really angry they all looked pretty naturally sober as she turned from Miss Blake slowly scanned each face before her there was a painful silence which Alfie broke by saying in a sorrowful voice who's made poor Mary Ann cry yes, who asked Mrs. Abbott emphatically it was that naughty song Ellen read said Alfie but Mary Ann isn't going to say isn't Alfie was generally as particular as if she had been a scholar never to speak in school or move about but she seemed to feel that this was a case that demanded her assistance she crossed over silently to where Mary Ann sat with her face in her hands bravely trying to keep back bitter tears and throwing her arms around her whispered comfort into her ears Mrs. Abbott looking very stern made the paper between the leaves of her blank book and taking up another composition asked Lily to read it the girls all noticed that Lily's cheeks were painfully flushed and her voice was so low that she had to be asked twice to repeat a sentence Mary Ann, who had succeeded in controlling her feelings carefully avoided looking at Lily for she, as well as all of the school suspected that she was the author of the cruel verses it was a very hard knowledge to have for Lily had seemed to be her friend and there had been times when Mary Ann had gone to her as a refuge and comfort her when others had derided her it is a bitter blow when you learn that you have been deceived in a friend if Edna Tryon, for instance who may know pretense of being friendly to the lines she might have borne it but Lily the thought overcame her and in spite of every effort she dropped her face upon the desk to conceal the tears that would not be kept back Miss Blake went to her instantly and obeying a look from Mrs. Abbott led her from the room have you never heard asked Mrs. Abbott in the pause which followed a rough diamond and do you not know that one in the rough is as pure a gem as the one that glistens on a king's crown Edna sitting by Lily who had resumed her seat passed her a bit of paper in which she had scribbled rough diamonds neat cutting I think we had better cut this one I am ready to say I'll never speak to her again but Lily crumpled the paper up after reading it and took no notice of the smile and shrug with which Edna emphasized her wit but she suddenly raised her hand what is it Miss Start asked Mrs. Abbott coldly probably she too felt a certainty that Lily was the author although the verses were not in her handwriting I want to tell you said Lily struggling with a great lump in her throat that I wrote that stuff but I only did it to make two or three of the girls laugh I wrote it when we were playing a game last Saturday and I never meant anyone to see it except two or three girls who were in the room with me I thought I tore it up when I threw it in the wastebasket perhaps someone picked out the pieces and copied the hoard stuff I am awfully sorry I like Mary and I really do and I wouldn't have had this happen for the world she is a rough diamond she is truly and I knew it all the time while I was so so horrid here Lily broke down entirely and dropped into her seat I hope this will teach you to hold in check the sin that does so easily beset you said Mrs. Abbott gravely it is a sin to travel with other people's feelings for the sake of having a little amusement I think we must all admire your ready kender in trying to atone a small degree for your fault by acknowledging it and I hope your example will be followed at once by the person who copied your lines and placed them with the compositions a solemn silence pervaded the room and the girls looked round at each other but the culprit did not avail herself of the opportunity of confession I am still waiting said Mrs. Abbott but no one spoke perhaps then we can find out in some other way if anyone present knows or suspects who copied these verses I wish her to raise her hand no one lifted her hand someone knows said Mrs. Abbott sternly and I think the one who committed the offense would feel better to confess it but if she is not courageous enough to face us all let her come to me alone this evening but the offender preferred keeping her secret and no advantage was taken if Mrs. Abbott's invitation and she passed the twilight hour alone pondering sadly on the troublesome elements that were disturbing her school further reference was made to this subject a few days later when Mrs. Abbott announced that although she did not know herself who the offender was she had learned that Marianne saw one of the scholars put a paper this size in a pile before school began on Friday morning but no persuasions she continued will make Marianne tell me who the girl was confessing my part of that main transaction said Lily as soon as the girls were alone together was no fun and the party or party is unknown as the papers I copy for papa say who brought me to open disgrace or contempt I never felt so small in all my life as I did when I saw poor Marianne all broken up by my wicked poetry I should like to have hired a mouse hole and gone to the house keeping in it with the front door shut and never been heard of again I think we have all of us been too dreadful for anything now why have we treated her so she is one of the smartest girls in school she's as good as gold as true as steel and as bright as silver in short she's a rough diamond according to you she belongs to the mineral kingdom sneered Edna but she's as common as copper if you allow there is any base metal about her copper isn't bad we have plenty of it in the shape of pennies said Katie sage Lee I don't allow that there's any base metal about her said Lily and I don't see why we are also mean to her every one of us has had proofs enough of her good nature mmm that's so assented a number of voices in accord and as far as I can see there's nothing against her except her back country bringing up and her funny way of talking why dear me dialect is all the fashion and stories what makes us despise it so in real life Mary Ann is getting over her dialect very fast said Addie Mason I don't think she talks very differently from the rest of us now no she does not said Lily and that makes it all the worse for me to have written that stuff and she doesn't eat with her knife any more either I think the one who put that poetry on Mrs. Abbott's desk was 50 times worse than you said Belle were going so do I said several who were brave enough to condemn the action although it was generally supposed to be Edna who did it her face grew very dark now it's a great row about nothing she said and I don't think girls who are born ladies ought to be expected to associate with such vulgar folks I say again that Mary Ann is not vulgar and look here girls let's rechristen her half the trouble is in that absurd name Mary Ann Stubbs but we can change her first name to Mary Ann the girls who were honestly ashamed of the passive or active parts they had taken on many occasions in persecuting poor Mary Ann received a proposal with applause and by general consent the old name was dropped and soon both teachers and scholars said Mary Ann all but Edna she could not be persuaded to say anything but Mary Ann and as a general thing there was trouble to use the last name too pronouncing Stubbs with a scornful emphasis that was very bitter in its wearer's ears End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of The Friendly Five This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Millie Glassbury The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Chapter 11 The S.C.'s The average schoolgirl loves mystery and when Edna Tryon who had become so intimate with The Friendly Five as almost to be their sixth proposed to teach them a cipher by means of which they might communicate with no possibility of any other persons reading their letters they were ecstatic and applied themselves with such zeal to practicing the new accomplishment that soon notes of the most enigmatic appearance were constantly exchanged between the initiated It was quite generally known that the secret correspondence existed and much envy was excited by the obtrusive manner in which the experts triumphed in their accomplishment Often in the few moments after a class had come and the girls had taken their places a most innocent looking note not even folded would pass through several hands glanced at by eyes whose greatest acuteness could see nothing but a confusion of letters but after reaching one of the initiated she would express so much surprise or disdain or pleasure or other emotion after reading it by the light of her occult understanding of its secret that the other girls would pine to know it's hidden in interesting meaning too Some of the girls tried to work out the cipher but no one came so near it as Marianne who was confessedly the most successful puzzle solver in the school She would undoubtedly in time have found it out alone but she had some assistance from Katie who proud of her accomplishment once read her a sentence of the secret message in a note she'd received from Lily and then had thrown it down upon her table according to the ostentatious habit of the league It may be stated here that the friendly five in grateful acknowledgment of their debt to Edna Trion had admitted her to full companionship and as the numerical name conflicted with the fact of a sixth member they had changed it to secret cipher hers using only the initials sc's which mysterious title caused much guessing amongst the outsiders who rather ill-naturally affected to believe the letter stood for silly creatures and called the club by that uncomplementary title Marianne took the note to her room and by the aid of the complete sentence she had heard soon worked out the cipher to her own satisfaction as she had an early opportunity of proving for the next note that was handed around and then thrown conspicuously down upon the floor contained according to her key a hidden appointment for a candy pole in the wash house by gracious permission of the laundress A little quiet observation proved the correctness of her reading and Marianne was so triumphant in her discovery that she felt like announcing it but then she reflected it would spoil their sport for they would fear her telling it to other girls that of course she wouldn't have done but just for a moment she did have a desire to have Edna Trion know that she had become possessed of her cherished secret then she recollected that others besides Edna would be most and remembering how kind they were to her generally she had long ago forgiven Lily's verses she generously resolved to keep her own counsel but was not above enjoying the idea that the boasted secret was no secret to her whether or not it was right for her thus to read what was not intended for her eyes began to trouble her after a little so one day when a note was thrown to her to pass to Edna in one of the three minute spells that she had in school at the end of every hour when they were allowed to talk softly but not to leave their seats she whispered after the letter had thrown it on the floor may I read it cipher and all make all you can out of it and welcome said Edna loftily and after that permission Mary Ann's conscience was quieted all this time Mary Ann's uncouth ways were fast disappearing and her quick wit and good nature were fast winning friends for her and her life at school was growing pleasanter she never forgot her promise to watch over Alfie during Candice's sick days but she kept the secret so well that no one observed that she was especially watchful or suspected the need there was for such precautions as time wore on the Bellamy Prize was often remembered the conditions and circumstances attending it were fully understood by the new scholars who felt that their chances were as good as any for obtaining it there ought to be no doubt about one of us SC's getting it said Edna try on one day in Lily's room if it is managed fairly it will be managed fairly if I know Mrs. Abbott as well as I think I do said Lily but why should it fall to the blissful lot of one of our select circle see there that's a new interpretation of the mystic letters SC oh that's been thought of Lottie Bush and Alan Lee asked me a month ago if that was what SC stood for it's funny isn't it said Katie the different names the other girls have fitted to our letters something curious sewing circle screaming crowd cirrhosis children six crows surly crew sweet creatures etc and not one has got it right yet somebody sure hit it right someday and then we'll have to change it said Lily I wish they wouldn't find out said Bell it's awful fun having letters instead of using the name outright as we did in the friendly five Edna took this as a personal compliment as she was a suggestor of the new name and looked very proud and self conscious I'm glad you like it girls she said there's a good deal in a name and I'm never at a point to think of one but to come back to the starting point the reason one of us ought to get the Bellamy prize is because there's no one else in the school who's likely to excel us in anything I'm not so sure of that said Lily we don't know what the prize is for maybe it's for patients if that's the case some of the smaller girls are just as patient as we are more so even the same with amiability or good nature or any of the virtues that old gentleman wasn't goody goody enough to set up a prize for any such stuff said Edna he knows this isn't a Sunday school no it's for superiority in something I feel sure maybe it's music maybe it's languages or some English studies I wish I'd been here then and heard in myself if it's English studies Mary Ann Stubbs has the best chance said Lily she's beyond the whole of us I don't see said Edna discontentedly why it is that common second class folks are most always so smart at books maybe it's a sort of compensation for being low born what is low born asked Lily in an argumentative sort of way why don't you know it's common people well no I don't seem to know in spite of your highly grammatical explanation oh bother how fussy you are what difference does grammar make when one is just talking said Edna irritably my what a superior person you are to be able to soar above grammar that way when I was so stupid as to suppose we couldn't talk without it but to return to our mutton pies as we say when Mamoiselle calls us to the French class what is low born I don't believe you're one half so stupid as you pretend you know what it is as well as I do I ought to said Lily thoughtfully but I had an idea you were referring to Marion and she is distinctly high born as the peak which has the honor of being her birthplace is to speak strictly within bounds at least one trillion and fifteen feet above the level of the very tallest high watermark I was referring to Mary Ann said Edna angrily and she is a low common thing and you know it in spite of all the absurd nonsense you are saying about it can't you see for yourself she is just the opposite of all the rest of us then you mean we are high uncommon things I am sure I'm greatly obliged to you but somehow I don't feel charmed at being described that way the girls were all laughing for Lily had a ridiculous world weary manner of uttering her tantalizing remarks that was extremely amusing and Edna was losing her temper so fast that there might soon have been a disagreeable scene had not a pleasant interruption come in the form of a basket of the reddest and shiniest Baldwin's with Mamie Candice's best compliments and with the young ladies please accept the apples with her bliging as duty it was beginning to be noticed all through the school that any special kindness or favor shown to Alfie was always recognized by the faithful black nurse who invariably attempted to return it in some quaint humble way and the SCs were quite accustomed to these touching bank offerings End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of The Friendly Five This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Millie Glassbury The Friendly Five by Mary C. Hungerford Chapter 12 Dressing Dolls Even if girls are as tall as their mothers they have a deep if unconfessed interest in dolls so Mrs. Abbott's girls responded very willingly to an appeal from a mission school in New York for fifty dolls costumes A toy merchant of benevolent disposition had presented the mission with two hundred unclad dolls and the dressing of all but fifty were provided for Mrs. Abbott advised taking only twenty-five but her scholars insisted on the whole number A very large box of silks, satins, cashmere and other gatherings from kindly disposed milliners and dressmakers accompanied the dolls and the spare room was turned into a workshop and the spare bed into a depository for dolls in every stage of dressing As fast as each one was fully dressed it was laid tenderly away in a bureau drawer Miss Blake and Mrs. Abbott helped the younger girls who sewed the garments after they were cut out but all who had skill enough to do it dressed the dolls without assistance and costumed them very much as they pleased so there was a great variety There were German peasants Roman and Bretton peasants sailor girls and boys infants and fine ladies grandmothers and French nurses scotch lassies and coal-black dinas but each doll, whether she resembled a princess or a peasant had clothes that would come off and go on and the sewing was carefully done and the buttonholes were highly commendable The dolls were to be given at Christmas to poor children who might learn some lessons of neatness and propriety from the well-made, well-adjusted clothes and as Mrs. Abbott said what is worth doing it all is doing well so there was no sliding or what Marian expressively called cobbling The day scholars came afternoons to help and really the task of dressing the 50 dolls was lighter than it sounds and Mrs. Abbott admitted that the girls knew better than she did when they carried the point of speaking for 50 instead of 25 There was a strange lack of ribbons among the scraps and gleaning that came in the box of materials and as it is a well-known fact that some costumes are barren and incomplete without sashes shoulder knots and such adornments it seemed to the busy girls that even the plainest of the dolls needed some finishing touches that only ribbons could give Delia Howland proposed taking up a penny collection as they sometimes did to buy popping corn but some mental calculation showed that even if the appeal met a favorable response in every case 30 cents would be the sum total for each collection and that would go only a lamentably small way in ribbons After some discussion an improvement was made on the plan and scholars and teachers were visited by a committee of two who presented a neatly written sheet stating the case thus No, all ladies and girls by these presence that in this comfortable and well-arranged house 50 small but beauteous creatures are suffering for the want of ribbon many of the sufferers have not been seen to smile since their destitution became apparent others are cold and rigid in their stony despair sisters shall such things be give sisters give of your abundance donations of money in sums not less than five and no more than 25 cents are respectfully solicited by the committee who pledged themselves to see that the offerings are not squandered for any purpose but the one mentioned No to Bene a small tin bank will be placed upon the hall table and people who wish to give more than the largest sum mentioned above are at liberty to drop coin in No to Bene buttons or broken sleeve links dropped in the bank will be traced to their source by experienced experts and humiliation will follow This high sounding document proved very efficacious in Belle Burgonia and Fanny Holmes the anonymous committee found themselves in position of five dollars from the collection and two dollars which were revealed by the opening of the little tin bank That was an unnecessarily large sum to spend for ribbon Miss Blake said and proposed that the boxing and expressing back of the dress doll should be paid out of it and if any were still left after the purchases were judiciously made it should be deposited in the tin bank as a nest egg not for a rainy day but for a day when Mrs. Abbott's brother should come as he had promised to make her a visit and tell them stories that would as Lily had said once ring their hearts and their purses too and make them long to give even a trifle of help to the unhappy creatures he told them of whose only crime was their being girls For Mr. Eaton was a returned missionary laid aside from his work long before years or failing health had enfeebled him by an accident which had nearly destroyed his sight he was intending to spend the Christmas holidays with his sister and the girls who remembered his visit of last year with pleasure were glad to know that they should find him at school when they return from their two weeks vacation Edna shrugged her shoulders when she heard the others rejoicing at the prospect of having this minister in the house you're a queer lot here she said now at Madame Delaney's all the girls thought ministers were horrid stiff, solemn things looking shocked if anyone laughed and all the time poking texts at people goodness it makes me low-spirited just to think of being in the house with one of the walking funerals walking funerals and Delia Holland burst into shrieks of laughter why Edna was a minister and he is the liveliest jolliest man I ever saw well I'm sure I beg your pardon deal for not remembering there was a minister's daughter present and I'm sure it's very nice in you to think so much of your father yes it's very obliging of her said Lily dryly but Delia's father, nice as he is is not the only cheerful minister you'll have to change your mind you're a wonderful lot when you see Mr. Eaton he has had sorrow upon sorrow Mrs. Abbott says and yet he's so cheerful that he brightens up the whole house end of chapter 12