The next morning the trowsers came home, and had they been the jewelled robes in which I was to be proclaimed emperor of half the world, I could scarcely have looked upon them with more pleasure and pride-- simple little India-nankeen trowsers, as they were, with buttons of pearl, and white embroidery of linen braid.
It was a bright morning in early June, and my mother decided that I might have them on at once. Oh, the pride of that day! What a space of time seemed to stretch between it and the yesterday! From what an airy height of scorn did I look down upon the whole race of frocks--even that one of crimson and black which only twenty-four short hours before, it had been the topmost delight of my little heart to be allowed to wear!
I was passed from hand to hand throughout the household--receiving admiring criticisms, and growing prouder and prouder; particularly when old Wangie, the cook, who was chief among my friends, exclaimed--"Bress de chile, he look grand as a king!"
I then begged my mother to let me sit out on the front step, "to see the wagons and folks go by," I said; but in reality, I am afraid, I only wanted to show my new trowsers. She said I might, and tied my hat on for me. I had not been there many minutes, before along came half a dozen of the youngest of the village boys, among them my cousin Philip, two years older than I. So long as I was in frocks, they had only condescended to greet me now and then in passing, with a--"Well, little 'un!"
But now I had emerged from the chrysalis of frocks--I was a boy--one of themselves, and entitled to consideration. So they stopped to talk with me, and look at my trowsers. They quite took down my pride by saying, in a patronizing tone--"They'll _do_ for the first ones." But I remembered what Wangie had said, and managed to still keep up my grand feeling.
Presently they said they were going over into the meadow, to gather violets and buttercups, and asked me to go with them.
I said, quickly--"I'll go ask"--I was going to say "I'll go ask mother," but, just then, came the proud remembrance of my trowsers, and I thought to myself--"I am too big and too old to be asking mother every time I want to do anything; I'll go _without_ asking." So I took Philip's hand, and off we started.