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The Story of the Mince Pie (Illustrated). Josephine Scribner Gates
Читать онлайн.Название The Story of the Mince Pie (Illustrated)
Год выпуска 0
isbn 4064066386603
Автор произведения Josephine Scribner Gates
Издательство Bookwire
“To the shop they went, the nurse trotting along beside them.
“They bought a wonderful doll, an exact copy of Cherry Blossom in her silken robes.
“They bought many other toys, among them a complete outfit for making sand pictures.
“ ‘I’ll tell my baby how you helped me to choose her doll. Now let’s go to the beach and you bring your sand bags and teach me how to make the pictures so I can make them for her.’
“Happy thought! Now maybe she could have an instant, just a weenty instant alone with him, and so she asked the nurse to bring the bags of sand.
“ ‘You come, too,’ whispered the nurse, and refused to budge without the child.
“Japanese children must be obedient, and she followed, not even daring to allow her little feet to lag or to seem disturbed in any way.
“She was soon seated on the beach close beside her friend, while the nurse sat a little apart knitting, her eyes fixed on the pair.
“Making pictures in the sand is a wonderful game, a game the Japanese children adore.
“They have three bags of coloured sand and one of white. It is most fascinating to see them spread in the form of a square the white sand, till it resembles a sheet of white paper. On this with black and red, yellow or blue, they produce wonderful landscape effects.
“Cherry Blossom plunged her hands into the bags, her thoughts far away from the game.
“Suddenly her eyes flashed. She knew how to give him the message. Why hadn’t she thought of it before! Pictures could tell most anything, and so she eagerly began.
“Immediately from her tiny fingers the varicoloured sand trickled in a thin stream.
“At first as he idly watched, he saw in her picture a bit of sea, on which presently appeared a ship with spreading sail. On the fluffy white waves, creeping up to the shore, rocked a tiny boat. On the land appeared a prison, a perfect copy of one he had seen many times. In the small boat an American was seated.
“The man watched in tense silence. The child was telling him something. He lit a cigarette with unsteady hands, but as he remembered the sentinel on guard, he began to hum a tune.
“The child’s hands never trembled as she next produced a number of Japanese gentlemen.
“Now the man disappeared from the boat, and at once was seen peering through the prison bars.
“Just here the nurse suspiciously drew near to see the picture.
“The man quickly pointed to the sky, crying gaily, ‘See the birds!’
“As the nurse gazed Skyward, one swift stroke of his hand destroyed the picture, and he said quietly:
“ ‘Now let me make one. You do them so well I am afraid you will think I am a bungler, but I want to try.’
“As he worked, he whistled a merry tune, and the child felt that he meant her to know he understood. She soon saw that he, too, was picturing a message, for in the twinkling of an eye he had fashioned a tree, its green branches stretching out over the white background.
“On a low branch he placed a bird. It seemed to be making an effort to free itself from a thong which held its little foot. From its beak fluttered a banner. Under his fingers this banner was soon transfigured into an American flag.
“As the man worked, the merry tune was replaced by sharp twitters and chirps as though the bird were distressed.
“The child watched fascinated, as underneath the tree she saw a Japanese child taking shape. Her fingers rested on the bird’s foot, and suddenly by a quick twirl of his hand the bird was blotted out and in an instant plainly to be seen poised on the mast of a ship, carolling a glad song of freedom.
“Then the picture was swept away, and with one look into the child’s beautiful eyes, a look that told volumes, he gathered up his purchases and sauntered away.
“In his room he hastily packed his belongings, and later on under cover of the darkness he was safely stowed on the ship.
“As Cherry Blossom drowsily closed her eyes she heard the ship’s shrill whistle as it steamed away, and she rejoiced that she had been able with her own little hands to send her dear friend back to his baby.
“There was great excitement the next day when it was learned the American had vanished.
“The nurse was closely questioned. Never had she left the child alone, and her mother also declared that she too had been on guard, and all she saw was that they made pictures in the sand without even a word.
“And so the secret never was told till now, and it will still be a secret, for pie people never never tell, and now good-bye till you wish for me again.”
“We will both wish for her to come”
With a graceful courtesy the Story Sprite vanished as suddenly as she had appeared, and the audience sat for a moment listening spellbound to her song fast dying away.
Then long-drawn breaths were heard and the Clove Doll cried, “Wasn’t she perfect? I never dreamed she would come here, but I am glad she did.
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