The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26
HETTYS PIANO.

She was a thin little white-headed
Girl. the slimmest and most faxen haired
of all the tow-headed Gateses. There
were so many of them, the tiny old house
nv the river looked like a beehive when
they swarmed home for dinner Bina
NAV. sharp elbowed and shril voiced,
was always overburdened by the new.
est baby. with the round blue eyes OF
the family, the various thistle-down or
fax on its bald head. Her tone of COM
mand initiated from her mother, her
wells of 10y at capturing a Gunner Off
the wharf and her weird attempts at
lullabies were features-one might say.
familiar annoyances-of the quiet river
neighborhood. Across the road on the
hill was the large square house or the
Batemans where dwelt the ideal OF Bina
Mays child world-a tall, fair girl, who
walked under the century elms there,
or came like n summer dream in her
dainty gowns down the fern-bordered
road with her father-and II seemed 10
Bina May that the soldierly golden rod
bent to greet her as she passed Hetty
Bateman. who went TO boarding school,
had been to strange cities and had sailed
81 her fathers ship away across the
ocean. millions Of miles thater way
Bina May would describe 10 the younger
fry. pointing to the blue winding river.
There was one summer that the old
roansion hiCOmcd with young life-girlS
fair faces-and echoed with the music
OF their happy laughter; then Bina May
knew Hetty was home from boarding
school to stay. and had visitors. OFTEN
Rina. with a basket Of berries went up
the path by the lilacs and sold days
gathering to Mrs. Bateman.
Oncc-oh. day Of days,-Hetty was
there TO take the basket and she said:
ooh. YOU are the little Gates girl in the
house by the river; and see. mother,
her ewes are like violets."
All her nine years Bina May had neen
called towhead and skinny by her school
associates; but now that chance word
had onened a dream world TO her. Nio-
Icts-those lovely 'flowers-and Hetty
faten,an had said It, She whispered the
nraise 10 TIE newest baby. but. feeling
seIfsh in the silent wonder it excited.
added Fenerously'
"So's yours. Tootsey. cause the neigh
bcrs says you've got the reglar Gates
Look"
compliment TO the entire family. though
Che most poetical Vaccinations would
have failed 10 find a remote connection
with violets liz the | arge pale orbs Of
Johnny Gates. immersed as they were In
a sea of freckles.
one day a monstrous box was hauled
mast the house by the river, heralded
shrilly by Johnny, and followed by all
The small Gateses like a flock of scared
chickens. Bina May. handicapped as
usual by the youngest child in her lean
arm. finished the procession. They halted
In the shadow of the big elms at the
Ratemans', and watched the wonder I'M
hacked. A big shining box was divested
OF its wooden covering and laid upon the
grass.
Johnny. whose mind ran to gruesome
things. .,-
"Gracious, no." said Bina May: dts
q melodeon. and they're bringing in its
legs"
After that. when ripples of melody
foated across the fields 10 the river house.
a. seemed to Bina May that wonderful
box held all the songs of birds. the muir
muir of the tide. church bells echoing
over the twilight harbor the life OF sum-
mer woods in short. sweet summer days.
She had often listened TO Hetty's Old
melodeon, but that had a wailing sound
like mothers tired voice as she crooned
baby to sleep when all the restless life
was stilled TO slumber in the tiny house,
but the wonderful box was more joyous
than sad.
She used TO creep like n little ghost
from her chamber under the caves. be-
yond the road, to listen in the dark,
crouching in the dewy grass. shivering
with JOY OF the sound and the strange
fancles II sent into her child world. Some
times the music was merry and bright
like insects humming on a hot day as
they glitter In the glare, and small birds
twitter on tiny branches. rocking in ex-
cess OF song until IL seems they sound
the keynote for the whole forest TO
break into joyous chorus. There was
one fanciful little polka Hetty played
30 old and so simple II is long forgotten
polka sweet upon spinet. meant TO be
played by fair young maid with curl
shaded checks and the prim gowns Of
long ago. Bina May smiled at this,
thinking OF the funny bows Grandma
Bateman used 10 make and the picture
OF her In a short-waisted gown she had
seen In the dim light OF the best fore
room In the mansion.
On. the voices In that wonderful box--
the organ-tones Of dim and ark caths-
erals. the wind In dense forests. the