Youcouldn’tseewhytheywashedthebedding，andtookthefeathersfromthepillowsandsteamedtheminmosquitonettingbagsanddriedthemintheshade，whenSally’swastobeamorningwedding，buttheydid。IevenhadtotakeabucketandgatherfromaroundthewallsallthelittleheapsofrocksandshellsthatUncleAbrahamhadsentmotherfromCalifornia，takethemoutandwashandwipethem，andstackthemback，withthefanciestonesontop。Hesentheraringmadeofgoldhedughimself。Shealwayskepttheringinabottleinherbureau，andshemeanttowearitatthewedding，withhernewsilkdress。I
　　hadanewdresstoo。Idon’tknowhowtheygoteverythingdone。
　　Allofthemworked，untilthelastfewdaystheywereperfectcrosspatches。
　　Whentheycouldn’tfindanotherthingindoorstoscour，theybeganontheyard，orchard，barnandroad。MotherevenhadLeonstackthewoodpilestraighter。Shesaidwhencordedwoodleanedatanangle，itmadepeopleseemshiftless；andsheneverpassedaplacewhereitlookedthatwaythatherfingersdidn’tjustitchtogetatit。Hehadtopulleveryragweedoneachsideoftheroadasfarasourlandreached，andlayeveryrailstraightinthefences。FatherhadtotakespikesandourbiggestmaulandgotothebridgesatthefootoftheBigandtheLittleHill，andseethateveryplankwasfast，sononeofthemwouldrattlewhenimportantguestsdroveacross。Shesaidshejustsimplywouldn’thavetheminsuchaconditionthatJudgePettiscouldn’thearhimselfthinkwhenhecrossed；foryoucouldtellfromhislooksthatitwasveryimportantthatnoneofthethingshethoughtshouldbelost。Therewasn’tasinglespotabouttheplaceinsideoroutthatwasn’tgoneover；andtolotsofityouneverwouldhaveknownanythinghadbeendoneifyouhadn’tseen，becausetheplacewasalwaysinpropershapeanyway；butfathersaidmotheractedjustlikethat，evenwhenhersonsweremarriedatotherpeople’shouses；andifshekeptongettingworse，everygirlshemarriedoff，bythetimeshereachedme，we’dallbescouredthreadbareandshe’dbeonthevergeofthegrave。MayandIweededtheflowerbeds，pickedalltheripeseed，andpulledupandburnedallthestalksthatweredoneblooming。FatherandLaddiewentoverthegardencarefully；theyscrapedthewalksandevenshookthepalingstoseeifoneweregoingtocomelooserightatthelastminute，wheneveryonewouldbesoflustratedtherewouldbenotimetofixit。
　　Thentheybegantotalkaboutarrangementsfortheceremony，whetherweshouldhaveourregularminister，orPresidingElderLemon，andwhatpeopletheyweregoingtoinvite。Justwhenwehadplannedtoaskeveryone，havetheweddinginthechurch，andthebreakfastatthehouse，andalldriveinajoyousprocessiontoGrovevilletogivethemagoodsend-offinwalkedSally。ShehadbeenvisitingPeter’speople，andweplannedalotwhileshewasaway。
　　“What’sgoingonhere？“sheasked，standinginthedoorway，danglingherbonnetbytheties。
　　Sheneverlookedprettier。Herhairhadblownoutinlittlecurlsaroundherfacefromriding，hercheeksweresopink，andhereyessobright。
　　“Weweretalkingabouthavingtheceremonyinthechurch，soeveryonecanbecomfortablyseated，andseeandhearwell，“
　　answeredmother。
　　Sallystraightenedupandbeganjerkingtherosesonherbonnetfartooroughlyforartificialflowers。PerhapsIsurprisedyouwiththatartificialword，butIcanspellanddefineit；it’seasydividedintosyllables。Goodnessknows，Ihaveseenenoughflowersmadefromthehairofthedead，wax，andpaper，whereyougettheshape，butthecolourneverisright。TheseofSally’sweremuchtoobright，buttheywerebetterthantheonesmadeatourhouse。Herswereofclothandboughtatastore。Youcouldn’ttellwhy，butSallyjerkedherroses；Iwishedshewouldn’t，becauseIverywellknewtheywouldbeusedtotrimmyhatthenextsummer，andshesaid：“Well，peopledon’thavetobecomfortableduringaweddingceremony；theycanstandupifI
　　can，andasforseeingandhearing，I’maskingagoodmanythatI
　　don’tintendtohaveseeorheareitherone！“
　　“Mysoul！“criedmother，andshedroppedherhandsandhermouthfellopen，likeshealwaystolduswenevershouldletours，whileshestaredatSally。
　　“Idon’tcare！“saidSally，straighteningtalleryet；hereyesbegantoshineandherlipstoquiver，asifshewouldcryinaminute；“Idon’tcare——！“
　　“Whichmeans，mychild，thatyouDOcare，verymuch，“saidfather。“Supposeyouceasesuchrecklesstalk，andexplaintousexactlywhatitisthatyoudowant。“
　　Sallygaveherbonnetanawfuljerk。Thoseroseswouldlooklikesinbeforemyturntowearthemcame，andshesaid：“Wellthen，Idocare！Icarewithallmymight！Thechurchisallright，ofcourse；butIwanttobemarriedinmyveryownhome！Everyonecanthinkwhatevertheypleaseabouttheirhome，andsocanI，andwhatIthinkis，thatthisisthenicestandtheprettiestplaceinalltheworld，andIbelonghere——“
　　Fatherliftedhishead，hisfacebegantoshine，andhiseyestogrowteary；whilemotherstartedtowardSally。Sheputoutherhandandheldmotherfromheratarm’slength，andsheturnedandlookedbehindherthroughthesitting-roomandparlour，andthenatus，andshetalkedsofastyounevercouldhaveunderstoodwhatshesaidifyouhadn’tknownallofitanyway，andthoughtexactlythesamethingyourself。
　　“Ihavejustlovedthishouseeversinceitwasbuilt，“shesaid，“andI’vehadasgoodtimeshereasanygirleverhad。IfanyonethinksI’msoveryanxioustoleaveit，andyou，andmother，andalltheothers，whyit’sabigmistake。Seemsasifagirlisexpectedtomarryandgotoahomeofherown；it’sdrummedintoherandthingsfixedforherfromthedayofherbirth；andofcourseIdolikePeter，butnohomeintheworld，noteventheoneheprovidesforme，willeverbeanydearertomethanmyownhome；andasI’vealwayslivedinit，Iwanttobemarriedinit，andIwanttostayhereuntiltheverylastsecond——“
　　“Youshall，mychild，youshall！“sobbedmother。
　　“Andasforhavingacrowdofmenthatfatherisplanningtoask，staringatme，becausehechangesharvesthelpandwoodchoppingwiththem，orbeingcriticisedandclawedoverbysomewomensimplybecausethey’llbeangryiftheydon’tgetthechance，I
　　justwon’t——sothere！NotifIhavetostandtheministeragainstthewall，andturnourbackstoeveryone。Ithink——“
　　“Thatwilldo！“saidfather，wipinghiseyes。“Thatwilldo，Sally！YourmotherandIhavegotaprettyclearunderstandingofhowyoufeel，now。Don’texciteyourself！Yourweddingshan’tbeusedtopayoffourscores。Youmayaskexactlywhomyouplease，want，andfeelquitecomfortabletohavearoundyou——“
　　ThenSallyfellonmother’sneckandeveryonecriedawhile；
　　thenwewipedup，LeongaveSallyhisslate，andshecameandsatbesidethetableandbegantomakeoutalistofthoseshereallywantedtoinvite。Firstsheputdownallofourfamily，evenmanyawayinOhio，andallofPeter’s，andthenhisfriends，andhers。Onceinthelistofgirlsshestoppedandsaid：“IfI
　　takethatbeautifulimportedhandkerchieffromPamelaPryor，I
　　havejustgottoinviteher“
　　“Andshewilloutdressandoutshineyouatyourownwedding，“putinShelley。
　　“Lether，ifshecan！“saidSallycalmly。“She’llhavetohumpherselfifshebeatsthatdressofmine；andasforlooks，Iknowlotsofpeoplewhothinkgrayeyes，pinkcheeks，andbrowncurlsfardaintierandprettierthanredcheeksandblackeyesandcurls。IfshereallyisbetterlookingthanIam，itisn’therfault；Godmadeherthatway，andHewouldn’tlikeustopunishherforit；anditwould，becauseanyonecanseeshewantstobefriends；don’tyouthink，mother？“——mothernodded——“andbesides，Ithinkshe’sbetterlookingthanIam，myself！“
　　Sallysaidthat，andwrotedownthePrincess’nameinbigletters，andnoonecheeped。
　　Thenshebeganonourneighbourhood，thinkingoutloudandwritingwhatshethought。Soallofuswereasstill，andheldourbreathinsoftlyandwaited，andSallysaidslowandmusinglike，“Ofcoursewecouldn’thaveanythingatTHIShousewithoutSarahHood。Shedressedmostofuswhenwewereborn，nurseduswhenweweresick，helpedwiththreshing，company，andparties，andshe’sjustsplendidanyway；webetteraskalltheHoods“；soshewrotethemdown。“AnditwillbelonelyforWidowWillisandthegirlstoseeeveryoneelsehere——wemusthavethem；andofcourseDeams——Amandaisalwayssuchsplendidhelp；andtheWidowFallissoperfectlylovely，wewantherfordecorativepurposes；
　　andwecouldscarcelyleaveoutShaws；theyalwayshaveallofuseverythingtheydo；andDr。Fennerofcourse；andwe’llwantFloandAgnesKuntztowaitontable，sotheirfolksmightaswellcometoo——“
　　Soshewentontakingupeachfamilyweknew，andtellingwhattheyhaddoneforus，orwhatwehaddoneforthem；andshefoundsomegoodreasonforinvitingthem，andprettysoonfathersettledbackinhischairandnevertookhiseyesfromSally’sshiningheadasshebentovertheslate，andthenhebeganpullinghislowerlip，likewhenitwon’tbehave，andhiseyesdancedexactlyasI’veseenLeon’s。Ineverhadnoticedthatbefore。
　　SallywentstraightonandatlastshecametoFreshetts。“Iamgoingtohaveallofthem，too，“shesaid。“Thechildrenaregoodchildren，anditwillhelpthemalongtoseehowthingsaredonewhentheyareright；andIdon’tcarewhatanyonesays，I
　　LIKEMrs。Freshett。I’llaskhertohelpwork，andthatwillkeepherfromtalking，andgivetheotherwomenachancetoseethatshe’sclean，andhuman，andwouldbeagoodneighbourifthey’dbefriendly。Ifweaskher，thentheotherswill。“
　　Whenshefinished——asyoulive——therewasn’tasoulshehadleftoutexceptBillRamsdell，whostarvedhisdoguntilitsuckedoureggs，andIsaacThomas，whowassolazyhewouldn’tworkenoughtokeephiswifeandchildrendressedsotheyevercouldgoanywhere，buthealwayswent，evenwithragsflying，andgothisstomachfulljustbytalkingabouthowhelovedtheLord。TosavemeIcouldn’tseeIsaacThomaswithoutbeginningtomyself：
　　“’Tisthevoiceofthesluggard；Ihearhimcomplain，Youhavewakedmetoosoon，Imustslumberagain。
　　Ipassedbyhisgarden，Isawthewildbrier，Thethorn，andthethistle，growbroaderandhigher；
　　Theclothesthathangonhimareturningtorags；
　　Andhismoneyhewastes，tillhestarvesorhebegs。“
　　ThatdescribedIsaactothelasttatter，onlyhecouldn’twastemoney；heneverhadany。OnceIaskedfatherwhathethoughtIsaacwoulddowithit，ifbysomeunforeseenworkingofDivineProvidence，hegottendollars。Fathersaidhecouldtellmeexactly，becauseIsaaconcesoldsometimberandhadahundredallatonce。HewentstraighttotownandboughtMandyaredsilkdressandabrassbreastpin，whenshehadnoshoes。Hegotthechildrenanorgan，whentheywerehungry；andhimselfaplughat。Mandyandthechildrencriedbecauseheforgotcandyandorangesuntilthelastcentwasgone。FathersaidtheonlytimeIsaaceverworkedsinceheknewhimwaswhenhesawhowthehatlookedwithhisrags。Heactuallyhelpedthemenfellthetreesuntilhegotenoughtobuyasuit，theremainsofwhichhestillworeonSunday。Iaskedfatherwhyhedidn’twearthehattoo，andfathersaidthelossofthathatwasablow，fromwhichIsaacneverhadrecovered。Onceatcamp-meetinghelaiditasidetoprayhislongest，mostimpressiveprayer，andanaffectionatecowstrayedupandlickedthenapalloffbeforeIsaacfinished，sohenevercouldwearitagain。
　　Sallysaid：“I’llbeswitchedifI’llhavethatdisgustingcreaturearoundstuffinghimselfonmyweddingday；butifyou’renotinbed，whenit’sallover，mother，Idowishyou’dsendMandyandthechildrenabasket。“
　　Motherpromised，andfathersatandlookedonandpulledhislowerlipuntilhisearsalmostwiggled。ThenSallysaidshewantedLaddieandShelleytostandattheparlourdoorandkeepittightshut，andseateveryoneinthesitting-roomexceptaspeciallistshehadmadeouttosendinthere。ShewantedallourfamilyandPeter’s，andonlyafewveryclosefriends，butitwasenoughtofilltheroom。ShesaidwhensheandPetercamedownstairseveryonecouldseehowtheylookedwhentheycrossedthesitting-room，andforallthedifferencethedoorwouldmake，itcouldbeleftopenthen；shewouldbewalledinbypeopleshewantedaroundher，andtheotherscouldhavethefunofbeingthere，seeingwhattheycould，andgettingalltheywantedtoeat。Fatherandmothersaidthatwasallright，onlytosaynothingabouttheplantoshutthedoor；butwhenthetimecamejusttocloseitandeverythingwouldbesatisfactory。
　　ThenSallytooktheslateupstairstocopythelistwithink，soeveryonewentaboutsomething，whilemothercrossedtofatherandhetookheronhislap，andtheylookedateachotherthelongestandthehardest，andneitherofthemsaidaword。Afterawhiletheycriedandlaughed，andcriedsomemore，anditwasaboutassensibleaswhataflockofgeesesaywhentheyareletoutofthebarnandstartforthemeadowinthemorning。Thenfather，alllaughyandcriey，said：“ThankGod！Oh，thankGod，thegirllovesthehomewehavemadeforher！“
　　Justsaiditoverandover，andmotherkeptputtingin：“Itpays，Paul！Itpays！“
　　NextdaySallyputonherridinghabitandfixedherselfasprettyasevershecould，andwentaroundtohavealastlittlevisitwitheveryone，andinvitedthemherself，andthenshewroteletterstopeopleaway。ElizabethandLucycamehome，andeveryonebegantowork。Fatherandmotherwenttothevillageinthecarriageandbroughthomethebedfullofthingstoeat，andallwehadwasadded，andmotherbegantopackbutter，andsaveeggsforcakes，andthedaybefore，Ithoughttherewouldn’tbeachickenleftontheplace。Theykilledandkilled，andSarahHood，AmandaDeam，andMrs。Freshettpickedandpicked。
　　“I’llbetadollarwegetsomethingthistimebesidesribsandneck，“saidLeon。“Howdoyousupposethighandbreastwouldtaste？“
　　“Iwasalwayscrazytotrythetail，“Isaid。
　　“Muchchanceyougot，“sniggeredLeon。“’MemberthetimethatfatheraskedthePresidingElder，`BrotherLemon，whatpieceofthefowldoyouprefer？’andheupandsaid：`I’mpartialtotherump，BrotherStanton。’Theresatfatherboundhewouldn’tgivehimmother’spiece，sohepretendedhecouldn’tfindit，andforkedallovertheplatterandthengavehimtheribsandthethigh。Gee，howmotherscoldedhimafterthepreacherhadgone！
　　Younoticefatherhasn’taskedthatsince。Now，healwayssays：
　　`Doyoupreferlightordarkmeat？’Muchchanceyouhaveofevertastingatail，iffatherwon’tevengiveonetothePresidingElder！“
　　“Butasmanyastheyarekilling——“
　　“OhTHIStime，“saidLeonwithaflourish，“thistimewearegoingtohavelivers，andbreast，andthighs，ANDtails，ifyouarebeholdentotail。“
　　“I’dliketoknowhowweare？“