Eight Cousins (1874)
“It is evidently written in very good faith, but it strike us as a very ill-chosen sort of entertainment to set before children. It is unfortunate not only in its details, but in its general tone, in the constant ring of the style. The smart satirical tone is the last one in the world to be used in describing to children their elders and betters and the social mysteries that surrond them.” - Henry James in the Nation
“There are the same vigor, discrimination, character-portraiture, and racy dialogue that characterize all her writings. It is no mean artist who can group with consummate skill a score or more of prominent figures, and still bring his hero or herone into bold relief, at the same time preserving the distinct individuality of every leading character.” - Anonymous in the Overland Monthly
We open with a preface, in which LMA is once again self-deprecating: The Author is quite aware of the defects of this little story, many of which were unavoidable, as it first appeared serially. But, as Uncle Alec's experiment was intended to amuse the young folks, rather than suggest educational improvements for the consideration of the elders, she trusts that these shortcomings will be overlooked by the friends of the Eight Cousins, and she will try to make amends in a second volume, which shall attempt to show The Rose in Bloom.
Two Girls
Rose Campbell, a recently orphaned girl living with her great-aunts, Peace and Plenty, hears a mocking-bird. Except it isn't a bird - it's Phebe the maid. The two girls talk, providing some exposition. Rose has seven boy cousins and is scared of meeting them. Phebe was left at the poor-house as a baby (she's 15 now).
They jump at a loud noise, and Debby, the housekeeper, sends Rose to the parlor.
The Clan
The loud noise was the boys arriving. Aunt Jessie's sons are Archie the Chief, Geordie and Will who aren't twins but act like it, and six year old Jamie. Mac the bookworm and Steve the dandy are Aunt Jane's sons. “Prince” Charlie is Aunt Clara's son. At first Rose is shy around them but they win her over because they're freaking adorable. I find it funny that she thinks “none of them were especially comely but the Prince.”
Rose had a pet monkey.
While they all have tea Archie and Charlie tease about a surprise. Jamie has never seen it, Mac and Steve like it, Aunt Plenty is fond of it, and it's brown and blue. Jamie asks if it's good to eat and Charlie answers “Some people think so, but I shouldn't like to try it.” CHARLIE.
Rose tells Plenty that she likes the cousins but prefers Phebe. What the hell, thinks Aunt Plenty.
Uncles
The surprise is Uncle Alec, Rose's guardian. He leaves the house early for a morning swim, and when Rose sees him from her balcony he climbs up the column. A nice callback to Rose in Chapter 1 - she enters the kitchen via the slide for the food.
They talk about Phebe, and Rose's health. He's a doctor and smashes her medicine bottles. Also orders her to stop drinking coffee.
Aunts
The chapters so far seem shorter than Little Women and An Old-Fashioned Girl. I guess that's because it was in a magazine first.
"If my advice had been taken, she would have remained at the excellent school where I placed her. But our aunt thought best to remove her because she complained, and she has been dawdling about ever since she came. A most ruinous state of things for a morbid, spoilt girl like Rose," said Mrs. Jane, severely.
She had never forgiven the old ladies for yielding to Rose's pathetic petition that she might wait her guardian's arrival before beginning another term at the school, which was a regular Blimber hot-bed, and turned out many a feminine Toots. Dickens reference.
Aunt Myra, the widow, had a daughter named Caroline who died, and thinks that therefore George should have left Rose to her. Jane says, “"I never blamed him in the least, when I remember the perilous experiments you tried with poor Carrie."
A Belt and a Box
Alec orders Rose to run around the garden (bringing Mary Lennox to mind) and loosens the leather/steel belt she wears. Rose confesses to being vain of her good looks.
”You will be surprised to see how much I know about piping hems and gathering arm-holes and shirring biases," began Dr. Alec, patting a pile of muslin, cloth and silk with a knowing air.
Rose offers to adopt Phebe as her sister. Phebe accepts but doesn't ask for anything specific yet.
I like the short chapters. It makes the book fast-paced and lively.
Uncle Alec's Room
Rose and Alec deliver some presents to the boys. Jamie shows Rose his “dolly” who is actually a four year old girl called Pokey. Her real name is never given.
Aunt Jessie warns Rose not to let Alec spoil her.
Back home he shows Rose a room and she thinks wow, Uncle is a dandy, but in fact the pretty room is all for her. Isn't he great?
A Trip to China
"Come, little girl, I've got another dose for you. I fancy you won't take it as well as you did the last, but you will like it better after a while," said Dr. Alec, about a week after the grand surprise.
Rose was sitting in her pretty room, where she would gladly have spent all her time if it had been allowed; but she looked up with a smile, for she had ceased to fear her uncle's remedies, and was always ready to try a new one. The last had been a set of light gardening tools, with which she had helped him put the flower-beds in order, learning all sorts of new and pleasant things about the plants as she worked, for, though she had studied botany at school, it seemed very dry stuff compared with Uncle Alec's lively lesson.
"What is it now?" she asked, shutting her work-box without a murmur.
"Salt-water."
Huh, were people still saying larboard in 1875? *googles* The British Navy stopped using in 1844, and the American Navy in 1846.
They take a rowboat across the “little bay” to one of the Campbell warehouses, where a ship of Uncle Mac's has arrived from Hong Kong. Rose meets two of his business associates, elderly Whang Lo and young Fun See. Since Fun See doesn't speak much English, Rose pays attention to Alec and Whang's conversation. They give her a fan and a tea set.
And what came of it
That evening, Alec critiques Rose's handwriting, her grammar, and her account book. She mentions how her boarding school lessons jumbled her head.
"Yet that is considered an excellent school, I find, and I dare say it would be if the benighted lady did not think it necessary to cram her pupils like Thanks-giving turkeys, instead of feeding them in a natural and wholesome way. It is the fault with most American schools, and the poor little heads will go on aching till we learn better." Huh.
He praises her skill at reading out loud, and then Aunt Jane comes in and scolds him for letting her read trash and ignoring her lessons. Rose responds with that day's lessons: The best are Lapsing Souchong, Assam Pekoe, rare Ankoe, Flowery Pekoe, Howqua's mixture, Scented Caper, Padral tea, black Congou, and green Twankey. Shanghai is on the Woosung River. Hong Kong means 'Island of Sweet waters.' Singapore is 'Lion's Town.' 'Chops' are the boats they live in; and they drink tea out of little saucers. Principal productions are porcelain, tea, cinnamon, shawls, tin, tamarinds and opium. They have beautiful temples and queer gods; and in Canton is the Dwelling of the Holy Pigs, fourteen of them, very big, and all blind."
Pwned! Yes, I know people don't say that anymore.
Henry James didn't like the way Rose “snubbed” the aunts. Personally, that's why EC is more enjoyable than AOFG, Rose, unlike Polly, is allowed to make mistakes.
Phebe's Secret
Rose helps Phebe with the housework, Phebe hints the boys are making plans for the Fourth of July, Rose says she wants to have a good time now. “I have to wait for my good times,” says Phebe, “and don't stop working to wish for 'em.” Aww, Phebe. That's always been one of my favorite names.
Alec takes her to the island for a picnic. All seven boys are already there, camping for the holiday, along with Aunt Jessie.
Rose: "How Phebe would like this! I wonder uncle did not have her come."
Geordie: "I believe he tried to, but Dolly was as cross as two sticks, and said she couldn't spare her. I'm sorry, for we all like the Phebe bird, and she'd chirp like a good one out here, wouldn't she?"
Dolly being the housekeeper previously known as Debby.
Rose's Sacrifice
The next day they fish and swim, “looking like a flock of distracted flamingoes, and acting like the famous dancing party in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."” I had totally forgotten about that reference.
Rose asks Archie to take her when he fetches some things in the morning.
Archie: “She's a queer little thing, isn't she, Prince?”
Charlie: “Rather a nice little thing, I think. I'm quite fond of her.”
Rose sends Phebe back in her place and does all Phebe's duties. At the end of the day Uncle Mac takes her and Fun See out to watch the fireworks. There's a rose for her and seven thistles for the boys.
Poor Mac
Rose's sacrifice was a failure in one respect, for, though the elders loved her the better for it, and showed that they did, the boys were not inspired with the sudden respect which she had hoped for. In fact, her feelings were much hurt by overhearing Archie say that he couldn't see any sense in it; and the Prince added another blow by pronouncing her "the queerest chicken ever seen."
It is apt to be so, and it is hard to bear; for, though we do not want trumpets blown, we do like to have our little virtues appreciated, and cannot help feeling disappointed if they are not.
Those bad boys.
Mac's eyes “give out” and Rose reads to him. Stories and poetry were her delight, but Mac did not care for them; and since his favourite Greeks and Romans were forbidden, he satisfied himself with travels, biographies, and the history of great inventions or discoveries. Rose despised this taste at first, but soon got interested in Livingstone's adventures, Hobson's stirring life in India, and the brave trials and triumphs of Watt and Arkwright, Fulton, and "Palissy, the Potter." The true, strong books helped the dreamy girl; her faithful service and sweet patience touched and won the boy; and long afterward both learned to see how useful those seemingly hard and weary hours had been to them.
But one day he asks her to stop reading, and tell her how bad it really is. Rose says he's in danger of going blind, he starts to cry, and she begs him not to. Mac comforts himself with the fact that Homer and Milton were blind. I adore him.
The other fellows
The boys attempt to cheer Mac up but they don't quite hit the mark. The puppies were yelping, the small boys romping, and the big boys all talking at once; the curtains were up, the room close, berries scattered freely about, Mac's shade half off, his cheeks flushed, his temper ruffled, and his voice loudest of all as he disputed hotly with Steve about lending certain treasured books which he could no longer use.
Rose orders them out and having never seen her angry before, they rush away. Archie, Charlie, and Steve resolve to be better to her and Mac. Steve laughed at her for crying over some dead kittens. Come on, Steve.
Cosey Corner
Rose, Mac, Jamie, Pokey, her mom, and Aunt Jessie take a vacation in the mountains. Jamie and Pokey play with the other kids, Mac learns geology from a Westerner, and Rose trades him lessons in botany. The whole chapter is 2% of the Kindle edition.
A Happy Birthday
Rose's birthday is October 12. Alec comes and Rose tries to surprise him with her new riding skills but the horse spooks and she falls off. She says she's fine.
They have a picnic and play charades, with Mac in the role of a doctor who demands $20 for his visit. Alec brings a cake with sugar roses, and the hosts give her a kitten, and they head back to the Aunt-hill. Rose confesses to Mac that she sprained her ankle.
How he did it, she never knew; but Mac had her up the steps and on the parlour sofa before she could put her foot to the ground.
"There you are right side up with care; and mind, now, if your ankle bothers you, and you are laid up with it, I am to be your footman. It's only fair, you know; for I don't forget how good you have been to me." And Mac went to call Phebe, so full of gratitude and good-will that his very goggles shone.
&OTP;
Ear-rings
While resting her ankle Rose teaches Mac to knit. Ariadne, who has been mentioned several times in the novel though not in this recap, comes to see her. Now, in her heart Miss Blish thought Rose "a stuck-up puss," but the other girls wanted to know her and couldn't, the old house was a charming place to visit, the lads were considered fine fellows, and the Campbells "are one of our first families," mamma said. So Ariadne concealed her vexation at Rose's coolness, and changed the subject as fast as possible.
Rose brags about her French, and Ariadne shows off her new earrings. Rose wants to have her ears pierced, but Alec thinks it's “foolish.” Ariadne says she can pierce them right now, and Rose agrees - forgetting that Jamie and Pokey are playing in the corner.
The boys enter with a bunch of nuts they gathered. Mac escorts Ariadne home. They roast the nuts and Jamie spills the beans.
"How do you like it, uncle?" asked Archie, who, being the head of a family himself, believed in preserving discipline at all costs.
"I am very much surprised; but I see she is a girl, after all, and must have her vanities like all the rest of them," answered Dr. Alec, with a sigh, as if he had expected to find Rose a sort of angel, above all earthly temptations.
Bread and Button-Holes (the hyphen is LMA's)
Rose, influenced by the host family of Cosey Corner, wants to learn a trade. Dr. Alec suggests one that he finds neglected nowadays: housekeeping. “Yes, you may open your big eyes; but it is a fact that I had rather see you a good housekeeper than the greatest belle in the city.”
The additional bonus is that she'll spend more time with Peace and Plenty. After “some time” she bakes a worthy loaf. Alec jokes about saving it and she's like it will get moldy, silly. Then Aunt Peace teaches her to sew buttonholes.
Good Bargains
She finds Archie and Charlie smoking cigars.
Charlie: "You women are always asking us to give up harmless little things just because you don't approve of them. How would you like it if we did the same by you, miss?"
Rose: "If I did harmful or silly things, I'd thank you for telling me of them, and I'd try to mend my ways,"
He proposes that she give up her earrings, which he finds sillier than cigars. How does it feel to be wrong, Charlie? He thinks she won't do it, but she agrees, remembering that Aunt Jessie once told her how much influence she has over the boys. Does that actually work in real life? Or did it work in the real Gilded Age, but not for modern me?
Aunt Jessie, Will, and Geordie have a fairly tedious conversation about the dime novels they like to read. She calls them “optical delusions,” refering to the author Oliver Optic. “It does seem to me that some one might write stories that should be lively, natural and helpful tales in which the English should be good, the morals pure, and the characters such as we can love in spite of the faults that all may have.” Okay, Louisa. Okay.
Fashion and Physiology
Aunt Clara buys Rose the latest fashion. The suit was of two peculiar shades of blue, so arranged that patches of light and dark distracted the eye. The upper skirt was tied so lightly back that it was impossible to take a long step, and the under one was so loaded with plaited frills that it "wobbled" no other word will express it ungracefully, both fore and aft. A bunch of folds was gathered up just below the waist behind, and a great bow rode a-top. A small jacket of the same material was adorned with a high ruff at the back, and laid well open over the breast, to display some lace and a locket. Heavy fringes, bows, puffs, ruffles, and revers finished off the dress, making one's head ache to think of the amount of work wasted, for not a single graceful line struck the eye, and the beauty of the material was quite lost in the profusion of ornament. Also a hat with a veil and high-heeled boots.
A rever is “the turned-back edge of a garment revealing the undersurface, esp. at the lapel.” (The New Oxford American Dictionary (Kindle Locations 705550-705551). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.)
Needless to say, Alec doesn't like it, and has Rose try on a better costume. There was very little to see, however, only a pretty Gabrielle dress, of a soft warm shade of brown, coming to the tops of a trim pair of boots with low heels. A seal-skin sack, cap, and mittens, with a glimpse of scarlet at the throat, and the pretty curls tied up with a bright velvet of the same colour, completed the external adornment, making her look like a robin redbreast wintry, yet warm.
Also needless to say, Rose prefers it.
Brother Bones
To Aunt Myra's horror, Alec takes out his old skeleton to teach his niece bones. Mac happens upon them and his uncle gives a lesson about eyes. LMA gives a lecture about parents who are too busy to teach kids morals.
They try to use the skeleton to scare Rose, but she's grown too used to their pranks. “You are getting altogether too strong-minded,” says Charlie. Alec tells him the skeleton belonged to a patient of his that died and donated his body to science.
Under the Mistletoe
Christmas time! Rose gets ice skates and a sled. Uncle Jem, the one married to Aunt Jessie, arrives unexpectedly. Charlie tries unsuccessfully to catch Rose under the mistletoe, and when she loses a game he says her forfeit is to kiss “old Mac.” So she kisses her Uncle. :D
A Scare
Aunt Myra advises Alec not to let Rose play in the cold wind. Knowing her ways he ignores her and Rose catches pleurisy. Mac sneaks in to see her around midnight.
She looked at him with a tender light in her eyes, and, seeing how pathetic his dumb grief was, she added softly, drawing his head down, "I wouldn't kiss you under the mistletoe, but I will now, for I want you to be sure I do forgive and love you just the same."
That quite upset poor Mac; he could only murmur his thanks and get out of the room as fast as possible, to grope his way to the couch at the far end of the hall, and lie there till he fell asleep, worn out with trying not to "make a baby" of himself. Oh, these two!
Something to do
Alec is called away to visit a sick friend. Rose finds Phebe studying all alone and decides to help her. I wonder if Samantha Learns a Lesson was inspired by this chapter. She's afraid her uncle won't approve but does so very much. In fact, the great-aunts are hiring a new girl and Phebe will go to school.
Peace-Making
Rose asks Steve what Archie and Charlie are arguing about. Archie doesn't like the guys that Charlie, now 17, is hanging out with. “Arch preaches, and Prince won't stand it. He told Arch he was a prig and a parson, and Arch told him he wasn't a gentleman. My boots! weren't they both mad, though! I thought for a minute they'd pitch into one another and have it out.”
And when Charlie visits Rose he's been drinking champagne, tsk tsk! He tries to give her earring back but she won't take it.
Rose wanted to cry, but pride would not let her, and, being very angry, she relieved herself by talk instead of tears. Looking pale and excited, she rose out of her chair, cast away the ring, and said in a voice that she vainly tried to keep steady, "You are not at all the boy I thought you were, and I don't respect you one bit. I've tried to help you be good, but you won't let me, and I shall not try any more. You talk a great deal about being a gentleman, but you are not, for you've broken your word, and I can never trust you again. I don't wish you to go home with me. I'd rather have Mary. Good-night."
Damn, Rose! Then she apologizes for being cross and Charlie decides to make up with Archie.
Which?
Rose tells her uncle that's she discoved what girls are for: to take care of boys. Um. Let's just leave that in 1874 where it belongs. She asks his advice about Charlie, and he says she should go live with him and Clara for a month. So Charlie stays at home more and the cousins hang around his house. Then all the other aunts want a turn with her.
So the winter flew rapidly away, and it was May before Rose was fairly settled again at home. They called her the "Monthly Rose," because she had spent a month with each of the aunts, and left such pleasant memories of bloom and fragrance behind her, that all wanted the family flower back again.
But Rose, when called upon to decide, chooses to stay with Alec for good, for she likes him best.
This entry was originally posted at https://nocowardsoul.dreamwidth.org/41894.html
“There are the same vigor, discrimination, character-portraiture, and racy dialogue that characterize all her writings. It is no mean artist who can group with consummate skill a score or more of prominent figures, and still bring his hero or herone into bold relief, at the same time preserving the distinct individuality of every leading character.” - Anonymous in the Overland Monthly
We open with a preface, in which LMA is once again self-deprecating: The Author is quite aware of the defects of this little story, many of which were unavoidable, as it first appeared serially. But, as Uncle Alec's experiment was intended to amuse the young folks, rather than suggest educational improvements for the consideration of the elders, she trusts that these shortcomings will be overlooked by the friends of the Eight Cousins, and she will try to make amends in a second volume, which shall attempt to show The Rose in Bloom.
Two Girls
Rose Campbell, a recently orphaned girl living with her great-aunts, Peace and Plenty, hears a mocking-bird. Except it isn't a bird - it's Phebe the maid. The two girls talk, providing some exposition. Rose has seven boy cousins and is scared of meeting them. Phebe was left at the poor-house as a baby (she's 15 now).
They jump at a loud noise, and Debby, the housekeeper, sends Rose to the parlor.
The Clan
The loud noise was the boys arriving. Aunt Jessie's sons are Archie the Chief, Geordie and Will who aren't twins but act like it, and six year old Jamie. Mac the bookworm and Steve the dandy are Aunt Jane's sons. “Prince” Charlie is Aunt Clara's son. At first Rose is shy around them but they win her over because they're freaking adorable. I find it funny that she thinks “none of them were especially comely but the Prince.”
Rose had a pet monkey.
While they all have tea Archie and Charlie tease about a surprise. Jamie has never seen it, Mac and Steve like it, Aunt Plenty is fond of it, and it's brown and blue. Jamie asks if it's good to eat and Charlie answers “Some people think so, but I shouldn't like to try it.” CHARLIE.
Rose tells Plenty that she likes the cousins but prefers Phebe. What the hell, thinks Aunt Plenty.
Uncles
The surprise is Uncle Alec, Rose's guardian. He leaves the house early for a morning swim, and when Rose sees him from her balcony he climbs up the column. A nice callback to Rose in Chapter 1 - she enters the kitchen via the slide for the food.
They talk about Phebe, and Rose's health. He's a doctor and smashes her medicine bottles. Also orders her to stop drinking coffee.
Aunts
The chapters so far seem shorter than Little Women and An Old-Fashioned Girl. I guess that's because it was in a magazine first.
"If my advice had been taken, she would have remained at the excellent school where I placed her. But our aunt thought best to remove her because she complained, and she has been dawdling about ever since she came. A most ruinous state of things for a morbid, spoilt girl like Rose," said Mrs. Jane, severely.
She had never forgiven the old ladies for yielding to Rose's pathetic petition that she might wait her guardian's arrival before beginning another term at the school, which was a regular Blimber hot-bed, and turned out many a feminine Toots. Dickens reference.
Aunt Myra, the widow, had a daughter named Caroline who died, and thinks that therefore George should have left Rose to her. Jane says, “"I never blamed him in the least, when I remember the perilous experiments you tried with poor Carrie."
A Belt and a Box
Alec orders Rose to run around the garden (bringing Mary Lennox to mind) and loosens the leather/steel belt she wears. Rose confesses to being vain of her good looks.
”You will be surprised to see how much I know about piping hems and gathering arm-holes and shirring biases," began Dr. Alec, patting a pile of muslin, cloth and silk with a knowing air.
Rose offers to adopt Phebe as her sister. Phebe accepts but doesn't ask for anything specific yet.
I like the short chapters. It makes the book fast-paced and lively.
Uncle Alec's Room
Rose and Alec deliver some presents to the boys. Jamie shows Rose his “dolly” who is actually a four year old girl called Pokey. Her real name is never given.
Aunt Jessie warns Rose not to let Alec spoil her.
Back home he shows Rose a room and she thinks wow, Uncle is a dandy, but in fact the pretty room is all for her. Isn't he great?
A Trip to China
"Come, little girl, I've got another dose for you. I fancy you won't take it as well as you did the last, but you will like it better after a while," said Dr. Alec, about a week after the grand surprise.
Rose was sitting in her pretty room, where she would gladly have spent all her time if it had been allowed; but she looked up with a smile, for she had ceased to fear her uncle's remedies, and was always ready to try a new one. The last had been a set of light gardening tools, with which she had helped him put the flower-beds in order, learning all sorts of new and pleasant things about the plants as she worked, for, though she had studied botany at school, it seemed very dry stuff compared with Uncle Alec's lively lesson.
"What is it now?" she asked, shutting her work-box without a murmur.
"Salt-water."
Huh, were people still saying larboard in 1875? *googles* The British Navy stopped using in 1844, and the American Navy in 1846.
They take a rowboat across the “little bay” to one of the Campbell warehouses, where a ship of Uncle Mac's has arrived from Hong Kong. Rose meets two of his business associates, elderly Whang Lo and young Fun See. Since Fun See doesn't speak much English, Rose pays attention to Alec and Whang's conversation. They give her a fan and a tea set.
And what came of it
That evening, Alec critiques Rose's handwriting, her grammar, and her account book. She mentions how her boarding school lessons jumbled her head.
"Yet that is considered an excellent school, I find, and I dare say it would be if the benighted lady did not think it necessary to cram her pupils like Thanks-giving turkeys, instead of feeding them in a natural and wholesome way. It is the fault with most American schools, and the poor little heads will go on aching till we learn better." Huh.
He praises her skill at reading out loud, and then Aunt Jane comes in and scolds him for letting her read trash and ignoring her lessons. Rose responds with that day's lessons: The best are Lapsing Souchong, Assam Pekoe, rare Ankoe, Flowery Pekoe, Howqua's mixture, Scented Caper, Padral tea, black Congou, and green Twankey. Shanghai is on the Woosung River. Hong Kong means 'Island of Sweet waters.' Singapore is 'Lion's Town.' 'Chops' are the boats they live in; and they drink tea out of little saucers. Principal productions are porcelain, tea, cinnamon, shawls, tin, tamarinds and opium. They have beautiful temples and queer gods; and in Canton is the Dwelling of the Holy Pigs, fourteen of them, very big, and all blind."
Pwned! Yes, I know people don't say that anymore.
Henry James didn't like the way Rose “snubbed” the aunts. Personally, that's why EC is more enjoyable than AOFG, Rose, unlike Polly, is allowed to make mistakes.
Phebe's Secret
Rose helps Phebe with the housework, Phebe hints the boys are making plans for the Fourth of July, Rose says she wants to have a good time now. “I have to wait for my good times,” says Phebe, “and don't stop working to wish for 'em.” Aww, Phebe. That's always been one of my favorite names.
Alec takes her to the island for a picnic. All seven boys are already there, camping for the holiday, along with Aunt Jessie.
Rose: "How Phebe would like this! I wonder uncle did not have her come."
Geordie: "I believe he tried to, but Dolly was as cross as two sticks, and said she couldn't spare her. I'm sorry, for we all like the Phebe bird, and she'd chirp like a good one out here, wouldn't she?"
Dolly being the housekeeper previously known as Debby.
Rose's Sacrifice
The next day they fish and swim, “looking like a flock of distracted flamingoes, and acting like the famous dancing party in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."” I had totally forgotten about that reference.
Rose asks Archie to take her when he fetches some things in the morning.
Archie: “She's a queer little thing, isn't she, Prince?”
Charlie: “Rather a nice little thing, I think. I'm quite fond of her.”
Rose sends Phebe back in her place and does all Phebe's duties. At the end of the day Uncle Mac takes her and Fun See out to watch the fireworks. There's a rose for her and seven thistles for the boys.
Poor Mac
Rose's sacrifice was a failure in one respect, for, though the elders loved her the better for it, and showed that they did, the boys were not inspired with the sudden respect which she had hoped for. In fact, her feelings were much hurt by overhearing Archie say that he couldn't see any sense in it; and the Prince added another blow by pronouncing her "the queerest chicken ever seen."
It is apt to be so, and it is hard to bear; for, though we do not want trumpets blown, we do like to have our little virtues appreciated, and cannot help feeling disappointed if they are not.
Those bad boys.
Mac's eyes “give out” and Rose reads to him. Stories and poetry were her delight, but Mac did not care for them; and since his favourite Greeks and Romans were forbidden, he satisfied himself with travels, biographies, and the history of great inventions or discoveries. Rose despised this taste at first, but soon got interested in Livingstone's adventures, Hobson's stirring life in India, and the brave trials and triumphs of Watt and Arkwright, Fulton, and "Palissy, the Potter." The true, strong books helped the dreamy girl; her faithful service and sweet patience touched and won the boy; and long afterward both learned to see how useful those seemingly hard and weary hours had been to them.
But one day he asks her to stop reading, and tell her how bad it really is. Rose says he's in danger of going blind, he starts to cry, and she begs him not to. Mac comforts himself with the fact that Homer and Milton were blind. I adore him.
The other fellows
The boys attempt to cheer Mac up but they don't quite hit the mark. The puppies were yelping, the small boys romping, and the big boys all talking at once; the curtains were up, the room close, berries scattered freely about, Mac's shade half off, his cheeks flushed, his temper ruffled, and his voice loudest of all as he disputed hotly with Steve about lending certain treasured books which he could no longer use.
Rose orders them out and having never seen her angry before, they rush away. Archie, Charlie, and Steve resolve to be better to her and Mac. Steve laughed at her for crying over some dead kittens. Come on, Steve.
Cosey Corner
Rose, Mac, Jamie, Pokey, her mom, and Aunt Jessie take a vacation in the mountains. Jamie and Pokey play with the other kids, Mac learns geology from a Westerner, and Rose trades him lessons in botany. The whole chapter is 2% of the Kindle edition.
A Happy Birthday
Rose's birthday is October 12. Alec comes and Rose tries to surprise him with her new riding skills but the horse spooks and she falls off. She says she's fine.
They have a picnic and play charades, with Mac in the role of a doctor who demands $20 for his visit. Alec brings a cake with sugar roses, and the hosts give her a kitten, and they head back to the Aunt-hill. Rose confesses to Mac that she sprained her ankle.
How he did it, she never knew; but Mac had her up the steps and on the parlour sofa before she could put her foot to the ground.
"There you are right side up with care; and mind, now, if your ankle bothers you, and you are laid up with it, I am to be your footman. It's only fair, you know; for I don't forget how good you have been to me." And Mac went to call Phebe, so full of gratitude and good-will that his very goggles shone.
&OTP;
Ear-rings
While resting her ankle Rose teaches Mac to knit. Ariadne, who has been mentioned several times in the novel though not in this recap, comes to see her. Now, in her heart Miss Blish thought Rose "a stuck-up puss," but the other girls wanted to know her and couldn't, the old house was a charming place to visit, the lads were considered fine fellows, and the Campbells "are one of our first families," mamma said. So Ariadne concealed her vexation at Rose's coolness, and changed the subject as fast as possible.
Rose brags about her French, and Ariadne shows off her new earrings. Rose wants to have her ears pierced, but Alec thinks it's “foolish.” Ariadne says she can pierce them right now, and Rose agrees - forgetting that Jamie and Pokey are playing in the corner.
The boys enter with a bunch of nuts they gathered. Mac escorts Ariadne home. They roast the nuts and Jamie spills the beans.
"How do you like it, uncle?" asked Archie, who, being the head of a family himself, believed in preserving discipline at all costs.
"I am very much surprised; but I see she is a girl, after all, and must have her vanities like all the rest of them," answered Dr. Alec, with a sigh, as if he had expected to find Rose a sort of angel, above all earthly temptations.
Bread and Button-Holes (the hyphen is LMA's)
Rose, influenced by the host family of Cosey Corner, wants to learn a trade. Dr. Alec suggests one that he finds neglected nowadays: housekeeping. “Yes, you may open your big eyes; but it is a fact that I had rather see you a good housekeeper than the greatest belle in the city.”
The additional bonus is that she'll spend more time with Peace and Plenty. After “some time” she bakes a worthy loaf. Alec jokes about saving it and she's like it will get moldy, silly. Then Aunt Peace teaches her to sew buttonholes.
Good Bargains
She finds Archie and Charlie smoking cigars.
Charlie: "You women are always asking us to give up harmless little things just because you don't approve of them. How would you like it if we did the same by you, miss?"
Rose: "If I did harmful or silly things, I'd thank you for telling me of them, and I'd try to mend my ways,"
He proposes that she give up her earrings, which he finds sillier than cigars. How does it feel to be wrong, Charlie? He thinks she won't do it, but she agrees, remembering that Aunt Jessie once told her how much influence she has over the boys. Does that actually work in real life? Or did it work in the real Gilded Age, but not for modern me?
Aunt Jessie, Will, and Geordie have a fairly tedious conversation about the dime novels they like to read. She calls them “optical delusions,” refering to the author Oliver Optic. “It does seem to me that some one might write stories that should be lively, natural and helpful tales in which the English should be good, the morals pure, and the characters such as we can love in spite of the faults that all may have.” Okay, Louisa. Okay.
Fashion and Physiology
Aunt Clara buys Rose the latest fashion. The suit was of two peculiar shades of blue, so arranged that patches of light and dark distracted the eye. The upper skirt was tied so lightly back that it was impossible to take a long step, and the under one was so loaded with plaited frills that it "wobbled" no other word will express it ungracefully, both fore and aft. A bunch of folds was gathered up just below the waist behind, and a great bow rode a-top. A small jacket of the same material was adorned with a high ruff at the back, and laid well open over the breast, to display some lace and a locket. Heavy fringes, bows, puffs, ruffles, and revers finished off the dress, making one's head ache to think of the amount of work wasted, for not a single graceful line struck the eye, and the beauty of the material was quite lost in the profusion of ornament. Also a hat with a veil and high-heeled boots.
A rever is “the turned-back edge of a garment revealing the undersurface, esp. at the lapel.” (The New Oxford American Dictionary (Kindle Locations 705550-705551). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.)
Needless to say, Alec doesn't like it, and has Rose try on a better costume. There was very little to see, however, only a pretty Gabrielle dress, of a soft warm shade of brown, coming to the tops of a trim pair of boots with low heels. A seal-skin sack, cap, and mittens, with a glimpse of scarlet at the throat, and the pretty curls tied up with a bright velvet of the same colour, completed the external adornment, making her look like a robin redbreast wintry, yet warm.
Also needless to say, Rose prefers it.
Brother Bones
To Aunt Myra's horror, Alec takes out his old skeleton to teach his niece bones. Mac happens upon them and his uncle gives a lesson about eyes. LMA gives a lecture about parents who are too busy to teach kids morals.
They try to use the skeleton to scare Rose, but she's grown too used to their pranks. “You are getting altogether too strong-minded,” says Charlie. Alec tells him the skeleton belonged to a patient of his that died and donated his body to science.
Under the Mistletoe
Christmas time! Rose gets ice skates and a sled. Uncle Jem, the one married to Aunt Jessie, arrives unexpectedly. Charlie tries unsuccessfully to catch Rose under the mistletoe, and when she loses a game he says her forfeit is to kiss “old Mac.” So she kisses her Uncle. :D
A Scare
Aunt Myra advises Alec not to let Rose play in the cold wind. Knowing her ways he ignores her and Rose catches pleurisy. Mac sneaks in to see her around midnight.
She looked at him with a tender light in her eyes, and, seeing how pathetic his dumb grief was, she added softly, drawing his head down, "I wouldn't kiss you under the mistletoe, but I will now, for I want you to be sure I do forgive and love you just the same."
That quite upset poor Mac; he could only murmur his thanks and get out of the room as fast as possible, to grope his way to the couch at the far end of the hall, and lie there till he fell asleep, worn out with trying not to "make a baby" of himself. Oh, these two!
Something to do
Alec is called away to visit a sick friend. Rose finds Phebe studying all alone and decides to help her. I wonder if Samantha Learns a Lesson was inspired by this chapter. She's afraid her uncle won't approve but does so very much. In fact, the great-aunts are hiring a new girl and Phebe will go to school.
Peace-Making
Rose asks Steve what Archie and Charlie are arguing about. Archie doesn't like the guys that Charlie, now 17, is hanging out with. “Arch preaches, and Prince won't stand it. He told Arch he was a prig and a parson, and Arch told him he wasn't a gentleman. My boots! weren't they both mad, though! I thought for a minute they'd pitch into one another and have it out.”
And when Charlie visits Rose he's been drinking champagne, tsk tsk! He tries to give her earring back but she won't take it.
Rose wanted to cry, but pride would not let her, and, being very angry, she relieved herself by talk instead of tears. Looking pale and excited, she rose out of her chair, cast away the ring, and said in a voice that she vainly tried to keep steady, "You are not at all the boy I thought you were, and I don't respect you one bit. I've tried to help you be good, but you won't let me, and I shall not try any more. You talk a great deal about being a gentleman, but you are not, for you've broken your word, and I can never trust you again. I don't wish you to go home with me. I'd rather have Mary. Good-night."
Damn, Rose! Then she apologizes for being cross and Charlie decides to make up with Archie.
Which?
Rose tells her uncle that's she discoved what girls are for: to take care of boys. Um. Let's just leave that in 1874 where it belongs. She asks his advice about Charlie, and he says she should go live with him and Clara for a month. So Charlie stays at home more and the cousins hang around his house. Then all the other aunts want a turn with her.
So the winter flew rapidly away, and it was May before Rose was fairly settled again at home. They called her the "Monthly Rose," because she had spent a month with each of the aunts, and left such pleasant memories of bloom and fragrance behind her, that all wanted the family flower back again.
But Rose, when called upon to decide, chooses to stay with Alec for good, for she likes him best.
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