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CHAPTER VI All Sorts and Conditions of Men...and women
A September day on Prince Edward Island hills; a crisp wind blowing up over the
sand dunes from the sea; a long red road, winding through fields and woods, now
looping itself about a corner of thick set
spruces, now threading a plantation of young maples with great feathery sheets of
ferns beneath them, now dipping down into a hollow where a brook flashed out of the
woods and into them again, now basking in
open sunshine between ribbons of golden-rod and smoke-blue asters; air athrill with the
pipings of myriads of crickets, those glad little pensioners of the summer hills; a
plump brown pony ambling along the road;
two girls behind him, full to the lips with the simple, priceless joy of youth and
life.
"Oh, this is a day left over from Eden, isn't it, Diana?"...and Anne sighed for
sheer happiness. "The air has magic in it.
Look at the purple in the cup of the harvest valley, Diana.
And oh, do smell the dying fir!
It's coming up from that little sunny hollow where Mr. Eben Wright has been
cutting fence poles. Bliss is it on such a day to be alive; but
to smell dying fir is very heaven.
That's two thirds Wordsworth and one third Anne Shirley.
It doesn't seem possible that there should be dying fir in heaven, does it?
And yet it doesn't seem to me that heaven would be quite perfect if you couldn't get
a whiff of dead fir as you went through its woods.
Perhaps we'll have the odor there without the death.
Yes, I think that will be the way.
That delicious aroma must be the souls of the firs...and of course it will be just
souls in heaven."
"Trees haven't souls," said practical Diana, "but the smell of dead fir is
certainly lovely. I'm going to make a cushion and fill it
with fir needles.
You'd better make one too, Anne." "I think I shall...and use it for my naps.
I'd be certain to dream I was a dryad or a woodnymph then.
But just this minute I'm well content to be Anne Shirley, Avonlea schoolma'am, driving
over a road like this on such a sweet, friendly day."
"It's a lovely day but we have anything but a lovely task before us," sighed Diana.
"Why on earth did you offer to canvass this road, Anne?
Almost all the cranks in Avonlea live along it, and we'll probably be treated as if we
were begging for ourselves. It's the very worst road of all."
"That is why I chose it.
Of course Gilbert and Fred would have taken this road if we had asked them.
But you see, Diana, I feel myself responsible for the A.V.I.S., since I was
the first to suggest it, and it seems to me that I ought to do the most disagreeable
things.
I'm sorry on your account; but you needn't say a word at the cranky places.
I'll do all the talking... Mrs. Lynde would say I was well able to.
Mrs. Lynde doesn't know whether to approve of our enterprise or not.
She inclines to, when she remembers that Mr. and Mrs. Allan are in favor of it; but
the fact that village improvement societies first originated in the States is a count
against it.
So she is halting between two opinions and only success will justify us in Mrs.
Lynde's eyes.
Priscilla is going to write a paper for our next Improvement meeting, and I expect it
will be good, for her aunt is such a clever writer and no doubt it runs in the family.
I shall never forget the thrill it gave me when I found out that Mrs. Charlotte E.
Morgan was Priscilla's aunt.
It seemed so wonderful that I was a friend of the girl whose aunt wrote 'Edgewood
Days' and 'The Rosebud Garden.'" "Where does Mrs. Morgan live?"
"In Toronto.
And Priscilla says she is coming to the Island for a visit next summer, and if it
is possible Priscilla is going to arrange to have us meet her.
That seems almost too good to be true--but it's something pleasant to imagine after
you go to bed." The Avonlea Village Improvement Society was
an organized fact.
Gilbert Blythe was president, Fred Wright vice-president, Anne Shirley secretary, and
Diana Barry treasurer.
The "Improvers," as they were promptly christened, were to meet once a fortnight
at the homes of the members.
It was admitted that they could not expect to affect many improvements so late in the
season; but they meant to plan the next summer's campaign, collect and discuss
ideas, write and read papers, and, as Anne
said, educate the public sentiment generally.
There was some disapproval, of course, and...which the Improvers felt much more
keenly...a good deal of ridicule.
Mr. Elisha Wright was reported to have said that a more appropriate name for the
organization would be Courting Club.
Mrs. Hiram Sloane declared she had heard the Improvers meant to plough up all the
roadsides and set them out with geraniums.
Mr. Levi Boulter warned his neighbors that the Improvers would insist that everybody
pull down his house and rebuild it after plans approved by the society.
Mr. James Spencer sent them word that he wished they would kindly shovel down the
church hill.
Eben Wright told Anne that he wished the Improvers could induce old Josiah Sloane to
keep his whiskers trimmed.
Mr. Lawrence Bell said he would whitewash his barns if nothing else would please them
but he would NOT hang lace curtains in the cowstable windows.
Mr. Major Spencer asked Clifton Sloane, an Improver who drove the milk to the Carmody
cheese factory, if it was true that everybody would have to have his milk-stand
hand-painted next summer and keep an embroidered centerpiece on it.
In spite of...or perhaps, human nature being what it is, because of ...this, the
Society went gamely to work at the only improvement they could hope to bring about
that fall.
At the second meeting, in the Barry parlor, Oliver Sloane moved that they start a
subscription to re-shingle and paint the hall; Julia Bell seconded it, with an
uneasy feeling that she was doing something not exactly ladylike.
Gilbert put the motion, it was carried unanimously, and Anne gravely recorded it
in her minutes.
The next thing was to appoint a committee, and Gertie Pye, determined not to let Julia
Bell carry off all the laurels, boldly moved that Miss Jane Andrews be chairman of
said committee.
This motion being also duly seconded and carried, Jane returned the compliment by
appointing Gertie on the committee, along with Gilbert, Anne, Diana, and Fred Wright.
The committee chose their routes in private conclave.
Anne and Diana were told off for the Newbridge road, Gilbert and Fred for the
White Sands road, and Jane and Gertie for the Carmody road.
"Because," explained Gilbert to Anne, as they walked home together through the
Haunted Wood, "the Pyes all live along that road and they won't give a cent unless one
of themselves canvasses them."
The next Saturday Anne and Diana started out.
They drove to the end of the road and canvassed homeward, calling first on the
"Andrew girls."
"If Catherine is alone we may get something," said Diana, "but if Eliza is
there we won't." Eliza was there...very much so...and looked
even grimmer than usual.
Miss Eliza was one of those people who give you the impression that life is indeed a
vale of tears, and that a smile, never to speak of a laugh, is a waste of nervous
energy truly reprehensible.
The Andrew girls had been "girls" for fifty odd years and seemed likely to remain girls
to the end of their earthly pilgrimage.
Catherine, it was said, had not entirely given up hope, but Eliza, who was born a
pessimist, had never had any.
They lived in a little brown house built in a sunny corner scooped out of Mark Andrew's
beech woods.
Eliza complained that it was terrible hot in summer, but Catherine was wont to say it
was lovely and warm in winter.
Eliza was sewing patchwork, not because it was needed but simply as a protest against
the frivolous lace Catherine was crocheting.
Eliza listened with a frown and Catherine with a smile, as the girls explained their
errand.
To be sure, whenever Catherine caught Eliza's eye she discarded the smile in
guilty confusion; but it crept back the next moment.
"If I had money to waste," said Eliza grimly, "I'd burn it up and have the fun of
seeing a blaze maybe; but I wouldn't give it to that hall, not a cent.
It's no benefit to the settlement...just a place for young folks to meet and carry on
when they's better be home in their beds." "Oh, Eliza, young folks must have some
amusement," protested Catherine.
"I don't see the necessity. We didn't gad about to halls and places
when we were young, Catherine Andrews. This world is getting worse every day."
"I think it's getting better," said Catherine firmly.
"YOU think!" Miss Eliza's voice expressed the utmost
contempt.
"It doesn't signify what you THINK, Catherine Andrews.
Facts is facts." "Well, I always like to look on the bright
side, Eliza."
"There isn't any bright side." "Oh, indeed there is," cried Anne, who
couldn't endure such heresy in silence. "Why, there are ever so many bright sides,
Miss Andrews.
It's really a beautiful world."
"You won't have such a high opinion of it when you've lived as long in it as I have,"
retorted Miss Eliza sourly, "and you won't be so enthusiastic about improving it
either.
How is your mother, Diana? Dear me, but she has failed of late.
She looks terrible run down. And how long is it before Marilla expects
to be stone blind, Anne?"
"The doctor thinks her eyes will not get any worse if she is very careful," faltered
Anne. Eliza shook her head.
"Doctors always talk like that just to keep people cheered up.
I wouldn't have much hope if I was her. It's best to be prepared for the worst."
"But oughtn't we be prepared for the best too?" pleaded Anne.
"It's just as likely to happen as the worst."
"Not in my experience, and I've fifty-seven years to set against your sixteen,"
retorted Eliza. "Going, are you?
Well, I hope this new society of yours will be able to keep Avonlea from running any
further down hill but I haven't much hope of it."
Anne and Diana got themselves thankfully out, and drove away as fast as the fat pony
could go.
As they rounded the curve below the beech wood a plump figure came speeding over Mr.
Andrews' pasture, waving to them excitedly.
It was Catherine Andrews and she was so out of breath that she could hardly speak, but
she thrust a couple of quarters into Anne's hand.
"That's my contribution to painting the hall," she gasped.
"I'd like to give you a dollar but I don't dare take more from my egg money for Eliza
would find it out if I did.
I'm real interested in your society and I believe you're going to do a lot of good.
I'm an optimist. I HAVE to be, living with Eliza.
I must hurry back before she misses me...she thinks I'm feeding the hens.
I hope you'll have good luck canvassing, and don't be cast down over what Eliza
said.
The world IS getting better...it certainly is."
The next house was Daniel Blair's.
"Now, it all depends on whether his wife is home or not," said Diana, as they jolted
along a deep-rutted lane. "If she is we won't get a cent.
Everybody says Dan Blair doesn't dare have his hair cut without asking her permission;
and it's certain she's very close, to state it moderately.
She says she has to be just before she's generous.
But Mrs. Lynde says she's so much 'before' that generosity never catches up with her
at all."
Anne related their experience at the Blair place to Marilla that evening.
"We tied the horse and then rapped at the kitchen door.
Nobody came but the door was open and we could hear somebody in the pantry, going on
dreadfully.
We couldn't make out the words but Diana says she knows they were swearing by the
sound of them.
I can't believe that of Mr. Blair, for he is always so quiet and meek; but at least
he had great provocation, for Marilla, when that poor man came to the door, red as a
beet, with perspiration streaming down his
face, he had on one of his wife's big gingham aprons.
'I can't get this durned thing off,' he said, 'for the strings are tied in a hard
knot and I can't bust 'em, so you'll have to excuse me, ladies.'
We begged him not to mention it and went in and sat down.
Mr. Blair sat down too; he twisted the apron around to his back and rolled it up,
but he did look so ashamed and worried that I felt sorry for him, and Diana said she
feared we had called at an inconvenient time.
'Oh, not at all,' said Mr. Blair, trying to smile ...you know he is always very
polite...'I'm a little busy ...getting ready to bake a cake as it were.
My wife got a telegram today that her sister from Montreal is coming tonight and
she's gone to the train to meet her and left orders for me to make a cake for tea.
She writ out the recipe and told me what to do but I've clean forgot half the
directions already. And it says, 'flavor according to taste.'
What does that mean?
How can you tell? And what if my taste doesn't happen to be
other people's taste? Would a tablespoon of vanilla be enough for
a small layer cake?"
"I felt sorrier than ever for the poor man. He didn't seem to be in his proper sphere
at all. I had heard of henpecked husbands and now I
felt that I saw one.
It was on my lips to say, 'Mr. Blair, if you'll give us a subscription for the hall
I'll mix up your cake for you.'
But I suddenly thought it wouldn't be neighborly to drive too sharp a bargain
with a fellow creature in distress. So I offered to mix the cake for him
without any conditions at all.
He just jumped at my offer. He said he'd been used to making his own
bread before he was married but he feared cake was beyond him, and yet he hated to
disappoint his wife.
He got me another apron, and Diana beat the eggs and I mixed the cake.
Mr. Blair ran about and got us the materials.
He had forgotten all about his apron and when he ran it streamed out behind him and
Diana said she thought she would die to see it.
He said he could bake the cake all right...he was used to that...and then he
asked for our list and he put down four dollars.
So you see we were rewarded.
But even if he hadn't given a cent I'd always feel that we had done a truly
Christian act in helping him." Theodore White's was the next stopping
place.
Neither Anne nor Diana had ever been there before, and they had only a very slight
acquaintance with Mrs. Theodore, who was not given to hospitality.
Should they go to the back or front door?
While they held a whispered consultation Mrs. Theodore appeared at the front door
with an armful of newspapers.
Deliberately she laid them down one by one on the porch floor and the porch steps, and
then down the path to the very feet of her mystified callers.
"Will you please wipe your feet carefully on the grass and then walk on these
papers?" she said anxiously. "I've just swept the house all over and I
can't have any more dust tracked in.
The path's been real muddy since the rain yesterday."
"Don't you dare laugh," warned Anne in a whisper, as they marched along the
newspapers.
"And I implore you, Diana, not to look at me, no matter what she says, or I shall not
be able to keep a sober face." The papers extended across the hall and
into a prim, fleckless parlor.
Anne and Diana sat down gingerly on the nearest chairs and explained their errand.
Mrs. White heard them politely, interrupting only twice, once to chase out
an adventurous fly, and once to pick up a tiny wisp of grass that had fallen on the
carpet from Anne's dress.
Anne felt wretchedly guilty; but Mrs. White subscribed two dollars and paid the money
down..."to prevent us from having to go back for it," Diana said when they got
away.
Mrs. White had the newspapers gathered up before they had their horse untied and as
they drove out of the yard they saw her busily wielding a broom in the hall.
"I've always heard that Mrs. Theodore White was the neatest woman alive and I'll
believe it after this," said Diana, giving way to her suppressed laughter as soon as
it was safe.
"I am glad she has no children," said Anne solemnly.
"It would be dreadful beyond words for them if she had."
At the Spencers' Mrs. Isabella Spencer made them miserable by saying something ill-
natured about everyone in Avonlea.
Mr. Thomas Boulter refused to give anything because the hall, when it had been built,
twenty years before, hadn't been built on the site he recommended.
Mrs. Esther Bell, who was the picture of health, took half an hour to detail all her
aches and pains, and sadly put down fifty cents because she wouldn't be there that
time next year to do it...no, she would be in her grave.
Their worst reception, however, was at Simon Fletcher's.
When they drove into the yard they saw two faces peering at them through the porch
window.
But although they rapped and waited patiently and persistently nobody came to
the door. Two decidedly ruffled and indignant girls
drove away from Simon Fletcher's.
Even Anne admitted that she was beginning to feel discouraged.
But the tide turned after that.
Several Sloane homesteads came next, where they got liberal subscriptions, and from
that to the end they fared well, with only an occasional snub.
Their last place of call was at Robert Dickson's by the pond bridge.
They stayed to tea here, although they were nearly home, rather than risk offending
Mrs. Dickson, who had the reputation of being a very "touchy" woman.
While they were there old Mrs. James White called in.
"I've just been down to Lorenzo's," she announced.
"He's the proudest man in Avonlea this minute.
What do you think?
There's a brand new boy there...and after seven girls that's quite an event, I can
tell you." Anne pricked up her ears, and when they
drove away she said.
"I'm going straight to Lorenzo White's." "But he lives on the White Sands road and
it's quite a distance out of our way," protested Diana.
"Gilbert and Fred will canvass him."
"They are not going around until next Saturday and it will be too late by then,"
said Anne firmly. "The novelty will be worn off.
Lorenzo White is dreadfully mean but he will subscribe to ANYTHING just now.
We mustn't let such a golden opportunity slip, Diana."
The result justified Anne's foresight.
Mr. White met them in the yard, beaming like the sun upon an Easter day.
When Anne asked for a subscription he agreed enthusiastically.
"Certain, certain.
Just put me down for a dollar more than the highest subscription you've got."
"That will be five dollars...Mr. Daniel Blair put down four," said Anne, half
afraid.
But Lorenzo did not flinch. "Five it is...and here's the money on the
spot. Now, I want you to come into the house.
There's something in there worth seeing ...something very few people have seen as
yet. Just come in and pass YOUR opinion."
"What will we say if the baby isn't pretty?" whispered Diana in trepidation as
they followed the excited Lorenzo into the house.
"Oh, there will certainly be something else nice to say about it," said Anne easily.
"There always is about a baby."
The baby WAS pretty, however, and Mr. White felt that he got his five dollars' worth of
the girls' honest delight over the plump little newcomer.
But that was the first, last, and only time that Lorenzo White ever subscribed to
anything.
Anne, tired as she was, made one more effort for the public weal that night,
slipping over the fields to interview Mr. Harrison, who was as usual smoking his pipe
on the veranda with Ginger beside him.
Strickly speaking he was on the Carmody road; but Jane and Gertie, who were not
acquainted with him save by doubtful report, had nervously begged Anne to
canvass him.
Mr. Harrison, however, flatly refused to subscribe a cent, and all Anne's wiles were
in vain. "But I thought you approved of our society,
Mr. Harrison," she mourned.
"So I do...so I do...but my approval doesn't go as deep as my pocket, Anne."
"A few more experiences such as I have had today would make me as much of a pessimist
as Miss Eliza Andrews," Anne told her reflection in the east gable mirror at
bedtime.