Poor Cecco by Margery Williams Bianco

Author:Margery Williams Bianco
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2013-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter XI

JENSINA’S PARTY

THE first to arrive were Mr. and Mrs. Weasel, and their friends the Chipmunks. Old Ezra Bunny came next with his family, and then the High-Hangers, who wore red waistcoats and were rather superior, Mrs. Fieldmouse, and the Opossums, who were new to the neighbourhood. They had just taken a house in the woodlot across the hill and were anxious to be thought well of, though many considered them humbugs. Then came Auntie Skunk and Uncle Billie Skunk and their four children, and by this time the kitchen was quite full. Thanks to Jensina’s industry most of the laundry bundles had disappeared, except a few which, arranged to look like sofas and chairs, did very well for the company to sit upon. Mrs. Woodchuck’s guests tried to appear politely unaware of the real nature of the furniture beneath them; only Mrs. Weasel, seeing a fragment of brown calico peeping out, was heard to remark impulsively:

“There’s my petticoat I’ve missed for three months! I do wish she’d send the things back if she’s ever going to!”

Acorn coffee was served, with nuts and carrot sandwiches, and then the babies of the party were all put to bed, not without some trouble, in an adjoining closet, and while the old folks settled themselves in a corner the dancing began.

Uncle Billie Skunk played the fiddle, and old Ezra Bunny the concertina. Old Ezra wore a white shirtfront and a brown coat, rather untidy in the seams, and he had long yellow teeth that showed whenever he smiled. He had played for so many kitchen dances that he could call out the figures with his eyes shut. He waved the concertina over his head and stamped with his foot whenever it was time for the music to change.

“First couples forward!” he called out. “Ladies in the middle! Swing your partners!” And while he stamped and shouted Uncle Billie Skunk, all in black, looked very solemn as he bent over his fiddle, but was really winking at the dancers all the time.

“It’s a lovely party!” Jensina whispered to Poor Cecco as they whirled round the floor. “I’m so glad we stayed!”

Jensina, in her gingham frock, and wearing the blue beads which Bulka had lent her for the evening, was very much admired and enjoyed herself thoroughly. It quite made up, in fact, for her disappointment of the night before. Among these simple people she found herself quite at ease, and behaved accordingly. She danced gypsy dances, sang songs and told fortunes, and in the intervals of the music had always a little group about her. Indeed, it was whispered before the evening was over that the eldest High-Hanger would have proposed marriage to her, had he not been already engaged to a distant cousin on the Woodpecker branch of the family.

Bulka was also having a delightful time. He had made friends with the young Chipmunks, and they were enjoying a dance of their own at the farther end of the kitchen. Not knowing the steps, they held hands in a ring while each capered as he chose in time to the music.

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