ThenIroared；betIsoundedlikeBashan’sbull。
“DearLord！“saidLaddiedroppingthesheepandtakingmeinhiswetarms。“Tellme，Biddy！Tellmehowitis。“
ThenIforgotIwasaCrusader，andtoldhimallaboutitaswellasIcouldforchoking，andwhenIfinishedhebathedmyhotface，andhelpedmefromtheroots。ThenhewentandlookeddowntheholeIshowedhimandhecriedoutquicklike，andthrewhimselfonthegrass，andinasecondupcamethefish。Someonehadrolledabigstoneinthehole，sothefishwasallright，notevendeadyet，andLaddiesaiditwasthebiggestoneheeverhadseentakenfromthecreek。ThenhesaidifI’dforgivehimandallourfamily，forspoilingthekindofalifeIhadaperfectrighttolead，andifI’druntothehouseandgetabigbottlefromthemedicinecasequick，hewouldseetoitthatsomeplacewasfixedforthatsheepwhereitwouldneverbothermeagain。SoItookthefishandranasfastasIcould，butIsentMaybackwiththebottle，anddidthescalingmyself。Nooneatourhousecoulddoitbetter，forLaddietaughtmetherightwaylongago，whenIwassmall，andI’ddoneithundredsoftimes。
ThenIwenttoCandaceandsheputalittlebitofbutterandaspeckoflardinaskillet，andcookedthefishbrown。Shemadeasliceoftoastandboiledacupofwaterandcarriedittothedoor；thenshewentinandsetthetablebesidethebed，andI
tookinthetray，anddidn’tspilladrop。Motherneversaidaword；shejustreachedoutandbrokeoffatinyspeckandnibbledit，anditstayed；shetriedalittlebiggerpiece，andanother，andshesaid：“Takeoutthebones，Candace！“Sheateeveryscrapofthatfishlikethehungriesttravellerwhoevercametoourdoor，andthetoast，anddrankthehotwater。Thenshewentintoalongsleepandallofuswalkedtiptoe，andwhenshewakedupshewasbetter，andinafewdaysshecouldsitinherchairagain，andshebegangettingShelleyreadytogotomusicschool。
Ihavetotellyoutherest，too。Laddiemadetheramcomealive，andfathersolditthenextdayformorethanhepaidforit。HesaidhehopedI’dforgivehimfornothavingseenhowithadbeenbotheringme，andthatheneverwouldhavehaditontheplaceadayifhe’dknown。Thenexttimehewenttotownheboughtmeatrulylittlecanerod，arealfishingline，severalhooks，andaredbobbertoolovelytoputintothewater。I
thoughtIwasagreatpersonfromthefussallofthemmadeoverme，untilInoticedLaddieshrughisshoulders，andreachbackandrubone，andthenIremembered。
Iwentflying，andthankgoodness！heheldouthisarms。
“OhLaddie！Ineverdidit！“Icried。“Inever，neverdid！I
couldn’t！Laddie，Iloveyoubestofanyone；youknowIdo！“
“Ofcourseyoudidn’t！“saidLaddie。“MyLittleSisterwasn’tanywherearoundwhenthathappened。ThatwasapoorlittlegirlIneversawbefore，andshewasinsuchtroubleshedidn’tknowWHATshewasdoing。AndIhopeI’llneverseeheragain，“heended，twistinghisshoulder。Buthekissedmeandmadeitallright，andreallyIdidn’tdothat；Ijustsimplycouldn’thavestruckLaddie。
MarryingoffSallywaslittleworsethangettingShelleyreadyforschool。Shehadtohavethreesuitsofeverything，andanewdressofeachkind，andthreehats；hertrunkwouldn’tholdalltherewastoputinit；andfathersaidhenevercouldpaythebills。Hehadpromisedhertogo，andhedidn’tknowwhatinthisworldtodo；becauseheneverhadborrowedmoneyinhislife，andhecouldn’tbegin；forifhediedsuddenly，thatwouldleavemotherindebt，andtheymighttakethelandfromher。
Thatmeanthe’dspentwhathehadinthebankonSally’swedding，andallthatwasintheUndergroundStation，ormaybetheStationmoneywasn’this。
Justwhenhewasawfullybothered，mothersaidtonevermind，shebelievedshecouldfixit。Shesentallofusintotheorchardtopickthefineapplesthatdidn’tkeepwell，andfathermadethreetripstotowntosellthem。Shehadbigjarsoflardshewouldn’tneedbeforebutcheringtimecameagain，andshesolddriedapples，peaches，andraspberriesfromlastyear。Shegotlotsofmoneyforbarrelsoffeathersshe’dsavedtoimproveherfeatherbedsandpillows；shesaidshewouldseetothatlater。
Fatherwassotickledtogetthemoneytohelphimoutthathesaidhe’dgetherapairofthosewonderfulnewbluegeeselikePryorshad，thateveryonestoppedtolookat。Whentherewasnotquiteenoughyet，fromsomewheremotherbroughtoutmoneythatshe’dsavedforalongtime，frombutterandeggs，andchickens，andturkeys，andfruitandlard，andthingsthatbelongedtoher。Fatherhatedtouseittheworstway，butshesaidshe’dsaveditforanemergency，andnowseemedtobethetime。
Shesaidifthechildreallyhadtalent，sheshouldbeaboutdevelopingit，andwhiletherewouldbemanywhowouldhavefarfinerthingsthanShelley，stillshemeanthertohaveenoughthatshewouldn’tbetheworstlookingone，andsoashamedshecouldn’tkeephermindonherwork。Fathersaid，withherfaceitdidn’tmakeanydifferencewhatshewore，andmothersaidthatwasjustlikeaman；itmadeallthedifferenceintheworldwhatagirlwore。Fathersaidmaybeitdidtothegirl，andotherwomen；whathemeantwasthatitmadenonetoaman。Mothersaidthechiefaimandendofagirl’slifewasnotwrappedupinaman；andfathersaidmaybenotwithsomegirls，butitwouldbewithShelley：shewastooprettytoescape。IdowonderifI’mgoingtobetooprettytoescape，whenIputonlongdresses。
SometimesIlookintheglasstoseeifit’scoming，butIdon’tsupposeit’sanyuse。Mothersaysyoucan’ttellathingatthegrowingageabouthowagirlisgoingtolookateighteen。
Wheneverythingwasalmostready，Leoncameinonedayandsaid：
“Shelley，whataboutimprovingyourhair？Haveyoutriedyourwildgrapesapyet？“
Shelleysaid：“Why，goodnessme！We’vebeensobusygettingSallymarried，andmyclothesmade，Iforgotallaboutthat。
Haveyounoticedthecrockinpassing？Isthereanythinginit？“
“Itwasabouthalffull，oncewhenIwentby，“saidLeon。“I
haven’tseenitlately。“
“Dopleasebeadearandlook，whenyougoafterthecowsthisevening，“saidShelley。“Ifthere’sanythinginit，bringitup。“
“Doityourselfforwantofme，Theboyrepliedquitemanfully，“
quotedLeonfrom“TheLittleLordandtheFarmer。“Hewasalwaysteasing。
“Ithinkyou’remeanasdirtifyoudontbringit，“saidShelley。
Leongrinnedandyoushouldhaveheardthenasty，teasingwayhesaidmoreofthatsamepiece：
“Angerandpridearebothunwise，Vinegarnevercatchesflies——“
Iwonderedshedidn’tslaphim。Youcouldseeshewantedto。“I
cangetitmyself，“shesaidangrily。
“Whatwillyougivemetobringit？“askedLeon，whonevermissedachancetomakeabargain。
“Mygratefulthanks。Aretheynotaproperreward？“askedShelley。
“Thanksyourfoot！“saidLeon。“WillyoubringsomethingprettyfromChicagoforSusieFall’sChristmaspresent？“
Everyonelaughed，butLeonnevercared。HelikedSusiebestofanyofthegirls，andhewantedeveryonetoknowit。Hewentstraighttoherwheneverhehadachance，andhe’dalreadytoldhermothertokeepalltheotherboysaway，becausehemeanttomarryherwhenhegrewup，andWidowFallsaidthatwasfairenough，andshe’dsaveherforhim。SoShelleysaidshewouldgethimsomethingforSusie，andLeonbroughtthecrock。Shelleylookedatitsortofdubious-like，tippedit，andstaredatthedirtsettledinthebottom，andthenstuckinherfingerandtastedit。ShelookedatLeonwithaqueergrinandsaid：
“Smarty，smarty，thinkyou’resmart！“Shethrewthecreekwaterintotheswillbucket。Noonesaidaword，butLeonlookedmuchsillierthanshedid。AfterhewasgoneIaskedherifshewouldbringhimaChristmaspresentforSusieNOW，andshesaidsheoughttobringhimaprettyglassbottlelabelledperfume，withhartshorninit，andshewould，ifshethoughthe’dsmellitfirst。
Shelleyfeltbadlyaboutleavingmotherwhenshewasn’tverywell；butmothersaiditwasallright，shehadCandacetokeephouseandMayandme，andfather，andallofustotakecareofher，anditwouldbebestforShelleytogonowandworkhardasshecould，whileshehadthechance。Sooneafternoonfathertookhertrunktothedepotandboughttheticketsandgotthechecks，andthenextdayLaddiedrovetoGrovevillewithfatherandShelley，andshewasgone。Rightatthelast，shedidn’tseemtowanttoleavesobadly，butallofthemsaidshemust。
Peter’scousin，whohadgonelastyear，wastomeether，andhavearoomreadywheresheboardedifshecould，andifshecouldn’trightaway，thenthefirstonewholeft，Shelleywastohavetheplace，sothey’dbetogether。
Therewereeightofusleft，countingCandaceandMissAmelia，andyouwouldn’tthinkahousewitheightpeoplelivinginitwouldbeempty，butourswas。Everythingseemedtowilt。Therosesonthewindowblindsdidn’tlooksobrightastheyhad；
mothersaidtheonlywayshecouldgetalongwastokeeprightonworking。ShehelpedCandaceallshecould，butshecouldn’tbeonherfeetverymuch，soshesatalldaylongandpeeledpeachestodry，showedCandacehowtojelly，preserve，andspicethem，andpeeledapplesforbutterandtodry，quantitiesmorethanwecoulduse，butshesaidshealwayscouldsellsuchthings，andwiththebunchofustoeducateyet，we’dneedthemoney。
Whenitgrewcoldenoughtoshutthedoors，andhavefireatnight，firstthingaftersupperallofushelpedclearthetable，thenwetookourslatesandbooksandlearnedourlessonsforthenextday，andthenfatherlinedusagainstthewall，allinarowfromLaddiedown，andhepronouncedwords——easyonesthatdividedintosyllablesnicely，forme，harderforMay，andsoupuntilI
mightsitdown。ForLaddie，MayandLeonheusedthegeography，theBible，Roland’shistory，theChristianAdvocate，andtheAgriculturist。My，buthehadthemsotheycouldspell！Afterthat，asmemorytests，allofusrecitedourreadinglessonforthenextday，especiallythepoetrypieces。Iknewmostofthem，fromhearingthebigfolksrepeatthemsooftenandpractisetheproperwaytoreadthem。Icoulddo“Rienzi’sAddresstotheRomans，““Casablanca，““Gray’sElegy，“or“MarkAntony’sSpeech，“
butbestofall，Iliked“LinestoaWater-fowl。“Whenhewastired，ifitwerenotbedtimeyet，allofus，boystoo，sewedragsforcarpetandrugs。Laddiebraidedcornhusksforthekitchenandoutsidedoormats，andtheywerepretty，and“veryusefultoo，“likethedogthatgothisheadpattedinMcGuffey’sSecond。
Thentheypickedtheapples。Thesehadtobepickedbyhand，wrappedinsoftpaper，packedinbarrels，andshippedtoFortWayne。Wheretheycouldn’treachbyhand，theystoodonbarrelsorladders，andusedalonghandledpicker，soasnottobruisethefruit。Laddiehelpedwitheverythingthroughtheday，workedathisbooksatnight，andwheneverhesteppedoutsidehelookedinthedirectionofPryors’。Heclimbedtothetopmostlimbsofthetreeswithabigbasket，pickeditfullandletitdownwithalongpieceofclothesline。Ilovedtobeintheorchardwhentheywereworking；therewereplentyofsummerapplestoeatyet；
itwasfuntowatchthemen，andsometimesIcouldbeusefulbyhandingbasketsorheapingupapplestobeburiedforus。
Onenightfatherreadaboutamanwhohadbeenhangedforkillinganotherman，andtheycuthimdowntoosoon，sohecamealive，andtheyhadtohanghimover；andfathergotallworkedupaboutit。Hesaidthemanhadsuffereddeaththefirsttimeto“allintentsandpurposes，“sothatfulfilledtherequirementsofthelaw，andtheywerewrongwhentheyhangedhimagain。Laddiesaiditwasapieceofbunglingsureenough，butthelawsaidamanmustbe“hangedbyhisneckuntilhewasdead，“andifheweren’tdead，why，itwasplainhehadn’tfulfilledtherequirementsofthelaw，sotheywereforcedtohanghimagain。Fathersaidthatlawwaswrong；themannevershouldhavebeenhangedinthefirstplace。Theytalkedandargueduntilwewereallexcitedaboutit，andthenexteveningafterschoolLeonandIwerehelpingpickapples，andwhenfatherandLaddiewenttothebarnwithaloadwesatdowntorestandwethoughtaboutwhattheysaid。
“Gee，thatwastoughontheman！“saidLeon，“butIguessthelawisallright。Ofcoursehewouldn’twanttodie，andtwiceoveratthat，butIdon’tsupposethemanhekilledlikedtodieeither。Ithinkifyoutakealife，it’sallrighttogiveyourowntopayforit。“
“Leon，“Isaid，“sometimewhenyouarefightingAbsalomSaundersorLouWicks，justawful，ifyouhitthemtoohardonsometenderspotandkillthem，wouldyouwanttodietopayforit？“
“Iwouldn’twantto，butIguessI’dhaveto，“saidLeon。
“That’sthelaw，andit’sasgoodawaytomakeitasany。ButI’mnotgoingtokillanyone。I’vestudiedmyphysiologyhardtofindallthespotsthatwillkill。Ineverhitthembehindtheear，orinthepitofthestomach；Ijustblacktheireyes，bloodytheirsnoots，andswatthemonthechintofinishoffwith。“
“Well，supposetheydon’tstudytheirphysiologieslikeyoudo，andhitYOUinthewrongplace，andkillyou，wouldyouwantTHEM
hangedbytheneckuntiltheyweredead，topayforit？“
“Idon’tthinkI’dwantanythingifIweredead，“hesaid。“I
wonderhowitfeelstodie。NowTHATmanknew。I’dliketobehangedenoughtofindouthowitgoes，andthencomeback，andbragaboutit。Idon’tthinkithurtsmuch；IbelieveI’lltryit。“
SoLeontooktheropeLaddieloweredthebasketswith，andthrewitoverabiglimb。Thenherolledupabarrelandstoodonitandputmysunbonnetonwiththecrownoverhisface，forablackcap，andmadetheropeintoaslipnooseoverhishead，andtoldmetostandbackbytheappletreeandholdtheropetight，untilhesaidhewashangedenough。Thenhesteppedfromthebarrel。
Itjerkedmetowardhimaboutayard，ashecamedownsmash！onhisfeet。Iheldwithallmymight，buthewastooheavy——andfallingthatway。Sohewenttotryingtofixsomeotherplan，andItoldhimthesensiblethingtodowouldbeforhimtohangme，becausehe’dbestrongenoughtoholdmeandIcouldtellhimhowitfeltjustaswell。Sowefixedmeuplikewehadhim，andwhenLeongottheropestretched，hewrappedittwicearoundtheappletreesoitwouldn’tjerkhimasithadme，andwhenhesaid“Ready，“Isteppedfromthebarrel。ThelastthingIheardwasLeontellingmetosaywhenIwashangedenough。Iwassoheavy，theropestretched，andIwentdownuntilitalmosttoreoffmyhead，andIcouldn’tgetasinglebreath，soofcourseIdidn’ttellhim，andIcouldn’tgetonthebarrel，andmytonguewentout，andmychestswelledup，andmyearsroared，andIkickedandstruggled，andallthetimeIcouldhearLeonlaughing，andshoutingtokeepitup，thatIwasdyingfine；onlyhedidn’tknowthatIreallywas，andatlastIdidn’tfeelorknowanythingmore。
WhenIcameto，Iwaslyingonthegrass，whilefatherwaspumpingmyarms，andLaddiewaspouringcreekwateronmyfacefromhishat，andLeonwasrunningaroundincircles，clearcrazy。Iheardfathertellhimhe’dgivehimascutchinghe’dremembertothedayofhisdeath；butinasmuchasIhadtoldLeontodoit，IhadtograbfatherandholdtohimtightasIcould，untilIgotbreathenoughtoexplainhowithappened。EventhenIwasn’tsurewhathewasgoingtodo。