CHAPTERXII
TheHornoftheHunter“Theduskynightridesdownthesky，Andushersinthemorn：
Thehoundsalljoiningloriouscry，Thehuntsmanwindshishorn。“
Leonsaidourhouseremindedhimofthemourners’benchbeforeanyonehad“comethrough。“HesaiditwassodeadlywithSallyandShelleyaway，thathehadabignotiontomarrySusieFallandbringherovertoliventhingsupalittle。Mothersaidshethoughtthatwouldbeagoodidea，andLeonstartedinthedirectionofFalls’，butheonlywentasfarasDeams’。Whenhecamebackhehadagreatstorytotellaboutdogschasingtheirsheep，andfoxestakingtheirgeese。Fathersaidsheepwereonlysafebehindsecurelycloseddoors，especiallyinwinter，andgeesealso。Leonsaideveryonehadn’tasbigabarnasours，andfathersaidtherewasnothingtopreventanymanfrombuildingthesizedbarnheneededtoshelterhiscreaturesinsafetyandcomfort，ifhewantedtodiginandearnthemoneytoputitup。Therewasnoanswertothat，andMr。Leondidn’ttrytomakeany。Mostly，hesaidsomethingtokeepontalking，butsometimeshesawwhenhehadbetterquit。
Iwashavingagoodtime，myself。Ofcoursewhenthefeverwastheworst，andwhenIneverhadbeensickbefore，itwasprettybad，butassoonasIcouldbreatheallright，therewasnopaintospeakof，andeveryonewassogoodtome。IcouldhaveBobbyonthefootboardofmybedaslongasIwantedhim，andhewouldcrowwheneverItoldhimto。IkeptGraceGreenwoodbesideme，andspoiledherdressmakinghertakesomeofeachdoseofmedicineIdid，butShelleywrotethatshewassavinggoodsandshewouldmakeheranotherassoonasshecamehome。ImademotherputredflannelonGrace’schestandaroundherneck，untilIcouldhardlyfindhermouthwhenshehadtotakehermedicine，butsheswalloweditdownallright，orshegothernoseheld，untilshedid。ShewasnotnearlysosickasIwas，though。Webothgrewbettertogether，and，whenDr。Fennerbroughtmecandy，shehadhershare。
WhenIbegantogetwellitwaslovely。Suchtoast，chickenbroth，andsquirrels，asmotheralwayshad。Ievengotthechickenliver，oranges，andallofthemgavemeeverythingtheyhadthatIwanted——Imustalmosthavediedtomakethemactlikethat！
Laddieandfatherwouldtakemeupwrappedinblanketsandholdmetorestmyback。Fatherwouldrockmeandsingabout“YoungJohnny，“justashehadwhenIwaslittle。Wealwayslaughedatit，weknewitwasafoolsong，butwelikedit。Thetunewassmoothandsleepy-likeandthewordswent：
“OnedayyoungJohnny，hedidgo，Waydowninthemeadowfortomow。
Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
Hescarcehadmowedtwiceroundthefield，Whenapeskysarpentbithimontheheel，Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
Hethrewthescytheupontheground，An’shuthiseyes，andlookedallround，Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
Hetookthesarpentinhishand，AndthenranhometoMollyBland，Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
OMollydear，anddon’tyousee，Thispeskysarpentthatbitme？
Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
OJohnnydear，whydidyougo，Waydowninthemeadowfottomow？
Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
OMollydear，Ithoughtyouknowed’Twasdaddy’sgrass，anditmustbemowed，Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！
Nowallyoungmenawarningtake，Anddon’tgetbitbyarattlesnake。
Li-tu-di-nan-incty，tu-di-nan-incty，noddyO！“
Allofthemtoldmestories，readtome，andFrank，oneofmybiggone-awaybrothers，sentmetheprettiestlittlebook。Ithadagreencoverwithgoldontheback，anditwasfullofstoriesandpoems，notsoveryhard，becauseIcouldreadeveryoneofthem，withhelponafewwords。ThepieceIlikedbestwaspoetry。Ifithadn’tbeenforthat，I’mafraid，Iwashavingsuchagoodtime，I’dhavelainthereuntilIforgothowtowalk，withallofthemtryingtoseewhocouldbenicesttome。Theoneswhoreallycould，wereLaddieandthePrincess，exceptmother。
Laddieliftedmemostcarefully，thePrincesstoldthebeststories，butafterall，iftheburningandchokinggrewsobadI
couldscarcelystandit，mothercouldlayherhandonmyheadandsay，“Poorchild，“inawaythatmademeworktokeeponbreathing。MaybeIonlyTHOUGHTIlovedLaddiebest。IguessifIhadbeenforcedtotakemychoicewhenIhadthefever，I’dhavestuckprettytighttomother。EvenDr。FennersaidifI
pulledthroughshe’dhavetomakeme。Imighthavebeenlyingthereyet，ifithadn’tbeenforthebookFranksentme，withthepoetrypieceinit。Itbegan：
“Somewhereonasunnybank，buttercupsarebright，Somewhere’midthefrozengrass，peepsthedaisywhite。“
IreadthatsooftenIcouldrepeatitquiteaswellwiththebookshutasopen，andeverytimeIreadit，Iwantedoutdoorsworse。Inoneplaceitran：
“Welcome，yellowbuttercups，welcomedaisieswhite，Yeareinmyspiritvisionedadelight。
Cominginthespringtimeofsunnyhourstotell，SpeakingtoourheartsofHimwhodoethallthingswell。“
Thatpiecehelpedmeoutofbed，andtheblueganderscreamingopenedthedoor。Itwasfunnyaboutittoo。Idon’tknowWHYitworkedonmethatway；itjustkeptsinginginmyheartallday，andIcouldshutmyeyesandgotosleepseeingbuttercupsinagoldsheetalloverourBigHill，althoughthereneverwasasingleonethere；andmeadowsfullofdaisies，whichwerethingsfathersaidwereapesthecouldn’ttolerate，becausetheyspreadso，andhegrubbedupeveryonehefound。YetthatpiecefilledourmeadowuntilIimaginedIcouldrollondaisies。Theymightbeapesttofarmers，butsheetsofthemwereprettygoodifyouwereburningwithfever。BetweenthebuttercupsandthedaisiesIleftthebedwithalightheadandwobblylegs。
OfcourseIwasn’tanidiot。IknewwhenIlookedfromoursouthwindowexactlywhatwastobeseen。Thepersonwhowrotethatpiecewastheidiot。Itsangandsoundedpretty，anditpulledyouupandpushedyouout，butreallyitwasafoolthing，asI
verywellknew。Icouldn’timaginedaisiespeepingthroughfrozengrass。AnybabyshouldhaveknowntheybloomedinJuly。
Skunkcabbagealwayscamefirst，andhepatica。IfIhadlookedfromanyofourwindowsandseendaisiesandbuttercupsinMarch，I’dhavefallenoverwiththeshock。Iknewtherewouldbefrozenbrownearth，lastyear’sdeadleaves，caved-inappleandpotatoholes，thecabbagerowalmostgone，puddlesofwaterandmudeverywhere，andIwouldheargeesescreamandhenssing。Andyetthatpoemkeptpullingandpulling，andIwashappyasaqueen——Iwonderediftheywereforsure；motherhaddoubts——thedayIwaswrappedinshawlsandmightsitanhourinthesunonthetopboardofthebackfence，whereIcouldseethebarn，orchard，thecreekandthemeadow，asyounevercouldinsummerbecauseoftheleaves。Iwasn’tlookingforbuttercupsanddaisieseither。Imightywellknewtherewouldn’tbeany。
Butthesunwasthere。Alittletasteofwillow，oakandmaplewasintheair。Youcouldseethebudsgrowingfattoo，andyoucouldsmellthem。Ifyouopenedyoureyesandlookedinanydirectionyoucouldseebluesky，big，raggedwhiteclouds，baretrees，muddyearthwithgrassypatches，andwhitespotsontheshadysideswhereunmeltedsnowmadetheicyfeelintheair，evenwhenthesunshone。Youcouldn’thearyourselfthinkfortheclatteroftheturkeys，ganders，roosters，hens，andeverythingthathadavoice。IwassocrazywithitIcouldscarcelyhangtothefence；Iwantedtogetdownandscrapemywingslikethegobbler，andscreamlouderthanthegander，andcrowoftenerthantherooster。Therewaseverythingalliceandmud。Theywouldhavefrozen，iftheyhadn’tbeenputinahouseatnight，andstarved，iftheyhadn’tbeenfed；theywerenotattheplacewheretheycouldhuntandscratch，andnotpayanyattentiontofeedingtime，becauseofbeingsoburstingfull。
Theyhadnonestsandbabiestorejoiceover。Buttheretheywere！AndsowasI！Buttercupsanddaisiesbe-hanged！Iceandmudreally！Butifyoubreathedthatair，andshutyoureyes，north，youcouldseeblueflags，scarletlilies，buttercups，cattailsandredbirdssailingoverthem；east，therewouldbeapplebloomandsoftgrass，cowslips，andbubblingwater，robins，thrushes，andbluebirds；andsouth，wavingcornwithwildroseandalderborders，andsparrows，andlarksoneveryfencerider。
RightthereIgotthatdaisythingfiguredout。Itwasn’tthattherewereoreverwouldbedaisiesandbuttercupsamongthefrozengrass；butitwasforeverandalwaysthatwhenthisFEEL
cameintotheair，youknewtheywereCOMING。THATwaswhatailedtheganderandthegobbler。Theyhadn’tathingtobethankfulforyet，butsomethinginsidethemwasswellingandpushingbecauseofwhatwascoming。Ifeltexactlyastheydid，becauseIwantedtoactthesameway，butI’dbeensickenoughtoknowthatI’dbetterbethankfulforthechancetositonthefence，andthinkaboutbuttercupsanddaisies。Really，oneoldbrownandpurpleskunkcabbagewithahalf-frozenbeebuzzingoverit，orafewforlornlittlespringbeauties，wouldhavesetmewild，andwhenalarkreallydidgoover，awayuphigh，andadovebegantocoointheorchard，ifLaddiehadn’tcomeforme，I
wouldhavefallenfromthefence。
Isimplyhadtogetwellandquicklytoo，forthewonderfultimewasbeginning。Itwasallverywelltolieinbedwhentherewasnothingelsetodo，andeveryonewouldpetmeandgivemethings；butherewasmaplesyruptimerightatthedoor，andthesugarcampmostfunalive；herewasalltheneighbourhoodcrazymadatthefoxes，andplanningagreatchasecoveringacircuitofmilesbeforethegroundthawed；herewasEasterandallthechildrencoming，exceptShelley——again，itwouldcosttoomuchforonlyoneday——andwitheverythingbeginningtohum，Ifoundouttherewouldbemoreamusementoutdoorsthaninside。ThatwashowIcametostudyoutthedaisypiece。Therewasnothinginthesilly，untruelines：thepullandtugwasinwhattheymadeyouthinkof。
IwasstillsoweakIhadtotakeanapeveryday，soIwasn’tsleepyasearlyatnight，andIheardfatherandmothertalkoveralotofthingsbeforetheywenttobed。Aftertheymentionedit，Irememberedthatwehadn’treceivednearlysomanylettersfromShelleylately，andmotherseldomfoundtimetoreadthemaloudduringthedayandforgot，orhereyesweretired，atnight。
“AreyouworryingaboutShelley？“askedfatheronenight。
“Yes，Iam，“answeredmother。
“Whatdoyouthinkisthetrouble？“
“I’mafraidthingsarenotcomingoutwithMr。Pagetasshehoped。“
“Iftheydon’t，sheisgoingtobeunhappy？“
“That’sputtingitmildly。“
“Well，Iwasdoubtfulinthebeginning。“
“Nowholdon，“saidmother。“SowasI；butwhatareyougoingtodo？Ican’tgothroughtheworldwithmygirls，andmeetmenforthem。ItrainedthemjustascarefullyaspossiblebeforeI
startedthemout；thatwasallIcoulddo。Shelleyknowswhenamanappearsclean，decentandlikable。Sheknowswhenhiscallingisrespectable。Sheknowswhenhisspeechisproper，hismannerscorrect，andhiswaysattractive。Shefoundthismanallofthesethings，andshelikedhimaccordingly。AtChristmasshetoldmeaboutitfreely。“
“Haveyouanyideahowfarthethinghasgone？“
“Shesaidthenthatshehadseenhimtwiceaweekfortwomonths。
Heseemedveryfondofher。Hehadtoldherhecaredmoreforherthananygirlheeverhadmet，andhehadaskedhertocomeherethissummerandpayusavisit，soshewantedtoknowifhemight。“
“Ofcourseyoutoldheryes。“
“CertainlyItoldheryes。Iwishnowwe’dsavedmoneyandyou’dgonetovisitherandmethimwhenshefirstwroteofhim。Youcouldhavefoundoutwhoandwhathewas，andwithyourexperienceyoumighthavepointedoutsignsthatwouldhavehelpedhertosee，beforeitwastoolate。“
“Whatdoyouthinkisthetrouble？“
“IwishIknew！Shesimplyisfailingtomentionhiminherletters；allthejoyoflivinghasdroppedfromthem，shemerelywritesaboutherwork；andnowsheisbeginningtocomplainofhomesicknessandtosaythatshedoesn’tknowhowtoendurethecityanylonger。There’ssomethingwrong。“
“HadIbettergonow？“
“Toolate！“saidmother，andIcouldhearherthroatgowrongandthechokecomeintohervoice。“Sheisdeeplyinlovewithhim；
hehasn’tfoundinherwhathedesires；probablyheisnotcominganymore；whatcouldyoudo？“
“IcouldgoandseeifthereisanythingIcoulddo？“
“Shemaynotwantyou。I’llwriteherto-morrowandsuggestthatyouorLaddiepayheravisitandlearnwhatshethinks。“
“Allright，“saidfather。
Hekissedherandwenttosleep，butmotherwasawakeyet，andshegotupandstoodlookingdownatthechurchandthetwolittlewhitegravestonesshecouldseefromherwindow，untilI
thoughtshewouldfreeze，andshedidnearly，forherhandswerecoldandthetearsfallingwhensheexaminedmycovers，andfeltmyfaceandhandsbeforeshewenttobed。My，butthemotherofafamilylikeoursisnevershortofalotofthingstothinkof！
Ihadanewonemyself。Nowwhatdoyousupposetherewasaboutthatman？
OfcourseafterhavinglivedallherlifewithfatherandLaddie，Shelleywouldknowhowamanshouldlook，andacttoberight；
andthisonemusthavebeenrighttomakeherbloomoutinwinterthewayotherthingsdoinspring；andnowwhatcouldbewrong？
MaybecitygirlswereprettierthanShelley。Butallwomenweremadealikeontheoutside，andthatwasasfarasyoucouldsee。