CHAPTER IV
THE PEACE-MAKER
HATTY had a special reason for hurrying through her after-dinner work. She did not think it right to tell even Esther that her school-mate had tried to make hard feeling between cousins; but she did tell her heavenly Father, and asked his blessing on her effort to make peace between them.
Then with a parting kiss to Esther, who sat patiently at her sewing, she ran off to call for Sallie before Matilda joined the party.
"I've come begging," she said, laughing gayly, as she found her friend lingering over her afternoon task of picking beans for her mother to bake. "Here, let me help you; and I'll tell you what I want. You and I are just the same size; and I admired your new dress so much I'm going to get Esther to cut mine just like it. I want you to wear it over to our house, and let her see it; and then I can try it on. If it does fit me, and I'm sure it will, I can borrow your mother's pattern, and that will make it so easy for Esther, you know."
Sallie's cheeks grew crimson. She thought at first that Hatty must be joking. She had begun to hate that dress, but then, if Hatty liked it, it must be pretty, for every one in school acknowledged Hatty's good taste.
She sat thinking of this, while her friend took up handful after handful of beans, and put them into the pan.
"I'm going to try, and make it all myself," she went on gayly. "I am old enough now; and Esther has so much to do."
"Mother will lend you her pattern," answered Sallie, "but now really, Hatty, do you like my dress?"
"Yes, indeed; or I wouldn't wish mine like it; and I heard ever so many of the girls say how prettily it looked. Cynthia said those bright colors were very becoming, you're so pale, you know."
"Cynthia! did she say that?"
"Yes, she didn't like the tight sleeves at first; but I told her I did; and besides it's the fashion. You know," she added with a merry laugh, "when the fashion is a sensible one, we ought to follow it."
"But Hatty, Matilda says, Cynthia talked horridly about my dress. I got awfully angry about it, and said I wouldn't speak to her again this term."
"Oh, Sallie! that would be unkind and unforgiving, even if she had done all that Matilda says; but I do really think, Matilda is mistaken; I heard Cynthia praise the dress myself."
"No, she was not mistaken," cried Sallie in great excitement. "She meant to make a fuss. She's always trying to get people into a quarrel. There, the beans are done; and I'm going right to her house to tell her I've found her out; and I want nothing more to do with her."
"But Sallie, it's time we were going to the grove. The best nuts will all be gone; and I want to get good ones for uncle Oliver."
"Come on, then, I'm ready. Mother, is Edward going with us?"
"He's been gone with Ethel for an hour. He has a chance to sell a bushel, if he can pick them."
"I hope Matilda wont be there," said Sallie. "If she is, I sha'n't speak to her."
"I shall," added Hatty in a decided tone; "because, though I'm afraid she's done wrong, I don't think that would be the way to cure her, I think it would be best to let her see that we all love each other too well to allow a few hasty words to make us quarrel."
"I hate people who are always making a fuss."
Hatty laughed. "Matilda can't make a fuss with me," she said, showing all her white teeth.
"She tried to," answered Sallie. "She called you proud, and said you laughed to show your handsome teeth; but I wouldn't hear you talked against; and I told her so. After that she shut her mouth pretty quick."
"I'm afraid I do laugh too much," said Hatty, blushing crimson; "but I'm so happy, I can't help it. I hope I'm not proud, though I try to be thankful."
"You're the dearest girl in the world," exclaimed Sallie, putting her arms tightly around her friend's neck. "If it hadn't been for you, I should have had a quarrel with Cynthia; and mother would have worried awfully about it, for we're own cousins, you know."
"Well, dear Sallie, for my sake, forgive Matilda too. She was to blame for what she said; but we must pity her. I don't think Matilda is very happy."
Sallie shook her head, but presently asked, —
"What makes you always want people to forgive? I don't see how it will make you any happier."
"Oh, yes indeed it will! It seems dreadful to me to see two school-mates feeling unkindly to each other; and then, you know," she added with a deeper blush, "who has said, 'Be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you;' don't you remember what a blessing is promised to the peace-makers?"
"No, I don't."
"Why, Sallie! The minister preached about it last winter. I remembered ever so much of the sermon for uncle Oliver and Esther. You know I have to preach it over again to them. Esther says, she thinks it's one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible:"
"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God."
Sallie remained silent for a few moments. When they came in sight of the grove, she caught her friend's hand and said earnestly, —
"Oh, Hatty! I wish I were like you, and could claim that promise. I see now why you're always so happy. You – "
"'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee,'" added her companion, with a reverent glance upward.