“Andtheyhadhimtosupper？“
“Itwasadinnerservedatnight。Yes。HetookMrs。Pryorinonhisarm，anditwaslikeagrandparty，justastheyfixedforthemselves，alone。Waiters，andsilvertrays，andthingscarriedinandoutincourses。“
“Myland！Well，Is’posehehadenoughschoolin’togethimthroughitallright！“
Mymother’sfacegrewred。Sheneverleftanyoneindoubtastowhatshemeant。Fathersaidthat“wastheDutchofit。“AndmotheralwaysansweredthatifanyonelivingcouldputthingsplainerthantheEnglish，shewouldliketohearthemdoit。
“Hecertainlyhad，“saidmother，“ortheywouldn’thaveinvitedhimtocomeagain。Andallmine，Mrs。Freshett，knewhowtositproperlyatthetable，andmanageaknife，forkandnapkin，beforetheyevertookamealawayfromhome。“
“No’fence，“laughedMrs。Freshett。“Imeantthatmaybehisyearsofcollegeschoolin’hadgivehimwaysmoreliketheirsthanmostofushave。Forallthemoneyittakestosendaboytocollege，heoughttogetsomethin’outofitmorethanjestfillin’hisheadwithfiggers，an’stars，an’oratin’；an’mostalwaysyoucanseethathedoes。“
“Itiscontactwithcultivatedpeople，“saidmother。“Youarealwaysinfluencedbyit，withoutknowingitoften。“
“Maybeyouare，bein’sofineyourself，“saidMrs。Freshett。
“An’metoo，InevergetamongmybettersthatIdon’tcarryhomealotIputrightintodailyuse，an’nobodyknowsitplainer。I
comehereexpectin’tolearnthingsthathelpme，an’whenIgohomeIknowIhave。“
“Why，thankyou，“saidmother。“I’msurethatisaverynicecompliment，andIwishIreallycouldfeelthatitiswelldeserved。“
“OhIguessyoudo！“saidMrs。Freshettlaughing。“Ioftennoticedyoumakin’aspecialefforttoteachpuddin’headslikemesomethin’，an’Ialwaysthankyouforit。There’saworldinrightteachin’。Ineverhadany。SoallIcanpickupan’
hammerintomineisagainformean’them。IfmyHenryhadlived，an’comeoutanythinglikethatboyo’yournan’theshowhemadelastSunday，I’ddowellifIdidn’tswellupan’bustwithpride。An’thelittletow-hairedstrip，takin’thegunan’
startin’outaloneafterarobber，evenifhewa’n’tmuchofaman，thatwasdownrightspunky。Ifmyboyswillcomeoutanywherenearlikeyourn，I’llbeglad。“
“Idon’tknowhowmyboyswillcomeout，“saidmother。“ButI
work，pray，hope，andhangtothem；that’sallIknowtodo。“
“Well，iftheydon’tcomeoutright，theyoughttobebumped！“
saidMrs。Freshett。“Afterallthechancesthey’vehad！Idon’
knowjesthowFreshettwasbrungup，butI’dnochanceatall。
Myfolks——well，Iguessthelesssaid——littlepitchers，youknow！
Ican’tseeasIwastoblame。Iwastheyoungest，an’Iknewthingswaswrong。Ifoughttogotoschool，an’papletmeenoughthatIsawhowotherpeoplelived。ComenightI’dgotothegarret，an’barthetrapdoor；buttherewouldbetimeswhenI
couldn’thelpseein’whatwasgoin’on。How’dyoulikechancessuchasthatforagirlofyourn？“
“Dreadful！“saidmother。“Mrs。Freshett，pleasedobecareful！“
“Sure！“laughedMrs。Freshett。“Iwasjestgoin’totellyouaboutmean’Josiah。Hecometoourhouseonenight，astrangerofftheroad。Hesaidhewassick，an’tired，an’couldhehaveabed。Mothersaid，`No，forhimtomoveon。’Hetriedan’hecouldn’t。Theywassomethin’abouthim——well，youknowhowthemthingsgo！Iwa’n’tonlysixteen，butIfeltsosorryforhim，allfeverburnedandmumblin’，Ihelpedpapputhimtobed，an’
doctoredhimallIcould。Comemornin’hewasasickman。Papwentforthecountydoctor，an’hetookjestonelookan’says：
`Smallpox！Allofyegit！’
“IwasboundIwouldn’tgo，butpapmademe，an’thedoctorsaidhe’dsendamanwho’dhadit；soIstarted，butIfeltsobad，comeachanctwhentheygottoGroveville，Islippedoutan’wentback。Themanhadn’tcome，soIsettoworkthebestIknowed。
’ForelongJosiahwasalittlebetteran’heaskedwhoIwas，an’
wheremyfolkswent，an’Itoldhim，an’heaskedWHYIcamebackan’Ididn’tknowwhattosay，soIjesthungmyheadan’
couldn’tfacehim。Afterawhilehesays，`Allright！IguessI
gotthissizedup。Ifyou’llstayan’nussmethrough，I’llbewellenoughtopullyouout，bythetimeyougetit，an’soonasyou’reablewe’llsplice，ifyousayso。’
“`Marryme，youmean？’saysI。Theywa’n’teveranytalkaboutmarryin’atourhouse。`Sure！’sayshe。`You’reamightylikelylookin’girl！I’lldofairbyye。’An’healwayshas，too！ButIdidn’tfeelrighttolethimgoitblind，soIjestupandsays。`Youwouldn’tifyouknowedmyfolks！’`YoulookasdecentasIdo，’sayshe；`I’llchanceit！’ThenItolehimI
wasasgoodasIwasborn，an’hebelievedme，an’healwayshas，an’Iwastoo！SoInussedhim，butIdidn’tmakethejobofithedid。You’memberheispittedconsiderable。HewassostrongIjestcouldn’tkeephimfromdisfigerin’himself，buthetiedme。Ibeggedtobeloose，an’hewouldn’tlisten，soIgotacleanface，onlythreelittlescars，an’theyain’tdeeptospeakof。Hesayshelookslikeapieceofsidemeat，butsay！theyain’tnothin’thematterwithhislookstome！
“Thenussmanneverdidcome，butthecountydoctorpassedthingsinthewinder，tillIwasovertheworst，an’Josiahsentforapreacheran’hemarriedusthroughthewinder——Igotthewritin’stoshow，allframedan’proper。Josiahsaidhe’dseeIgotalltheywasinitlongthatline，anyway。WhenIwaswell，hangedifhedidn’tperdooceawadfromhisclothesbeforetheyburnt’em，an’hegotusnewthingstowear，an’ahorse，an’wagon，an’wedrivawayherewherewethoughtwecouldstartright，an’
afterwehadtheland，an’builtthecabin，an’jestashappyasheartcouldwish，longcomeamanI’dmademadonce，an’hetoleeverythin’upanddown。Josiahwasgoodaboutit。Heofferedtoselltheland，an’pullupan’gofurder。`What’stheuse？’saysI。`Hundredsknowit。Wecan’tgosofaritwon’tbeliketofollowus；le’sstayherean’fightit。’`Allright，’saysJosiah，buttimean’ag’inhehasofferedtogo，ifIcouldn’tmakeit。`Hangonalittlelonger，’saysI，everytimeheknewI
wassnubbedan’slighted。Inevertolewhathedidn’tnotice。I
triedchurch，whenmychildrenbegantogitasizeIwanted’emtohaverightteachin’，an’youcomean’welcomedmean’youbeenmyfriend，an’nowtheothersiscomin’overatlast，an’
visitin’me，an’theyain’tathingmoreIwantinlife。“
“Iamsoglad！“saidmother。“Ohmydear，Iamsoglad！“
“Goin’righthomean’tellthattoJosiah，“saidMrs。Freshett，jumpinguplaughingandcryinglike，“an’mebbyI’lljestspreadwingsandfly！IneverwassohappyinallmylifeasIwasSunday，whenyouastmebeforeallofthem，socordiallike，an’
saysItoJosiah，`We’llgoan’tryitonce，’an’wecomean’
nobodyturnedacoldshoulderonus，an’Iwa’n’twearin’speckstoseeiftheydid，forIneverknowedhimsohappyinallhisdays。Orterheardhimwhistlegoin’home，an’he’stryin’allthemthingshelearned，onourplace，an’youcanseeitlooksaheapbettera’ready，an’nowhe’stalkin’aboutbuildin’inthespring。Iknowedhehadmoney，buthenevermentionedbuildin’
before，an’Ialwaysthoughtitwasbekasehe’sposedlikelywe’dhavetomoveon，sometime。’Pearsnowasifwecansettle，an’
livelikeotherfolks，afteralltheseyears。Iknowedyedidn’twantmetotalk，butIhadtotellyou！Whenyouastustotheweddin’，andothersbegancomin’round，saysItoJosiah，`Won’tshebegladtoknowthatmyskirtsisclear，an’IdidaswellasIcould？’An’hesays，`Thatshewill！An’moreamI，’sayshe。
`Imightyproudofyou，’sayshe。Proud！Thinkofthat！MissStanton，I’djestwadefireandbloodforyou！“
“Ohmydear！“saidmother。“Whatadreadfulthingtosay！“
“Gimmethechanct，an’watchifIdon’t，“saidMrs。Freshett。
“Now，JosiahisproudIstuckitout！Now，Icanhaveahouse！
Now，mychildrencanhavealltheshowwecanraisetogive’em！
I’mdonecringin’an’dodgin’！I’vealwaysdonemybest；
henceforthImeantoholdupmyheadan’sayso。Isurecan’tbeheldforwhatwasdone’foreIwasonearth，orsinceneither。
You’vegivenmemyshow，I’mgoin’totakeit，butifyouwanttoknowwhat’sinmyheartaboutyou，gimmeanykindofachancttoprove，an’seeifIdon’tponyrightuptoit！“
Motherlaugheduntilthetearsrolled，shecouldn’thelpit。ShetookMrs。Freshettinherarmsandhuggedhertight，andkissedhermightynearlikeshedoesSarahHood。Mrs。Freshettthrewherarmsaroundmother，andlookedoverhershoulder，andsaidtome，“Sis，whenyougrowup，alwaystakeachanctonwelcomin’thestranger，likeyourmawdoes，an’heaven’sboundtobeyourhome！
My，butyourmawisawomantobeproudof！“shesaid，huggingmotherandpattingherontheback。
“Allofusareproudofher！“Iboasted。
“Idoubtifyouareproudenough！“criedMrs。Freshett。“Ihavemydoubts！Idon’tseehowpeoplelivin’withher，an’seein’
hereveryday，areinashapetoknowjestwhatshecandoforapersonintheplaceIwasin。Ihavemydoubts！“
ThatnightwhenIwenthomefromschoolmotherwasworryingoverthebluegoose。Whenwewenttofeed，shetoldLeonthatshewasafraiditwasweak，andnotgettingenoughtoeatwhenitfedwiththeothers。Shesaidaftertheworkwasfinished，totakeitoutalone，andgiveitallitwouldeat；sowhenthehorsesweretended，thecowsmilked，everythingwatered，andthebarnreadytocloseforthenight，Laddietookthemilktothehouse，whileLeonandIcaughtthebluegoose，carriedhertothewell，andbegantoshellcorn。Shewasstarvedtodeath，almost。Sheateawholeearinnotimeandlookedformore，soLeonsentmeafteranother。Bythetimethatwasmostgoneshebegantoeatslower，andstickherbillintheairtohelpthegrainsslipdown，soItoldLeonIthoughtshehadenough。
“Nosuchthing！“saidLeon。“Youdistinctlyheardmothertellmetogiveher`allshewouldeat。’She’seating，isn’tshe？Gobringanotherear！“
Soshewas，butIwasdoubtfulaboutmore。
LeonsaidIbettermindorhewouldtellmother，soIgotit。
Shedidn’tbeginonitwithanyenthusiasm。Shestuckherbillhigher，stretchedhernecklonger，andshelookedsofunnywhenshedidit，thatwejustshrieked。ThenLeonreachedover，tookherbythebill，andstrippedhernecktohelpherswallow，andassoonasheletgo，shebegantoeatagain。
“Yousee！“saidLeon，“she’sbeenstarved。Shecan’tgetenough。
Imusthelpher！“
Sohedidhelphereverylittlebit。Bythattimewewereinterestedinseeinghowmuchshecouldhold；andshelookedsofunnythatLeonsentmeformorecorn；butItoldhimIthoughtwhatsheneedednowwaswater，soweheldhertothetrough，andshetriedtodrink，butshecouldn’tswallowmuch。Wesetherdownbesidethecorn，andshewenttoeatingagain。
“Goit，oldmill-hopper！“criedLeon。
Rightthentherewasanawfulcommotioninthebarn，andfromthesquealingweknewoneofthehorseswasloose，andfightingtheothers。Werantofixthem，andhadatimetogetJobackintohisstall，andtied。Beforewehadeverythingsafe，thesupperbellrang，andIbetLeonapennyIcouldreachthehousewhileheshutthedoorandgotthere。Weforgoteverysinglethingaboutthegoose。
AtsuppermotheraskedLeonifhefedthegooseallshewouldeat，andIlookedathimguilty-like，forIrememberedwehadn’tputherback。Hefrownedatmecrossasabear，andIknewthatmeanthehadremembered，andwouldslipbackandputherinsidewhenhefinishedhissupper，soIdidn’tsayanything。
“Ididn’tfeedherALLshewouldeat！“saidLeon。“IfIhad，she’dbeatityet。Shewasstarvedsureenough！Youneversawanythinglikethecornshedowned。“
“WellIdeclare！“saidmother。“Nowafterthis，takeheroutalone，forafewdays，andgiveherasmuchasshewants。“
“Allright！“chuckledLeon，becauseitwasalotoffuntoseeherrunherbillaround，andgobbleupthecorn，andstickupherhead。
ThenextdaywasSaturday，soafterbreakfastIwentwithLeontodrivethesheepandgeesetothecreektowater；thetroughwassohighitwasonlyforthehorsesandcattle；whenweletoutthegeese，theblueonewasn’tthere。
“OhLeon，didyouforgettocomebackandputherin？“
“YesIdid！“hesaid。“ImeanttowhenIlookedatyoutokeepstill，andIstartedtodoit，butSammyDeamwhistled，soIwentdownintheorchardtoseewhathewanted，andwegottoplanninghowtogetupafoxchase，andIstayeduntilfathercalledfornight，andthenIranandforgotallabouttheblameoldgoose。“
“OhLeon！Whereisshe？Whatwillmothersay？’Sposeafoxgother！“
“Itwouldn’thelpmeanyifithad，afterIwastoblameforleavingheroutside。Blastagirl！Ifyoueveramountedtoanything，youcouldhaveputherinwhileIfixedthehorses。Atleastyoucouldhavetoldmeto。“
Istoodtheredumblikeandstaredathim。Hehasgottheawfulestwayoftellingthetruthwhenheisscaredorprovoked。
OfcourseIshouldhavethoughtofthegoosewhenhewashavingsuchahardfightwiththehorses。IfI’dbeenlikehewas，I’dhavetoldhimthathewasolder，mothertoldHIMtodoit，anditwasn’tmyfault；butinmyheartIknewhedidhavehishandsfull，andifyou’reyourbrother’skeeper，yououghttoHELPyourbrotherremember。SoIstoodgawking，whileLeonslowlyturnedwhiterandwhiter。
“Wemightaswellseeifwecanfindher，“hesaidatlast，soslowandhopelesslikeitmademyheartache。Sohestartedaroundthestrawstackoneway，andItheother，lookingintoalltheholes，andbeforeIhadgonefarIhadaglimpseofher，anditscaredmesoIscreamed，forherheadwasdown，andshedidn’tlookright。Leoncamerunningandpulledherout。Theswelledcornrolledinalittletrailafterher，andthepigsranupandbegantoeatit。PigsarenamedrighterthananythingelseI
know。
“Busted！“criedLeonintonesofawe；abouttheworstaweyoueverheard，andtheworstbustyoueversaw。
Frombilltobreastshewaswideopen，andthehominyspilling。
Wejuststoodstaringather，andthenLeonbegantokickthepigs；becauseitwouldbenousetokickthegoose；shewouldneverknow。Thenhetookherup，carriedherintothebarn，andputheronthefloorwheretheothergeesehadstayedallnight。
Westoodandlookedathersomemore，asiflookingandhopingwouldmakehergetupandbealiveagain。Butthere’snothinginallthisworldsouselessaswishingdeadthingswouldcomealive；wehadtodosomething。
“Whatareyougoingtotellmother？“
“Shutup！“saidLeon。“I’mtryingtothink。“
“I’llsayitwasasmuchmyfaultasyours。I’llgowithyou。
I’lltakehalfwhatevertheydotoyou。“
“Littlefool！“saidLeon。“Whatgoodwouldthatdome？“
“Doyouknowwhattheycost？Couldyougetanotherwithsomeofyourhorsemoney？“