Comfort,independence,and freedom,such as we know here,is not found in any city I ever have visited.We think we have the best of life,and we are content on land.We have not accumulated much money;we have spent thousands;we have had a big family for which to provide,and on account of the newness of the country,taxes always have been heavy.But we make no complaint.We are satisfied.We could have branched off into fifty different things after we had a fair start here.We didn't,because we preferred life as we worked it out for ourselves.Paul says when he leaves the city,and his horses'hoofs strike the road between our fields,he always lifts his head higher,squares his shoulders,and feels a man among men.To own land,and to love it,is a wonderful thing,Mr.Pryor."She made me think of something.Ever since I had added to my quill and arrow money,the great big lot at Easter,father had shared his chest till with me.The chest stood in our room,and in it lay his wedding suit,his every Sunday clothes,his best hat with a red silk handkerchief in the crown,a bundle of precious newspapers he was saving on account of rare things in them he wanted for reference,and in the till was the wallet of ready money he kept in the house for unexpected expense,his deeds,insurance papers,all his particular private papers,the bunches of lead pencils,slate pencils,and the box of pens from which he supplied us for school.Since I had grown so rich,he had gone partners with me,and I might lift the lid,open the till and take out my little purse that May bought from the huckster for my last birthday.I wasn't to touch a thing,save my own,and I never did;but I knew precious well what was there.
If Mr.Pryor thought my father didn't amount to much because he lived on land;if it made him think more of him,to know that he could be in the legislature if he chose,maybe he'd think still more----I lifted the papers,picked it up carefully,and slipping back quietly,I laid it on Mr.Pryor's knee.He picked it up and held it a minute,until he finished what he was saying to mother,and then he looked at it.Then he looked long and hard.Then he straightened up and looked again.
"God bless my soul!"he cried.
You see when he was so astonished he didn't know what he was saying,he called on God,just as father says every one does.I took a side look at mother.Her face was a little extra flushed,but she was still smiling;so I knew she wasn't angry with me,though of course she wouldn't have shown the thing herself.She and father never did,except as each of us grew big enough to be taught about the Crusaders.Father said he didn't care the snap of his finger about it,except as it stood for hardihood and bravery.But Mr.Pryor cared!He cared more than he could say.
He stared,and stared,and over and over he wonderingly repeated:
"God bless my soul!"
"Where did you get the crest of the Earl of Eastbrooke,the master of Stanton house?"he demanded."Stanton house!"he repeated."Why--why,the name!It's scarcely possible,but----""But there it is!"laughed mother."A mere bauble for show and amounting to nothing on earth save as it stands a mark for brave men who have striven to conquer.""Surgere tento!"read Mr.Pryor,from the little shield."Four shells!Madame,I know men who would give their lives to own this,and to have been born with the right to wear it.It came to your husband in straight line?""Yes,"said mother,"but generations back.He never wore it.He never would.He only saves it for the children.""It goes to your eldest son?"
"By rights,I suppose it should,"said mother."But father mentioned it the other night.He said none of his boys had gone as he tried to influence them,unless Laddie does now in choosing land for his future,and if he does,his father is inclined to leave it to him,and I agree.At our death it goes to Laddie I am quite sure."
"Well,I hope--I hope,"said Mr.Pryor,"that the young man has the wit to understand what this would mean to him in England.""His wit is just about level with his father's,"said mother.
"He never has been in England,and most probably he never will be.I don't think it means a rap more to Laddie than it does to my husband.Laddie is so busy developing the manhood born in him,he has no time to chase the rainbow of reflected glory,and no belief in its stability if he walked in its light.The child of my family to whom that trinket really means something is Little Sister,here.When Leon came in with the thief,I thought he should have it;but after all,she is the staunchest little Crusader I have."Mr.Pryor looked me over with much interest.
"Yes,yes!No doubt!"he said."But the male line!This priceless treasure should descend to one of the male line!To one whose name will remain Stanton!To Laddie would be best,no doubt!No doubt at all!""We will think about it,"said mother serenely as Mr.Pryor arose to go.
He apologized for staying so long,and mother said it hadn't been long,and asked him the nicest ever to come again.She walked in the sunlight with him and pointed out the chestnuts.She asked what he thought of a line of trees to shade the road,and they discussed whether the pleasure they would give in summer would pay for the dampness they would hold in winter.They wandered around the yard and into the garden.She sent me to bring a knife,trowel,and paper,so when he started for home,he was carrying a load of cuttings,and roots to plant.
When father came from town that evening,at the first sight of him,she went straight into his arms,her face beaming;she had been like a sun all that day.Some of it must have been joy carried over from yesterday.
"Praise God,the wedge is in!"she cried.
Father held her tight,stroked her hair,and began smiling without having the least idea why,but he very well knew that whatever pleased her like that was going to be good news for him also.
"What has happened,mother?"he asked.
"Mr.Pryor came over about the road and bridge tax,and oh Paul!
I've said every word to him I've been bursting to say from the very start.Every single word,Paul!""How did he take it?"
"Time will tell.Anyway,he heard it,all of it,and he went back carrying a load of things to plant.Only think of that!
Once he begins planting,and watching things grow,the home feeling is bound to come.I tell you,Paul,the wedge is in!Oh I'm so happy!"
