Afterallthat，whenItriedtotellLeonhowitfelt，hejustcriedlikeababy，andhewouldn’tlistentoaword，evenwhenhe’dwantedtoknowsobadly。HesaidifIhadn’tcomeback，he’dhavegonetothebarnandusedtheswingropeonhimself，soitwasagoodthingIdid，foronefuneralwouldhavecostenough，whenweneededmoneysobadly，nottomentionhowmotherwouldhavefelttohavetwoofusgoatonce，likeshehadbefore。Andanyway，itdidn’tamounttosoawfulmuch。Itwasprettybadatfirst，butitdidn’tlastlong，andthenextdaymyneckwasonlyalittleblueandstiff，andinthreedaysitwasallover，onlyaroughplacewheretheropegrainedtheskinasI
wentdown；butInevergottotellLeonhowitfelt；Ijustcouldn’ttalkhimintohearing，anditwasquiteinterestingtoo；
butstillIeasilysawwhythemaninthepaperwouldobjecttodyingtwice，topayforkillinganothermanonce。
Whentheappleswerepickedandthecabbage，beets，turnips，andpotatoeswereburied，somecorndriedinthegarretfornewmeal，pumpkinsputinthecellar，thefieldcornallhusked，andthebutcheringdone，fathersaidtheworkwasinsuchfineshape，withLaddietohelp，andtherewassomuchmorecornthanheneededforus，andthepricewassohigh，andtheturkeysdidsowell，andeverything，thathecouldpaybackwhatmotherhelpedhim，andhavequiteasumover。
ItwasThanksgivingbythattime，andallofWinfield’s，Lucy’s，SallyandPeter，andourboyscamehome。Wehadabigtime，allbutShelley；itwastooexpensiveforhertocomesofarforoneday，butmothersentheraboxwithawholeturkeyforherselfandherfriends；andcake，popcorn，nuts，andjusteverythingthatwasn’ttoodrippy。Shelleywrotesuchlovelylettersthatmothersavedthemandafterwehadeatenasmuchdinneraswecould，shereadthembeforeweleftthetable。
Ihadheardmostofthem，butIlikedtolistenagain，becausetheysoundedsohappy。YoucouldhearShelleylaughoneverypage。ShetoldabouthowPeter’scousinwaswaitingwhenthetrainstopped。Theycouldn’troomtogetherrightaway，buttheyweregoingtothefirstchancetheyhad。Shelleyfeltbadlybecausetheyweresofarapart，butshewasinaniceplace，whereshecouldgowithothergirlsoftheschooluntilshelearnedtheway。Shetoldaboutherroomandthewomansheboardedwithandwhatshehadtoeat；shewrotemothernottoworryaboutclothes，becausemostoftheotherswerefromthecountry，orsmalltowns，andgettingreadytoteach，andlotsofthemdidn’thaveNEARLYasmanyorasprettydressesasshedid。
Shetoldaboutthebigbuilding，theclasses，theprofessors，andofgoingtopublicrecitalswheresomeofthepupilswhoknewenoughplayed；andshewasworkingherfingersalmosttothebone，soshecouldnextyear。Shetoldofpeopleshemet，andhowoneoftheteacherstookanumberofgirlsinhisclasstoseeagreatpicturegallery。ShewrotepagesaboutayoungChicagolawyershemetthere，andonlyafewlinesaboutthepictures，sofathersaidasthatwasthebestcollectionofartworkinChicago，itwaseasyenoughtoseethatShelleyhadbeenfarmoreimpressedwiththemanthanshehadbeenwiththepictures。Mothersaidshedidn’tseehowhecouldsayathinglikethataboutthechild。Ofcourseshecouldn’ttellinaletterabouthundredsofpictures，butitwaseasyenoughtotellallaboutaman。
Fathergotsortofspunkyatthat，andhesaiditwasmightylittlethatmatteredmost，thatcouldbetoldaboutaChicagolawyer；andmotherhadbettercautionShelleytothinkmoreaboutherwork，andwritelessoftheman。Mothersaidthatwouldstopthechild’sconfidencescompletelyandshe’dthinkallthetimeabouttheman，andnevermentionhimagain，soshewouldn’tknowwhatWASgoingon。ShesaidshewasgladShelleyhadfoundpleasing，refinedfriends，andshe’dencourageherallshecouldincultivatingthem；butofcourseshe’dcautionhertobecareful，andshe’dtellherwhatthedangerwas，andafterthatShelleywroteandwrote。Motherdidn’talwaysreadtheletterstous，butsheansweredeveryoneshegotthatsamenight。
Sometimesshepushedthepensoshejabbedthepaper，andoftenshesmiledorlaughedsoftly。
IlikedThanksgiving。Wealwayshadahousefullofcompany，andtheydidn’tstayuntilweweretiredofthem，astheydidatChristmas，andtherewasasmuchtoeat；theonlydifferencewasthattherewerenopresents。Itwasn’tnearlysomuchworktofixforonedayasitwasforaweek；soitwasn’tsohardonmotherandCandace，andfatherdidn’thavetospendmuchmoney。
Wewerewearingallourclothesfromlastfallthatwecould，andourcoatsfromlastwintertohelpout，butwedidn’tcare。Wehadalotoffun，andwewantedSallyandShelleytohavefinedresses，becausetheywereinbigcitieswheretheyneededthem，andindueseason，nodoubt，wewouldhavemuchmorethanthey，because，asMayfiguredit，therewouldbeonlyafewofusbythattime，sowecouldhavemoretospend。Thatlookedsensible，andIthoughtitwouldbethatway，too。Weweretalkingitovercomingfromschooloneevening，andwhenwehadsettledit，webegantoplay“DipandFade。“Thatwasagamewemadeupfrombeingatchurch，andfallandspringweretheonlytimeswecouldplayit，becausethentherainsfilledalltheditchesbesidetheroadwherethedirtwasploweduptomakethebedhigher，andwehadtohavethewatertodipinandfadeover。
Weplayeditlikethat，becauseitwasasnearaswecouldcometoworkingoutasongIsaacThomassangeverytimehegothappy。
Hehadalotofchildrenathome，andmorewhohaddied，frombeinghalf-fedandfrozen，motherthought；andhewasalwaystalkingaboutmeetingthe“poreinnocents“inHeaven，andsingingthatonesong。Everytimehemadeexactlythesamespeechinmeeting。Itbeganlikerecitingpoetry，onlyitdidn’trhyme，butitsortofcutoffinlines，andIsaacwavedbackandforthonhisfeet，andhalfsungit，andtheragswavedtoo，butyoujustcouldn’tfeelanythrillsofearnestnessaboutwhathesaid，becauseheneededwashing，andtogotoworkandgethimsomeclothesandfoodtofillouthisframe。Heonlylookedfunny，andmadeyouwanttolaugh。IttookEmanuelRipleytoraiseyourhair。Idon’tknowwhymenlikemyfather，andtheminister，andJohnDoverstoodit；theytalkedoveraskingIsaactokeepquietnumbersoftimes，buttheministersaidtherewerepeoplelikethatineverychurch，theyalwayscameamongtheLord’sanointed，anditwasbettertopluckoutyourrighteyethantooffendoneofthem，andhewasdoubtfulaboutdoingit。SowechildrenallknewthatthegrownpeoplescarcelycouldstandIsaac’sspeech，andprayer，andsong，andthattheywereafraidtotellhimplainoutthathedidmoreharmthangood。EverymeetingaboutthethirdmanupwasIsaac，andwehadtowatchhimwave，andrant，andgosing-songy：
“Ohbretheringandsistering——ah，Itdelightsmyheart——ahtogatherwithyou，Inthisholyhouseofworship——ah。
Inhissacredword——ah，TheLord——ahtellsus，Thatweareallhischildring——ah。
Andnow，lemmeexhortyouto-night——ah，Asonethatlovesyou——ah，Tochoosethatgoodpart，thatMarychose——ah，Thattheworrrr-uldkinneithergivenertakeaway——ah。“
Thatwentonuntilhewashoarse，thenheprayed，andaroseandsanghissong。Othermenspokewheretheystood。Isaacalwayswalkedtothealtar，facedthepeople，andhewastiredoutwhenhefinished，butsoproudofhimself，sohappy，andhefeltsosurethathiseffortswereworthawarmbed，sausage，pancakes，maplesyrup，andcoffeeforbreakfast，thatitwasmightyseldomhefailedtofoolsomeoneelseintothinkingsotoo，andifhecould，hewouldn’thavetowalkfourmileshomeoncoldnights，withnoovercoat。Insummer，mostly，theylethimgo。Isaacalwayswasfattestinwinter，especiallyduringrevivals，butatanytimemothersaidhelookedlikeasheep’scarcassafterthebuzzardshadpickedit。Itcouldbeseenthathewasperfectlystrong，andcouldhavefedandclothedhimself，andMandyandthechildren，quiteaswellasourfatherdidus，ifhehadwantedtowork，forwehadthebiggestfamilyoftheneighbourhood。Sowechildrenmadefunofhimandwehadtoholdourmouthsshutwhenhegotupalltiredandteary-like，andbegantoquaver：
“Manydearchildurnweknowdewstan’
Untoontherharpsinthebetterlan’，Therlittlehansfrumeachsoundin’string，Bringmusicsweet，wiletheAngulssing，Bringmusicsweet，wiletheAngulssing，——
Weshellmeetthemaginonthatshore，Weshellmeetthemaginonthatshore，Withfairerface，unangelgrace，Eachlovedunullwelcomeusther。
“Theyustermournwhenthechildurndied，Unsaidgoo-byeattheriverside，Theydippedtherfeetintheglidin’stream，Unfadedaway，likealovelidream，Unfadedawaylikealovelidream。“
Thenthechorusagain，andthenIsaacdroppedonthefrontseatexhausted，andstayedthereuntilsomegood-heartedwoman，mostlymymother，feltsosorryabouthisshiftlessnesssheaskedhimtogohomewithusandwarmedandfedhim，andputhiminthetraveller’sbedtosleep。Thewayweplayeditwasthis：westoodtogetherattheedgeofaroadsidepuddleandsangthefirstverseandthechorusexactlyasIsaacdid。ThenIsangthesecondverse，andMaywasoneofthe“manydearchildurn，“andasIcametothelinesshedippedherfeetinthe“glidin’stream，“
andfor“fadingaway，“shejumpedacross。
NowMaywasacarefullittlesoul，andalwayswatchedwhatshewasdoing，soshewalkedupashortway，choseagoodplace，andwhenIsangtheline，shewasalmostbirdlike，shedippedandfadedsogracefully。Thenwelaughedlikedunces，andthenMaybegantoswayandswing，anddronethroughhernoseforme，andI
wassoexcitedIneverlooked。Ijustdippedandfadedonthespot。Ifadedallrighttoo，forIcouldn’tjumpnearlyacross，andwhenIlandedinpureclaythathadbeencoveredwithwaterforthreeweeks，Iwentdowntomykneesinmud，tomywaistinwater，andlostmybalanceandfellbackward。
Amanpassingonhorsebackpriedmeoutwitharailandhelpedmehome。Ofcoursehedidn’tknowhowIhappenedtofallin，andI
wastoochilledtotalk。InoticedMayonlysaidIfell，soI
wenttobedscorchedinsidewithredpeppertea，andnevertoldawordaboutdippingandfading。LeonwhisperedandsaidhebetitwasthelasttimeIwouldplaythat，soassoonasmycoatanddresswerewashedanddried，andIcouldgobacktoschool，Ididitagain，justtoshowhimIwasnocowardy-calf；butIhadlearnedfromMaytochooseapuddleIcouldmanagebeforeI
faded。
CHAPTERIX
“EvenSo“
“AllthingswhatsoeveryewouldThatmenshoulddotoyou，Doyeevensotothem。“
Ourbiggirlsandboysalwaysmadeadreadfulfussandsaidwewouldcatcheverydiseaseyoucouldmention，butmotherandfatherweresetaboutit，justlikethebigrocksinthehills。
Theysaidthey，themselves，oncehadbeenatthemercyofthepeople，andtheyknewhowitfelt。Mothersaidwhentheywerecominghereinawagon，andshehadriddenuntilshehadtowalktorestherfeet，andheldabigbabyuntilherarmsbecamesotiredshedrovewhilefathertookit，andwhenatlasttheysawahouseandstopped，shesaidifthewomanhadn’tinvitedherin，andlethercookonthestove，givenhermilkandeggs，andfurnishedherabedtosleepinonceinawhile，shecouldn’thavereachedhereatall；andsheneverhadbeenrefusedonce。
Thenshealwaysquoted：“Allthingswhatsoeveryewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou，doyeEVENSOtothem。“
Fathersaidthereweremenwhomadeabusinessofsplittinghairs，andoffindingdifferentmeaningsinalmosteverythingintheBible。Iwouldliketohaveseenanyonesplithairsaboutthat，oritmadetomeansomethingelse。OfallthethingsintheBiblethatyouhadtodobecauseitsaidto，whetheryoulikeditornot，thatwastheoneyoustruckoftenestinlifeandittookthehardestpulltoobey。Itwasjustthehatefulesttextofany，andmadeyousquirmmost。Therewasnopossiblewaytogetaroundit。Itmeant，thatifyoulikedasplinternewslate，andasharppencilallcoveredwithgoldpaper，tomakepicturesandwriteyourlessons，whenClarissaPolksatnextyouandsangsolowtheteachercouldn’thearuntilsheputherselftosleeponit，“IWISHTIhadaslate！IwishtIHADaslate！
IwishtIhadaSLATE！OhIWISHTIHADASLATE！“——itmeantthatyoujusthadtowashupyoursandstopmakingpicturesyourself，andpassitover；youevenhadtosmilewhenyouofferedit，ifyoudiditright。IseldomgotthroughitastheLordwould，foranyonewholoanedClarissaaslateknewthatitwouldcomebackwithgreasy，sweatyfingermarksonityoualmosthadtodigaholetowashoff，andyourpencilwouldbewet。Andifthereweretheleastflawofcrystalinthepencil，shefoundit，andboredownsohardthatwhatshewroteneverwouldcomeoff。
TheLordalwaysseemedbiggerandmoremajestictome，thanatanyothertime，whenIrememberedthatHecouldhaveknownallthat，andyetsmiledasHeloanedClarissaHisslate。AndthatoldBiblethingmeant，too，thatifyouwouldlikeitifyouweretravellingalongway，saytoCaliforniatohuntgold，orevenjusttoIndiana，tofindafarmfittoliveon——itmeantthatifyouweretired，hungry，andsore，andwouldwanttobetakeninandfedandrested，youhadtoletinotherpeoplewhentheyreachedyourhouse。Fatherandmotherhadbeenthroughitthemselves，andtheymusthavebeentiredascouldbe，beforetheyreachedSarahHood’sandshetookthemin，andrestedandfedthem，evenwhentheywereonlyashortwayfromthetopoftheLittleHill，wherenextmorningtheylookeddownandstoppedthewagon，untiltheychosetheplacetobuildtheirhouse。
SarahHoodcamealong，andhelpedmotherallday，sobynightshewassettledintheoldcabinthatwasontheland，andreadytogotoworkmakingmoneytobuildanewone，andthenabighouse，andfixthefarmallbeautifullikeitwasthen。Theyknewsowellhowitfelt，thattheykeptonebedintheboys’room，andanymanwhocameatduskgothissupper，tosleepthere，andhisbreakfast，andthereneverwasanythingtopay。Thegirlsalwaysscoldeddreadfullyabouttheextrawashing，butmothersaidshesleptonsheetswhenshecameout，andsomeonewashedthem。
OnetimeSallysaid：“Mother，haveyoueverfiguredouthowmanyhundredsheetsyou’vewashedsince，topayforthat？“
Mothersaid：“No，butIjusthopeitwillmakeastackhighenoughformetoclimbfromintoHeaven。“
Sallysaid：“ThetalkatthechurchalwaysledmetothinkthatyouflewtoHeaven。“
Motheranswered：“SoIgetthere，Idon’tmindifIcreep。“
ThenSallyknewitwastimetostop。Wealwaysknew。Andwestopped，too！
Wehadheardthat“Allthings“quotation，untilthefirsttwowordswereasmuchasmothereverneededrepeatofitanymore，andwehadcooked，washedfor，andwaitedonpeopletravelling，untilLeongotsowhenhesawanyonecoming——ofcourseweknewalltheneighbours，andtheirhorsesandwagonsandcarriages——healwayssaid：“Herecomesanother`EvenSo！’“Hesaidwehaddone“evenso“topeopleuntilitwasaboutourshare，butmothersaidoursharewasgoingtolastuntiltheLordsaid，“Welldone，goodandfaithfulservant，“andtookushome。Shehadmuchmoreaboutthestrangeratthegateandentertainingangelsunawares；